He wears a simple white Taoist monk robe at most times,[5] which is quite shabby due to his poverty, as he only has a few spare changes.[6] He wears a white ribbon around his neck, which hides the black pattern of a cursed kang,[7] and a second cursed kang on his ankle, usually hidden by his boots.[8] He also wears a white ribbon around his wrist, which is actually his magical weapon with its own personality, Ruoye.[9] A notable detail of his appearance is the conical bamboo douli hat, which Xie Lian wears in memory of an unnamed farmer who showed him genuine, selfless kindness and compassion at the lowest point in his life.[10] By the time of his third ascension, Xie Lian has become a kind and gentle man. Although he acknowledges his abilities, he remains down-to-earth. He never puts his status above others and treats people equally, ignoring status as a sign of his own importance. He is a compassionate person, willing to offer his help, and unconcerned with the opinions of others. While he does not care about reputation, he still often finds himself in situations where he is unsure whether to laugh or cry, usually during moments that make him feel embarrassed or awkward.[9][28] While he does not forget past grudges, most of them usually fade into the background, and he does not hesitate to save those with whom he has had conflicts.[29] Likewise, he is loyal to those who are kind to him and those he considers friends. Despite having seen the worst of what both humanity and the gods have done, he can also see the best in others. He sometimes misperceives people's personalities, but he is usually convinced of their good sides and believes in the people he knows even when circumstances say otherwise.[29] In the direst of situations, he can still remain calm and come up with strategies to defeat the enemy. However, when faced with Hua Cheng's flirtatious and romantic gestures, he becomes very nervous.[30] Although he is strategically intelligent and able to see through people's lies and deceptions due to his many