Ran Tao

Ran is devoted to Tao family traditions but does not share all of her husband's severity. She can be humorous and affectionate, particularly around her children, while remaining fully prepared to defend the family when necessary.

Her respect for tradition is substantial. As the family's biological heir, she understands the expectations placed upon the Tao lineage and accepts many of its customs. At the same time, she is pragmatic enough to recognize when stubborn adherence to pride would endanger those she loves.

Ran's behavior after Ren begins choosing his own path demonstrates that family affection ultimately matters more to her than enforcing complete obedience. She welcomes her son's companions rather than treating them permanently as outsiders.

Ran possesses 2,800 Furyoku and is an accomplished dàoshì. Her specialty is the creation and control of jiangshi, a branch of Taoist shamanism she passes on to Jun.

Her principal jiangshi are Shu and Kyo, two handsome warriors who have served the Tao family since ancient times. Like other jiangshi controlled by the family, they are animated and directed through Taoist techniques.

Ran's abilities are not explored through as many battles as those of Ren or Jun, but she is regarded as one of the Tao family's highly skilled practitioners and is capable of fighting alongside other senior members of the household.

Ran was born as the main heir of the Tao family and therefore required a sufficiently powerful shaman to marry into the lineage. Yúan ultimately became her husband and took the Tao family name.

She initially appears during the story surrounding Ren's confrontation with his father. Unlike Yúan, Ran does not insist on continuing a hopeless conflict once Ren demonstrates his determination. She participates in welcoming Ren's friends and helps signal a change in the Tao household after years of hostility.

In later conflicts involving enemies of the Tao family, Ran again demonstrates that she is an active shaman rather than simply the family matriarch, using her jiangshi abilities to protect her relatives.

Ren Tao is Ran's son. Although she respects the traditions under which he was raised, she loves him and eventually accepts the independent path he chooses.

Jun Tao is Ran's daughter and inherits her mother's specialization in controlling jiangshi.

Yúan Tao is Ran's husband. Ran can temper his more extreme behavior and is willing to intervene when his pride threatens the family.

Ching Tao is part of the senior generation of the Tao household.

Shu and Kyo are Ran's personal jiangshi and long-serving retainers of the Tao family.