Nie Huaisang is the current leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect and the younger half-brother of the last sect leader, Nie Mingjue. Nie Huaisang is known for his incompetence, being called Head-Shaker (一问三不知, lit. one question three don't knows) amongst both the common people and cultivators alike. He prefers to use his intelligence on other areas, such as painting fans, searching for birds, skipping classes, and catching fish.
However, beneath his helpless exterior, Nie Huaisang possesses an extremely crafty mind and a strong loyalty towards his older brother. When he manages to track Nie Mingjue's missing body to one severed arm, Nie Huaisang shows himself to be well-aware of his limitations, as he recognizes that he is not capable of suppressing its resentful energy or finding the rest of his brother's body.
However, he then sets out to plan an elaborate and lengthy scheme that results in both finding his brother's missing body, the exposure of his killer's crimes and misdeeds before all society, and the death of his killer. This plot reveals a cold and manipulative side to Nie Huaisang, as he willingly encourages the mentally ill Mo Xuanyu's performance of the Sacrificial Ritual, to bring back Wei Wuxian, repeatedly risks the lives of the junior disciples, the people of Mo Village, the children of Yunping City and kills cats in a gruesome fashion. He also uses considerable acting skills to trick the merciful Lan Xichen into mortally wounding his best friend and Nie Mingjue's killer, Jin Guangyao.
