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Lin was a young orphan who lost the ability to speak after witnessing the death of her parents (her older brother in the anime) during the fallout of global nuclear war. In the beginning of the series, she lives in a small village where she serves prisoners, which is how she meets Kenshiro. He restores her voice using Hokuto Shinken and later saves her from Zeed's bandit raid on the village. Lin was never able to forget this act of kindness and followed Kenshiro after he left the village. She falls into the hands of the Golan, who capture young girls to groom for their 'master race', until Kenshiro saves her once more. Although she is a small girl, Lin displays outstanding compassion and bravery throughout the series, with an unwavering faith in Kenshiro and his ability to save mankind from the horrors of the wasteland.
After the time-skip following Raoh's death, Lin and Bat form the Hokuto Army during Kenshiro's absence, and fight against the oppressive Imperial Army. It is later revealed that Lin was actually adopted as a child, and that she is really the twin sister of Lui, the Celestial Empress. Per the precepts of succession, Lin was ordered executed by the evil Viceroy. But Falco could not go through with it and instead left her to his own remaining family instead. After Jakou and his corrupt regime are destroyed by Kenshiro and Falco, Lin is kidnapped by Jakou's son Jask (Tiger in the anime) and taken to the Land of Shura. Kenshiro rescues her from the demons that await him and tells her to return home to her loved ones. However, Lin's feelings for Kenshiro force her to follow him deeper into the island. Lin is captured by Kaioh, who wishes her to carry his child in order to cleanse his tainted legacy of Hokuto Ryuken. However failing that, he uses the Shikanhaku (死環白) vital point, which causes the victim to fall in love with the first person they awaken to. As a result, she later falls in love with Bat.
In the final volume of the manga, Bat refuses to live a lie and erases Lin's memory with his limited Hokuto Shinken. Kenshiro also loses his memory during a fateful thunderstorm, and Bat arranges for the two to be reunited while he stakes his own life against Bolge, an enemy from Kenshiro's past. Lin and Kenshiro recover their memories, only to find Bat has been mortally wounded in the fight. As a dying wish, Bat tells Lin to spend her life with Kenshiro, the man she loves. Lin respects his wish, only to have a change of heart and return to Bat's side. To her wonder, she finds Bat has survived, thanks to Kenshiro's powers.
