Hua Xuening

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hua Xuening (华雪凝)
Alias(es)	Xue Ning
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Lu Chengwen's household; formerly a retainer of Long Aotian; affiliated with the Anti-Four Gates; retains loyalty to the Jiang Family 143 1365 1867
Occupation/Role	Assassin; personal guard; bodyguard 91 143 2093
First Appearance	91

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Upper Four Gates	215 217	Advances while working under Lu Chengwen; Zhuge Xiaohua identifies her as one of the Upper Four Gates.
Heavenly Four Gates	712	Reaches the Heavenly Four Gates through her own efforts, placing her alongside her more advanced sisters.

Background / History

Hua Xuening initially served Long Aotian with absolute, childlike loyalty. Although she doubted the order to assassinate Lu Chengwen—whom Long Aotian had sworn brotherhood with—she accepted it because she believed her Young Master understood matters she could not. She infiltrated Lu's hotel as a trained assassin, intending to carry out the mission. 91

Long Aotian later reassigned her as Lu Chengwen's maidservant and personal guard. The order devastated her; she interpreted it as abandonment, yet swore to protect and obey Lu with the same devotion she had shown Long Aotian. 143 159

Her assignment repeatedly placed her between the two men. She defended Lu against assassins and hostile martial artists, while initially insisting that her ultimate loyalty remained with Long Aotian. 145 151 193 Over time, Lu's protection, praise, and willingness to risk his own future to save her caused her to question the life of unquestioning service she had been taught to accept. 195 230

Appearance

Hua Xuening is a tall, fair-skinned young woman with a clear, heroic presence that contrasts with her innocent manner. In battle, her sharp eyes, high ponytail, and sword-bearing stance give her a strikingly imposing appearance; in daily life, she favors simple, practical clothing despite being given designer goods. 193 430 1745

• Tall and long-limbed, with a notably athletic build. 146 802
• Usually wears her hair in a high ponytail. 193 1745
• Has bright, sharp eyes and an energetic, martial bearing. 193 428
• Can appear like a polished professional in black stockings and high heels, but prefers casual tops, jeans, sneakers, and a backpack. 298 430

Personality

Xuening is straightforward, emotionally sensitive, and intensely loyal. She often voices exactly what she thinks, even when it is embarrassing or socially inappropriate, and her honesty makes her easy to read and manipulate. 166 1028 Her apparent simplicity should not be mistaken for a lack of judgment: she can recognize genuine kindness, question the rigid worldview she was raised with, and reach conclusions that surprise even her fellow disciples. 230

She is deeply attached to the people she considers family. Long Aotian's reassignment wounded her because she viewed it as rejection, while Chen Mengyun's maternal kindness quickly earned Xuening's wholehearted affection. 143 603 Her devotion to Lu Chengwen becomes a defining trait; she is willing to place herself in danger for him and promises that she would die before him if necessary. 195 712

Xuening dislikes insincerity and excessive materialism. A lavish shopping spree leaves her confused and distressed by the attendants' artificial enthusiasm, yet she is delighted by small financial gains because she wants to save money for Lu in case he ever needs it. 217 505 Though usually incapable of deception, she later learns to lie convincingly when attempting to influence Zhuge Xiaohua. 561 683

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Assassination

Xuening is a top-tier assassination expert who combines swordsmanship with decisive close-quarters combat. 91

• Uses a long sword to intercept arrows and shield Lu Chengwen from ranged attacks. 193
• Overwhelms opponents through rapid, shifting sword techniques; A Hu is struck four times before he can properly respond. 233
• Can defeat Zhuge Xiaohua in close combat, though Xiaohua remains more dangerous at long range and in favorable terrain. 193
• Fights as a direct assassin rather than a support-type combatant. 245

Swift Lightning Power

Xuening is the Inheritor of Swift Lightning Power, a hereditary martial ability associated with extraordinary speed. 781 1862

• Moves quickly enough to appear as an afterimage and evade interception. 571
• Can close distance before opponents can react, making retreating enemies especially vulnerable. 2106
• Uses her speed both to protect Lu Chengwen and to break hostile formations. 193 2106
• Her mobility and reflexes allow her to transition rapidly between offense and defense. 233 571

Lightness Skill and Stealth

Xuening is proficient in qinggong and infiltration techniques. 91 603

• Reaches targets by rope descent and rooftop infiltration. 91
• Can scale buildings and travel through difficult terrain with ease. 245 603
• Patrols mountain roads and quickly reaches Lu Chengwen when he is missing or endangered. 768

Acupoint Sealing

Xuening can disable opponents without killing them by sealing their acupoints.

• Restrains Qi Meishao by sealing multiple acupoints, leaving her unable to move or call out. 245
• Uses nonlethal restraint when she believes an ally must be temporarily removed from a conflict. 245

Spiritual Sense

Xuening has demonstrated the ability to extend and withdraw her spiritual sense.

• Eavesdrops on Lu Chengwen from another room, then withdraws her spiritual sense when embarrassed by what she hears. 167

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Long sword — Her primary weapon for assassination, defense, and high-speed close combat. 145 193
• Myriad Stars Armor — Armor that resonates with her pure true qi, disperses incoming force, and greatly strengthens her defense. 570
• Meteorite — A stone she felt personally connected to and later gave Lu Chengwen as a keepsake. 229

Relationships

• Lu Chengwen — Her assigned master, personal guard target, and later boyfriend. She chooses to remain with him after he proves willing to sacrifice the Meteorite True Essence for her freedom. 143 229 238 505
• Long Aotian — Her former Young Master. Xuening once obeyed him without question, but his treatment of her and his willingness to trade her away permanently fractures that loyalty. 91 143 238
• Zhuge Xiaohua — Fellow disciple and sister figure. Xiaohua is often frustrated by Xuening's gullibility, but the two protect each other and confide in one another. 151 195 688
• Luo Shiyin — Fellow disciple and older-sister figure. Their conflict over Long Aotian and Lu Chengwen forces Xuening to articulate her own beliefs about loyalty and heroism. 219 230
• Qi Meishao — Fellow disciple and combatant. Xuening temporarily seals her acupoints during a confrontation with Luo Shiyin. 245
• Chen Mengyun — An older-sister figure whom Xuening adores for her warmth and maternal kindness. 151 603 604
• Hun Tiangang — Her master. Xuening is openly spoiled around him, and their master-disciple bond is treated affectionately by the elders. 1862
• Jiang Family — Xuening's true identity and continuing loyalty to the Jiang Family become a source of guilt and conflict with Lu Chengwen. 1365

Story Role / Major Arcs

Choosing Lu Chengwen

After being abandoned by Long Aotian, Xuening begins to see Lu Chengwen as someone who values her life and feelings rather than merely using her obedience. She ultimately promises to follow him forever and gives him her savings and a cherished meteorite before believing she must leave. 215 229

Lu secures her freedom from Long Aotian by exchanging the Meteorite True Essence for her. Xuening chooses Lu of her own will, regarding herself as free and as someone who belongs with him. 238

Undercover Conflict

Despite her attachment to Lu, Xuening later meets Long Aotian to discuss undercover work and worries that Qi Meishao may expose her secrets. 430 Her divided loyalties become more severe after the revelation of her true identity and her continuing loyalty to the Jiang Family. 1365

Growth as Lu Chengwen's Protector

Xuening advances from the Upper Four Gates to the Heavenly Four Gates and becomes one of Lu's most formidable protectors. 217 712 During later battles, her speed and swordsmanship make her a battlefield-breaking force; enemies scatter wherever she charges. 2106

She also serves as Chen Mengyun's bodyguard, holding a Sect Master at swordpoint and frightening him with her speed. 2093

Anti-Four Gates Revelation

During an ambush against Lu Chengwen, Zhuge Xiaohua, and herself, Xuening reveals her affiliation with the Anti-Four Gates, shocking Lu and placing further strain on their trust. 1867

Notable Quotes

“I, Hua Xuening, swear here today that I will become the second-best swordsman in the world! Whoever dares to bully my Master, I will use my sword to sever their necks!” 1977

“Why can there only be one hero in the world?” 230