Liu Ruyan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Liu Ruyan (柳如嫣)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Spring Breeze Tower
Occupation/Role	Proprietress of Spring Breeze Tower; martial artist, painter, and cook
First Appearance	Chapter 14

Background

Liu Ruyan grew up in hardship with her younger brother after their father died. Their mother supported the family through poorly paid labor. Ruyan often comforted and held her timid, frequently bullied brother so that he could sleep at night; she continues to feel guilt over him years later. 15 16

She became the owner of Spring Breeze Tower in Mohe City, where her reputation for elegance and tranquility keeps even hostile martial artists from drawing weapons on her premises. Patrons regard her as the tower’s “most beautiful proprietress,” and her rare smiles can silence the entire establishment. 14

When Liu Ruyan met Ning Chang'an, his resemblance to her late younger brother led her to care for him with sisterly tenderness. That attachment gradually became romantic love, which she eventually confessed directly. 15 16

Young Master Tang, a prince of the Great Gan Dynasty, sought to marry Liu Ruyan and knew Ning Chang'an’s true identity. Believing that refusal would endanger Chang'an and everyone around her, she accepted the proposal despite not wanting the marriage. 23

Appearance

Liu Ruyan is an exceptionally beautiful and poised woman whose presence commands both admiration and restraint.

• Captivating eyes that evoke calm and belonging. 14
• Usually composed and unsmiling; her fleeting smile is described as capable of mesmerizing a crowd into silence. 14
• Often wears magnificent or colorful robes, her dress compared to a blooming flower or butterfly in motion. 22 31
• Has a delicate, orchid-like fragrance. 15
• Her private room is elegant, orderly, and decorated with valuable paintings and calligraphy. 22

Personality

Liu Ruyan values refinement, quiet, and self-control. Spring Breeze Tower reflects these standards: its visitors know that greed, violence, and vulgar behavior will not be tolerated there. 14

To strangers and people she does not care for, she is distant and difficult to approach. With Chang'an, however, she is openly nurturing, protective, and patient—tending his wounds, cooking for him, preparing clothing, and lending him her personal horse. 15 17 22 23

She is emotionally resolute beneath her gentle demeanor. Although she fears Young Master Tang’s power and accepts an unwanted marriage proposal to protect others, she remains willing to confront Guo Qingshui with lethal force when Chang'an is threatened. 23 31 32

Abilities & Skills

Red Sleeve Secret Sword

Liu Ruyan is a highly capable martial artist who uses the Red Sleeve Secret Sword, a concealed close-range sword technique.

• Keeps a small, delicate sword hidden in her sleeve. 31
• Her close-quarters swordplay is described as a “bloody dance” and an art of killing. 31
• Slashed Guo Qingshui’s robe with a flash of white light during their confrontation. 32

Painting

Liu Ruyan is a master painter and an avid collector of classical painting and calligraphy. 22

• Particularly admires the works of Luo Gaoyang, “Luo the Banished Immortal.” 22
• Painted Tiger Sniffing Orchid Fragrance, depicting a tiger focused on a white orchid beneath a waterfall. 22
• Her painting gave Ning Chang'an the insight needed to comprehend the Tiger Aspect Nine Moves. 22 37

Cooking

Liu Ruyan alone prepares Mo River Zither Fish, Spring Breeze Tower’s defining delicacy.

• Makes the dish only a handful of times each year. 15
• Those who taste it are said never to forget its aroma. 15
• Chang'an visits Spring Breeze Tower annually and asks her to prepare it for him. 15

Alcohol Tolerance

Liu Ruyan claims she only becomes truly drunk when she chooses to be and can regain sobriety at will. 15 23

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Chasing Lightning — Liu Ruyan’s exceptionally tall, powerful black horse. She lent it to Chang'an so that the Wild Wolf Society might respect her influence; the horse later kicked an armored warrior more than thirty feet away. 17 22
• Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword — A heavy longsword forged from Extreme Cold Profound Iron and Black Fire Steel. Its predecessor was an important saber belonging to Liu Ruyan; she had it recast after Chang'an lost the Dragon Head Sword, then entrusted it to him as a token of affection. 24
• Letter concerning Ning Manor — A sealed letter given to Ning Chang'an, warning that the situation at Ning Manor was complicated and urging him to be cautious. 31 38
• Luo Gaoyang’s artworks — Her private room displays treasured paintings and calligraphy by Luo Gaoyang, including Autumn Farewell, Ancient Road, West Wind, and Inviting the Moon for a Drink. 22

Relationships

• Ning Chang'an — Initially cares for him because he resembles her late younger brother; their relationship develops into mutual romantic affection. She protects him from Young Master Tang, treats his injuries, gives him Chasing Lightning and the Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword, and agrees to wait for his return. 15 16 17 23 24 31
• Young Master Tang — A Great Gan prince who intends to marry her. Liu Ruyan accepts his proposal under coercive pressure, fearing he will destroy those close to her and harm Chang'an if she refuses. 22 23
• Guo Qingshui — Hostile rival. Guo taunts Liu Ruyan over Chang'an and threatens his life; Liu Ruyan responds with open fury and draws her concealed sword against her. 31 32
• Miao Suyi — Friend and frequent guest at Spring Breeze Tower. They drink and dine with Chang'an, and Liu Ruyan passes along Miao Suyi’s request that Chang'an teach Lu Sheng a lesson. 15 24
• Old Man Mu — A man arranged by Liu Ruyan to drive for Ning Chang'an. 26

Story Role / Major Arcs

Spring Breeze Tower

Liu Ruyan is introduced as the respected proprietor whose presence restores silence to Spring Breeze Tower amid public hostility toward Chang'an. She hosts Chang'an and Miao Suyi, warns Chang'an to avoid Mandarin Duck Lake, and reveals her past through memories of her younger brother. 14 15

Confession and Support for Chang'an

After realizing Chang'an resembles her brother, Liu Ruyan asks him to call her “Ruyan” and confesses that she would sacrifice everything for him. Chang'an panics and flees, but she continues to support him by lending Chasing Lightning for his mission to save Little Brother. 16 17

Young Master Tang’s Proposal

Liu Ruyan intervenes when Young Master Tang’s armored guards confront Chang'an outside Spring Breeze Tower. She later tends Chang'an’s injuries and reveals that she is being compelled to marry Tang, whose royal status and knowledge of Chang'an’s identity leave her little room to refuse. 22 23

Gifts and Departure

After spending the night fully clothed beside Chang'an, Liu Ruyan gives him clothing she personally made and entrusts him with the Gloomy Cold Soul Severing Sword. Before his journey to Longyuan Province, she gives him a letter concerning Ning Manor and promises to wait for him. 23 24 31

Notable Quotes

“Call me Ruyan.” 16

“When you’re willing to call me Ruyan, I’ll tell you.” 22

“Chang'an, hurry back! I... will wait for you!” 31

Trivia

• Liu Ruyan drinks a small pot of wine alone on Spring Breeze Tower’s second floor every day for exactly half an hour. 14
• She does not have a husband when first introduced. 14
• Chang'an had visited Spring Breeze Tower once each year even before the events of the novel, chiefly for her Mo River Zither Fish. 15