Cui Xiaoxin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cui Xiaoxin (崔小心)
Alias(es)	One of the Three Moons of the Empire; “Bright Moon of Tiandu” 71 887
Species/Race	Human; later used as the host body of a Demon King 882 888
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Cui Family; formerly Fuxing Middle School; student of Xifeng University 7 383
Occupation/Role	Cui Family direct descendant; academic tutor to Li Mu Yang; later a Demon King’s host body 29 326 905
Status	Alive as of her encounter with Li Mu Yang; her memories have completely fused with a gravely wounded Demon King 905
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Non-cultivator	890	Cui Xiaoxin originally knows no martial arts or cultivation; Lu Xingkong’s guards identify her sudden power as impossible for the original Xiaoxin.
Demon King possession	882	A Man in Black enters her body as black mist through her senses. Her pupils become blood-red, and her possessed body drains the life force of the residents and vegetation of Cherry Blossom Villa.
Demon King manifestation	887 890 900	While using Xiaoxin’s body, the Demon King controls Prince Hui and Eunuch Rui with centipedes, kills elite guards and Shattered Star, manifests duplicate bodies, and displays overwhelming physical and demonic power.
Complete memory fusion	905	The Demon King merges fully with Xiaoxin’s memories to refine his core. After his defeat, Xiaoxin states that the two identities and memories have become inseparable; the Demon King’s core, meridians, and organs are severely damaged.

Background / History

Cui Xiaoxin is a direct descendant of the politically powerful Cui Family. During fierce internal competition involving her father and uncles, she was taken to Jiangnan by her aunt Cui Xinci. She lived there for five years before eventually returning to Tiandu. 21 70

At Fuxing Middle School, she was the model student: first in her class and first in the entire grade. She was expected to enter Xifeng University and had held the top position in school examinations for years. 7 60

Her connection with Li Mu Yang began when she publicly challenged Teacher Zhao Mingzhu’s unfair treatment of him. She then chose to tutor him despite the social attention and danger associated with being close to him. 7 29 Her lessons contributed to Li Mu Yang’s first-place result in the Empire’s Literary Examination, as many examination topics had been covered during their tutoring sessions. 70

Appearance

Cui Xiaoxin is renowned for her beauty and is counted among the Empire’s celebrated “Moons.” She has fair, delicate skin, refined features, and a clean, graceful bearing. 13 71

• Wore a purple-painted hibiscus cross-collared dress during her time in Jiangnan; its waist-cinching design emphasized her slender figure. 13
• Often dresses in elegant pale or white gowns, including a white robe described as flawless as white jade. 92 350
• Keeps her hair in refined traditional styles, including a “falling horse” bun. 92
• Prefers Tiandu cherry blossoms and personally planted cherry trees in her courtyard. 70
• While possessed, her black pupils become blood-red. 882

Personality

Cui Xiaoxin is quiet, cautious, and difficult to approach despite her public fame. At scholarly gatherings, she usually speaks little, but her answers on literature and philosophy consistently impress the other attendees. 326

She is also principled and unexpectedly firm. She refuses to retract the truth when confronting Teacher Zhao, later instructs Yan Xiangma to silence anyone who questions his claim for killing Crow, and refuses Song Fuxiao’s demand to search her carriage. 7 41 720

Her kindness is practical rather than performative. She tutors Li Mu Yang daily, befriends Li Sinian, treats Li Mu Yang’s injured feet herself, and risks her own life to shield Li Sinian from Cui Yu’s attack. 29 104 379

Cui Xiaoxin struggles with the restrictions placed upon her as a Cui daughter. She misses the simpler life she had in Jiangnan, resists being bound to an unwanted marriage, and feels powerless to protect Li Mu Yang or alter her family’s political course. 384 517 719

Abilities & Skills

Academics and Tutoring

Cui Xiaoxin is an exceptional student and an effective teacher.

• Ranked first in her class and grade at Fuxing Middle School. 7
• Maintained the top position in grade-level examinations for years. 60
• Tutored Li Mu Yang every day, rain or shine, before the Empire’s Literary Examination. 29
• Taught Li Mu Yang several topics that later appeared on the examination he topped. 70

Literature and Calligraphy

Cui Xiaoxin is a respected literary talent among Tiandu’s young nobility.

• Suggested the title Moonlit Dragon Ridge Painting for Song Tao’s landscape painting. 326
• Wrote the calligraphy for the painting’s title herself. 326
• Has studied Buddhist and Daoist classics extensively since childhood. 356
• Is known for providing thoughtful answers on poetry, aesthetics, and public affairs. 326

First Aid and Practical Knowledge

Cui Xiaoxin received broad instruction from her mother, including needlework, common illness treatment, and medical bandaging. 104

• Used her hairpin to pierce and drain blisters on Li Mu Yang’s feet. 104
• Applied medicine from a porcelain bottle and tore cloth from her own clothing to bandage his feet. 104
• Her original skills are scholarly and practical rather than martial; she had no known cultivation before the Demon King’s possession. 890

Demon King Powers

The following abilities are manifested through the Demon King inhabiting and later fusing with Cui Xiaoxin’s body.

• Life-force drain — Withers people, plants, and trees into dried husks through demonic power. 882
• Soul Devouring Centipedes — Inserts centipedes into Prince Hui and Eunuch Rui to control them. 888
• Overwhelming combat power — Kills Lu Xingkong’s guards and the assassin Shattered Star with ease. 890
• Duplicated manifestations — Produces two simultaneous Cui Xiaoxin bodies during her confrontation with Li Mu Yang. 900
• Demonic transformation — Expands to colossal scale and releases black-light attacks powerful enough to deflect Li Mu Yang’s Dragon Spear. 905
• Limitation — The Demon King’s core, meridians, and internal organs are severely damaged after the final battle. 905

Relationships

• Li Mu Yang — Former classmate and tutee; her first major act in the story is defending him at school. He repeatedly saves her, while she protects his identity and continues to believe in his innocence. 7 104 719
• Li Sinian — Close friend whom Cui Xiaoxin treats like a sister; she shields Li Sinian from Cui Yu’s attack and later confides in her about Tiandu’s restrictions. 14 379 384
• Cui Xinci — Her aunt and maternal figure during her years in Jiangnan; deeply protective of Xiaoxin and opposed to her feelings for Li Mu Yang. 21 571
• Yan Xiangma — Her cousin, whom he treats as a sister; he repeatedly acts as her protector, including fighting Song Fuxiao to prevent a search of her carriage. 21 721
• Ning Xin Hai — Trusted guard and protector whom Xiaoxin calls “Uncle Ning”; he conceals his suspicions about Li Mu Yang to protect her, then warns her against becoming entangled with him. 392 722
• Cui Xichen — Her grandfather and former Grand Tutor; he initially follows her plan to restore Cui influence, but rejects the Demon King’s attempt to make him support the Demon Race. 887 888
• Song Tingyun — Her childhood companion and arranged fiancé. Although their families consider them a suitable match, Xiaoxin is unwilling to marry him. 393 517 753
• Song Chenxi — A close friend and fellow “Moon” who sympathizes with Xiaoxin’s unwanted engagement and feelings for Li Mu Yang. 517 718
• Tao Hong and Liu Lü — Her personal maids; both remain devoted to Xiaoxin even after being injured and offered the chance to leave for safety. 354 758
• The Demon King — The entity that forcibly possesses Xiaoxin at Cherry Blossom Villa, later completely merging its memories with hers. 882 905

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jiangnan and Li Mu Yang’s Tutor

Cui Xiaoxin defends Li Mu Yang before their teacher, then voluntarily becomes his tutor. Her lessons and encouragement help give him the ambition to pursue Xifeng University and ultimately contribute to his literary-examination victory. 7 29 70

During a dangerous journey, she treats Li Mu Yang’s wounded feet and urges him to abandon her when a flood threatens them both. He refuses to leave her behind. 104 105

Return to Tiandu

After returning from Jiangnan, Cui Xiaoxin becomes increasingly constrained by Cui Family expectations and Tiandu’s politics. She remains protective of Li Mu Yang when Yan Xiangma and Lu Qiji question his character, calling him a person with an unyielding spirit and proud heart. 70 71

At Xifeng University’s literary gatherings, she establishes herself as a quiet but admired talent, using her literary judgment and calligraphy to support Song Tao’s painting. 326

Concealing Li Mu Yang

Cui Xiaoxin recognizes Li Mu Yang despite his disguised identity as the stable hand Li Mu. She does not expose him, instead implying that she understands his situation through private, cautious conversations. 354 389 392

When Song Fuxiao attempts to search her carriage while Li Mu Yang is concealed inside, Xiaoxin refuses the demand and physically signals Li Mu Yang not to reveal himself. Yan Xiangma and Ning Xin Hai fight to uphold her decision. 720 722

Marriage Pressure and the Cui Family’s Decline

Xiaoxin is pushed toward marriage with Song Tingyun despite her unresolved feelings for Li Mu Yang. She confides to Song Chenxi that she does not wish to marry Tingyun and still believes Li Mu Yang is innocent. 393 517

After the Cui Clan is confiscated, she prepares to leave with only books and a cup of clear tea, declining Yan Xiangma’s offer to save valuables. 813

Demon King Possession

At Cherry Blossom Villa, Xiaoxin confronts a mysterious intruder rather than flee and leave her guards in danger. The man drains Zhou Xiang’s life force, then forcibly enters Xiaoxin’s body. 881 882

The possessing Demon King destroys Cherry Blossom Villa, manipulates Prince Hui into ordering Xifeng to attack the anti-demon coalition, and confronts Lu Xingkong while wearing Xiaoxin’s face. 882 888 893

After the Demon King is defeated, Xiaoxin claims that she is herself—but admits that complete memory fusion has made her and the Demon King effectively inseparable. She reveals that her desire for power arose from feeling unable to protect herself or her family during the Cui Clan’s collapse. 905

Notable Quotes

“Teacher, you need to apologize to Li Mu Yang. This conflict has nothing to do with Li Mu Yang; he’s also a victim.” 7

“A few old books and a cup of clear tea are enough.” 813

“I am Xiaoxin, I am not the Demon King. But, in reality, there’s no difference.” 905