Mistress

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhao Xiuyun
Alias(es)	Mistress; Master Zheng Hetong's wife
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Blazing Blade Sect; Zhao Family of South Ridge City
Occupation/Role	Zheng Hetong's wife; caretaker and maternal figure to Zhao Ping'an and the direct disciples
Status	Alive; recovered after being kidnapped and drugged 47
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Zhao Xiuyun is the wife of Blazing Blade Sect Elder Zheng Hetong. She comes from the Zhao Family, a prominent South Ridge City household; her father, Zhao Jinlong, built the family into a major merchant house. Her marriage to Zheng Hetong originally caused a serious falling-out with her family because he had not yet reached the Innate Realm, though she later reconciled with her parents 3 15.

She and Zheng Hetong took in Zhao Ping'an after he was rescued as a dying beggar. During his four-year recovery, Zhao Xiuyun taught him to read and write, and she continued to care for his meals and daily life once he began cultivation 2 3. Zhao Huixin's mother claims that Ping'an resembles the couple's deceased son, who was killed by a poisoned arrow years earlier 17.

On Feather Mountain, Zhao Xiuyun lived with Zheng Hetong in the eastern side of the direct disciples' courtyard. She tended its rare flowers and trees with several servants, making gardening one of her principal hobbies 3.

After Zhao Ping'an descended to South Ridge City, Zhao Xiuyun gave him use of her otherwise vacant Zhao Residence, bought him fitted clothing, and ensured he had a place to live independently 14 15. Believing his displayed martial talent to be poor and knowing he had no family support, she also arranged a meeting between him and her niece Zhao Huixin to secure his future 16 17.

She was later abducted from the Zhao Residence by forces acting on behalf of the Profound Water Dynasty. The kidnappers left Zheng Hetong severely injured and demanded Zhao Ping'an trade a cultivation technique for her release 41 42. Zhao Ping'an rescued her from Thousand Guts Valley; she had been kept unconscious with a sleeping drug but otherwise unharmed 43 46 47.

Appearance

Zhao Xiuyun is described indirectly as a woman in her thirties or forties during the kidnapping operation 41.

• Comes from a wealthy South Ridge City merchant family 3 15.
• Maintains a residence in South Ridge City provided by her father 14.
• Is physically capable of walking long distances due to her martial cultivation 15.

Personality

Zhao Xiuyun is gentle and attentive toward her disciples. She makes sure Zhao Ping'an is fed, teaches him literacy, provides him with clothing and housing, and continues to treat him as her own child even after his strength eclipses that of the rest of the household 2 3 14 15 17 31.

She is protective and decisive when propriety or her disciple's welfare is involved. When Zhao Huixin threatens Zhao Ping'an during the marriage meeting, Zhao Xiuyun rebukes her immediately and expels both Huixin and Wang Wenxiu from her courtyard 18.

Despite caring deeply for Zhao Ping'an, she does not obstruct his cultivation or pressure him to reveal his strength. She agrees to guard his Innate Realm secret from Zheng Hetong, accepting his wish for a peaceful life 12 18.

Abilities & Skills

Limited Martial Arts

Zhao Xiuyun possesses limited martial cultivation. Her techniques are primarily health-preserving rather than combat-focused; she is described as unable to defeat even some peak Martial Warriors despite knowing martial arts 12.

• Can use internal energy and has physical ability beyond an ordinary person 15.
• Was identified by her kidnappers as a Houtian Martial Artist, but was not considered a combat threat by the Grandmaster-level abductors 41.
• Relies on Zheng Hetong and Zhao Ping'an for protection in serious martial conflicts 23 41.

Household and Discipleship Care

• Taught Zhao Ping'an reading and writing during his recovery 2.
• Tends the Feather Mountain courtyard's flowers and trees 3.
• Participates with Zheng Hetong in teaching the disciples practical caution, emphasizing that violence should be a last resort in the jianghu 7.
• Arranged Zhao Ping'an's South Ridge City residence, clothing, and prospective marriage meeting 14 15 16.

Relationships

• Zheng Hetong — Husband and fellow caretaker of the direct disciples. She supports his decisions but has grown weary of his frequent violent ventures; this contributes to their decision to leave the Blazing Blade Sect 3 27.
• Zhao Ping'an — Youngest disciple and surrogate son. She taught him literacy, cared for him throughout his upbringing, protected his secret cultivation, and remained unchanged in her affection after he became powerful 2 18 31.
• Zhao Jinlong — Father and head of the Zhao Family. She is notably reserved around him, though their relationship had reconciled by the time of Zhao Ping'an's visit to the Zhao Mansion 15 16.
• Ji Xiangming — Eldest disciple. She encourages him to speak openly about the woman he wishes to marry and later attends his wedding to Zhao Manling 7 22.
• Zhao Huixin — Niece and Zhao Ping'an's proposed match. Zhao Xiuyun arranges their meeting, then angrily dismisses Huixin after learning of her pregnancy and insults toward Ping'an 16 18.
• Butler Fu — Steward of Zhao Residence. He served Zhao Xiuyun and Zhao Ping'an until he was killed during her abduction; she privately mourns him after her rescue 17 41 47.
• Mu Yunmeng and the other direct disciples — Disciples under Zhao Xiuyun and Zheng Hetong's care. They remain at her bedside and celebrate when she regains consciousness 2 47.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zhao Ping'an's Upbringing

Zhao Xiuyun helps raise Zhao Ping'an after his rescue, teaching him literacy, feeding him, and providing the stable household that becomes his only family in the Martial God Realm 2 3 12.

South Ridge City and Matchmaking

She brings Zhao Ping'an to South Ridge City for Ji Xiangming's wedding, gives him access to Zhao Residence, and attempts to arrange his marriage to Zhao Huixin because she fears his apparent lack of martial prospects and family support 14 16 17.

Sun Family Conflict

When Zhao Ping'an's confrontation with the Sun Family escalates into open slaughter, Zhao Xiuyun understands that the family can no longer be allowed to exist. She returns to Zhao Residence at Zhao Ping'an's instruction while Zheng Hetong accompanies him to finish the conflict 23.

Thousand Guts Valley Kidnapping

Zhao Xiuyun becomes the kidnappers' leverage against Zhao Ping'an. He prepares the Four Symbols Gathering Essence Art for exchange, tracks down the abductors in Thousand Guts Valley, and returns to South Ridge City carrying her after her rescue 42 43 46.

Recovery and Aftermath

Though physically weakened after her ordeal, Zhao Xiuyun recovers under the care of her disciples. She is proud of Zhao Ping'an's actions against the Wu family and the Poison Wolf Gang, while concealing her grief over Butler Fu's death 47.