Zhong Xiu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhong Xiu (钟秀)
Alias(es)	Xiu'er
Species/Race	Human; Bloodline Bearer
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Mystic Sound Sect; formally accepted as the Mystic Sound Sect Grand Elder's disciple through Ye Hongyao 45
Occupation/Role	Holder of the Phoenix Sound Bloodline; Shi Mu's protected companion
First Appearance	Ancient temple outside Feng City, traveling with her father Zhong Ming to settle her Wu Family betrothal 10
Bloodline	Superior third-grade Phoenix Sound Bloodline 45

Background / History

The Zhong Family had fallen into decline, leaving Zhong Xiu and her father, Zhong Ming, without relatives to rely on. They traveled to Feng City to seek recognition of Zhong Xiu's betrothal to the Wu Family, though Zhong Xiu doubted that the wealthy family would honor it. 10 11

During a storm sheltering in an ancient temple, Zhong Ming was mortally wounded while protecting Zhong Xiu from a zombie. Before dying, he cancelled her Wu Family marriage, entrusted her future to Shi Mu, and gave Shi Mu the Zhong Craft Secret Manual as her dowry. After helping bury her father, Shi Mu began escorting her toward Feng City. 11 12

The Wu Family refused to honor the marriage after learning that the Zhong Family had no remaining assets. Zhong Xiu returned to Shi Mu's manor, offering to serve as a maid because she had nowhere else to go. Shi Mu instead gave her a separate room and allowed her to remain as his guest. 14

She assisted at the manor by preparing meals and tending to Shi Mu, motivated by gratitude for his protection. When Shi Mu prepared to leave Feng City, Zhong Xiu chose to accompany him rather than seek safety with Aunt Zhen or distant relatives. 28 32

Zhong Xiu fled Feng City with Shi Mu as both the Jin and Wu Families pursued them. During the forest chase, she urged Shi Mu to abandon her, but ultimately entrusted her safety to him; she later declared that she would live or die alongside him. 35 37

When Fifth Master Jin threatened to kill her, Zhong Xiu's bloodline awakened in a piercing scream that struck him with an invisible force and severely injured him. Ye Hongyao subsequently tested her blood with a Blood Ruyi and identified her as the bearer of the rare Phoenix Sound Bloodline. 44 45

Ye Hongyao accepted Zhong Xiu on behalf of the Mystic Sound Sect's Grand Elder. Zhong Xiu initially refused to leave Shi Mu behind, but accepted after Ye Hongyao arranged for Shi Mu to enter the Black Tortoise Sect through his Xuan Token. 45 46

Appearance

Zhong Xiu is a fair-skinned young girl with a gentle, delicate bearing. A conspicuous pale-blue birthmark on her forehead led the Wu Family and Zhong Xiu herself to describe her appearance harshly, though Shi Mu finds her presence gentle and moving. 10 28

• Wore a green dress when she first met Shi Mu in the ancient temple. 10
• Has a blue birthmark centered on her forehead. 10 28
• Her appearance becomes notably fragile and ethereal during the forest pursuit. 37

Personality

Zhong Xiu is demure and polite toward strangers, but grief and abandonment force her to become more resilient after her father's death. She accepts Shi Mu's help with gratitude while trying not to burden him, repeatedly offering to separate from him during their escape. 10 11 35 37

Her loyalty to Shi Mu is one of her defining traits. She tends to his daily needs, worries for his injuries even when offered a powerful sect opportunity, and refuses to join the Mystic Sound Sect if doing so means abandoning him. 28 45 46

Abilities & Skills

Phoenix Sound Bloodline

Zhong Xiu possesses a superior third-grade Phoenix Sound Bloodline, identical to that of the Mystic Sound Sect's founding ancestor. It is the required bloodline for cultivating the sect's supreme Jade Sound Myriad Wave Art to its highest level. 45

• Her awakened scream manifests as an invisible force capable of striking and severely wounding a Houtian martial artist. 44
• The Blood Ruyi responded to her essence blood with golden light and a phoenix-like cry, confirming her bloodline. 45
• Her earlier scream in the ancient temple caused the zombie pain, but Zhong Xiu had no conscious understanding of what she had done. 12
• Her power initially surfaced involuntarily while facing mortal danger; no trained control of the bloodline is shown. 44

Jade Sound Myriad Wave Art

Ye Hongyao identifies Zhong Xiu as uniquely suited to the Mystic Sound Sect's supreme art.

• Only Phoenix Sound Bloodline bearers can cultivate the technique to its highest level. 45
• Ye Hongyao states that even minor attainment would allow Zhong Xiu to dominate the Xiantian realm. 45
• Zhong Xiu has not yet been shown practicing the art. 45 46

Relationships

• Shi Mu — Protector and closest companion. He escorts her after Zhong Ming's death, shelters her after the Wu Family rejects her, and risks his life to protect her during multiple pursuits. Zhong Xiu remains devoted to him and refuses to abandon him for sect membership. 11 14 37 45 46
• Zhong Ming — Father. Before dying from injuries suffered protecting her, he cancels her Wu Family betrothal and entrusts her care to Shi Mu. 11
• Ye Hongyao — Benefactor and sect senior. Ye identifies Zhong Xiu's bloodline, saves her from Fifth Master Jin, and accepts her as the Grand Elder's disciple. 44 46
• Mystic Sound Sect Grand Elder — Accepted Zhong Xiu as a disciple through Ye Hongyao, placing her at the same seniority as Ye. 45
• Wu Family — Her former prospective in-laws. They reject her after the Zhong Family's poverty becomes known, then attempt to seize her because of her possible bloodline value. 14 15 36
• Wu Hua — Former betrothed. He considers Zhong Xiu's return to Shi Mu an insult to his reputation and joins the pursuit against her. 15 36
• Fifth Master Jin — Jin Family pursuer who attempts to kill her; Zhong Xiu's awakened bloodline power repels and injures him. 44

Notable Quotes

“If that's so, then I won't go to the Mystic Sound Sect either. I want to stay with Brother Shi. My life was saved by Brother Shi in the first place—I can't abandon him halfway and join a sect alone.” 46

“At worst, little sister will live or die alongside Brother Shi.” 37