Gao Mian

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gao Mian (高眠)
Alias(es)	First Madam; Sister Mian
Gender	Female
Age	22 83
Affiliation	Gao Family; formerly the Shan Family
Occupation/Role	Savage Strength martial artist; former First Madam of the Shan Estate; Su Yuan's sworn elder sister
Status	Alive; returned to the Gao Family in Cloud Province 115
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Savage Strength	19	Reached Savage Strength despite inferior aptitude by relying on a Great Medicine; the medicine left her martial path unable to advance for years. 19
Mid-stage Savage Strength	50	Broke through while imprisoned by the Shan Family, after Su Yuan's massages had loosened her long-standing bottleneck and improved her constitution. 38 50

Background / History

Gao Mian was married into the Shan Family, where she became known as First Madam. Though born into the influential Gao Family, she regarded the marriage as a regret born from her stalled martial path. Her inferior aptitude had forced her to rely on a Great Medicine to reach Savage Strength, but its consequences prevented further progress for years. 19 21

She first took notice of Su Yuan as a carpenter, praising his steady temperament, craftsmanship, and potential as a Martial Academy recruit. She worried when Wang Er targeted him during the Martial Assessment and openly opposed Shan Xiongqing's decision to sell Su Yuan to the Chai Family. 11 12 13

After learning of Su Yuan's ambush by the Shan Family, Gao Mian invited him to train with her and took him as her sworn younger brother. She trained him through direct sparring, explained internal energy, guided his preparation for the Wolf God Festival, and shielded him from the Shan Family's hostility through the Gao Family's influence. 19 20 21

Su Yuan's Origin-Returning Finger massages gradually improved Gao Mian's circulation, bone structure, and stalled cultivation. The changes restored her hope of one day reaching the Vein Splitting realm. 26 31 38

Following Su Yuan's Wolf God Festival victory, Shan Xiongqing imprisoned Gao Mian and used her as bait to lure him out. Even after Shan Xiongqing's death, the Shan Family continued to confine her. Su Yuan eventually infiltrated the estate, rescued her, and helped her fake her death during the fire that devastated the Shan Estate. 37 38 61 68 69 70

After escaping, Gao Mian hid with Shi Tang and later traveled with the Fine Horse Caravan. She accepted Su Yuan's identity as a Great Jing spy and his status as a Martial Master, though she remained conflicted by the war between their peoples. They eventually parted so she could return to the Gao Family in Cloud Province. 82 86 87 115

Appearance

Gao Mian is a tall, slender woman with an athletic martial artist's build. She has dark hair and gray eyes, and is frequently associated with purple dresses or fitted red martial attire. 19 68 115

• Often wears a high-collared purple dress or purple ruqun. 21 31 68
• Wears dark red or red silk martial clothing while training. 19 26
• Keeps her dark hair coiled high during martial practice. 19
• Has gray eyes. 115

Personality

Gao Mian is forceful, proud, and difficult to intimidate. She openly defies Shan Xiongqing, rejects his attempts to control her, and invokes the Gao Family's standing without hesitation when protecting Su Yuan. 13 21

Her harshness as a trainer conceals genuine concern. She repeatedly pushes Su Yuan beyond his comfort zone, yet warns him against damaging his foundation with Blood Origin Pills and offers resources that are safer for his cultivation. 19 21 26

She is also compassionate and unusually unconcerned with status. She cared for Yun Xu while Yun Xu was imprisoned, sheltered Su Yuan's household children after an attack, and maintained a close friendship with the non-martial Shi Tang. 19 31 70

Abilities & Skills

Savage Strength Martial Arts

Gao Mian is a mid-stage Savage Strength martial artist who fights with aggressive close-range strikes and kicks. Her internal energy can be projected through her body, allowing her to overwhelm less-developed martial artists and temper Su Yuan's finger technique through controlled resistance. 19 20 50

• Easily subdued the then-unadvanced Su Yuan with a kick and repeatedly defeated him during training. 19
• Uses internal energy to create penetrating vibrations that numb and injure an opponent's fingers. 20
• Her martial path was originally limited by the side effects of a Great Medicine. 19
• Her constitution improved from low grade to medium grade through Su Yuan's massages, reopening the possibility of future advancement. 38

Martial Instruction

Gao Mian is Su Yuan's earliest substantial martial mentor. She emphasizes practical combat, bitter training, and sound foundations rather than reckless reliance on medicine. 19 20

• Explains the purpose and rewards of the Wolf God Festival. 19
• Teaches Su Yuan about internal energy and uses it to help temper his Origin-Returning Finger. 20
• Provides Treasure Fish as a milder alternative to Blood Origin Pills. 21
• Recognizes the danger of Blood Origin Pills and reprimands Su Yuan for potentially harming his future cultivation. 26

Influence and Resourcefulness

Though constrained within the Shan Family, Gao Mian can draw upon the prestige of the Gao Family and act decisively under pressure. Her influence discourages Shan Xiongqing and Chai Nian from openly retaliating against Su Yuan. 15 21

• Arranges protection and advocates for Su Yuan during the Martial Assessment. 10 11
• Establishes Qingya Pavilion so she can instruct Su Yuan outside the Shan Estate. 26
• Protects Su Yuan's household children in the Inner City after their residence is attacked. 31
• Plans an escape route through the Treasure Horse Chamber of Commerce and creates a fire as a diversion during her rescue. 68 69

Relationships

• Su Yuan — Her sworn younger brother, student, rescuer, and eventual intimate partner. Gao Mian mentors and protects him; he later risks himself to free her from the Shan Family and accepts her knowledge of his identity as a Great Jing spy. 19 20 69 86
• Shan Xiongqing — Estranged husband and head of the Shan Family branch. Their marriage is hostile; she rejects his advances, opposes his treatment of Su Yuan, and is imprisoned by him after he considers her a threat. 13 38
• Shi Tang — Close friend and a deacon of the Treasure Horse Chamber of Commerce. Shi Tang shelters Gao Mian after her escape and later supports her plans after learning Su Yuan's identity. 70 115
• Yun Xu — A fellow captive within the Shan Estate. Gao Mian handled Yun Xu's daily care and sought to protect Yun Xu's disciples if Yun Xu would reveal the Cloud-Striding Martial Hall's secret technique. 19
• Gao Family — Her birth family and political backing. Their status gives Gao Mian leverage against the Shan Family, and she later returns to them in Cloud Province. 21 115

Story Role / Major Arcs

Patron of Su Yuan

Gao Mian identifies Su Yuan's potential when he is still regarded as an inferior-boned carpenter. Her support secures him protection, training, status as her sworn brother, and access to resources that accelerate his growth. 11 19 21

Shan Family Imprisonment

Her support for Su Yuan turns her into a target of Shan Xiongqing. While imprisoned, she continues cultivating, reaches mid-stage Savage Strength, and relies on the improvements brought by Su Yuan's massages to preserve hope for her martial future. 37 38 50

Escape from the Shan Estate

Su Yuan rescues Gao Mian after infiltrating the Shan Estate. She assists the operation by distracting guards and setting a fire, after which the Shan Family believes she died alongside Shan Xionglian. 68 69 70

Separation from Su Yuan

Gao Mian ultimately accepts that Su Yuan's loyalty lies with Great Jing, even as she hopes for peace between Great Jing and Great Liang. She returns to the Gao Family and continues cultivating while awaiting a possible reunion. 86 87 115

Notable Quotes

“There is no need for formality between siblings. Come, let’s continue training!” 19

“Why would I need his acknowledgment? I am merely informing him.” 20