Xiao Yudao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yudao (小玉刀)
Alias(es)	Xiaodao; Xiao Ma
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Camellia Village
Occupation/Role	Gu-arts practitioner; intended heir to her father's corpse-driving craft
Status	Alive
First Appearance	12

Background / History

Xiao Yudao was raised as a boy by her father, Ma Huoxin, so that she could inherit his work as a corpse driver. Her mother gave her the name “Xiao Yudao,” adding the character yu to Xiaodao; Yudao retains warm feelings when speaking of her mother. 13

During the encounter with the Golden Silkworm Deity, she revealed that she was a girl and agreed to marry the Gu Spirit in three years in exchange for Xiao Kunlun’s life. The agreement marked both her soul and body as belonging to the Golden Silkworm Deity and Golden Silkworm Gu; she also secured a condition that the deity could not harm Kunlun for those three years. 12 44

After Kunlun was poisoned by the Golden Silkworm, Yudao brought him medicine, led him into Camellia Village’s forbidden Gu-refining ground, and helped him obtain the great Gu master’s surviving Gu-raising text. 13 16 She later joined Kunlun and Ma Erlei’s expedition into Chiyou Valley to find the Black Flower Herb. 19

In Chiyou Valley, Yudao identified Soul-Suppressing Talismans and concluded that Wu Daochao—her father’s supposedly dead senior brother—had likely become a zombie. She confronted Wu with the Yin Gong and accused him of being connected to her mother’s death. 23 24 Wu Daochao defeated and poisoned her with corpse poison, then struck her with his Black Snake Staff, leaving her severely injured. 25 She was carried from the valley by Ma Erlei and gradually recovered after Kunlun prepared medicine using her prescription. 28 30

Appearance

Yudao is commonly perceived as a boy because of how she was raised, though Kunlun recognizes her true gender after she reveals her real name. 12 13

• Black eyes, often described as worried, resolute, or angry in dangerous situations. 13 23
• Wears a black headscarf. 23
• Bears a “Little Golden Silkworm” pattern between her brows after making her pact with the Golden Silkworm Deity. 21
• Was later seen in red wedding robes outside the Corpse-Raising Cave. 35

Personality

Yudao initially treats Kunlun coldly and insists that his affairs are none of her concern, even while quietly helping him. 13 16 Her guarded manner softens after they survive the forbidden ground together; she supplies him with a cure prescription, worries about his health, and accompanies him into Chiyou Valley. 16 18 19

She is brave and decisive under pressure. She investigates the crying in Chiyou Valley despite fear, faces Gu Xiucheng and Wu Daochao, and refuses to retreat even after learning how dangerous Wu is. 20 23 25 Her determination becomes especially fierce when confronting matters connected to her mother and Wu Daochao. 23 24

Abilities & Skills

Gu Arts Knowledge

Yudao possesses substantial knowledge of Gu insects, Gu-refining practices, and the methods used by Gu masters.

• Identified numerous “divine Gu insects” in Gu Xiucheng’s hidden refining site. 14
• Exposed flaws in Gu Xiucheng’s Gu-raising methods, contributing to the backlash that killed him. 16
• Recognized the importance of the Gu-raising book left by Camellia Village’s great Gu master and used it to devise a medicinal prescription for Kunlun’s Golden Silkworm poison. 16 18
• Corrected Kunlun and Ma Erlei’s mistakes while they searched for medicinal herbs. 19

Corpse-Driving Arts

Raised to inherit Ma Huoxin’s craft, Yudao knows corpse-driving secret medicines and tools.

• Prepared walking-corpse saliva to conceal human scent. 13
• Identified Soul-Suppressing Talismans and explained their function of permanently imprisoning souls in paper bodies. 22 23
• Used the Yin Gong, a ritual instrument intended to counter zombies. 23
• Her Yin Gong technique could not overcome Wu Daochao, who had taught Ma Huoxin its rhythms and corpse-driving chants. 24 25

Herbal Medicine

Yudao assists in treating poison and injuries.

• Made painkilling herbal soup to suppress Kunlun’s Golden Silkworm poison attacks. 14 15
• Provided the herb prescription that Kunlun later used to cure his Golden Silkworm poison. 18 30
• Was herself severely weakened by Wu Daochao’s corpse poison and required prolonged treatment and rest. 25 30

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Firewood knife / hatchet — Used for travel, clearing paths, and fighting. 13 23 25
• Yin Gong — A ritual gong used against zombies. 23 24
• Gu-raising book — Retrieved from Gu Xiucheng’s forbidden cave; contains methods relevant to Golden Silkworm poison. 16
• Secret medicines — Includes walking-corpse saliva for masking scent and medicinal preparations for poison relief. 13 14

Relationships

• Xiao Kunlun — Companion and eventual close ally. She sacrifices her future to save him, helps treat his poison, and repeatedly faces danger alongside him. 12 13 16 25
• Ma Huoxin — Father and corpse-driving teacher. He raised her as a boy to inherit his profession and placed a Qingfu Larva on her to track and protect her. 13 40
• Ma Erlei — Childhood peer and traveling companion. He carries her out of Chiyou Valley after her injuries. 19 28
• Golden Silkworm Deity — Her future intended husband under a coercive three-year pact; Yudao’s agreement prevents him from harming Kunlun during that period. 12 44
• Wu Daochao — Her father’s senior brother and personal enemy. Yudao believes he was involved in her mother’s death and vows revenge against him. 23 24
• Gu Xiucheng — Enemy Gu-raiser whose methods she exposes after he captures her and Kunlun. 15 16

Story Role / Major Arcs

Golden Silkworm Pact

Yudao meets the Golden Silkworm Deity with Kunlun, reveals her gender, and accepts a three-year marriage pact to save him. 12

Forbidden Gu-Refining Ground

She guides Kunlun into Camellia Village’s forbidden ground, protects him during a Golden Silkworm poison attack, and helps expose Gu Xiucheng’s failed Gu-raising. 13 14 15 16

Chiyou Valley Expedition

Yudao travels with Kunlun and Ma Erlei in search of the Black Flower Herb, investigates the Paper Effigies, identifies Wu Daochao’s Soul-Suppressing Talismans, and leads the group toward his hiding place. 19 20 23

Conflict with Wu Daochao

Driven by vengeance for her mother, Yudao confronts Wu Daochao with the Yin Gong. She is overpowered, poisoned with corpse poison, and critically wounded before her companions escape the valley. 24 25 28

Recovery in Qingya Village

After being brought to Qingya Village, Yudao survives her injuries and poison with Kunlun’s care and medicinal treatment, though she needs several days before she can walk. 29 30

Trivia

• Ma Erlei initially does not realize Yudao is a girl and treats her as a younger male peer. 19
• In the forbidden Gu-refining ground, Yudao and Kunlun use the temporary names “Xiao Ma” and “Da Xiao” so spirits will not learn their real names. 14
• Her pact with the Golden Silkworm Deity gives Kunlun a three-year deadline to become strong enough to save her. 44 45