Mu Xiaowan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Mu Xiaowan (慕小婉)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Zheng Martial Hall; personal disciple of First Madam Gongsun Rou 72
Occupation/Role	Chen Cheng's child bride and future wife; martial arts disciple
Status	Active; training under Gongsun Rou 72
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Chasing Wind Saber Technique — Minor Attainment	45	Chen Cheng teaches her the technique with a wooden saber he carved for her. Despite beginning as a novice, she reaches Minor Attainment in barely over two months.

Background

Mu Xiaowan was born into a wealthy household, but her family later suffered misfortune. She was sold through traffickers to Linji Prefecture City, where Father Chen bought her as Chen Cheng's child bride. Father Chen taught her to read, write, and observe propriety before his death. 6 7

After Father Chen's death, Xiaowan maintained the Chen household while Chen Cheng worked as a jailer. During the winter cold disaster, she secretly joined Aunt Cuihua and other women gathering discarded branches outside the city because firewood had become unaffordable. On one return trip, Ma Liu harassed her and Second Fool struck her forehead with a pebble; Xiaowan confronted Ma Liu with a stick rather than submit. 2 6

She initially fears that Chen Cheng's renewed martial training will again leave him gravely ill. Even so, she supports his ambitions, manages his meals around his training, sews weighted garments for his Iron Garment Art, and tends to his injuries when he cannot afford medicinal treatment. 6 23 25

As the Chen household becomes more prosperous, Xiaowan learns the Chasing Wind Saber Technique from Chen Cheng. She later agrees to take in Xi'er as a maidservant and helps her settle into the household. 45 53 54

Following Chen Cheng's conflict with the Zhou Family and their move to Willow-Branch Alley, Xiaowan asks to train at Luo Martial Hall so that she can better protect herself and help him. At Zheng Martial Hall, Gongsun Rou recognizes her exceptional bones and aptitude, then accepts her as her first disciple. 70 71 72

Appearance

Xiaowan was initially a small, thin girl of roughly thirteen or fourteen, often covered in mud, soot, and dust while wearing a worn coarse-cloth dress. 2 With improved food and living conditions, she grows taller and healthier; beneath the ash she uses to obscure herself, she has fair skin, clear eyes, and refined features. 7 14 23 44

• Often darkens her face with soot or gray powder to avoid drawing attention. 7 44 70
• Carries a wooden saber carved for her by Chen Cheng. 45 71
• Is noted for her clear, pure eyes and composed manners before Gongsun Rou. 71

Personality

Xiaowan is strong-willed and courageous. When Ma Liu insulted Chen Cheng, she immediately drove him away and threatened him with a stick despite knowing his reputation as a local thug. 2

She is diligent, frugal, and highly attentive to the household's needs. She risks gathering firewood to reduce expenses, repeatedly worries about the cost of Chen Cheng's food and cultivation, and insists that he eat the better portions because he works outside the home. 6 13 14 45

Her devotion to Chen Cheng is central to her actions. She nursed him during his earlier illness, worries over his injuries and safety, and seeks martial training because she does not want to remain someone he must protect alone. 6 25 70

Abilities & Skills

Chasing Wind Saber Technique

Chen Cheng teaches Xiaowan the Chasing Wind Saber Technique after noticing her boredom at home and her interest in martial arts. 45

• Reaches Minor Attainment with a wooden practice saber in barely over two months. 45
• Practices diligently after Chen Cheng becomes an official City Guard officer. 70
• Her current knowledge is still limited compared with advanced Zheng Martial Hall disciples, but Gongsun Rou considers her underlying potential extraordinary. 71 72

Exceptional Martial Aptitude

Gongsun Rou examines Xiaowan's bones and judges them superior to her own at the same age. 71

• After Gongsun Rou demonstrates her swordsmanship, a boulder crumbles when Xiaowan touches it; Gongsun Rou takes this as confirmation of Xiaowan's unusual potential. 71
• Gongsun Rou states that Xiaowan is destined to be extraordinary and accepts her despite never having previously taken a disciple. 71 72
• Her formal training begins under Gongsun Rou, a martial artist at the perfection of the Bone-Forging Realm. 72

Equipment / Items

• Wooden saber — carved by Chen Cheng for her Chasing Wind Saber practice; she keeps it with her because it reminds her of him. 45 71
• Poison-water hidden weapons — concealed beneath a second-floor tile for household defense; Chen Cheng intends their uses primarily for Xiaowan's protection. 51

Relationships

• Chen Cheng — Her child-betrothed and intended husband. They rely on one another as their closest family, though Chen Cheng postpones their marriage for approximately five years to focus on cultivation. 6 23 68
• Gongsun Rou — Her master at Zheng Martial Hall. Gongsun recognizes Xiaowan's exceptional potential and accepts her as her first disciple. 71 72
• Xi'er — Maidservant of the Chen household. Xiaowan accepts Xi'er with kindness, gives her clothing and food, and works with her on household tasks. 53 54 63
• Father Chen — Deceased adoptive father-in-law who bought Xiaowan as Chen Cheng's child bride and taught her literacy and proper conduct. 6 7
• Aunt Cuihua — Neighbor who often looks after Xiaowan and accompanied her during firewood gathering. 2 20
• Ma Liu and Second Fool — Local bullies who harassed Xiaowan and injured her during a firewood-gathering trip. 2 6