Zui'er

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zui'er (Tang Zui'er; 醉儿) 1 66
Alias(es)	Young Lady Tang 66
Gender	Female 66
Affiliation	Zhao Ya's household; later associated with Dingtai Martial Hall through Zhao Ya and Lu Dingtai's instruction 156 402
Occupation/Role	Zhao Ya's companion and martial-arts student 36 158
Status	Alive 490
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Foundational martial training	36	Zhao Ya begins teaching her flexibility drills, running, and basic movements. She displays exceptional flexibility, comprehension, and an ability to refine techniques on her own. 36
Lightness skill and saber instruction	38	After rapidly improving her movement technique, she begins learning saber techniques and stake-running. 38
Practical self-defense capability	58, 66	Her Gale Saber Technique becomes competent and her movement technique becomes fast enough that Zhao Ya cannot catch her without exerting his full strength. She uses both to defeat Jiang Junyan. 58 66
White Crane Palm foundation	139	Zhao Ya teaches her White Crane Palm to remedy her lack of unarmed skills. After five days, she can perform its basic form convincingly, though she has only learned its surface level. 139
Eight-Part Vajra Art instruction	156	Zhao Ya teaches her the basic movements; she feels warmth throughout her body but reports no further effect. 156
Fourth Realm	402	Under Lu Dingtai's instruction, she advances to the fourth realm while Zhao Ya is away. 402

Background / History

Zui'er was Zhao Ya's neighbor in Dancing Elephant City and washed his clothes for payment. Zhao Ya helped support her and her grandmother, establishing their early bond. 1

By the time Zhao Ya began cultivating in earnest, Zui'er was living in his household. Concerned that he could not protect her constantly in an increasingly chaotic world, Zhao Ya began training her in movement techniques and self-defense. Her talent immediately exceeded his expectations: she understood principles after a single explanation, mastered techniques quickly, and could improve on what she was taught. 35 36

Her grandmother later died. Zui'er continued to carry this loss with her, eventually returning to Dancing Elephant City with Zhao Ya to burn spirit money and speak at her grandmother's grave. 179 188

When Zhao Ya prepared to depart for the Beyond Lands, Zui'er chose to remain behind and train rather than accompany him. During his absence, she continued cultivating under Lu Dingtai and attained the fourth realm. 274 275 402

Appearance

Zui'er is a slender, petite young woman noted for her beauty, bright eyes, white teeth, and unadorned appearance. Her gentle disposition is apparent in her bearing. 36 66 113 490

• Long-legged and naturally flexible enough to perform a full split with little practice. 36
• Often described as delicate or seemingly weak despite her martial ability. 66
• Has a sweet, naive air that others find especially striking. 207
• Usually dresses simply and does not rely on cosmetics. 113

Personality

Zui'er is gentle, refined, and emotionally sincere. She worries intensely when Zhao Ya is away, waits for him even when it is late, and expresses affection more through practical acts—cooking, mending, packing his belongings, and sewing clothes—than through elaborate words. 42 65 155 401

She is compassionate and easily affected by the suffering of others. After Zhao Ya tells her about enslaved refugees, she cries for their plight and calls him a good person. 52 Her innocence does not make her passive, however: when she believes Zhao Ya may be in danger, she immediately attempts to seek him out, and she confronts those who insult Shang Luoluo. 95 207

Although highly talented, Zui'er can be modest to the point of self-doubt. She considers herself inferior to Shang Luoluo in scholarly pursuits, even after learning chess, writing, painting, and tea-making from her. 156

Abilities & Skills

Martial Talent

Zui'er possesses exceptional natural aptitude for physical training and martial instruction.

• Grasps principles quickly and can draw inferences beyond Zhao Ya's explanations. 36
• Has an unusually strong physical foundation, including flexibility and aptitude for legwork. 36
• Reached the fourth realm after continuing her training under Lu Dingtai. 402

Lightness Skill

Her greatest early strength is movement and evasive mobility.

• Learned running, stake-running, and movement techniques under Zhao Ya. 36 38
• Can pursue opponents across rooftops at speed greater than Jiang Junyan's. 66
• By Chapter 58, Zhao Ya states that catching her requires him to use his full strength. 58

Saber Techniques

Zui'er trains with a saber for household defense.

• Practiced the Gale Saber Technique to a decent level. 58
• Her saber work is sufficient to deal with several ordinary hooligans, though it initially remains less refined than her movement technique. 42 135
• During Jiang Junyan's intrusion, she cuts his Iron Folding Fan in half and forces him into flight. 66

White Crane Palm

Zhao Ya teaches her White Crane Palm so that she is not helpless without a weapon.

• Suited to emergencies where she cannot carry a saber. 139
• Learns the basic form quickly and practices it diligently. 139 142
• Has only mastered its initial outer form in the documented period. 139

Needlework and Household Skills

Zui'er is skilled at sewing and household care.

• Makes cloth shoes for Zhao Ya and for her grandmother's grave offering. 65 180
• Sews a specialized leather pouch Zhao Ya uses while processing a tiger carcass. 53
• Sends Zhao Ya handmade clothes and shoes while he is away at Azure Dragon Temple. 400 401

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Saber — A captured saber Zhao Ya gives her because its size and weight suit her. 46
• Quicklime powder packets — Provided by Zhao Ya for self-defense; she uses powder to disable Jiang Junyan during his escape attempt. 42 66
• Antidote Pearl — Given to her by Zhao Ya after the destruction of the Five Poisons Sect. 255

Relationships

• Zhao Ya — Her long-time companion, protector, and martial instructor. She has been with him for three years as of Chapter 158 and remains deeply devoted to him. 36 155 158
• Zui'er's grandmother — Her deceased grandmother, whom Zui'er remembers with longing and later visits in Dancing Elephant City. 179 188
• Shang Luoluo — Friend and fellow resident. Shang Luoluo teaches Zui'er chess, writing, painting, and tea-making; the two later spend time with Yan Xizhao in the imperial palace. 156 490
• Lu Dingtai — Zhao Ya's master, who later teaches Zui'er and Shang Luoluo during Zhao Ya's absence. 402
• Yan Xizhao — Friend and palace companion alongside Shang Luoluo; Yan Xizhao describes Zui'er as quiet and refined. 490
• Jiang Junyan — A flower-thief who targets Zui'er while Zhao Ya is away; she defeats and imprisons him with Zhao Ya's preparations and her own training. 65 66 69

Story Role / Major Arcs

Training under Zhao Ya

Zui'er begins as a civilian with no martial background, then becomes Zhao Ya's first regular student. Her remarkable natural talent convinces him to broaden her training from movement techniques to saber work and, later, unarmed combat. 36 38 139

Defense of the Zhao Residence

While Zhao Ya is away on an escort mission, Jiang Junyan infiltrates the residence after gathering information about her. Zui'er hears his approach, waits with her saber, uses Zhao Ya's traps and lime powder, defeats him, breaks his limbs, and confines him in the vegetable cellar. 65 66

Return to Dancing Elephant City

Zui'er eagerly returns with Zhao Ya to visit her grandmother's grave. There, she burns spirit money and finally voices the grief she has kept beneath her cheerful manner. 180 188

Separation and Continued Cultivation

Rather than hold Zhao Ya back on his journey to the Beyond Lands, Zui'er chooses to stay behind to train. She later sends him handmade clothing and shoes, and news reaches him that she has advanced to the fourth realm. 274 275 400 402

Companion of the Empress

By Chapter 490, Zui'er and Shang Luoluo are among Empress Yan Xizhao's closest friends, often visiting the palace. The three share concern for Zhao Ya while he remains far from Great Yan. 490

Trivia

• Zui'er helps Zhao Ya decipher a crude map to an underground cave by recognizing that one confusing shape resembles a mountain peak. 130
• She enjoys setting off firecrackers during the Lunar New Year despite being frightened by the noise. 130
• She initially believes Zhao Ya's martial practice sounds are so reassuring that she struggles to sleep when he is away on escort work. 36