Dragon Maiden

Dragon Maiden's History

Early life

Xiaolongnü was abandoned as an infant outside Chongyang Palace (the Quanzhen Sect's headquarters) by an unknown figure. Her cries broke the silence of the night and drew the attention of Quanzhen's priests. Before they could decide what to do with the baby girl because the sect does not accept female members, a middle-aged woman called Granny Sun appeared and took Xiaolongnü away to the nearby Ancient Tomb.

Xiaolongnü was raised as a student by the apprentice of Lin Chaoying, the founder of the Ancient Tomb Sect. As a child, she was taught all the sect's martial arts and mastered all of them after many years. She starts learning the sect's highest order skill from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, but since her teacher's understanding of the skill was incomplete, her own understanding is even more limited.

Xiaolongnü's senior Li Mochou was expelled from the sect for poor conduct. Xiaolongnü inherited the sect's leadership position when she was 14 after her teacher died, leaving her alone besides her attendant Granny Sun. Meanwhile, Li Mochou spread rumors that when Xiaolongnü turned 18, she will offer her hand in marriage to any man who can defeat her. In addition, the lucky man will claim possession of the tomb, which is said to house great treasures and martial arts manuals. The Mongol prince Huodu believes the tale and travels to the Ancient Tomb, hoping to meet Xiaolongnü. He brings his henchmen with him and they raid Chongyang Palace along the way. Coincidentally, Guo Jing arrives at Chongyang Palace together with Yang Guo and he drives away Huodu and his men.

As Yang Guo's teacher and lover

Xiaolongnü meets Yang Guo for the first time when he ventures into the Ancient Tomb while escaping from the bullies at Quanzhen Sect. She does not allow him to stay and asks Granny Sun to send him back to Quanzhen and tell the priests not to mistreat him anymore. However, the Quanzhen priests begin insulting Yang when they see him return. The furious Granny Sun fights with them and is mortally wounded by Hao Datong. Xiaolongnü appears at the critical moment, defeats Hao and saves Yang. Before her death, Granny Sun makes Xiaolongnü promise to take care of Yang. She wants both of them, orphans, to have each other as companions after her death. The Quanzhen priests oblige and allow Yang to leave with Xiaolongnü.

Xiaolongnü accepts Yang as her apprentice and they live together in the Ancient Tomb for several years. During these years, Xiaolongnü imparts most of her martial arts and skills to Yang. Yang does not like to address her as "Teacher" or "Master" and prefers to call her "Aunt" (姑姑) instead. Both of them fall in love with each other but their romance is viewed as taboo and equivalent to incest in the Confucianist-influenced society of that era. They encounter several tribulations after leaving the tomb and numerous tests of their love. Although they are eventually married in Chongyang Palace, they are again separated, this time for 16 years, until their final reunion at the end of the novel.