Xiaolongnü () is the fictional female protagonist of the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong. In the novel, her physical appearances is described as follows: "skin as white as snow, beautiful and elegant beyond convention and cannot be underestimated, but appears cold and indifferent". She trains the protagonist Yang Guo in martial arts, and they eventually fall in love. Name In the novel, the guardians of Xiaolongnü (literally "Little Dragon Maiden") name her after the Chinese zodiac year in which she was born, the Year of the Dragon. Yang Guo, Granny Sun, and her martial arts master call her "Long'er", but otherwise, the novel gives her no other name. Fictional character biography Early life An unknown figure abandons an infant Xiaolongnü outside Chongyang Palace (the Quanzhen School's headquarters). Her cries pierce the silence of the night and draw the attention of the Quanzhen priests. Before they decide what to do with the baby girl because the school does not accept female members, a middle-aged woman called Granny Sun appears and takes Xiaolongnü away to the nearby Ancient Tomb. An unnamed apprentice of Lin Chaoying, the founder of the Ancient Tomb School, raises Xiaolongnü. As a child, she learns all the school's martial arts and masters all of them after many years. She starts learning the school's highest order skill from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, but since her master's understanding of the skill is incomplete, her own understanding is even more limited. The school expels Xiaolongnü's senior, Li Mochou, for poor conduct. Xiaolongnü inherits the school's leadership position at age 14 after her master dies. Only Granny Sun accompanies her. Meanwhile, Li Mochou spreads rumours in the jianghu that when Xiaolongnü turns 16, she will offer her hand in marriage to any man who can defeat her. The lucky man will also 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 with Yang Guo and 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 School.