Mao Xiaodong

Overview

Mao Xiaodong (茅小冬) is a prominent Confucian educator and scholar who played a critical role in preserving the legacy of Shanya Academy (山崖书院) during its most vulnerable era. Originally a disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage (文圣一脉), he sincerely assisted his junior martial brother Qi Jingchun as the academy's Vice Mountain Chief.

Unlike his fellow disciples such as Cui Chan or Zuo You, Mao Xiaodong's supreme ambition lay purely in teaching and imparting knowledge rather than military grand strategy or unparalleled martial combat. Following years of sheltering Shanya Academy in the Great Sui Dynasty, he eventually transferred his academic affiliation to the Ritual Sage (礼圣) lineage, ascending to the prestigious role of Siye (司业) at the Liji Academy (礼记学宫) in the Middle Earth Divine Continent.

Personality & Teachings

Mao Xiaodong is widely regarded as a pure Confucian (醇儒). He is characterized by a strict, uncompromising adherence to academic integrity and a profound dedication to educating the younger generation. He once lamented the disorganized nature of the Wen Sheng lineage compared to other strictly hierarchical factions, demonstrating his preference for order and proper rites.

Despite his rigid exterior and occasional nitpicking—which he deliberately uses to assert his authority as a senior martial brother—he is deeply protective of his juniors. During times of crisis, he steadfastly protected Shanya Academy's scholars, and his peers, including the ambitious Ma Zhan, acknowledged that Mao Xiaodong was entirely devoid of ulterior motives when serving as Qi Jingchun's deputy. Zuo You noted that Mao Xiaodong originally possessed the highest hope of inheriting the Old Scholar's mantle, though he was ultimately limited by his cultivation aptitude and the lineage's historical suppression.

History & Major Events

Sheltering Shanya Academy

Following the political and ideological suppression of the Wen Sheng lineage and the death of Qi Jingchun, Shanya Academy was forced to relocate to Donghua Mountain in the Great Sui Dynasty. During this perilous transition, Mao Xiaodong served as the Vice Mountain Chief, acting as the academy's sole pillar. He tirelessly navigated local hostilities, visited the Great Sui Wen Temple to secure literary fortune, and maintained the academy's operations until Cui Chan eventually utilized it as a strategic base. Mao Xiaodong even traveled personally to the Middle Earth Divine Continent to petition for Shanya Academy to reclaim its title among the Seventy-Two Academies.

Mentoring Chen Ping'an

When Chen Ping'an arrived in the Great Sui capital, Mao Xiaodong assumed the role of a stern but caring senior brother. He meticulously prepared a vast array of rare heavenly materials and acted as a dedicated protector (护道人) while Chen Ping'an successfully refined a supreme "golden text gallbladder" into his second natal object using the Five-Color Golden Box Furnace.

Transfer to the Liji Academy

Because Mao Xiaodong's innate disposition leaned heavily toward traditional education and rites, his prolonged stay within the marginalized Wen Sheng lineage stifled his true potential. Recognizing this, and prioritizing his educational aspirations, Mao Xiaodong formally transferred to the Ritual Sage (礼记) lineage. He was subsequently appointed as the Siye (司业)—a position second only to the Grand Libationer (大祭酒)—of the prestigious Liji Academy, cementing his status as a leading orthodox educator in the Haoran Heaven.

References

• 剑来11：君从故乡来, 第五章 — 斗法: Supports Mao Xiaodong discussing the chaotic hierarchy of the Wen Sheng lineage and acknowledging Chen Ping'an as his junior brother.
• 剑来11：君从故乡来, 第八章 — 炼制: Supports his role in providing materials and acting as a protector while Chen Ping'an refined the golden text gallbladder at Donghua Mountain.
• 剑来24：新酒等旧人, 第七章 — 最高处的山巅境: Supports Zuo You's evaluation of Mao Xiaodong's dedication to teaching, his academic limitations, and his efforts to restore Shanya Academy's status.
• 剑来34：山中何所有, 第八章 — 事多如牛毛: Supports Mao Xiaodong's eventual promotion to the position of Siye (司业) at the Liji Academy.
• 剑来45：彩云一片车, 第七章 — 我知道你是谁: Supports Ma Zhan's reflection on Mao Xiaodong's pure motives, highlighting that Mao was a true, pure Confucian who solely wished to impart knowledge.