Yi Dao x Fem! Masked Troupe/Velvet Shade! Reader
Author’s Note: Greetings, everyone, I wanted to fulfill a recent Yi Dao x female reader request for a fellow Tumblr user, using a reader from Yi Dao’s generation to fulfill the request. Based on the request, she will be a member of Masked Troupe sect and/or Velvet Shade sect so she can wield umbrellas and ribbons. Please enjoy :)
You met Yi Dao in a local brewery or tea house when the Well of Heaven disciple he traveled with, a man named Chu Qingquan, called you over to his and Yi Dao’s table with a soft smile as you sat down to introduce yourself once you discerned that Qingquan was the contact you had to meet up with based on a code word that was preordained by himself and his ex-lover, Han Xiangxun. Allegedly, Han Xiangxun, better known by her Jianghu title of the Water Lady, had personally recommended you for a reconnaissance mission since you were a polyglot among many other things, and you could provide the perfect cover story for Yi Dao by alleging he was your bodyguard from the Central Plains of China, mainly because Chu Qingquan was still a disciple of a well known sect while Yi Dao was virtually unknown in the Jianghu aside from the occasional bounty hunter’s poster that didn’t capture his likeness well enough to be recognized or his infamous title of The Killerblade.
Of course, Yi Dao didn’t like this plan one bit, not because he didn’t trust his best friend. On the contrary, he owed the man his life and his trust for saving his life when he battled twelve great martial artists single handily and nearly lost. What Yi Dao’s mental calculus couldn’t fathom was what could happen if things went south, especially since you were a woman who was several years his junior and very attractive by the Jianghu’s standards despite the knife scars all over your face, mainly your current sect of Velvet Shade’s standards following your recent migration from Masked Troupe sect. In truth, Yi Dao knew the Jianghu well and knew that by virtue of being female, you would be the first one that could be grabbed and pounced upon in a skirmish if you didn’t know how to fight. So before he would even agree to the idea of the mission, he had to know if you could fight since he said in his words, “I’ll never play hero for a decorated princess playing martial artist.”
With a sharp chug of a bowl of wine, you shrugged while slamming a fist on the table to gather Yi Dao and Chu Qingquan’s attention before you piped up, “Okay, old man, fair point…So get outside, sharpen that blade on your back, and I’ll show you what this princess can do.” Yi Dao’s eyebrow quirked at your nickname for him while his face fixed into a resting scowl as he gulped down his own wine in one fell swoop, causing Qingquan to chuckle at the both of you while he gulped down his own wine before paying for the beverages and finding a suitable place outside the establishment for a martial arts duel.
Finding a clearing in the forest that was uninhabited by any animals and humans, you and Yi Dao readied yourself for a duel as you summoned your decorated parasol from your back with the grace of an actress before blowing a kiss with flower petals spirited into your hand to blow into the face of the more rugged man, which only seemed to make him more irritated as he growled under his breath, “Less performing, more fighting, woman.”
“With pleasure, Sir.” You smirked again as you and Yi Dao charged at each other with umbrella and broad sword, your movements quick and controlled like a dancer’s as their silk slippers or bare feet glided along polished floorboards to the resonance of music, his movements heavy and slow like a seasoned carpenter swinging an axe into a forest of trees to gather piles of firewood for a hearth. Two different styles that did not seem to mesh well upon first glance, your intuitive speed and his immense strength, but that somehow created a resonance of qi and martial movements that created a good show for Qingquan as he sat nearby to watch you. After the duel, though Yi Dao still went on and on about him never going to become your hero, at least you did get him to shut up and apologize for misjudging you as a damsel after knocking him onto the ground a couple times with your umbrella spinning towards him. Sure, it wasn’t a full apology since he still had his reservations and opinions and he was entitled to them since the plan was risky logically speaking, but it was a start in the right direction in your book and Qingquan’s.
On the fated day of the reconnaissance, Yi Dao accompanied you through the bustling markets of Kaifeng, his hulking frame and aura behind you giving off the energy and privileges of a guard dog, while you were free to roam the markets in your disguise, trailing ahead of him but never straying off too far to ensure you stayed close together if things started to get to a point where backing out had to be a first resort. Garbed in a silk hanfu with various ornamentation of gold, silver, and precious gemstones in your hair, you looked more like an imperial treasure vault given human form than a competent martial artist, or as Yi Dao called it, “too much a princess for your own good.” In response to his remarks, you huffed at him in your pompous disguise while tossing a section of hair over your shoulder as you quipped back, “And you look like you should be in the geriatric wing of a Silver Needle hut. Forgot to take your ‘I hate people less’ medicines today, Grandpa? I can always find you the nearest Silver Needle doctor and I’m sure they’d help you for a nominal fee.”
“You better hope I don’t need a Silver Needle doctor or you’d really be up the creek without a paddle. I’m the princess’s personal bodyguard, remember?” Yi Dao warned as he mocked a laugh at the role he had to play for this mission with you before you both would go your merry ways while you grinned with a teasing chuckle before angling closer towards the target that you and him had to eavesdrop on for the mission, “Of course, you always remind me of my frailty. Now, let’s get the intel and hurry back to the rendezvous site.” And by all accounts, the mission was going smoothly as you managed to overhear the conversation of your target and translate the words into Mandarin Chinese for Yi Dao before you both sauntered away as if nothing happened…But perhaps it was going a bit too well for both of your liking…
As could be expected, you and Yi Dao were ambushed on your several days ride back to Chu Qingquan and combat was required to get you both out safely. With your umbrella and concealed silk ribbons that you wore as a decorative scarf for your outfit as well as his broad sword, you and Yi Dao developed a steady rhythm against your adversaries as Yi Dao controlled the rushing waves of men while you intercepted projectiles and nearby archers to keep your teammate safe. Unfortunately, after the dust had cleared, you happened to notice a straggler who managed to move past your line of sight as he loosed a throwing knife towards Yi Dao’s back while he was finishing off the last enemy. Without question, you could only push Yi Dao out of the way as he crumpled to the dirt with a string of curse words as he addressed you as “woman” again before he noticed the assailant you had tried to stop as your Masked Troupe ribbons permanently incapacitated him. With his eyes widened as he rose to his feet and ran to you once he noticed the knife jutting out of your shoulder, Yi Dao managed to cradle your smaller form in his arms before he had enough sense to get you both to the nearest Silver Needle doctor.
Thankfully, Yi Dao managed to save you just as his brother and parents had saved him as a child while you were unconscious from the exhaustion of the battle, the heavy blood loss from your wound, and the rush of stress hormones coursing through your veins just to keep you alive. According to the doctor, had the entry of the arrow been one inch lower, it would have fatally pierced your heart and no one could have helped you even if a thousand of the best Silver Needle sect disciples came to Yi Dao’s aid, so the doctor was quick to remind Yi Dao that you were very lucky to be alive. But for the time being, he also informed Yi Dao that you would have to remain in a Silver Needle cot for a few days until the wound healed because you were still not out of the woods yet, as fresh wounds needed constant cleaning, new bandages, and medicinal broths to counteract the residues of poison that were later found on the tip of the knife.
Once he was finally allowed to visit you, Yi Dao could do nothing but stare down at your cot as your chest rose and fell in your sleep, your ornamentation removed from your hair to allow for freedom of movement and qi circulation so you could properly heal while your elaborate garb was replaced with simple robes. For what it was worth, Yi Dao thought you still looked beautiful even when physically weak from a current wound or a trail of scars littering your visage, but a pang of guilt soon entered his chest. It should have been him injured in that cot; it should have been him who noticed that knife-throwing assailant first; it should have been him who saved a puny runt like you.
However, your eyes fluttering open momentarily with a raspy call of his name and a whispered “thank you, old man” was a tender balm for his lingering guilt as Yi Dao stared down at you with tenderness in his eyes before he chuckled with a small scowl, “I see princess is finally awake…” Nodding softly before your eyes fluttered shut again from the exhaustion, you grinned playfully as you admitted, “Barely, but at least I’m alive thanks to you…”
“Less talking, more rest. Save your strength. I’ll keep watch until you get better.” Yi Dao urged as he tucked the blankets around you tighter as you curled comfortably into the cot, your eyes still closed before your chest and shoulders gently relaxed as sleep overtook you again, Yi Dao seated on the wooden floor near the cot as his eyes remained vigilant towards anything or anyone who could come inside the room, either a Silver Needle sect disciple just doing their duties or an enemy ready to finish you and him off.
After a couple days of medical aid being rendered, you were able to recover from your injuries as the lead Silver Needle doctor of the apothecary you and Yi Dao stayed at cleared you for discharge. Knowing that Chu Qingquan would be expecting you after sending word that you would be late, you and Yi Dao made haste on horseback to get the valuable intel to Qingquan as you were seated in front of Yi Dao, his presence like a protective shield behind your back as his biceps controlled the reins and secured your body to the horse. Since that day, not much needed to be said about the trajectory of your sworn friendship as you knew you would be just as loyal to Yi Dao as he was to you. The man saved your life and proved he was a competent martial artist who was worthy to fight at your side. Likewise, you proved that a woman could earn her rightful place in Jianghu through merit but you also showed Yi Dao that when push came to shove, you would protect your teammates with unwavering courage.
After years of sticking with Yi Dao and Chu Qingquan like a little sworn sister with two elder sworn brothers while still being committed to Velvet Shade sect, you and Yi Dao slowly transitioned into an exclusive courtship. You both don’t know exactly when the shift happened or why, but Qingquan could tell that Yi Dao loved you more than he would admit out loud while you found yourself blushing crimson whenever you heard the rugged man speak or envisioned him while getting ready for your day. Needless to say, your relationship with Yi Dao transitioned quite smoothly as you, a Velvet Shade disciple, traveled the Jianghu together with Qingquan, a Well of Heaven disciple.
Yi Dao can be a big, moody grump who shows gruffness and grit to everyone in Jianghu in a way that scares most people off. But with you and Qingquan, he’s actually a big softie who would go to the ends of the earth to protect you two or do whatever you both asked of him. Qingquan is like a surrogate brother to Yi Dao after he lost his brother as a little boy while you are the woman who holds his heart in way he never knew he wanted or needed, hence why holds you both so dear to his heart. Acts of service and quality time are his love language, so sharing some Parting Tears and other wine brews with the people he loves or remembering to do a chore or cook a meal so others don’t have to helps him show love and feel loved in return. Sure, he’ll offer sarcastic commentary the entire time, but you know he means well and is trying his best since he’s not a stereotypical romantic.
The old man and grandpa pet names aren’t leaving anytime soon because you know it makes him frustrated and flustered in a way that causes you to laugh as he chases you around with a mock offense. Likewise, Yi Dao will never stop calling you princess because compared to him, you’re like a cute, little bunny rabbit and he’s like a hulking, scary bear based on height and personality dynamics. However, you both secretly love the nicknames for each other because Yi Dao knows your pet name is never said in malice but instead categorizes the truth of him being several years your senior while his pet name for you simply captures how he views your unconventional beauty in spite of the scars that decorate your face in a way that would normally push others except him away.
Yi Dao is not a touchy-feely lover and you’ve just accepted it’s never gonna happen. The most physical affection you’re ever gonna get from Yi Dao in public is him walking beside you like a guard dog ready to attack if people, mainly men, make an inappropriate verbal or physical advance towards you while you can freely walk around whenever you want while choosing to stay close to him. But you have noticed the way his eyes soften for you even with the usual scowl frozen onto his face, especially when he sees you get so giddy and girly by gazing at trinkets in an open market or colorful fireworks in the sky, so the lack of physical affection is okay with you since his secure presence is enough. The one exception to this rule of no physical affection is when you’re sick, injured, or upset. Only then will Yi Dao wrap you up in a bear hug and press his lips to your forehead as his thick facial hair tickles your face or pick you up like a burlap sack to throw you over his shoulder as you protest kicking and screaming. Yi Dao is also not a gift giver or a words of affirmation guy. But again, he will make exceptions when it’s a festival, birthday, or other special occasion when it comes to gifts and he will say nice things to you that come across as constructive criticism, mainly about you needing to remember to bring a warm coat when it’s cold outside before he chucks one at you or watching your movements in combat so you don’t lose your footing if an enemy is too aggressive. But once in a while, Yi Dao will drop the rugged, gruff front he displays publicly and will tell you under the cover of night that he truly does love you and envisions a happy, long-term future with you while enveloping your hand in his larger, callused palm.
Yi Dao does secretly hate it though when you always try to play hero in the Jianghu, even in situations that don’t concern you directly. You realize that he’s just trying to teach you how to pick your battles since you can’t be everything for everyone. But you are a little stubborn for your own good, which often causes him much headache as he always has to drag you away kicking and screaming or jump into action to shield you from an attack. While you are grateful for his protection and you know he gets a kick out of helping others and upholding the core values his family protected even during the time of their deaths, Yi Dao will offer commentary in the form of complaints as he mutters under his breath, “I’m no one’s hero and I won’t be stuffed in that box against my will.”
Later on down the line, Chu Qingquan’s death was a harsh blow to Yi Dao, a man who understood loss better than most after losing his entire family in a senseless attack when he was a little boy. The men were truly like brothers and Chu Qingquan had welcomed you into their small group as if you were a sister who always belonged, so to lose a genuine, honest man who was an asset to the Jianghu was a tragedy. However, Qingquan gave you and Yi Dao a shared mission with the desperate insistence of a beloved brother: Find Han Xiangxun and tell her about his passing but also ask her about a “special thing” that was hiding in her crafted home of Heaven’s Pier. This was a mission you and Yi Dao were determined to not fail as you set off for Qinghe.
Going on behalf of Qingquan, you and Yi Dao met the young master of Heaven’s Pier and were immediately taken to Lady Han, who was resigned to the reality of her ex-lover’s passing since you and Yi Dao extended details that only a true friend of Qingquan’s would know but she was silently heartbroken that he was truly gone. It was painful to watch her sigh brokenly as she poured wine into the river as a homage to Qingquan, as you knew how much you loved Yi Dao and couldn’t bear the thought of parting from him. That’s why the only thing you could offer her from one Jianghu sister to another was to protect her adoptive son/daughter, the young master of Heaven’s Pier, in the event something happened to Lady Han, the young master’s Uncle Jiang, or the fertile lands of Heaven’s Pier itself.
Unfortunately, that day of protecting the young master in Jianghu came sooner than could be expected as Heaven’s Pier was besieged by Aureate Pavilion, who were on the hunt for Lady Han and her secrets regarding face-changing martial techniques and the identities of several spies hiding in Khitan territory. While you and Yi Dao shared a campfire with the young man/woman before deciding to depart together for Kaifeng, you watched as the pear trees and homes were burnt to the ground while hearing the screams of women and children as men desperately tried to protect the vulnerable. Rendering medical and martial aid quickly, Yi Dao realized that there was a magic array around the area that was preventing escape and was determined to find the one who was controlling the barrier so he could cut them down. Vowing to never leave your beloved Yi Dao or the young teenager you swore you’d protect on Lady Han’s behalf, the three of you rushed further inside Heaven’s Pier as you encountered Qianye, a scythe-wielding witch who was determined to leave no one and nothing alive after being willing to shoot a fatal arrow at Ruby, a brave little girl who was the young master’s best friend since childhood and who used her red cape to lead the villagers to safety and escape from the barrier at the cost of her own life and her location in the mist.
Angered at the disregard for the sanctity of life, especially towards a little child, the three of you engaged Qianye in combat under the expanse of fertile lands in Heaven’s Pier, with several Aureate Pavilion swordsman and archers pouring into the underground stone temple to flank everyone on all sides. After several minutes of fighting, Yi Dao had a look in his eyes, one that told you that an easy escape wasn’t possible anymore and that only a rare few could survive if a great sacrifice was made. With a heavy heart as he whispered in your ear that he loved you while you stood back to back, your eyes widened as you whispered that you loved him as well before he commanded you, “Even if I don’t make it out, (Y/N), take care of the kid and live a happy life for me.” Silent tears streaming down your face, you could only pray that a miracle would allow Yi Dao to come back to you safely as he pushed you and the young master to safety, taking on Qianye and the Aureate Pavilion enemies alone as he launched a jar of wine towards an open flame. Before the young master or even you could run back to the room to even attempt to pull Yi Dao from the center of the growing explosion, the flames licked close to your faces as you both were thrown back several feet, fire and debris surrounding the both of you as you and the young master came to. With a startled gasp, you both searched the area for any sign of Yi Dao, whether he was dead or alive. But after a futile, desperate search that turned up cold and empty, you slowly sunk to your knees with tears pouring down your face as you let out the most bloodcurdling shriek that made even the young master flinch before he/she wrapped their arms around your shoulders to provide what little comfort they could.
Following the attack on Heaven’s Pier at the hands of Aureate Pavilion, you decided to guide the young master to Kaifeng to help him/her finish their mission of finding their Uncle Jiang and Aunt Han as well as avenging the senseless deaths of Yi Dao and Ruby. To you, protecting the young master wasn’t just about a promise from you and Yi Dao to Lady Han or a fulfillment of the young master’s desire to explore the Jianghu. It was a mission of avenging a wrong done to you because the love of your life—the man you wanted to wear bridal red for, grow old with, and have children with—was robbed from you and with his passing was the theft of every dream you had for your future with him. So as you and the young master mounted horses and set off for the bustling city of Kaifeng, your eyes narrowed in conviction and a solemn vow: You would help the young master find their family and you would avenge Yi Dao and Ruby’s deaths by helping the young master kill Qianye yourself if she was still alive while your lover wasn’t. With your umbrella and your ribbons, you would bring safety back to the Jianghu. Like your beloved Yi Dao and best friend Chu Qingquan before you, you too would pave your path as an honest, righteous hero.