Yuenü

**Saber of "Gold"** (金のセイバー, *"Kin" no Seibā*) is the Saber-class Servant of Zhōu Rèn among the Gold faction.

## Identity

### Profile

Saber is **Yuenü** (越女; *Yuènǚ*; *Yüeh-nü*; 'the Lady of Yue') was a swordswoman from the state of Yue in the modern Chinese province of Zhejiang. She is also known as *Maiden of the Southern Forest*. In Chinese mythology, she is said to be a reincarnation of **Jiutian Xuannü**, the goddess of war, sex, and longevity.

Growing up in the time of **King Goujian of Yue**, Saber learned archery and swordfighting from a young age by her father. King Goujian planned to attack the state of Wu and when he heard about her skills, he invited her to court. Along the way, it is said that she was challenged by an old man who was in reality a magic white ape and managed to defeat him with a length of Linyu bamboo.

Upon meeting the king, Saber reveals the secret to her fighting ability is the application of yin and yang energy, which are metaphorically described as the opening and closing of large and small swinging doors. Furthermore, she claims that, while strengthening the spirit, one should remain outwardly calm. Her exposition on the art of the sword impressed the king so much he decreed that her skills be in training his army and gave her the title 'the Yue Woman' (越女) or *Lady of Yue*. The king appointed Saber to train his army officers, who in turn, instructed his army.

While it is unknown if Saber actually exists, hers' is the earliest known exposition on the art of the sword, and influenced Chinese martial arts for generations.

### Appearance

A beautiful young woman with fair skin, golden eyes and long black hair tied into a ponytail. She also has a red flower ornament on the right side of her head. She wears a red short-sleeved short coat over a white form-fitting short-sleeved dress and a blue sash is tied around her waist. The white skirt has red flame-like patterns on the end and a thigh-high slit on the right side, and is coloured yellow on the skirt's interior. A gold ring with a purple tassel is clamped at the back end of the skirt. Her legs are clad in black thigh-high stockings and she wears red sandals on her feet.

When using **Jiutian Xuannü**, Saber would wear a long stylized white dress with gold embroidery and highlights, a light jade-coloured shawl that is seemingly floating above her head and shoulders and a stylized jade headdress. Her hair would be done up with exotic jewelry and her eyes would glow a light gold. A faint light also surrounds her entire being and she gives of a divine aura fitting for a goddess. In this state, she would typically use an elaborate gold-coloured *jian* as her weapon although she can also call for a bow or a halberd.

## Noble Phantasms

### Yuè Wáng Gōu Jiàn

The unique brand of swordsmanship pioneered by Saber for the Kingdom of Yue sublimated into a Noble Phantasm. It ensures that she retains a high level of swordsmanship and is able to perform feats deemed miraculous to the observer. Mental attacks or skills like Madness Enhancement cannot affect this, ensuring that she remains a highly skilled swordswoman.

### Jiutian Xuannü

It is said that Saber is the reincarnation of Jiutian Xuannü, the Chinese goddess of war, sex, and longevity and this belief has been turned into a Noble Phantasm. Saber becomes akin to a Divine Spirit upon activating this Noble Phantasm with her appearance changing to resemble the goddess. In this state, Saber is granted access to divine powers associated with Jiutian Xuannü such as the ability to turn invisible and using magic talismans that can subjugate demons. Likewise, her stats are all raised to A++ with the exception of **Mother of Swords**. However, this Noble Phantasm is extremely mana-intensive and she cannot access **Yuè Wáng Gōu Jiàn** in this state.