Friday, September 19, 2008

Bao Xiruo

Bao Xiruo is a fictional character in the Jin Yong wuxia novel ''Legend of the Condor Heroes''.

Early life


Bao Xiruo was the beautiful wife of Yang Tiexin and mother of Yang Kang. In the novel, she rescued an injured Wanyan Honglie after the fight between the soldiers and Qiu Chuji, who assassinated a conspiring with the enemy invaders. Wanyan Honglie later appeared to save Bao Xiruo when Song soldiers led by Duan Tiande came to the Niu Family Village to arrest her husband and Guo Xiaotian for "treason" . Guo Xiaotian was killed in fighting and his wife Li Ping captured by Duan Tiande. Yang Tiexin was presumed dead and Bao, already pregnant with Yang's child, decided to follow Wanyan Honglie back to the Jin capital, when he revealed his identity as the sixth prince of Jin Kingdom. As revealed later in the novel, it was actually Wanyan Honglie who bribed and sent Duan Tiande to raid the Niu Family Village, with the goal of killing Bao's husband and possess Bao.

18 years later


18 years later, it was revealed that Bao Xiruo had married Wanyan Honglie and became a prince's consort. Her unborn child had grown up into a fine young man known as Wanyan Kang. Because of actively depress of her first husband's supposed death, she unintentionally neglect her son which result of Yang Kang fully under the care of Wanyan Honglie. Once, Wanyan Kang happened to meet Mu Nianci and her father Mu Yi in a martial arts contest for a spouse. In fact, Mu Yi was Yang Tiexin, who had survived the onslaught at Niu Family Village years ago . He had also adopted a daughter Mu Nianci, and the contest was actually his last-ditch attempt to locate the lost child of his sworn brother Guo Xiaotian. Wanyan fought with Mu Nianci and won, but after molesting her in public , refused to marry her as according to the rules. There was then a fight between Guo Jing and Wanyan Kang, as Guo kept insisting that Wanyan should keep his words rather than acting a playboy. Bao Xiruo arrived on the scene and stopped the fight, and Mu Yi caught a glimpse of her.

Reunion


Wanyan Kang decided to bring Mu Nianci and her father to his residence and had them locked up as a form of "protection". Mu Nianci and her father were rescued by Guo Jing and they tried to flee the prince's residence. Mu Yi happened to enter the place where Bao Xiruo stayed, and seeing that Bao still kept her husband's old spear, realized that Bao still loved him. Mu Yi then revealed himself to be Yang Tiexin, and the couple were reunited. Wanyan Kang arrived on the scene and refused to acknowledge Yang Tiexin as his biological father, mainly because of Yang's poverty. Later, Wanyan Honglie found out and led his army to pursue the couple, who tried to flee. Surrounded, Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo committed suicide together so they couldn't be separated again.

Ouyang Feng

Ouyang Feng is a fictional character in Jinyong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes.

Nicknamed the Western Venom , Ouyang Feng was one of the "" of Wulin during the Southern Song dynasty.

Biography


* Family name: Ouyang
* Given name: Feng
* Nickname: The Western Venom
* Gender: Male
* Children: Ouyang Ke

Ouyang Feng's Martial Arts


Divine Toad Stance


A powerful skill used while harnessing a great amount of internal energy. It is believed to be equivalent to the power of Hong Qigong's Xiang Long Shi Ba Zhang.

Used to Neutralize and absorb the poison to increase internal energy.

Snake Staff


A powerful staff kung fu said to be the equal of the Dog Beating Stick.

Reverse Jiu Yin Zhen Jin


A reverse of the original Jiu Yin Zhen Jin taught to him by Huang Rong. Huang Rong reversed the manual highly sought by Ouyang Feng in a bid to kill him as it will cause him to go crazy and die. However, he mastered it and became more highly skilled but became mentally unstable though not killing him.

Roles


''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''


Ouyang Feng is the illegitimate father of Ouyang Ke . He and Yang Kang murdered five of the original seven Jiangnan Qi Guai on the Peach Blossom Island . He also indirectly caused Yang Kang's(楊康) death by refusing to cure him of one of his poisons in revenge for Yang Kang(楊康) killing his son. By learning a faked copy of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing, obtained from Guo Jing, with deliberate mistranslation from Huang Rong, Ouyang Feng became mentally unstable.

During the second duel on top of Mount Hua, Qi Gong exploited this fact and struck Ouyang Feng on the head with the Dog Beating Stick Technique. He became insane as a result. However, as a sign of martial prowess, he created his own unique fighting style that enabled him to fight enemies upside down with all pressure-points moved, rendering him quite above pressure point striking techniques.

''The Return of the Condor Heroes''


Ouyang Feng would later become the god-father of Yang Guo , whom he taught Divine Toad Stance and the fake Jiu Yin Zhen Jing too.

Ouyang Feng encountered Xiaolongnü and fought briefly with her before the fight is broken up by Yang Guo. In his bid to teach Yang Guo his martial arts and preventing Xiaolongnü to observe his teaching, he immobilized her using his skills . This indirectly led to Xiaolongnü getting raped by Zhen Zhi Bing of the Quan Zhen Sect .

Ouyang Feng met his end after a final duel with Hong Qigong on Mount Hua, with Yang Guo as the only witness. They fought for four days with no results, stopping only for meals cooked by Yang Guo. Eventually, they decided to compete using their internal energy which ended in a draw also. Both refused to claim defeat, each claiming that he still had many techniques left to defeat the other. For the next three days, they used Yang Guo as their proxy, each instructing him in their respective skills and Yang Guo will demonstrate the technique to his opponent. Thus, Hong Qigong would teach Yang Guo a stance from his Dog Beating Stick and Ouyang Feng would teach Yang Guo to counter with his own staff art. Ouyang Feng seems to be beaten by Hong Qigong when Hong Qigong unleashed his final Dog Beating Stick stance: No Dogs Under Heaven.

Ouyang Feng spent a whole night to think of a counter move and managed to think of a counter move. He then excitedly instructed Yang Guo to demonstrate it. Upon seeing his ultimate technique countered, Hong Qigong laughed uproariously and embraced Ouyang Feng in defeat, calling Ouyang Feng by his true name. On hearing his real name, Ouyang Feng broke out of his insanity, recognised Hong Qigong and remembered everything. He then died laughing in his embrace with Hong Qigong, who also died at the same time. Both have died after exhausting all their internal energies. They were then buried side by side on Mount Hua by Yang Guo. It was observed by Yang Guo that Ouyang Feng would have lost the duel in real combat as he would not have had the time to ponder and create a counter.

Mu Nianci

Mu Nianci is a supporting character from Jin Yong's famous work The Legend of the Condor Heroes. She is the love interest of the lead antagonist, Yang Kang . Mu Nianci is the foster daughter of Yang Kang's birth father, Yang Tiexin . Additionally, Mu Nianci is also the mother of Yang Guo , the protagonist in The Return of the Condor Heroes, the sequel of The Legend of the Condor Heroes. She died eleven years after she gave birth to her son.

Mu Nianci in the current edition of ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' is actually an amalgam of the original "Mu Nianci" and "Qin Nanqin" that was written out by Jin Yong. In the original edition, Mu Nianci was in love with Yang Kang, but she was not the mother of Yang Guo. Qin Nanqin was raped by Yang Kang. She would become a nun and traveled with Mu Nianci before settling down to raise Yang Guo. When Yang Kang was going to die of poison, the original Mu Nianci killed him out of pity and committed suicide next to him. Jin Yong stated that he believed Qin Nanqin's role to be unnecessary and decided to make them into one character in the later edition.

Biography


* Family name: Mu
* Given name: Nianci
* Gender: Female
* Adopted Father: Yang Tiexin
* Husband: Yang Kang
* Child: Yang Guo

Life

Mei Chaofeng

Mei Chaofeng is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''wuxia'' novel ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''. Known as the ''Iron Corpse'' due to her dark complexion and rigid appearance, She, along with her eloped husband Chen Xuanfeng , the ''Bronze Corpse'' , is one of the novel's main antagonists, heavily despised by the martial arts community for unethical behaviour. She died in battle against Ouyang Feng , attempting to save her teacher, Huang Yaoshi .

Biography


* Family name: Mei
* Given name: Chaofeng
* Nickname: Iron Corpse
* Gender: Female
* Husband: Chen Xuanfeng
* Martial Arts Disciple : Yang Kang

Mei Chaofeng's Martial Arts


Peach Blossom Island Martial Arts


As a disciple of Huang Yaoshi , learning martial arts at Peach Blossom Island, Mei Chaofeng learned the skills of Huang Yaoshi. It is unknown what skills she had learned from Huang Yaoshi.

''Nine Yin White Bone Claw''


Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng stole their master's, Huang Yaoshi , martial arts manual, ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' and learned to master the skills from the manual. Due to a lack of understanding of the manual and the desire to learn the skills in a very short time, she and Chen Xuanfeng train the skill of ''Nine Yin White Bone Claw'' without the training of internal energy. The wrong training of the skill and the lack of understanding of the manual led her and Chen Xuanfeng to practise a very evil way of training and eventually harm themselves.

Life


Mei Chaofeng was a disciple of Huang Yaoshi , one of the "" in the story. Mei Chaofeng fell in love with her fellow disciple, Chen Xuanfeng while on the Peach Blossom Island. As they were too afraid to seek their master Huang Yaoshi's approval for marriage, due to his ruthlessness and often-erratic nature, they decided to elope from the island and steal the second volume of their master's prized martial arts article, ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' , so as to become stronger than Huang Yaoshi and will not be pursued by him anymore.

Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng were persecuted by the rest of the martial arts community, primarily because of their unethical methods . Many more, however, were keen to obtain the prized manual. The couple were forced to flee to Mongolia, where they encountered mortal enemies Jiangnan Qi Guai , , headed by Ke Zhen'e . Ke Zhen'e had previously been blinded by Mei Chaofeng, and his brother slain. In the ensuing encounter, Ke Zhen'e returned the favor, blinding Mei Chaofeng. Chen Xuanfeng tried to even the odds; he took the young Guo Jing hostage. Guo Jing stabbed wildly at Chen, and was able to strike the navel, an area unprotected by Chen's peculiar martial abilities. Mei Chaofeng escaped with Chen Xuanfeng's body after Chen Xuanfeng was accidentally killed by Guo Jing. She then proceeded to remove the skin, which was tattoed with the manual of the stolen ''Jiu Ying Zhen Jing'', off Chen Xuanfeng's back

Mei Chaofeng continued to perfect her claw techniques in Mongolia but she was forced to flee again when she mistakenly thought she encountered , a powerful group of martial artists. The group she encountered was in fact the Seven Freaks, in collaboration of the head disciple of Quanzhen Ma Yu, aiming to scare her away from the area.

Mei Chaofeng found refuge in the courts of Wanyan Honglie , a prince and adopted father of Yang Kang . The young Yang Kang accidentally stumbled upon Mei's refuge; in exchange for Yang keeping the secret and providing fodder for her practice, Mei Chaofeng agreed to teach him the powerful ''Nine Yin White Bone Claw'' . Mei Chaofeng was herself crippled by incorrect application of the ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' when she chanced upon Guo Jing, at the time still her inferior in martial art skills. Mei Chaofeng was about to kill Guo Jing for his role in Chen's death, but when she found out Guo Jing knew the methods to cure her , she agreed to help Guo Jing fight off his enemies.

Eventually Guo Jing and the Seven Freaks would face off with Mei Chaofeng once again, and with Guo Jing's improved martial art skills, they managed to defeat Mei.

She was killed by Ouyang Feng by intercepting a fatal blow, as Ouyang Feng attempted to attack her master from behind during a battle with the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. Before dying, Mei Chaofeng shattered the bones and sinews in her bones in order to fulfill an earlier promise to her master. Before Mei Chaofeng died, Huang Yaoshi re-initiated her as a member of the Peach Blossom Island. It was a wish that every one of Huang Yaoshi's banished disciples greatly desired but ironically, all of these innocent brethren of Mei who had been implicated by her treachery never saw this wish fulfilled.

Lu Youjiao

Lu Youjiao is a character which appeared in the wuxia novels Legend of the Condor Heroes and Return of the Condor Heroes written by Louis Cha.

Lu Youjiao was first introduced as an elder of the Beggars' Sect. He was not very proficient in martial arts but was quite experienced with managing affairs in the sect due to having spent a long time in the sect.

In Legend of the Condor Heroes, Lu Youjiao appeared to have suspicion towards Yang Kang during the Beggars' Sect Meeting, when he claimed that he had inherited the position of chief of the Beggars' Sect from the previous chief Hong Qigong. Yang claimed that Hong Qigong had died and he was present at the deathbed, and Hong passed on the position of chief to him. Yang Kang wielded the Dog-Beating Stick, a symbol of authority in the Beggars' Sect which belonged to the chief. Since Yang had the stick in his possession, nobody else dared to defy him and acknowledged him as chief. Eventually, Yang Kang was exposed to have stolen the stick from Huang Rong, who was the rightful successor of Hong Qigong and Hong was still alive. Yang Kang fled and Huang Rong was truly acknowledged as chief of the Beggars' Sect when she demonstrated the Dog-Beating Skill with the stick, which was a skill that only the chief of the sect knew.

In Return of the Condor Heroes, Huang Rong wished to resign from her position as chief of the Beggars' Sect, and named her successor to be Lu Youjiao. Lu Youjiao succeeded Huang Rong as chief of the Beggars' Sect but only learnt a little of the Dog-Beating Skill from Huang Rong. When Huo Du and Jinlun came to the ceremony where a chief will be elected from all martial pugilists, Lu Youjiao had a fighting contest with Huo Du. Huo Du was unable to win Lu Youjiao even though Lu had not totally mastered the Dog-Beating Skill yet. Eventually, Huo Du played foul against Lu Youjiao and won the match. Later on in the novel, Lu Youjiao was revealed to have been lured and killed by Huo Du

He was said to have a pair of smelly feet, which would cause fierce dogs to avoid him due to the strong stench.

Lu Wushuang

Lu Wushuang is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''wuxia'' novel ''The Return of the Condor Heroes''. She is best known for being kidnapped by mortal enemy Li Mochou , forced to become her disciple, and for her romantic attachment to the novel's main male protagonist Yang Guo , which was unfulfilled because of Yang's unwavering commitment to Xiaolongnü .

Lu's family was massacred by Li Mochou, as Li sought revenge against a reneged promise of marriage. She escaped from Li after serving as her disciple, and during her travels met Yang Guo, and was attracted to Yang's carefree nature, especially after several close-encounters against their enemies.

Lu also has a cousin, Cheng Ying , who is a young disciple of Huang Yaoshi . Lu and Cheng would accompany Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü in their fateful journey to the Passionless Valley ; and they served to console a mournful Yang after the disappearance of Xiaolongnü.

Both cousins would reappear 16 years later to assist Huang Rong in her search for her daughter Guo Xiang. Lu Wushang was injured prior to the final siege on Xiang Yong.

List of characters in Condor Trilogy

This article contains a list of characters that have appeared in Jin Yong's ''Condor Trilogy''.

= ''Legend of the Condor Heroes'' =
* Bao Xiruo
* Chen Xuanfeng(陳玄風)
* Duan Tiande
* Duan Zhixing/Reverend Yideng
* Feng Heng
* Genghis Khan
* Guo Jing
* Guo Xiaotian
* Han Baoju
* Han Xiaoying
* Hao Datong
* Hong Qigong
* Huazheng
* Huang Rong
* Huang Yaoshi
* Hou Tonghai
* Ke Zhen'e (柯鎮惡)
* Li Ping
* Liang Ziweng
* Lingzhi Shangren
* Liu Chuxuan
* Lu Chengfeng
* Lu Guanying
* Lu Youjiao
* Ma Qingxiong
* Ma Yu
* Mei Chaofeng (梅超風)
* Mu Nianci
* Nan Xiren
* Ouyang Feng (歐陽鋒)
* Ouyang Ke
* Peng Lianhu
* Qian Qingjian
* Qin Nanqin
* Qiu Chuji
* Qiu Qianren (裘千仞)
* Qiu Qianzhang (裘千丈)
* Qu Lingfeng
* Quan Jinfa
* Sha Tongtian
* Shen Qinggang
* Sun Bu'er
* Tan Chuduan
*
* Wang Chongyang
* Wang Chuyi
* Wanyan Honglie
* Wanyan Hongxi
* Wu Qinglie
* Yang Kang (楊康)
* Yang Tiexin (楊鐵心)
* Yin Zhiping (尹志平)
* Ying Gu (瓔姑)
* Zhang A'sheng
*
* Zhou Botong (周伯通)
* Zhu Cong

= ''Return of the Condor Heroes'' =
* Cheng Yaojia
* Cheng Ying
* Da’er Ba
* Duan Zhixing/Reverend Yideng
* Fan Yiweng
* Feng Mofeng
* Gongsun Lü'e
* Gongsun Zhi
* Guo Fu
* Guo Jing
* Guo Polu
*
* Hao Datong
* Hong Qigong
* Huang Rong
* Huang Yaoshi
* Hong Lingbo
* Hou Tonghai
* Huo Du
* Jinlun Guoshi the Monk
* Ke Zhen'e (柯鎮惡)
* Kublai Khan
* Li Mochou
* Liang Ziweng
* Lin Chaoying
* Lingzhi Shangren
* Liu Chuxuan
* Lu Liding
* Lu Qingdu
* Lu Wushuang
* Lu Youjiao
* Lu Zhanyuan
* Ma Guangzuo
* Ma Yu
* Nimoxing
* Ouyang Feng (歐陽鋒)
* Peng Lianhu
* Qin Nanqin
* Qiu Chuji
* Qiu Qianchi (裘千尺)
* Qiu Qianren (裘千仞)
* Sha Tongtian
* Sun Bu'er
* Sun Popo/Grandma Sun
* Tan Chuduan
* Tianming the Monk
* Wang Chuyi
* Wanyan Ping
* Wu Dunru
* Wu Santong
* Wu Sanniang
* Wuse the Monk
* Wuxiang the Monk
* Wu Xiuwen
* Xiaolongnü
* Xiaoxiang Zi
* Yang Guo (楊過)
* Yelü Chucai
* Yelü Qi
* Yelü Yan
* Yin Kexi
* Yin Zhiping (尹志平)
* Ying Gu (瓔姑)
* Zhao Zhijing (趙志敬)
* Zhou Botong (周伯通)
* Zhu Ziliu

= ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' =
* Bai Guishou
* Chang Jinpeng
* Chang Yuchun
* Chen Youliang
* Cheng Kun
* Daiqisi
* Ding Minjun
* Du Dajin
* Fan Yao
* Fang Ping
*
* Han Qianye
* He Biweng
* He Taichong
* He Zudao
* Hu Qingniu
* Huifeng
* Huitong
* Jing Xuan
* Jueyuan
* Kongjian
* Kongwen
* Kongxing
* Kongzhi
* Lu Zhangke
* Miejue
* Mo Shenggu
* Shi Huolong
* Shuobude
* Song Qingshu
* Song Yuanqiao
* Wang Baobao
* Wang Nangu
* Wei Bi
* Wei Yixiao
* Wu Lie
* Wu Qingying
* Xiaozhao
* Xie Wuji
* Xie Xun
* Xu Da
* Yang Buhui
* Yang Dingtian / Yang Potian
* Yang Xiao
* Yellow Dress Girl
* Yin Li
* Yin Liting
* Yin Susu
* Yin Tianzheng
* Yin Yewang
* Yu Daiyan
* Yu Lianzhou
* Zhang Cuishan
* Zhang Sanfeng
* Zhang Songxi
* Zhang Wuji
* Zhao Min / Zhao Ming
* Zhou Dian
* Zhou Zhiruo
* Zhu Changling
* Zhu Jiuzhen
* Zhu Yuanzhang

=Unclassified yet=
* Dugu Qiubai
* Mingyue
* Pan Tiangeng
* Wei Tianwang
* Yuanxin

Lin Chaoying

Lin Chaoying is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''Condor Trilogy''.

Lin Chaoying is mentioned throughout the novel ''The Return of the Condor Heroes''. She was also briefly mentioned in chapter 1 of ''The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber''.

* Martial Arts: Jade Maiden Manual
* Status in Wulin: Founder of the Ancient Tomb School

History



Lin Chaoying, with her repertoire in martial art skills, had put herself in the top list of the foremost and greatest martial artists in that era, namely the famous Five Great Fighters such as the , the , the , the and the .

Lin Chaoying met Wang Chongyang earlier in her life and they were very close to each other. They corresponded while Wang Chongyang was at war with the Jurchens and most of the letters were still neatly kept by her. Later, she was responsible for forcing Wang Chongyang out of his long seclusion with severe scoldings after his great loss to the Jurchen armies.

Thereon, both of them roamed the realm of martial arts together to assist the helpless and would often practise martial arts together to develop their martial arts to a higher level. Both fell in love with each other, unfortunately their egos and pride got in their way. Lin Chaoying would often indirectly show hints of love towards Wang Chongyang, but due to bestowed responsibility to defend the Central Plain, he feigned ignorance thereby rejecting her. Lin Chaoying was deeply disappointed and angered, mistakenly thinking that Wang Chongyang despised her. In the end Lin Chaoying and Wang Chongyang agreed to have a battle to sort out all their differences. The two battled at Mount Zhongnan, exchanging several thousand moves. As Wang Chongyang held back, the two of them reached a draw.

Lin Chaoying proposed one final duel to end it all. If Wang Chongyang could defeat her, she would leave him alone by committing suicide. But if she won, he would have to either surrender the Ancient Tomb to her or become a Taoist priest or Buddhist monk and live near the Tomb for at least ten years. Her implicit intention was that if Wang Chongyang surrendered the Tomb to her, he would marry her and live in the tomb together. However, if he did not want to do this, he had to become a Taoist priest or Buddhist monk. In this way, she prevented him from marrying someone else.

Wang Chongyang agreed and asked how they should duel. Lin Chaoying said that whoever could write on a stone slab with his/her bare fingers would be the winner. Wang Chongyang knew he could not do it and admitted defeat. Lin Chaoying walked over and touched the slab a few times. By touching the slab, she had smeared a chemical substance on the slab making the stone soft. She then started to write a poem on the slab and smiled wryly to Wang Chongyang that he was destined to become a Taoist priest.

Lin Chao Ying won and Wang Chongyang surrendered the Tomb. Unexpectedly for her, Wang Chongyang became a Taoist priest the next day and lived on Mount Zhongnan.

This was the time when her breathtaking and unmatchable martial art skills vanished from Jianghu.

After she moved into the Tomb with a nameless young maid, who later became her first disciple, she explored the Tomb and discovered a strangely built stone chamber where Wang had carved a set of impressive martial art techniques. To counter and keep up with Wang’s skills, she came up with a complete genuine set of martial art, which she later called Scripture of Jade Maiden’s Heart. However, the techniques were never put into practice and the training itself too was never fully accomplished because it required two people to be in sync while training.

Decades later, she died in grief and of heartbreak. She consolidated and streamlined all her other martial art techniques and skills acquired during her lifetime. These were passed on to her nameless disciple who in return taught them to her own recruited disciples, Li Mochou and Xiaolongnü, the-heiress-to-be of Ancient Tomb Sect. Besides that, Lin too laid down a few strict rules for those who became the disciples of Ancient Tomb Sect. The nameless maid later hired an old servant, Grandma Sun, to look after Li and Long as well as to take charge of the tomb’s household matters.

Li Ping

Li Ping is a fictional character in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'', a novel written by Chinese author Jinyong. She is the mother of Guo Jing in Jinyong's novel.

Biography


* Family name: Li
* Given name: Ping
* Gender: Female
* Husband: Guo Xiaotian
* Children: Guo Jing

Life


She was the wife of Guo Xiaotian and committed suicide to prevent Genghis Khan forcing her son to attack their own country, the .

Li Mochou

Li Mochou is a fictional character from the ''wuxia'' novel ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'' by Jinyong.

Biography


* Family name: Li
* Given name: Mochou
* Gender: Female
* Disciple: Hong Lingbo

Her defense weapons and techniques


Palm of Divine Serpent


The ''Palm of Divine Serpent'' is a deadly technique that Li invented herself with essence of flame and contains venom extract from five most poisonous creature such as Centipede, Scorpion, Snake, Spider and Toad. Only by referring to The Manual of Five Venoms that Li experimented and documented could one purge the poison from victim's body.

Silver Needles of Freezing Soul


The ''Silver Needles of Freezing Soul'' is one of the techniques Li inherited during her training in Ancient Tomb. The frozen ice poison was carefully absorbed into the needles. If one merely touched, although not pricked, any part of the needle, his/her palm would immediately turn black — a sign of fatal poison

Fly Whisk


The ''Fly Whisk'' is an item that usually own by Taoist monks or nuns. This flexible technique too was inherited during her training in Ancient Tomb, which has specialized techniques using long, flexible weapons. Capable of drawing blood, breaking bones and causing internal injury as well as wrapping and removing the weapon of the opponent, it was one of her feared trademarks. However, she used it to fan the baby Guo Xiang-- the only nice thing she did with her whisk. In an English version of a TV series on KTSF 26, this weapon was called the "Horsetail Whisk".

Unparalleled Lightness of Ancient Tomb


This is the greatest technique of all the Ancient Tomb king fu.

Triple Non-existing Hands


The ''Triple Non-existing Hands'' is a skill she invented herself which she used against Yang Guo once. Comprises extremely vicious and cruel strikes that aim at the softest, weakest parts of the body .

Life


Li Mochou was the infamous third-generation disciple of Gumu Pai and was recruited by the young maid who became a Master herself after the death of Lin Chaoying , founder of the Sect. Because she was the first disciple, she was senior to Xiaolongnü , the chief protagonist of the novel.

In her younger days, Li Mochou met Lu Zhanyuan of the famous martial arts family, the House of Lu. Falling in love with him, she defied her master and left the Gumu Sect to be with him, resulting in her expulsion from the sect. However, Lu married He Yuanjun instead, and although Li Mochou attempted to break up their marriage, she was prevented by a powerful monk who made her put off her grudge for ten years. Swearing vengeance, she becomes a Taoist nun and became disdainful of love.

The novel began by describing how Li Mochou exacted vengeance on the Lu family some years after her lover Lu Zhanyuan and his wife died. After her act of murder, she kidnapped Lu Wushuang , Lu Zhanyuan's niece.

Li Mochou became infamous for her ferocious, merciless cruelty, which earned her the nickname of ''Serpent Demon'' . But due to her beauty and her apparent youth, some people also referred to her as ''Serpent Deity'' . With her fearsome and deadly ''Palm of Divine Serpent'' , the ''Silver Needles of Freezing Soul'' and ''Fly Whisk'' , she became irrational in her killings, including anyone with the name Lu and He.

Although she is the one of the most powerful female characters at the beginning of the novel, she is no match for Huang Rong and later Xiaolongnu who mastered " Yu Nu Xin Jing" in the later part of the novel.

Li Mochou took in a disciple by the name of Hong Lingbo whom she tasked to get the Jade Maiden Heart Manual of Gumu Pai . The plan failed when Xiaolongnü, with the help of Yang Guo , released a trap that would bury the tomb under the ground. Somehow Li and Hong managed to escape, and Li continued her vengeful ways.

Li's conflicted nature did not allow her to let go of her hate and desire for her Sect's prized martial arts secrets. She relentlessly pursued Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo for the manual but failed to lay her hands on it. Delirious from the Passion Flower, she finally meets her demise as she sees Lu's image in the fire at the Passionless Valley and walks into the fire.

Ke Zhen'e

Ke Zhen'e(柯鎮惡)is a fictional character in the novels, ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' and ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'', written by Chinese author Jinyong.
He is the leader of Jiangnan Qi Guai and the martial arts master of Guo Jing. Ke Zhen'e was blind and had a broken leg as results of a battle with Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng .

Biography


* Family name: Ke
* Given name: Zhen'e
* Gender: Male
* Disciple: Guo Jing

Life


Ke Zhen'e is described as ill-tempered and easily aggravated, and is best known for being blinded in combat against his mortal enemies, Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng. Due to his disability , Ke Zhen'e has developed a very acute sense of hearing, and is highly skilled in projectile weapons. His ability to fight while blind earned him the name "Sky-Flying Bat". He is the strongest of all the Freaks and his weapon of choice is an iron staff.

In Legend of the Condor Heroes


The Jiangnan Qi Guai first appeared in the novel ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' when they were summoned by Reverend Kumu to fight with Qiu Chuji. Qiu Chuji and the Jiangnan Qi Guai injured each other badly in the fight. Qiu Chuji and the Jiangnan Qi Guai decided to settle their disagreements in a competition, devised by Qiu, to track down Yang Tiexin's and Guo Xiaotian's unborn children and to teach them martial arts. The children were to compete against each other in martial arts when they reached the age of eighteen to determine whose tutor is stronger. The Jiangnan Qi Guai were to track down Guo Xiaotian's unborn child and train the child in martial arts.

Ke Zhen'e and the rest of the Jiangnan Qi Guai found Guo Jing, the son of Guo Xiaotian in Mongolia where they taught him their martial arts. While teaching Guo Jing, Ke Zhen'e and the rest of the Jiangnan Qi Guai encountered Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng and engaged them in battle. Ke Zhen'e managed to blind Mei Chaofeng with his poison darts. Chen Xuanfeng was killed by the young Guo Jing, who stabbed him with a dagger. However, Zhang A'sheng of the Jiangnan Qi Guai perished in the battle.

Eighteen years later, the Jiangnan Qi Guai went to China to meet Qiu Chuji as agreed. They won by default because Yang Kang refused to accept his biological father Yang Tiexin, but accepted his stepfather, Wanyan Honglie, a prince of the instead.

At the Peach Blossom Island, the rest of the Freaks was murdered by Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang. Ke Zhen'e believed that Huang Yaoshi, the master of the island, was responsible for killing them, and because of this, harboured an intense hatred of Huang Yaoshi and his daughter Huang Rong. Ke Zhen'e later learnt the truth when Huang Rong helped him obtain confessions from Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang.

In Return of the Condor Heroes


Ke Zhen'e later lived with Guo Jing and his family at the Peach Blossom Island. There, he helped them raise their children. Thirty years later, he revealed to Yang Guo at the ruined temple where Yang Kang died, that his father Yang Kang was a villainous traitor to his country, and responsible for the murder of five of the Jiangnan Qi Guai.

See also


* Condor Trilogy
* List of characters in Condor Trilogy

Jiu Yin Zhen Jing

Jiu Yin Zhen Jing , lit. ''Nine True Classic'' is a fictional ancient martial art article described by Jinyong's novels, the ''Condor Trilogy''.

Compilation History



Jiu Yin Zhen Jing was compiled by Huang Shang, a high-ranking official that served of Song Dynasty. The emperor ordered Huang Shang, a gifted scholar, to compile a book from numerous loose scrolls and ancient scriptures pertaining to psychic powers, healing techniques, martial art classics and philosophy. This compendium became the first volume of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. However, by reading and compiling the countless numbers of manuals, Huang Shang unknowingly enriched himself with Taoist knowledge and principles of internal strength , both of which, combined with his impressive intelligence, transformed him into a supremely powerful martial artist.

After that, the Song emperor ordered Huang Shang to lead an army to eradicate the Ming Cult, a sect originating in Persia who were conducting anti-government activities. The Song army proved unable to take the fortress, but Huang Shang fought the Ming Cult's most powerful fighters one-on-one and managed to defeat and kill nearly all of them until exhaustion finally forced him to retreat.

The Ming Cult, seeking revenge, sent their most powerful surviving martial artists to murder Huang Shang's family. An enraged Huang Shang vowed to eradicate the Ming Cult. For the next 40 years, Huang Shang dedicated himself to finding methods capable of neutralizing all of the Ming Cult's techniques. Additionally, because many of the Ming Cult members were affiliated with other martial art , Huang Shang had to develop techniques capable of neutralizing the techniques of those traditional schools as well.

Finally, Huang Shang succeeded in accomplishing this monumental task. Unfortunately, during the intervening years, his enemies had all died of other causes. Confronted with this reality, all Huang Shang could do was make a second compilation based on his 40 years of study; this became the second volume of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing.

The First Duel in Hua Shan



The two volumes of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing were not heard from again for many years, but when it reappeared, great chaos ensued. Top martial artists from all around stole and murdered one another in an attempt to get their hands on the manual, resulting in a tremendous amount of lives being lost. To prevent further loss of lives, a duel in Hua Shan was organised to decide the rightful owner of the manual. The Five Greats - ''Eastern Heretic'' Huang Yaoshi , ''Western Venom'' Ouyang Feng , ''Southern Emperor'' Duan Zhixing , ''Northern Beggar'' Hong Qigong , and ''Central Divinity'' Wang Chongyang - gathered at this summit and agreed that the winner of the tournament would gain sole possession of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing.

After a fierce, seven-day battle, Wang Chongyang won out and took possession of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. He incorporated some of the scripture's underlying principles into the techniques of his Quanzhen School , notably the precepts behind the big dipper formation, and in a final gesture of one-upmanship, he left a portion of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing capable of defeating the Gumu School in his former lover/rival Lin Chaoying's tomb.

Before passing away, Wang Chongyang left the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing in the care of his younger martial brother, Zhou Botong , beseeching him not to let it fall into the wrong hands. Wang Chongyang also stipulated that no member of the Quanzhen would be permitted to learn any of the techniques in the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing . ''Western Venom'' Ouyang Feng attempted to steal the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing, but was thwarted by Wang Chongyang himself shortly before the latter's death.

The history of the manuscript, up to this point, was told by Zhou Botong to Guo Jing when they were held up on Peach Blossom Island, in the novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes .

Leaking of the Manuscript



After Wang Chongyang's death, Zhou Botong traveled to Peach Blossom Island to warn ''Eastern Heretic'' Huang Yaoshi against stealing the manual. Huang Yaoshi's wife, who had the gift of photographic memory, memorized the text of the second volume of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing upon one viewing, then tricked Zhou Botong into thinking that the manual was a worthless fraud.

In a fit of anger, Zhou Botong destroyed the volume of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. Huang Yaoshi's wife copied the entire text for her husband from memory. Two years later, two of Huang Yao Shi's disciples, Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng , in love and fearful that Huang Yao Shi is against their relationship, were secretly planning to elope. They stole the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing and fled from Peach Blossom Island. Huang Yaoshi, angered at their betrayal, crippled the legs of his remaining students - Lu Chengfeng, Qu Lingfeng, and Feng Mofeng - and banished them from the island.

Huang Yaoshi's wife then attempted to produce a second copy of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing for her husband, but the strain of the task was too much for the pregnant woman as the text was only hurriedly memorised two years ago, and died after giving birth to their daughter, Huang Rong. Henceforth, Huang Yaoshi vowed to destroy anyone who dared to learn from the cursed book.

Meanwhile, Zhou Botong had learned that he had been fooled by Huang Yaoshi. For the next decade and a half, he would be an unwanted guest on Peach Blossom Island, repeatedly harassing Huang Yaoshi to turn the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing over to him.

Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng, not fully understanding the complex techniques of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing, were only able to master one aspect of the book, a deadly claw technique named Jiu Yin Bai Gu Zhao . As a result, they were constantly pursued by the numerous enemies they made in Jianghu, as well as by individuals eager to obtain the manuscript.

Fleeing to Mongolia, Chen Xuanfeng was mortally wounded by the six-year old Guo Jing, the newly recruited student of the Jiang Nan Qi Guai, who had stabbed Chen Xuanfeng in fright when he picked Guo Jing off the ground. Chen Xuanfeng had tattooed the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing text onto the skin of his own chest, and Mei Chaofeng skinned her husband and took the grisly text with her.

Guo Jing Comes to Possess the Manuscript



Years later, a battle between Mei Chaofeng and Guo Jing left this humanskin copy in Guo Jing's possession . When Guo Jing arrived on Peach Blossom Island to seek Huang Rong's hand in marriage, Zhou Botong tricked Guo Jing into memorizing the entire text of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. After Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong destroyed the remaining printed copies of the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing in the wake of a bitter argument, the complete Jiu Yin Zhen Jing existed only in the memories of Zhou Botong and Guo Jing.

''Western Venom'' Ouyang Feng, still seeking supremacy in the ''wulin'' , forced Guo Jing to produce a copy for him. Guo Jing produced a false copy of the manual for Ouyang Feng, with small changes that might escape the notice of a master martial artist. A few numbers were changed slightly, and some directions reversed. When Guo Jing and Huang Rong went to find Yideng to cure Huang Rong's internal injuries, the last few verses of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing were discovered to be a foreign language from the west . Yideng translated the language into Chinese. When Huang Rong was captured by Ouyang Feng to translate the obscure text, Huang Rong subtly changed the translation in her way. The result of all these inaccuracies was a boost in Ouyang Feng's sheer power, but at the cost of being driven to insanity.

Over the years, Guo Jing studied and practiced the principles of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. These principles, combined with his extensive kungfu knowledge, enabled him to rise to the highest ranks of the ''wulin''.

Guo Jing, his wife Huang Rong, and their allies defended Xiang Yang Fortress from the Mongol invaders for many years. Ultimately, seeing that the fortress would eventually fall, Guo Jing selected and copied powerful techniques that can be learned in a short period of time, including some from the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing, and placed these into the legendary weapon, the Heaven Sword . Guo Jing also the military textbook of the Sung Dynasty general Yue Fei into the Dragon Saber as described in the book .

The Heaven Sword became Guo Jing's legacy to his youngest daughter , who founded the E'Mei School . The secret to the Heaven Sword is passed down to the leader of the E'Mei School. A century later, it was the fourth-generation E'Mei Bai leader, Zhou Zhiruo , who retrieved the martial arts manual and used the Jiu Yin Bai Gu Zhao to wreak havoc upon the pugilistic world of her time. Near the end of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, a girl in yellow dress appeared and fought against Zhou Zhiruo using techniques from the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing. She is the descendant of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. Because the manual inside the Heaven Sword only contain a few techiniques of the book and Wang Chongyang left only a few sections of the book at Gumu School, there is no longer a complete copy of Jiu Yin Zhen Jing.

Jiu Yang Zhen Jing

In the wuxia universe created by Jinyong, the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing lit. 9 Yang True Classic, is a fictional martial arts manual, originating from the Sect. Those who study the martial arts contain within will have his Inner Strength improved tremendously.

This manual was first mentioned indirectly towards the end of ''Return of the Condor Heroes'', and formally appeared in the sequel ''The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Saber''. In the story, the manual was found by the protagonist Zhang Wuji, where it was stuffed into the stomach of a giant gorilla.

History


Jiu Yang Zhen Jing's history is sketchy. It has been rumored that Shaolin's founder, Bodhidharma or Da Mo, was the creator of the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing, but this has never been verified. The Jiu Yang theory was never written on a single book of its own. Rather, it was written between the lines of Lanvakatara Sutra, one of the many Buddhist Scriptures available in Shaolin. Therefore, its existence was unknown to the pugilistic world until the end of the The Return of the Condor Heroes storyline, when the Mongolian thugs Yin Kexi and Xiao Xiangzi stole the manual from Shaolin Temple. Despite the common belief about the buddhist origin of manual, Zhang Sanfeng doubted this as he delves further into the text. He noted that the philosophy inside is quite Taoist in nature. Zhang Sanfeng also pointed out that the text was written in Chinese characters rather than Sanskrit, the language Bodhidharma would had used. These principles also give Zhang Sanfeng inspirations, which lead to the creation of his Tai Chi Quan.

Shaolin librarian Jue Yuan and his young disciple, pursued Yin Kexi and Xiao Xiangzi to Hua Shan, where the newly-named New Five Greats were paying their respects to fallen Northern Beggar Hong Qigong and Western Venom Ouyang Feng.

With the help of Yang Guo, Zhang Junbao was able to thwart Yin Kexi and Xiao Xiangzi, but the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing was nowhere to be found. Unbeknownst to all present at Mount Hua, Yin Kexi had hidden the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing in the abdomen of a large ape. Later on, Yin Kexi and Xiao Xiangzi fought each other over the manual, a bloody duel that resulted in Xiao Xiangzi killed and Yin Kexi fatally wounded. On his dying words, Yin Kexi made a confession to Kunlun Sect elder He Zudao, asking him to tell the Shaolin people where the manual was kept. Yin Kexi, however, slurred the final statement, and instead of hearing "The book is in the monkey", He Zudao heard "The book is in the oil", which mystified everyone for a century.

Jue Yuan, as the Shaolin librarian, had already read the entire text of the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing and practising based on its principles , giving him extremely powerful inner strength. He also taught a small proportion of these principles to his apprentice, Zhang Junbao, giving him a powerful basic for kung fu learning. Three years later, there as was a challenger at Shaolin. None of the monks were able to defeat him, except Jue Yuan. However, because Jue Yuan was not authorized to learned martial arts, he had violated one of the rules in Shaolin, that is punishable by death. Thus, he and Junbao were to be put to death. Though he is willing to accept that sentence, he begged for Junbao's life but was denied. In desparation, Jue Yuan broke loose, and ran away with Junbao. , the youngest daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, happened to be a the foot of Shaolin and tried to defend Jue Yuan. They were however, no match for the full force of Shaolin temple as well as the fact that they didn't want to harm any of the attacking monks. Jue Yuan carried both away to safety but he overexerted himself. Before his death, he managed a deathbed recital of the text that was listened by Zhang Junbao, , and a high-ranking Shaolin monk named Wu Se. Each of them were able to memorize various parts of it. Because the natures and levels of their kungfu are different, their understandings of the text varied. Zhang Junbao and were able to incorporate various principles of the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing into their personal kungfu and the kungfu of the sects they eventually founded, Wudang Sect and E'Mei Sect, as did Wu Se for Shaolin.

No one, however, possessed the complete Jiu Yang Zhen Jing again for a century until the young hero Zhang Wuji, the injury-tortured son of Zhang Sanfeng's fifth student Zhang Chuisan, found the ape that Yin Kexi had hidden the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing in a century earlier . Kind-hearted and well-taught in medicine, Zhang Wuji liberated the books from concealment in the ape's abdomen. The 15-year old Zhang Wuji spent the next five years learning the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing; soon after the completion of his studies at age 20, he stumbled upon the sacred Ming Cult kungfu Qian Kun Da Nuo Yi , making him one of the most powerful martial artists of his time.

Huang Yaoshi

Huang Yaoshi is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''Condor Trilogy''.

Nicknamed the Eastern Heretic , Huang Yaoshi was one of the "" of Wulin during the Southern Song dynasty. He was a unorthodox radical, regarded as a cultural by his contemporaries, and loathed the dogma of cultural rites in Chinese society, admiring only genuine honour and pure love.

Biography


* Family name: Huang
* Given name: Yaoshi
* Nickname: The Eastern Heretic
* Gender: Male
* Wife: Feng Heng
* Children: Huang Rong
* Grandchildren: Guo Fu, Guo Xiang, Guo Polu

Huang Yaoshi's Martial Arts


Peach Flower Fallen Hero Palm


In later editions, it is known as ''Falling flower Divine Sword Palm''

Divine Flicking Finger


A technique of channeling a great amount of power into a single finger, and releasing it with a precise amount of control. Can also be used to propel objects with both force and accuracy.

Similar to Southern Emperor Yi Yang Zhe

Jade Flute Swordplay


A swordplay technique primarily focussed on attacking an opponent's acupoints.

Roles


''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''


His story in Louis Cha's novel begins not long after Zhou Botong acquired ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' . Huang had recently married a beautiful and supremely intelligent lady, Feng Heng , who was born with an excellent memory. After reading it, she told Zhou Botong that he had been tricked as the manual was nothing more than a book of childish rites; to prove her point, she recited verbatim the first few sentences. Not knowing of Mrs. Huang's photographic memory , Zhou Botong became angry and destroyed it. Thus, the Peach Blossom Island had the only remaining copy of that volume of ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing''.

Huang Yaoshi had six disciples: Chen Xuanfeng, Mei Chaofeng, Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng. Despite Huang's erratic personality, his six disciples loved him greatly. Huang appeared to have loved his disciples as well, but did not demonstrate his affection as visibly because of his erratic, mercurial moods. As it was, Huang would profess to like something very much one day, but the next would hate it ruthlessly without reason.

Two of his disciples, Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, had fallen in love and, having no idea how he would view such a relationship, were very afraid of informing Huang Yaoshi. When they decided to elope, they stole their master's copy of ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' in the hopes of developing their martial arts to a level at which they need no longer fear their master.

At that time, his wife, Feng Heng was pregnant . Upon discovering the theft, she decided to rewrite the manual from memory again, but the stress and effort added to the strain of her pregnancy, killing her during her birth labour. This drove Huang Yaoshi to near-insanity, and the consequences of it demonstrated the reason for his nickname: he shattered the leg bones of each of his remaining disciples , and drove them away from his island.

Though it was not mentioned, it is possible that the other servants became and deaf because of Huang. It is later made known that Huang Yaoshi had recruited the handicapped servants, who had been ostracized by their community, during his travels. However, in his bid to maintain his reputation, he did not publicize his good deed, instead, he spread rumours that the servants had been made deaf and mute by him.

Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng terrorised the Jianghu with their mastery of the terrible "Ninefold Yin White-Bone Claws" . Zhou Botong realised that he had been tricked by Huang, and returned to the Peach Flower Island to demand an explanation. Again, Huang Yaoshi demonstrated his personality by blaming Zhou for his wife's death, saying, "If you had not given the manual to my wife, she would not have memorised it, and felt the need to write it out for me."

Zhou Botong, because of his previous experience with Duan's consort, fueled the fury by saying, "I've done you a favour; now that your wife is dead, you'll have more time to improve your martial art skills!" The two broke out fighting, and Zhou Botong ended up being trapped inside the island's caverns. Huang Yaoshi then swore that he would kill Zhou Botong if he was able to force him out of the caverns. For the next twenty years, Huang Yaoshi preoccupied himself with this. Their animosity was largely resolved after Guo Jing's visit to Peach Blossom Island.

Huang Yaoshi also came to regret his banishment of the four innocent disciples and bade Mei Chaofeng find them and bring them back to Guiyun Mansion that belonged to his other disciple Lu Chengfeng so that they could learn the Cyclone Kicks which would heal their broken legs. However, Huang would never see any of his other disciples alive again as most of them had died. Qu Lingfeng was killed by an imperial guard; Wu Mianfeng had died of some illness; Chen Xuanfeng had been slain by Guo Jing. and Feng Mofeng was eventually slain by Jinlun Fawang.

''The Return of the Condor Heroes''


Huang Yaoshi makes several brief appearances, rescuing Cheng Ying from the clutches of Li Mochou, and teaching the protagonist Yang Guo two of his most famous skills. He also participates in the defense of Xiangyang 16 years later when the Mongolians under Kublai Khan invaded China.

Huang Rong

Huang Rong 黄蓉 is a fictional character in the novel, ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' written by Chinese author Jin Yong. She also plays an important role in the sequel, ''The Return of the Condor Heroes''.

In her first appearance, Huang Rong disguised herself as a young beggar dressed in filthy clothes. She dirtied her face with mud and covered her clothes in dust so as to look the part. Because of her trickster ways, she was often called by the people of jianghu as "rascal" or "muddy boy" without knowing her real identity. Later, when Guo Jing came near the river to look for her, Huang Rong appeared as she would normally appear, having an unearthly beauty and dressing in beautiful clothes.

Biography


* Family name: Huang
* Given name: Rong
* Gender: Female
* Birth: 1203
* Death: 31 January 1273
* Father: Huang Yaoshi
* Husband: Guo Jing
* Children: Guo Fu , , Guo Polu
* Other Family Member: Yang Guo (楊過)

Huang Rong's Martial Arts


Dog-Beating Stick Technique


The full set of the Dog-Beating Stick Technique were taught by Hong Qigong to Huang Rong when she took over as the next leader of the Beggar Sect

Roles


''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''


Huang Rong ran away from her home in Peach Blossom Island after an argument with her father, the powerful and knowledgeable ''Dong Xie'' Island Master Huang Yaoshi. She dressed herself in filthy rags and roamed Jiang Hu as a young beggar boy. She first met Guo Jing in an inn where she was causing some trouble. Feeling sorry for her pitiful state , Guo Jing offered to pay for her food and even gave her some of his gold ingots .

Huang Rong immediately saw that Guo Jing was a simple lad with an innocent heart, especially when he offered her his prized horse, a rare Mongolian breed, . She decided to secretly help him against the Four Fiends of the Yellow River and their martial arts uncle Hou Tonghai by tying them to a tree by the river. In addition, she more or less fell in love with him.

Huang Rong later met Guo Jing by that same tree after his duel with Yang Kang in the "Contest for a Spouse" staged by Mu Yi and his foster daughter, Mu Nianci.

In the beginning, Huang Rong's martial arts were more sophisticated than that of Guo Jing, who despite his raw strength was a slow learner. Huang Rong managed to get the great martial arts expert, ''Bei Gai'' Hong Qigong to train Guo Jing. Hong Qigong at first refused, having learned that Huang Rong was the daughter of his rival Huang Yaoshi. But Huang Rong enticed him with her outstanding cooking and delicious foods, which was Hong's greatest weakness, to teach Guo Jing each stroke of Xianglong Shiba Zhang with each day of food.

Later, Hong Qigong bequeathed his techniques to Huang Rong herself, and she competed with other Beggar Sect members for the position of Chief and Hong Qigong's successor. To win the match, she used some elements of the ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'', which she managed to procure with Guo Jing's help.

She had an indirect hand in the death of Yang Kang at Iron Spear Temple.

The novel ended with her father's final consent to the marriage between her and Guo Jing.

''The Return of the Condor Heroes''


Like Guo Jing, Huang Rong served as a supporting character in The Return of the Condor Heroes, the sequel to The Legend of the Condor Heroes. In the book, she was portrayed as a more mature version of herself with her trickster nature downplayed but with her woman's intuition and unmatched intelligence still evident.

The story focused on Yang Kang's son, Yang Guo, his love for his kung fu master Xiaolongnü, and his journey into manhood and eventual heroism. But ever the cautious one, Huang Rong did not take to Yang Guo as easily as her husband, knowing that the son may have the father's nature, and that he might take revenge against her and Guo Jing for his father's death.

But her mistrust was tempered by her husband's high regard for Yang Guo, whom he treated like a son, and dispelled entirely by Yang Guo's repeated selfless acts. Later, she taught Yang Guo the Dog Beating Stick Style, the secret technique of the chiefs of Beggar Sect. Yang Guo had learned the forms of the technique earlier on Mount Hua where Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng dueled to the death. Huang Rong taught him the principles and cleared up parts that he did not understand. With this help, Yang Guo was able to hold off Jinlun Fawang, the Mongolian Protector. After Yang Guo selflessly risking his life rescuing her daughter Guo Xiang from Mongolians' captive, she finally began to trust him. Unfortunately, when her eldest daughter cut off Yang's right arm in a fit of fury, Huang feared for her daughter's life: Yang was a powerful yet unpredictable foe.

Impact in wuxia literature


The women of Jinyong are, for the most part, character foils in that they only serve to help the male protagonists develop their characters. They are often there as love interests.

Huang Rong is arguably the only exception to this seeming rule. The book, ''Legend of the Condor Heroes'', portrayed her as a complex novel character while at the same time, the love interest of Guo Jing. Their pairing is even uncanny at first but as the story progresses, it is shown to the readers that Huang Rong and Guo Jing actually complement each other.

Huang Rong is considered to be the most intelligent character in Jin Yong's novels by the majority. Her intelligence is frequently mentioned in the , as well as her cleverness, mischievousness, and wiliness. Guo Jing's "dumbness" is also the pervading description of his character but "dumb" with good intentions.

Film and television series


Many actress have played Huang Rong, including:
* Michelle Yim
* Barbara Yung
* Idy Chan
* Susanna Au Yeung
* Athena Chu
* Zhou Xun
* Kong Lin
* Ariel Lin

Hong Qigong

Hong Qigong is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''wuxia'' novels, appearing in both ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' and its sequel ''The Return of the Condor Heroes''. He was best known for being the leader of the Beggars' Sect , and possessing the powerful martial arts technique ''Xianglong Shi Ba Zhang'' . With the Beggars' Sect primarily based in northern China, he earned the nickname ''Northern Beggar'' , and ranked among the in the novel. Unlike the other four supreme martial artists, Hong Qigong was very lazy. He rarely ever passed whole sets of his skills to others, but would teach a stance or two to anyone he found worthy, such as when he taught a fraction of his skills to Mu Nianci. He only took Guo Jing and Huang Rong as true disciples.

He was also known as the ''Nine-fingered Divine Beggar'' , after severing one of his fingers as a reminder of once delaying to save a righteous man's who is also his master and previous leader of the Beggars' Sect life because of his appetite.

Hong Qigong was known for his culinary skills and appreciation of fine food.

Biography


* Nickname: Northern Beggar
* Gender: Male
* Major Martial Arts Disciples : Guo Jing and Huang Rong

Hong Qigong's Martial Arts


Xianglong Shiba Zhang


# 亢龍有悔 / 亢龙有悔 Proud Dragon Repents
# 飛龍在天 / 飞龙在天 Flying Dragon in the Sky
# 龍戰於野 / 龙战于野 Dragon Fights in Plains
# 潛龍勿用 / 潜龙勿用 Hidden Dragon Waits Prudently
# 利涉大川 / 利涉大川 Successfully Cross the River
# 鴻漸於陸 / 鸿渐于陆 Swan Lands Gradually
# 突如其來 / 突如其来 Sudden Attack
# 震驚百里 / 震惊百里 Stun All within a Hundred Miles
# 或躍在淵 / 或跃在渊 Ascend or Retreat to Depths
# 神龍斎�/ 棒挑癞犬 Lift Mangy Dog with Stick
# 壓扁狗背 / 压扁狗背 Squash Dog's Back
# 天下無狗 / 天下无狗 All Dogs Vanquished

A set of thirty-six staff techniques, this skill set is proof of leadership of the Beggars' Sect. It was taught to Hong Qigong by the eighteenth Beggars' Sect Chief. Hong Qigong passed the full set to Huang Rong when he appointed her as the next leader. He taught the external forms to Yang Guo for his proxy duel with Ouyang Feng.

Fists of the Free


A set of fist techniques created by himself when he was young, Xiao Yao Quan is described to be a martial art that is swift and carefree, but has little power. This skill was taught to Mu Nianci.

Roles



The Return of the Condor Heroes


In his advanced age he left the affairs of his sect to his successors and travelled the world in search of culinary delights. On Mt. Hua he met Yang Guo and was impressed by the young man's integrity. Together they met Yang Guo's adopted father, the insane Western Venom, Ouyang Feng, one of the five greats. The two old rivals fought each other for four days, and only Yang Guo's timely interruptions with food kept things from escalating too far. Eventually the old animosity proved too much, and the two Champions matched their internal energies directly for a full day, coming to another standstill.

Exhausted, both fighters were too proud to back down, each claiming that he still had many techniques left to defeat the other. For three days, they used Yang Guo as their proxy, each instructing him in their respective skills and making the budding martial artist demonstrate the technique to his opponent. Thus Hong Qigong would teach Yang Guo a stance from his Dog Beating Stick and Ouyang Feng would teach Yang Guo to counter with his own staff art. Hong Qigong seemed to have won this odd duel when he unleashed his final Dog Beating Stick stance: No Dogs Under Heaven.

Eventually Hong Qigong was defeated by Ouyang Feng, who spent a night to think of a counter move. Upon seeing his ultimate technique countered, Hong Qigong laughed uproariously and embraced his enemy in defeat, calling Ouyang Feng by his true name. The two had been the most bitter of foes for their entire lives; with this final duel, they embraced one another, laughing, and died. He was then buried side by side on Mt. Hua by Yang Guo. It was observed by Yang Guo that Hong Qigong would have won the duel as in real combat, Ouyang Feng would not have had the time to ponder and create a counter.

Han Xiaoying

Han Xiaoying is a character in the wuxia novel Legend of the Condor Heroes written by Louis Cha.

She was the youngest and only female member of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan. Han Baoju, another member of the Freaks, was her elder cousin. Nicknamed the 'Yue Sword Maiden', Hao Xiaoying was an expert in martial arts, particularly in the Yue Maiden Swordplay. She was described in the novel as being chilvarous and friendly, with a much more masculine character as compared to other women of her time. She wielded a sword in battle.

Once, the Freaks made an agreement with Qiu Chuji to track down the widows and unborn sons of Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin respectively, train the boys into fine martial artists and meet again in eighteen years time for a contest between the two young men. After a long and hard period of searching, the Freaks eventually found Li Ping, the widow of Guo Xiaotian, and her son Guo Jing in Mongolia. The Freaks were initially overjoyed upon finding Guo Jing, but were disappointed when they found out that he was actually quite slow-witted and might not be able to learn martial arts well.

Han Xiaoying was known to be in love with Zhang A'sheng, a member of the Seven Freaks. Once, Zhang A'sheng was mortally wounded in a battle with the evil 'Twin Ghosts in the Black Wind'. Before his death, Han Xiaoying expressed her willingness to marry him with tears in her eyes but Zhang rejected her and died.

Nevertheless, the Freaks managed to teach Guo Jing some basic martial arts. Once, Guo Jing was mistaken for being in league with the evil Mei Chaofeng, who was responsible for the death of Zhang A'sheng. They had noticed that Guo Jing knew 'Neigong', or internal energy, when they realised that they had only taught him basic martial arts only and never taught him anything about neigong. The Freaks suspected that Guo Jing had been learning from Mei Chaofeng and laid an ambush, wanting to kill Guo Jing to prevent further trouble. Han Xiaoying was quite kind-hearted by nature and unwilling to kill her disciple Guo Jing, so she flung herself in front of Guo Jing to protect him. Eventually, the Freaks realised that they had wronged Guo Jing and had almost killed their disciple.

Later in the novel, Guo Jing left Mongolia with the Freaks and went to China where he had his own adventures. Han Xiaoying died by committing suicide with her sword on Peach Blossom Island along with Zhu Cong, Quan Jinfa, Han Baoju and Nan Xiren, whose deaths were caused by Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang.

Han Baoju

Han Baoju is a character in the wuxia novel Legend of the Condor Heroes written by Louis Cha.

Han Baoju was one of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan and was nicknamed 'Horse Deity' for his excellent skills in taming wild steeds and his strong passion and love for horses. He owned a precious steed and was also the cousin of Han Xiaoying, another member of the Seven Freaks. Also, Han Baoju was described to have a comically short and round appearance. Huang Rong even teased him once by calling him 'Shortie'.

He followed the other six Freaks to Mongolia in search of Guo Xiaotian's widow Li Ping and her unborn son Guo Jing. The Freaks had previously made an agreement with Qiu Chuji to track down the widows and unborn sons of Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin respectively, nuture the child into a fine martial artist and meet again eighteen years later for a contest between the two young men. After a long and harsh period of searching, the Freaks found Li Ping and the young Guo Jing and were overjoyed. However, they were not very pleased when they realised Guo Jing was quite slow-witted.

Nevertheless, they managed to train Guo Jing into a fine martial artist, equipped with the necessary skills to take on Yang Tiexin's son at the age of eighteen. Han Baoju was eventually killed at Peach Blossom Island along with Han Xiaoying, Nan Xiren, Zhu Cong, Quan Jinfa by Yang Kang and Ouyang Feng. He died under the 'Nine Yin White Bone Claws' of Yang Kang beside the coffin inside the tomb of Feng Heng. His horse died in the Peach Tree Grove at Ouyang's hands - his chains had also been shattered in that location, fulfilling what he had always taught Guo Jing: "the person is alive when the chain is whole; when the chain is not whole its master is no longer alive."

Guo Xiaotian

Guo Xiaotian is a fictional character in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'', a novel written by Chinese author Jinyong
He is the father of Guo Jing and the husband of Li Ping .

Biography


* Family name: Guō
* Given name: Xiaotian
* Gender: Male
* Death: November 1200 ''''
* Wife: Li Ping

Life


Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin were neighbours and sworn brothers. The bond between the two was so deep that they swore to each other their unborn children would become either sworn brothers or sisters or be married . One day they meet the Taoist priest Qiu Chuji and invite him in from the cold to share some drinks together. Qiu Chuji strikes up a fast friendship with the two young men and presented each with a dagger and promised to return to transfer his skills to their sons.

One evening, Song soldiers led by Duan Tiande arrived to arrest Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian as traitors. Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian resist but they are overmatched and Guo Xiaotian is killed eventually.

Guo Xiang (fictional)

Guo Xiang is a fictional character in ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'', a wuxia novel written by Jin Yong, and later mentioned in ''The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Saber''.

Biography


* Family name: Guo
* Given name: Xiang
* Gender: Female
* Birth: November 25, 1244 ''''/October 27, 1244 ''''
* Death: ''''
* Father: Guo Jing
* Mother: Huang Rong
* Husband: ''''
* Siblings: Guo Fu and Guo Polu

Life


Guo Xiang was the daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, younger sister of Guo Fu and the twin sister of Guo Polu. As an infant, she was later kidnapped by Li Mochou, who thought she was a daughter of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. Yang Guo, who begins to develop a fatherly love for the child, selflessly rescuing and protecting her from family's enemies despite the knowledge that her parents were possibly responsible of his father's death. After, she would become one of most important women in his life. She would meet Yang Guo again sixteen years later when she becomes deeply attracted to him in an innocent way. Yang Guo became very fond of her, in a brotherly manner, and gave her three Golden Needles guaranteeing the completion of three requests. Guo Xiang used the first to see Yang Guo's face , and the second to ask him to attend her 16th birthday. Eventually, she used the third to prohibit Yang Guo from committing suicide at Broken Heart Cliff when he thought his beloved wife was dead.

Like her sister, Guo Xiang also developed an affectionate feelings for Yang Guo. However, she knew that he loved only Xiaolongnü and his feeling for her were only brotherly. She sincerely wished Yang Guo happiness with Xiaolongnu. After Yang Guo succeeded halting the Mongolian Invasion on Xiangyang led by M?ngke Khan, he gave her his treasured weapon Heavy Iron Sword as a gift and Xiaolongnü gave her the twin swords Jun Zhi Jian (君子劍)and Shu Nu Jian (淑女劍). After Yang Guo and his wife left the city, she was unable to forget her feelings towards Yang Guo and tried to find the couple.

A few years after Yang Guo and Xiaolungnu departed from the Central Plains, she took to wandering to relieve her heartache. There, she reunited with a young Zhang Junbao and inadvertently started him on the path to becoming one of the finest martial arts masters. Zhang Junbao and Guo Xiang were able to incorporate various principles of the martial art manual ''Jiu Yang Zhen Jing'' into their personal kungfu and the kungfu of the sects they eventually founded, and . With ''Jiu Yang Zhen Jing'', she became a well-known heroine and a fine martial art master in her own right, able to rival her own father, grandfather, and Yang Guo.

Thirteen years later, after Mongolian troops finally conquered the Southern Song Empire under the leadership of Kublai Khan, her parents and brother have died defending the city of Xiangyang. However before that, her parents melted Yang Guo's sword and made it into the Dragon Sabre, they also melted Xiaolongnu's twin swords to make the Heaven Sword. Hidden within the Dragon Sabre and Heaven Sword was a map to the military textbook written by the late great Sung Dynasty general Yue Fei and a scroll detailing the powerful martial art ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' and . The former was given to Guo Polu while the latter was bestowed upon her. She became the founder of the Emei Sect, continuing her family's missions to defend her people from Mongolians' oppressions, and searching for her family's lost Dragon Sabre until the day she died. Her family's missions continue through her disciples and successors of the E'mei Sect in ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre''.

Name


Guo Xiang was named after the city of Xiangyang, by her mother Huang Rong, while her twin brother Guo Polu was named by his father Guo Jing.

Introduction


Guo Xiang is the second daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong. She was the founder of the martial arts sect .

Adaptations


Many actress have played Guo Xiang, including:
* Theresa Lee
* Lin Xiang-Ping , also known as Yvonne Lim who is a TV actress in Singapore
* Yang Mi

Guo Polu

Guo Polu was the son Guo Jing and Huang Rong, and brother of Guo Fu and . He was a minor character from The Return of the Condor Heroes and the first owner of the Dragon-Slayer Sabre. He died with his parents after Xiangyang was conquered by Mongolian army.

Biography


* Family name: Guo-
* Given name: Polu
* Gender: Male
* Death: 31 January 1273
* Father: Guo Jing
* Mother: Huang Rong
* Siblings : Guo Fu,

Guo Jing

Guo Jing is the fictional main character in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'', a novel written by Chinese author Jinyong. He also plays a supporting role in the second part of the ''Condor Trilogy'', ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'' . He is a fictitious descendant of an illustrious military family, the Guo Clan of the Tang Dynasty.

Biography


* Family name: Guō
* Given name: Jìng
* Nickname: The North Hero
* Gender: Male
* Birth: November 1200 ''''
* Death: 31 January 1273
* Father: Guo Xiaotian
* Mother: Li Ping
* Wife: Huang Rong
* Children: Guo Fu, , Guo Polu
* Other Family Member: Yang Guo , Zhou Botong
* Martial Arts Disciples : Wu Xiuwen and Wu Dunru
* Martial Arts Masters: Jiang Nan Qi Guai, Hong Qigong, Zhou Botong

Character Description


Guo Jing is described in the story as having thick eyebrows and large eyes, of sturdy and strong stature, and a complexion that is somewhere between dark and fair. He is frequently described as "dumb", "slow", and inarticulate, thereby the complete opposite of his love interest, the clever and witty Huang Rong.

His most distinguishing feature, apart from his slowness, is his constant strife for moral rectitude . Being a Mongolian-raised boy in the Legend of the Condor Heroes, he considered personal loyalty to be the highest virtues. In the Return of the Condor Heroes, the now matured and intelligent Guo Jing was very devoted to serving the people of his birth country.

Guo Jing's Martial Arts


By the time he reached middle age, Guo Jing was among the most accomplished and powerful martial artists of his era. He had a broad and deep body of martial arts skills that was unsurpassed among the martial artists of the Central Plains. At the end of ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'', he takes his place among the five great martial artists, known as ''Northern Hero'' , the successor of his teacher ''Northern Beggar'', Hong Qigong , for his years of devotion in defending the Song Dynasty. His repertoire included:

Mongolian Archery and Wrestling



Guo Jing was among the finest archers in the Mongol Empire, having trained with the great Mongolian archer and military leader Jebe for over a decade. Guo Jing famously shot down two eagles with a single arrow during his youth in Mongolia. He was also an accomplished wrestler in the Mongolian style of wrestling.

Martial arts of the Jiangnan Qi Guai



Guo Jing's first introduction to the martial arts of his Chinese homeland came from the Jiangnan Qi Guai - seven martial artists from the southern Chinese city of Jiaxing who located Guo Jing at the age of six and trained him in their various martial arts so that when Guo Jing turned eighteen years of age, he could compete against Yang Kang , the student of Quanzhen Taoist Qiu Chuji . The Jiangnan Qi Guai were not elite martial artists, but their early training provided Guo Jing with a good foundation for the more advanced martial arts he would learn later in his life.

Quanzhen Pai Wu Gong



Quanzhen Sect elders Ma Yu , Qiu Chuji , and Wang Chuyi taught Guo Jing various aspects of the Quanzhen Sect's martial arts, such as their ''qigong'' techniques. He was also able to grasp the essence of the famed ''Big Dipper Formation'' after reading the 9 Yin Manual and watching the formation used in real combat.

Xianglong Shiba Zhang



# 亢龍有悔 / 亢龙有悔
# 飛龍在天 / 飞龙在天
# 龍戰於野 / 龙战于野
# 潛龍勿用 / 潜龙勿用
# 利涉大川 / 利涉大川
# 鴻漸於陸 / 鸿渐于陆
# 突如其來 / 突如其来
# 震驚百里 / 震惊百里
# 或躍在淵 / 或跃在渊
# 神龍擺尾 / 神龙摆尾
# 見龍在田 / 见龙在田
# 雙龍取水 / 双龙取水
# 魚躍於淵 / 鱼跃于渊
# 時乘六龍 / 时乘六龙
# 密雲不雨 / 密云不雨
# 損則有孚 / 损则有孚
# 履霜冰至 / 履霜冰至
# 羝羊觸藩 / 羝羊触藩

The famous and fearsomely powerful martial art of the Beggars' Sect. It was created using the principles from the Book of Changes . It was taught to Guo Jing by ''Northern Beggar'' Hong Qigong , then the eighteenth reigning Beggars' Sect Chief and one of the five greatest martial arts masters of the time. It is mentioned in the novel that this technique is the single most powerful or external style martial art in the world, being unmatched in its sheer power. ''Xianglong Shi Ba Zhang'' became Guo Jing's most powerful martial art skill and his default fighting technique.

Kongming Quan



These skills were taught to Guo Jing by his sworn brother Zhou Botong at Peach Blossom Island . ''Kongming Quan'' gave Guo Jing an alternate attacking skill to ''Xianglong Shi Ba Zhang.'' The novel also describes this attack as the polar opposite of ''Xianglong Shi Ba Zhang'', being the epitome of the neijia martial arts, unmatched in subtlety and yet equal to the ''Xianglong Shi Ba Zhang'' in power and ingenuity of style.

Shuang Shou Hu Bo


Zhou Botong also taught Guo Jing the skills of ''Shuang Shou Hu Bo'' at Peach Blossom Island. This enabled Guo Jing to simultaneously use a different martial art with each arm, often bewildering and overwhelming his enemies in the process. This also means that fighting him is akin to battling 2 opponents at the same time, effectively increasing his combat prowess, even though he is not necessarily more powerful.

Jiu Yin Zhen Jing



The most coveted martial art of its era, which included incredible ''qigong'' cultivation techniques and extraordinary martial art skills. Mastering the lessons of this text enabled Guo Jing to maximize the potential of the various skills he learned, such as alternating hard and soft blows with his 18 Dragon-Subduing Palms, which enabled him to last longer in high-level fighting. This manual ultimately enabled Guo Jing to become one of the greatest martial arts masters of his age.

Peach Blossom Island Martial Arts



After his marriage to Huang Rong , Guo Jing also learned the martial arts of his father-in-law, ''Medicine Master Huang,'' Huang Yaoshi . It is uncertain whether Guo Jing learned his father-in-law's complete set of martial arts, but at the very least, Guo Jing did learn Huang Yaoshi's finest and most celebrated martial art: the ''Divine Finger Thrust'' . Peach Blossom Island Martial Arts is extremely complicated and requires a high level of intelligence to master which does not suit Guo Jing's style of "power within simplicity".

Roles


The Legend of the Condor Heroes



The book follows Guo Jing's formative years in the steppes of Mongolia, where his mother, Li Ping fled after the attacked .

Being a pleasant-mannered child, Guo Jing befriended Tolui, the son of Genghis Khan and became sworn brothers with him. Later on, after Guo Jing learned martial arts from the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, the Khan came to rely on him as a loyal follower.

But because of a promise made years ago, Guo Jing left Mongolia for country to meet Yang Kang, the lost son of his father's sworn brother. And here began Guo Jing's journey from an obscure lad in the steppes to a martial arts hero, revered by the citizens of .

The Return of the Condor Heroes


The story follows several years after the end of The Legend of the Condor Heroes. Now a prominent figure in South Song's military, Guo Jing is faced with the task of raising the orphaned son of his deceased sworn brother, Yang Kang. The boy was named Yang Guo, which means to "correct mistakes" .

This story focuses on the forbidden relationship between protagonists Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü . However, Guo Jing and his wife Huang Rong play active supporting roles, serving to shape the characters of the main protagonists, as well as provide conflict .

In the story, Guo Jing and Huang Rong had three children, a daughter named Guo Fu, and in the later part of the story, fraternal twin sister and brother, and Guo Polu, both with meaningful names. Xiang was named after the besieged city of Xiangyang on the banks of the Han River, a crucial point in the control of the waterways of the Southern Song as a main tributary into the Yangtze River. means "to defeat or drive away the barbarians", pertaining at the time to the "Mongols". appeared briefly in the third installment of the Condor trilogy, The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Saber.

The Birth and Death


Guo Jing's birthday cannot be determined exactly. There are conflicts among different chapters in the novels. His birthday must be in month 10. According to chapter 3 in ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'', ''"the moon rose high in the sky at midnight"'', so the birthday should be a full moon or approximately full moon day, may be day 11 to 20 in Chinese calendar. All these days in month 10 in possible birth years in western calendar is in November. So Guo's birthday should be in November, 1188/1196/1200/1201.

According to ''Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber,'' Guo Jing died exactly on the day Xiangyang was conquered. According to history, Xiangyang was conquered on the day ''Yichou'' of month ''Zhengyue'', 1273 .

Film and TV Adaptations


Many actors have played the role of Guo Jing in film and television productions, including:
* Alexander Fu Sheng
* Felix Wong
* Julian Cheung
* Li Yapeng
* Hu Ge

Guo Fu

Guo Fu is the eldest and spoiled daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong in novel, The Return of the Condor Heroes. She is also the elder sister of and Guo Polu .

Biography


* Family name: Guo
* Given name: Fu
* Gender: Female
* Father: Guo Jing
* Mother: Huang Rong
* Husband: Yelü Qi
* Siblings: and Guo Polu

Life



Guo Fu was not as intelligent as her mother although as beautiful. She constantly made trouble for her family, and constantly bullied the young Yang Guo with Wu Xiuwen and Wu Dunru as a child. Almost ten years later, she was reunited with Yang Guo and became infatuated with him. However, Yang Guo by then was in love with Xiaolongnü . When Yang Guo rejected her father's proposal of her marriage to Yang Guo, she was deeply offended.

When Yang Guo was poisoned, she believed he wanted to trade her younger infant sister, Guo Xiang, for the antidote to his poison. Furthermore she learned that Yang Guo had told Wu Xiuwen and Wu Dunru that Guo Jing agreed for him to marry her, not knowing that Yang Guo was only trying to stop the two brothers from fighting each other to the death for her. She told him about his mentor's rape incident in a rage, and Yang Guo slapped her in the face. They fought briefly, but having been poisoned, Yang Guo did not have strength to resist. Putting his arm up to defend himself against Guo Fu's sword, Guo Fu severed Yang Guo's right arm. Later, Guo Jing wanted to punish her by cutting her arm off, he was only stopped by his wife, Huang Rong.

She married Yelü Qi , who later became the new leader of Beggars' Sect . At the end of the novel she finally was at peace with Yang Guo after he rescued her husband from the Mongolian army.

It is unknown of her fate after Xiangyang was finally conquered, since her parents and brother died after defending the city.

Feng Heng

Feng Heng is a fictional character in Jinyong's ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''. She is the wife of the Eastern Heretic , Huang Yaoshi .

Biography


* Family name: Feng
* Given name: Heng
* Gender: Female
* Death: 1203
* Husband: Huang Yaoshi
* Children: Huang Rong

Life


A beautiful and supremely intelligent lady, Feng Heng , was born with an excellent memory. She married Huang Yaoshi and subsequently met Zhou Botong. After reading the ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' from Zhou Botong, she was able to memorise the whole manual. She tricked Zhou Botong that the manual is just a book of childish rites and to prove her point, she recited verbatim the first few sentences to convince Zhou Botong. Zhou Botong was convinced and destroyed the manual in a fit while she wrote the whole manual from memory for Huang Yaoshi.

After the ''Jiu Yin Zhen Jing'' was stolen by Huang Yaoshi's two disciples, Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng , she re-wrote the manual from memory again for Huang Yaoshi. As she was pregnant , the stress and effort to re-write the manual from memory added to the strain of her pregnancy. The added stress and effort killed her during her difficult child labour.

Dugu Qiubai

Dugu Qiubai was a fictional character mentioned in three of Jin Yong's novels. He was given the nickname "''Sword Devil''" to reflect his skill and devotion in swordsmanship. Dugu Qiubai's surname, 獨孤, is a last name from a tribe in northern China. As individual words, the word 獨 means single, and 孤 means alone. His name, 求敗, means "seeking defeat". It is generally assumed that he gave this name to himself in his later years, when he could find no one to best him.

Introduction


Dugu Qiubai never made an appearance in any of Jin Yong 's novels. However, he is mentioned in details in the Return of the Condor Heroes and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, and very briefly in the Deer and the Cauldron. He supposedly achieved the philosophical level of "swordsmanship without a sword" and is usually considered as the best swordsman in Jin Yong's novels. His swordsmanship styles were passed on indirectly to the protagonists of ''the Return of the Condor Heroes'' and ''the Smiling, Proud Wanderer''.

His Dugu Nine Swords was described in Smiling Proud Wanderer, used by Linghu Chong , which contains nine forms to defeat or overcome any types of attack. It based on the principle of "no patterns beats any pattern" because one cannot predict a move which does not have a pattern. Therefore, in theory this technique of fighting has no style and cannot be beaten .

The Dugu Nine Swords are all about offensive moves. The idea is that when one forces one’s enemy to have no other choice but to defend himself, there is no need to defend one’s self.

Although each move was just one stance, it had endless variations. The more one learns, the more powerful it becomes when one comprehended the connections between each stance. The last three stances are said to be the most difficult ones.

Nine Stances




To master these sword techniques, the key lies on comprehension and not simply rigid memorizing. Once the essence of the sword techniques is understood, it can be used in endless ways, hence the idea of no pattern as a stance. Thus during combat, the more these stances are forgotten, the less restricted the practitioner becomes by the original stances.

Dugu Qiubai has another technique, namely the Heavy Sword Technique. It was used by Yang Guo and has a rigorous requirement on qi energy. This technique emphasizes that simple actions, when accompanied by potent qi exertion, can be more effective than the most complicated forms of attacks.

The Heavy Sword Technique requires the Heavy Sword to perform. It is stated in the book when Yang Guo was learning this technique, he commented that average swords would be broken right away once he exerted/ channelled his qi energy into the sword. The weight of the Heavy Sword would also boost the power of his thrusts and swings.

It should also be noted that Yang Guo managed to meet the qi energy requirement to attain Heavy Sword Technique by following the qi training process Dugu Qiubai undertook . Later on,Yang Guo became one of the most powerful qi practitioners in his time. This can be used as the basis to evaluate the qi energy power of Dugu Qiubai.

The Debate



It was argued among fans that whether the Dugu Nine Swords or the Heavy Sword Technique is more advanced. While there is not a definite answer to this question, there is a reference in the session during an interview:

Question: ''Did Yang Guo manage to learn Dugu Qiubai's swordsmanship? How advanced he was in the area of martial arts?''

Answer : ''Partly because Dugu Qiubai had not passed on a complete record/script, his swordsmanship was not very strong. Yet his qi energy was stronger than Linghu Chong, as he had been training in the waterfall for sixteen years.''

The Tomb of Swords



Dugu Qiubai wrote about himself :

''"Having roamed the martial arts world for more than thirty years, I have killed all my villainous foes and defeated all heroic champions, under Heaven there's no one who can be my equal. Without any other choice, I could only retreat and live in seclusion in this deep valley, with a condor as my companion. Alas, throughout my life I searched for a match in vain. Unbearable loneliness is my destiny. ~Demonic Swordman Dugu Qiubai"''

In his Sword Tomb, it is stated:

''"The Demonic Swordsman Dugu Qiubai has become the invincible and unchallenged warrior under Heaven, he therefore buried his swords here. Alas, the heroes of the realm bowed down before me, now my long sword is of no use anymore... the agony!"''

;The first sword: "Fierce and aggressive, able to penetrate every obstacle. With it, I competed with the heroes of the Northern Plains during my teenage years."

;The second sword: "The Violet Flexible Sword, used it prior to the age of thirty. I accidentally wounded a righteous man with it, it turned out to be a Weapon of Doom. I felt great remorse and abandoned the sword in a deep valley."

;The third sword: "The Heavy, Blunt Sword, complexity is useless. Before I reached the age of forty, I used it to roam the entire Empire under Heaven."

;The fourth sword: "After the age of forty, I no longer relied on weaponry. Trees, bamboo and rock can all be my swords. From then on, the essence of my cultivation slowly reached the level of overcoming the sword without a sword."

Film and Television


Film


He appeared in a movie, Ashes of Time, filmed by Wong Kar Wai with permission from Jinyong who received credit as co-writer, wherein he wasn't actually a "he" but a "she." The movie was a prequel to the Legend of the Condor Heroes. Due to some minor deviations from the novel, some do not consider the movie canon.

Dugu Qiubai is here presented as a woman, Murong Yan, who developed a severe split personality--one male, one female--upon having her heart broken by Huang Yaoshi. They had met while she was pretending to be a man. When Huang Yaoshi stated in a drunken daze that if Murong Yin, her alter ego, had a sister, he would marry her. They agreed to meet later, but he stood her up, which drove her crazy. In a later scene she mistakes Ouyang Feng for Huang Yaoshi, and he does not correct her, telling her that she couldn't hold something "he" said when "he" was drunk against "him." She then asks Ouyang Feng to lie to her when she asks him if he loves her the most. Eventually, she wanders off, and it is stated that she became a mysterious swordsman said to practice against her own reflection.

Television


TVB filmed a TV series on Dugu Qiubai, but the story was created by TVB and is by no means considered canon.

Duan Zhixing

Duan Zhixing was the King of between 1172 and 1200.

In fiction



Duan Zhixing, as the Buddhist monk Yideng , is a fictional character in the ''Condor Trilogy'', a wuxia trilogy by Jinyong. He is one of Five Supreme Martial Artists in the novel, along with Huang Yaoshi, Ouyang Feng, Hong Qigong, and Wang Chongyang.

''The Legend of the Condor Heroes''



In ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'', Duan Zhixing was born into the royal family that ruled over the small southern Kingdom of Dali. In the Jin Yong universe Duan Zhixing like his predecessors was not only heir apparent to the Dali throne, but also a prominent participant in the affairs of the bohemian world of Jianghu.

The Duan family awed the martial arts world with their Yi Yang Finger , a martial art which had evolved through the Duan family's own unique way of striking acupuncture points. The highest level of the Yi Yang Finger could emit lethal ''qi'' from one's fingers.

Duan Zhixing was extraordinarily proficient in his art and became one of the Five Supreme Martial Artists. So great was his power and integrity that he was entrusted by the aging Wang Chongyang with the task of controlling the evil Western Venom ''Ouyang Feng''. The other Champions were either too mercurial in nature or could not be trusted with the task, and furthermore there was only two martial arts in the world which could definitively curb the techniques of Western Venom: Wang Chongyang's First Heaven Art and Duan's Yi Yang Finger. Wang took his younger martial-brother Zhou Botong with him to the Dali palace where he spent several months exchanging arts with the royal pugilist.

However, during this time Zhou Botong had an affair with Duan's consort, Liu Yinggu. Zhou did not know that this woman was the king's consort and fled the palace out of shame. The consort Liu Yinggu became pregnant with Zhou's child and despite being confined to quarters by Duan , was still very happy to have had a child by Zhou Botong.

After the child's birth, Qiu Qianren, believing the child to be the royal heir, attacked him at night. Qiu sadistically left the child mortally wounded but alive, in the hopes that Duan Zhixing would spend his prodigious energies in rescuing the baby's life. Liu begged Duan Zhixing to save her child. At that time he was due to go to a duel that would determine the fate of many, yet out of his love for Liu Yinggu, he relented. Just as he was about to begin treating the baby, he saw the love poem that Liu Yinggu had embroidered onto the clothing of her baby. Jealousy and anger filled Duan Zhixing who then refused to save the baby, shouting how unfair it was for him to save the baby of an adulterous affair and allow Liu and Zhou to spend the rest of their lives in happiness, while he would spend his in exhaustion and solitude. The baby died that night and Liu Yinggu's hair turned white overnight out of grief. She declared her undying hatred for Duan Zhixing and swore to kill him one day.

Duan Zhixing woke up from his jealousy afterwards and realised what he had done. The Duan family were traditionally deeply devoted Buddhists and once Duan Zhixing realised what he had done he was shaken to the core of his being. He therefore tidied up his affairs and decided to follow an ancient tradition of the royal family - becoming a monk. His Buddhist name was Yideng, meaning Solitary Light, possibly an allusion to his art. For decades afterwards Yideng did not involve himself in any affairs outside of his spiritual contemplation. His good friend Hong Qigong was present at his initiation so word was spread out to Jianghu not to disturb the Southern Emperor anymore.

Duan Zhixing inspired such devotion from his subjects that four of his most trusted ministers resigned their posts to become Duan's disciples. They could thus continue protecting and serving the man who would always be their lord and master. Their former posts include Chancellor of State and Commander of the Royal Guard.

Years later the dispute between Liu and Duan would end through the interference of Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Duan would also become master to the repentant Qiu Qianren.

''The Return of the Condor Heroes''



Still later, Yang Guo would help mend the rifts between Liu Yinggu and Ci'en , as well as between Liu and Zhou Botong.