The following is a list of characters from Liang Yusheng

Liang Yusheng

Chen Wentong , better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century .-Biography:Chen was...

's wuxia

Wuxia

Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...

novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. Some of these characters also appear in Saiwai Qixia Zhuan

Saiwai Qixia Zhuan

Saiwai Qixia Zhuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first published in China in January 1984. The novel is closely related to another of Liang's works, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Baifa Monü Zhuan.-Plot:...

and Qijian Xia Tianshan.

Main characters

• Lian Nichang (練霓裳) - nicknamed "Jade Rakshasa
  Rakshasa
  A Rakshasa or alternatively rakshas, is a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirit in Hindu and Buddhist religion...
  
  " (玉羅剎). She was raised by wolves as an infant and later adopted and tutored by Ling Muhua. Her prowess in swordplay and qinggong is legendary, and she uses her skills to deliver justice like a vigilante. Though beautiful in appearance, she is deadly, as her sword movements are extremely brutal and aggressive. She also metes out draconian punishments and torturous deaths to her enemies, causing her to be seen as a menacing demoness in the jianghu
  Jianghu
  The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
  
  . She becomes known as the "White Haired Demoness" (白髮魔女) after her hair turns white.

• Zhuo Yihang (卓一航) - son of Zhuo Jixian. He comes from a family of scholars and grows up to become a cultured and refined gentleman. He learns swordplay from Taoist Ziyang and later succeeds the latter as leader of the Wudang Sect
  Wudang Sect
  The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains...
  
  .

• Yue Mingke (岳鳴珂) – a military attaché
  Military attaché
  A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
  
   serving under General Xiong Tingbi. He was tutored in martial arts by Huo Tiandu and becomes a formidable swordsman. He joins the protagonists in opposing Wei Zhongxian, and becomes a fugitive after Xiong Tingbi was wrongly put to death. He becomes disillusioned with human society after witnessing the tragic death of Tie Shanhu and becomes a monk, renaming himself "Reverend Huiming" (晦明禪師). He travels to Mount Heaven
  Tian Shan
  The Tian Shan , also spelled Tien Shan, is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak , ....
  
   and settles there, spending his time studying martial arts.

Wudang Sect (武當派)

• Five Elders of Wudang (武當五老)
  • Taoist Ziyang (紫陽道長) - leader of Wudang and Zhuo Yihang's teacher. He is highly respected by his contemporaries not only for his prowess in martial arts, but also for his humility. He is succeeded by Zhuo Yihang as leader of Wudang.
  • Taoist Huangye (黃葉道人)
  • Taoist Baishi (白石道人) - an egoistic and arrogant individual. He sees Lian Nichang as inferior and unworthy of Zhuo Yihang's love. He intends to marry his older daughter to Zhuo Yihang and often seeks to create opportunities for them to start a romance, but his daughter marries Li Shenshi eventually, much to his dismay. He is captured by the lamas of the Heaven Dragon Sect and brought to Fengsha Castle. Lian Nichang saves him but he is reluctant to thank her and simply agrees not to interfere in her relationship with Zhuo Yihang anymore.
  • Taoist Hongyun (紅雲道人)
  • Taoist Qingsuo (青蓑道人)

• He Qixia (何綺霞) - Baishi's younger sister. She becomes a nun on Mount Song
  Mount Song
  Mount Song, known in Chinese as Song Shan , is one of the Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism and is located in Henan province on the south bank of the Yellow River in China...
  
   and adopts the name "Abbess Cihui" (慈慧師太) after her husband Li Tianyang divorces her to purse his career. She hates Li Tianyang and refuses to leave with him when he attempts to sweet-talk her into returning to him. She eventually reconciles with her husband with help from her son.

• Baishi's daughters - they are raised by their aunt and tutored in martial arts
  • He E'hua (何萼華) - the older one. She is in love with her cousin Li Shenshi, who was her childhood playmate. Her father wants her to marry Zhuo Yihang, who comes from a more prestigious family background, but he eventually agrees to her marriage with Li Shenshi.
  • He Lühua (何綠華) - she joins Zhuo Yihang on his quest to rescue her father from Fengsha Castle

• Geng Shaonan (耿紹南) - specializes in using the slingshot. As he comes from a prestigious sect, he behaves rudely and arrogantly. He is defeated by Lian Nichang in a duel and has two fingers sliced off by her as punishment for his snobbishness. He instigates Zhuo Yihang to attack Lian Nichang when Lian was dueling with the four elders. Zhuo Yihang, in a confused state, takes the slingshot from Geng Shaonan, and fires at Lian Nichang, causing Lian to misbelieve that Zhuo has betrayed her love and turned against her.

• Yu Xincheng (虞新城) - the oldest of the second generation students

• Li Feng (李封) - the most senior of Wudang's members in Beijing

Tie Feilong and associates

• Tie Feilong (鐵飛龍) - master of the Tie Family Manor. He is not placed in high regard by the orthodox sects because of his ugly appearance and eccentric personality. Despite this, he is an experienced and formidable pugilist, specializing in palm styles of martial arts. He accepts Lian Nichang as his goddaughter after resolving a misunderstanding with her, and accompanies her on most of her adventures.

• Mu Jiuniang (穆九娘) - Tie Feilong's second wife and Tie Shanhu's stepmother. She obtains Ling Muhua's swordplay manual from the dying Zhenqian by chance and keeps it for herself. She shows it to Tie Shanhu and they practise the skills inside secretly behind Tie Feilong's back. She is expelled from the family after her husband finds out that she had stolen the manual. She meets Gongsun Lei later, marries him and bears him a child. She is severely wounded by Gongsun Lei's enemies and dies from her injuries after entrusting her child to Tie Feilong, telling him to adopt her child as his grandson.

• Tie Shanhu (鐵珊瑚) - Tie Feilong's daughter. She falls in love with Yue Mingke but Yue unknowingly hurts her when he expresses reluctance to marry her. She is taken hostage by Jin Duyi and Ying Xiuyang, who attempt to force Yue Mingke to surrender to them. She breaks free from Jin Duyi's clutches by attacking him, but is also mortally wounded in the process. She dies in peace after Yue Mingke finally admits his love for her.

• Ke Pingting (客娉婷) - the illegitimate daughter of Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke, and a disciple of Gongsun Daniang. She admires Lian Nichang and desires to become a wandering heroine too. She overhears a secret conversation between her parents and learn that Wei Zhongxian is actually her father. She becomes disappointed when she discovers that her father is actually a traitor and decides to leave her parents for good. She joins the protagonists and becomes Tie Feilong's second goddaughter later.

Wang family and associates

• Wang Jiayin (王嘉胤) - leader of the bandit community in northern Shanxi
  Shanxi
  ' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
  
  . He is killed in action during a battle against the imperials.

• Wang Zhaoxi (王照希) - son of Wang Jiayin and a close friend of Zhuo Yihang

• Meng Can (孟燦) - Wang Jiayin's sworn brother. He serves as a martial arts instructor in the crown prince's residence. He is implicated in the Case of the Palace Assault and arrested and tortured during interrogation. He is released after his name is cleared, but dies from his wounds.

• Meng Qiuxia (孟秋霞) - Meng Can's daughter. She marries Wang Zhaoxi.

• Bai Min (白敏) - one of Meng Can's students. He joins Li Zicheng's rebel army later.

• Liu Ximing (柳西銘) - a martial arts instructor and ally of the protagonists

• Wang Jiayin's followers
  • Wang Zuogua (王左掛)
  • Flying Mountain Tiger (飛山虎)
  • Great Red Wolf (大紅狼)

Royals and nobles

• Wanli Emperor
  Wanli Emperor
  The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son...
  
   (萬厲皇帝) - ruler of the Ming Dynasty

• Zhu Changluo (朱常洛) - crown prince during Wanli's reign. He uncovers the truth behind the Case of the Palace Assault and helps to clear the names of innocent people who were implicated in the case. He ascends to the throne as the Taichang Emperor
  Taichang Emperor
  The Taichang Emperor was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu Changluo , the eldest son of the Wanli Emperor and succeeded his father as emperor in 1620. However his reign came to an abrupt end less than one month after his coronation when he was found dead one morning in...
  
   later. He suffers from poor health and eventually dies from poisoning after consuming the mysterious Red Pills.

• Zhu Changxun (朱常洵) - younger son of Wanli. He plans with his mother and uncle to seize the succession to the throne from his older half-brother through the Case of the Palace Assault. The plot fails when Wei Zhongxian betrays him. He is demoted to the status of a commoner and imprisoned for life.

• Consort Zheng (鄭貴妃) - Zhu Changxun's mother. She is imprisoned after the plot fails.

• Royal Uncle Zheng (鄭國舅) - Consort Zheng's older brother. He is executed after the plot fails

• Consort Li (李選侍) - Taichang's favorite concubine

• Tianqi Emperor
  Tianqi Emperor
  The Tianqi Emperor was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youxiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era name means "Heavenly opening".-Biography:...
  
   (天啟皇帝) - the young, naive and inexperienced successor to Taichang. He has a crush on Madame Ke and she uses his weakness to manipulate him and usurp state power together with Wei Zhongxian. Like his father, he suffers from poor health and eventually dies from illness.

• Chongzhen Emperor
  Chongzhen Emperor
  The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :...
  
   (崇禎皇帝) - younger son of Taichang and successor to Tianqi. He is wiser and more ambitious than his predecessors. When he was still a noble, he was already rallying a group of loyalists to support him and help him save the country from collapse. He eliminates Wei Zhongxian and his clique after ascending to the throne.

Wei Zhongxian and associates

• Wei Zhongxian
  Wei Zhongxian
  Wei Zhongxian is considered by most historians as the most powerful and notorious eunuch in Chinese history. Originally a hoodlum and gambler, his initial name was Wei Si . He took the step of becoming a eunuch and entering palace service to escape from his creditors, taking the name Li Jinzhong...
  
   (魏忠賢) - the chief eunuch and primary nemesis of the protagonists. He usurps state power after the death of the Taichang Emperor and persecutes loyalists. He is put to death when Chongzhen ascends to the throne.

• Madam Ke
  Madam Ke
  Madame Ke was the nanny of the young Tianqi Emperor , who was Emperor of China from 1620 to 1627. As he was 15 when he became Emperor, and also illiterate, he delegated all duties to Wei Zhongxian, giving the actual power to him and Madame Ke...
  
   (客氏) - has a secret affair with Wei Zhongxian and bore him a daughter. Wei Zhongxian became a palace eunuch later while she became the young Tianqi Emperor's wet nurse. She is expelled from the palace after Chongzhen comes to the throne.

Jin Duyi and associates

• Jin Duyi (金獨異) - the morally bankrupt husband of Gongsun Daniang. He collaborates with Wei Zhongxian's men to harm the protagonists and attempts to trick his wife into joining him. He specializes in using the "Yin Wind Venomous Gravel Palm" (陰風毒砂掌), which allows him to poison a victim with a slow-acting venom, without the victim knowing, and kill him within seven days. He is slain by Yue Mingke after killing Tie Shanhu.

• Gongsun Daniang (公孫大娘) - nicknamed "Red Flower Devil Mother" (紅花鬼母). She is seduced by Jin Duyi and steals her father's martial arts manual after being instigated by Jin Duyi. She marries Jin Duyi later and helps him defeat a group of 13 pugilists once. She decides to leave him after he refuses to mend his ways, and leads a reclusive life for three decades. Tie Feilong and Lian Nichang barely managed to defeat her after careful planning. She commits suicide in shame when Yue Mingke reveals her husband's evil deeds after avenging Tie Shanhu.

• Gongsun Lei (公孫雷) - son of Jin Duyi and Gongsun Daniang. He marries Mu Jiuniang. He follows in his evil father's footsteps after his mother dies. He rapes an escort soldier's wife, causing her to hang herself in shame. He is forced to commit suicide by Huo Yuanzhong and company.

• Gongsun Yiyang (公孫一陽) - father of Gongsun Daniang. He is a reclusive master of martial arts and toxicology. He dies in anger after discovering that his daughter and Jin Duyi had betrayed him and stolen his martial arts manual.

• Jin Qianyan (金千岩) - an imperial guard and Jin Duyi's nephew. He learns the "Yin Wind Venomous Gravel Palm" from his uncle, but is less skillful in using it. He murders Taoist Zhenqian and steals the swordplay manual left behind by Ling Muhua. He is killed by Shen Dayuan.

• Hao Jianchang (郝建昌) - Jin Duyi's oldest disciple. He makes a surprise attack on Taoist Baishi and injures him severely.

Jianghu figures

• Yun Yanping (雲燕平) - an imperial guard. He specializes in using a Tibetan style of "soft" attack.

• Changqin (昌欽) - a Tibetan lama hired by Wei Zhongxian to be Tianqi's bodyguard. He uses a pair of cymbals as his weapons. He joins Mengsasi's tribe after Wei Zhongxian's downfall.

• Rong Yidong (容一東) - Ying Xiuyang's accomplice. He appears to help Ying Xiuyang and the Wang brothers rob Tangnu, but Lian Nichang shows up to save Tangnu. He is slain by Lian Nichang.

• Hu Mai (胡邁) - nicknamed "Ground Deity" (陸上仙). He and Meng Fei rely on boasting and lying to trick others into showing sympathy towards them. They produce the Red Pills and present them to Taichang through Li Kezhuo. The emperor dies from poisoning after consuming the pills.

• Meng Fei (孟飛) - nicknamed "Divine Hand" (神手)

Manchu spies

• Zheng Hongtai (鄭洪台) - a secret service agent. Zhu Changluo sends him to escort Zhuo Yihang home. Zhuo Yihang discovers later that he is actually a spy working for the Manchus. He is defeated by Lian Nichang and captured by Yue Mingke. Lian Nichang forces him to reveal the names of his accomplices through torture and kills him afterwards.

• Ying Xiuyang (應修陽) - murdered Luo Jinfeng. He escapes after he is defeated by Lian Nichang on Mount Hua. He becomes part of Wei Zhongxian's political clique later and causes trouble for the protagonists on numerous instances. He is tricked into consuming drugged wine by Ke Pingting, and bound and sent to Lian Nichang. He is killed by Tie Feilong after Lian Nichang forces him to list the names of his accomplices.

• Lian Chenghu (連城虎) - chief manager of Western Factory (西廠). He joins Mengsasi's tribe after Wei Zhongxian's downfall. He is slain by Lian Nichang.

Officials

• Fang Congzhe (方從哲) - the chancellor

• Li Kezhuo (李可灼) - the honglu sicheng (鴻臚寺丞). He presents the Red Pills to the Taichang Emperor and causes the emperor to die from poisoning. Wei Zhongxian and Fang Congzhe help him cover up the case and he gets rewarded for his attempt to "cure" the emperor instead.

• Cui Chengxiu (崔呈秀) - one of Wei Zhongxian's followers. Wei Zhongxian sends him to read a false imperial edict about Xiong Tingbi's alleged treason and failure in duties, and arrest Xiong later. He is driven away by Xiong Tingbi and the protagonists.

• Pan Ruzhen (潘汝貞) - Inspector of Zhejiang. He suggests building a memorial structure to Wei Zhongxian.

• Wang Shaohui (王紹徽) - writes the Records of Generals (點將錄), which lists the names of Wei Zhongxian's political opponents

• Xu Xianchun (許顯純) - Wei Zhongxian's godson. He oversees the secret murder of Yang Lian in prison.

• Wei Guangzheng (魏廣徵) - Wei Zhongxian's nephew

• Ruan Dazhen (阮大針)
• Gu Qian (顧謙)
• Fu Yue (傅樾)
• Ni Wenhuan (倪文煥)
• Yang Weiyuan (楊維垣)
• Lu Wanling (陸萬零)

Pugilists hired by Zheng Hongtai

• Zhao Ting (趙挺) - from the Songyang Sect. He leaves after realizing that he is tricked into helping the spies.

• Fan Zhu (范築) - killed by Lian Nichang

• Ling Xiao (凌霄) - nicknamed "Jade Faced Demonic Fox" (玉面妖狐). He is killed by Lian Nichang.

• Taoist Qingsong (青松道人) - leaves after realizing that he is tricked into helping the Manchu spies

Government officials

• Xiong Tingbi (熊廷弼) - a military governor (經略) in Liaodong. He is in charge of defending the northern border from the Manchu invaders and is seen as a hero in the eyes of the common people. He suffers a defeat by the Manchus when Wang Huazhen refuses to cooperate with him, and is executed for his defeat. Before his death, he wrote a book titled Discussion on Liaodong (遼東論), explaining his "Three Deployments Strategy" (三方布置策) to counter the Manchu invasion.

• Three Departments and Six Ministries
  Three Departments and Six Ministries
  The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was the main central administrative system adopted in ancient China. The system first took shape after the Western Han Dynasty , was officially instituted in Sui Dynasty , and matured during Tang Dynasty...
  
  
  • Sun Shenxing (孫慎行) - Minister of Rites
    Ministry of Rites
    The Ministry of Rites was one of the Chinese Three Departments and Six Ministries which existed from the time of the Tang Dynasty until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 brought an end to Imperial China. Prior to its formation, the tasks given to the Ministry were assigned to officials such as the...
    
    
  • Zhou Jiamo (周嘉謨) - Minister of Personnel
  • Hui Shiyang (惠世揚) - geishizhong (給事中)
  • Ministry of War
    • Yang Kun (楊焜) - Minister of War
    • Li Jingbai (李精白) - Minister of War
    • Liu Guojin (劉國縉) - zhushi (主事)
    • Liu Tingyuan (劉廷元) - geishizhong
    • Yang Lian (楊漣) - geishizhong. A loyalist, he opposes Wei Zhongxian but is framed and imprisoned later. Lian Nichang breaks into prison to save him but he refuses her help. He is secretly murdered in prison by Wei Zhongxian's lackeys later.
    • Sun Chengzong (孫承宗)

• Censorate
  Censorate
  The Censorate was a top-level supervisory agency in ancient China, first established during the Qin Dynasty ....
  
  
  • Yao Zongwen (姚宗文)
  • Feng Sanyuan (馮三元)
  • Wang Anshun (王安舜)
  • Zou Yuanbiao (鄒元標)
  • Zuo Guangdou (左光斗) - Du Mingzhong's uncle. He is murdered in prison by Wei Zhongxian's men, along with Yang Lian and a few other loyalists.

• Military
  • Wang Zan (王贊) - Xiong Tingbi's bodyguard. He is a disciple of Qiu Taixu.
  • Wang Huazhen (王化貞) - appointed by Xiong Tingbi as Inspector of Guangning. He is unwilling to cooperate with Xiong Tingbi, causing the Ming army to be defeated by the Manchus. He is demoted after his defeat.
  • Yuan Yingtai (袁應泰) - sent to replace Xiong Tingbi after the latter's death. He is incompetent and suffers defeats at the hands of the Manchus.
  • He Shixian (賀世賢) - Yuan Yingtai's subordinate. He is killed in action along with You Shigong.
  • You Shigong (尤世功)
  • Yuan Chonghuan
    Yuan Chonghuan
    Yuan Chonghuan was a famed patriot and military commander of the Ming Dynasty who battled the Manchus in Liaoning. A commander of Cantonese origin, Yuan Chonghuan was known to have excelled in artillery warfare and successfully incorporated Western tactics with those of the East...
    
     (袁崇煥) - a general who succeeds Xiong Tingbi as defender of Ming China's northern border. He receives Xiong Tingbi's book Discussion on Liaodong from Lian Nichang.

• Imperial envoys - both of them are infected with a slow-acting poison by Jin Qianyan. Jin Qianyan hopes that they will die from poisoning days later in Zhuo Yihang's house, so that he can frame Zhuo for murdering the envoys. However, Zhuo Yihang notices that the envoys are poisoned and he saves them.
  • Imperial Envoy Li (李欽差)
  • Imperial Envoy Zhou (周欽差)

• Eunuchs
  • Pang Bao (龐保) - a high-ranking eunuch. He and Liu Cheng are implicated in the Case of the Palace Assault and executed. They are replaced by Wei Zhongxian.
  • Liu Cheng (劉成)

• Long Chengye (龍成業) - Inner Court Colonel (內廷校尉)

• Tian Ergeng (田爾耕) - Governor of Nine Gates (九門提督)

• Ye Xianggao (葉向高) - succeeds Fang Congzhe as chancellor

• Wang Bingbei (王兵備) - leads a group of soldiers to arrest Zhuo Yihang when the latter is accused of murdering the two imperial envoys

• Hong Chengchou
  Hong Chengchou
  Hong Chengchou or Hung Cheng-chou was a Military commander from Fujian at the end of the Ming Dynasty.-Biography:...
  
   (洪承疇)

• Chen Qiyu (陳奇瑜)

• Wei Dazhong (魏大中)
• Gu Dazhang (顧大章)
• Yuan Huazhong (袁化中)
• Zhou Chaorui (周朝瑞)

Jinyi Wei (錦衣衛)

• Li Tianyang (李天揚) - He Qixia's ex-husband. He divorces his wife in order to pursue his official career by marrying a general's daughter. He becomes a Jinyi Wei (secret police) commander later. He returns and attempts to sweet-talk his ex-wife into returning home with him but she refuses. He is happy to be reunited with his son and decides to give up his post. He releases his son and the other captives from prison. He manages to reconcile with his wife with help from his son.

• Shi Hao (石浩) - a Jinyi Wei commander. He is killed by Zhuo Yihang.

• Hu Guozhu (胡國柱) - Li Tianyang's escort. He is defeated by He E'hua in a fight.

• Commander Qin (秦指揮) - escorts imperial envoys Li and Zhou to Zhuo Yihang's house

• Cui Yingyuan (崔應元) - a Jinyi Wei commander present at the scene of Yang Lian's murder. He secretly memorizes Yang Lian's final statement and spreads it among the common people, causing Yang to be remembered in history as a loyal subject.

Palace guards

• Cheng Kun (成坤) - a guard commander loyal to Taichang. He is arrested and imprisoned by Wei Zhongxian after suspecting that the emperor was poisoned to death. Wei Zhongxian agrees to release him after his colleagues promise to persuade him to make a false statement about the emperor's death. He refuses and is immobilized by them. Yue Mingke saves him when he is about to be killed. To express his gratitude, he presents Yue Mingke with a pair of precious combat gloves that can protect the wearer from sharp weapons and poison. He joins the protagonists' side in the fight against Wei Zhongxian's clique later.

• Wang Cheng (王成) - Cheng Kun's deputy. He betrays Cheng Kun and defects to Wei Zhongxian. He is knocked unconscious by Yue Mingke when he is about to kill Cheng Kun.

• Dong Fang (董方) - an old colleague of Cheng Kun. Although he is not on good terms with Cheng Kun, he is unwilling to harm the latter. He suggests creating a fake scene that Cheng Kun had committed suicide by hanging himself, intending to release Cheng secretly later. However, before he could do so, he is immobilized by Wei Zhongxian's lackey, who has been hiding nearby and listening to his conversation with Wang Cheng.

• Wang Tingfu (王廷福) - tasked with escorting Tangnu. He collaborates with Ying Xiuyang to rob Tangnu. He is killed by Lian Nichang when she appears to help Tangnu.

• Wang Tinglu (王廷祿) - Wang Tingfu's twin brother. He is killed by Tangnu's bodyguard.

• Huang Biao (黃彪) - chief manager of Madam Ke's living quarters

• Bai Guangsi (白廣思) - a martial arts instructor in Zhu Youjian's residence

Li Zicheng and associates

• Li Zicheng (李自成) - nicknamed "Young Dashing King" (小闖王). He meets Lian Nichang after the latter saves Tangnu from Ying Xiuyang and the robbers. Lian is impressed by his charisma and has a feeling that he will become an emperor in future.

• Gao Yingxiang (高迎祥) - nicknamed "Dashing King" (闖王). He is Li Zicheng's uncle.

• Li Yan (李岩) - Li Jingbai's son. He was tutored in martial arts by Wang Tong of the Taiji Sect. He decides to join the rebels after his father dies at the hands of Wei Zhongxian's clique.

• Red Lady (紅娘子) - Li Yan's wife. Like Lian Nichang, she used to lead an all-female bandit clan before her marriage to Li Yan.

• Li Guo (李過) - Li Zicheng's nephew

• Gao Jie (高傑) - Gao Yingxiang's subordinate

• Du Wu (杜五) - nicknamed "Night Cat" (夜貓子). He is killed along with Zhang Si by the Shen brothers after refusing to submit to Zhang Xianzhong.

• Zhang Si (張四) - nicknamed "Sky Shooting Condor" (射天雕)

Zhang Xianzhong and associates

• Zhang Xianzhong
  Zhang Xianzhong
  Zhang Xianzhong or Chang Hsien-chung , nicknamed Yellow Tiger, was a Chinese rebel leader who conquered Sichuan Province in the middle of the 17th century. Upon capturing it, he declared himself emperor of the Daxi Dynasty .According to Chinese chronicles, many scholars rejected that claim, so he...
  
   (張獻忠) - a rebel leader from Sichuan
  Sichuan
  ' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
  
   nicknamed "Eight Great King" (八大王). Cruel and greedy, he plundered cities and conducted many massacres.

• Shen brothers - two brothers who have zombie-like appearances, but are highly skilled in martial arts. They serve Zhang Xianzhong but are not very loyal to their master. They defect to join Cheng Zhangwu later and appear at Fengsha Castle towards the end of the novel. They are slain by Lian Nichang.
  • Shen Dayuan (神大元)
  • Shen Yiyuan (神一元)

Manchus

• Nurhachi (努爾哈赤) - leader of the Manchus. He leads his army to attack Ming China's northern border.

• Chaketu (察克圖) - a warrior sent by Nurhachi to persuade Yuan Chonghuan to defect to the Manchus. He is slain by Lian Nichang.

• Ketu (科圖) - an envoy sent by Nurhachi to meet the tribal peoples of Xinjiang

Tribal peoples

• Mengsasi (孟薩思) - chief of the Keda'er (喀達爾) tribe

• Kazakh (哈薩克) tribe
  • Balong (巴龍) - deputy chief of the tribe. He joins forces with Zhuo Yihang to deal with Tiande Shangren.
  • Hachuan (哈川)
  • Longhu Yatu (龍呼雅圖)
  • Xin Wu (辛五) - a hunter living on Mount Heaven
  • Xin Longzi (辛龍子) - Xin Wu's young son. He is grateful to Zhuo Yihang for saving him from Tiande Shangren and becomes Zhuo's disciple. He and his father agree to help Zhuo Yihang guard the magical flower that can turn white hair black again.

• Luobu (羅布) tribe
  • Tangma (唐瑪) - chief of the tribe
  • Tangnu (唐努) - Tangma's son. In an earlier chapter, his father sends him as an envoy to pay tribute to the Ming emperor. Ying Xiuyang plots with the Wang brothers to rob him, but their plan is foiled by Lian Nichang and Tie Shanhu. Tangnu succeeds his father as chief of his tribe later. He is grateful to Lian Nichang for saving him earlier and lets his daughter learn martial arts from Lian.
  • Hamaya (哈瑪雅) - Tangnu's young daughter. She is nicknamed "Flying Red Sash" (飛紅巾). She is held hostage by Tiande Shangren during the tribal chiefs' meeting. She uses a martial arts move, taught to her by Lian Nichang, to attack Tiande and break free from his clutches. The strike would have been fatal to Tiande if she was older.

Shaolin Sect (少林派)

• Jingming (鏡明) - abbot of Shaolin. He tests Yue Mingke's neigong
  Neigong
  Neigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
  
  .

• Zunsheng (尊聖) - an elder of Shaolin. He spars with Yue Mingke in a fist-fighting contest and they arrive at a draw.

• Xuantong (玄通) - a student of Zunsheng. He specializes in using anqi (projectile weapons). He loses to Yue Mingke in a contest.

• Tianyuan (天元) - the most senior student of Jingming. He uses a monk's spade
  Monk's Spade
  A monk's spade A monk's spade A monk's spade (Traditional Chinese: 月牙鏟; Simplified Chinese: 月牙铲; pinyin: yuèyáchǎn; literally "Crescent Moon Spade"; also, Traditional Chinese: 禪仗; Simplified Chinese: 禅仗; pinyin: chánzhàng; literally, "Zen Weapon"...
  
   in combat. He loses to Yue Mingke in a contest. He succeeds Jingming as abbot of Shaolin later.

• Novice monk (小沙彌) - unknown name. He spars with Yue Mingke in a contest of palm style martial arts but loses even when Yue shows leniency.

Emei Sect (峨嵋派)

• Long Xiaoyun (龍嘯雲) - ex-lover of He Qixia. He teaches Li Shenshi martial arts.

• Li Shenshi (李申時) - Li Tianyang and He Qixia's son. As a child, he was tutored in martial arts by Long Xiaoyun. He is captured by Wei Zhongxian's men during a skirmish, but his father releases him and his companions secretly and leaves with them. He succeeds in persuading his mother to reconcile with his father. After his marriage to He E'hua, he is accepted by Taoist Baishi as a student and studies Wudang swordplay for some time before eventually returning to Emei.

Mount Heaven Sect (天山派) and associates

• Huo Tiandu (霍天都) - Yue Mingke's teacher. He travels around the jianghu to learn various types of swordplay and develop new techniques to counter them. After years of study, he becomes a formidable swordsman and has created his own set of swordplay movements, which later becomes known as the "Mount Heaven Swordplay" (天山劍法).

• Ling Muhua (凌慕華) - Huo Tiandu's wife. She develops a rivalry with her husband to become the best sword fighter in the jianghu and leaves him and settles in a cave on Mount Hua. She creates a new set of sword techniques to counter her husband's. Once, she chances upon the baby Lian Nichang, adopts her and accepts her as a student. She dies when her inner energy flow goes haywire during a practice session that went wrong.

• Yang Yuncong (楊雲驄) - Yang Lian's young son. He is saved by Luo Tiebi when his father is imprisoned and murdered. Through Lian Nichang's recommendation, Luo Tiebi brings the boy to Reverend Huiming. Huiming likes the child and accepts him as a disciple.

• Chu Zhaonan (楚昭南) - a boy from Hunan who travels to Xinjiang with his family to escape the chaos in Ming China. His parents commit suicide after their livestock is seized by Mengsasi's men. Huiming chances upon the boy and saves him and accepts him as a disciple.

Heaven Dragon Sect of Tibet (西藏天龍派)

• Tianlong Shangren (天龍上人) - leader of the sect. He possesses immense inner energy
  Neigong
  Neigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
  
  . At Fengsha Castle, he challenges Zhuo Yihang to a contest, in which Zhuo has to knock him down within three moves, while he will remain seated and not retaliate. Zhuo Yihang is unable to defeat him initially, but Lian Nichang appears and throws a projectile at him when Zhuo is about to deliver the third blow, causing him to loose balance and fall off.

• Tiande Shangren (天德上人) - an elder of the sect. He serves the Kazakh tribe's chief as an advisor and abuses his authority by extorting from the common people. He attempts to force Xin Longzi to be his student, but Zhuo Yihang appears and drives him away. He is slain by Zhuo Yihang during the tribal chiefs' meeting.

• Leimeng (雷蒙) - Tianlong's oldest disciple. He is killed by Lian Nichang.

• Elder Wutou (烏頭長老) - an elder of the sect. He joins Huo Yuanzhong, Taoist Zhuo and Changqin to attack Lian Nichang, but is defeated and slain by Lian.

Zhuo family

• Zhuo Zhonglian (卓仲廉) - Zhuo Yihang's grandfather. He was formerly the governor of Yunnan
  Yunnan
  Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
  
   and Guizhou
  Guizhou
  ' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
  
  . While on the way home after his retirement, he was captured by Lian Nichang's bandit gang and taken to their stronghold. Lian Nichang labelled him as "in between a honest and a corrupt government official", and took away a portion of his fortune (said to be ill-gotten gains) before releasing him. He dies from overwhelming grief after hearing news of the death of his son.

• Zhuo Jixian (卓繼賢) - Zhuo Zhonglian's son and Zhuo Yihang's father. He served in the Ministry of Revenue
  Three Departments and Six Ministries
  The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was the main central administrative system adopted in ancient China. The system first took shape after the Western Han Dynasty , was officially instituted in Sui Dynasty , and matured during Tang Dynasty...
  
  . He was implicated in the Case of the Palace Assault and executed on charges of treason without standing trial. His name is cleared when the truth behind the case is revealed.

Fengsha Castle (風砂堡)

• Cheng Zhangwu (成章五) - formerly a bandit chief from Huainan. He settles in Xinjiang and becomes the master of Fengsha Castle. He hires many expert pugilists to help him fight Lian Nichang and Zhuo Yihang, hoping that defeating them will make him famous.

• Cheng Zhangzhu (成掌珠) - Cheng Zhangwu's daughter. She is defeated by He Lühua in a duel.

Murong Chong and associates

• Murong Chong (慕容沖) - a highly-skilled Hui
  Hui people
  The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
  
   pugilist from Gansu
  Gansu
  ' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
  
  . He specializes in fist styles of martial arts. He seeks fame and glory, and willingly joins the government service, becoming chief instructor of the Eastern Factory (東廠) guards. Despite working for Wei Zhongxian, he still maintains moral ethics, and decides to leave Wei after discovering that the latter is actually secretly conspiring with the Manchus. He engages Tie Feilong in a duel and saves Tie's life when Wei Zhongxian's men show up to interrupt them. He repents from his past misdeeds and roams the jianghu. He appears to help Zhuo Yihang escape from Wudang.

• Dingxu (定虛) - from the Kunlun Mountains
  Kunlun Mountains
  The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. In the broadest sense, it forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin and the Gansu Corridor and continues east south of the Wei River to end at the North China Plain.The...
  
  . He taught Murong Chong the "72 Styles of Divine Fist".

• Jiao Manzi (焦蠻子) - a lone bandit from the northwest. He taught Murong Chong the "Eagle Claw" and "Iron Vest".

Tang clan

• Tang Jiabi (唐家壁) - Tang Qingchuan's son. His father sends him and Du Mingzhong to demand back two items that were robbed from them by Zhu Baochun.

• Tang Qingchuan (唐青川) - patriarch of the Tang clan. He specializes in using anqi.

• Du Mingzhong (杜明忠) - Tang Jiabi's escort

Chang'an Escort Agency (長安鏢局)

• Long Dasan (龍達三) - third master of the Chang'an Escort Agency. He is a friend of Liu Ximing. Tie Feilong saved him from some bandits before and he feels grateful to Tie. He helps Lian Nichang prepare some protective items for the duel with Gongsun Daniang.

• Lin Zhenjiao (林振蛟) - Long Dasan's deputy

Bandits

• "Twin Killers of Xichuan" (西川雙煞) - two brothers surnamed Peng (彭)

• Zhou Tong (周同) - nicknamed "Mountain Flipping Tiger" (翻山虎)

• Zhu Baozhuang (朱寶樁) - nicknamed "Fiery Spiritual Ape" (火靈猿)

• Fang brothers - from the Daba Mountains
  Daba Mountains
  Daba Mountains, or Dabashan is a mountain range in Central China, north of the Yangtze River.-Geography:The Daba Mountains run in the general west-northwest to east-southeast direction, along the border between, on the one side Sichuan and Chongqing, and on the other side Shaanxi and Hubei...
  
  . They are killed by Lian Nichang.

• "Three Heroes of the Mai Family" (麥氏三雄) - three brothers who lead a bandit gang on Mount Dingjun
  • Mai Fengchun (麥逢春) - the oldest of the trio

• Tu Jingxiong (屠景雄) - leader of the Dragon Gate Gang (龍門幫)

• Shao Xuanyang (邵宣揚) - from southern Shanxi. He uses a smoking pipe as his weapon.

• Gui Youzhang (歸有章) - from eastern Sichuan, nicknamed "Eagle Claw King" (鷹爪王). He is killed by Lian Nichang.

• Maheizi (麻黑子) - a bandit leader from Kaifeng. He hires Jin Qianyan to help him after Tie Shanhu steals some of his loot. He is knocked down by Yue Mingke and rolls down a slope.

• Zhu Baochun (朱寶椿)
• Heaven-crossing Star (過天星)
• Nine Sections Fox (九節狸)

Others

• Taoist Zhenqian (貞乾道人) - a Taoist from Mount Hua
  Mount Hua
  Mount Hua or Hua Shan in Chinese is located in Shaanxi Province, about 120 kilometres east of the city of Xi'an, near the city Huayin in China. Also known as Xiyuè, Western Great Mountain, it is one of China's Five Sacred Taoist Mountains, and has a long history of religious significance...
  
  . He is a close friend of the Five Elders of Wudang and Huo Tiandu. Yue Mingke passes him the swordplay manual left behind by Ling Muhua and asks him to bring it to his teacher. He is murdered by Jin Qianyan.

• Huo Yuanzhong (霍元仲) - a reputable martial artist from Shanxi. He attempts to kill Gongsun Lei's family together with Taoist Zhuo and Zhichan Shangren, but Tie Feilong and Lian Nichang manage to stop them in time. He joins Changqin, Elder Wutou and Taoist Zhuo to confront the White Haired Demoness on Mount Heaven years later, but they are defeated by her.

• Taoist Zhuo (拙道人) - he and Zhichan Shangren are the surviving ones of the 13 pugilists who fought with Gongsun Daniang decades ago. They seek vengeance on her but she had already died so they attack Gongsun Lei and his family instead. They are defeated and driven away by Tie Feilong and Lian Nichang.

• Zhichan Shangren (智禪上人)

• Luo Tiebi (羅鐵臂) - a pugilist who saves the young Yang Yuncong when the boy's father (Yang Lian) is imprisoned by Wei Zhongxian. He brings Yang Yuncong to Reverend Huiming through Lian Nichang's recommendation.

• Luo Jinfeng (羅金峰) - a pugilist from Jibei. He discovers that the Manchus are planning to send spies to infiltrate Ming China and manages to find out the identities of two of the spies. He passes on the secret to his friend, Meng Can, but is murdered by Ying Xiuyang.

• Qiu Taixu (邱太虛) - nicknamed "Sun and Moon Wheel" (日月輪)

• Lushi (盧師) - a monk who founded the Kunlu Sword Sect (昆盧劍派)

• Three Sang Devils (桑家三妖) - three villains who used to terrorize the Mount Heaven region. They are defeated and driven away by Lian Nichang.
  • Sangqian (桑乾)
  • Sanggua (桑弧)
  • Sangren (桑仁)

See also

• List of organisations in Wuxia fiction