List of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer characters
The following is a list of characters from Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.
Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance (五嶽劍派)
Mount Hua Sect (華山派)
- Linghu Chong (令狐沖) is the scruffy, happy-go-lucky protagonist of the novel. An orphan, he was raised as Yue Buqun's eldest student. He learns the "Nine Swords of Dugu" from Feng Qingyang and becomes a formidable swordsman. His sudden and tremendous improvement in swordplay causes his teacher to suspect him of having stolen the Bixie Swordplay Manual and mastered the skill. Even after his expulsion from Mount Hua, he remains loyal and respectful towards his teacher. Although his kind nature and heroic attributes make him a likeable person, they also negatively influence him by increasing his affiliations with jianghu lowlifes, resulting in him being misunderstood by his fellows and other orthodox sects. He retires from the jianghu eventually to lead a peaceful life with his lover Ren Yingying.
Qi faction (氣宗)
- Yue Buqun (岳不群) is the leader of the sect. He is an expert in using the Violet Mist Divine Skill (紫霞神功). Although he is nicknamed "Gentleman Sword" (君子劍) for appearing to be cultured and refined, he gradually reveals his dark side — a bigoted, selfish and power-hungry hypocrite. He lusts for the Lin family's Bixie Swordplay Manual and plots an elaborate scheme to seize it, to the extent of castrating himself to master the skill. He is incidentally killed by Yilin while attempting to trap and murder his rivals.
- Ning Zhongze (寧中則), nicknamed "Heroine Ning" (寧女俠), is Yue Buqun's chivalrous and kindly wife. She is also the only person who believes Linghu Chong's innocence in the theft of the Bixie Swordplay Manual. Disappointed with her husband after the latter reveals his beastly form, she loses her will to live and eventually chooses to commit suicide after being humiliated by enemies.
- Yue Lingshan (岳靈珊) is Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze's daughter and Linghu Chong's first romantic interest. She falls in love with Lin Pingzhi later and marries him. However she eventually learns that she is actually a pawn in a struggle for power between her husband and father. Lin Pingzhi kills her after she refuses to follow him to join Zuo Lengchan.
- Lin Pingzhi (林平之) is Lin Zhennan's son and the sole survivor of the Lin family, who was massacred by the Qingcheng Sect. Yue Buqun sympathises with him, accepts him as a disciple and marries his daughter to him. Driven by hatred and resentment after discovering Yue Buqun's ulterior motive in treating him well, he becomes increasingly vicious and slays his family's murderers brutally in revenge but is blinded by Mu Gaofeng. He is eventually imprisoned in an underground dungeon by Linghu Chong, who agreed to Yue Lingshan's dying wish to spare her husband's life.
- Yue Su (岳肅) was the founder of the Qi faction and Cai Zifeng's senior.
- Lao Denuo (勞德諾), nicknamed "Old Man Sa" (薩老頭), is Yue Buqun's second student. He is actually a spy sent by Zuo Lengchan to steal the Violet Mist Divine Skill manual from Yue Buqun. He murders Lu Dayou when the latter uncovers his identity. He loses all his inner energy while attempting to learn a fake version of the Bixie Swordplay.
- Lu Dayou (陸大有) is Yue Buqun's sixth disciple, who is nicknamed "Sixth Monkey" (六猴儿) for his monkey-like behavior and affinity with primates. He is very close to Linghu Chong and even once stole their teacher's Violet Mist Divine Skill manual to help his senior recover from his injuries. He is murdered by Lao Denuo after discovering that the latter is a spy.
Sword faction (劍宗)
- Feng Qingyang (風清揚) is a senior member of the Sword faction. During the sect's internal conflict, he was lured away by the Qi faction, who used the opportunity to defeat and force the Sword faction into exile. Feeling embarrassed for being deceived, Feng leaves the sect and leads a reclusive life in a secluded area on Mount Hua. He meets Linghu Chong by chance and teaches him the Nine Swords of Dugu.
- Cai Zifeng (蔡子峰) was the founder of the Sword faction and Yue Su's junior.
- Feng Buping (封不平) is the leader of the Sword faction. Instigated by Zuo Lengchan, he returns to Mount Hua to challenge Yue Buqun for the position of head of their sect, but is defeated by Linghu Chong and forced back into exile.
Mount Song Sect (嵩山派)
- Zuo Lengchan (左冷禪) is the ambitious and ruthless leader of the sect and chief of the alliance. He practises a skill called "Freezing Breath" (寒冰真氣) that freezes his inner energy to sub-zero temperature and increases its power tremendously. He sends his spy Lao Denuo to obtain the Bixie Swordplay Manual from Yue Buqun, not knowing that it is a fake copy, and masters the skill. He then calls for a special assembly of the alliance and attempts to intimidate the other four sects into submitting to him. He is defeated and blinded by Yue Buqun, who uses the real Bixie Swordplay against him, and pretends to concede his position as the alliance's chief to Yue. Later he leads his followers to Mount Hua to kill Yue Buqun but the latter sees through his plan and traps them inside a cave. The trapped pugilists start killing each other out of paranoia and mistrust, and Zuo is killed by Linghu Chong during the chaos.
(North) Mount Heng Sect (恆山派)
- The "Three Elder Nuns" are the leaders of the sect. They are:
- Dingjing (定靜) is the most senior of the trio, but she gives up the position of leader to her junior Dingxian. Zuo Lengchan sends his lackeys to ambush her and coerce her into joining his "alliance". She refuses to capitulate and dies from her wounds before Linghu Chong can save her.
- Dingxian (定閒) is the benevolent and wise leader of the sect. She is mortally wounded by a masked attacker (later revealed to be Yue Buqun) in Shaolin Monastery. Before dying she names Linghu Chong as her successor.
- Dingyi (定逸) is the most junior of the trio and the most hot tempered one. She and Dingxian are both murdered by Yue Buqun in Shaolin.
- Yilin (儀琳) is Dingyi's student, and the daughter of Monk Bujie and Mute Granny. She falls in love with Linghu Chong after he rescues her from Tian Boguang's sexual advances, but has to suppress her feelings because she is forbidden by her sect's code to love a man.
(South) Mount Heng Sect (衡山派)
- Mo Da (莫大) is the mysterious leader of the sect, who is known for playing melancholic tunes on a huqin, where his sword is concealed. His swordplay techniques, which correspond with music themes, are very fast and unpredictable. He is the sole surviving person from his sect at the end of the novel.
- Liu Zhengfeng (劉正風), nicknamed "Third Master Liu" (劉三爺), is Mo Da's junior. He plays the dizi and befriends Qu Yang of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, who shares the same passion for music with him. The duo compose the music piece Xiaoao Jianghu (笑傲江湖) together. He intends to leave the martial artists' community and invites fellow pugilists to witness his retirement ceremony. During the event he is confronted by Zuo Lengchan and his followers and comes under attack. While fleeing together with Qu Yang, he meets Linghu Chong and passes him the music score for Xiaoao Jianghu. He and Qu then commit suicide by bursting their arteries with their inner energy.
Mount Tai Sect (泰山派)
- Taoist Tianmen (天門道人) is the leader of the sect. During the special assembly called for by Zuo Lengchan, his followers betray and kill him as they had been bribed by Zuo.
- Yuji is the last known leader of the sect. He debates with the "Six Immortals of the Peach Valley" on who should be the rightful leader of the alliance, and attempts to fight them but has his limbs torn from his body by Zuo Lengchan.
Sun Moon Holy Cult (日月神教)
- Ren Woxing (任我行) is the cult's leader, who is feared by both his followers and enemies. He masters the "Star Sucking Great Skill" (吸星大法), a dreaded ability that allows him to drain and absorb an opponent's inner energy. He is ousted from power in a scheme orchestrated by Dongfang Bubai and imprisoned in an underground dungeon for 12 years before escaping with Linghu Chong's help. He returns to confront Dongfang Bubai and regains control of his cult with Linghu's assistance. He dies from a stroke triggered by his own megalomania.
- Ren Yingying (任盈盈) is Ren Woxing's daughter. Although she is intelligent and caring towards her subordinates, she can be ruthless and cold blooded at times. She meets Linghu Chong and falls in love with him after being attracted to his heroism. She succeeds her father as the cult's leader but later retires to lead a reclusive life with Linghu Chong.
- Xiang Wentian (向問天) is an elder of the cult. He remains loyal to Ren Woxing even after Dongfang Bubai seized power and becomes an outcast of the cult. Linghu Chong once saved him while he was under attack by dozens of enemies. He becomes sworn brothers with Linghu after realising that both of them share similar attributes. He succeeds Ren Yingying as the cult's leader.
- Qu Yang (曲洋) is an elder of the cult who plays the guqin. He befriends Liu Zhengfeng of the (South) Mount Heng Sect, who shares the same passion for music as him. The duo compose the music piece Xiaoao Jianghu together and later pass the score to Linghu Chong. He commits suicide together with Liu Zhengfeng when both of them are cornered by Zuo Lengchan's men.
- Ren Yingying's subordinates:
- Lan Fenghuang (藍鳳凰) is the leader of the Five Deities Cult (五仙教). She attempts to cure Linghu Chong of his internal injuries but fails. She becomes Linghu Chong's godsister later.
- Laotouzi (老头子) is Laobusi's father. He has eight herbal tablets, intended to be used as a cure for his daughter, but Linghu Chong consumes the tablets by accident. Linghu willingly uses his blood to save Laotouzi's daughter and the latter is very grateful to him.
- Zu Qianqiu (祖千秋) is a jianghu lowlife who tricks Linghu Chong into consuming Laotouzi's tablets.
- Ji Wushi (计无施)
- Lüzhuweng (绿竹翁)
Shaolin Sect (少林派)
- Fangzheng (方證) is the abbot of Shaolin. He is highly revered in the wulin for his prowess in martial artists and morally upright character. Believing that it is Linghu Chong's karma to learn the skills in the Yijin Jing, he lends the latter the book. Linghu masters the skills and heals himself of his internal injuries in the process.
- Fangsheng (方生) is Fangzheng's junior.
Wudang Sect (武當派)
- Taoist Chongxu (冲虚道長) is the leader of Wudang. Like Shaolin's abbot Fangzheng, he is highly respected in the wulin for his excellence in martial arts and morally upright character. While travelling in disguise as a farmer once, he meets Linghu Chong and engages the latter in a friendly duel. He is impressed when Linghu Chong uses the "Nine Swords of Dugu" to defeat his "Taiji Swordplay", and thereafter befriends the latter.
Qingcheng Sect (青城派)
- Yu Canghai (余滄海) is the sect's leader. Lin Pingzhi killed his son in a heated argument, so he used that as an excuse to massacre the Lin family and destroy the Fuwei Escort Agency. He is actually after the Lin family's Bixie Swordplay Manual, but does not find it. Lin Pingzhi survives the massacre and later returns to take revenge. He and his followers are brutally killed by Lin. Yu is known for his "Pine Wind Swordplay" (松風劍法), which allows him to enshroud his foes in a green hue.
Fuwei Escort Agency (福威鏢局)
- Lin Yuantu (林遠圖) is the agency's founder. Previously a Shaolin monk known as "Duyuan" (渡元), he returns to secular life and creates the Bixie Swordplay based on Yue Su and Cai Zifeng's recollections of the Sunflower Manual.
- Lin Zhennan (林震南) is Lin Yuantu's grandson and Lin Pingzhi's father. He inherits his ancestor's Bixie Swordplay Manual, which becomes a highly sought artefact by many jianghu pugilists. He and his wife are captured by Yu Canghai, who leads his Qingcheng Sect to massacre the Lin family and destroy the agency. The couple are later tortured to death by Mu Gaofeng.
Others
- Monk Bujie (不戒和尚) is Yilin's father. He fell in love with Yilin's mother, a nun, and renamed himself "Bujie", which means "no rules". He attempts to cure Linghu Chong of his internal wounds by injecting two streams of energy into the latter's body but that worsens Linghu's condition instead.
- Tian Boguang (田伯光) is a bandit nicknamed "Lone Traveller of a Ten Thousand Li" (萬里獨行). Notorious for his lecherous behavior and for raping many women, he makes sexual advances on Yilin but is stopped by Linghu Chong. Monk Bujie semi-castrates him later and forces him to become a monk. Tian is renamed to "Buke Bujie" (不可不戒), which means "cannot have no rules".
- The "Six Immortals of the Peach Valley" (桃谷六仙) are six brothers, each named after a different part of the peach tree. They are very close to each other even though they always quarrel and bicker among themselves. They try to cure Linghu Chong of his internal injuries by injecting six streams of energy into his body but that worsens Linghu's condition. They become an ally of Linghu Chong and join his (North) Mount Heng Sect eventually.
- Mu Gaofeng (木高峰) is a notorious hunchbacked bandit from the north and one of the people seeking the Lin family's Bixie Swordplay Manual. He tries to force Lin Pingzhi to be his student and tortures Lin's parents to death. His hunchback is actually a sack containing poison gas, which when torn, will release the gas and blind everyone around it. He is slain by Lin Pingzhi in revenge but Lin is also blinded by the poison gas.
- Wang Yuanba (王元霸), nicknamed "Invincible Golden Saber" (金刀無敵), is the leader of the Golden Saber Sect (金刀門) based in Luoyang. He is Lin Pingzhi's maternal grandfather.
- Ping Yizhi (平一指) is a physician nicknamed "Killer Physician" (殺人名醫). He believes that life and death are predestined, so saving a life is equivalent to violating the law of nature. As such, he lays down a rule that for every life he saves, another must die. He fails to cure Linghu Chong of his internal injuries and commits suicide in shame.
- The "Four Friends of Jiangnan" (江南四友) are four pugilists hired by Dongfang Bubai to watch over Ren Woxing in the underground dungeon in Hangzhou. They are:
- Huang Zhonggong (黃鍾公) is a music fanatic who challenges Linghu Chong to a duel once in a bid to obtain a music score. He is forced to commit suicide by Ren Woxing.
- Heibaizi (黑白子) is a weiqi fanatic with a pale face and dark hair. He becomes a handicap after Linghu Chong uses the "Star Sucking Great Skill" on him.
- Tu Biweng (禿筆翁) challenged Linghu Chong to a duel but lost. He is forced by Ren Woxing to surrender and consume a poison pill.
- Dan Qingsheng (丹青生) is an alcohol addict and swordplay expert who knows Linghu Chong through their common interest. He duels with Linghu but lost and is forced to surrender to Ren Woxing in the same manner as Tu Biweng.
Lin Pingzhi's family tree
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Lin Zhongxiong |
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Wang Yuanba |
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| Yue Buqun |
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Ning Zhongze |
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Lin Zhennan |
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Madam Wang |
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Wang Zhongqiang |
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Wang Bofen |
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Yue Lingshan |
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Lin Pingzhi |
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Wang Jiajun |
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Wang Jiaju |
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External links
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