Saiwai Qixia Zhuan

Saiwai Qixia Zhuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first serialised between 18 August 1956 and 23 February 1957 in the Hong Kong newspaper Chou Mo Pao. The novel is closely related to another two of Liang's works, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Baifa Monü Zhuan.

Plot

The story is set in the early Qing dynasty during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor. The ethnic minority tribes in northwestern China are under attack by Qing forces, who are attempting to force them into submission. Yang Yuncong helps the tribal people resist the invaders and becomes a revered hero in the region. However, Yang is betrayed and attacked by his junior Chu Zhaonan, who has defected to the Qing side. They encounter a sandstorm while fighting. Yang is injured and loses consciousness, but is saved by Nalan Minghui, the daughter of a Qing general called Nalan Xiuji. She nurses him back to health and helps him escape from danger.

After leaving Nalan Minghui, Yang Yuncong meets "Flying Red Sash" Hamaya, a legendary heroine in the northwest. Hamaya's lover, the singer Yabulu, had betrayed their tribe and caused the death of her father. Hamaya seeks vengeance on Yabulu, captures him and brings him back to her tribe for punishment. Along the way, they are ambushed by Chu Zhaonan and Qing soldiers. Yang and Hamaya defeat and capture Chu, but Yang releases Chu on account of their past senior-junior relationship. Back in Hamaya's tribe, her fellow tribesmen find Yabulu guilty and want him dead. Hamaya suppresses her sorrow, and personally kills Yabulu to deliver justice. With Yang Yuncong's help, Hamaya wins a martial arts contest and is elected as the new chief of her tribe. By then, Hamaya has secretly developed romantic feelings for Yang.

Yang Yuncong continues to help Hamaya and her people fight the Qing army. During this time, he meets Nalan Minghui again and they fall in love with each other. However, Yang and Nalan are not fated to be together, because they stand on opposing sides. Besides, Nalan's parents have agreed to marry her to the Manchu prince Dodo. In grief, Nalan decides to consummate her romance with Yang, and eventually becomes pregnant with Yang's child.

On the other hand, Hamaya is also in love with Yang Yuncong, and she has revealed her feelings to him, but he rejects her. Hamaya is heartbroken and her hair turns white overnight, just like her teacher, the "White Haired Demoness" Lian Nichang. Without Hamaya to lead them, the tribal people suffer a crushing defeat by Qing forces. In the meantime, Yang Yuncong leaves northwestern China after learning that Nalan Minghui and Prince Dodo's wedding is going to take place in Hangzhou soon. His eventual fate is revealed in Qijian Xia Tianshan.

Characters

• Yang Yuncong (traditional Chinese: 楊雲驄; simplified Chinese: 杨云骢; pinyin: Yáng Yúncōng)

• Hamaya (traditional Chinese: 哈瑪雅; simplified Chinese: 哈玛雅; pinyin: Hāmáyǎ), nicknamed "Flying Red Sash" (traditional Chinese: 飛紅巾; simplified Chinese: 飞红巾; pinyin: Fēihóngjīn).

• Nalan Minghui (traditional Chinese: 納蘭明慧; simplified Chinese: 纳兰明慧; pinyin: Nàlán Mínghuì)

Adaptations

In 1996, the novel was adapted into a Singaporean television series titled Legend of the White Hair Brides. It starred Huang Biren, Lina Ng and Ann Kok.

In 2005, the novels Saiwai Qixia Zhuan and Qijian Xia Tianshan were adapted into a television series titled Seven Swordsmen. It was produced by Tsui Hark, directed by Clarence Fok, and starred Vincent Zhao, Wang Xuebing, Ray Lui, Ada Choi, Qiao Zhenyu, Li Xiaoran and Wang Likun.