The items of A Deadly Secret reflect the novel’s dark themes of greed, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The Liancheng Swordplay manual and the hidden treasure it leads to drive the plot, revealing how the pursuit of power destroys relationships and lives.
Named weapons
Character weapons
- Liancheng Sword (连城剑 — Liánchéng Jiàn) — The sword associated with the Liancheng Swordplay manual, its techniques developed by Mei Niansheng while imprisoned in different cities
- Blood Sabre (血刀 — Xuè Dāo) — The signature weapon of Master Xuedao and the Blood Saber School
- Iron Chain (铁链 — Tiěliàn) — Qi Zhangfa’s weapon, reflecting his nickname “Iron Chain Across the River”
Manuals & scriptures
Supreme treatises
- Liancheng Swordplay Manual (连城剑法 — Liánchéng Jiànfǎ) — The coveted martial arts manual that drives much of the plot, containing hidden information leading to a legendary treasure1
- Divine Illumination Skill Manual (神照功 — Shénzhào Gōng) — A powerful neili skill created by Mei Niansheng, taught to Di Yun by Ding Dian in prison
- Tang Poetry Swordplay Manual (唐诗剑法 — Tángshī Jiànfǎ) — An elegant sword technique based on Tang dynasty poetry
- Corpse Swordplay Manual (躺尸剑法 — Tǎngshī Jiànfǎ) — An inferior version of Tang Poetry Swordplay with a similar-sounding name
- Blood Dao Bladework Manual (血刀刀法 — Xuè Dāo Dāofǎ) — The signature technique of the Blood Saber School
- Six Harmonies Fist Manual (六合拳 — Liùhé Quán) — A basic but effective fist technique
Artifacts & treasures
The legendary treasure
- Liancheng Treasure (连城宝藏 — Liánchéng Bǎozàng) — The legendary treasure hidden at Tianling Temple, containing gold, jewels, and precious artifacts from the ancient Liang Emperor
- Poisoned Jewels (毒珠宝 — Dú Zhūbǎo) — The treasure’s jewels coated with deadly poison by the ancient Liang Emperor to prevent theft
Prison artifacts
- Prison Chains (囚链 — Qiú Liàn) — The chains binding prisoners, symbols of Di Yun’s suffering and transformation
- Straw Bed (草席 — Cǎoxí) — Di Yun’s meager bedding in prison, where he receives the Divine Illumination teachings
Religious artifacts
- Monk’s Robes (僧袍 — Sēngpáo) — Baoxiang’s robes that Di Yun dons, causing him to be mistaken for a Blood Saber School disciple
- Buddhist Sutras (佛经 — Fó Jīng) — Various scriptures kept at Tianling Temple
Notable generic items
- Swords (剑 — Jiàn) — Used by various martial artists and school members
- Sabres (刀 — Dāo) — Single-edged blades, including the Blood Saber School’s weapons
- Staffs (杖 — Zhàng) — Walking sticks and fighting staffs
- Hidden Weapons (暗器 — Ànqì) — Various poisoned darts and needles
- Poisons (毒药 — Dúyào) — Various toxins used by different characters, including the deadly poison on the treasure
Cross-novel connections
A Deadly Secret is relatively standalone but connects to the broader Jin Yong universe:
- Qing dynasty setting — Shared with The Book and the Sword, The Deer and the Cauldron, and the Flying Fox novels
- Wu Liuqi — A character from The Deer and the Cauldron mentioned in the Third Edition
- Blood Saber School — A faction that appears in other novels set in the Qing dynasty
- Xiangxi region — The western Hunan setting appears in other Jin Yong works
See also
- A Deadly Secret characters
- A Deadly Secret factions
- A Deadly Secret martial arts
- A Deadly Secret locations
- Jin Yong items
Follow a route
- Read: the translation archive and A Deadly Secret translation
- Explore: Jin Yong, A Deadly Secret, and its items
- Understand: wuxia, martial arts, and the translation method
- Watch: wuxia adaptations
- Write: story elements in wuxia fiction
Footnotes
-
连城剑法 — Liánchéng Jiànfǎ. The Liancheng Swordplay manual’s name means “linked cities,” referring both to the priceless value of the treasure it reveals and to Mei Niansheng developing each move while imprisoned in different cities. ↩