Bai Guishou

Bai Guishou (simplified: 白龟寿, traditional: 白龜壽, pinyin: Bái Guīshòu, jyutping: baak6 gwai1 sau6) was the master of the Black Tortoise Altar (玄武坛) of the Heavenly Eagle Order. As one of the Five Outer Altars masters, he was responsible for the Order’s northern regional operations. He was the only survivor of the Wangpan Island Sabre Conference, having been unconscious from poisoned wine when Xie Xun used his Lion’s Roar technique. As the only person who knew the Dragon-slaying Sabre’s whereabouts, he became a target for martial artists seeking the weapon and was eventually killed by Ding Minjun of the Emei Order.

Biography

Role in the Heavenly Eagle Order

Bai Guishou served as the master of the Black Tortoise Altar, one of the Five Outer Altars of the Heavenly Eagle Order. The Five Outer Altars were organised according to traditional Chinese five-element symbolism, with each altar responsible for operations in different geographical regions.

The Black Tortoise (玄武), also known as the Dark Warrior or Xuanwu, is one of the Four Symbols in Chinese mythology, representing the north and the element of water. As master of the Black Tortoise Altar, Bai Guishou would have been responsible for the Order’s activities in the northern regions, coordinating operations, managing resources, and leading the Order’s members in that area.

The Wangpan Island Sabre Conference

The Heavenly Eagle Order organised a conference on Wangpan Island to display the Dragon-slaying Sabre, which they had acquired. This event was intended to establish the Order’s reputation and demonstrate their capabilities to the martial arts world, inviting representatives from various schools and organisations.

As master of the Black Tortoise Altar, Bai Guishou was among the key members of the Heavenly Eagle Order present at this conference. However, his experience would be dramatically different from that of his comrades.

The poisoned wine incident

During the conference, Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King of the Ming Order, suddenly appeared and seized the Dragon-slaying Sabre. Before using his Lion’s Roar technique, Xie Xun had poisoned the wine, causing many of those present to fall unconscious.

Bai Guishou, who had consumed the poisoned wine, fell unconscious before Xie Xun unleashed his devastating Lion’s Roar technique. This accidental protection proved to be his salvation, as he was the only person present who was not affected by the sonic attack.

The only survivor

When Xie Xun used his Lion’s Roar technique, a powerful sonic attack that used internal energy to create devastating sound waves, most of those present were either killed, rendered unconscious, or driven insane. However, Bai Guishou, who was already unconscious from the poisoned wine, remained unaffected by the sonic attack.

When he regained consciousness, Bai Guishou found himself the only survivor of the massacre. He witnessed the aftermath of Xie Xun’s attack and knew that Xie Xun had taken Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu captive, along with the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

Keeping the secret

As the only person who knew what had happened on Wangpan Island and the whereabouts of the Dragon-slaying Sabre, Bai Guishou became a target for martial artists throughout the jianghu who were seeking the legendary weapon. However, Bai Guishou refused to reveal any information, maintaining his loyalty to the Heavenly Eagle Order.

When members of the Wudang Order, including Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi, and Yin Liting, came to Wangpan Island to investigate, they found Zhang Cuishan’s calligraphy carved into a stone wall but could not find Zhang Cuishan himself. When they questioned Bai Guishou, he refused to respond and instead attacked them, leading to Yu Lianzhou injuring him with a palm strike.

Pursuit and death

Bai Guishou’s knowledge of the Dragon-slaying Sabre’s whereabouts made him a constant target for martial artists seeking the weapon. The Kunlun School, believing that Yin Susu had destroyed their disciples Gao Zecheng and Jiang Tao, began seeking out the Heavenly Eagle Order, leading to escalating conflicts.

Eventually, Bai Guishou was tracked down and killed by Ding Minjun, the first disciple of Miejue of the Emei Order. Ding Minjun’s motivation was likely to obtain information about the Dragon-slaying Sabre, though Bai Guishou maintained his silence even in death.

Personality & traits

Bai Guishou demonstrated exceptional loyalty to the Heavenly Eagle Order, refusing to reveal information about the Dragon-slaying Sabre even when faced with threats and violence. His commitment to protecting the Order’s secrets, even at the cost of his own life, reflected the strong bonds of loyalty within the organisation.

His willingness to attack members of the Wudang Order when questioned, despite their superior martial arts abilities, demonstrated both his courage and his determination to protect the Order’s interests. This loyalty ultimately cost him his life, but he remained true to his principles until the end.

Martial arts abilities

Internal energy focus

Bai Guishou was known for his exceptional internal energy cultivation, focusing on neigong rather than weapon techniques. He did not use weapons, instead relying on his internal energy and palm techniques for combat. This focus on internal energy was unusual among the altar masters and demonstrated his specialised training approach.

His internal energy was considered the best among those present at the Wangpan Island conference, which may have contributed to his ability to survive the poisoned wine and recover consciousness. However, even with his strong internal energy, he would not have been able to withstand Xie Xun’s Lion’s Roar had he been conscious when it was used.

Overall martial arts level

Bai Guishou’s martial arts abilities were likely at a second-tier or third-tier level, sufficient for his leadership role but not exceptional. His value to the Order lay in his loyalty, organisational capabilities, and his specialised focus on internal energy cultivation rather than in his individual combat prowess.

Relationships

Yin Tianzheng

As a member of the Heavenly Eagle Order’s leadership, Bai Guishou served under Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King and Order leader. His loyalty to Yin Tianzheng and the Order was absolute, demonstrated by his refusal to reveal information even when facing death.

Other altar masters

Bai Guishou worked alongside the other Four Outer Altars masters—Chang Jinpeng (Vermilion Bird Altar), Cheng Chaofeng (Azure Dragon Altar), Gao Shanwang (White Tiger Altar), and Feng Gongying (Divine Snake Altar)—to coordinate the Order’s operations across different regions.

Wudang Order members

Bai Guishou’s encounter with the Wudang Order members was marked by conflict. When Yu Lianzhou, Zhang Songxi, and Yin Liting questioned him about Zhang Cuishan’s whereabouts, Bai Guishou refused to answer and attacked them instead. This confrontation demonstrated his determination to protect the Order’s secrets, even from allies of Zhang Cuishan.

Ding Minjun

Bai Guishou’s relationship with Ding Minjun was one of enmity that led to his death. Ding Minjun, seeking information about the Dragon-slaying Sabre, tracked down and killed Bai Guishou, though he maintained his silence even in the face of death.

Behind the scenes

Bai Guishou’s character represents the tragic consequences of being caught in the middle of conflicts over powerful weapons. His knowledge of the Dragon-slaying Sabre’s whereabouts made him a target, and his loyalty to the Heavenly Eagle Order ultimately cost him his life.

His survival of the Wangpan Island massacre through accidental protection (being unconscious from poisoned wine) demonstrates the role of chance and circumstance in determining outcomes. Had he been conscious, he would likely have suffered the same fate as the other participants.

Bai Guishou’s character also highlights the importance of loyalty and secrecy in martial arts organisations. His refusal to reveal information, even when facing threats and violence, demonstrated the strength of his commitment to the Heavenly Eagle Order and its principles.

His focus on internal energy rather than weapons also reflects the diversity of martial arts approaches within the Heavenly Eagle Order, showing that different masters could specialise in different aspects of martial arts training.

Portrayals

Bai Guishou has been portrayed in various adaptations of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, typically appearing in scenes related to the Wangpan Island conference and the Heavenly Eagle Order’s activities.