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Chen Xuanfeng

Chen Xuanfeng

Chen Xuanfeng (陈玄风 – Chén Xuánfēng), known as the “Copper Corpse” (铜尸 – tóng shī), was one of Huang Yaoshi’s six disciples and the husband of Mei Chaofeng. Together, they formed the notorious “Black Wind Twin Devils” (黑风双煞 – hēi fēng shuāng shà) and became feared throughout the jianghu.

Biography

Chen Xuanfeng was one of Huang Yaoshi’s six disciples on Peach Blossom Island. He had a distinctive appearance with a bronze-yellow complexion that resembled copper, earning him the nickname “Copper Corpse.” His face rarely showed any emotion, making him appear like a zombie, and his body was said to be as hard as copper and iron, impervious to weapons.

The forbidden love and betrayal

During their time on Peach Blossom Island, Chen Xuanfeng fell in love with his fellow disciple Mei Chaofeng. Fearing Huang Yaoshi’s punishment for their forbidden relationship, the couple decided to elope from the island. However, they knew their martial arts skills were not yet sufficient to establish themselves in the jianghu.

To compensate for their lack of martial prowess, Chen Xuanfeng stole the lower volume of the Nine Yin Manual, which Huang Yaoshi treasured above all else. This theft would have devastating consequences for their fellow disciples and set in motion a series of tragic events.

The Black Wind Twin Devils

After fleeing Peach Blossom Island, Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng became known as the “Black Wind Twin Devils” and were feared throughout the martial arts world. Despite their deep love for each other, they practiced increasingly evil martial arts techniques, driven by their desperate need for power and their lack of proper guidance.

Chen Xuanfeng had the Nine Yin Manual text tattooed on his chest, allowing him to practice the techniques without carrying the physical book. This innovative approach demonstrated his cunning and determination to master the forbidden martial arts.

Martial arts

Azure Wave Palm Technique

Chen Xuanfeng mastered the Azure Wave Palm Technique (碧波掌法 – bì bō zhǎng fǎ), the foundational martial art of Peach Blossom Island. This technique featured palm movements that flowed like waves, building upon each other in layers. Though considered basic, it contained the fundamental principles of the island’s martial arts system.

Heart-crushing Palm

Chen Xuanfeng’s signature technique was the Heart-crushing Palm (摧心掌 – cuī xīn zhǎng). Despite its name suggesting it targeted the heart, this technique actually caused all internal organs to be shattered while leaving bones intact. The deceptive nature of this technique reflected Chen Xuanfeng’s increasingly evil approach to martial arts.

Nine Yin White Bone Claw

Chen Xuanfeng created his own version of the Nine Yin White Bone Claw (九阴白骨爪 – jiǔ yīn bái gǔ zhuǎ) based on the Nine Yin Manual. This technique involved using five fingers to generate force that could pierce an enemy’s skull like penetrating rotten earth. Victims of this technique died with five finger holes in their heads, making it extremely sinister.

Hand Sweeping Five Strings

Chen Xuanfeng also mastered Hand Sweeping Five Strings (手挥五弦 – shǒu huī wǔ xián), a technique where he would gently brush his five fingers against an opponent’s elbow, causing their arm to become slightly numb and draining their strength.

The tragedy of the Seven Eccentrics

The theft of the Nine Yin Manual by Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng had devastating consequences for their fellow disciples. In his anger and grief over the loss of the manual and the death of his wife Feng Heng, Huang Yaoshi unjustly punished all his remaining disciples by breaking their leg bones and expelling them from Peach Blossom Island.

This act of collective punishment affected Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng, who were all innocent of the theft but suffered the same cruel fate.

Death in Mongolia

Chen Xuanfeng’s life came to a tragic end during a fierce battle with the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan in the Mongolian desert. During the conflict, he killed Zhang Asheng, the “Laughing Buddha” of the Seven Eccentrics, while Mei Chaofeng was blinded by Ke Zhen’e’s hidden weapons.

In a moment of overconfidence, Chen Xuanfeng underestimated his opponents and was fatally wounded by a six-year-old Guo Jing, who stabbed him in the navel with a small dagger. This ironic death of the feared “Copper Corpse” at the hands of a child became one of the most memorable moments in the story.

Final moments and legacy

Before his death, Chen Xuanfeng told Mei Chaofeng the location of the Nine Yin Manual that was tattooed on his chest. After his death, Mei Chaofeng scraped the text from his chest and his body was eaten by Dushi’s leopard.

Chen Xuanfeng’s death marked the beginning of Mei Chaofeng’s descent into even greater evil as she sought revenge for her husband’s death. His actions and their consequences would continue to influence the story long after his death.

Personality and character

Chen Xuanfeng was characterised by his deep love for Mei Chaofeng and his willingness to do anything to protect their relationship. However, his fear of Huang Yaoshi’s punishment and his desperate need for power led him down a dark path.

His theft of the Nine Yin Manual demonstrated both his cunning and his lack of moral restraint. Despite his martial arts talent, his fear and desperation caused him to practice increasingly evil techniques that would ultimately lead to his downfall.

Cultural significance

Chen Xuanfeng represents the archetype of the fallen disciple in wuxia literature—a talented martial artist whose fear and desperation lead him to betray his master and embrace evil martial arts. His story highlights themes of forbidden love, betrayal, and the consequences of pursuing power through immoral means.

His character also serves as a catalyst for many major plot developments, demonstrating how the actions of individuals can have far-reaching consequences that affect numerous innocent people. The collective punishment of his fellow disciples became a significant plot point that would influence many characters throughout the story.

See also

Portrayals

Chen Xuanfeng has been portrayed by various actors in adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes:

Television Series

Most adaptations emphasize Chen Xuanfeng’s fearsome appearance as the “Copper Corpse,” his evil martial arts techniques, and his tragic love story with Mei Chaofeng, while showcasing his role as one of the main antagonists in the early part of the story.