Cheng Kun

Cheng Kun (simplified: 成昆, traditional: 成昆, pinyin: Chéng Kūn, jyutping: sing4 gwan1), known as the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand (混元霹雳手), was the main antagonist of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre. A master manipulator and schemer, he was Xie Xun’s master and greatest enemy. Driven by revenge against the Ming Order, Cheng Kun orchestrated numerous conflicts and was responsible for destroying Xie Xun’s family and the fragmentation of the Ming Order. He later infiltrated the Shaolin Order under the dharma name Yuanzhen (圆真, Round Truth), becoming a disciple of Kongjian, the most senior of Shaolin’s Four Holy Monks.

Biography

Early life and relationship with Yang Dingtian’s wife

Cheng Kun’s early life was marked by a tragic love affair that would shape his destiny. As a young man, he fell in love with his junior sister, who would later become the wife of Yang Dingtian, the 33rd leader of the Ming Order. However, Yang Dingtian took her as his wife, leaving Cheng Kun heartbroken and filled with resentment.

After their marriage, Yang Dingtian became increasingly focused on his duties as leader of the Ming Order and his cultivation of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth (乾坤大挪移), which led him to neglect his wife. This neglect gave Cheng Kun the opportunity to renew his relationship with her, and the two began an affair. During this period, Yang Dingtian’s wife revealed to Cheng Kun the secrets of the Ming Order’s hidden passages beneath Bright Peak.

The death of Yang Dingtian and his wife

While Yang Dingtian was cultivating the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, he discovered Cheng Kun and his wife together in the hidden passages. Overcome with shock and anger, Yang Dingtian suffered a cultivation deviation and died. His wife, overcome with guilt and grief, committed suicide.

Cheng Kun, devastated by the death of his beloved, swore to destroy the Ming Order in revenge. To accomplish this goal, he leaked the news of Yang Dingtian’s death, which led to the fragmentation of the Ming Order: Yin Tianzheng left to establish the Heavenly Eagle Order, Fan Yao went into seclusion, and Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers became embroiled in internal conflicts that would last for decades.

Teaching Xie Xun

Despite his hatred for the Ming Order, Cheng Kun took Xie Xun as his disciple when Xie Xun was ten years old. Under Cheng Kun’s instruction, Xie Xun learned exceptional martial arts and developed into one of the most formidable practitioners in the jianghu. However, Cheng Kun’s relationship with his disciple would become one of the most tragic in the novel.

Destroying Xie Xun’s family

When Xie Xun was twenty-eight years old, Cheng Kun, in his quest to destroy the Ming Order and drive Xie Xun to commit atrocities that would turn the entire jianghu against the organisation, murdered Xie Xun’s entire family—his parents, wife, children (including his son Xie Wuji), siblings, and servants—thirteen people in total. He left only Xie Xun alive, knowing that the loss would drive his disciple to seek revenge and commit acts that would turn the martial arts world against both Xie Xun and the Ming Order.

This horrific act transformed Xie Xun from a promising martial artist into a man consumed by revenge. Xie Xun attempted to seek revenge twice but was defeated by Cheng Kun on both occasions. When Cheng Kun subsequently disappeared, Xie Xun began killing innocent people throughout the jianghu, leaving behind messages claiming “The killer is the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand Cheng Kun” in an attempt to draw his master out of hiding.

Infiltrating the Shaolin Order

To continue his schemes while remaining hidden, Cheng Kun approached Kongjian, the most senior of Shaolin’s Four Holy Monks, and became his disciple under the dharma name Yuanzhen (圆真, Round Truth). Kongjian, unaware of Cheng Kun’s true identity and evil nature, accepted him and taught him the Shaolin Nine Yang Skill.

When Kongjian learned of Xie Xun’s quest for revenge and the atrocities he was committing, he sought to resolve the conflict between master and disciple. He allowed Xie Xun to strike him thirteen times with the Seven Injury Fist (七伤拳), hoping that Cheng Kun would reveal himself to stop the attack. However, after Xie Xun’s attacks seriously injured Kongjian, Cheng Kun did not appear, leaving Kongjian to die regretting that he had trusted an evil man.

Since no other Shaolin monks knew of this arrangement, the Shaolin Order believed that Xie Xun had killed Kongjian without provocation, creating enmity between the Order and Xie Xun and the Ming Order.

Orchestrating the attack on Bright Peak

Cheng Kun actively schemed behind the scenes to orchestrate the Six Major Factions’ attack on Bright Peak. When the attack began, he used the hidden passages that Yang Dingtian’s wife had revealed to him to secretly enter Bright Peak and ambush Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers while they were engaged in internal conflict.

Using his Illusory Yin Finger (幻阴指), Cheng Kun severely injured all seven Ming Order leaders, leaving them unable to resist the Six Major Factions’ attack. Only Zhang Wuji’s intervention saved them, as he used his Nine Yang Divine Skill (九阳神功) to expel the Illusory Yin Finger’s energy from their bodies.

Cheng Kun was subsequently wounded by Yin Yewang and feigned death, allowing him to escape during the confusion. However, Zhang Wuji’s use of the Nine Yang Divine Skill had damaged the foundation of Cheng Kun’s Illusory Yin Finger technique, significantly reducing its effectiveness.

Schemes against other factions

After the attack on Bright Peak, Cheng Kun continued his schemes against other major factions. He used his disciple Chen Youliang, an Eight-Bag Elder of the Beggars’ Guild, as an inside agent. Cheng Kun fought with Shi Huolong, the 25th leader of the Beggars’ Guild, who used the strongest but incomplete Twelve Dragon Subduing Palms (降龙十二掌) to severely injure him. Although Cheng Kun was wounded and vomited blood, Shi Huolong was also injured by Cheng Kun’s Primordial Chaos One Qi Skill (混元一气功) and was ultimately killed.

Cheng Kun and Chen Youliang then captured Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo after they returned from overseas. Chen Youliang used Zhou Zhiruo to force Song Qingshu to poison the Wudang Seven Xias, but this plan was thwarted by the Yellow Dress Maiden, the Wudang Seven Xias, and Zhang Wuji. Xie Xun was then transferred to and imprisoned in Shaolin Temple.

The Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly

Cheng Kun captured and imprisoned Kongwen, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, and planned to use the Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly to force the martial arts heroes to kill each other. When this plan failed, he attempted to burn Kongwen alive, but Fan Yao and other Ming Order members rescued him, foiling Cheng Kun’s scheme.

Final confrontation with Xie Xun

Cheng Kun’s final confrontation came when Xie Xun, rescued by Zhang Wuji, confronted him in a well beneath the Diamond Vajra Array (金刚伏魔圈) at the rear of Shaolin Temple. The two engaged in a desperate battle in the dark well, where Xie Xun’s blindness, which had been a disadvantage in most situations, actually became an advantage.

In the darkness, Xie Xun’s enhanced senses allowed him to fight more effectively than Cheng Kun, whose superior martial arts were less effective in the confined, dark space. Despite being outmatched in terms of raw martial arts ability, Xie Xun was able to defeat Cheng Kun, gouging out his eyes, severing his tendons, and rendering him completely disabled.

Cheng Kun was then imprisoned for life in Shaolin Temple, finally paying for the countless atrocities he had committed throughout his life.

Personality & traits

Obsessive and vengeful

Cheng Kun’s defining characteristic was his obsessive desire for revenge against the Ming Order. The loss of his beloved to Yang Dingtian and her subsequent death drove him to dedicate his entire life to destroying the organisation, regardless of the cost in innocent lives or the moral principles he violated.

This obsession consumed him completely, leading him to commit horrific acts including the murder of Xie Xun’s entire family, the manipulation of his own disciple, and the orchestration of numerous conflicts that resulted in the deaths of countless people.

Master manipulator

Cheng Kun was a master manipulator who excelled at using others to achieve his goals. He manipulated Xie Xun by destroying his family, knowing that this would drive Xie Xun to commit acts that would turn the jianghu against the Ming Order. He used his disciple Chen Youliang to infiltrate the Beggars’ Guild and carry out his schemes. He deceived Kongjian into accepting him as a disciple, using the Shaolin Order’s reputation and resources to further his plans.

His ability to manipulate others, combined with his patience and strategic thinking, made him one of the most dangerous antagonists in Jin Yong’s works.

Ruthless and cruel

Cheng Kun demonstrated extreme ruthlessness and cruelty throughout his life. The murder of Xie Xun’s entire family, including innocent children, demonstrated his complete lack of moral restraint. He was willing to sacrifice anyone and commit any act to achieve his goals, regardless of the suffering it caused.

Skilled schemer

Cheng Kun’s schemes were complex and long-term, demonstrating exceptional strategic thinking and patience. His plan to destroy the Ming Order unfolded over decades, involving multiple factions, numerous agents, and careful manipulation of events. He was able to remain hidden while orchestrating major conflicts, demonstrating his ability to plan and execute complex operations.

Martial arts abilities

Primordial Chaos One Qi Skill

Cheng Kun’s primary internal energy technique was the Primordial Chaos One Qi Skill (混元一气功), which he had cultivated since his youth and which gave him his nickname “Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand.” This technique generated powerful internal energy that could cause severe damage, as demonstrated when he injured Shi Huolong with it. If the energy was forced back into the user, it could cause red spots to appear on the face.

Shaolin Nine Yang Skill

After becoming Kongjian’s disciple under the name Yuanzhen, Cheng Kun learned the Shaolin Nine Yang Skill, a powerful internal energy technique derived from the Nine Yang Manual (九阳真经). He used this technique to deflect Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist attacks. However, his cultivation of the Illusory Yin Finger, an extremely negative technique, significantly reduced the effectiveness of his Shaolin Nine Yang Skill.

Lion’s Roar

Cheng Kun was skilled in the Lion’s Roar (狮子吼), a powerful sonic attack technique that could be used to overwhelm opponents with sound.

Thunderbolt Fist

Cheng Kun’s Thunderbolt Fist (霹雳拳) was a powerful external technique characterised by its fierce and intimidating attacks. The technique, which he taught to Xie Xun, appeared similar to the Seven Injury Fist in its execution.

Small Seizing Hand

Cheng Kun was highly skilled in the Small Seizing Hand (小擒拿手), a close-combat technique that was particularly effective in dark or confined spaces. The technique allowed him to use any part of his arm—fingers, palm, forearm, or elbow—to seize, strike, tear, stab, hook, or ram opponents. The most vicious technique was Two Dragons Seize the Pearl (双龙抢珠), which targeted an opponent’s eyes.

Illusory Yin Finger

Cheng Kun’s most distinctive technique was the Illusory Yin Finger (幻阴指), originally called One Yin Finger (一阴指) in the first edition. This technique generated a cold energy like an ice thread that could travel through acupoints, causing numbness and a chilling sensation throughout the body.

Cheng Kun secretly developed this technique while infiltrating the Shaolin Order. He used it to kill Shi Huolong’s wife and to ambush the seven Ming Order leaders at Bright Peak. However, when Zhang Wuji used his Nine Yang Divine Skill to expel the Illusory Yin Finger’s energy from the injured leaders, it damaged the foundation of Cheng Kun’s technique, significantly reducing its effectiveness. In the final battle with Xie Xun, Cheng Kun lamented the loss of this technique, which had been one of his greatest weapons.

In the first edition, it was stated that the Illusory Yin Finger could only be cured by the Nine Yang techniques of the Wudang, Shaolin, or Emei Orders, or by the One Yang Finger (一阳指). However, this restriction was removed in later editions.

Overall martial arts level

Cheng Kun’s martial arts abilities were exceptional, placing him among the top-tier masters in the jianghu. Zhang Wuji assessed that his abilities were almost on par with the Three Monks of Shaolin (三渡), who were among the most powerful martial artists in the novel. His combination of powerful internal energy, versatile techniques, and strategic thinking made him an extremely dangerous opponent.

Relationships

Yang Dingtian’s wife

Cheng Kun’s relationship with Yang Dingtian’s wife was the central tragedy of his life. His love for her, her marriage to Yang Dingtian, their affair, and her eventual suicide drove him to dedicate his life to revenge against the Ming Order. This relationship shaped his entire character and motivated all of his actions.

Xie Xun

Cheng Kun’s relationship with Xie Xun was one of the most complex and tragic in the novel. He was Xie Xun’s master and taught him exceptional martial arts, but he also destroyed Xie Xun’s family and manipulated him into becoming an enemy of the entire jianghu. This relationship demonstrated Cheng Kun’s complete lack of moral restraint and his willingness to sacrifice even those closest to him for his goals.

Kongjian

Cheng Kun’s relationship with Kongjian was marked by deception and betrayal. He deceived Kongjian into accepting him as a disciple, and when Kongjian attempted to resolve the conflict between Cheng Kun and Xie Xun, Cheng Kun betrayed him by not appearing when promised, leading to Kongjian’s death.

Chen Youliang

Cheng Kun used his disciple Chen Youliang as an agent to infiltrate the Beggars’ Guild and carry out his schemes. This relationship demonstrated Cheng Kun’s ability to manipulate others and use them as tools to achieve his goals.

Behind the scenes

Cheng Kun represents one of Jin Yong’s most complex and dangerous antagonists. Unlike many villains who are driven by simple greed or power lust, Cheng Kun’s motivations stem from tragic love and loss, making him a more nuanced character. However, his response to this tragedy—dedicating his life to revenge and committing countless atrocities—demonstrates how personal loss, when combined with a lack of moral restraint, can lead to absolute evil.

His character explores themes of revenge, manipulation, and the ways in which personal tragedy can be transformed into destructive obsession. His schemes demonstrate how a single determined individual, through careful planning and manipulation, can orchestrate conflicts that affect the entire jianghu.

Cheng Kun’s ultimate defeat at the hands of Xie Xun, his former disciple, represents poetic justice—the student, despite being outmatched, was able to defeat the master who had destroyed his life, in part because the master’s own evil actions had created the conditions for his defeat.