Fan Yao

Fan Yao (simplified: 范遥, traditional: 范遙, pinyin: Fàn Yáo, jyutping: faan6 jiu4), known as the Bright Right Messenger (光明右使), was one of the Ming Order’s most loyal and dedicated members. Together with Yang Xiao, the Bright Left Messenger, he was known as one of the “Two Immortals of Wanderer” (逍遥二仙). In an extraordinary act of sacrifice, he disfigured himself to infiltrate the Yuan court as a spy, serving undercover for nearly twenty years under the identity of Kutoutuo (苦头陀, Bitter Head Monk).

Biography

Early life and the Two Immortals of Wanderer

In his youth, Fan Yao was a strikingly handsome man, renowned for his good looks. Together with Yang Xiao, who was equally handsome and intelligent, they were known as the “Two Immortals of Wanderer,” reflecting both their physical appearance and their exceptional martial arts abilities. Both men were considered among the most talented members of the Ming Order, with Fan Yao’s martial arts skills being comparable to Yang Xiao’s.

Fan Yao served as the Bright Right Messenger, second only to the Order leader, a position equal in rank to Yang Xiao’s position as Bright Left Messenger. In the Ming Order’s hierarchy, the Two Messengers ranked above the Four Guardian Kings, making them among the most powerful and influential members of the organisation.

Love for Daiqisi

Fan Yao was deeply in love with Daiqisi, the Purple-Robed Dragon King and the first-ranked of the Four Guardian Kings. However, his feelings were unrequited, creating a source of personal sorrow that he carried throughout his life. This unrequited love was one of the few aspects of his personal life that was known to others in the Order.

The decision to go undercover

After Yang Dingtian, the 33rd leader of the Ming Order, disappeared, Fan Yao suspected that Cheng Kun had conspired with the Yuan government to eliminate him. As the Ming Order began to fragment due to internal conflicts, Fan Yao became determined to investigate the situation by infiltrating the Yuan government’s operations.

Recognising that Cheng Kun would recognise his true appearance, Fan Yao made an extraordinary sacrifice: he deliberately disfigured his face, using medicine to char his hair and transform his appearance completely. He then pretended to be a mute, travelled to the Western Regions, and worked as a martial artist, eventually being recommended to the court of the Prince of Ruyang (汝阳王) by a Mongol noble from the Khwarezm region.

Serving as Kutoutuo

Under the identity of Kutoutuo, Fan Yao successfully infiltrated the Prince of Ruyang’s court and became a trusted confidant. During this period, which lasted nearly twenty years, he served in the Yuan government while maintaining his cover as a mute monk from the Western Regions.

One of his most significant roles was teaching Zhao Min, the Prince of Ruyang’s daughter, martial arts. Zhao Min learned martial arts from Fan Yao from childhood, and the two developed a relationship that was almost like that of teacher and student, though Zhao Min was unaware of Fan Yao’s true identity.

Fan Yao accompanied Zhao Min in her various operations against the martial arts world, including her schemes to capture and imprison leaders of the Six Major Factions at Wan’an Temple. Throughout this period, he maintained his cover while observing and gathering intelligence about the Yuan government’s plans and operations.

Reunion with the Ming Order

When Zhang Wuji and Yang Xiao came to Wan’an Temple to rescue the imprisoned leaders of the Six Major Factions, Fan Yao tested Zhang Wuji’s martial arts abilities on a small hill. After confirming that Zhang Wuji was indeed a worthy leader who commanded his respect, Fan Yao finally broke his silence and revealed his true identity to his old friends.

This reunion after nearly twenty years of separation was deeply emotional. Fan Yao had maintained his loyalty to the Ming Order throughout his long undercover service, and his return marked the restoration of the “Two Immortals of Wanderer” as a team supporting the young leader.

Rescuing the Six Major Factions

During the rescue operation at Wan’an Temple, Fan Yao played a crucial role in the Ming Order’s plan to free the imprisoned leaders. He participated in the complex scheme that involved using deception and strategy to overcome the guards and successfully extract the prisoners.

One particularly notable moment occurred when Fan Yao, attempting to gain Luzhangke’s trust to obtain an antidote for the poison affecting the prisoners, falsely claimed that Miejue was his lover and that Zhou Zhiruo was their illegitimate daughter. This lie, while serving a tactical purpose, demonstrated Fan Yao’s willingness to use any means necessary to achieve his goals, a characteristic that reflected both his dedication and his pragmatic approach to espionage.

Continued service

After his return to the Ming Order, Fan Yao continued to serve Zhang Wuji with complete loyalty. He participated in various operations, including the rescue of Xie Xun and the coordination of the Order’s activities. His extensive knowledge of the Yuan government’s operations, gained through his years of undercover work, made him an invaluable asset to the Ming Order.

Relationship with Kongzhi

Fan Yao had a long-standing conflict with Kongzhi, one of the Four Divine Monks of Shaolin. However, after Fan Yao helped rescue Kongwen, another of the Four Divine Monks, Kongzhi’s attitude changed. The two men came to recognise and respect each other as heroes, eventually becoming close friends despite their previous animosity.

Personality & traits

Ultimate loyalty and sacrifice

Fan Yao’s character was defined by his extraordinary loyalty to the Ming Order. His willingness to disfigure himself, pretend to be mute for nearly twenty years, and live a life of constant deception demonstrated the depth of his commitment to the Order’s cause. This level of sacrifice is rarely seen even among the most dedicated of characters in Jin Yong’s works.

Pragmatism and ruthlessness

Fan Yao was willing to use whatever means were necessary to achieve his goals. He was capable of killing when necessary (including, according to some accounts, a Ming Order branch leader to maintain his cover), and he was not above using deception, lies, or manipulation to serve the Order’s interests. This pragmatism, while necessary for an undercover operative, also reflected a certain ruthlessness in his character.

Intelligence and adaptability

Fan Yao’s success as an undercover agent for nearly twenty years demonstrated exceptional intelligence and adaptability. He was able to maintain his cover in the most dangerous of circumstances, gather intelligence effectively, and adapt to changing situations while maintaining his true loyalties.

Martial arts mastery

Fan Yao possessed comprehensive knowledge of martial arts from both orthodox and unorthodox schools. His fighting style combined techniques from various sources, allowing him to change between different styles seamlessly. This versatility made him an extremely dangerous opponent and reflected his broad learning and adaptability.

Martial arts abilities

Comprehensive martial arts knowledge

Fan Yao was renowned for his extensive knowledge of martial arts from various schools. Zhang Wuji noted that among the Ming Order’s leaders, Fan Yao had the most comprehensive understanding of martial arts, making him capable of adapting to opponents using any style. His techniques could shift between orthodox and unorthodox methods, sometimes using open, direct attacks, and at other times employing subtle, deceptive movements.

Sword techniques

Fan Yao was exceptionally skilled with the sword. He was able to imitate techniques from various schools, including the Kunlun Order’s swordplay, demonstrating them with such proficiency that even masters from those schools were impressed. His sword skills were considered superior to even Fang Dongbai, the “Eight-Armed Divine Sword” and one of the Beggars’ Guild’s four great elders.

Versatile combat style

In combat, Fan Yao demonstrated remarkable versatility. He could change his hand positions and techniques rapidly—in three moves, he could shift his hands through six different forms, including tiger claw, eagle claw, lion palm, and crane beak. This ability to combine techniques from different schools made him an unpredictable and formidable opponent.

Internal energy

While Fan Yao’s internal energy was not described as being as profound as some of the novel’s top masters, it was sufficient to support his comprehensive martial arts techniques and enable him to fight effectively against powerful opponents, including the Xuanming Second Elder.

Relationships

Yang Xiao

Fan Yao’s relationship with Yang Xiao was one of sworn brotherhood and mutual respect. Together, they formed the “Two Immortals of Wanderer,” and their reunion after nearly twenty years was a significant emotional moment. Their partnership represented the restoration of the Ming Order’s leadership structure and their combined support for Zhang Wuji.

Zhao Min

Fan Yao’s relationship with Zhao Min was complex. As Kutoutuo, he served as her martial arts teacher, and the two developed a relationship that was almost like that of master and disciple. However, Zhao Min was unaware of Fan Yao’s true identity, and their relationship existed entirely within the context of his undercover mission.

Yang Dingtian

Fan Yao held deep respect for Yang Dingtian, the 33rd leader of the Ming Order. Yang Dingtian’s disappearance was the catalyst for Fan Yao’s decision to go undercover, and his investigation was motivated by loyalty to his former leader.

Zhang Wuji

After testing Zhang Wuji’s abilities and confirming his worthiness, Fan Yao served the young leader with complete loyalty. His respect for Zhang Wuji’s martial arts and leadership abilities led him to break his long silence and reveal his true identity.

Daiqisi

Fan Yao’s unrequited love for Daiqisi remained a source of personal sorrow throughout his life. This unfulfilled relationship was one of the few personal aspects of his character that was revealed, adding depth to his otherwise mission-focused existence.

Behind the scenes

Fan Yao represents one of the most extreme examples of sacrifice and loyalty in Jin Yong’s works. His willingness to disfigure himself and live undercover for nearly twenty years demonstrates the depth of commitment that some characters have to their causes and organisations.

The character also explores themes of identity, deception, and the moral complexities of espionage. Fan Yao’s methods, while serving a noble cause, often involved deception, manipulation, and even killing, raising questions about the limits of what is acceptable in service of a greater goal.

Fan Yao’s character is also notable for its contrast with Yang Xiao. While both are known as the “Two Immortals of Wanderer” and are equals in rank and martial arts, their personalities and approaches are quite different. Yang Xiao is more intellectual and strategic, while Fan Yao is more direct and action-oriented, willing to make extreme sacrifices.

The character’s success as an undercover agent for nearly twenty years is remarkable, particularly given the constant danger and the need to maintain deception in every interaction. His story serves as a reminder of the hidden sacrifices made by those who work in intelligence and espionage, and the personal costs of such service.