Ji Xiaofu

Ji Xiaofu (simplified: 纪晓芙, traditional: 紀曉芙, pinyin: Jǐ Xiǎofú, jyutping: gei2 hiu2 fu4) was a disciple of the Emei Order and the most beloved student of Miejue, the Order’s leader. Her relationship with Yang Xiao, the Bright Left Messenger of the Ming Order, and her refusal to kill him despite Miejue’s orders, led to her tragic death. She demonstrated remarkable courage and principle in choosing love and personal integrity over duty, naming her daughter Yang Buhui (Never Regret) to express her feelings about her relationship with Yang Xiao.

Biography

Early life and engagement

Ji Xiaofu was the daughter of the “Golden Whip Ji” (金鞭纪老英雄), a renowned martial artist from Hanyang. She became a disciple of the Emei Order under Miejue’s tutelage and quickly distinguished herself as one of the Order’s most talented students. Her martial arts abilities and understanding were considered superior to all other disciples except Zhou Zhiruo, making her Miejue’s intended successor as the next leader of the Emei Order.

Through her family’s connections, Ji Xiaofu was engaged to Yin Liting, one of the Wudang Seven Xias and a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng. The engagement represented a union between two of the most prestigious orthodox factions—the Emei Order and the Wudang Order—and was considered an excellent match by all parties involved.

Meeting Yang Xiao

After Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King, seized the Dragon-slaying Sabre and disappeared, Miejue ordered her disciples to find him in order to retrieve the sabre. Ji Xiaofu was sent on this mission and travelled westward to the Sichuan region.

At Dashu Fort in western Sichuan, Ji Xiaofu encountered Yang Xiao, who was approximately forty years old at the time. Despite her attempts to ignore him, Yang Xiao persistently followed her wherever she went, staying in the same inns and eating at the same establishments. When Ji Xiaofu could no longer tolerate his presence, she drew her sword and attacked him.

Yang Xiao, unarmed, easily disarmed her in just a few moves, demonstrating his superior martial arts abilities. Despite her fear, Ji Xiaofu managed to escape. However, the next morning, she found her sword placed neatly beside her pillow, and Yang Xiao continued to follow her.

Relationship with Yang Xiao

Over time, Yang Xiao’s persistent attention and the circumstances of their interaction led to the development of feelings between them. The relationship between Ji Xiaofu and Yang Xiao was complex—initially involving coercion, but later developing into genuine affection. When Yang Xiao’s enemies attacked, Ji Xiaofu took the opportunity to escape, only to discover that she was pregnant with his child.

Rather than returning to the Emei Order, Ji Xiaofu went into seclusion at Shungeng Mountain, west of Butterfly Valley, where she gave birth to her daughter. She named the child Yang Buhui (杨不悔, Never Regret), expressing through this name that she did not regret her relationship with Yang Xiao, despite the consequences it would have for her life and her standing in the orthodox martial arts world.

Discovery and death

When Ding Minjun, Ji Xiaofu’s senior sister, discovered that Ji Xiaofu’s guardian red dot (守宫砂) was missing, indicating that she was no longer a virgin, Ji Xiaofu was forced to leave the Emei Order. She began raising Yang Buhui herself, though the circumstances of their life together were difficult.

Later, Ji Xiaofu was wounded by Daiqisi, the Purple-Robed Dragon King (also known as Jinhuapopo, the Golden Flower Granny), and went to Butterfly Valley seeking medical treatment from Hu Qingniu. There, she encountered the young Zhang Wuji, who treated her injuries.

However, Miejue tracked Ji Xiaofu to Butterfly Valley. When confronted, Ji Xiaofu told Miejue the truth about her relationship with Yang Xiao and the birth of their daughter. Miejue, enraged that her most beloved disciple had become involved with the man she hated most, gave Ji Xiaofu a choice: kill Yang Xiao and prove her loyalty to the Order, or face death.

Ji Xiaofu chose death rather than kill Yang Xiao. Her refusal to comply with Miejue’s order demonstrated her courage and her commitment to her principles, even in the face of death. Before she died, she entrusted Zhang Wuji with the task of delivering Yang Buhui to Yang Xiao, ensuring that their daughter would be cared for.

Miejue struck Ji Xiaofu with a single palm strike, killing her instantly. After her death, Miejue ordered her disciples to hunt down and kill Yang Buhui, though Bei Jinyi, one of Miejue’s disciples, took pity on the child and helped her escape.

Personality & traits

Inner strength and principle

Despite her gentle outward appearance, Ji Xiaofu possessed remarkable inner strength and was willing to stand by her principles even when it meant death. Her decision to refuse Miejue’s order to kill Yang Xiao demonstrated her courage and her commitment to doing what she believed was right, regardless of the personal cost.

Compassion and justice

Ji Xiaofu demonstrated strong compassion and a sense of justice throughout her life. When Peng Yingyu, a Ming Order member, was being tortured by Ding Minjun, Ji Xiaofu repeatedly intervened to stop the torture, stating principles such as “he showed us mercy, we cannot be ruthless” and “this person has no ability to fight back.” She was willing to protect even those she had no personal connection to, demonstrating her commitment to fairness and compassion.

Loyalty and integrity

Despite her relationship with Yang Xiao and her eventual death at Miejue’s hands, Ji Xiaofu maintained her integrity and her loyalty to her own principles. She was honest with Miejue about her relationship with Yang Xiao, and she chose to die rather than compromise her values by killing someone she cared about.

The choice of “Never Regret”

Ji Xiaofu’s decision to name her daughter Yang Buhui (Never Regret) was perhaps her most powerful statement about her feelings and her principles. Despite losing her reputation, her position in the Emei Order, her engagement to Yin Liting, and ultimately her life, she maintained that she did not regret her relationship with Yang Xiao. This name became a testament to her courage and her commitment to living according to her own values.

Martial arts abilities

Emei Swordplay

Ji Xiaofu was highly skilled in Emei Swordplay, demonstrating the technique’s characteristic lightness and agility. Miejue praised her for having “sharp sword techniques and a resolute character,” indicating that she had mastered both the technical and mental aspects of Emei martial arts.

Emei Nine Yang Power

As a disciple of the Emei Order, Ji Xiaofu cultivated the Emei Nine Yang Power, the Order’s internal energy technique. Her proficiency in this technique, combined with her natural talent, made her one of the Order’s most capable disciples.

Comprehensive abilities

Ji Xiaofu’s martial arts abilities were considered second only to Zhou Zhiruo among Miejue’s disciples, and Miejue had intended her to be the next leader of the Emei Order. Her combination of technical skill, inner strength, and principled character made her an ideal candidate for leadership, though her relationship with Yang Xiao ultimately prevented this from happening.

Relationships

Yang Xiao

Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Yang Xiao was both complex and tragic. Despite the difficult circumstances of their meeting and the initial coercion involved, genuine feelings developed between them. Ji Xiaofu’s decision to name their daughter “Never Regret” and her refusal to kill Yang Xiao demonstrated the depth of her feelings for him, even though their relationship cost her everything, including her life.

Miejue

Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Miejue was one of deep mutual affection that ended in tragedy. Miejue loved Ji Xiaofu as her most beloved disciple and intended successor, but Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Yang Xiao, Miejue’s greatest enemy, created an irreconcilable conflict. Miejue’s decision to kill Ji Xiaofu demonstrated both the depth of her hatred for the Ming Order and the strictness of her principles, while Ji Xiaofu’s decision to die rather than comply demonstrated her own commitment to her values.

Yin Liting

Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Yin Liting was marked by guilt and regret. She had been engaged to him and felt deep remorse for the pain her relationship with Yang Xiao would cause him. Her feelings of guilt were evident when she encountered Yin Liting, and she attempted to console him despite being unable to explain the true situation.

Yang Buhui

Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with her daughter Yang Buhui was marked by love and sacrifice. Despite the difficulties of raising a child alone while being pursued by her former Order, Ji Xiaofu cared for Yang Buhui and ensured her safety by entrusting her to Zhang Wuji before her death.

Zhang Wuji

Ji Xiaofu’s encounter with Zhang Wuji at Butterfly Valley was significant. She showed kindness to the young boy, and he later honoured her memory by safely delivering Yang Buhui to Yang Xiao, fulfilling Ji Xiaofu’s final request.

Behind the scenes

Ji Xiaofu represents one of Jin Yong’s most tragic and principled characters. Her story explores themes of love, duty, integrity, and the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations. Her character demonstrates that sometimes the most courageous act is to refuse to compromise one’s principles, even when it means death.

The chapter title “不悔仲子逾我墙” (Never Regret, Zhongzi Leapt Over My Wall), which describes Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Yang Xiao, is derived from a poem in the Book of Songs (诗经) that describes a woman’s conflicted feelings about a forbidden relationship. This literary reference adds depth to Ji Xiaofu’s character and her situation.

Ji Xiaofu’s decision to name her daughter “Never Regret” is one of the most powerful statements in the novel about love and principle. Despite all that she lost—her reputation, her position, her engagement, and her life—she maintained that she did not regret her relationship with Yang Xiao, demonstrating the depth of her feelings and her commitment to living according to her own values.

Her character serves as a contrast to Miejue’s rigid adherence to principle, demonstrating that there are different ways to be principled, and that sometimes the most principled act is to refuse to act against one’s own values, even when ordered by someone one respects and loves.