Mandarin Duck Blades features a diverse cast of characters including martial artists, imperial officials, and members of the Weixin Armed Escort. The story explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the pursuit of legendary weapons, with characters ranging from skilled martial artists to comedic figures like the Four Xias of Taiyue.
Protagonists
- Yuan Guannan (袁冠南 – Yuán Guànnán) – Scholarly young man who demonstrates unexpected martial prowess. Initially appearing as a somewhat peculiar scholar who enjoys reciting poetry, he proves to be both clever and skilled in combat.
- Xiao Zhonghui (萧中慧 – Xiāo Zhōnghuì) – The spirited daughter of Xiao Banhe, accomplished martial artist who travels in pursuit of the Mandarin Duck Blades.
- Lin Yulong (林玉龙 – Lín Yùlóng) – Powerful martial artist, married to Ren Feiyan.
- Ren Feiyan (任飞燕 – Rén Fēiyàn) – Lin Yulong’s wife, known for her exceptional skill with projectile weapons, particularly her deadly accuracy with a slingshot.
Important characters
- Xiao Banhe (萧半和 – Xiāo Bànhé) – Renowned martial artist celebrating his fiftieth birthday, which becomes a pivotal event in the story.
- Zhuo Tianxiong (卓天雄 – Zhuó Tiānxíong) – Formidable imperial guard who disguises himself as a blind man, master of the Thirty Heaven-shaking Palms technique.
- Zhou Weixin (周威信 – Zhōu Wēixīn) – Head of the Wexin Armed Escort, known as Iron Whip that Yields All Directions, a cautious man whose family is held hostage to ensure his cooperation in transporting the Mandarin Duck Blades.
Xiao Banhe’s family
- Madam Yuan (袁夫人 – Yuán Fūrén) – Xiao Banhe’s first wife.
- Madam Yang (杨夫人 – Yáng Fūrén) – Xiao Banhe’s second wife.
Weixin Armed Escort members
- Escort Zhang (张镖师 – Zhāng Biāoshī) – One of Zhou Weixin’s trusted escorts in the Weixin Armed Escort.
- Escort Zhan (詹镖师 – Zhān Biāoshī) – One of Zhou Weixin’s trusted escorts in the Weixin Armed Escort.
Four Xias of Taiyue
Four martial artists who call themselves the Four Xias of Taiyue (太岳四侠 – Tàiyuè Sìxiá). Despite their grandiose titles and claims, they possess mediocre martial arts skills and often fail in their attempts at robbery and heroism.
- Xiaoyaozi (逍遥子 – Xiāoyáozǐ) – The leader, known as the Dragon Amidst the Clouds. Uses a long-stemmed pipe as his weapon. Despite his grandiose title, his martial arts skills are decidedly mediocre.
- Chang Changfeng (常长风 – Cháng Chángfēng) – The second brother, nicknamed Twin Palms of Slab-splitting. A massive man who wields a large tombstone as his weapon.
- Hua Jianying (花剑影 – Huā Jiànyǐng) – The third brother, known as Meteor Chasing the Moon. Would be considered handsome if not for his protruding teeth and sunken nose. Fights with meteor hammers.
- Gai Yiming (盖一鸣 – Gài Yīmíng) – The youngest of the four, who claims many impressive titles including Eight Steps Chasing Toads, Rivalling Zhuan Zhu,1 Treading Snow Without a Trace, Skimming Water with One Leg, and the Twin Daggers Renowed in Seven Provinces. Short but agile, he fights with a pair of butterfly knives.
See also
Footnotes
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专诸 – Zhuān Zhū. A famous assassin from the Spring and Autumn period who killed King Liao of Wu. ↩