Mei Jianhe (simplified: 梅剑和, traditional: 梅劍和, pinyin: Méi Jiànhé, jyutping: mui4 gim3 wo4), known as the Shadowless (没影子 — Méiyǐngzǐ), was the first disciple of Gui Xinshu (归辛树) of the Huashan School in Sword Stained with Royal Blood. He participated in the conflict with Jiao Gongli and fought against Yuzhenzi (玉真子) alongside other Huashan School disciples.
Biography
Training under Gui Xinshu
Mei Jianhe was trained by Gui Xinshu, the second disciple of Mu Renqing (穆人清) and a skilled martial artist known as the “Invincible Divine Fists” (神拳无敌 — Shénquán Wúdí). As Gui Xinshu’s first disciple, Mei Jianhe received extensive training in the Huashan School’s martial arts techniques.
Mei Jianhe earned the epithet “Shadowless” (没影子 — Méiyǐngzǐ) due to his exceptional qinggongs, which allowed him to move with such speed and agility that he appeared to have no shadow.
Conflict with Jiao Gongli
Mei Jianhe, along with his shimei Sun Zhongjun (孙仲君), was invited by Min Zihua (闵子华) of the Xiandu School (仙都派) to participate in seeking revenge against Jiao Gongli, the leader of the Golden Dragon Gang (金龙帮 — Jīnlóng Bāng) in Nanjing.
During the confrontation, Yuan Chengzhi (袁承志) retrieved the stolen confession and letter of thanks from the Tai Bai San Ying (太白三英) and presented them to Min Zihua to prove Jiao Gongli’s innocence. However, Mei Jianhe, acting rashly, tore up the evidence documents that Yuan Chengzhi had provided.
This action nearly led to Jiao Gongli committing suicide, as the evidence was crucial to proving his innocence. Xia Qingqing (夏青青) was able to recite the contents of the documents from memory, and Yuan Chengzhi defeated Min Zihua, Dongxuan (洞玄), and Mei Jianhe using Huashan School techniques, demonstrating his superior martial arts skills.
With the help of Priest Musang (木桑道长), Yuan Chengzhi also captured the Tai Bai San Ying, exposing their conspiracy. The conflict was resolved, and Min Zihua and Jiao Gongli reconciled.
Conflict with Yuan Chengzhi
After the conflict with Jiao Gongli was resolved, Mei Jianhe and Sun Zhongjun were dissatisfied with the outcome. They went to their master Gui Xinshu and exaggerated Yuan Chengzhi’s actions, which led to a confrontation between Gui Xinshu and Yuan Chengzhi.
During the confrontation at Yuhuatai (雨花台 — Yǔhuātái), Mei Jianhe and Sun Zhongjun’s exaggerations directly contributed to Gui Xinshu challenging Yuan Chengzhi to a thousand-move battle. Mei Jianhe also temporarily looked after Gui Xinshu’s young son Gui Zhonglian (归钟) during this time.
When Mu Renqing intervened to resolve the conflict, Mei Jianhe remained silent, demonstrating his respect for the school’s hierarchy and discipline.
Battle against Yuzhenzi
When Yuzhenzi (玉真子) attacked the Huashan School, Mei Jianhe joined other Huashan disciples, including Feng Nandi (冯难敌) and Shi Jun (石骏), in attacking Yuzhenzi together.
However, Mei Jianhe’s long sword was broken by Yuzhenzi, demonstrating the power difference between them. Despite this, Mei Jianhe continued to fight, using his qinggongs to flank and coordinate with other disciples, and also using hidden weapons (暗器 — ànqì) to attack.
The battle revealed Mei Jianhe’s limitations—despite his training and skills, he was unable to match the abilities of the most powerful martial artists. The Huashan disciples were ultimately defeated by Yuzhenzi.
After this battle, Mei Jianhe’s character became more restrained. When Feng Bucui (冯不摧) wanted to pursue Ajiu (阿九), Mei Jianhe stopped him, emphasising that “the grandmaster will definitely arrive today” (师祖今日必到 — Shīzǔ Jīnrì Bìdào), showing his respect for the Huashan School’s rules and hierarchy.
Relationship with Sun Zhongjun
Mei Jianhe had a significant collaborative relationship with his shimei Sun Zhongjun. The two worked together on several occasions:
- They participated together in seeking revenge against Jiao Gongli in Nanjing
- They pursued enemies together
- They practised martial arts together regularly
However, when Sun Zhongjun attempted to violate the school’s rules by using a long sword (after Mu Renqing had forbidden her from using one), Mei Jianhe immediately reminded her to practise other weapons instead, demonstrating his sense of responsibility for maintaining the school’s discipline.
Personality and character
Mei Jianhe was characterised by his rash actions and his eventual growth. His decision to tear up the evidence documents during the conflict with Jiao Gongli demonstrated his impulsive nature and lack of consideration for the consequences of his actions.
However, after the battle with Yuzhenzi and witnessing Yuan Chengzhi’s abilities, Mei Jianhe’s character became more restrained and disciplined. His willingness to stop Feng Bucui from pursuing Ajiu and his reminder to Sun Zhongjun about the school’s rules showed his development and his respect for discipline and hierarchy.
Mei Jianhe’s relationship with Sun Zhongjun demonstrated his ability to work collaboratively, while his maintenance of school discipline showed his sense of responsibility as a senior disciple.
Martial arts
Mei Jianhe was a skilled martial artist, having been trained by Gui Xinshu in the Huashan School’s techniques. His epithet “Shadowless” (没影子 — Méiyǐngzǐ) reflected his exceptional qinggongs, which were his primary strength.
Techniques
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Huashan School sword techniques — Mei Jianhe was skilled in the Huashan School’s sword techniques, though his long sword was broken by Yuzhenzi, demonstrating the limitations of his abilities.
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Qinggongs — Mei Jianhe’s primary strength was his exceptional qinggongs, which earned him the epithet “Shadowless”. His qinggongs were demonstrated when he pursued Hong Shenghai (洪胜海), using flanking tactics to show the reality of his “Shadowless” name.
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Hidden weapons — Mei Jianhe was also skilled in using hidden weapons (暗器 — ànqì), which he used during the battle against Yuzhenzi.
Weapons
- Long sword (长剑 — chángjiàn) — Mei Jianhe’s primary weapon, which was broken by Yuzhenzi during their battle.
Relationships
Master
- Gui Xinshu — Mei Jianhe’s master and the second disciple of Mu Renqing. As Gui Xinshu’s first disciple, Mei Jianhe was his most senior student.
Grandmaster
- Mu Renqing — The leader of the Huashan School and Mei Jianhe’s grandmaster. Mei Jianhe showed respect for Mu Renqing and the school’s hierarchy.
Junior fellow disciples
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Sun Zhongjun (孙仲君) — Mei Jianhe’s shimei, with whom he had a collaborative relationship. He worked with her on various missions but also maintained discipline when necessary.
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Liu Peisheng (刘培生) — Mei Jianhe’s shidi, also a disciple of Gui Xinshu.
Fellow disciples
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Feng Nandi (冯难敌) — A fellow Huashan School disciple with whom Mei Jianhe fought against Yuzhenzi.
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Yuan Chengzhi — Mei Jianhe’s grand-uncle (through martial arts lineage) and the protagonist of Sword Stained with Royal Blood. Mei Jianhe had conflicts with Yuan Chengzhi but eventually came to respect his abilities.
Legacy
Mei Jianhe’s story represented the growth and development of a martial artist. His initial rash actions, such as tearing up the evidence documents, demonstrated his impulsive nature, but his later development showed his ability to learn from his experiences and grow as a person and martial artist.
His character exemplified the importance of discipline and respect for hierarchy in martial arts schools, as shown by his maintenance of school rules and his respect for Mu Renqing’s authority. His collaborative relationship with Sun Zhongjun demonstrated the importance of teamwork and mutual support among disciples.
Mei Jianhe’s limitations, as demonstrated in his defeat by Yuzhenzi, showed that even skilled martial artists could be outmatched by the most powerful opponents, highlighting the importance of continuous training and improvement.
His story also served as a reminder of the consequences of rash actions and the importance of considering the full implications of one’s decisions, as his tearing of the evidence documents nearly led to tragic consequences.