Mu Gaofeng (simplified: 木高峰, traditional: 木高峰, pinyin: Mù Gāofēng, jyutping: muk6 gou1 fung1), known as the Bright Camel of the North (塞北明驼), was a notorious bandit and martial artist from north of the Great Wall. He was known for his hunchback appearance, his cunning nature, and his ruthless pursuit of the Evil-Warding Sword Manual. He was eventually killed by Lin Pingzhi using the Evil-Warding Swordplay.
Biography
Early life and reputation
Mu Gaofeng was a bandit from the northern regions, known for his hunchback appearance and his skill with a curved sword called the “camel sword” (驼剑). He was notorious for his cunning, opportunistic nature, and lack of honour. He was known to be treacherous and would change sides based on what benefited him most.
Despite his reputation, many martial artists feared him because of his high martial arts ability and his cunning nature. Those who made enemies of him had to be constantly on guard, as he was known for his sneak attacks and underhanded tactics.
Pursuit of the Evil-Warding Sword Manual
Mu Gaofeng became interested in the Evil-Warding Sword Manual after hearing about its power. He first appeared at Liu Zhengfeng’s golden basin hand-washing ceremony, where he encountered Lin Pingzhi, who was disguised as a hunchback.
When Mu Gaofeng saw Lin Pingzhi’s disguise, he mistakenly believed that Lin Pingzhi was his descendant. Lin Pingzhi, desperate to save his parents, pretended to be Mu Gaofeng’s grandson and called him “Grandfather.”
Encounter with Lin Zhennan
Mu Gaofeng later encountered Lin Zhennan and his wife, who had been captured by Yu Canghai of the Qingcheng School. Mu Gaofeng attempted to take them from Yu Canghai, hoping to extract information about the Evil-Warding Sword Manual.
However, Linghu Chong intervened, pretending to be Yue Buqun and scaring Mu Gaofeng away. This encounter left Mu Gaofeng feeling humiliated and determined to get revenge.
Attempt to kidnap Yue Lingshan
After learning that Lin Pingzhi had joined the Huashan School and married Yue Lingshan, Mu Gaofeng believed that the Evil-Warding Sword Manual had been taken to the Huashan School. He decided to kidnap Yue Lingshan and exchange her for the sword manual.
During the Five Mountains Sword Schools alliance ceremony, Mu Gaofeng waited near Mount Songshan, hoping to capture a Five Mountains School member who was travelling alone. When he saw Yue Lingshan riding alone, he captured her and planned to hide her in a secret location, then demand the sword manual from Yue Buqun in exchange for her release.
Death at Lin Pingzhi’s hands
While transporting Yue Lingshan, Mu Gaofeng encountered Lin Pingzhi, who was seeking revenge against Yu Canghai and the Qingcheng School. Mu Gaofeng did not recognise Lin Pingzhi, as he had only seen him in disguise before.
Lin Pingzhi challenged Mu Gaofeng, using the Evil-Warding Swordplay to kill him. Mu Gaofeng died with his arms wrapped around Lin Pingzhi’s legs, and Lin Pingzhi stabbed him through his hunchback, which contained a pouch of poisonous liquid. The poison splashed into Lin Pingzhi’s eyes, blinding him.
Personality & traits
Mu Gaofeng was portrayed as a cunning, opportunistic, and treacherous character. He was known for his lack of honour and his willingness to change sides based on what benefited him most. He was described as having a narrow mind and holding grudges, making him a dangerous enemy.
He was also known for his cunning and alertness, making him difficult to deal with. Those who made enemies of him had to be constantly on guard, as he was known for his sneak attacks and underhanded tactics.
Martial arts abilities
Mu Gaofeng was a skilled martial artist, known for his ability with the camel sword and his cunning fighting style. He was described as having high martial arts ability, though the exact extent of his skills was not detailed in the novel.
He was known for his sneak attacks and underhanded tactics, making him a dangerous opponent even for skilled martial artists.
Relationships
Mu Gaofeng’s relationship with Lin Pingzhi was one of mutual enmity. Mu Gaofeng sought to use Lin Pingzhi to obtain the Evil-Warding Sword Manual, while Lin Pingzhi sought revenge against Mu Gaofeng for his role in the destruction of the Lin family.
His relationship with Yu Canghai was one of competition, as both sought the Evil-Warding Sword Manual and were willing to use underhanded tactics to obtain it.
Behind the scenes
Mu Gaofeng represents the darker side of the jianghu, where martial artists are willing to use any means necessary to obtain power and secrets. His character demonstrates the danger of making enemies in the jianghu and the consequences of pursuing power without honour.
Literary significance
Mu Gaofeng’s character serves as an antagonist who represents the greed and treachery that plague the jianghu. His death at Lin Pingzhi’s hands demonstrates the theme of revenge and the cost of pursuing power, as Lin Pingzhi’s victory came at the cost of his own eyesight.
Portrayals
Mu Gaofeng has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:
Laughing in the Wind
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Lin Pingzhi – Mu Gaofeng’s killer
- Evil-Warding Sword Manual – The object of Mu Gaofeng’s pursuit
- Yu Canghai – Mu Gaofeng’s competitor
External links
- Mu Gaofeng (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia