Murong Jingyue (simplified: 慕容景岳, traditional: 慕容景岳, pinyin: Mùróng Jǐngyuè, jyutping: mou6 jung4 ging2 jyut6) was the first disciple of the King of Venoms (毒手药王) in Side Story of the Flying Fox. He was a treacherous apprentice who betrayed his master and joined forces with the evil Shi Wanchen to pursue the Medicine King’s Divine Manual.
Biography
Early apprenticeship and betrayal
Murong Jingyue was the eldest of the King of Venoms’ four apprentices, alongside Jiang Tieshan, Xue Que, and Cheng Lingsu. He was known for his scholarly appearance, but his heart was filled with greed and treachery. He was married, but his wife was poisoned to death by his fellow apprentice Xue Que, who was infatuated with him.
In retaliation, Murong Jingyue poisoned Xue Que, disfiguring her and leaving her hunchbacked and crippled. Despite this, Jiang Tieshan, who was also infatuated with Xue Que, married her despite her disfigurement, and they had a son named Jiang Xiaotie.
Alliance with Shi Wanchen
After the King of Venoms’ death, Murong Jingyue, along with Xue Que, betrayed their master’s legacy and joined forces with Shi Wanchen, the King of Venoms’ evil junior martial brother. Together, they murdered Jiang Tieshan and Jiang Xiaotie, and relentlessly pursued Cheng Lingsu to obtain the Medicine King’s Divine Manual.
Demise
Murong Jingyue’s treachery ultimately led to his downfall. When Shi Wanchen attempted to test a deadly poison combination (Peacock Gall, Red-crowned Crane Venom, and Green Silkworm Gu) on him, Murong Jingyue, fearing death, would have preferred to submit to Cheng Lingsu rather than test the poison. However, he was eventually poisoned by the combination.
Cheng Lingsu, showing mercy despite his betrayal, gave him three Life-Giving Pills (生生造化丹), which extended his life by nine years. However, after Cheng Lingsu sacrificed herself to save Hu Fei, her posthumous trap activated: candles infused with Seven Heart Begonia poison killed both Murong Jingyue and Xue Que, their faces frozen in eerie smiles as they succumbed to the toxin.
Personality
Murong Jingyue was portrayed as a scholar in appearance but treacherous in nature. He was greedy, ruthless, and showed no loyalty to his master or fellow apprentices. His cowardice was evident when he preferred submission to Cheng Lingsu rather than testing Shi Wanchen’s deadly poison.
Relationships
- King of Venoms (Shifu): His master, whom he betrayed after his death.
- Jiang Tieshan (Martial Brother/Victim): His second martial brother, whom he murdered along with Shi Wanchen and Xue Que.
- Xue Que (Martial Sister/Wife): His fellow apprentice who killed his wife, whom he disfigured, and who later became his wife after joining Shi Wanchen.
- Cheng Lingsu (Martial Sister/Antagonist): His youngest martial sister, whom he pursued for the Medicine King’s Divine Manual.
- Shi Wanchen (Martial Uncle/Ally): The evil junior martial brother of the King of Venoms, with whom he allied.
Martial Arts and Skills
Murong Jingyue specialized in poison techniques, particularly the Peach Blossom Miasma Poison Pills (桃花瘴毒弹), which he collected from the border regions of Yunnan and Guizhou. These poison pills could create a toxic mist when detonated, causing victims to rot and die.
Legacy
Murong Jingyue serves as a cautionary example of betrayal and greed in the martial arts world. His fate demonstrates that treachery against one’s master and fellow disciples ultimately leads to destruction, even if delayed by mercy. His death at the hands of Cheng Lingsu’s posthumous trap symbolizes the triumph of righteousness over evil.