Sun Zhongjun (simplified: 孙仲君, traditional: 孙仲君, pinyin: Sūn Zhòngjūn, jyutping: syun1 zung3 gwan1), known as the Flying Demoness (飞天魔女 — Fēitiān Mónǚ), was a disciple of Gui Xinshu (归辛树) of the Huashan School in Sword Stained with Royal Blood. She was known for her violent and unpredictable behaviour, committing several brutal acts that led to her punishment by Mu Renqing (穆人清).
Biography
Training under Gui Xinshu
Sun Zhongjun was trained by Gui Xinshu, the second disciple of Mu Renqing and a skilled martial artist known as the “Invincible Divine Fists” (神拳无敌 — Shénquán Wúdí). As Gui Xinshu’s disciple, she received training in the Huashan School’s martial arts techniques.
However, despite her training under a prominent master, Sun Zhongjun developed a violent and unrestrained personality that led her to commit several brutal acts.
Killing Hong Shenghai’s family
Sun Zhongjun’s most horrific act was killing the family of Hong Shenghai (洪胜海), a member of the Bohai School (渤海派 — Bóhǎi Pài) from Shandong. Hong Shenghai’s family consisted of five members, and Sun Zhongjun killed all of them, leaving only Hong Shenghai alive.
This brutal act demonstrated Sun Zhongjun’s lack of restraint and her willingness to kill innocent people. The loss of his family devastated Hong Shenghai, who was forced to flee and eventually entered the service of the Later Jin (后金 — Hòujīn) under Dorgon (多尔衮) to escape Sun Zhongjun’s pursuit.
Cutting off Luo Liru’s arm
During the conflict between Jiao Gongli (焦公礼) and Min Zihua (闵子华), Sun Zhongjun encountered Luo Liru (罗立如), a disciple of Jiao Gongli. In a confrontation, Sun Zhongjun attacked Luo Liru and cut off his right arm with her sword.
This brutal act demonstrated Sun Zhongjun’s excessive use of violence and her lack of restraint. The loss of his arm was a severe injury that significantly affected Luo Liru’s martial arts abilities and his daily life.
This incident was part of a broader conflict, and Sun Zhongjun’s actions demonstrated the violence and brutality that could occur in jianghu conflicts, particularly when martial artists lacked proper discipline and restraint.
Involvement in the conflict with Jiao Gongli
Sun Zhongjun was involved in the conflict between Jiao Gongli and Min Zihua, participating in Min Zihua’s attempt to seek revenge against Jiao Gongli. During this conflict, she cut off Luo Liru’s arm, demonstrating her violent nature.
Her involvement in this conflict reflected poorly on both her master Gui Xinshu and the Huashan School, as her actions demonstrated a lack of proper discipline and moral conduct.
Punishment by Mu Renqing
Sun Zhongjun’s violent behaviour eventually came to the attention of Mu Renqing, the leader of the Huashan School and Gui Xinshu’s master. Mu Renqing, demonstrating his commitment to justice and discipline, personally punished Sun Zhongjun for her crimes.
Despite Sun Zhongjun being the disciple of his second disciple Gui Xinshu, Mu Renqing bypassed the normal hierarchy and personally cut off one of her fingers, forbidding her from ever using a sword again. This act demonstrated Mu Renqing’s uncompromising commitment to justice and the proper conduct expected of Huashan School members.
This punishment also reflected poorly on Gui Xinshu as a master, as his failure to properly discipline his disciple had led to Mu Renqing’s intervention.
Personality and character
Sun Zhongjun was characterised by her violent and unpredictable behaviour. Her epithet “Flying Demoness” (飞天魔女 — Fēitiān Mónǚ) reflected her reputation for violence and her lack of restraint.
She was known for using excessive force and killing without restraint, as demonstrated by her killing of Hong Shenghai’s entire family and her cutting off of Luo Liru’s arm. Her actions demonstrated a complete lack of moral restraint and a willingness to harm innocent people.
Sun Zhongjun’s behaviour was so extreme that it led to Mu Renqing personally intervening to punish her, bypassing the normal hierarchy of the Huashan School. This demonstrated the severity of her crimes and the damage they had caused to the school’s reputation.
Martial arts
Sun Zhongjun was trained in the Huashan School’s martial arts techniques under Gui Xinshu’s guidance. However, despite her training, she used her skills inappropriately, committing violent acts that violated the principles of the jianghu.
Weapons
- Sword — Sun Zhongjun’s primary weapon, which she used to cut off Luo Liru’s arm. After her punishment by Mu Renqing, she was forbidden from ever using a sword again.
Relationships
Master
- Gui Xinshu — Sun Zhongjun’s master and the second disciple of Mu Renqing. Gui Xinshu’s failure to properly discipline Sun Zhongjun reflected poorly on him as a master and led to Mu Renqing’s intervention.
Grandmaster
- Mu Renqing — The leader of the Huashan School and Sun Zhongjun’s grandmaster. Mu Renqing personally punished Sun Zhongjun for her crimes, cutting off one of her fingers and forbidding her from using a sword.
Victims
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Hong Shenghai — A member of the Bohai School whose entire family was killed by Sun Zhongjun. Only Hong Shenghai survived, and the loss of his family devastated him.
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Luo Liru — A disciple of Jiao Gongli whose right arm was cut off by Sun Zhongjun during a conflict. This severe injury significantly affected his martial arts abilities.
Legacy
Sun Zhongjun’s story represented the dangers of uncontrolled violence in the jianghu and the importance of proper discipline and moral conduct. Her brutal acts, including killing innocent people and mutilating opponents, demonstrated the consequences of martial artists who lacked restraint and moral principles.
Her punishment by Mu Renqing demonstrated that even in the jianghu, where violence was common, there were limits to what was acceptable, and those who violated these limits would face consequences. Mu Renqing’s decision to bypass the normal hierarchy and personally punish Sun Zhongjun showed the severity of her crimes and the importance of justice in the jianghu.
Sun Zhongjun’s story also highlighted the responsibilities of martial arts masters to properly discipline their disciples. Gui Xinshu’s failure to control Sun Zhongjun reflected poorly on him and demonstrated the importance of proper guidance and discipline in martial arts schools.
Her character served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked violence and the importance of moral restraint, even in a world where martial arts and conflict were common. Her punishment by Mu Renqing showed that justice and discipline were essential for maintaining order and morality in the jianghu.