Protagonists
- Chen Jialuo (陈家洛 – Chén Jiāluò) – Leader of the Red Flower Society, skilled martial artist and scholar from Haining
- Huoqingtong (霍青桐 – Huò Qīngtóng) the Emerald Feather and Yellow Dress – Elder daughter of Uyghur tribal chief Muzhuolun
- Kasili (喀丝丽 – Kǎsīlì), also known as Princess Fragrance (香香公主 – Xiāngxiāng Gōngzhǔ) – Huoqingtong’s younger sister
- The Qianlong Emperor (乾隆皇帝 – Qiánlóng Huángdì) – Ruler of the Qing Empire, originally from the Chen family of Haining
Red Flower Society
- Taoist Wuchen (无尘道长 – Wúchén Dàozhǎng) the Soul-chasing, Life-taking Sword – Second leader
- Zhao Banshan (赵半山 – Zhào Bànshān) the Thousand Arms Buddha – Third leader, Taiji School expert
- Wen Tailai (文泰来 – Wén Tàilái) the Thunderbolt Hand – Fourth leader, Luo Bing’s husband
- Chang Hezhi (常赫志 – Cháng Hèzhì) the Black Impermanence – Fifth leader, Qingcheng School expert
- Chang Bozhi (常伯志 – Cháng Bózhì) the White Impermanence – Sixth leader, Chang Hezhi’s twin
- Xu Tianhong (徐天宏 – Xú Tiānhóng) the Martial Zhuge – Seventh leader, society strategist
- Yang Chengxie (杨成协 – Yáng Chéngxié) the Iron Pagoda – Eighth leader, former Green Flag Gang chief
- Wei Chunhua (卫春华 – Wèi Chūnhuá) the Colourful Leopard with Nine Lives – Ninth leader
- Zhang Jin (章进 – Zhāng Jìn) the Rock Daring – Tenth leader
- Luo Bing (骆冰 – Luò Bīng) the Mandarin Ducks Saber – Eleventh leader, Wen Tailai’s wife
- Shi Shuangying (石双英 – Shí Shuāngyīng) the Ghosts Fret When They See Me – Twelfth leader
- Jiang Sigen (蒋四根 – Jiǎng Sìgēn) the Copper-headed Crocodile – Thirteenth leader
- Yu Yutong (余鱼同 – Yú Yútóng) the Golden Flute Scholar – Fourteenth leader
- Xinyan (心硯 – Xīnyàn) – Fifteenth leader, Chen Jialuo’s servant
- Yu Wanting (于万亭 – Yú Wàntíng) – Former chief, Chen Jialuo’s godfather
Wudang Order
- Zhang Zhaozhong (张昭重 – Zhāng Zhāozhòng) the Fiery Hand Judge – Former Wudang expert serving Qing government
- Ma Zhen (马真 – Mǎ Zhēn) – Wudang Order leader
- Lu Feiqing (陆菲青 – Lù Fēiqīng) the Needle in Cotton – Zhao Banshan’s sworn brother
Shaolin Order
- Tianhong (天虹 – Tiānhóng) – Shaolin Order abbot
- Tianjing (天镜 – Tiānjìng) – Tianhong’s junior
- Dachi (大痴 – Dàchī) – Shaolin monk
- Dadian (大癫 – Dàdiān) – Shaolin monk
- Daku (大苦 – Dàkǔ) – Shaolin monk
Qing forces
- Fuk’anggan (福康安 – Fúkāng’ān) – Nine Gates Infantry Commander, Qianlong Emperor’s illegitimate son
- Bai Zhen (白振 – Bái Zhèn) the Golden Claw Iron Hook – Imperial bodyguard
- Chu Yuan (褚圆 – Chǔ Yuán) the Reed Crossing the River – Imperial bodyguard
- Long Jun (龙骏 – Lóng Jùn) – Imperial bodyguard
- Fan Zhong’en (范中恩 – Fàn Zhōng’ēn) – Imperial bodyguard
- Ma Jingxia (马敬侠 – Mǎ Jìngxiá) – Imperial bodyguard
- Rui Dalin (瑞大林 – Ruì Dàlín) – Imperial bodyguard
- Cheng Huang (成璜 – Chéng Huáng) – Imperial bodyguard
- Hu Guodong (胡国栋 – Hú Guódòng) – Beijing chief constable
- Li Kexiu (李可秀 – Lǐ Kěxiù) – Zhejiang military commander
- Zhaohui (兆惠 – Zhàohuì) – Manchu general
- Heshen (和珅 – Héshēn) – High-ranking Manchu aristocrat
- Ji Yun (纪昀 – Jì Yún) – Imperial official
- Zheng Xie (郑燮 – Zhèng Xiè) – Imperial official
Scholars, poets and artists
- Yuan Mei (袁枚 – Yuán Méi)
- Shen Deqian (沈德潜 – Shěn Déqiǎn)
- Zhao Yi (赵翼 – Zhào Yì)
- Jiang Shiquan (蒋士铨 – Jiǎng Shìquán)
- Li E (厉鹗 – Lì È)
Iron Courage Manor
- Zhou Zhongying (周仲英 – Zhōu Zhòngyīng) – Manor master, Shaolin-trained martial artist
- Zhou Qi (周绮 – Zhōu Qí) the Pretty Li Kui – Zhou Zhongying’s daughter
- Zhou Yingjie (周英杰 – Zhōu Yīngjié) – Zhou Zhongying’s ten-year-old son
- Meng Jianxiong (孟健雄 – Mèng Jiànxióng) – Zhou Zhongying’s apprentice
- An Jiangang (安健刚 – Ān Jiàngāng) – Zhou Zhongying’s apprentice
- Song Shanpeng (宋善朋 – Sòng Shànpéng) – Manor housekeeper
Other allies and associates
- Li Yuanzhi (李沅芷 – Lǐ Yuánzhí) – Li Kexiu’s daughter, Lu Feiqing’s apprentice
- Yuan Shixiao (袁士宵 – Yuán Shìxiāo) the Eccentric Hero of the Heavenly Pool – Chen Jialuo’s martial arts teacher
- Chen Zhengde (陈正德 – Chén Zhèngdé) the Bald Vulture – One of the Twin Eagles of Mount Heaven
- Guan Mingmei (关明梅 – Guān Míngméi) the Snow Condor – One of the Twin Eagles of Mount Heaven
- Muzhuolun (木卓伦 – Mùzhuólún) – Uyghur tribal chief
- Huo’ayi (霍阿伊 – Huò’āyī) – Muzhuolun’s son
Six Devils of Guandong
- Teng Yilei (滕一雷 – Téng Yīléi) – Most feared of the six
- Gu Jinbiao (顾金标 – Gù Jīnbiāo) – Former bandit
- Jiao Wenqi (焦文期 – Jiāo Wénqī)
- Hahetai (哈合台 – Hāhétái) – Former Mongolian shepherd
- Yan Shizhang (阎世章 – Yán Shìzhāng)
- Yan Shikui (阎世魁 – Yán Shìkuí) – Yan Shizhang’s younger brother
Other characters
- Chen Shiguan (陈世倌 – Chén Shìguān) – Minister of Rites, Chen Jialuo’s father
- Xu Chaosheng (徐潮生 – Xǔ Cháoshēng) – Chen Jialuo’s mother
- Luo Yuantong (骆元通 – Luò Yuántōng) the Holy Saber – Luo Bing’s father
- Bei Renlong (贝人龙 – Bèi Rénlóng) the Jade Judge
- Luo Xin (罗信 – Luó Xìn) the Iron Armed Arhat
- Wang Weiyang (王维扬 – Wáng Wéiyáng) the My Might Trembles Heshuo – Zhenyuan Escort Agency leader
- Tong Zhaohe (童兆和 – Tóng Zhàohé) – Zhenyuan Escort Agency member
- Han Wenchong (韩文冲 – Hán Wénchōng) – Martial artist
- Sixth Master Tang (唐六爷 – Táng Lìuyé) the Candy with Frosted Arsenic
- Yuruyi (玉如意 – Yùrúyì) – Hangzhou courtesan
- Effendi (阿凡提 – Āfántí) – Eccentric martial artist based on Nasreddin