Tian Guinong (simplified: 田归农, traditional: 田歸農, pinyin: Tián Guīnóng, jyutping: tin4 gwai1 nung4) was a scheming martial artist and leader of the Northern Branch of the Tianlong School. He was responsible for Hu Yidao’s death and seduced Nan Lan away from Miao Renfeng. He was one of the descendants of Li Zicheng’s four bodyguards.
Biography
Background
Tian Guinong was a descendant of the Tian family, one of the four bodyguard families that served Li Zicheng. The four families—Hu, Miao, Fan, and Tian—had been locked in a cycle of revenge for generations. Tian Guinong became the leader of the Northern Branch of the Tianlong School and was known for his scheming nature and ambition.
Causing Hu Yidao’s death
When Hu Yidao and Miao Renfeng agreed to duel, Hu Yidao attempted to resolve their feud by sending a message explaining the truth about their ancestors. However, Tian Guinong intercepted the message and concealed it, ensuring that the two would fight.
Tian Guinong then bribed Yan Ji, a bone-setter, to poison both Hu Yidao’s and Miao Renfeng’s weapons. During the duel, Miao Renfeng accidentally cut Hu Yidao’s arm, and the poison quickly killed him. Tian Guinong also attempted to kill the infant Hu Fei, but Ping Asi rescued him.
Seduction of Nan Lan
Tian Guinong was charming, eloquent, and skilled at manipulating women. At the Shang Family Castle, he met Nan Lan, Miao Renfeng’s wife, who was dissatisfied with her marriage. Tian Guinong took advantage of her unhappiness and seduced her, eventually convincing her to elope with him.
However, Tian Guinong’s interest in Nan Lan was not genuine. He was primarily motivated by his desire to obtain the treasure map that Miao Renfeng possessed, believing that Nan Lan might have access to it. Over time, Nan Lan realised that Tian Guinong was using her.
In Side Story of the Flying Fox
Tian Guinong continued to scheme against Miao Renfeng, poisoning his eyes and attempting to capture him. He collaborated with Fuk’anggan to organise the Wulin Leader Conference, hoping to find clues about the treasure. However, his plans were ultimately foiled by Hu Fei and others.
In Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain
After Nan Lan’s death, Tian Guinong became increasingly desperate. He attempted to use the treasure map to gain favour with Fuk’anggan, hoping to use imperial forces against Miao Renfeng. However, he was ultimately defeated and captured by Miao Renfeng.
When Miao Renfeng showed him that the treasure map had been in Nan Lan’s hairpin all along, Tian Guinong realised the futility of his schemes. Miao Renfeng spared his life, saying that living with regret would be worse than death. Tian Guinong, unable to bear his failure and the loss of everything he had sought, committed suicide.
Personality
Tian Guinong was characterised by his scheming nature, ambition, and lack of genuine emotion. He was charming and eloquent, able to manipulate others for his own purposes, but he was ultimately motivated by greed and ambition rather than genuine feelings.
He was cowardly and unwilling to face his enemies directly, preferring to use poison, deception, and manipulation. His schemes were often complex but ultimately failed because they were based on falsehoods and selfish motives.
Martial arts
Tian Guinong was skilled in the Tianlong Swordplay (天龙剑法), the signature martial art of the Tianlong School. However, his martial arts skills were not as impressive as his scheming abilities, and he relied more on deception and manipulation than on direct combat.
Legacy
Tian Guinong’s schemes caused immense suffering for multiple families and led to the deaths of Hu Yidao and his wife. His seduction of Nan Lan destroyed Miao Renfeng’s family, and his greed for the treasure drove him to commit numerous evil deeds. His ultimate suicide demonstrated the destructive nature of ambition and greed, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pursuing power at any cost.