Xiaoao Jianghu (simplified: 笑傲江湖, traditional: 笑傲江湖, pinyin: Xiàoào Jiānghú, jyutping: siu3 ngou6 gong1 wu4), literally “Laughing Proud Wanderer” or “Laughing in the Wind,” was the musical piece created by Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang in Laughing in the Wind. It gave the novel its Chinese title.
Overview
Liu Zhengfeng of the Southern Hengshan School and Qu Yang of the Sun Moon Holy Order formed an unlikely friendship through their shared love of music. Despite belonging to orthodox and heterodox factions that were sworn enemies, they collaborated to create the Xiaoao Jianghu piece, symbolising freedom from the constraints of the jianghu.
Their friendship and the piece’s performance at Liu Zhengfeng’s retirement ceremony led to tragedy when Fei Bin of the Songshan School attempted to kill them. Mo Da killed Fei Bin, but Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng died of their injuries. Qu Feiyan passed the score to Ren Yingying, who later performed it with Linghu Chong.