Xie Yanke (simplified: 谢烟客, traditional: 謝煙客, pinyin: Xiè Yānkè, jyutping: ze6 jin1 haak3), known as “Sky-scraping Cliff Hermit” (摩天居士), was a top martial artists in the jianghu. He issued three Mysterious Iron Tokens and was forced to fulfill a promise to Shi Potian, eventually taking Shi Zhongyu to Motian Cliff for discipline.
Biography
The Mysterious Iron Tokens
Xie Yanke had issued three Mysterious Iron Tokens to three people who had done him favors, promising that whoever held a token could ask him to do one thing. Two of the tokens had already been used, and the third had been circulating in the jianghu.
Encounter with Shi Potian
When various martial artists gathered at Houjianji to compete for the Mysterious Iron Token, Shi Potian (then a young beggar) accidentally obtained it when it was hidden inside a pancake by Wu Daotong.
Xie Yanke appeared and used his Finger Flicking Divine Skill to easily defeat all the competitors, including An Fengtian, members of the Snowy Mountain School, and Shi Qing and Min Rou. He took the token from Shi Potian, but under pressure from Hua Wanzi, he was forced to honor his promise and take Shi Potian with him.
Journey to Motian Cliff
Xie Yanke tried everything to get Shi Potian to ask him for something, so he could fulfill his promise and be done with it. However, Shi Potian had been raised by Mei Fanggu to never ask others for help, so he never made a request.
Xie Yanke tried to get Shi Potian to ask for help picking dates, but Shi Potian could climb trees. He tried to get him to ask for food, but Shi Potian had money from Min Rou and instead treated Xie Yanke to meals. When Shi Potian risked his life to save Elder Dabei from the Changle Guild, Xie Yanke watched but Shi Potian never asked for help.
Teaching Shi Potian the wrong technique
On Motian Cliff, Xie Yanke lived with Shi Potian for several years. Shi Potian cooked and cleaned for him, and Xie Yanke grew somewhat fond of him. However, he wanted to fulfill his promise and teach Shi Potian martial arts, but Shi Potian still never asked.
Unable to kill Shi Potian directly due to his promise, Xie Yanke deliberately taught him the wrong neili technique, reversing the order of the techniques shown on the clay figures given by Elder Dabei. He called it the “Yanyan Technique” and hoped it would cause Shi Potian to go berserk and die.
Encounter with the Changle Guild
While Xie Yanke was practicing his Green Needle Clear Palm technique, Bei Haishi and other Changle Guild members came to Motian Cliff looking for their “guild leader.” Xie Yanke had just finished practicing and had exhausted most of his neili, so he was forced to retreat, allowing Bei Haishi to take Shi Potian away.
Revenge on the Changle Guild
Months later, Xie Yanke went to the Changle Guild headquarters to seek revenge. He severely injured Bei Haishi and others, but mistakenly identified Shi Zhongyu as Shi Potian. Shi Zhongyu took advantage of this and asked Xie Yanke to exterminate the Snowy Mountain School.
At Lingxiao City
Xie Yanke and Shi Zhongyu went to Lingxiao City, where Xie Yanke fought against Bai Wanjian, Cheng Zixue, and others. However, when Shi Potian appeared and exposed Shi Zhongyu’s deception, Xie Yanke was furious and wanted to kill Shi Zhongyu.
Shi Potian, grateful to Shi Qing and Min Rou, asked Xie Yanke to take Shi Zhongyu back to Motian Cliff and discipline him properly. Shi Qing also used reverse psychology to goad Xie Yanke into agreeing. Reluctantly, Xie Yanke agreed to fulfill his promise by taking Shi Zhongyu to Motian Cliff.
Personality and characteristics
Contradictory nature
Xie Yanke was a contradictory character—he was cruel and murderous, yet he placed great importance on keeping promises. He was neither entirely good nor entirely evil, acting according to his own whims and preferences.
Appearance and demeanor
Xie Yanke wore a green robe and had a short beard. He was about fifty years old, with a thin, refined appearance and a faint greenish tinge to his face. His eyes held an indescribable joy, but meeting his gaze could make people shiver involuntarily.
Relationship with Shi Potian
Despite his initial intention to harm Shi Potian, Xie Yanke grew somewhat fond of him during their time together on Motian Cliff. When he later saw Shi Zhongyu and thought he was Shi Potian, his face showed joy, demonstrating that he could distinguish between good and evil, despite his harsh exterior.
Martial arts abilities
Xie Yanke was one of the top martial artists in the jianghu. His techniques included:
-
Green Needle Clear Palm: A technique he created on Motian Cliff that could send thousands of pine needles flying into the air, with his palm wind preventing them from falling. This required extremely high neili.
-
Finger Flicking Divine Skill: A technique where he curved his middle finger and flicked it with his thumb, displaying exquisite skill.
-
Crane Control Skill: A technique he used to defeat Elder Dabei in a competition at Beimang Mountain many years earlier.
Behind the scenes
Xie Yanke represents the theme of promises and their consequences in Ode to Gallantry. His character demonstrates how even the most powerful and independent individuals can be bound by their word, and how promises can become both a burden and a source of honor.
The character’s name, “Xie Yanke” (谢烟客), combines “Xie” (谢), meaning “to thank” or a surname, with “Yanke” (烟客), meaning “smoke guest” or “hermit,” suggesting a character who lives in seclusion. His epithet “Sky-scraping Cliff Hermit” reflects both his residence and his reclusive nature. His character has been compared to Huang Yaoshi from The Legend of the Condor Heroes, as both are eccentric, powerful martial artists who live in isolation and value their independence.