Xu Yunting (simplified: 许雪亭, traditional: 許雪亭, pinyin: Xú Xuětíng, jyutping: heoi2 syut3 ting4), known as the Green Dragon Emissary (青龙使 — Qīnglóng Shǐ), is one of the Five Dragon Emissaries of the Mystic Dragon Order (神龙教) in The Deer and the Cauldron. He is known for his specialization in brush techniques.
Biography
Role in the Mystic Dragon Order
Xu Yunting serves as the Green Dragon Emissary, one of the five senior members of the Mystic Dragon Order who hold positions of authority under Hong Antong (洪安通). As an emissary, he plays a key role in the order’s operations and governance.
His specialization in brush techniques makes him a unique fighter within the order, as he uses a brush as both a writing instrument and a weapon, demonstrating the versatility required of Mystic Dragon Order members.
Service under Hong Antong
As a Dragon Emissary, Xu Yunting serves directly under Hong Antong’s leadership, participating in the order’s various missions and operations. He is subject to the order’s poison control system, requiring regular antidotes to prevent painful death.
Despite his position of authority, Xu Yunting is still bound by the order’s control mechanisms, demonstrating how even senior members are not exempt from Hong Antong’s authoritarian rule.
Relationship with other emissaries
Xu Yunting works alongside the other Dragon Emissaries, including:
- Zhang Danyue (张淡月), the Black Dragon Emissary
- Yin Jin (殷锦), the Yellow Dragon Emissary
- Taoist Wugen (无根道人), the Red Dragon Emissary
- Wei Xiaobao, the White Dragon Emissary
Their collaboration demonstrates how the order’s hierarchical structure functions, with each emissary having specialized roles and responsibilities.
Martial arts abilities
Xu Yunting is known for his brush technique specialization, using a brush as both a writing tool and a weapon. This unique approach to martial arts reflects the Mystic Dragon Order’s emphasis on versatility and unconventional techniques.
His brush techniques allow him to fight in a style that combines the precision of calligraphy with the power of martial arts, making him a formidable opponent despite his unconventional weapon choice.
Significance
Xu Yunting represents the specialized roles within the Mystic Dragon Order’s hierarchical structure. His position as Green Dragon Emissary demonstrates how the order organizes its members into specialized roles, each with unique responsibilities and capabilities.
His brush technique specialization also highlights the novel’s exploration of unconventional martial arts styles and the ways in which everyday objects can be transformed into weapons in the hands of skilled practitioners.
Xu Yunting’s character contributes to the broader theme of power structures and control systems, showing how even those in positions of authority within the order are still subject to its cruel control mechanisms.