Yin Susu

Yin Susu (simplified: 殷素素, traditional: 殷素素, pinyin: Yīn Sùsù, jyutping: jan1 sou3 sou3) was the daughter of Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King, and the master of the Purple Mist Hall of the Heavenly Eagle Order. She was the wife of Zhang Cuishan, the fifth disciple of the Wudang Order, and the mother of Zhang Wuji, the 34th leader of the Ming Order. Known for her exceptional beauty, intelligence, and martial arts skills, particularly her mastery of the Mosquito Needle technique, she was a complex character who transformed from a ruthless “demoness” to a devoted wife and mother before her tragic death.

Biography

Early life and background

Yin Susu was born into the Heavenly Eagle Order, the daughter of Yin Tianzheng, one of the Ming Order’s Four Guardian Kings and the founder of the Heavenly Eagle Order. Her brother, Yin Yewang, served as the master of the Celestial Market Hall, making the Yin family one of the most powerful families within the Heavenly Eagle Order.

As the daughter of the Order’s founder and master of the Purple Mist Hall, Yin Susu held a position of significant authority and responsibility. The Purple Mist Hall was responsible for intelligence operations and special missions, requiring its master to possess exceptional strategic thinking, martial arts abilities, and leadership skills.

The Dragon-slaying Sabre incident

Yin Susu first appeared in the novel when she sought to acquire the Dragon-slaying Sabre, one of the two legendary weapons alongside the Heavenly Sword. She used her Mosquito Needle technique to injure Yu Daiyan, the third disciple of the Wudang Order, who had obtained the sabre. She then entrusted the paralysed Yu Daiyan to the Longmen Escort Bureau, offering three thousand taels of gold to have him safely transported to Mount Wudang.

However, when Yu Daiyan was attacked by Asan, a monk from the Western Regions Shaolin Diamond Sect, and left permanently paralysed, Yin Susu blamed the Longmen Escort Bureau for failing to complete their mission. In retaliation, she killed everyone at the Longmen Escort Bureau, including the escort guards and their families, demonstrating her ruthless nature and willingness to use extreme violence to achieve her goals.

Meeting Zhang Cuishan

When Zhang Cuishan, the fifth disciple of the Wudang Order, arrived to investigate Yu Daiyan’s injury, he encountered Yin Susu. Initially, Yin Susu appeared in male disguise, wearing scholar’s robes and presenting herself as a refined gentleman. Her appearance was described as elegant and refined, with pale skin that seemed almost otherworldly in the lamplight.

When Zhang Cuishan discovered that she was a woman, he immediately withdrew, respecting the boundaries of propriety. However, Yin Susu was determined to meet him again, and the following day, she appeared before him, this time in female attire. She claimed to have found Yu Daiyan injured by the riverbank and to have been wounded herself by the same attacker using Plum Blossom Darts.

Zhang Cuishan, moved by her apparent kindness and beauty, treated her wounds. During this encounter, the two developed feelings for each other, despite their different backgrounds—Zhang Cuishan from the orthodox Wudang Order and Yin Susu from the unorthodox Heavenly Eagle Order.

The Wangpan Island Sabre Conference

Yin Susu and Zhang Cuishan travelled together to Wangpan Island, where the Heavenly Eagle Order was holding a conference to display the Dragon-slaying Sabre. However, Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King of the Ming Order, arrived and seized the sabre. To prevent anyone from revealing his location, Xie Xun used his Lion’s Roar technique, causing most of those present to lose their minds or fall unconscious.

Xie Xun then took Yin Susu and Zhang Cuishan captive, intending to take them to a remote island where he could study the sabre’s secrets in peace. During the journey, their ship was caught in a storm and wrecked, and the three found themselves stranded on Ice-Fire Island, a remote and desolate island in the northern seas.

Life on Ice-Fire Island

On Ice-Fire Island, Yin Susu and Zhang Cuishan were forced to adapt to a harsh and isolated existence. Despite the difficult circumstances, their relationship deepened, and they eventually married. Yin Susu gave birth to their son, Zhang Wuji, who would later become one of the most powerful martial artists of his generation.

During their time on the island, Yin Susu used her Mosquito Needle technique to blind Xie Xun, who had been driven mad by his desire for revenge. However, as they lived together on the island, the three eventually formed a bond, and Yin Susu and Zhang Cuishan became sworn siblings with Xie Xun, who became Zhang Wuji’s godfather.

Yin Susu’s character underwent a significant transformation during her time on the island. She swore to the heavens that if she ever returned to the Central Plains, she would follow her husband in doing good deeds and would never kill another person. As a mother, she developed deep maternal love and devoted herself entirely to her son’s wellbeing, marking a shift from her earlier ruthless “demoness” persona to that of a devoted wife and mother.

Return to the Central Plains

After ten years on Ice-Fire Island, Yin Susu, Zhang Cuishan, and Zhang Wuji finally found a way to return to the Central Plains. They were discovered by a ship and brought back to the mainland, where they reunited with their families and friends.

However, their return was met with hostility from the martial arts world, which was eager to learn the whereabouts of Xie Xun and the Dragon-slaying Sabre. When they arrived at Mount Wudang for Zhang Sanfeng’s hundredth birthday celebration, representatives from the Six Major Factions gathered to pressure Zhang Cuishan into revealing Xie Xun’s location.

Tragic death

During the confrontation at Mount Wudang, the truth about Yu Daiyan’s injury was revealed. When Yu Daiyan recognised Yin Susu as the person who had injured him with the Mosquito Needle, Zhang Cuishan was devastated. He felt that he could not face his brother, who had been paralysed for ten years because of his wife’s actions, and he committed suicide by slashing his own throat.

Seeing her husband die, Yin Susu was overcome with grief. Before taking her own life, she held her son close and whispered to him: “My child, when you grow up, beware of women who deceive you. The more beautiful a woman is, the more she will deceive you.” She then revealed to Zhang Wuji that she had deceived the Shaolin monks about Xie Xun’s location, demonstrating her cleverness even in death.

Yin Susu then committed suicide by stabbing herself with a dagger, choosing to die with her husband rather than live without him. Her death marked the end of a tragic love story and left Zhang Wuji an orphan at the age of ten.

Personality & traits

Early character: The “demoness”

In her youth, Yin Susu was known for her intelligence, ruthlessness, and willingness to use extreme methods to achieve her goals. She was described as “clever and cruel,” capable of killing without hesitation when it served her purposes. Her actions at the Longmen Escort Bureau, where she killed everyone present, demonstrated her merciless nature.

However, she was also highly intelligent and strategic, able to plan complex operations and manipulate situations to her advantage. Her ability to deceive others, including Zhang Cuishan initially, showed her cunning and resourcefulness.

Transformation: Wife and mother

After marrying Zhang Cuishan and becoming a mother, Yin Susu underwent a profound transformation. She swore to abandon her violent ways and follow her husband in doing good deeds. Her maternal love for Zhang Wuji became the centre of her life, and she devoted herself entirely to his wellbeing.

This transformation demonstrated her capacity for change and her genuine love for her family. She was willing to completely alter her way of life for the sake of her husband and son, showing that her earlier “demoness” persona was not her true nature but rather a product of her environment and circumstances.

Final moments: Cleverness and sacrifice

Even in her final moments, Yin Susu demonstrated her intelligence and loyalty. She deceived the Shaolin monks about Xie Xun’s location, protecting her sworn brother’s secret even as she prepared to die. Her final words to Zhang Wuji, warning him about beautiful women who deceive, were both a confession of her own deception and a piece of wisdom born from her own experience.

Her decision to commit suicide alongside her husband showed her deep love and loyalty. She chose to die with Zhang Cuishan rather than live without him, demonstrating that her transformation was genuine and that her love for her family was the most important thing in her life.

Martial arts abilities

Mosquito Needle technique

Yin Susu was renowned for her mastery of the Mosquito Needle (蚊须针), a deadly hidden weapon technique. She could launch dozens of fine silver needles with incredible precision and power, capable of shattering a large porcelain vase with a single volley. This technique was described as “terrifying to witness” and demonstrated her exceptional skill with hidden weapons.

She used this technique to injure Yu Daiyan, causing him to become paralysed, and later used it to blind Xie Xun on Ice-Fire Island. The technique required exceptional internal energy, precision, and control, making it one of the most formidable hidden weapon techniques in the martial arts world.

Heavenly Eagle Order martial arts

As the master of the Purple Mist Hall and daughter of Yin Tianzheng, Yin Susu had received comprehensive training in the Heavenly Eagle Order’s martial arts. Her abilities were sufficient to hold a leadership position within the Order and to participate in major operations, including the acquisition of the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

Cultural accomplishments

In addition to her martial arts abilities, Yin Susu was also accomplished in the cultural arts. She was skilled in calligraphy and painting, as demonstrated by the elegant landscape painting and calligraphy on the umbrella she gave to Zhang Cuishan. She was also proficient in music, playing the qin and singing, using these skills to invite Zhang Cuishan to join her on her boat.

These cultural accomplishments, combined with her martial arts abilities and intelligence, made her a well-rounded and sophisticated individual, far from the simple “demoness” that some might have expected.

Relationships

Yin Tianzheng

Yin Susu was the daughter of Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King and founder of the Heavenly Eagle Order. Her relationship with her father was close, and she inherited his martial arts abilities and leadership qualities. As his daughter and the master of the Purple Mist Hall, she held a position of significant authority within the Order.

Yin Yewang

Yin Yewang was Yin Susu’s brother and the master of the Celestial Market Hall of the Heavenly Eagle Order. Their relationship as siblings and fellow leaders within the Order would have been important for the Order’s operations and family dynamics.

Zhang Cuishan

Yin Susu’s relationship with Zhang Cuishan was the central love story of the early part of the novel. Despite their different backgrounds—she from the unorthodox Heavenly Eagle Order and he from the orthodox Wudang Order—they fell deeply in love and married on Ice-Fire Island.

Their relationship was tested by the revelation of her role in Yu Daiyan’s injury, but her transformation from a ruthless “demoness” to a devoted wife demonstrated her genuine love for him. Her decision to commit suicide alongside him showed the depth of her commitment and the tragedy of their love story.

Zhang Wuji

Yin Susu’s relationship with her son Zhang Wuji was central to her character transformation. Her maternal love for him became the most important thing in her life, and she devoted herself entirely to his wellbeing. Her final words to him, warning him about beautiful women who deceive, were both a confession and a piece of maternal wisdom.

Xie Xun

Yin Susu’s relationship with Xie Xun was complex. Initially, she was his captive, and she used her Mosquito Needle technique to blind him. However, as they lived together on Ice-Fire Island, they eventually became sworn siblings, with Xie Xun becoming Zhang Wuji’s godfather. This relationship demonstrated her ability to form bonds even with former enemies.

Yu Daiyan

Yin Susu’s relationship with Yu Daiyan was tragic. She was responsible for his paralysis, which led to his suffering for ten years. This action, committed before her transformation, haunted her and ultimately contributed to her and Zhang Cuishan’s deaths when the truth was revealed.

Behind the scenes

Yin Susu’s character represents one of Jin Yong’s most complex and tragic female characters. Her transformation from a ruthless “demoness” to a devoted wife and mother demonstrates the power of love and family to change a person’s nature. Her story serves as a parallel to Zhao Min’s relationship with Zhang Wuji, both involving women from unorthodox backgrounds who fall in love with men from orthodox schools.

Her final words to Zhang Wuji, “The more beautiful a woman is, the more she will deceive you,” have become one of the most famous lines in Jin Yong’s works, reflecting both her own experience and the complex nature of relationships in the martial arts world.

Yin Susu’s character also explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the conflict between duty and love. Her willingness to completely transform herself for the sake of her family, and her ultimate sacrifice, demonstrate the depth of her character and the tragedy of her story.

Portrayals

Yin Susu has been portrayed by numerous actresses in various adaptations of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, including:

Michele Yim (米雪) in the 2001 TVB series
Guo Feili (郭妃丽) in the 2003 co-production series
Wang Yuanke (王媛可) in the 2009 mainland series
Chen Xinyu (陈欣予) in the 2019 mainland series
Zhu Chenli (朱晨丽) in the 2022 film adaptations

Her character, though appearing only in the early chapters of the novel, has left a lasting impression on readers and viewers due to her complex personality, tragic story, and memorable final words.