Yin Wufu

Yin Wufu (simplified: 殷无福, traditional: 殷無福, pinyin: Yīn Wúfú, jyutping: jan1 mou4 fuk1), meaning “No Fortune,” was one of the three servants of Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King and founder of the Heavenly Eagle Order. Originally a prominent Southwest bandit, he was rescued by Yin Tianzheng twenty years before the events of the novel and became a loyal servant, changing his name as a sign of gratitude. Along with his sworn brothers Yin Wulu and Yin Wushou, he served the Heavenly Eagle Order with exceptional loyalty and martial arts prowess.

Biography

Early life as a Southwest bandit

Yin Wufu was originally a prominent bandit who operated in the Southwest region of China. Along with his two companions (who later became Yin Wulu and Yin Wushou), he gained a reputation as a formidable martial artist and bandit leader. The three were not originally brothers by blood but became close companions through their shared criminal activities.

Rescue by Yin Tianzheng

Twenty years before the events of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, Yin Wufu and his two companions found themselves surrounded by many powerful fighters and knew they could not escape. At this critical moment, Yin Tianzheng happened to pass by. Seeing how the three bandits maintained their integrity and refused to surrender even in the face of hopeless odds, Yin Tianzheng was moved by their courage and lent them a helping hand, rescuing them from certain death.

Becoming a servant

To prove their gratitude to Yin Tianzheng for saving their lives, the three bandits solemnly vowed to serve him as servants for the rest of their lives. They cast off their original names and changed them to Yin Wufu (殷无福, “No Fortune”), Yin Wulu (殷无禄, “No Prosperity”), and Yin Wushou (殷无寿, “No Longevity”). These names were intentionally ironic, as servant names typically contain positive words like “fortune,” “prosperity,” and “longevity.” Their choice of negative names reflected their complete renunciation of their previous identities and their total dedication to serving Yin Tianzheng.

Service to the Heavenly Eagle Order

After becoming servants, Yin Wufu and his companions served the Heavenly Eagle Order with exceptional loyalty and skill. Despite their subordinate status, they were treated with respect by Yin Tianzheng and his family, particularly Yin Susu, who was always courteous toward them and never treated them as ordinary servants.

Yin Tianzheng recognised that in terms of martial arts and fame, there were few famed fighters in the jianghu who could compete with the three servants. Their individual martial arts capabilities rivalled those of many established martial arts masters, but their willing acceptance of subordinate roles reflected their recognition of Yin Tianzheng’s superior leadership and the Order’s worthy objectives.

Delivering gifts to Zhang Cuishan

When Zhang Cuishan, the fifth disciple of the Wudang Order, married Yin Susu, Yin Tianzheng sent Yin Wufu and Yin Wulu to Mount Wudang to deliver wedding gifts. The gifts included more than two hundred items, ranging from exquisite jade lions and emerald phoenixes to expensive writing materials (brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones), as Yin Tianzheng had heard that Zhang Cuishan was skilled in calligraphy.

Yin Wufu and Yin Wulu appeared as humble servants dressed in servant attire with straight cloth hats. They immediately knelt before Zhang Cuishan and presented the gift checklist respectfully. Zhang Cuishan noticed that Yin Wufu had an extremely long scar on his face, stretching from the right corner of his forehead down past the tip of his nose and stopping at the far left corner of his lips—evidence of his violent past.

Despite their humble appearance, Zhang Cuishan was impressed by Yin Wufu’s eloquence. When Yin Wufu said, “To have the opportunity to meet the fifth hero of Wudang is my greatest pleasure and is an honour worth much more than a reward of a thousand pounds of gold,” Zhang Cuishan thought to himself that this servant seemed to be a person with an academic background, despite his appearance and status.

Defeating the three escort leaders

During their journey to Mount Wudang, Yin Wufu and his companions overheard three escort agency leaders—Qi Tianbiao (齐天标) of the Crouching Tiger Armed Escort (卧虎镖局), Yun He (云鹤) of the Rising Sun Armed Escort (金阳镖局), and Gong Jiujia (宫九佳) of the Cloud Swallow Armed Escort (云燕镖局)—discussing plans to seek revenge against Zhang Cuishan for the destruction of the Longmen Escort Bureau. The three leaders planned to ask Tan Ruilai (谭瑞来), known as “Sacred Spear Ruling Eight Directions” (神枪震八方), to intervene on their behalf.

When Yin Wufu and his companions heard this, they considered it an affront to Zhang Cuishan, who was the Heavenly Eagle Order’s honoured guest. Yin Wulu issued a challenge, and the three servants met the three escort leaders at the southern gates of Xiangyang for a duel. They agreed that if the escort leaders lost, they must leave behind their escort flags, cut off one of their arms, and promise never to set foot in Hubei Province again for the rest of their lives.

The three servants easily defeated the escort leaders, who were forced to surrender their flags, sever their left arms, and make the required promise. Yin Wufu later presented the three escort flags to Zhang Cuishan, explaining what had happened. Zhang Cuishan was shocked by the severity of the punishment but also recognised the servants’ formidable martial arts abilities.

Later encounters

Yin Wufu and his companions continued to serve the Heavenly Eagle Order, participating in various missions and operations. They demonstrated their loyalty and martial arts prowess on multiple occasions, always acting in the interests of the Order and its members.

Personality & traits

Loyalty and dedication

Yin Wufu’s most defining trait was his absolute loyalty to Yin Tianzheng and the Heavenly Eagle Order. His willingness to completely renounce his previous identity and serve as a subordinate, despite having martial arts abilities that rivalled many masters, demonstrated the depth of his gratitude and commitment.

Intelligence and eloquence

Despite his appearance as a simple servant, Yin Wufu was intelligent and eloquent. His speech demonstrated an academic background, and he was able to express himself with poetic eloquence, surprising Zhang Cuishan, who expected a more rough and uncultured speech from a former bandit.

Formidable martial arts

Yin Wufu possessed exceptional martial arts abilities that rivalled those of many established martial arts masters. His ability to easily defeat prominent escort agency leaders demonstrated his skill, though he was willing to use these abilities in service to Yin Tianzheng rather than for personal gain or reputation.

Martial arts abilities

Exceptional prowess

Yin Wufu’s martial arts abilities were exceptional, placing him among the ranks of many established masters in the jianghu. His ability to defeat prominent escort agency leaders in combat demonstrated his skill and experience. The long scar on his face, stretching from his forehead across his nose to his lip, was evidence of his violent past and the dangers he had faced.

Relationships

With Yin Tianzheng

Yin Wufu’s relationship with Yin Tianzheng was one of absolute loyalty and gratitude. He owed his life to Yin Tianzheng, who had rescued him from certain death, and he dedicated the rest of his life to serving him as a sign of gratitude.

With Yin Wulu and Yin Wushou

Yin Wufu, Yin Wulu, and Yin Wushou were sworn brothers who shared a deep bond. They worked together as a team, coordinating their efforts to serve the Heavenly Eagle Order. Their ability to work together effectively was demonstrated in their defeat of the three escort leaders.

With Yin Susu

Yin Susu always treated Yin Wufu and his companions with respect and courtesy, never viewing them as ordinary servants. This respectful treatment reflected their status as highly skilled martial artists who had chosen to serve the Order out of gratitude rather than necessity.

Behind the scenes

Narrative significance

Yin Wufu and his companions represent the theme of redemption and loyalty in the novel. Their transformation from prominent bandits to loyal servants demonstrates how gratitude and respect can inspire complete devotion, even from those who were once enemies of the jianghu.

Their story also highlights the strength and organisation of the Heavenly Eagle Order. The fact that such skilled martial artists were willing to serve as subordinates demonstrates Yin Tianzheng’s leadership abilities and the respect he commanded in the martial arts world.

Symbolic meaning

The three servants’ names—Yin Wufu (No Fortune), Yin Wulu (No Prosperity), and Yin Wushou (No Longevity)—are intentionally ironic, as they represent the opposite of what their lives became. Having been rescued from certain death, they found fortune, prosperity, and longevity through their service to Yin Tianzheng, even if they chose names that renounced these things.