[Note] This character guide was posted after Rainy Bell (Part 8).
Zhan Zhao: Courtesy name Xiong Fei (seemingly derived from King Wen of Zhou's dream of a flying bear). Revered in the martial world as the "Southern Hero," he serves as a fourth-rank imperial bodyguard with the honorary title "Imperial Cat" bestowed by Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty. The author's top heartthrob and universally charming character. For visual references, see the illustrated versions from the game adaptation of The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, or the portrayals by Eddie Ho (in Justice Bao) and Vincent Chiao (in The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants and Lord Magistrate Bao on Tour).
Zhan Ri Fei: Everyone already knows exactly who he is. What remains unknown is why he appears under this name.
Huo Xiao Di: Some readers have guessed his true identity. He has mastered Exquisite Mountain Villa's unique lightness skills "A Startling Glance" and "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower." Hint: He is a fugitive from Exquisite Mountain Villa who absconded with its treasure "Yin Yang An."
Chang Hong Bi: Half his name and secrets are revealed in this chapter; the other half will gradually unfold as the story progresses. Hint: Mute but not deaf, his blood can neutralize all poisons—a trait that subjected him to lifelong torment as people repeatedly cut him to consume his blood. His actual age exceeds his appearance. He enters the story unattractive but exits transformed.
Characters of Xiangyang Royal Mansion:
Shao Jizu: Nicknamed "Blood Without Trace," a master of both literary and martial arts. He is the chief guard of Xiangyang Royal Mansion, overseeing Jinshi Hall and the mansion's forbidden army while assisting in managing Chongxiao Tower. He pursues Huo Ling Long, the eldest daughter of Exquisite Mountain Villa.
Zhi Hua: Nicknamed "Thousand-Faced Black Demon Fox" (adapted from the original novel), he excels in lightness skills and disguise. He serves in Jinshi Hall under Xiangyang Royal Mansion. In this story, he only appears briefly near the end to cause trouble—no rush.
Zhong Xiong: Nicknamed "Flying Trident Guardian," he is the top general under the Prince of Xiangyang (faithful to the original novel), commanding Junshan Water Fortress. He will also appear later in the narrative.
Mo Dao: A sinister martial artist and elder of the Asura Sect, skilled in poisons—especially the lethal "Like Old Friends at First Sight." He serves in Jinshi Hall under Xiangyang Royal Mansion.
The Hua Fengzi Family: Eldest brother Hua Zi Feng leads five brothers, all adept in lightness skills. They serve in Jinshi Hall under Xiangyang Royal Mansion. Mentioned briefly without detailed exposition.
Yan Zi Qing: Hailing from Shili Slope, he specializes in lightness skills and hidden weapons. He serves in Jinshi Hall under Xiangyang Royal Mansion. Mentioned briefly without detailed exposition.
Feng Shao: Also called Captain Feng, a captain in Xiangyang Royal Mansion. Killed by the Sun Controller.
Old Meng: Chief constable of Qingshui County under Xiangyang's jurisdiction. Killed by the Sun Controller.
Other Martial Artists:
Tang Tianhao: Young master of the Tang Sect's main branch in Shu, assisting in managing the sect's assassination organization Wuning Hall and the Dragon Tiger Ranking depicting each assassin. He pursues Huo Ling Long, the eldest daughter of Exquisite Mountain Villa. His appearance depends on the author's discretion.
Three Tang Sect Assassins: From the Tang Sect's assassination organization Wuning Hall, ranked third, seventh, and sixteenth. The third-ranked assassin's poison palm was crippled by Huo Xiao Di's "Yin Yang An." The sixteenth-ranked assassin had his arm mauled by Huo Xiao Di's yellow dog, leading to his defeat by Jiao Chao Gui and Mu Xiu Quan's combined efforts. Both will remain incapacitated for some time.
Jiao Chao Gui: Master of Prosperous Cloud Manor, one of the three great manors in the martial world.
Mu Xiu Quan: Second master of Prosperous Cloud Manor, one of the three great manors. Killed by Zhan Ri Fei.Ge Yun Fei: Third Manor Lord of Prosperous Cloud Manor, one of the three renowned manors in the martial world. Wields dual iron halberds and possesses the unique skill "Thrown Halberd". Killed by the three assassins of Tang Sect's "Wuning Hall".
Ma Zhaoxian: Original character. In charge of the Four Direct Storehouses, seemingly serving as the behind-the-scenes backer of Prosperous Cloud Manor. Does not appear in this installment. (Fish: If he appears again, this fish will write him dead...)
Grandma Han Shui: Palace Master of the century-old Cold Water Palace. Seeing the prowess of her four envoys "Sun, Moon, Wind, and Cloud", her own abilities need no further elaboration from this little fish.
Moon-Grasping Envoy: Female envoy under Grandma Han Shui, wields Cold Water Palace's primary weapon "Chang Xiang Si", proficient in the palace's unique internal skill "Tenderness Around Fingers".
Sun-Grasping Envoy: Male envoy under Grandma Han Shui, wields Cold Water Palace's renowned blade "Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun" (circular blade), master of the world's most yang-oriented Cold Water Palace blade technique "Thousand Jun Dragon-Slaying Twist", kills with only one move.
Wind-Grasping Envoy: Male envoy under Grandma Han Shui, has no role in this installment, so the fish is being lazy.
Cloud-Grasping Envoy: Female envoy under Grandma Han Shui, also has no role in this installment, so the fish is being lazy again.
Huo Ling Long: Eldest daughter of Exquisite Mountain Villa, holding a prestigious position. Though pursued by martial world elites like Shao Jizu and Tang Tianhao, unfortunately her heart already belongs to another.
Huo Feng: Young Manor Lord of Exquisite Mountain Villa, achieved fame at a young age. Elder brother of Huo Ling Long. Whether he appears remains to be seen.
Ding Yuehua: Third daughter of Ding Family at Jasmine Flower Manor in Songjiang Prefecture, younger sister of the Twin Heroes Ding Zhaolan and Ding Zhaohui, fiancée of Zhan Zhao, heaven's favored daughter of peerless beauty. Will she appear? Seems like everyone wouldn't want her to appear, right?
Several other minor characters, mentioning them isn't interesting, temporarily omitted.
Characters in the Eastern Capital:
Zhao Zhi: Referred to in the text as Young Prince Zhao. Fourth son of Southern Pure Palace's Eighth Virtuous Prince (the third son before the "Raccoon Swap" incident was actually the current emperor), same age as the emperor. Skilled in qin music. Unrestrained and unconventional, with wide social connections. Does not appear in this installment, only mentioned in conversations.
Pang Ji: Current Grand Tutor. His daughter is Consort Pang. Archrival of Kaifeng Prefecture's Bao Zheng. Does not appear in this installment, only mentioned in conversations.
Zhao Zhi'er: Street urchin, original name and surname unknown, taken in by Young Prince Zhao since childhood. Current name given by Young Prince Zhao. Clever and eccentric, nicknamed "Gods Fear When They See Him", page to Southern Pure Palace's Young Prince Zhao. Good friend of Ming Zhu'er. Does not appear in this installment.
Ming Zhu'er: Orphan from Yellow River flood disaster. Clever and eccentric, nicknamed "Ghosts Worry When They See Him", page to Imperial Fourth-Rank Sword-Bearing Guard Zhan Zhao. Good friend of Zhao Zhi'er. Appears at the end of this installment.
Ming Yue'er: Orphan from Yellow River flood disaster, sworn elder sister of Ming Zhu'er, bright and intelligent. Maidservant to Imperial Fourth-Rank Sword-Bearing Guard Zhan Zhao. As for whether there's any flirtation with Zhan Zhao, currently it can only be sensed, not described. Slightly appears at the end of this installment.
Bao Zheng: Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. Impartial and selfless. Dark-faced, with a third eye between his eyebrows that can judge between yin and yang.
Gongsun Ce: Kaifeng Prefecture Registrar, skilled in strategy, unusual arts and divination, yin-yang fortune telling, particularly proficient in medical arts.
Zhang Long: Kaifeng Prefecture Sixth-Rank Captain.
Zhao Hu: Kaifeng Prefecture Sixth-Rank Captain.
Wang Chao: Kaifeng Prefecture Sixth-Rank Captain.
Ma Han: Kaifeng Prefecture Sixth-Rank Captain (Fish: In this fish's eyes, they're just standard-bearers).
Because of the above six people, Zhan Zhao once lived extremely exhaustingly, so this fish can't stand seeing them, much less writing about them. Killed them all off, do not appear in this novel installment.Bai Yutang: Nicknamed "Brocade-Furred Rat," he is the sworn rival of Southern Hero Zhan Zhao, the fourth-rank imperial guard with the privilege of wearing a sword at court. In this story, he makes a brief appearance near the end. (Hmph, this fish will make you kick the bucket!)
Lu Fang: Nicknamed "Sky-Soaring Rat," a soft and effeminate weakling (as evidenced by the original work: Bai Yutang died in Chongxiao Tower, and all Lu Fang did was cry day and night: "Fifth Brother..."). The son of a weakling is naturally a weakling too. (Refer to Shuiyue's "Laughing in the Officialdom: Character Guide" for details. As the saying goes, "Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats beget rats...")
Han Zhang: Nicknamed "Earth-Burrowing Rat," a giant, filthy earthworm that parasitizes underground.
Xu Qing: Nicknamed "Mountain-Piercing Rat," a beaver that digs holes everywhere. (Wait, how do you translate "beaver"? Huh, where's the English-Chinese dictionary?...)
Jiang Ping: Nicknamed "River-Tumbling Rat," skilled in strategy and excellent in water. This fish finds him the only tolerable one.
Of these five, aside from Bai Yutang who will be mentioned at the end, the rest are all kicked aside by this fish. For those who wish to see the Five Rats version, please urge the other elders to write or seek out recordings and VCDs for your fix. This little fish apologizes repeatedly here.
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