I was hoping someone who had read XAJH could help me with the following, as my "knowledge" stems mainly from the 2001 TV series.
BXJF/KHBD required castration to learn and master the inner power techniques. We all know well that it turned Dong Fang Bu Bai into an effeminate person. There seems to be some suggestion that Yue Buqun and Lin Pingzhi also began to show some signs of this, although they had not been castrated long.
Obviously, the introduction of DFBB, top-notch fighter, as some guy in drag is a big shock to the first time viewer/reader, and it wouldn't do for Jin Yong to spring this plot surprise early on, but can anyone speculate as to how Lin Yuantu made his name in wulin, and established an (adopted) family and a wealthy, well-known escort house, all the while being effeminate? That is, if he was effeminate at all? Was he able to fake it with techniques or discipline learned at Shaolin?