Chapter 1 – Introduction: Righteous 介绍 (正道 )
Note: “Tales of Jinyong” takes into consideration that the readers are moderately familiar with major Jinyong characters, especially those from the "Major 6".
江湖!那是一個不可思議的世界!一個每天活在刀劍之下的世界!江湖人士,過的是爭權奪利,刀口 添血的日子!
The pugilist world, a unbeilevable world, a place where you live by under the constant threat. Pugilists lead a life seeking power, fame, avenge and blood!
但。。。不知從何時開始,江湖漸漸區分為正派和邪派。。。正邪不兩立,當然勢如水火。
Unknowningly but slowly, the pugilistic world has gradually divided into 2 different factions - righteous and evil. Righteous and Evil are incorrigible, just like fire and water.
江湖上,也因此掀起了數不盡的腥風血雨。。。但是。。。正,真的是正?邪,真的是邪?為名,為 利,為權勢, 往往爭斗的原因,只不過是為了自己的私欲,又怎有正邪之分?
Thus, the pugilistic world is often filled with blood and death. But is righteous really good and evil really bad? For fame, power and influence - often the reason for killing is only for one's own greed, what's the difference between good and evil?
金庸群俠傳。。。一個傳奇性的武俠經典之作。。。一個百年一來江湖的鼎盛時期。。。武學奇才更 是自百年來最 興旺的時代。。。我們的故事,便在這樣的一個背景中展開了。。。
Tales of Jinyong...is a grand epic combining all the famous characters and stories from the Martial Art Novel Grandmaster Jin Yong. This is a golden age period where the pugilist talents are at its peak. And thus our story begins...
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正道篇 - 少林 (Righteous Section - Shaolin)
In the last few hundred years, the righteous realm has always had Shaolin as its leading sect. The saying goes "All martial arts originate from Shaolin" (天下武功出少林 ). Since its was founded by "Damo Grand Master" (達摩祖師 ), Shaolin has never lacked quality experts. Its powers also greatly exceed any other single sect in the righteous realm. The Shaolin now is at its peak.
The categories of Shaolin skills are unmatched, from palms to swordplay to internal strength and 'qinggong. All of them are some of the finest in the world, and these are of course the famed "72 Arts of Shaolin" (少林七十二絕技 ). Each of them are groundbreaking skill and even if you could just learn 1, you could benefit for life. From its founding, no one has been able to learnt more than 20 of them in his lifetime.
Shaolin most notable Martial possession is its "No.1 internal strength", "Yijing Manual" (易筋經 ). The person who practice this extreme yang skill will not only greatly boost his internal strength, but have great defenses to outside forces. This skill is divided into 7 levels from 'red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white'. The Shaolin Abbot "Xuan Ci" (方丈玄悲 ) mastered till the blue level, and has since rarely meet a match.
Beside the abbot, Shaolin still have the "4 Divine Monks", Kong Wen, Zhi, Xing and Jian (四大神僧 :空聞﹐空智﹐空性﹐空見 )who are each formidable. They also had the famed "18 bronzemen formation" (十八銅人陣 ) which is one of the 2 most powerful formation in the world.
Lastly, there are 3 mysterious monks that stands guard for Shaolin - Du Cang, Jie and Nan (渡倉,渡劫,渡難 ). The 3 holy monks never care about Shaolin internal affairs, nor show their faces. It was said that 30 years ago, they lost badly in the hands of the "Evil Ming Cult" leader "Yang Ding Tian" (阳顶天 ). They went into retreat and mastered an amazing telepathy skill which is said to be invincible.
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正道篇 - 丐幫 (Righteous Section - Beggar Gang)
If Shaolin is the number 1 sect, then the Beggars would be the number 1 gang. Although their talents are lesser than Shaolin, their amazing numbers made up for it. Still, the greatest reason that the Beggar Gang can become the biggest gang in Central Plains is due to its top 3 figures.
1. The current lead "Qiao Feng" (喬峰 ) - Dragon Subduing Palms (降龍十八掌 ) have reached its finest state and is ranked among the "South Murong, North Qiaofeng". (南幕容﹐北喬峰 ) His boundless internal strength coupled with his proficiency in his skill made his blows the strongest and most lethal among the three!
2. Former leader "Hong Qi Gong" (洪七公 ) is one of the 4 great experts of the Central Plain, known as "North Beggar" (中原四大高手“東邪西毒南帝北丐” 中的北丐 ). His whereabouts are unknown as he travel around the lands to help the weak. Known as the "9 finger beggar", his Dragon Subduing palms maybe a level below Qiao Feng's, but his mastery with the Dog Bashing Skill (打狗棒法 ) is what Qiao Feng can never attained.
3. Currently guarding the Xiang Yang city. Guo Jing (郭靖 ) once exchanged 300 blows at the "2nd Mt. Hua Duel" (第二度“华山论剑” )with North Beggar (北丐 ) and East Heretic (東邪 )without falling. He's even the godbrother of "Central Mischief" (老玩童 ). He has learnt a variety of skills including the Dragon Subdueing Plams, a portion of the "Jiuyin Manual" (九阴真经 ) and the Duo Focus (互互奇术 ) of Zhou Bo Tong. His wife, Huang Rong is also a former Beggar Gang leader and the daughter of East Heretic, and very proficient in the Dog Bashing Skill.
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正道篇 - 武当 (Righteous Section - Wudang Sect)
The second leading sect after Shaolin comes Wudang.
Wudang's founder "Zhang San Feng" (張三丰 )is a rare talent in a hundred years, and already a legendary figure in the Pugilist World.
Having gained recognition as the "10 Ultimate Experts" (十大绝世高手 ) of the Pugilist World (The highest skill rank one could ever recieved), he possessed near a hundred years of internal strength cultivation (内功 ) that is probably unequalled by anyone in the Central Plains (中原 ). Years ago, he rescued his grand-disciple Zhang Wu Ji from the hands of "Xuan Ming Elder" (玄冥二老 ) by defeating him in 1 blow.
In the short years of Wudang founding, it quickly rose to ranking number 2. Besides Zhang San Feng, another reason is his 7 cherished disciples - The Seven Swordmans of Wudang. (武当七侠 )
Wudang skills focus on coutnering slow with fast, gentleness with force and is most proficient wih punches and swordplays. Wudang strongest skill are its own created Taiji Punch and Taiji Sword. (太极拳及太极剑 ) They have no form, no strokes and no paths, and is displayed solely based on one's focus. In addition, their qinggong Ladder Cloud (梯云纵 ) is a rare art that enables one to leap over castle wars with ease when mastered.
The skills of the 7 Wudang Swordmans are not to be underestimated. It was said that decades ago when Zhang San Feng was travelling around the "Snake and Tortoise Mountains", he suddenly thought of an idea. Based on the landscape and contours of the lands, he chose the strong points of both to fill each other weakness. He finally created this art after 3 days and 3 nights. As it is too powerful, this art is impossible for a single person to perform. Thus, he imparted each portion to one of the 7 Wudang swordman. When 2 of them display at the same time, their poweress would be doubled. When 3 of them perform it, it would be tripled. If the 7 of them combined, their poweress would be boost by 64 times! It's equalled to 64 highly skilled experts executing their skills at the same time, and if it is true, it would truely be invincible. This skill is the famous - Wudang 7 Soverign Formation! (真武七载阵 )
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正道篇 - 3 Major Sects (三大派 )
E-Mei (峨嵋 ): Ranking 3rd, after Wudang is the nun sect of E-Mei. Founded by the daughter of Guo Jing, Guo Xiang (郭襄 ), who went to travelling the world after handing the sect leader position to Mie Jue ( 灭绝 ).Mie Jue, nicknamed "Absolute Annihilation", is exactly like what her name suggests - Cold, heartless and merciless. Her mastery with the swordplay is among the top. Together with the Heavenly Sword (倚天剑 ) bestowed to her by Guo Xiang, she is like a tiger with wings. Countless members from the evil sect has been slayed by her sword. E-Mei also have some affinity with Shaolin, and in a twist of fate also possessed a portion of Shaolin "Nine Solar Stance" (九阳神功 ). It was renamed as "E-Mei Solar Stance" (峨嵋九阳功 )
Kun Lun (昆仑 ) - Current leader He Tai Chong has a unique mastery of sword. Combined with his wife, their "2 Edge Swordplay" (两仪剑法 ) is formidable.
Kong Dong (崆峒 ) - The sect most prized skill, "Seven Fists" (七伤拳 ), injures oneself first then the enemy. You could suffer serious injuries if you do not have sufficient internal strength before practicing the skill. Unfortunately, the leaders "Kong Dong 5 Elders" (崆峒五老 ) could not display the skill to its full potential. Decade ago, the manual was stolen by the "Golden Hair Lion" (金毛狮王 ) of the Ming Sect. (明教 )
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正道篇 - 5 Ranges Alliance (五岳联盟 )
In addition to the main sects, there is another major alliance between the 5 smaller sects in the righteous realm, known as the "5 Ranges Alliance". Each of them occupy one of the 5 famous mountains in China.
Southern Mt.Heng (南岳。衡山 )- A bloodbath 1 month ago led to the death of Liu Zheng Feng (刘正风 ) and his senior Mo Da (莫大 ). It is currently without leader. Its famous skill "Fallen Crane Swordplay" (回风落雁剑法 )may forever be lost.
Western Mt. Hua (西岳。华山 ) - Huashan swordplay is not to be under-estimated. Combined with Huashan internal strength would complement it even better. Unfortunately, it was divided into "Sword Cult" and "Qi Cult" (剑宗,气宗 ) during an internal dispute long ago. Current leader Yue Bu Qun is nicknamed "Gentlemen Sword" (岳不群, 君子剑 ), who practice the "Violet Energies" (紫霞神功 ). He is currently searching for the "Gentlemen Sword" that Yang Guo once held to match his "Fatal Consecutive 3 Strokes" (夺命连环三仙剑 )...
Central Mt.Song(中岳。嵩山 ) - Located next to Shaolin, the current leader Zuo Leng Chan (左冷蝉 ) is the leader of the 5 Range Alliance. His mastery with the "Icy Palms" (寒冰棉掌 ) has reached its pinnacle and claimed to be even a level higher than the similar skill practiced by "Green Bat" (青翼蝠王 ) from the Ming Cult. Their disciple skills are also the strongest among the 5 sects.
Northern Mt. Heng (北岳。恒山 ) - Nun Sect and shares an affinity with E-Mei. Leaders Ding Xian and Ding Yi (定闲. 定义 ) are most benevolent people...
Eastern Mt. Tai(东岳。泰山 ) - Current leader "Heaven Door Taoist" (天门道人 ) practises the "Taishan 18 Strokes " (泰山十八般 ) and is a good friend of Zhang San Feng...
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正道篇 - Quanzhen Sect (全真教 )
Besides Shaolin, Wudang, the 3 Major sects and 5 Ranges Alliances, another reputatable and well-known set is the Quanzhen Sect (全真教 )of Mt.Zhongnan (中南山 )
Its founder, Wang Chong Yang (王重阳 ), had attained the titled of "10 Ultimate Experts" (十大绝世高手 ) when he was alive. His famous internal energies skill, Preheaven Stance (先天功 ) has reached its pinnacle. During the first "Mt. Hua Duel" (第一次华山论剑 ), he defeated the "4 Experts of Central Plains", East Heretic, West Venom, South King, North Beggar (东邪,西毒,南帝,北丐 ) after 7 days and nights of battle to win the title of number 1 and the sacred "Jiuyin Manual". (九阴真经 ) After that, he exchanged his Preheaven Skill for South King Yideng (南帝一灯 ) Yiyang Finger (一阳指 ) as it is the only skill that can penetrate Ouyang Feng's Toad Stance. (欧阳, 峰蛤蟆功 ) He later faked death to trick Ouyang Feng into stealing the Jiuyin Manual and strike him with the Yiyang Finger. Ouyang Feng was so seriously injured that he took more than 3 years to recuperate. Wang Chong Yang died shortly after and the manual was handed to his junior Zhou Botong.
Quanzhen's most powerful sklll is the "Heaven Dipper Formation" (天罡北斗阵 )created by Wang Chong Yang. Years ago, the 7 Disciples of Quanzhen (全真七子 ) put up this formation to defend themselves against the East Heretic Huang Yao Shi (黄药师 ). Their power skyrocketed and were able to achieve a draw against him! This is enough to show the poweress of this formation.
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正道篇 - Country of Dali (大理国 )
Dali is located in the southern portion of Central Plains (中原 ).
Dali Royal Family (大理皇世 ) - Former emperor Duan Zhengming (段正明 ) is the famed South King. After Wang Chongyang imparted the Preheaven Stance to him, his Yiyang Finger became even more deadly. His internal strength is believe to the be strongest among the 4 Experts. However, he became a monk after a tragedic event decades ago and seldom show himself. Had a brother Duan Zhengchun (段正淳 ) who is moderately proficient in the Yiyang Finger.
Heaven Dragon Temple (天龙寺 ) - The place where the royal members of Dali went to become monks. This temple hold the "Six Pulse Swords" (六脉神剑 ) secret, which is said to be even stronger than Yiyang Finger. Mastery of the skill enables one to fire "invisible swords" from one pulse. They are not really swords but just strong energy pressures similar to the Yiyang Finger. One would need extreme internal strength to master all the 6 pulses on the hand to display the skill full potential. The temple is guarded by 6 monks, whom each learned a single pulse from the manual. It may be weaker than having it used by a single person, but it's more than enough to repel any potential aggressors.