Was Fa Mun Lau Luk Siu Fung's best buddy?

[Ken Cheng]

In the first LUK SIU FUNG story (THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDEN ROC KINGDOM'S TREASURE), Fa Mun Lau was established as Luk Siu Fung's best buddy. Certainly, during that first story, it seemed that way, and Fa Mun Lau had almost as much facetime in that story as the title character himself.

After that first story, however, Fa Mun Lau's presence in the LUK SIU FUNG novels was sporadic at best. He had only a very limited appearance in the second story (THE EMBROIDERY THIEF) while introducing the character of Yip Goo Sing, and was entirely absent from BEFORE AND AFTER THE DUEL. He reappeared in some of the later LUK SIU FUNG stories, but was never again featured as prominently as he had been in that first story.

During those intervening stories in which Fa Mun Lau did not appear or had only limited appearances, Luk Siu Fung had numerous interactions with his various other friends...Sai Mun Chui Sheut, Honest Monk, Chu Ting, See Hung Jak Sing, Sit Bing, etc., etc. He did not necessarily seem any less close to these individuals as friends as he did to Fa Mun Lau. Was Fa Mun Lau really closer as a friend to Luk Siu Fung than were any of Luk's other friends?

[kidd]

I think Gu Long has totally forgotten about him. I couldn' t believe he didn't appear at all in book 7 when

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Luk Siu Fung supposedly died.

The only reason I can think of why he didn't appear is he already knew Luk Siu Fung's scheme and since he won't be able to be of any help, didn't participate in it.

He appeared in book 5 and book 6. But, he was like Chipsmore, 'now you see him, now you don't'. Book 6 was better. Even though his appearance was short, it's not as bewildering as book 5.

I think Luk Siu Fung has different buddy for different occasion. Fa Mun Lau is the normal friend doing normal stuff like chit-chatting, drinking tea and friendly bantering. Gu Long mentioned in book 6 Luk Siu Fung has never heard the sound of Fa Mun Lau walking up the stairs. It's not because he has never seen Fa Mun Lau walk up and down the stairs. It was because they were always up and down the stairs together and were always chitchatting and laughing during that time, so, he didn't pay attention to the sound of FML's footsteps. He and Si Hung Jak Sing is competitive but friendly type like 'dau hei yuen ga'. They like to take pot-shots at one another an belittle each outer but will help each other when in need. He and Simon, dunno how to say. I guess just friends who say little but understand one another.

Excepts from book 6: FML's footsteps

腳步聲，忽然自樓梯傳來。陸小鳳一動也不動，連呼吸也忽然放輕。
　　是花滿樓嗎？
　　他不知道，因為他未听過花滿樓走樓梯的聲音。并不是他未曾看過花滿樓上樓下樓，只是，他們總是一起上下 ，談笑風生，根本就沒有注意去听花滿樓的腳步聲。

Just base on my own feeling, I think Luk Siu Fung's bestfriends are Chu Ting, Sai Mun Cheui Seut, Fa Mun Lau, in the same first degree. Si Hung Jak Sing in the second degree (in one book he was doing something against LSF even though he didn't actually want to). These 4 were the really close friends.

I don't think Honest Monk, Wooden Taoist, Sit Bing etc were that close.

[kidd]

I've actually forgot about this fact, but, mawguy reminded me. Fa Mun Lau is the only friend of Luk Siu Fung that has learnt his signature finger technique.

[Ken Cheng]

Just base on my own feeling, I think Luk Siu Fung's bestfriends are Chu Ting, Sai Mun Cheui Seut, Fa Mun Lau, in the same first degree. Si Hung Jak Sing in the second degree (in one book he was doing something against LSF even though he didn't actually want to). These 4 were the really close friends.

Chu Ting and Fa Mun Lau hardly showed up again after the first story, however, while Sai Mun Chui Sheut appeared in most of the subsequent stories. I don't think it was a popularity issue, as Fa Mun Lau was at least as popular with fans as Sai Mun Chui Sheut. For some reason, Gu Long didn't use Fa more.

TVB certainly more than made up for it, though; in their LUK SIU FUNG adaptations, they made sure Fa Mun Lau showed up even in chapters (i.e. THE DUEL, SILVER HOOK CASINO, HAUNTED VALLEY, etc.) wherein in he didn't have a presence in the novels.

[tape]

I don't think it was a popularity issue, as Fa Mun Lau was at least as popular with fans as Sai Mun Chui Sheut. For some reason, Gu Long didn't use Fa more.

Is that true? I would imagine a character like Ximen would naturally be more popular opposed to Hua as he is the archetypical cool, silent, deadly-but-righteous on the inside character that would gear towards the average wuxia fan more.

[Ken Cheng]

Is that true?

I think so. Although Sai Mun Chui Sheut had Fa Mun Lau beaten in the "badass" factor, I don't know of any wuxia fan who doesn't like Fa Mun Lau. People like Fa's easygoing personality and sunny outlook on life, and they like his martial arts prowess as well.

[tape]

Well there is a difference between a likable guy and one that is popular and marketable. The nice guys generally are not the most popular guys, or the ones that cause you to read/watch a story or movie. It's usually the mysterious or even downright evil or crazy guys that cause the fascination.

I like Hua too, but he would never make a list of characters I'd like to read most about. He is just too nice and has no mystery at all to him -- he is a secondary character without as much potential as Ximen in terms of driving a story or plot.

[kidd]

Chu Ting and Fa Mun Lau hardly showed up again after the first story, however, while Sai Mun Chui Sheut appeared in most of the subsequent stories. I don't think it was a popularity issue, as Fa Mun Lau was at least as popular with fans as Sai Mun Chui Sheut. For some reason, Gu Long didn't use Fa more.

I think the reason why FML and CT didn't show up much in subsequent stories was because they were not needed in those stories. Gu Long was never known for good continuity or consistency. So, I don't think he would bother with things like 'FML and CT are LSF bestfriends, so, I should make them pop up in every novel for consistency's sake'. If a character is not needed, he won't show up.

The hero of the Luk Siu Fung series is Luk Siu Fung. So, he's the only consistent element in the novels.

But, GL still drop some hints around on and off to show their friendship like the footstep issue. Plus, Luk Siu Fung's one and only disciple/descendant is a guy called Fa Mun Tin (it's state in 'White Jade Tiger').

[kidd]

Well there is a difference between a likable guy and one that is popular and marketable. The nice guys generally are not the most popular guys, or the ones that cause you to read/watch a story or movie. It's usually the mysterious or even downright evil or crazy guys that cause the fascination.

I like Hua too, but he would never make a list of characters I'd like to read most about. He is just too nice and has no mystery at all to him -- he is a secondary character without as much potential as Ximen in terms of driving a story or plot.

I beg to differ in the popularity part. Hua Man Lou is actually quite popular and I think he would be marketable. I certainly would like to know more about him and his background.
But, I agree that it's hard to write interesting plot for a guy like this. He's like near perfect.

Actually both Ximen Chui Xue and Hua Man Lou are also characters who are better as secondary characters. HML is too nice and wise and doesn't have much idiosyncrasies while XMCX has too much idiosyncrasies and too mysterious. He hardly ever talks. It would be boring to read a whole story about him and he would also lost his mystery.

[mawguy]

i agree with kidd both for her assessment of who was the best buddy and why HML & XMCX are better as secondary characters. the former, she explained really well and requires no further elaboration. as for the non-protagonistic abilities of HML & XMCX, it boils down to this: in spite of their interesting quirks of personality, they are still rather one-dimensional characters. they lack a depth that is needed to hold reader interest. HML lacks a darkness that is found in most of GL's (better written) characters. XMCX lacks the ability to create an emotional connection with the reader 'cause he's too aloof. the reader roots for LXF because even when he's down or trapped, he has a trick up his sleeve or a bit of deus ex machina happens, and the whole time, the reader just wants him to beat the odds because he's a likeable character.

[Ken Cheng]

Although neither one would likely be a viable protagonist, Sai Mun Chui Sheut and Fa Mun Lau might (without Luk Siu Fung) make for a *very* interesting "odd couple" type team. The contrast between them is as night and day. I can see them playing off of each other to great effect.

[SkyWalker]

Although neither one would likely be a viable protagonist, Sai Mun Chui Sheut and Fa Mun Lau might (without Luk Siu Fung) make for a *very* interesting "odd couple" type team. The contrast between them is as night and day. I can see them playing off of each other to great effect.

I don't think FML likes XMCX at all. He doesn't like being near XMCX b/c he can smell XMCX's killing aura and being a life loving dude, he can't stand it. Even if they were forced to stay together, they got nothing to say to each other. FML is a serious nice loving life type of guy and XMCX is a cool quiet killing dude. The only thing they have in common is having LXF as their best buddy.

[kidd]

I don't think FML likes XMCX at all. He doesn't like being near XMCX b/c he can smell XMCX's killing aura and being a life loving dude, he can't stand it. Even if they were forced to stay together, they got nothing to say to each other. FML is a serious nice loving life type of guy and XMCX is a cool quiet killing dude. The only thing they have in common is having LXF as their best buddy.

Yeah. Can they even get anything done together seeing that they are polar opposite? But, it will be interesting to see how they compromise if they were force into a situation where they have to work together. FML can't stand SMCS's killing aura while SMCS is a loner.

In book 7, Beef Soup was 'working together' with SMCS. Beef Soup did all the talking. It's like she's talking to wall with no response from SMCS even though SMCS did go along with her plan. FML working with such a guy would be quiet awkward.

[Ken Cheng]

Yeah. Can they even get anything together seeing that they are polar opposite?

It happens all the time in "buddy cop" films.

I can imagine a scenario in which Luk Siu Fung has gotten himself into deep, deep doo doo (as usual), and needs Sai Mun Chui Sheut and Fa Mun Lau to bail him out. The question being: can SMCS and FML hold it together long enough to rescue their mutual friend?

I think they can: if there's one thing that they have in common, it's that neither one is an injudicious hothead. Moreover, there is no personal animosity between them.