A group of 21 Han Chinese pugilists led by "Leading Big Brother" ambush Xiao Yuanshan and his family near Yanmen Pass. [5][TianLong Ch.16]
Xiao Yuanshan's wife is killed.
Xiao Yuanshan, in a rage, slays most of his enemies.
Xiao regrets his actions, carves his last words in the Khitan language on a rock and leaps off the cliff with his wife's dead body and their son.[TianLong Ch.21]
Xiao throws his infant son up the cliff during his fall.[6]
The infant Xiao Feng is saved by "Leading Big Brother" and adopted by Qiao Sanhuai and his wife.[7][TianLong Ch.16]
Xiao Feng is named "Qiao Feng" in accordance to his adoptive family's name.
Murong Bo goes into his reclusive life.
Murong Bo hides in the library of Shaolin Monastery and starts practising the skills in the manuals.
Zhong Ling is held captive by the Wuliang Sword Sect members.
Duan Yu escapes and chances upon the beautiful statue of "Fairy Sister" Li Qiushui in a chamber at the foot of a cliff.[TianLong Ch.2]
Duan Yu is motivated to learn the martial art skills "Graceful Wave Steps" and "Six Meridians Divine Sword" in the chamber by the statue.[TianLong Ch.2]
Duan Yu requests for help in Wanjie Valley.
Duan Yu meets Mu Wanqing, who helps him rescue Zhong Ling from the Wuliang Sword Sect.[20]
Duan Yu and Mu Wanqing are captured by three of the Four Evils.
Duan Yu and Mu Wanqing fall in love with each other.
Duan Yu rescues Mu Wanqing from the Evils and returns to Dali with her.
Qin Hongmian, one of Duan Zhengchun's lovers, visits Dali to look for her daughter Mu Wanqing.
Mu Wanqing learns of her parentage and leaves Dali in grief.
Duan Yu is held captive in Wanjie Valley by Duan Yanqing and is rescued later by Duan Zhengchun's bodyguards.
Quan Guanqing of the Beggars' Sect attempt to incite rebellion against Qiao Feng, but fails.
Quan Guanqing and the Four Elders of the Sect are arrested.
Reverend Zhiguang, Zhao Qiansun, Tan Gong, Tan Po and the Shans arrive on the scene.
Reverend Zhiguang recalls the attacks at Yanmen Pass 30 years ago and reveals Qiao Feng's ethnicity as a Khitan, but refuses to divulge the identity of the "Leading Big Brother".
Qiao Feng is forced to leave the Beggars' Sect.
Second incident at Apricot Forest
The Beggars' Sect members are captured by Western Xia warriors from First Class Hall.
Qiao Feng saves A'zhu and A'bi.
Duan Yu narrowly defeats Murong Fu in disguise while protecting Wang Yuyan.
Duan Yu and A'zhu disguise themselves as Murong Fu and Qiao Feng respectively to rescue the Beggars' Sect members.
Qiao Feng brings A'zhu to Heroes' Gathering Manor to seek medical treatment from the renowned physician Xue Muhua.
Qiao severes all ties with his former friends and associates at the manor. He kills several Han Chinese pugilists in the ensuing fight.[TianLong Ch.19]
Qiao is rescued by a masked man in black while cornered by the pugilists.
Qiao Sanhuai and his wife
Xuanku
Tan Qing
Qi Liu
You Brothers
You Ji
You Ju
Shan brothers
Shan Boshan
Shan Zhongshan
Shan Xiaoshan
Qiao Feng travels to Yanmen Pass and finds A'zhu there. He confirms that he is a Khitan. [TianLong Ch.20]
Qiao receives emotional consolation and support from A'zhu.[22]
Qiao begins his hunt for the "Leading Big Brother", the murderer of his foster parents and his saviour who led him out of Heroes' Gathering Manor.
Xu Chongxiao, Tan Po, Zhao Qiansun and members of the Shan family are murdered, with the blame put on Qiao Feng.[21]
Reverend Zhiguang dies after giving Qiao Feng a piece of cloth imprinted with Xiao Yuanshan's last words.[TianLong Ch.21]
Qiao Feng renames himself "Xiao Feng".
Xiao Feng and A'zhu trick Kang Min into revealing the identity of the "Leading Big Brother".[23]
Wuyazi transfers 70 years worth of inner energy to Xuzhu and names him as the new leader of the Carefree Sect before his death.
Tianshan Tonglao returns to her youth for the third time.[30]
Tianshan Tonglao is captured by Wu Laoda, who mistakes her for a servant girl.
The lords of the 36 Caves and 72 Islands arrange a meeting to discuss how to deal with the servant girl Wu Laoda has caught.
Xuzhu interrupts the meeting of the Lords of the 36 Caves and 72 Islands and rescues Tianshan Tonglao without recognising her true identity.
Tianshan Tonglao captures Wu Laoda with the help of Xuzhu.
Tianshan Tonglao reveals her identity and teaches Xuzhu some of the Carefree Sect skills during their escape from various enemies pursuing them.[TianLong Ch.35]
Xuzhu and Tianshan Tonglao hide in the ice cellar in the Western Xia palace to escape from Li Qiushui.
Tianshan Tonglao brings Princess Yinchuan to make love with Xuzhu in the dark every night.
Tianshan Tonglao and Li Qiushui die after a fatal fight.[TianLong Ch.36]
Tianshan Tonglao names Xuzhu as her successor to the rulership of Lingjiu Palace and its subjects before her death.
Wuyazi
Tianshan Tonglao
Li Qiushui
Duan Yu and Xuzhu becomes sworn brothers. They honour Xiao Feng as their eldest brother.
Duan Yu instates Wang Yuyan as his empress[32], while Zhong Ling and Mu Wanqing become his concubines.
Xiao Feng is held captive in Liao by Emperor Daozong after refusing to lead the Liao army to attack Song.
Duan Yu, Xuzhu and several other pugilists infiltrate Liao and rescue Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng commits suicide after coercing Emperor Daozong to swear never to invade Song for as long as he lives.[TianLong Ch.50]
A'zi commits suicide to join Xiao Feng. You Tanzhi follows suit as well.
Murong Fu becomes insane. Wang Yuyan[33] and A'bi decide to stay behind to continue serving him.
Duan Zhengchun and love interests
Duan Zhengchun
Ruan Xingzhu
Qin Hongmian
Gan Baobao
Li Qingluo
Dao Baifeng
Bao Butong
Yue Laosan
Yun Zhonghe
Xiao Feng
A'zi
You Tanzhi
Citations
^The novel only states Li Qiushui to be at least 80 years old in 1093, thus her real age is unknown. This date is taken from the 2003 TV series adaptation of the novel, where Li Qiushui inadvertently reveals her age to be 88.
^This incident caused Tianshan Tonglao to remain in her child-like size for the rest of her life, without being able to grow up.
^Murong Bo did this as part of his plan of re-founding the fallen kingdom of Yan, in the hope that he will be able to rebuild his kingdom when the Jianghu enters a state of Chaos.
^The pugilists believed the false information provided by Murong Bo that a group of Khitan warriors are on their way to steal martial arts manuals from Shaolin Monastery. They mistook Xiao Yuanshan as one of the warriors in disguise and attack him.
^When Xiao Yuanshan falls down the cliff, he inadvertently wakes his infant son, whose cries make him instinctively throw his son up the cliff, in the hope that the child will be taken of.
^After some careful decision by the "Leading Big Brother" and his group, they decided to rename Xiao Feng to Qiao Feng and raise him as a citizen of Song. Because of his ethnicity, Qiao Feng is closely watched by the group and he had to take a series of difficult tests later to prove himself to be the chief of the Beggars' Sect.
^Xiao Yuanshan landed on a tree that blocked his fall down the cliff at Yanmen Pass. Having survived the fall, he vowed to seek revenge on the pugilists that were involved in the attack and those that concealed his son's true identity. Thus, he hid in the library of Shaolin Monastery and started to practice the martial arts in the manuals, in the hope of improving his skills and take his revenge.
^In the latest revision of the novel, it is mentioned that the planned murder of Wuyazi is plotted by Ding Chunqiu and Li Qiushui together. After the attempted murder, Ding Chunqiu founded his own Xingxiu Sect. See post number 9 of this thread.
^ abAccording to historical records, the period of political unrest happened in 1080 and the crowning of Duan Zhengming in the following year. The dates are brought forward by several years to fit Duan Yanqing's involvement into the plot of the novel.
^Duan Yanqing's injuries include a serious cut along his throat, which paralysed his face and made him unable to speak with his mouth for the rest of his life.
^This is Dao Baifeng's form of revenge against Duan Zhengchun.
^Duan Yu is 19 years old at the start of the novel.
^Gan Baobao had to hide her pregnancy and love affair with Duan Zhengchun from her parents.
^Zhong Ling's birth date is in the twelfth month of the year Yimao (乙卯) i.e. 1075, making her sixteen years old at the start of the novel. Also note that the year is incorrectly recorded as Yiwei (乙未) in early revisions of the novel.
^Kang Min is still upset with Qiao Feng for ignoring her at the gathering the year ago and finds this as a chance to teach Qiao a lesson.
^Duan Yu is heavily influenced by Buddhist ideals and believes that martial arts are used as weapons to cause the demise of others, making him unwilling to learn.
^Duan Yu and Mu Wanqing are disguised as maids of Lingjiu Palace, to which the Wuliang Sword Sect is subordinate.
^ abcThe murderer is later revealed to be Xiao Yuanshan, whose appearance is mistaken for Qiao Feng, thus letting Qiao Feng receive all the blames.
^Although Qiao Feng has no interest in women, the support he received from A'zhu when the whole world seemed to turn against him brings about his romantic relationship with her.
^At this point of time, the last known surviving person who knows about the identity of the "Leading Big Brother" is Kang Min. To coax information from Kang Min, A'zhu disguises herself as Bai Shijing and engages in a conversation with her.
^Bai Shijing had a romantic affair with Kang Min on the same day a few years ago. When Kang recalled the incident, A'zhu's awkward response caused Kang to see through her disguise. Knowing that Qiao Feng was hunting for the "Leading Big Brother", she took the chance to use Qiao to get rid of her old love rival (Duan Zhengchun).
^Duan Zhengchun displayed selfless acts during the fight, as shown through his brotherhood with Chu Wanli and his involvement in the fight. This made Xiao Feng change his mind about killing Duan Zhengchun's family and in turn, schedules a duel with Duan.
^The Duans mention about the two daughters that they had to give away to others at a young age. A'zhu realises that Duan Zhengchun and Ruan Xingzhu are her parents and A'zi is her sister.
^A'zhu's motive in doing such is to advise her lover not to get into trouble with his "enemies" if they have offended him unintentionally, just like how the alleged "Leading Big Brother" Duan Zhengchun caused the death of his parents, even if doing so means her death.
^In the latest revision of the novel, this incident is replaced by Bai Shijing's execution by the Beggars' Sect members.
^While Kang Min is half-paralysed, A'zi made deep gashes on Kang's body and pours honey on them to attract ants to bite her. When Kang Min sees her own reflection in a mirror, she dies instantly from shock as she was a vain person for her whole life.
The Five Greats - Wang Chongyang, Huang Yaoshi, Ouyang Feng, Duan Zhixing and Hong Qigong, take their respective titles of "Central Divine", "Eastern Heretic", "Western Venom", "Southern Emperor" and "Northern Beggar".
Mu Nianci is adopted by Mu Yi and becomes his foster daughter.[SheDiao Ch.9]
Qiu Chuji discovers about the massacre and vows to avenge his friends.
Qiu Chuji makes an agreement with the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" for a match between their respective students, scheduled to take place 18 years later.[SheDiao Ch.2]
Guo Jing becomes sworn brothers with Zhou Botong and learns martial arts from him.
Guo Jing wins Huang Rong's hand-in-marriage after winning Ouyang Ke in a series of tests set by Huang Yaoshi.[SheDiao Ch.18]
Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Hong Qigong, Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke are stranded on an island after their ship capsized. [SheDiao Ch.21]
Hong Qigong is severely injured.
Hong Qigong passes his position as chief of the Beggars' Sect to Huang Rong.
Duan Tiande
August
Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Kang and Wanyan Honglie's men infiltrate the palace to search for Yue Fei's military textbook, Book of Wumu. [SheDiao Ch.23]
Guo Jing is stabbed by Yang Kang during a fight with Wanyan Honglie's men.
Guo Jing rests inside the secret room of the inn at Niu Family Village with Huang Rong to nurse his wounds.
Lu Guanying, Cheng Yaojia and Yin Zhiping meet in the inn at Niu Family Village while searching for Guo Jing.
Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia are married.
Mu Nianci returns the coffins of Yang Kang's parents to the village.
The Mongol army returns from Khwarezmia to Mongolia.
Genghis Khan commands Ögedei, Tolui and Guo Jing to attack the Song dynasty after conquering the Jin dynasty.
Guo Jing refuses to aid Genghis Khan in his conquest of China and attempts to flee with his mother, but is discovered by the Khan and taken hostage.[SheDiao Ch.38]
Li Ping commits suicide to remind Guo Jing of his heritage.
^Historical sources indicate that Huang Shang died in 1129.
^"Wumu" refers to Yue Fei; the Wumu Yishu is a fictional military textbook authored by Yue Fei and is similar to The Art of War.
^Huang Yaoshi is about ten years older than his first disciple Qu Lingfeng.
^Yinggu is only about 18 years old when her child died at the hands of Qiu Qianren.
^ abBoth Mei Chaofeng and Feng Heng are born in the year of the Monkey.
^Qu Lingfeng's daughter is about 6 years older than Guo Jing.
^From Chapter 3 of the novel, it is mentioned that Tolui is 3 years older than Guo Jing. This contradicts history that Tolui should be born in 1193, and his eldest son Möngke in 1208. Also see this thread.
^This is a contradiction to the novel, which mentions that Qu is expelled when Mei Chaofeng is 18 years old. It is moved to this date to fit with the plot better.
^This date is mentioned by both Mei Chaofeng (Chapter 10) and Zhou Botong (Chapter 17) to be two years before the birth of Huang Rong.
^Wang Chongyang, knowing that the manual is being sought after, feigned death and waited for his opponent(s) to arrive. Sure enough, Ouyang Feng did, and was chased away by Wang.
^Before Wang Chongyang's death, he instructed his disciples and Zhou Botong not to practice the skills on the Nine Yin Manual to prevent the Wulin from entering a state of chaos once more.
^Historical sources indicate that Wang Chongyang died in 1170.
^According to Mei Chaofeng, to practice the "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" skills, she and her husband had to hide from Huang Yaoshi and other Wulin pugilists for over two years.
^Because of Zhou Botong's refusal to hand over the second half of the manual, he is forced to stay on the island to guard the manual for the next 15 years to prevent Huang Yaoshi from getting it.
^Historical sources indicate that the Kerait tribe's leader Wang Khan died in 1203 and Jamukha died in 1206. They were Temujin's enemies then and not allies as depicted in the novel.
^Historical sources indicate that Temujin declared himself Genghis Khan in 1206 after the defeat of the Naiman tribe. The Kerait tribe was annihilated in 1203.
^This is part of Yang Kang's schemes to pretend to befriend Guo Jing in order to find a chance to get rid of him.
^As Ouyang Feng only passes his skills to his nephew, Yang Kang attempts to get rid of Ouyang Ke so that he can replace him as Ouyang Feng's sole successor.
^As Guo Jing and Huang Rong unknowingly intruded the sacred area of Iron Palm Peak, they are cornered by Qiu Qianren, chief of Iron Palm Sect. However, Huang mistook Qiu Qianren for Qiu Qianzhang and played jokes on him, to which Qiu responded by inflicting a heavy palm attack on her. The two quickly flee into the deeper regions of the peak, where they meet the real Qiu Qianzhang.
^Qiu Qianzhang attempted to get onto a condor to escape from the peak. The condor, already carrying Huang Rong on its back, is unable to bear the additional weight and Qiu falls off as a result.
^All three are unaware that Yideng had abdicated and become a monk until they meet him later. Hence, they still address Yideng as the "Southern Emperor".
^Huang Rong's spiky armour is stained with venom from one of the Seven Freaks' corpse. When Yang Kang hits her armour, the spikes prick him and the poison seeps into his body. Ouyang Feng, having learnt the cause of Ouyang Ke's death from Huang Rong, refuses to save Yang Kang and leaves him to die a slow and painful death in the temple.
^Historical sources indicate that the war between Mongolia and Khwarezmia lasted three years.
^In later editions of the book, Yang Guo is named by Huang Rong.
^Ouyang Feng lost his memory of himself and his lust for powerful martial arts, but is still able to display his martial skills. He would not recover till far into the sequel novel.
^Historical sources indicate that Genghis Khan died in 1227.
Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng engage in a fierce battle and they injure themselves critically after pitting all their energy against each other for days.
Yang Guo learns the "Dog Beating Staff Technique" from Hong Qigong and a more advanced version of the "Toad Skill" from Ouyang Feng.
Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng die amidst laughter after finally resolving their past feuds and are buried on Mount Hua by Yang Guo.
Hong Qigong
Ouyang Feng
Winter
Huang Rong passes the position of chief of the Beggars' Sect and the "Dog Beating Staff Technique" to Lu Youjiao owing to pregnancy.
Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia host the Heroes' Feast at Dasheng Pass.[ShenDiao Ch.11]
Yang Guo leaves Mount Hua to attend the Heroes' Feast, hoping to find Xiaolongnü there.
Yang Guo meets the Guo family again and reunites with Xiaolongnü.
Jinlun Guoshi and his disciples challenge the Song pugilists for the position of chief of the Wulin. [ShenDiao Ch.12]
Yang Guo defeats Jinlun Guoshi with the help of Xiaolongnü, Guo Jing and Huang Rong.
Guo Jing and the Song pugilists strongly disapprove of Yang Guo's marriage to Xiaolongnü and they have a heated argument. [ShenDiao Ch.14]
Yang Guo leaves the feast with Xiaolongnü.
Huang Rong unintentionally causes Yang Guo to reveal his active and playful self to Xiaolongnü.
Yang Guo injures himself by touching the flowers of the valley.
Yang Guo is tricked by Gongsun Zhi and falls into an underground pool with his daughter Gongsun Lü'e.
Gongsun Lü'e is reunited with her mother Qiu Qianchi in an underground chamber.[ShenDiao Ch.19]
Yang Guo helps Gongsun Lü'e and Qiu Qianchi out of the chamber.
Yang Guo is reunited with Xiaolongnü. They defeat Gongsun Zhi with help from Qiu Qianchi.
Qiu Qianchi drives Gongsun Zhi away and takes over as mistress of Passionless Valley.
Qiu Qianchi agrees to cure Yang Guo on the condition that he kills Guo Jing and Huang Rong within 18 days and return to her with their heads in exchange for the antidote.[5][ShenDiao Ch.19]
Jueyuan and Zhang Junbao pursue the thieves to Mount Hua to retrieve the manual.
Yin Kexi and Xiaoxiangzi hide the manual in the stomach of a white gorilla. They kill each other later after fighting for the manual.
Yin Kexi confesses the whereabouts of the manual to Kunlun Sect elder He Zudao with his dying breath. He Zudao mishears it as "The book is in the oil."
Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü return to the Ancient Tomb and live in seclusion.
Yin Kexi
Xiaoxiangzi
Citations
^Qiu Qianchi is about 20 years old when she marries Gongsun Zhi in 1222.
^Xiaolongnü, upon knowing Yang Guo's personality, believed that Yang will be unwilling to remain with her in the Ancient Tomb forever.
^Gongsun Zhi is attracted by Xiaolongnü's beauty and he proposes to marry her. Xiaolongnü agrees after believing that her separation from Yang Guo will benefit both of them.
^Qiu Qianchi learns from her brother Qiu Qianren, then a monk known as Ci'en, that their eldest brother Qiu Qianzhang has died falling to his death down a cliff, while Guo Jing and Huang Rong are responsible for his death.
^Guo Fu is furious with Yang Guo for lying to the Wu brothers that he is her lover.
^ abXiaolongnü leaves Yang Guo in the last month of the lunar year. The equivalent in the Gregorian calendar is estimated to be in January.
^The Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave also present Guo Xiang with fireworks.
^Da'erba, who stupidly believes Yang Guo to be his senior, is furious with Huodu for abandoning their teacher during the battle at Chongyang Palace. Hence, he obeys Yang Guo and kills Huodu when Yang Guo orders him to do so.
^Despite Jinlun Guoshi's "evil" ways, he has a high regard for Guo Xiang during their brief stay together and so willingly places his life at stake to save her from danger.
Yin Kexi and Xiaoxiangzi hide the manual in the stomach of a white ape. They kill each other later after fighting for the manual.
Yin Kexi confesses the whereabouts of the manual to Kunlun Sect elder He Zudao with his dying breath. He Zudao mishears it as "The book is in the oil."
Yin Kexi
Xiaoxiangzi
c. 1263
Guo Xiang visits Shaolin Monastery to look for Yang Guo.
Yin Yewang and Yin Susu take the Dragon-slaying Saber from Yu Daiyan without his knowledge.[YiTian Ch.10]
Yu Daiyan is wounded.
Yin Susu forces Du Dajin of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency to escort Yu Daiyan back to Mount Wudang.
May
Yu Daiyan is paralysed by Cheng Kun.
Zhang Cuishan seeks to avenge Yu Daiyan and blames Du Dajin for Yu's plight.
Yin Susu kills all the members of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency on the excuse that they failed to protect Yu Daiyan from danger.[YiTian Ch.10]
Yin Susu murders Huitong and Huiguang of Shaolin, causing Zhang Cuishan to take the blame.
Zhang Cuishan learns the sangluantie skill (喪亂帖) from Zhang Sanfeng.
Du Dajin
Huitong
Huiguang
June
Zhang Cuishan meets Yin Susu for the first time.
Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu attend a meeting organised by the Heavenly Eagle Cult at Mount Wangpan.[7]
Xie Xun disrupts the meeting.
Xie Xun uses his deafening "Lion Roar" to injure everyone present at the meeting and drive them insane (except for Zhang Cuishan, Yin Susu and Bai Guishou[8]).
Xie Xun takes Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu with him on a journey far out at sea.
The strong South Wind forces Xie Xun to travel north instead.
Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu fall in love with each other.
Ouyang Qing
Yuan Guangbo
Mai Jing
Guo Sanquan
Xie Xun goes into his berserk rage and tries to kill Yin Susu.
Yin Susu blinds Xie Xun's eyes with her needles in self-protection.
Zhang Cuishan, Yin Susu and Xie Xun arrive at Ice Fire Island.
Fan Yao of the Ming Cult disfigures himself to infiltrate the Ruyang Prince's residence on an espionage mission. He uses the alias "Kutoutuo" (literally: "Suffering Monk").[YiTian Ch.26]
Wulin pugilists visit Mount Wudang to force Zhang Cuishan to reveal the whereabouts of Xie Xun under the pretext of offering birthday wishes to Zhang Sanfeng.
Zhang Cuishan commits suicide after being cornered by pugilists.
Yin Susu confesses her misdeeds in front of everyone and commits suicide after her husband.[10][YiTian Ch.10]
The Heavenly Eagle Cult merges with the Ming Cult.[20]
Zhuang Zheng
Xianyu Tong
1358
Date unknown
Golden Flower Granny and Yin Li travel to Ice Fire Island and escort Xie Xun to Divine Snake Island.
January
Zhang Wuji tracks down Zhao Min to Green Willow Mountain Manor and confronts her.[YiTian Ch.23]
Zhao Min attempts to poison Zhang Wuji with the "Ten Fragrances Tendon-weakening Powder" and capture him but fails.
Zhang saves the captured pugilists from Wan'an Monastery with the help of Kutoutuo. They are all very grateful to him for his rescue efforts, except for Abbess Miejue.
Zhao Min makes Zhang Wuji allow her to follow him on his adventures as part of her "conditions" in agreeing to release the captives.
September
Yin Liting and Yang Buhui are engaged.
Members of the six major orthodox sects are captured by Zhao Min and the Yuan military and escorted to Wan'an Monastery in Khanbaliq.[YiTian Ch.26]
Zhao Min tricks the captured pugilists into displaying their skills by lying that she will set them free if they defeat her men.
Zhao Min notes down the pugilists' skills secretly and practises them. She becomes familiar with the martial arts of the six major sects.
Zhang Wuji engages in a fight with the Xuanming Elders and Kutoutuo.
Fan Yao manipulates the Xuanming Elders to provide him with the antidote to the Ten Fragrances Tendon-weakening Powder, which was used on the trapped members of the six major orthodox sects.
Fan Yao enters the monastery and distributes the antidote to the prisoners.
Fan Yao reveals his identity to Lu Zhangke and He Biweng. He is deemed a traitor and forced to leave the Mongols.
Mongol soldiers start a fire at the foot of the monastery on orders from Köke Temür.
Wei Yixiao distracts Köke Temür by burning his father's palace.
Zhang Wuji arrives and safely rescues the members of the six major orthodox sects.
Abbess Miejue names Zhou Zhiruo as her successor to leadership of the Emei Sect.
Miejue refuses Zhang Wuji's help and falls to her death.
Zhang Wuji, Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo and Xiaozhao travel to Divine Serpent Island to meet Xie Xun. They are closely followed by Golden Flower Granny and Yin Li.
Golden Flower Granny attempts to seize the Dragon-slaying Saber from Xie Xun.[YiTian Ch.28]
The Wind, Cloud and Moon messengers and guardian kings of the Persian Ming Cult arrive on the island to capture Daiqisi and bring her back for punishment.
Zhang Wuji gets into a fight with several of the guardian kings and manages to seize back six of the Holy Flame Tablets.
Xiaozhao defuses the conflict by agreeing to take her mother's role in the Persian Ming Cult.
Zhou Zhiruo steals the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and breaks the weapons by clashing them together. She discovers the martial arts manuals and the Book of Wumu hidden in the weapons. [YiTian Ch.38]
Zhou kills Yin Li and attempts to push the blame to Zhao Min.
Zhang Wuji falsely believes that Zhao Min is responsible for murdering Yin Li and robbing him of the weapons.
Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo and Xie Xun travel back to the mainland.
Abbess Miejue
Yin Li (apparent death)
November
Cheng Kun and Chen Youliang murder Shi Huolong, chief of the Beggars' Sect. They replace Shi with an impostor, who becomes a puppet leader under their control.
Zhou Zhiruo formally breaks ties with Zhang Wuji and severely injures Zhao Min.
Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min are confronted by Köke Temür and his soldiers.
Zhao Min, lost between her lover and her family, announces her severance of ties with her family and leaves with Zhang Wuji.
August
Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min learn about the Lion-slaying Ceremony hosted by Shaolin Sect from Shou Nanshan.[YiTian Ch.35]
Zhang and Zhao takes temporary residence in the house of Du Baidang and Yi Sanniang.[22]
Zhang Wuji is sent by Yi Sanniang to work in Shaolin Sect.
Qin Laowu
September
Zhang Wuji confronts the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall who are monitoring Xie Xun.[YiTian Ch.36]
Zhang is unable to defeat the elders.
Zhang tells them about Cheng Kun's wicked deeds and convinces them about Cheng's villainy.
He Taichong
Ban Shuxian
Yin Tianzheng
October
The Lion-slaying Ceremony takes place in Shaolin Monastery.[YiTian Ch.37]
Du Baidang
Yi Sanniang
Situ Qianzhong
Xia Zhou
Citations
^ abcThe dates are taken from historical biographies of the seven disciples of Zhang Sanfeng.
^In reality, Yang Dingtian was distracted by his wife and Cheng Kun while he was practicing the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" in the secret chamber on Bright Peak. As a result, he suffered a fatal inner injury and died.
^Daiqisi only uses this name in the presence of Wulin pugilists; her daughter Xiaozhao is not aware of this.
^This is part of Cheng Kun's scheme to instigate Xie Xun's mass murdering of Wulin pugilists so as to defame the Ming Cult.
^Kongjian tries to protect Cheng Kun by letting Xie harm him instead of Cheng. Xie regrets his action immediately after he killed Kongjian.
^The cult used the meeting as a chance to show off the power of the Dragon-slaying Saber.
^Bai Guishou, who had fainted then, was not affected by the roar and was able to escape with recantation of the meeting.
^Yin Li is three years younger than Zhang Wuji, as mentioned in Chapter 17 of the novel.
^Before Yin Susu's death, she tricked the Wulin pugilists by pretending to tell Xie Xun's whereabouts to Kongwen of Shaolin. She also cautioned Zhang Wuji against trusting women easily when he grows up.
^Hu Qingniu refuses to treat Zhang Wuji personally, but allows Zhang to browse through his books and ask him questions.
^Hu Qingniu refuses to help the pugilists but he lets Zhang Wuji heal them by guiding Zhang secretly.
^Before Ji Xiaofu's death, she pleaded for Zhang Wuji to bring her daughter Yang Buhui to Yang Xiao.
^Jian Jie and his group have resorted to cannibalism due to famine.
^Zhu Changling is a descendant of Zhu Ziliu and the father of Zhu Jiuzhen.
^The white ape had survived upon having the manual hidden inside it by Yin Kexi and lived in seclusion in the valley until Zhang Wuji finds it almost 90 years later.
^Yin Li, known as "Zhu'er" to Zhang Wuji then, is the girl who followed Golden Flower Granny, but she has been defaced after practising the "Thousand Spiders' Venom Hand", making Zhang Wuji unable to recognise her.
^Though Zhang Wuji is unwilling to do so, the Ming Cult members insist as Zhang has united the cult and protected it from the six orthodox sects, and there will not be any other person suitable for the position.
^Yin Tianzheng merges his Heavenly Eagle Cult back into the Ming Cult as an expression of his gratitude towards his grandson for saving the cult from destruction.
^Zhao Min shows Zhang Wuji two strands of golden hair and reveals that she knows Xie Xun's whereabouts. Zhang Wuji, who sees the safety of Xie Xun as more important than his wedding, is forced to follow Zhao. This misleads the crowd into believing that Zhang Wuji is taking Zhou Zhiruo's love for granted.
^Du and Yi, initially appearing to be an ordinary peasant couple, are revealed to be actually formidable pugilists, and that their son was killed by Xie Xun years ago. Zhang Wuji avoids suspicion by pretending to be a non martial arts practitioner.
The Wudang Sect's "Taiji Swordplay" (太極劍法) manual and the Taiji Sword are stolen by the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
Yue Su and Cai Zifeng get their hands on the Sunflower Manual. The Mount Hua Sect splits into the Qi and Sword factions, respectively headed by Yue and Cai.
Shaolin disciple Lin Yuantu returns to his secular life and founds the Fuwei Escort Agency.
Lin Yuantu copies a section of the Sunflower Manual, which later becomes known as Bixie Swordplay Manual.
Yue Buqun makes Linghu Chong stay on the back-hill as punishment to reflect upon his actions.
Winter
Linghu Chong discovers the secret tunnel on the back-hill.
Citations
^The exact period of which the novel is set in is not mentioned. Hence, it is assumed that the Fuwei Escort Agency is destroyed by Yu Canghai in 1509. See this thread for reference.
Zhang San and Li Si from Heroes' Island send the first invitations to leaders of sects and organisations in the Wulin to attend the Laba feast on the island.[XiaKe Ch.13]
Several Wulin pugilists fight for Xie Yanke's Black Iron Tablets.
Xie Yanke stops the fights and retake his own tablets.
Members of the Snowy Mountain Sect confront Shi Qing and Min Rou to explain Shi Zhongyu's incident.
Members of the Changle Sect kill Elder Dabei of White Whale Sect.[3][XiaKe Ch.3]
Xie Yanke takes the young beggar Gouzazhong with him to Motian Cliff.
Xie Yanke, bothered by Gouzazhong frequently, teaches him Qi-cultivation techniques in the wrong way in hope that it will cause Gouzazhong's death.[XiaKe Ch.3]
^ abThough it is not mentioned, it is very likely that Shi Zhongjian grows up to be the main protagonist Shi Potian due to his similar appearance with Shi Zhongyu; the truth about Shi is only known by Mei Fanggu, who does not disclose it even till her death.
^The incident, narrated by Geng Wanzhong of Snowy Mountain Sect, happened in the last month of the lunar calendar.
^Before Elder Dabei's death, he managed to pass 18 wooden dolls to Gouzazhong, which will help him in Qi-cultivation later and benefit him in his entire life.
^ abSee the Timeline Basis section at the start of the article.
^Shi Zhongyu is made a puppet leader of the sect by Bei Haishi, who is the deputy leader and is unwilling to become the leader in fear of receiving the Laba invitations.
^When Bei Haishi and other sect members find Gouzazhong on the cliff with Xie Yanke, Shi Zhongyu had disappeared for almost half a year.
^Shi Potian is mistaken as Shi Zhongyu and is forced to admit "his" misdeeds in Lingxiao City during his "life" as a member of Snowy Mountain Sect. When Shi Potian is unable to answer, Bai Wanjian defeats him in a fight and sends him back to headquarters awaiting orders.
^In Chinese context, the "Golden Crow" refers to the sun. Shi Xiaocui's intention of founding the sect is to defeat the members of the Snowy Mountain Sect.
^The martial arts of the Golden Crow sect are designed specifically to counter the martial arts of the Snowy Mountain Sect.
^At first, "Zhang San" and "Li Si" treat it as a joke, as seen when they refuse to give their real names and take on placeholder names instead. It is only later in the novel when they treasure the friendship and brotherhood between them.
^This year has an intercalary second lunar month, which falls around March in the Gregorian calendar. The third month therefore falls in April.
^Shi Potian has arrived back at the mainland exactly on the eighth day of the third lunar month, which is the dateline set by Shi Xiaocui; after that date, Shi and Bai will both commit suicide by jumping into the sea.
Wu Zhirong spots a fault in the book History of Ming and reports it to the authorities, hoping to be rewarded.[4][LuDing Ch.1]
The compilers of the book, including male members of the Zhuang family of Huzhou and their friends, are massacred. Shopowners and customers are not spared.[5]
The female members of the Zhuang family are saved from exile by He Tishou, who teaches them martial arts for self-defence.
Wei Xiaobao tells Hai Dafu about his brawls with Xiaoxuanzi.
Hai Dafu realises that Wei Xiaobao is actually a fake "Xiaoguizi". He does not expose Wei yet and secretly adds a slow-acting poison to Wei's food everyday.
Hai Dafu teaches Wei Xiaobao simple Shaolin martial arts.
Xiaoguizi
c. September
Oboi has Suksaha executed for allegedly committing a list of 24 crimes.[9]
Chen Jinnan purges the poison in Wei Xiaobao's body.
Xu Tianchuan of the Heaven and Earth Society kills Bai Hanfeng of the Mu Prince Residence unintentionally. He is captured.[LuDing Ch.9]
Qian Laoben of the Heaven and Earth Society retaliates by kidnapping Mu Jianping and smuggling her into the palace.
Qi Yuankai, a palace guard, steals the Plain Red Banner's copy of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters from Prince Kang and hides it.[LuDing Ch.29][10]
Wei Xiaobao discovers Qi's actions and takes the sutra along with him.
Bai Hanfeng
1670
Fang Yi and a group of assassins from the Mu Prince Residence impersonate the subordinates of Wu Sangui. They enter the palace and fight with Rui Dong and other imperial guards.[LuDing Ch.11]
Fang Yi is injured and takes shelter in Wei Xiaobao's room.
Wei Xiaobao heals Fang Yi and hides her and Mu Jianping in his bedroom.
Wei talks his way out and successfully persuades Galdan and Sangjie to pledge allegiance to the Qing government.
Wei becomes sworn brothers with Galdan and Sangjie.
Seven members of the Mystic Dragon Cult enter Wei Xiaobao's room in disguise.[21][LuDing Ch.39]
Wei knocks everyone in the room out by secretly adding drugs in their drinks.
Wei brings his six love interests[22] and Mao Dongzhu together on a large bed in the brothel and has non-consensual sex with each of them.[LuDing Ch.39]
Wei Xiaobao meets Wu Zhirong, the governor of Yangzhou.
Wu Zhirong tells Wei about his attempted framing of Gu Yanwu and Zha Yihuang.
Wei warns Zha Yihuang and his friends about the attempt.
Zha helps Wei write a letter to frame Wu Zhirong for aiding Wu Sangui.
Wei arrests Wu Zhirong and has him bound and sent to Huzhou to be killed by the Zhuang family widows.[LuDing Ch.40]
Wang Jinbao is given orders by Kangxi to search for Wei Xiaobao.
Wu Yingxiong
Mao Dongzhu
Thin Monk
Gui Xinshu
Gui Erniang
Gui Zhong
Mystic Dragon Cult members
Yin Jin
Lu Gaoxuan
Fat Monk
Taoist Wugen
Xu Xueting
Zhang Danyue
Hong Antong
Chen Jinnan
Feng Jizhong
Winter
Wang Jinbao finds Wei Xiaobao on Tongchi Island.
Wang brings food and supplies for Wei and his wives on the island.
Wen Youfang, a eunuch who followed Wang on his journey, brings the message from Kangxi that "Xiaoxuanzi" has forgiven "Xiaoguizi" for all his past misdeeds.[LuDing Ch.45]
Wei is appointed Tongchi Duke of the Second Order.
Wei Hutou
Wei Tongchui
Wei Shuangshuang
1678
Wu Sangui is defeated by generals Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, Wang Jinbao and Sun Sike.
Zheng Kezang, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Tungning, is murdered by his grandmother Madam Dong, who replaces him with his brother Zheng Keshuang.
Mao Shiba curses Wei Xiaobao and Kangxi in public and is arrested and sentenced to death.[LuDing Ch.49]
Wei visits Mao Shiba on the execution ground and secretly replaces him with Feng Xifan, who is executed in Mao's place.
Wei gets into trouble with the Heaven and Earth Society for allegedly killing Chen Jinnan.
Shuang'er[LuDing Ch.49] and Gu Yanwu[LuDing Ch.50] save Wei's life and reputation by explaining his deeds and clarifying the truth with the Heaven and Earth Society members.
^Zheng Keshuang's birth year is exaggerated to match the plot of the novel.
^The Princess Jianning featured in the novel is a fictional character. The real Princess Jianning is actually the sister of the Shunzhi Emperor and aunt of the Kangxi Emperor. In the story, Jianning has no biological relations with Kangxi as she gets her "princess" title because she is the daughter of the fake empress dowager.
^According to official historical records, Shunzhi died in 1661 of smallpox. In the novel, however, Shunzhi abdicated upon the death of his favourite concubine and becomes a monk on Mount Wutai by the name of "Xingchi". This may be taken from rumours of Shunzhi's reported death in folktales.
^The book contains a timeline which adheres to the year calculation from Ming dynasty era, which is considered taboo by the Qing government.
^Oboi is deemed as the mastermind in the massacre for introducing the policy of literary inquisition.
^The timeline is based on Kangxi's age when he meets Wei Xiaobao and also on Oboi's death.
^The 14-year-old Kangxi Emperor longs for a friend whom he can talk to and play on equal terms. He is delighted to meet Wei Xiaobao, who is a fake eunuch about his age and is unable to identify him as the emperor. They strike up a friendship after engaging in some fun brawls. Kangxi, known as "Xiaoxuanzi" to Wei Xiaobao, is careful not to reveal his true identity in the fear of losing the friendship with Wei.
^Historical sources indicate that Suksaha died in 1667. It is moved to this date to fit with the plot better.
^Later in the novel, Prince Kang is summoned by Kangxi to hand in his copy of the Sutra. While the prince is troubled by the loss of the Sutra, Wei Xiaobao lends a hand to him by giving him the Bordered White Banner's copy of the Sutra after removing the map pieces concealed within the book.
^Liu Yan and Deng Bingchun are members of the Mystic Dragon Cult and are sent to the palace in disguise as palace maids to spy on the Kangxi Emperor.
^In Chapter 16 and 17, it is revealed that Wei Xiaobao has served in the palace for about a year and it is already the tenth month in the lunar calendar.
^After killing six of the Lamas during a fight between the lamas and Jiunan, Wei Xiaobao lures the remaining lamas and throws to them a copy of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters after adding poison to its cover. All other lamas touched the book and are poisoned to death; only their leader Sangjie, who cut off his fingers to prevent the poison from the book from spreading throughout his body, is saved by his quick actions.
^The strategies Wei Xiaobao used are actually from the stage plays he watched during his childhood in Yangzhou.
^ Historical sources state that the Moscow Uprising happened in 1682. The dates are exaggerated to fit in with the plot of the novel.
^This tactic, which Wei Xiaobao introduced to the Kangxi Emperor, later backfires on him when Kangxi does the same to Wei's horses as Wei tries to escape. See Chapter 43.
^Wei Xiaobao's mother is known as Wei Chunhua in earlier versions of the novel.
^The sect members include Fat Monk, Thin Monk, Lu Gaoxuan, Su Quan, Fang Yi, Mu Jianping and Mao Dongzhu.
^They are the six future wives of Wei Xiaobao, with Princess Jianning excluded.
^Gui Xinshu and his family attempt to assassinate Kangxi, but are misled by Wei Xiaobao and they kill Mao Dongzhu and Thin Monk instead. They are captured by palace guards later and put to death.
^The group includes Zheng Keshuang and his subjects, A'ke, Feng Xifan, Chen Jinnan, Feng Jizhong, Shuang'er and minor Heaven and Earth Society members.
^While Feng Jizhong attempts to capture Wei Xiaobao as a hostage, he is shot by Shuang'er with the pistol that she received from Wu Liuqi as a present.
^ abcdThe dates of several events differ from history; they are compacted into a single year to fit in with the plot of the novel.
^According to Jin Yong, the disappearance of Wei Xiaobao is one of the main reasons why Kangxi had later gone on many inspection tours to Yangzhou.
