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A Deadly Secret
1963 novel by Jin Yong From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A Deadly Secret, also translated as Requiem of Ling Sing and Secret of the Linked Cities, is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It was first published in the magazine Southeast Asia Weekly (東南亞周刊) and the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao in 1963. Its original Chinese title was Su Xin Jian before Jin Yong changed it to Lian Cheng Jue.[1] The story revolves around the adventures of the protagonist Di Yun, an ordinary young peasant, who is imprisoned after being framed. In his quest for vengeance, he accidentally acquires the Liancheng Swordplay manual (連城劍谱), an ancient artifact not only prized for the skills detailed inside, but also for containing a secret leading to a treasure.
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The plot follows the experiences of the protagonist, Di Yun, a young peasant from Xiangxi. He grew up in the countryside with his martial arts master, Qi Zhangfa, and Qi's daughter, Qi Fang, who is also his childhood sweetheart. One day, the three of them travel to the city to attend the birthday party of Wan Zhenshan, Qi Zhangfa's senior from the same martial arts school. During the trip, Di Yun is arrested and imprisoned after he is framed for larceny and attempted rape.
Qi Zhangfa disappears mysteriously when Di Yun needs his help. Wan Zhenshan's son, Wan Gui, bribes the magistrate to dish out a heavy sentence to Di Yun to exaggerate the seriousness of his "crimes". At the same time, in order to win Qi Fang's affection, Wan Gui hypocritically plays the role of a good man by pretending to speak up for Di Yun in court. Qi Fang becomes disappointed with Di Yun after believing that he is indeed guilty and gives up on him. With no one else to turn to, she eventually marries Wan Gui.
Di Yun suffers in prison, where he is constantly harassed by Ding Dian, a fellow raving inmate who accuses him of being a spy. However, after Di Yun attempts suicide, Ding Dian is convinced that he is not a spy and befriends him. Ding Dian then tells Di Yun how he obtained the Liancheng Swordplay manual from a swordsman, Mei Niansheng, and how he became a target of many martial artists who are seeking the manual. Ding Dian also teaches Di Yun a powerful inner energy skill, which later proves to be a blessing to him. Di Yun also hears from Ding Dian the dirty secrets of Qi Zhangfa and Wan Zhenshan – of how they murdered their master, Mei Niansheng, in their attempt to seize the Liancheng Swordplay manual.
Di Yun and Ding Dian manage to break out from prison, but Ding dies after being fatally poisoned by Ling Tuisi, a heartless magistrate who is also the father of Ding Dian's deceased lover. Di Yun goes to find Qi Fang and sees that she and Wan Gui now have a daughter called "Kongxincai", which was also his childhood nickname. Feeling emotionally hurt, he leaves and arrives at a temple, where he encounters an evil cannibalistic monk, Baoxiang, whom he outwits and kills. After he dons Baoxiang's robes, he is mistaken by the Blood Saber School's lascivious leader, Grandmaster Xuedao, for a grand-apprentice. Xuedao protects Di Yun from attacks by self-proclaimed orthodox martial arts schools, captures a maiden Shui Sheng, and holds her hostage while they flee from the attackers.
They encounter an avalanche that causes them to be trapped in a snowy valley in the Daxue Mountains. Xuedao manages to kill three of their pursuers, one of whom is Shui Sheng's father. Meanwhile, Xuedao becomes increasingly suspicious of Di Yun's identity and attempts to kill Di Yun when he realises that Di Yun is not really his grand-apprentice. Unexpectedly, Xuedao's strike helps Di Yun complete his inner energy cycle; Di Yun turns the tables on Xuedao and kills him. The last surviving pursuer, Hua Tiegan, reveals his true colours after Xuedao's death and feeds on the dead bodies of his three companions to survive. While Di Yun, Shui Sheng and Hua Tiegan remain in the valley to wait for the snow to melt, Shui Sheng sees Di Yun's kindness beneath his seeming misanthropy. When the three of them are finally able to leave the valley and meet up with other martial artists, Hua Tiegan accuses Di Yun and Shui Sheng of sexual immorality in front of Shui Sheng's fiancé. Di Yun separates himself from Shui Sheng and continues on his lonely quest for vengeance.
Di Yun tracks down the perpetrators responsible for his wrongful incarceration and learns that his respected master, Qi Zhangfa, is actually a scheming and ruthless villain – just like what Ding Dian had told him. Qi Fang is mercilessly killed by her husband, Wan Gui, when he suspects her of infidelity. As the story progresses, all the antagonists eventually locate the whereabouts of the Liancheng Swordplay manual in a temple, where they start fighting over the treasure. They become insane after coming into contact with the deadly venom smeared on the jewels.
After witnessing these beastly acts, especially Qi Fang's death, Di Yun becomes totally disillusioned with the dark nature and greed of humanity. He brings Qi Fang's daughter, Kongxincai, with him to the snowy valley and intends to lead a reclusive life there. To his surprise, he meets Shui Sheng, who has been faithfully waiting for his return.
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Main characters
- Di Yun (狄雲; Dí Yún) is the protagonist of the novel. He is framed for larceny and wrongly imprisoned. He learns the "Divine Light Skill" (神照功; shénzhàogōng) from Ding Dian and escapes from prison to take revenge and uncover the truth. He becomes disillusioned with the dark side of human nature after witnessing how his master and other villains attempt to seize the prized Liancheng Swordplay manual by resorting to unscrupulous means. He remains faithful to his principles and is eventually rewarded for his goodness.
- Ding Dian (丁典; Dīng Diǎn) is Di Yun's fellow inmate in prison. He accuses Di Yun of being a spy and beats him up regularly. However, he is finally convinced that Di Yun is not a spy after Di attempts suicide, and becomes close friends with Di. He obtains the highly coveted Liancheng Swordplay manual from Mei Niansheng and becomes the target of several martial artists who are after the prized book. He is poisoned and killed by Ling Tuisi.
- Qi Fang (戚芳; Qī Fāng) is Qi Zhangfa's daughter and Di Yun's first love interest. She marries Wan Gui after giving up on Di Yun, whom she believes is guilty after being tricked by Wan Gui. She is killed by her husband when he suspects her of infidelity.
- Shui Sheng (水笙; Shuǐ Shēng) is Shui Dai's daughter. She is taken hostage by Grandmaster Xuedao and brought to Sichuan. She is suspicious of Di Yun initially but falls in love with him gradually as she sees his kind nature. They are forced to separate when Hua Tiegan falsely accuses her of sexual immorality in front of her fiancé. She is reunited with Di Yun at the end of the novel.
- Qi Zhangfa (戚長發; Qī Zhǎngfā) is Di Yun's martial arts master and Mei Niansheng's second apprentice. He murdered his master to seize the Liancheng Swordplay manual. He becomes insane after coming into contact with the cursed jewels.
- Wan Zhenshan (萬震山; Wàn Zhènshān) is Mei Niansheng's first apprentice. He murders his master to seize the Liancheng Swordplay manual, and discovers the secret of the book unexpectedly when his blood soaks through a book of Tang poetry. He is murdered in cold blood by Qi Zhangfa.
- Yan Daping (言達平; Yán Dápíng) is Mei Niansheng's third apprentice. He collaborates with his two seniors to murder their master and seize the Liancheng Swordplay manual. He disguises himself as an old beggar and teaches Di Yun some swordplay techniques as part of a conspiracy to frame Di for larceny. He is murdered in cold blood by Qi Zhangfa.
Wan Zhenshan's associates
- Wan Gui (萬圭; Wàn Guī) is Wan Zhenshan's son. He lusts for Qi Fang and tricks her into believing that Di Yun is guilty while hypocritically playing the role of a good man by pretending to help Di. Qi Fang falls for his lies and gives up on Di Yun and marries him instead. He conspires with his father to seize the Liancheng Swordplay manual and kills his wife when she discovers their conspiracy. He becomes insane after coming into contact with the cursed jewels.
- Wan Zhenshan's apprentices are attracted to Qi Fang and they devise a scheme to get rid of Di Yun to win her affection. They are:
- Lu Kun (魯坤; Lǔ Kūn)
- Zhou Yin (周圻; Zhōu Yín) is killed by Di Yun.
- Sun Jun (孫均; Sūn Jūn)
- Bu Yuan (卜垣; Bǔ Yuán)
- Wu Kan (吳坎; Wú Kǎn) is killed by Wan Zhenshan.
- Feng Tan (馮坦; Féng Tǎn)
- Shen Cheng (沈城; Shěn Chéng)
Blood Sabre School
- Grandmaster Xuedao (血刀老祖; Xuědāo Láozǔ; 'Blood Sabre Elder') is the leader of the Blood Sabre School (血刀門; Xuědāomén). He mistakes Di Yun for a grand-apprentice and saves him from death and teaches him martial arts. Later, he discovers that Di Yun is an impostor and attempts to kill him but unexpectedly helps Di complete his inner energy cycle. Di Yun turns the tables on him and kills him.
- Baoxiang (寶象; Bǎoxiàng) is one of Xuedao's apprentices. He is involved in a fight with Ding Dian in prison but manages to escape. Later, he meets Di Yun by chance in a temple and attempts to kill him for food. He is outwitted and poisoned to death by Di.
- Xuedao's apprentices Shanyong (善勇; Shànyǒng) and Shengdi (勝諦; Shèngdì) are killed by Ding Dian in a fight in prison while trying to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Liancheng Swordplay manual.
Luohua Liushui
The "Luohua Liushui" (落花流水; luòhuā liúshuǐ; 'falling petals and flowing water') is a group of four martial artists from orthodox schools. They track down Grandmaster Xuedao and Di Yun to Tibet to rescue Shui Sheng, who has been taken hostage by Xuedao.
- Lu Tianshu (陸天抒; Lù Tiānshū) is the oldest in the group. He is killed by Xuedao while trapped in the snow. His corpse is later eaten by Hua Tiegan.
- Hua Tiegan (花鐵杆; Huā Tiěgān) is the most scheming and treacherous of the four. He reveals his true colours after Xuedao is killed by Di Yun. He resorts to cannibalism and sustains himself by eating the flesh of his fallen companions. After escaping from the snowy valley, he falsely accuses Shui Sheng and Di Yun of sexual immorality in front of Shui's fiancé, causing them to be separated. He becomes insane after coming into contact with the cursed jewels.
- Liu Chengfeng (劉乘風; Líu Chéngfēng) is killed by Hua Tiegan unintentionally during a duel with Xuedao. His corpse is later eaten by Hua.
- Shui Dai (水岱; Shuǐ Dài) is Shui Sheng's father. He is mortally wounded in a fight against Xuedao, and he begs Di Yun to perform a coup de grâce on him to end his suffering, which Di reluctantly did.
Others
- Mei Niansheng (梅念笙; Méi Niànshēng) was Wu Liuqi's apprentice and the martial arts master of Qi Zhangfa, Wan Zhenshan and Yan Daping. He was murdered by them in their attempt to seize his Liancheng Swordplay manual. He passed the book to Ding Dian before his death.
- "Kongxincai" (空心菜; Kōngxīncài; 'hollow-hearted vegetable') is the nickname of Wan Gui and Qi Fang's daughter. Her nickname is also Di Yun's childhood nickname. Her real name is not mentioned in the novel. She is raised by Di Yun and Shui Sheng after her mother dies.
- Wang Xiaofeng (汪嘯風; Wāng Xiàofēng) is Shui Sheng's cousin and one of the "Twin Sword Heroes" (鈴劍雙俠; língjiàn shuāngxiá). He attempts to save Shui Sheng from Grandmaster Xuedao but fails. He becomes insane after coming in contact with the cursed jewels.
- Ling Tuisi (凌退思; Líng Tuìsī) is a cruel and sadistic magistrate. He smears poison over his daughter's coffin to lure Ding Dian into a trap and capture him to claim the reward. He becomes insane after coming in contact with the cursed jewels.
- Ling Shuanghua (凌霜華; Líng Shuānghuá) was Ling Tuisi's daughter and Ding Dian's lover. She was buried alive by her father to prevent her from meeting Ding Dian.
- Juyou (菊友; Júyǒu) was Ling Shuanghua's maid. She was murdered by Ling Tuisi after he suspected her of revealing information about his daughter to Ding Dian.
- Lü Tong (呂通; Lǚ Tōng) is a bandit chief from the Taihang Mountains.
- Taohong (桃紅; Táohóng) is Wan Zhenshan's concubine. Wan Zhenshan forces her to frame Di Yun for attempting to rape her. Before leaving the Wan family for good, she told Qi Fang the truth about Di Yun and Wan Gui.
- Ma Daming (馬大鳴; Mǎ Dàmíng) was a member of the Ten Thousand Victories Sabre School (萬勝刀門; wànshèng dāomén). He was killed by Ding Dian.
- Geng Tianba (耿天霸; Gěng Tiānbà) was a martial artist killed by Ding Dian.
- Shui Fu (水福; Shuǐ Fú) is a servant of the Shui family.
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Timeframe and literary precedent
The novel's historical setting is not explicitly mentioned. However, some readers speculate that the story is based in the Qing dynasty, judging from the illustrations in the published Chinese versions authorised by Jin Yong, which show male characters wearing queues.Wu Liuqi, a character from The Deer and the Cauldron, is mentioned in the third edition of A Deadly Secret. This confirms that A Deadly Secret is set in the Qing dynasty.
The plot itself is based on the true story of one of Jin Yong's family servants from his childhood. Jin Yong's grandfather Zha Wenqing (查文清), as a local magistrate in Jiangsu, took the man into his family estate after the anti-missionary riots there in 1891.[2]
Some commentators feel that the plot resembles Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, except that they are based in different countries and historical periods. Jin Yong has admitted some influence from Dumas, his favourite non-Chinese novelist.[3]
Adaptations
Films
Television
Radio
In 1981, Hong Kong's RTHK produced a 25 episodes radio drama based on the novel and the intro song performed by Adam Cheng.
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References
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