For all the characters that debutted in The Return of the Condor Heroes.
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Main Characters
Yang Guo
The son of Yang Kang and Mu Nianci and the protagonist of The Return of the Condor Heroes. His father is the antagonist in the first novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes, and was notorious for having committed several acts of depravity. His name "Guo" is given to him by Guo Jing, means "wrong" or "fault". Guo Jing hopes that Yang Guo would redeem his family's honour, which had been tarnished by Yang Kang's past actions, and promised Mu Nianci that he will teach Yang Guo martial arts when the boy becomes older.Tropes associated with Yang Guo
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: He's not bad, but certainly un-polished, reckless and stubborn.
- All of the Other Reindeer: Hated and shunned by virtually everyone he met in his childhood. The only people who truly care about him are Guo Jing and Xiaolongnu.
- All Your Powers Combined: At the end of the novel, he had learnt Ancient Tomb Sect techniques, Quanzhen Sect techniques, Ouyang Feng's Toad Skill, Hong Quigong's Dog Beating Staff, Huang Yaoshi's Finger Flicking Skill and Jade Flute Sword Technique, the Nine Yin Manual and Dugu Qiubai's sword techniques. Whew. He even invents his own technique the Sadness Palm which combines the best features of every skills he knows.
- Battle Couple: with Xiaolongnu.
- Anti-Hero: Not only does he defy the rules and expectations of the wulin, but at the same time, he causes trouble from time to time.
- Been There, Shaped History: Killed Mongke Khan and ended the battle of Xiangyang in favour of the Song army.
- Chaste Hero: He can't quite get what Xiaolongnu was trying to say he did to her. No wonder why she dumps his ass. Luckily it doesn't last.
- Chick Magnet: It becomes so bad that he starts wearing a mask so women won't fall head-over-heel with him.
- Dark and Troubled Past: What makes Guo Xiang so attracted to him.
- Deus Angst Machina: The guy just can't get a break. Everytime he manages to get close to Xiaolongnu, something happens to keep them apart. They eventually get together at the end, after one hell of a journey.
- Driven to Suicide: Jumps off a cliff after believing Xiaolongnu is dead. He got better.
- Handicapped Badass: Losing an arm does nothing to slow him down.
- Jack of All Trades: At first. Huang Yaoshi notices that since he learn a large number of techniques in a short period of time, he couldn't develope an effective fighting style based on his strength. Later he manages to unify his different techniques and even create a new technique based purely on inner energy.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite this mischievious and rude nature from time to time, he does genuinely care about those who were kind to him and is willing to go out of his way to help them.
- Idiot Ball: Really, Yang Guo. If you could just keep your mouth shut around Guo Fu, you would have kept that right arm of yours.
- Instant Expert: He is able to learn the Toad Skill, an advanced technique at the age of 12. Later he mastered a wide array of techniques, each one could take a normal person years to master.
- Master Swordsman: After his training with the Condor.
- Meaningful Name: As explained above.
- Pride: What causes the majority of troubles in his life. He mellows out considerably after the Time Skip.
- Single-Target Sexuality: Xiaolongnu is his first and only love.
- Sins of Our Fathers: Yang Kang's past misdeeds is the reason why he was hated.
- Teacher/Student Romance: With Xiaolongnu.
- Training Montage: His training with the Condor.
- Took a Level in Badass: Several. He's among the strongest fighters at the end of the novel.
Xiaolongnü
Xiaolongnu (literally "Little Dragon Maiden") is the female protagonist of The Return of the Condor Heroes and Yang Guo's love interest. Jin Yong describes her physical appearances as "skin as white as snow, beautiful and elegant beyond convention and cannot be underestimated, but appears cold and indifferent". She saves Yang Guo from Quanzhen Sect and teach him the martial art of Ancient Tom Sect and later falls in love with him.- Battle Couple: With Yang Guo.
- Break His Heart to Save Him: Xialongnu was poisoned with a lethal dose of Passion flower poison and will die soon. She knows Yang Guo will kill himself to join her, so she leaves a message on the side of a cliff, saying that she will return in 16 years before jumping off, hoping that after waiting such a long time, Yang Guo will forget her and move on. He doesn't.
- Cain and Abel: with Li Mouchou.
- Dual Wielding: She can use both Quanzhen sword technique and Ancient Tomb sect sword technique simultaneously with two swords, thanks to Zhou Botong's Techniquie of Ambidexterity.
- Emotionless Girl: Make sense, since her martial art explicitly promotes control of emotion.
- Face Death with Dignity: She is surprisingly calm and composed when facing certain death.
- Older Than They Look: At the end of the novel, she's in her early 40's and still looks exactly like she was 20 years ago.
- Single-Target Sexuality: Yang Guo is her first and only love.
- Skilled, but Naive: Martial art is the only thing she's good at. Justified, since she was raised in an ancient tomb with no outside contact.
- Rape as Drama: She was raped by Zhen Zhibing while incapacipated by Ouyang Feng.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Xiaolongnu becomes Yang Guo's martial arts master despite being only four years older than him. They develop feelings for each other, but the relationship is frowned upon in the Jianghu because they are supposed to be master and disciple. They do end up together eventually.
The Condor
The Condor is a giant eagle-like creature living alone in a valley and a former companion of the invincible swordsman Dugu Qiubai. After roaming the land for years and failing to find someone who can rival him in swordsmanship, Dugu Qiubai came to a cave near a forest and spent the rest of his life there as a hermit. Several years after his death, the Condor encounters Yang Guo by coincidence while Yang was fighting with a giant serpent. Yang learns Dugu Qiubai's swordplay techniques from the Condor. As he has lost his right arm, Yang trains relentlessly and overcomes his disability to use Dugu Qiubai's Heavy Iron Sword with only one arm. After accomplishing a high level of proficiency in swordplay, Yang ventures out with the Condor to search for Xiaolongnü and reunite with her.Tropes associated with The Condor:
- Amplified Animal Aptitude: It had stuck around Dugu Quibai long enough to memorise all his skills and act as Yang Guo's sparring partner, and then do that well enough to turn Yang Guo into the reigning badass of the story.
- The Mentor: to Yang Guo.
Guo family, disciples and wives
Guo Jing
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Huang Rong
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Guo Fu
Guo Jing and Huang Rong's first born child. Spoiled rotten by her mother, she inherits Huang Rong's insolence, cruelty and bitchiness but none of the redeeming quality. Married to Yelü Qi, the leader of Beggars' Sect- Alpha Bitch: She basically has the Wu brothers wrapped around her finger.
- Anti-Hero: Becomes this by the end of the novel as she not only stops being the monster she was, but at the same time, she becomes the loyal fighter that her country deserves...
- Anti-Villain: Is this during the second half of the novel. Despite many of the crimes that she committed against Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu, she is very loyal towards her family and her country.
- Bullying a Dragon: Despite Yang Guo being stronger than her, she still has the AUDACITY to insult him. She's lucky enough that he didn't squash her like a bug...
- Character Development: Originally she started off as a damsel-in-distress and spoiled brat who constantly makes the lives of others, particularly Yang Guo's and Xiaolongnu's, very difficult in the prologue and the first post-timeskip. However, after the second post-timeskip, not only does she become wiser and better in her martial arts skills, but at the same time, she becomes more mature and isn't afraid to engage in combat with her opponents compared to the cowardly damsel she was for the majority of the novel.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Because Yang Guo rejected her love for him, she constantly antagonizes him throughout the series. Worse, when Yang Guo lied about the marriage between him and her, she was so enraged that the moment he slaps her across the face after insulting Xiao Long Nu in front of him during a confrontation, SHE IMMEDIATELY CHOPS OFF ONE OF HIS ARMS WITH A SWORD!
- Faux Action Girl: Despite being trained by the best martial artists in the world, she still ends up being roughed up more often than not. This does become subverted after the second post-timeskip though...
- Faux Affably Evil: She seemed to be very friendly towards Yang Guo when they met again during the first post-timeskip. However, when she doesn't get the attention she deserves, she becomes the cruel bitch she is for the majority of the novel.
- Hate at First Sight: Dislikes Yang Guo since the day they met. She actually likes him, but it turns to hate since he ignores her.
- Hate Sink: For pretty much of the series, she fits this trope. From bullying Yang Guo when they were children to eventually driving him away from home, she even went as far as continually antagonizing him over small things such as his rejection of her love and so forth, culminating in her chopping off one of his arms when he lied to the Wu brothers about their marriage. In addition, she ends up throwing several needles at her and Xiao Long Nu, causing them to be separated for 16 DAMN YEARS. This eventually becomes subverted as she finally apologizes to Yang Guo for the way she treated him. Despite this, she suffers no consequences for her actions.
- Heel Realization: Realizes how much of a bitch she has been to Yang Guo and finally apologizes to him at the end of the novel.
- Jerkass: EXTREMELY. She is this towards almost anyone (save for her family) she meets, especially towards Yang Guo. It's hard to see why others would put up with her.
- Karma Houdini: For all the atrocities she had committed towards Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu, she does not get punished for them!
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Though this could be subverted IF she was killed in the Battle of Xiang Yang along her family (except for Guo Xiang, who is the sole survivor of the attack that took the lives of her family). However, this is left ambiguous.
- The Sociopath: Is this as she not only chops off Yang Guo's arm, but at the same time, she expresses no remorse over what she did to him for much of the novel, even continuing to hurt him AFTER getting let off the hook from her mother who stops her father from trying to give her a taste of her own medicine! In addition, her high sense of pride is what makes her very insufferable compared to other characters... It wasn't until the ending of the novel does she become a much better person and realizes the errors of her actions...
- Took a Level in Kindness: Becomes less of a brat and realizes the ways of her errors during the second post-timeskip...
- Spoiled Brat: Gets spoiled by her mother her entire life. No wonder why she's such a complete monster...
- Tsundere: Type A.
Guo Xiang
Guo Jing and Huang Rong's second child and generally her sister's polar opposite. she is nicknamed "Little Eastern Heretic" after her grandfather Huang Yaoshi since much like hinm she is a free spirit that loves adventure and has little regard for conventional formalities. Bright, kind and generous by nature, she is loved and respected by the jianghu. She was kidnapped by Yang Guo when she was a baby and later developes a crush on him.- All Love Is Unrequited: Towards Yang Guo.
- Birthday Episode: Courtesy of Yang Guo.
- Distressed Damsel: Got kidnapped by the Golden Wheel Monk.
- Young Future Famous People: She becomes the founder of Emei Sect.
Guo Polu
Guo Jing and Huang Rong's third child and their only son.- We Hardly Knew Ye: Appears in one scene and never mentioned again.
Wu Brothers
Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen are Wu Santong's sons. Li Mochou caused their mother's death and their father went berserk and disappeared after that. The brothers were raised by Guo Jing and Huang Rong, who taught them martial arts. Both of them have a crush on Guo Fu and almost fought each other to the death to win her love, but the dispute is resolved by Yang Guo. They marry Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping respectively, and are said to be expecting children with their wives near the end of the novel.Yelü Yan
Yelü Yan is Yelü Qi's younger sister. She marries Wu Dunru.Wanyan Ping
Wanyan Ping is a descendant of the imperial clan of the former Jin Empire. Her parents died when the Jin Empire was conquered by the Mongols and she swears vengeance on Yelü Chucai, whom she blames for her losses. She fails to assassinate him and loses to his children in a fight. She eventually reconciles with the Yelüs and marries Wu Xiuwen.Ke Zhen'E
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Quanzhen Sect
Wang Chongyang
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Zhou Botong
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Quanzhen Elders
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Zhao Zhijing
The most senior of all Quanzhen students after the "Seven Immortals". He was Yang Guo's teacher when Yang was in Quanzhen. He dislikes the boy, does not teach him any practical martial arts, and allows his other students to bully him. Later in the novel, he collaborates with the Mongols to seize the leadership position of his sect, but his plans are foiled and he is killed by Xiaolongnü's jade bees.- Asshole Victim: Nobody cares when he is killed by Xiaolongnü's jade bees
- Hate Sink: Not only did he mistreat Yang Guo when he was younger, but at the same time, he still tries to attack him even when he is far stronger than he once was! No wonder why his death at the hands of the bees is very well-deserved...
- Jerkass: There's no redeeming quality about the guy.
Zhen Zhibing
A senior student of Quanzhen. He has a crush on Xiaolongnü and is unable to restrain himself and blindfolds and rapes Xiaolongnü when the latter was immobilised by Ouyang Feng. Xiaolongnü is unaware that Zhen was the one who raped her and she wrongly accused Yang Guo until the truth is revealed several years later. He sacrifices himself to save Xiaolongnü from death- Anti-Hero: Despite what he did to Xiaolongnu, his sense of loyalty and remorse is what differentiates him from fellow student Zhao ZiJing...
- Anti-Villain: While he may have raped Xiaolongnu, he does feel remorse for what he had done and tries to make up for it by trying to hurt himself multiple times, eventually succeeding so in the end.
- Stalker with a Crush: To Xiaolongnu.
- Redemption Equals Death: Admits his crime to Xiaolongnu then commits suicide.
Ancient Tomb Sect
Lin Chaoying
The sect's founder. She was both a rival and lover of Wang Chongyang, and equalled him in martial arts prowess.- Meaningful Name: Her givenname means follower of hero, given her relationship to Wang Chongyan.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: with Wang Chongyang.
- Woman Scorned: Since she can't marry Wang Chongyang, she tricked him into giving up the Ancient Tomb and founded the Ancient Tomb Sect to be The Rival to Wang Chongyang's Quanzhen Sect.
Li Mochou
Grandma Sun
Hong Lingbo
Mongols
Jinlun Guoshi
Aka The Golden Wheel Monk, the main antagonist of The Return of the Condor Heroes. Originally a Tibetan lama, he becomes the Imperial Advisor of the Mongol Empire and represents the Mongols in challenging the Han Chinese wulin (martial artists' community. The "Golden Wheel" in his name is a reference to his golden-coloured chakram-like weapon- Dangerous Forbidden Technique: his signature skill "Dragon and Elephant Prajna Skill". If practiced without careful consideration, it could lead to madness or even death.
- Pride: The reason why he loses to Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu. He just couldn't accept that two amateurs with little experience could defeat him.
- Protagonist-Centered Morality: He is the villain only because he serves the Mongols and opposes Yang Guo's side. His action is no more heinous than characters on Chinese side. In fact, Jin Yong later revised the novel and made him more sympathetic, even allow him to take Guo Xiang as his disciple and pass on his skills.
- Revenge: Really wants to get event with Yang Guo.
Da'erba
Möngke Khan
Kublai Khan
Nimoxing, Xiaoxiangzi, Yin Kexi and Ma Guangzuo
Passionless Valley
Gongsun Zhi
- Eye Scream: Gets blinded and flees Passionless Valley after his scorned wife returns for revenge
- Handsome Lech: Initially appears to be noble and gentlemanly, but is extremely lecherous and unfaithful, now trying to take Xiaolongnu as a second wife
- Kick the Dog: Kills Rou’er, a servant he has an affair with, to get the Love Flower antidote from his wife
Qiu Qianchi
- Disproportionate Retribution: Destroys all antidotes to the Love Flower out of spite for her husband’s affair
- Mama Bear: To her daughter whom she loves
- Woman Scorned: Wants revenge on her husband for his affair and disposal of her
Gongsun Lü'E
Lu Family
Cheng Ying
Lu Wushuang
Lu Zhanyuan and He Yuanjun
Lu Liding
Peach Blossom Island
Beggars Sect
Hong Qigong
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Lu Youjiao
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Yelü Qi
Elder Peng
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Kingdom of Dali
Guo Xiang's friends
Ghosts of Xishan
Shi Brothers
Birthday Wishers
Others
Ouyang Feng
See The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Dugu Qiubai
An undefeated swordsman who has died long before the story ever began. He is only mentioned in the tomb where he'd spent his final days. His style would later on be taught to Yang Guo by the giant eagle.- Barbarian Hero: In relation to the setting, as his surname "Dugu" is a Xianbei name, which means he was not a Han.
- Crazy-Prepared: The "Nine Swords of Dugu" is a style developed by Qiubai that has speed and adaptability at its core, and comes with nine stances for every occasion:
- General Index Stance: this is the stance for combating any martial art
- Sword-defeating Stance: has moves to counter anyone using a jian.
- Saber-defeating Stance: has moves to counter anyone using a dao.
- Spear-defeating Stance: counters polearms and staves.
- Mace-defeating Stance: a bit of a misnomer, as it doesn't just cover maces, but knives and axes too.
- Whip-defeating Stance: handles the intricacies of "soft" weapons like whips and nets.
- Palm-defeating Stance: not only counters fist-fighters, but also has tricks to get out of grapples and joint manipulations.
- Arrow-defeating Stance: has skills to not only fight against all projectiles, but to also redirect them to the shooter.
- Qi-defeating Stance: it isn't exactly clear how it's implemented, but this stance is specifically formulated to deal with opponents with strong qigong.
- Lonely at the Top: As per Jinyong tradition, his name literally means "Loner who seeks defeat" which means he has been unchallenged.
- Master Swordsman: Never once defeated in his life.
- Posthumous Character: He's long dead by the time of the first story, but his influence would be felt later on...and that's even when you consider that Yang Guo would be his first posthumous student.
- Wooden Katanas Are Even Better: He has claimed that at age 40, he's gotten to a point where he didn't even need a sword in hand anymore, and the wooden sword at his epitaph is used to represent it.
