Xiaoli Feidao
The Xiaoli Feidao series is a wuxia novel series by Gu Long.
Weapon
The Little Li Flying Dagger is the weapon of Li Xunhuan, Ye Kai, Ding Lingzhong and Li Huai.The blade of the dagger is three cun and seven fen long. It was forged from ordinary steel and iron unlike other fictional weapons that were forged from special types of materials. It ranks third on the Bingqipu, a fictional book of weapons.
Novels
Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian
Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian is the first novel in the series, first published in 1968. It details the adventures of Li Xunhuan and his friend Afei.Li Xunhuan rises to prominence as a martial artist in the jianghu for the expert use of his signature weapon, the Little Li Flying Dagger. He is in love with Lin Shiyin but decides to give up on her to repay his sworn brother Long Xiaoyun's kindness towards him. Long Xiaoyun marries Lin Shiyin eventually. Li Xunhuan feels emotionally hurt and decides to retire from the jianghu.
When Li Xunhuan comes out of his reclusive life ten years later, he meets Afei and befriends him. Both of them are drawn into the mysterious Case of the Plum Flower Bandit and Li Xunhuan is wrongly accused of being the bandit. He clears his name eventually. Meanwhile, he is also drawn into the complex feuds between Lin Xian'er, Shangguan Jinhong and Long Xiaoyun. He defeats and kills Shangguan Jinhong. He marries Sun Xiaohong and retires from the jianghu again to lead a new life with her far away from society.
Biancheng Langzi
Biancheng Langzi is the sequel to the first novel and the first part of the Biancheng Langzi Trilogy. It was first published in 1972. The novel begins with the murder of Bai Tianyu and his family. Ye Kai and Fu Hongxue set forth to solve the mysterious case and embarks on their adventures.Jiuyue Yingfei
Jiuyue Yingfei is the second part of the Biancheng Langzi Trilogy and the third instalment of the Xiaoli Feidao Series. It is often regarded as a prequel to Biancheng Langzi although it was published in 1973, a year later than the former.Tianya Mingyue Dao
Tianya Mingyue Dao is the third part of the Biancheng Langzi Trilogy and the fourth instalment of the Xiaoli Feidao Series. It was first published in 1974. It details the adventures of Fu Hongxue after the events of the previous books, while he accompanies Yan Nanfei to defeat Gongzi Yu, one of the most powerful fighters in the jianghu.Feidao Youjian Feidao
Feidao Youjian Feidao is the fifth and last instalment in the Xiaoli Feidao Series. It was first published in 1981. The novel focuses on the adventures of Li Xunhuan's grandson, Li Huai. Li Huai inherits his grandfather's Little Li Flying Dagger technique and roams the jianghu as a wandering martial artist to help the poor and uphold justice.Characters
Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian
- Li Xunhuan is the protagonist of the novel. He was born in a family of scholars and earned the position of tanhua in the imperial examination. He served as a government official in his early days but retired later and roamed the jianghu as a wandering martial artist. He is famous for the use of his signature weapon, the Little Li Flying Dagger.
- Sun Xiaohong is Li Xunhuan's future wife. She met Li Xunhuan and followed him on his adventures before marrying him.
- Afei is a martial artist nicknamed "Flying Swordsman" for his excellent swordplay skills. He befriends Li Xunhuan and follows him on his adventures.
- Long Xiaoyun is Li Xunhuan's sworn brother.
- Lin Shiyin is Li Xunhuan's first love interest and original fiancée. She marries Long Xiaoyun.
- Shangguan Jinhong is the evil chief of the Gold and Money Sect. He is slain by Li Xunhuan.
- Lin Xian'er is Shangguan Jinhong's lover.
- Jing Wuming
- Guo Songyang
- Lü Fengxian
- Yi Ku
Biancheng Langzi
- Ye Kai is the protagonist of the novel. He is Li Xunhuan's apprentice and he inherits his master's 'Little Li Flying Dagger' technique.
- Ding Linglin is Ye Kai's love interest.
- Fu Hongxue is a member of the Demon Sect. He is Ye Kai's best friend and follows him on his adventures.
- Cuinong is Fu Hongxue's love interest. She dies trying to save Fu's life and her death causes Fu to become emotionally disturbed.
- Lu Xiaojia
- Ding Lingzhong
- Ma Fangling
- Shen Sanniang
- Ma Kongqun
- Xiao Bieli
Jiuyue Yingfei
- Ye Kai is the protagonist of the novel. He is Li Xunhuan's apprentice and he inherits his master's 'Little Li Flying Dagger' technique.
- Ding Linglin is Ye Kai's love interest.
- Shangguan Xiaoxian is the chief of the Gold and Money Sect. She is Shangguan Jinhong and Lin Xian'er's daughter.
- Guo Ding is a martial artist nicknamed "Guo Ding of Songyang". His weapon, the Songyang Iron Sword, ranks fourth on the Bingqipu. He is Guo Songyang's cousin.
- Cui Yuzhen
Tianya Mingyue Dao
- Fu Hongxue is the protagonist of the novel. He is from the Demonic Cult and is Ye Kai's best friend. He suffers from epilepsy and has a disabled right leg. He appears cold and unfeeling but is still nonetheless a powerful exponent in the use of the saber. He is emotionally disturbed by the loss of his love interest Cuinong in an earlier novel.
- Zhuo Yuzhen
- Yan Nanfei is given one year to live after losing a duel against Fu Hongxue, but ends up befriending him and accompanies him to fight Gongzi Yu, the most powerful fighter in the jianghu.
- Gongzi Yu is the heir to Shen Lang. He is considered the most powerful martial artist alive and wants to rule the jianghu. He controls a powerful force of experts and seemingly wishes to kill both Fu Hongxue and Yan Nanfei, who are the only ones capable of threatening his ambition.
- Zhou Ting is a prostitute who takes care of Fu Hongxue when he was injured.
- Mrs. Zhuo
- Ni Hui
Feidao Youjian Feidao
- Li Huai is the protagonist of the novel. He is Li Manqing's illegitimate son and a grandson of Li Xunhuan. He inherits his grandfather's famous 'Little Li Flying Dagger' technique and becomes a powerful martial artist. He also uncovers the treasure left behind by his deceased mother and uses his wealth to help the poor and uphold justice with his skills.
- Xue Caiyue is Li Huai's love interest. Her father Xue Qingbi was killed by Li Manqing in a duel. Although she loves Li Huai, the feud between their fathers cause their relationship to become strained. She is forced to settle the feud in a final duel with him.
- Fang Keke is Li Huai's second love interest. Li changes her life from that of a beggar to a rich girl and she feels indebted to him. She is spoiled, arrogant and rude.
- Li Manqing is Li Xunhuan's son and Li Huai's father. He is famous in the jianghu for putting his 'Little Li Flying Dagger' technique to good use. He is also an influential aristocrat.
Adaptations
- The Sentimental Swordsman is a 1977 Hong Kong film adapted from Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian. It was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chor Yuen. Ti Lung and Derek Yee starred as Li Xunhuan and A'fei respectively.
- The Romantic Swordsman is a 1978 Hong Kong television series adapted from Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian. The theme song Siu Lei Fei Dou for the series was composed by Joseph Koo and performed by Roman Tam. Paul Chu and Wong Yuen-sun starred as Li Xunhuan and A'fei respectively.
- The Romantic Swordsman is a 1995 Hong Kong remake of the 1978 television series. Eddie Kwan and Chin Kar-lok starred as Li Xunhuan and A'fei respectively.
- Legend of Dagger Li is a 1999 Taiwanese television series adapted from Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian. It starred Vincent Chiao as Li Xunhuan, Wu Jin as A'fei, Alyssia Chia as Sun Xiaohong and Stephanie Hsiao as Lin Shiyin. This series re-used the original theme song in the 1978 television series, though re-mastered. The ending theme for the series was performed by Peter Ho.
- Flying Daggers is a 2003 Taiwanese television series adapted from Feidao Youjian Feidao, starring Julian Cheung, Ruby Lin and Dong Jie as Li Huai, Xue Caiyue and Fang Keke respectively.
- Xiaoli Feidao is a 2008 Chinese television series adapted from Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian. Huang Ziteng starred as Li Xunhuan.
- The Magic Blade is a 2012 Chinese television series adapted from Tian Ya Ming Yue Dao. starring Wallace Chung as Fu Hong Xue, Lemon Zhang as Zhou Ting and Baron Chen as Ye Kai.
- Bordertown Prodigal is a 2016 Chinese television series adapted from Biancheng Langzi, starring Zhu Yilong as Fu Hong Xue, Viann Zhang as Ma Fangling and Zhang Jun Ning as Lu Xiaojia.
- The Legend of Flying Daggers is a 2017 Chinese television series adapted from Feidao Youjian Feidao, starring Hawick Lau and Yang Rong as Li Huai.