Lucky Characters in the World of Jin Yong
In the martial arts universe created by Jin Yong, the world of Jianghu is inherently dangerous, where life and death are unpredictable. Without proper martial arts skills for self-defense, ordinary characters can easily lose their lives at the hands of ruthless foes like Li Mo Chou or Mai Xiu Feng. However, amidst this perilous landscape, there exist characters whose luck seems almost unbelievable. Despite having inferior martial arts abilities, they not only survive their adventures but also reap significant benefits.
One exemplary character is Duan Yu. When he first left Dali, he had no knowledge of martial arts. Yet, in the Wuliang Mountain Cave, Duan Yu fortuitously acquired two supreme martial arts techniques: the Northern Ming Divine Skill and the Ling Ba Vi Bu.
Similarly, Xu Zhu initially left Shaolin Temple with weak martial arts skills. However, at Thunder Valley, he was taught over 70 years of internal energy by Wu Nhai Zi.
The novel Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber also features many characters with remarkably strange fates. The luckiest among them is undoubtedly Zhang Wu Ji. Despite a troubled childhood, he received the favor of heaven as he grew up. He acquired the Nine Yang Divine Skill, the Qiankun Dafa, and the Taiji Sword, along with the status of the Ming Cult Leader. Additionally, Zhang Wu Ji was surrounded by four beautiful women.
The second character is Guo Xiang, the founder of the Emei Sect. Despite losing both parents and being unable to find Yang Guo, Guo Xiang is the only character that Jin Yong felt guilty about and wanted to compensate. Some readers speculate that initially, Jin Yong intended for Guo Xiang and Yang Guo to end up together. However, due to opposition, he decided to have Xiao Long Nu “revived.” Later, Jin Yong compensated her by making her the founder of the Emei Sect.
The Strange Fate of the “Longevity Without Bound” Shou Nan Shan
However, Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber also introduces a particularly unique character. This individual has neither fortune nor martial arts skills, yet he lives a lifespan comparable to Zhang Sanfeng.
This person is “Longevity Without Bound,” Shou Nan Shan. After being severely injured by Xuan Ming’s Two Elders, Zhang Wu Ji fled into the deep forest with Zhao Min. There, they coincidentally encountered Shou Nan Shan. Although he is a Jianghu figure, he possesses little martial arts ability and only wishes to make a living, with a “small heart” that makes him easily manipulated by Zhao Min.
Shou Nan Shan’s martial arts skills are inferior to others; he excels only in smooth talking and cooking. When Zhao Min “threatened” him, he readily obeyed. Zhao Min sternly said: “You must live your life in the south. If you see ice and snow, you will die immediately. You should go south, where it is warmer. If you catch a cold or cough, it could be very dangerous.”
In reality, Zhao Min advised him to go south to prevent him from heading north, where he might join his companions to pursue the two. Consequently, Shou Nan Shan believed her words and bid farewell to them, heading south immediately after leaving the temple. Indeed, he lived in Ling Nan (the southern region of Wu Ling, which includes Guangdong and Guangxi, China), carefully maintaining his health and refraining from exposing himself to cold. He didn’t pass away until the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty. Although he was not truly “Longevity Without Bound,” he enjoyed a long life nonetheless.
When Zhang Wu Ji was born, Zhang Sanfeng was already about 90 years old. Thus, when Zhang Wu Ji turned 20, Zhang Sanfeng was approximately 110 years old. Historical records indicate that Zhang Sanfeng was born in 1247. Therefore, the encounter between Shou Nan Shan and Zhang Wu Ji occurred around 1357. “Yongle” refers to the era of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, who reigned from 1402 to 1424. Shou Nan Shan passed away during the Yongle era, estimated to be in 1413, which is 56 years after meeting Zhang Wu Ji.
According to the story, Zhao Min suggested he was suited to be a steward, and Shou Nan Shan was no longer young, at least over 50 years of age. Thus, it can be inferred that Shou Nan Shan lived to be at least over a hundred years old. In Jin Yong’s stories, Zhang Sanfeng is not a deity and does not possess the ability to live for several hundred years. Therefore, the lifespan of Shou Nan Shan indeed rivals that of Zhang Sanfeng.
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