Xiaoli Feidao

The ''Xiaoli Feidao series'' is a series of five ''wuxia'' novels by Gu Long. First published between 1968 and 1981, the five novels have since been adapted into seven films and 18 television series .

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 is forged from ordinary steel and iron, unlike other fictional weapons forged from special materials. It ranks third on the ''Bīngqìpǔ'' (), a fictional book of weapons in the universe of the ''Xiaoli Feidao series''.

Novels

''Duōqíng Jiànkè Wúqíng Jiàn'' () (published in 1968)
:Lǐ Xúnhuān (), the protagonist of the first novel, becomes a famous figure in the ''jianghu'' (martial artists' community) for his skilful use of his signature weapon, the Little Li Flying Dagger. Although he is secretly in love with Lín Shīyīn (), he ultimately decides to give up on her in order to repay the kindness he had received from his sworn brother, Lóng Xiàoyún (), who is also in love with Lin Shiyin. After Lin Shiyin and Long Xiaoyun are married, Li Xunhuan feels so emotionally hurt that he retires from the ''jianghu'' to lead a reclusive life. When Li Xunhuan comes out of retirement a decade later, he encounter a swordsman, Āfēi (), and befriends him. He also meets a maiden, Sūn Xiǎohóng (), whom he eventually marries. Around the time, a mysterious "Plum Flower Bandit" has committed several robberies and rumours in the ''jianghu'' suggest that the bandit is Li Xunhuan. With Afei's help, Li Xunhuan manages to clear his name and expose the bandit's true identity. At the same time, Li Xunhuan is drawn into the complex feuds involving three key figures: his sworn brother Long Xiaoyun; Shàngguān Jīnhóng (), the evil chief of the Gold and Money Sect (); and Shangguan Jinhong's lover, Lín Xiān-ér (). Li Xunhuan ultimately defeats Shangguan Jinhong and restores peace in the ''jianghu'' before retiring once again to spend the rest of his life with Sun Xiaohong.

''Biānchéng Làngzǐ'' () (published in 1972)
:Yè Kāi (), the protagonist of the second novel, is Li Xunhuan's apprentice. He inherits his master's Little Li Flying Dagger. His best friend is Fù Hóngxuě (). The novel begins with the murders of a notable martial artist and his family. Ye Kai and Fu Hongxue set out to investigate and solve the case. During their adventures, they meet their respective romantic interests: Dīng Línglín () and Cuìnóng ().

''Jiǔyuè Yīngfēi'' () (published in 1973)
:The protagonist of the third novel is still Ye Kai, Li Xunhuan's apprentice. Ye Kai has been tasked to take care of Shàngguān Xiǎoxiān (), a daughter of Shangguan Jinhong and Lin Xian-er from the first novel. Shangguan Xiaoxian appears to be slow-witted, but since she has inherited his father's wealth and martial arts manuals, she becomes the target of many ''jianghu'' figures. When Ye Kai plans to keep Shangguan Xiaoxian hidden in a secret location, the information is mysteriously leaked out. Suspecting that there is a spy among them, Ye Kai sets a trap to lure the spy out. It turns out that the spy is Shangguan Xiaoxian, who has been pretending to be dumb. In fact, she has been planning to restore the Gold and Money Sect and succeed her father, and she intends to manipulate Ye Kai into helping her eliminate her potential rivals. The novel ends with Ye Kai defeating Shangguan Xiaoxian in a duel.

''Tiānyá Míngyuè Dāo'' () (published in 1974)
:The protagonist of the fourth novel is a middle-aged Fu Hongxue, Ye Kai's best friend in the second novel. He suffers from epilepsy and an injured right leg, and still struggles to cope with the death of his lover, Cuinong, in the second novel. Gōngzǐ Yǔ (), a wealthy and powerful martial artist, bribes the swordsman Yàn Nánfēi () to serve as his decoy and sends him to assassinate Fu Hongxue. Fu Hongxue defeats Yan Nanfei twice but spares his life. In the meantime, Gongzi Yu sends Zhuó Yùzhēn () to seduce Qiū Shuǐqīng (), the owner of the Peacock Tassel (), and become Qiu Shuiqing's mistress. Gongzi Yu later sends his followers to destroy and kill Qiu Shuiqing. Before his death, Qiu Shuiqing encounters Fu Hongxue and implores him to take care of Zhuo Yuzhen. Fu Hongxue learns the truth from Zhuo Yuzhen and goes to confront Gongzi Yu. He defeats and kills Yan Nanfei, who fights him on Gongzi Yu's behalf. When Gongzi Yu makes an offer to Fu Hongxue to replace Yan Nanfei and serve as his decoy, Fu Hongxue rejects the offer and retires from the ''jianghu''.

''Fēidāo, Yòujiàn Fēidāo'' () (published in 1981)
:The protagonist of the fifth novel is Lǐ Huài (), Li Xunhuan's grandson. Li Huai is actually an illegitimate child as his father had a secret affair with Shangguan Jinhong's daughter (Shangguan Xiaoxian's sister). He inherits his grandfather's Little Li Flying Dagger, as well as the Shangguan family's treasure left behind by his mother. While roaming the ''jianghu'', he meets Xuē Cǎiyuè (), whom he falls in love with. However, they turn out to be star-crossed lovers because Li Huai's father had killed Xue Caiyue's father in a duel many years ago. Xue Caiyue is forced to settle the family feud in a duel with Li Huai.

Adaptations

Films

Television series

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xiaoli Feidao Series

Book series introduced in 1968
Novels by Gu Long
Novel series