Main characters
* Di Yun () is the protagonist of the novel. He is framed for larceny and wrongly imprisoned. He learns the "Divine Light Skill" () 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 () 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 () 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 () is Shui Dai's daughter. She is taken hostage by Grandmaster Xuedao and brought toWan Zhenshan's associates
* Wan Gui () 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 () ** Zhou Yin () is killed by Di Yun. ** Sun Jun () ** Bu Yuan () ** Wu Kan () is killed by Wan Zhenshan. ** Feng Tan () ** Shen Cheng ()Blood Sabre School
* Grandmaster Xuedao () is the leader of the Blood Sabre School (). 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 () 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 () and Shengdi () 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" () 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 () 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 () 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 () is killed by Hua Tiegan unintentionally during a duel with Xuedao. His corpse is later eaten by Hua. * Shui Dai () 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 () 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" () 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 () is Shui Sheng's cousin and one of the "Twin Sword Heroes" (). He attempts to save Shui Sheng from Grandmaster Xuedao but fails. He becomes insane after coming in contact with the cursed jewels. * Ling Tuisi () 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 () 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 () 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 () is a bandit chief from theSee also
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