The Thrush

Dramatis Personae

by Athena

Title Character

• Chu LiuXiang: he is charming, witty, intelligent. Has superb martial arts, he is perceptive and no girl can resist his charming smile. In this novel he will be looking for Su RongRong, Li HongXiu, Song TianEr and Hei ZhenZhu. In the second half he will be investigating the Divine Water Palace.

Other Characters (in alphabetical order)

• Dai DuXing: he is an elder of the Beggars Association. He is the younger martial arts brother of Ren Ci's teacher, Zhu Ming. He is very grateful for what Chu LiuXiang did for the Beggars Association (foiling, exposing NanGong Ling's plans), and wants to repay Chu for rescuing their reputation. He has superior martial arts and his art of levitation is even better even Chu is impressed by his art of levitation. He is a funny, righteous old man.
• Gong NanYan: she is the disciple of Yin Ji. She is a beautiful young woman with a cold character. Her relationship with her teacher Yin Ji exceeds the normal teacher-disciple boundaries.
• Hei ZhenZhu: she is a pretty young girl and she is the daughter of the king of desert Zha MuHe. She is in love with Chu LiuXiang.
• Hong NiangZi: he was an infamous rapist more than 20 years ago. It was said he was so incredibly handsome that he looked like a fair maiden. He had good martial arts but was even more famous for his excellent skill in disguise. 20 years ago he was killed by the Matriarch of Water.
• Hu TieHua: a close friend of Chu LiuXiang. He's willing to put down his own life for friends, he loves wine and women. He's really a funny man with good martial arts.
• Huang LuZhi: aka "The Gentleman's Sword," he is an old friend of Li GuanYu and a renowned swordsman. He is a very honest man. When an opponent asks him what stances will he later use in the fight he will explain to his adversary and during the fight he will not change techniques causing him victory sometimes. But because he himself is so benevolent, none of his opponents killed him after they won.
• Li GuanYu: he is the father of Li YuHan. He was proclaimed to be the best swordsman of his time 30 years ago. He was also the keeper of the Emerald Green Manor. More than 20 years ago he held a grand assembly in the Su province. He invited all the famous swordsmen of his time to sample tea and discuss martial arts. He impressed all the other swordsmen with his 81 blizzard sword techniques. Everyone present proclaimed he was the best swordsman at that time. Unfortunately, he suffered from a stroke some years ago and has become paralyzed. However, he is still greatly respected and has many martial arts experts as close friends who are willing to do anything for him. Even now people say that the famous Xue Yi Ren was no match for the Li GuanYu before his paralysis.
• Li HongXiu: also one of the 3 maids of Chu LiuXiang. She is pretty, talkative and has profound knowledge on the history and current affairs in the realm of martial arts.
• Li YuHan: he is a young man with good martial arts. His father is the famous swordsman, Li GuanYu. He is the new keeper of Emerald Green Manor. His wife is Liu WuMei. He and his wife are a bit mysterious.
• Ling FeiGe: he is the brother-in-law of Li GuanYu and old friend of him. He is also a renowned swordsman and a respected WuLin senior.
• Liu WuMei: she is a beautiful woman with good martial arts, she is married to Li YuHan. She has a strange background.
• Qu WuRong: she is the disciple of the Stone Avalokitesvara. After the incident in the desert she and Yi DianHong fell in love and she has also changed a lot. She is no longer the indifferent young girl as she was before. She has found a man who loves her in spite of her mutilated face.
• Reverend TieShan: he is a Taoist priest of the WuDang School. He is an old friend of Li GuanYu too and a famous swordsman. He is the younger martial arts brother of the WuDang leader. He is the etiquette enforcing elder of the WuDang school (he makes sure the WuDang disciples follow the rules set by the martial arts realm and WuDang).
• Shuai YiFan: aka "The Star Plucking Scholar," another old friend of Li GuanYu. He is an excellent swordsman, but retired from WuLin a long time ago.
• Song TianEr: one of the 3 maids of Chu, she often speaks Cantonese and is well-versed in the art of "secretive weaponry."
• Su RongRong: one of the 3 maids of Chu LiuXiang. She's pretty, considerate and gentle. She is also well-versed in the skill of disguise, she possesses profound knowledge on the art of poison. But most important she has a special place in Chu's heart.
• Xiao Shi: aka the "Jade Sword, "he is an old friend of Li GuanYu. He is the leader of the YuJian (Jade sword) School. He has superb swordsmanship and is a very respected WuLin senior.
• Yi DianHong: he is a friend of Chu LiuXiang. After he met his new wife Qu WuRong he gave up his killing profession. He has turned a new leaf, he is not the cold-blooded killer as before.
• Yin Ji: aka the Matriarch of Water. She is the keeper/guardian of the Divine Water Palace. She has excellent martial arts but no one really knows how powerful she is. It is said that she detests all men in the world.