Duan Yu

Followed Ma Wude to the swordplay competition of The Boundless Sword because he wanted to enjoy to beautiful scenery of the Boundless Mountain. Had never learnt any martial arts skills up until then. Did not want to enter into a fight with Gong Guangjie because he did not know how to do battle; he was also afraid of losing, being in pain and dying. Did not like to watch people fighting. Had a fair, refined and handsome face. Entered into a bond of life-and-death with Zhong Ling by saying 'We will share our times of prosperity and hardship, for since we have eaten melon-seeds together, we will face the sabres and swords together as well'. Ran away from home after being forced to learn martial arts by his father; he refused to learn it because he could not reconcile the violence of martial arts with Buddhist teachings of non-violence. Aged 19 at the beginning of the story (Chapter 1).

Went by the style (zi4 字) of 'Heyu' 和誉; a native of Dali. Son of Duan Zhengchun. Affectionately referred to by his mother as 'Chi'er' (Chi1 Er2 痴儿, literally, 'my infatuated son') since he was seven years old. Was not sure, on hindsight, about the exact reason for not wanting to learn martial arts; could not decide if it was because he had been totally caught up with the Book of Changes (Yi4 Jing1 易经) at that time or if he really disliked violence. Willing to die a thousand times -- or even ten thousand times -- only if the White Jade Statue that he called 'Elder Sister Goddess' would come alive and speak to him. Became so mesmerised by the statue that he decided, against his earlier convictions, that it was all right to learn martial arts and kill the people mentioned in the message inside the hassock at the foot of the statue (Chapter 2).

Determined to learn the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness and the Graceful Steps Upon the Waves as instructed by the message of the Elder Sister Goddess, but would only use the Graceful Steps for escape, so that the need to confront an enemy and absorb the latter's internal strength would not arise. Did not even dare to think about the Goddess' instruction to kill the disciples of the School of Unfettered Freedom. Glad that the shelves of the Library of the Lord of Heaven were empty because it meant that he did not need to learn any martial arts or have anyone killed (Chapter 2).

Innately intelligent; could go from receiving a handicap of four pieces (tokens) from his family accountant, Mr Huo, to giving him a handicap of three pieces within a year when he was infatuated with chess. Could be considered a highly-skilled player in Dali, but still unable to figure out the complicated game that was left behind in the stone bedroom of the Boundless Cavern. Found Zhong Wanchou pitiful because the latter probably knew that he was too ugly for his beautiful wife, and was therefore often given to bouts of baseless jealousy (Chapter 2).

Had no intention of getting married at the point when Gan Baobao gave him the details of Zhong Ling's birth (Chapter 2, 3rd edition only).

Killed a human being for the first time on the cliff where he and Mu Wanqing had retreated to; he threw rocks at some hostile men who were climbing up the cliff after them, killing two on the spot and causing a third one to fall to his death in his haste to avoid the rocks. Felt so shaken by the deaths that he wept. Would not resort to apple-polishing just so that he could escape from trouble because he found apple-polishing too despicable; however, he would do it to save someone else's life. Able to pick out semantical differences in what people say, because he had been studying the scholarly works and Buddhist scriptures since young; hence, managed to use semantics to keep Yue the Third from harming Mu Wanqing and himself (Chapter 4).

The first man to see Mu Wanqing without her veil, hence considered by her as her husband (Chapter 4).

According to Yue the Third, Duan Yu had tremendous talent for martial arts because he had long arms and legs, a protruding skull, a flexible waist and a quick-thinking mind. Considered by Mu Wanqing as a book-worm who had a good amount of courage and nothing else (Chapter 4). Shouted to Yue the Third that Mu was his wife when he went up the cliff to look for her; repeated the statement when he explained to Mu why he had been seven days late in going after her (Chapter 5, 3rd edition only).

Considered himself a member of the School of Unfettered Freedom because he had bowed before the White Jade Statue and made a promise to learn the corresponding martial arts. Taken off the cliff (where he had been left by Yue the Third) by Yu Guangbiao and Qian Guangsheng of The Boundless Sword/Cave; before being led forcefully back to their headquarters and locked up (Chapter 5).

Could handle written materials easily because doing so was part of his daily routine. Could understand written texts at the first reading, remember them after the second, and gain knowledge by the third (Chapter 5).

Had never practised any internal strength cultivation techniques; therefore, was not affected by the warnings in the scroll of the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness on the danger of inter-mingling the internal strength techniques of different schools. Could not exercise any internal strength through the energy channels in his body because he had no internal strength in the first place. Learnt at least 20-30% of the Graceful Steps Upon the Waves on the first day of practice; realised that an indescribable level of enjoyment could be found in the study of martial arts. Suffered a near-'infatuation with power' on the second day of learning the Graceful Steps, but eventually completed learning the entire set of moves before the day was up (Chapter 5).

Went from a man without any internal strength, to a man with a little internal strength after he took in some of Yu Guangbiao's energy, had it circulated through his body and finally stored in the Shan Zhong acupoint (Chapter 5).

Thought more about Mu Wanqing than the Elder Sister Goddess during his period of captivity at The Boundless Sword/Cave (3rd edition only). Worked on the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness merely because he wanted to feel less guilty about not fulfilling his promise to the Elder Sister Goddess. Hence, worked only on the circulation of energy in the Hand Taiyin Channel of the Lung and the Ren Channel, and left the other channels untouched. Could run quickly for an extended period of time without feeling tired because of the internal energy that he had absorbed from the seven disciples of The Boundless Sword/Cave (Chapter 5).

Became paralysed after being bitten by the Lightning Marten; had a large red-and-black centipede and a Poisonous Bovine Vermillion Toad crawl down his throat and into his stomach because he could not get his paralysed jaw to close. After the toad and the centipede were digested, their combined poison worked as an antidote against the poison of the Lightning Marten, thus releasing Duan from the paralysis (Chapter 5).

Did not know anything about the workings of the realm of the rivers and lakes; agreed with whatever Mu Wanqing suggested during their flight from Zhu Danchen. Son of the Sage of the Hollow Jade; resembled his mother in terms of facial features, instead of his father. Became the 'teacher' of Yue the Third after winning a bet that required him to defeat Yue in three moves (Chapter 6).

Became immune to all sorts of poison after ingesting the Poisonous Bovine Vermillion Toad; hence, was not affected by the Antiaris Toxicaria on Mu Wanqing's arrows that pierced his chest. Shocked to find out that Mu was actually his half-sister. Imprisoned by Yue the Third in the stone hut at the Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities. Wanted to kiss Mu on the lips in a moment of considerable pity after reuniting with her in the stone hut, only to realise as their lips touched that they were actually brother and sister. Ingested the Powder for the Harmonious Union of the Yin and the Yang when he unwittingly ate some food that was laced with it. Willing to die -- either in self-afflicted suicide or assisted by another person -- so that the unblemished reputation of the Duan Family was not ruined by an incident of drug-induced incest with Mu (Chapter 7).

Taken by the Emperor Baoding to the Temple of Flower Offerings at the age of seven to listen to scripture readings by the Yellow-Browed Monk; considered by the Yellow-Browed Monk as a child who had natural talent for understanding these scriptures. Had better skills than the Yellow-Browed Monk in chess (Chapter 8).

Recovered from the effects of the Powder for the Harmonious Union of the Yin and the Yang by taking some laxatives and drinking large amounts of cold water. Found it really strange that Zhong Ling had turned out to be his half-sister as well (Chapter 9).

The odour of the Poisonous Bovine Vermillion Toad in his body killed the two leeches that an imperial physician put on his arm in an attempt to draw out blood as a treatment for excess energy. Taken to the Temple of the Celestial Dragon by the Emperor Baoding in search of a 'cure' for the seemingly uncontrollable streams of energy in his body; considered by Benyin as 'not life-endangering for a number of days yet' (Chapter 10).

Learnt three of the Phenomenal Swords of the Six Channels in the following order: the Shao Shang Sword of the Thumb (by accident), the Guan Chong Sword of the Ring Finger (because it was being learnt by the Emperor Baoding), the Shao Chong Sword of the Little Finger (because Duan Yu felt that Benxiang was the most amiable of the monks), followed by the remaining three swords in an unspecified order. Took only half a day to learn all six swords. Also discovered that the internal strength within his body did not move at will all the time; it alternated between fast and slow, as well as smooth and stagnant. Reviewed all six of the swords once again because he felt bored, having nothing to do while the monks went about their training in Muni Hall. Later developed a full understanding of the execution of the Zhong Chong Sword of the Middle Finger by observing Benguan and comparing the monk's movements to the Zhong Chong scroll. Advised by Kurong to finish studying one scroll before moving on to the next (Chapter 10).

The Emperor Baoding considered Duan Yu very filial because he (Duan) was concerned about the battle that Baoding and the 'Ben' monks would probably have with Jiumozhi (Chapter 10).

Did not know any simple/basic martial arts skills, such as fist and feet techniques. Eventually abducted by Jiumozhi and taken from the Temple of the Celestial Dragon to Suzhou because his (Duan's) knowledge of the complete Phenomenal Swords of the Six Channels made him a living scroll that could be burnt as an offering to Murong Bo (Chapter 10). Refused to comply with Jiumozhi's request to write out the contents of the scrolls of the Phenomenal Swords; refused to execute the Phenomenal Swords too, until Jiumozhi started attacking A'Bi and A'Zhu with the Sabre of the Glowing Flame. Escaped from Jiumozhi by boat, with the help of A'Bi and A'Zhu (Chapter 11).

Offended Mrs Wang of the Highland Manor of Camellias; ordered by her to grow flowers in her garden or have one limb chopped off for each pot of camellia that failed to thrive. Lively and cheerful by nature; decided to treat Mrs Wang as if she was the older sister-at-arms of the White Jade Statue. Also reasoned that being a gardener was better than being burnt alive at Murong Bo's tomb; meant that he might see Wang Yuyan again. Shocked to see Wang Yuyan face-to-face, for she looked exactly like the White Jade Statue; talked about Xuanbei's death in Dali to get Wang to talk to him (Chapter 12).

Agreed wholeheartedly with Wang's view of women not looking cultured or refined if they practised martial arts, only to realise that his agreement was offensive to his mother, Mu Wanqing, Zhong Ling, A'Bi and A'Zhu. In the 2nd edition, Duan Yu thought that this view was offensive only to his mother; none of the four girls were mentioned. Gave Wang Yuyan the idea of sneaking out of her home to help Murong Fu; offered to accompany Wang on her quest. Rescued A'Bi, A'Zhu and Wang Yuyan from the Fertiliser Shed, and fled the Highland Manor of Camellias with them (Chapter 12).

Stood protectively in front of Wang Yuyan when Zhu Baokun moved to kill her (Chapter 13).