List of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber Characters - Ming Cult

Ming Cult

• The Bright Left and Right Messengers serve as the cult leader's deputies. They are:
  • Yang Xiao (traditional Chinese: 楊逍; simplified Chinese: 杨逍; Mandarin Pinyin: Yáng Xiāo; Jyutping: Joeng4 Siu1) is the Bright Left Messenger (光明左使). During the period of internal conflict in the cult, he served as its acting leader, and later became an advisor to Zhang Wuji after the latter became the cult's leader. In the earlier revisions of the novel, Zhang Wuji names him the new leader of the Ming Cult before leaving with Zhao Min. He is Ji Xiaofu's lover and Yang Buhui's father.
  • Fan Yao (traditional Chinese: 范遙; simplified Chinese: 范遥; Mandarin Pinyin: Fàn Yáo; Jyutping: Faan6 Jiu4) is the Bright Right Messenger (光明右使). He disfigured himself and disguised himself as a mute monk called Kutoutuo (traditional Chinese: 苦頭陀; simplified Chinese: 苦头陀; Mandarin Pinyin: Kǔ Tóutuó; Jyutping: Fu2 Tau4-to4). He pretends to serve the Mongols while secretly working as a spy for the Ming Cult.

• The Four Guardian Kings (四大護教法王) assist the leader in overseeing the cult's activities. They are ranked in order of seniority:
  • Daiqisi (traditional Chinese: 黛綺絲; simplified Chinese: 黛绮丝; Mandarin Pinyin: Dàiqísī; Jyutping: Doi6-ji2-si1), nicknamed "Purple Dress Dragon King" (traditional Chinese: 紫衫龍王; simplified Chinese: 紫衫龙王; Mandarin Pinyin: Zǐshān Lóngwáng; Jyutping: Zi2-saam1 Lung4-wong4), is a Persian. She broke the cult's rules when she married Han Qianye, and later moved to Divine Snake Island with her husband. She adopted a new name, Golden Flower Granny (Chinese: 金花婆婆; Mandarin Pinyin: Jīnhuā Pópó; Jyutping: Gam1-faa1 Po4-po4), to avoid being identified by the Persian Ming Cult. She is Xiaozhao's mother.
  • Yin Tianzheng (Chinese: 殷天正; Mandarin Pinyin: Yīn Tiānzhèng; Jyutping: Jan1 Tin1-zeng3), nicknamed "White Brows Eagle King" (traditional Chinese: 白眉鷹王; simplified Chinese: 白眉鹰王; Mandarin Pinyin: Báiméi Yīngwáng; Jyutping: Baak6-mei4 Jing1-wong4), is Yin Yewang and Yin Susu's father. He left the Ming Cult during its internal conflict and founded the Heavenly Eagle Cult (天鷹教). He dies from exhaustion while trying to save Xie Xun by fighting against the three Shaolin elders.
  • Xie Xun (traditional Chinese: 謝遜; simplified Chinese: 谢逊; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiè Xùn; Jyutping: Ze6 Seon3) is nicknamed "Golden Haired Lion King" (traditional Chinese: 金毛獅王; simplified Chinese: 金毛狮王; Mandarin Pinyin: Jīnmáo Shīwáng; Jyutping: Gam1-mou4 Si1-wong4). His family was murdered by his former master Cheng Kun, who disappeared after committing the atrocity. Guided by fury, he went on a rampage to kill many people and push the blame to Cheng Kun, hoping to draw the latter out of hiding. Yin Susu throws her darts at him in self-defence when he is about to attack her during a fit of insanity, and he is blinded as a consequence. He becomes the godfather of Zhang Wuji, whom he names in memory of his own deceased son, Xie Wuji. The families and associates of Xie Xun's victims forgive him after his final confrontation with Cheng Kun. He becomes a monk eventually to seek peace and redemption for his past misdeeds.
  • Wei Yixiao (traditional Chinese: 韋一笑; simplified Chinese: 韦一笑; Mandarin Pinyin: Wéi Yīxiào; Jyutping: Wai4 Jat1-siu3) is nicknamed "Green Winged Bat King" (Chinese: 青翼蝠王; Mandarin Pinyin: Qīngyì Fúwáng; Jyutping: Cing1-jik6 Fuk1-wong4). His prowess in qinggong is unmatched in the jianghu. He once accidentally infected himself with an icy venom while practising the skill 'Icy Palm'. Since then, he has to suck the warm blood of human beings (and sometimes animals) to keep the freezing poison in his body under control. Zhang Wuji later cures him by using the 'Nine Yang Divine Skill' to purge the venom from his body.

• Yang Buhui (traditional Chinese: 楊不悔; simplified Chinese: 杨不悔; Mandarin Pinyin: Yáng Bùhuǐ; Jyutping: Joeng4 Bat1-fui3) is Yang Xiao and Ji Xiaofu's daughter. Her name literally means "no regrets" to reflect her mother's love for Yang Xiao. Zhang Wuji helps her escape from Miejue after her mother's death and leads her on a long and perilous journey to bring her safely to her father. She regards Zhang Wuji as an elder brother for his care and concern towards her. The trauma of witnessing her mother's death makes her become suspicious of anyone who could be a potential enemy and this intensifies her hatred towards Miejue. This is evident in her treatment towards Xiaozhao, when she and her father suspected the latter of being a spy from the Emei Sect. It also made her extremely protective towards her father and Zhang Wuji, whom she sees as what is left of her family. She falls in love with Yin Liting, her mother's original fiancé, and marries him eventually despite the large age gap between them. They are said to be expecting a child near the end of the story.

• Zhu Yuanzhang (Chinese: 朱元璋; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhū Yuánzhāng; Jyutping: Zyu1 Jyun4-zoeng1) is an ambitious minor leader of the cult who eventually takes control of the rebel forces and leads them to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. He betrays the cult later and becomes the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

• Chang Yuchun (Chinese: 常遇春; Mandarin Pinyin: Cháng Yùchūn; Jyutping: Soeng4 Jyu6-ceon1) is a cult member who travels with Zhang Wuji to Butterfly Valley to seek treatment from Hu Qingniu.

• Xu Da (traditional Chinese: 徐達; simplified Chinese: 徐达; Mandarin Pinyin: Xú Dá; Jyutping: Ceoi4 Daat6) is a minor leader of the cult. Zhang Wuji presents him with Yue Fei's military textbook Book of Wumu. Xu studies the book and uses his knowledge to lead the rebel forces to victory in the battles against the Yuan government.

• Five Wanderers (五散人)
  • Leng Qian (traditional Chinese: 冷謙; simplified Chinese: 冷谦; Mandarin Pinyin: Lěng Qiān; Jyutping: Laang5 Him1), nicknamed "Cold Faced Gentleman" (traditional Chinese: 冷臉先生; simplified Chinese: 冷面先生; Mandarin Pinyin: Lěngmiàn Xiānshēng; Jyutping: Laang5-lim5 Sin1-sang1).
  • Shuobude (traditional Chinese: 說不得; simplified Chinese: 说不得; Mandarin Pinyin: Shuōbùdé; Jyutping: Syut3-bat1-dak1), nicknamed "Monk with the Sack" (Chinese: 布袋和尚; Mandarin Pinyin: Bùdài Héshàng; Jyutping: Bou3-doi6 Wo4-soeng6).
  • Zhang Zhong (traditional Chinese: 張中; simplified Chinese: 张中; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhāng Zhōng; Jyutping: Zoeng1 Zung1), nicknamed "Iron Crowned Taoist" (traditional Chinese: 鐵冠道人; simplified Chinese: 铁冠道人; Mandarin Pinyin: Tiěguàn Dàorén; Jyutping: Tit3-gun3 Dou3-jan4).
  • Peng Yingyu (traditional Chinese: 彭瑩玉; simplified Chinese: 彭莹玉; Mandarin Pinyin: Péng Yíngyù; Jyutping: Pang4 Jing4-juk6), nicknamed "Peng the Monk" (Chinese: 彭和尚; Mandarin Pinyin: Péng Héshàng; Jyutping: Pang4 Wo4-soeng6).
  • Zhou Dian (Chinese: 周顛; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōu Diān; Jyutping: Zau1 Din1), nicknamed "Lunatic" (traditional Chinese: 瘋子; simplified Chinese: 疯子; Mandarin Pinyin: Fēngzǐ; Jyutping: Fung1-zi2).

• Hu Qingniu (Chinese: 胡青牛; Mandarin Pinyin: Hú Qīngníu; Jyutping: Wu4 Cing1-ngau4) is a physician residing in Butterfly Valley. He is nicknamed "Jiansi Bujiu" (traditional Chinese: 見死不救; simplified Chinese: 见死不救; Mandarin Pinyin: Jiànsǐ Bùjìu; Jyutping: Gin3-sei2 Bat1-gau3; literally "to watch one die and not save him") for his odd practice of treating the cult's members free of charge but not others regardless of whatever the latter group are willing to pay. He helps Zhang Wuji slow down the effects of the poison in his wound, preserving Zhang's life and buying him time to find a cure to heal himself. He also imparts his knowledge of medicine to Zhang indirectly when the latter stays with him during the recovery period. He is killed by Golden Flower Granny for revenge because of his apparent refusal to save her husband's life years ago. However in reality, treatment for Han Qianye's wounds were beyond Hu's abilities.

• Wang Nangu (traditional Chinese: 王難姑; simplified Chinese: 王难姑; Mandarin Pinyin: Wáng Nàngū; Jyutping: Wong4 Naan4-gu1) is Hu Qingniu's wife. In contrast with her husband, she uses her mastery of toxicology to kill people. The couple become rivals in a contest, in which Wang will poison someone while Hu will try to save the person's life. She imparts her knowledge to Zhang Wuji. She is killed along with her husband by Golden Flower Granny.

• Yang Dingtian (traditional Chinese: 陽頂天; simplified Chinese: 阳顶天; Mandarin Pinyin: Yáng Dǐngtiān; Jyutping: Joeng4 Ding2-tin1) was Zhang Wuji's predecessor as the Ming Cult's leader. He was practising the Heaven and Earth Great Shift (乾坤大挪移) when he discovered his wife's illicit affair with Cheng Kun. He was infuriated and the inner energy flow in his body was disrupted. He was severely injured and died.

• Chiefs of the Five Elements factions
  • Zhuang Zheng (traditional Chinese: 莊錚; simplified Chinese: 庄铮; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhuāng Zhēng; Jyutping: Zong1 Zang1) is the chief of the Gold Banner Faction (銳金旗). He is slain by Miejue.
  • Wu Jincao (traditional Chinese: 吳勁草; simplified Chinese: 吴劲草; Mandarin Pinyin: Wú Jìncǎo; Jyutping: Ng4 Ging3-cou2) is the former deputy chief of the Gold Banner Faction. Zhang Wuji promotes him to chief after Zhuang Zheng's death and later tasks him with repairing the damaged Dragon Saber.
  • Yan Yuan (traditional Chinese: 顏坦; simplified Chinese: 颜坦; Mandarin Pinyin: Yán Tǎn; Jyutping: Ngaan4 Taan2) is the chief of the Earth Banner Faction (厚土旗).
  • Tang Yang (Chinese: 唐洋; Mandarin Pinyin: Táng Yáng; Jyutping: Tong4 Joeng4) is the chief of the Water Banner Faction (洪水旗).
  • Wen Cangsong (traditional Chinese: 聞蒼松; simplified Chinese: 闻苍松; Mandarin Pinyin: Wén Cāngsōng; Jyutping: Man4 Cong1-cung4) is the chief of the Wood Banner Faction (巨木旗).
  • Xin Ran (Chinese: 辛然; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīn Rán; Jyutping: San1 Jin4) is the chief of the Fire Banner Faction (烈火旗).