Read and Download Chinese martial arts Novels: Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils 天龍八部
The plot is made up of separate yet intertwining story lines revolving around three protagonists – Qiao Feng, Duan Yu and Xuzhu – who become sworn brothers in chapter 41. The complex narrative switches from the initial perspective of Duan Yu to those of the other main characters and back.
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
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Synopsis:
The plot is made up of
separate yet intertwining story lines revolving around three protagonists –
Qiao Feng, Duan Yu and Xuzhu – who become sworn brothers in chapter 41. The
complex narrative switches from the initial perspective of Duan Yu to those of
the other main characters and back.
Duan Yu's story
Duan Yu is a young and naïve
prince of the Dali Kingdom. His reverence for Buddhist teachings and disdain
for bloodshed prompt him to defy his family's tradition of practising martial
arts. He runs away from home when his father, Duan Zhengchun, tries to force
him to learn martial arts. For the sake of survival, he ends up mastering three
powerful skills and becomes a formidable martial artist. In addition, he
acquires immunity to poison after accidentally consuming the Zhuha, a venomous
toad.
During his adventures, he
encounters five young maidens – Zhong Ling, Mu Wanqing, Wang Yuyan, Azhu and
Azi – and becomes romantically involved with the first three. However, at
different points in the novel, each of them is revealed to be actually his
half-sister due to Duan Zhengchun's secret affairs with other women in the
past. Of these maidens, he is extremely obsessed with Wang Yuyan, who resembles
a statue of a fairy-like lady he chanced upon before. He relentlessly tries to
win her heart but she does not reciprocate because she has a crush on her
cousin, Murong Fu.
Towards the end of the novel,
in a tragic twist of events, Duan Yu finds out that he is actually not Duan
Zhengchun's biological son. And this allowed him to marry all three love he had
(the opinions that time allowed marriage with cousins) . In the original
ending, his love life ends on a happy note when Wang finally realises that he
truly loves her and decides to marry him. But after it was published, the book
received disfavor from large number of readers, as this left Mu Wanqing, one of
the most striking character a minor position in the whole story. In the latest
revision of the novel, Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan's romance is marred by a series
of incidents which eventually cause them to be separated and Duan Yu ends up
with Mu Wan Qing and Zhong Ling.
Qiao Feng's story
Qiao Feng is the charismatic
chief of the Beggars' Sect who possesses strong leadership qualities and
exceptional prowess in martial arts. He falls from grace after he is revealed
to be a Khitan, and after he is wrongly accused of murdering some fellow
martial artists. He becomes an outcast of the wulin (martial artists'
community) of the Han Chinese-dominated Song Empire, which is at war with the
Khitan-led Liao Empire. Qiao Feng's relations with the Han Chinese martial
artists worsen due to the Song–Liao conflict, and also because he is now seen
as a murderer and a threat to the wulin. He is forced to sever ties with them
and engage them in a one-against-several battle, in which he single-handedly
kills many opponents, including some of his old friends and acquaintances.
Qiao Feng leaves to verify the
claims that he is a Khitan and investigate the murders. He is accompanied by
Azhu, who loves him and stands by him when the wulin turns against him. After a
long journey in disguise, he concludes that he is indeed a Khitan and assumes
his ancestral name "Xiao Feng". In tracking down a mysterious
"Leading Big Brother", whom he believes is responsible for the
murders and his parents' deaths, he mistakenly thinks that Duan Zhengchun is
the "Leading Big Brother", and challenges him to a one-on-one fight.
However, the event turns into a tragedy when Azhu disguises herself as Duan
Zhengchun and allows Xiao Feng to kill her. It is too late when Xiao Feng
realises his mistake. Before dying, Azhu tells Xiao Feng that Duan Zhengchun is
actually her father, and she hopes that her sacrifice would satisfy his thirst
for vengeance.
Regretful, Xiao Feng leaves
Song territory with Azi, Azhu's younger sister, whom he had promised to take
care of. Azi has a strong crush on him but he does not reciprocate due to his undying
love for her sister. They wander far into northeastern China and settle down
among the Jurchen tribes. By chance, Xiao Feng encounters the Liao emperor,
Yelü Hongji, becomes sworn brothers with him, and helps him suppress a
rebellion. In return, Yelü Hongji makes Xiao Feng a powerful noble and gives
him a large princely estate. Xiao Feng returns to the Song Empire later to
attend a wulin gathering at Shaolin Monastery, where he combines forces with
Duan Yu and Xuzhu to overcome their foes. At Shaolin, the truths behind all the
murders are revealed and the guilty parties receive their just deserts; Xiao
Feng also successfully proves his innocence and reconciles with the wulin
before returning to Liao.
Towards the end of the novel,
Yelü Hongji plans to invade the Song Empire and wants Xiao Feng to support him,
but Xiao refuses and attempts to dissuade him to prevent bloodshed. The Liao
emperor imprisons Xiao Feng and decides to proceed with the campaign. In the
meantime, Azi escapes from Liao and seeks help from Duan Yu, Xuzhu and their
allies. Impressed by Xiao Feng's righteousness, they manage to rally martial
artists from throughout the wulin to join them in rescuing Xiao Feng. Even
though the mission is successful, they are ultimately outnumbered and trapped
by Liao forces at Yanmen Pass. Xiao Feng takes Yelü Hongji hostage and forces
him to promise that there will be no war between Song and Liao for as long as
he lives. He then commits suicide while Azi follows suit.
Xuzhu's story
Xuzhu is a monk from the
Shaolin Sect who is described to have a kind-hearted and submissive
personality. He strongly believes in following the Buddhist code of conduct and
refuses to break it even when he faces life-threatening situations. He follows
his elders to a meeting, which marks the start of his adventures. By
coincidence and sheer luck, he breaks a Go formation and inherits the powers of
Wuyazi, the leader of the Carefree Sect. Later, he encounters Tianshan Tonglao,
learns martial arts from her, and eventually succeeds her as the ruler of
Lingjiu Palace, which commands allegiance from several smaller martial arts
sects.
Feeling overwhelmed by the
sudden influx of heavy responsibilities and a major leap in martial prowess,
Xuzhu desires to detach himself from these duties and return to his former
monastic life. However, he is unable to wrench himself free from the various
tribulations and dangers that lie ahead. He is no longer regarded as a Shaolin
monk and has no choice but to accept his fate. He also has a pitiful parentage:
he is actually the illegitimate son of Xuanci, the abbot of Shaolin, and Ye
Erniang, one of the "Four Evils". His reunion with his parents is
fated to be the first and also the last. Later, by chance again, he becomes the
prince consort of Western Xia due to his previous affair with Princess
Yinchuan, to whom he is deeply in love and happily married.
| Author | Chin Yung/Jin Yong |
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| Finished | Ya |
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Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Part 1
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Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Part 2
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Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Part 3
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Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Part 4(End)
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