Shi Potian (石破天; Shí Pòtiān) is the protagonist of the novel who is often mistaken for Shi Zhongyu due to the similarity in appearance between them. Other names he has used include Gouzazhong (狗雜種; Góuzázhǒng; 'mongrel'; a colloquialism for "bastard"), "Great Dumpling" (大粽子; Dàzòngzǐ) and "Shi Yidao" (史憶刀; Shǐ Yìdāo).
Xuansu Manor (玄素莊)
Shi Zhongyu (石中玉; Shí Zhōngyù)
Shi Qing (石清; Shí Qīng)
Min Rou (閔柔; Mǐn Róu)
Snowy Mountain School (雪山派)
Second generation members
Bai Zizai (白自在; Bái Zìzài) is the leader of the Snowy Mountain School. He suffers from depression after his wife left him. He becomes extremely proud and arrogant,[1] and constantly believes that his martial arts are the best until he is defeated by Shi Potian. He attends the Laba Feast on Heroes' Island with the intention of upholding the reputation of his school.
Cheng Zixue (成自學; Chéng Zìxué)
Qi Zimian (齊自勉; Qí Zìmiǎn)
Liao Zili (廖自勵; Liào Zìlì)
Liang Zijin (梁子進; Liáng Zǐjìn)
Third generation members
Feng Wanli (封萬里; Fēng Wànlǐ) is the eldest apprentice of Bai Zizai and the master of Shi Zhongyu.
Bai Wanjian (白萬劍; Bái Wànjiàn) is Bai Zizai and Shi Xiaocui's son. He is Bai Axiu's father.
Geng Wanzhong (耿萬鍾; Gěng Wànzhōng)
Wang Wanren (王萬仞; Wáng Wànrèn)
Ke Wanjun (柯萬鈞; Kē Wànjūn)
Huyan Wanshan (呼延萬善; Hūyán Wànshàn)
Bao Wanye (包萬葉; Bāo Wànyè)
Wang Wanyi (汪萬翼; Wāng Wànyì)
Hua Wanzi (花萬紫; Huā Wànzǐ) is the youngest apprentice of Bai Zizai.
Golden Crow School (金烏派)
Shi Xiaocui (史小翠; Shí Xiǎocuì), also called Granny Shi (史婆婆; Shǐ Pópó), is Bai Zizai's wife and Bai Wanjian's mother. She becomes Shi Potian's martial arts master. Earlier on, she left the Snowy Mountain School after a disagreement with her husband and founded the Golden Crow School.
Bai Axiu (白阿繡; Bái Āxìu) is Bai Wanjian's daughter. She attempts suicide by jumping down a cliff after being allegedly raped by Shi Zhongyu, but is later saved by Shi Xiaocui. She meets Shi Potian by chance and falls in love with him.
Changle Gang (長樂幫)
Situ Heng (司徒橫; Sītú Héng) is the former leader of the gang and Shi Zhongyu's predecessor. He leaves the gang after refusing to accept the expected invitation from Heroes' Island and engaging in an argument with Shi Zhongyu.[2]
Bei Haishi (貝海石; Bèi Hǎishí) is the deputy leader of the gang. He makes Shi Zhongyu join the gang and become its puppet leader. He is the mastermind behind the mix-up between Shi Potian and Shi Zhongyu; he made marks on Shi Potian to make him replace Shi Zhongyu as the leader of the Changle Gang in an attempt to escape from being its leader and receive the invitation from Heroes' Island.
Chen Chongzhi (陳沖之; Chén Chōngzhī)
Mi Hengye (米橫野; Mǐ Héngyě)
Zhan Fei (展飛; Zhǎn Fēi)
Shijian (侍劍; Shìjiàn) is Shi Zhongyu's servant.
Ding family and associates
Ding Dang (丁璫; Dīng Dāng) is Shi Zhongyu's lover.
Ding Busan (丁不三; Dīng Bùsān) is Ding Dang's grandfather.
Ding Busi (丁不四; Dīng Bùsì) is Ding Busan's younger brother.
Mei Wenxin (梅文馨; Méi Wénxīn)
Mei Fanggu (梅芳姑; Méi Fānggū) is the illegitimate daughter of Ding Busi and Mei Wenxin. She is the stepmother of Shi Potian and treats him badly, but her true identity is not revealed until the end of the novel.
Heroes' Island (俠客島)
Zhang San (張三; Zhāng Sān) and Li Si (李四; Lǐ Sì) are the sworn brothers of Shi Potian. They are the apprentices of the lords of Heroes' Island. They are feared for their ruthlessness throughout the jianghu. They meet Shi Potian by chance and forge a friendship with him.
Island Lord Long (龍島主; Lóng Dáozhǔ) and Island Lord Mu (木島主; Mù Dáozhǔ) are the lords of Heroes' Island and masters of Zhang San and Li Si. They die soon upon finding out the truth behind the carvings on the caves on the island from Shi Potian.
Four major school leaders of Guandong
Fan Yifei (范一飛; Fàn Yīfēi)
Gao Sanniangzi (高三娘子; Gāo Sānniángzǐ)
Lü Zhengping (呂正平; Lǚ Zhèngpíng)
Feng Liang (風良; Fēng Liáng)
Shangqing Monastery (上清觀)
Tianxu (天虛; Tiānxū)
Chongxu (沖虛; Chōngxū) is the ill-tempered junior of Tianxu. He engages Shi Potian in a duel after Shi unintentionally insulted him.
Lingxu (靈虛; Língxū)
Zhaoxu (照虛; Zhàoxū)
Tongxu (通虛; Tōngxū)
Miscellaneous characters
Xie Yanke (謝煙客; Xiè Yānkè) is a martial artist living on Sky-scraping Cliff. He is the owner of the Black Iron Tablets. He holds the young Gouzazhong captive, takes him to the cliff and teaches him qi-cultivation techniques in the wrong order in an attempt to kill him, but fails.
Wu Daotong (吳道通; Wú Dàotōng)
Elder Dabei (大悲老人; Dàbēi Lǎorén) is the lord of the White Whale Island. He is killed by members of the Changle Gang, but manages to pass 18 wooden dolls to Shi Potian before his death.[3]
Cheng Dayang (成大洋; Chéng Dàyáng) is the leader of the Flying Fish Gang. He is killed by Zhang San and Li Si after refusing to join the Laba Feast on Heroes' Island.[4]
An Fengtian (安奉田; Ān Fèngtián), Feng Zhenwu (馮振武; Féng Zhènwǔ) and Taoist Yuancheng (元澄道人; Yuánchéng Dàorén) are the chiefs of the Golden Saber Stronghold.
Zhou Mu (周牧; Zhōu Mù) is a subordinate of An Fengtian who is responsible for the murder of Wu Daotong.