Miao Renfeng

Miao Renfeng (苗人鳳) is a fictional character in two of Jinyong's "wuxia" novels, "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" and "Other Tales of the Flying Fox".

Descriptions

Known as "The Peerless Combatant" (打遍天下無敵手), Miao is described as a martial artist with supreme confidence and skills, yet earthly and unassuming. His other nickname, "The Golden-Faced Buddha" (金面佛), refers to his complexion as well as his kind-heartedness.

Character

In "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain"

Ostensibly, Miao only plays a supporting role in the novel, not appearing until the later half of the story; however, his story emerged via a narrative among a group of martial artists gathering in Manchuria, before a confrontation with Hu Fei (胡斐), the novel's main protagonist. It was revealed that Miao forged a remarkable friendship with Hu Yidao (胡一刀), Hu Fei's father, despite a family history of vengeance between the pair. Hu Yidao and Miao Renfeng engaged in a combat over three days for family honours; although they had no intention of mortally wounding each other, treacherous third parties (headed by Tian Guinong 田歸農), serving their own vested interests, moved to ensure Miao's death by coating Hu Yidao's weapons with poison. However the weapons were somehow switched, and it was Miao Renfeng who ended up (inadvertently) killing Hu Yidao.

Miao promised Hu that he would look after Hu Fei as if he were his own; however amidst the chaotic aftermath of the battle, Hu Fei was lost. Disappointed that he failed to keep to his words, Miao Renfeng vowed to find Hu Fei. The two actually encounter each other in "Other Tales of the Flying Fox", the prequel to this novel, but Miao was temporarily blinded by his enemies and failed to recognize a grown-up Hu Fei.

By the time Miao Renfeng appeared in the novel, Hu Fei is a fully-fledged, matured martial artist, seeking the truth of his father's death. The two engage in combat at the Snowy Mountain at Manchuria; however the outcome of the fight is left unresolved in the novel's famous climactic ending. Despite the family vengeance, Hu Fei had a dual-dilemma: on the one hand he was in mortal combat with a devoted father, who believed (incorrectly) that the younger man had violated his daughter; on the other hand, he was touched by Miao's chivalrous demeanor; and he had romantic interests with Miao's daughter, Miao Ruolan (苗若蘭). Adding to all these, geographical disturbances meant the site would soon crumble down a deep valley----unless one man was killed and the weight relieved off the rock.

In "Other Tales of the Flying Fox"'

Miao Renfeng has a brief appearance in the prequel to "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain", where he encountered a younger Hu Fei in the initial stages of his martial arts adventure. Miao was set upon by enemies and was blinded by their poison. He displayed remarkable calmness despite this sudden disability, and showed understanding with Hu Fei (whom he barely met) in beating off his enemies.

Hu Fei, despite realising Miao's identity as his father's killer, sought the help of the King of Poison Cheng Lingsu (程靈素) to help restore the heroic Miao's sight.