Xiaoli Feidao Explained

The Xiaoli Feidao series is a series of five wuxia novels by Gu Long. First published between 1968 and 1981, the five novels have since been adapted into seven films and 18 television series .

Weapon

The Little Li Flying Dagger is the weapon of Li Xunhuan, Ye Kai, Ding Lingzhong and Li Huai.

The blade of the dagger is three cun and seven fen long (13.7cm). It is forged from ordinary steel and iron, unlike other fictional weapons forged from special materials. It ranks third in the Book of Weapons .

Novels

Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian (published in 1968)

Li Xunhuan, the protagonist of the first novel, becomes a famous figure in the jianghu (martial artists' community) for his skillful use of his signature weapon, the Little Li Flying Dagger. Although he is secretly in love with Lin Shiyin, he ultimately decides to give up on her in order to repay the kindness he had received from his sworn brother, Long Xiaoyun, who is also in love with Lin Shiyin. After Lin Shiyin and Long Xiaoyun are married, Li Xunhuan feels so emotionally hurt that he retires from the jianghu to lead a reclusive life. When Li Xunhuan comes out of retirement a decade later, he encounter a swordsman, Afei, and befriends him. He also meets a maiden, Sun Xiaohong, whom he eventually marries. Around the time, a mysterious "Plum Flower Bandit" has committed several robberies and rumours in the jianghu suggest that the bandit is Li Xunhuan. With Afei's help, Li Xunhuan manages to clear his name and expose the bandit's true identity. At the same time, Li Xunhuan is drawn into the complex feuds involving three key figures: his sworn brother Long Xiaoyun; Shangguan Jinhong, the evil chief of the Gold and Money Gang ; and Shangguan Jinhong's lover, Lin Xian'er . Li Xunhuan ultimately defeats Shangguan Jinhong and restores peace in the jianghu before retiring once again to spend the rest of his life with Sun Xiaohong.

Biancheng Langzi (published in 1972)

Ye Kai, the protagonist of the second novel, is Li Xunhuan's apprentice who has inherited his master's weapon and skills. The novel begins with the murders of a notable martial artist and his family. Ye Kai and his best friend, Fu Hongxue, set out to investigate and solve the case. During their adventures, they meet their respective romantic interests: Ding Linglin and Cuinong .

Jiuyue Yingfei (published in 1973)

The protagonist of the third novel is Ye Kai, Li Xunhuan's apprentice. Ye Kai has been tasked to take care of Shangguan Xiaoxian, the daughter of Shangguan Jinhong and Lin Xian'er from the first novel. Although Shangguan Xiaoxian appears slow-witted, she is a key target of many jianghu figures seeking power because she has inherited her father's wealth and martial arts manuals. When Ye Kai plans to keep Shangguan Xiaoxian hidden in a secret location, the information is mysteriously leaked out. Suspecting that there is a spy among them, Ye Kai sets a trap to lure the spy out. It turns out that the spy is Shangguan Xiaoxian, who has been pretending to be slow-witted to put Ye Kai off guard. All this while, she has been manipulating him into helping her eliminate her potential rivals so that she can restore the Gold and Money Gang and become its new chief. The novel ends with Ye Kai defeating Shangguan Xiaoxian in a duel.

Tianya Mingyue Dao (published in 1974)

The protagonist of the fourth novel is a middle-aged Fu Hongxue, Ye Kai's best friend in the second novel. He suffers from epilepsy and an injured right leg, and still struggles to cope with the death of his lover, Cuinong, in the second novel. Gongzi Yu, a wealthy and powerful martial artist, bribes the swordsman Yan Nanfei to serve as his decoy and sends him to assassinate Fu Hongxue. Fu Hongxue defeats Yan Nanfei twice but spares his life. In the meantime, Gongzi Yu sends Zhuo Yuzhen to seduce Qiu Shuiqing, the owner of the Peacock Tassel, and become Qiu Shuiqing's mistress. Gongzi Yu later sends his followers to destroy and kill Qiu Shuiqing. Before his death, Qiu Shuiqing encounters Fu Hongxue and implores him to take care of Zhuo Yuzhen. Fu Hongxue learns the truth from Zhuo Yuzhen and goes to confront Gongzi Yu. He defeats and kills Yan Nanfei, who fights him on Gongzi Yu's behalf. When Gongzi Yu makes an offer to Fu Hongxue to replace Yan Nanfei and serve as his decoy, Fu Hongxue rejects the offer and retires from the jianghu.

Feidao, Youjian Feidao (published in 1981)

The protagonist of the fifth novel is Li Huai, Li Xunhuan's grandson. Li Huai is an illegitimate child since his father had a secret affair with Shangguan Jinhong's daughter (Shangguan Xiaoxian's younger sister). He inherits his grandfather's weapon and skills, as well as the Shangguan family's treasure left behind by his mother. While roaming the jianghu, he meets Xue Caiyue, whom he falls in love with. However, they turn out to be star-crossed lovers because Li Huai's father had killed Xue Caiyue's father in a duel many years ago. Xue Caiyue is forced to settle the family feud in a duel with Li Huai.

Adaptations

Films

width=5%	Year !	width=10%	Production !	width=20%	Main cast !	width=20%	Adapted from !	width=30%	Additional information
1977	Shaw Brothers Studio (Hong Kong)		Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See The Sentimental Swordsman
1979	Taiwan	Meng Fei, David Chiang, Yang Chun-chun, Chang Fu-chien	Feidao, Youjian Feidao	See A Sword Shot at the Sun
1981	Shaw Brothers Studio (Hong Kong)		Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Return of the Sentimental Swordsman
1981	Yangtze Film Company (Taiwan)	Meng Fei, Ling Yun, Yang Chun-chun	Jiuyue Yingfei	See Eagle Flying in September
1981	Champion International Films Company (Hong Kong)		Feidao, Youjian Feidao	See Fei Dao You Jian Fei Dao (film)
1993	Long Shong Pictures (Hong Kong)		Biancheng Langzi	See A Warrior's Tragedy
2000	Pro Film (Hong Kong)		Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See The Legend of the Flying Swordsman

Television series

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width=5%	Year !	width=10%	Production !	width=20%	Main cast !	width=20%	Adapted from !	width=30%	Additional information
1978	TVB (Hong Kong)	Paul Chu, Wong Yuen-sun, Wong Hang-sau, Maggie Li, Ko Miu-see	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See The Romantic Swordsman
1978	TVB (Hong Kong)	Paul Chu, Wong Yuen-sun, Wong Hang-sau, Wan Lau-mei, Susanna Au-yeung, Chang Chung	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See The Romantic Swordsman II
1978	CTV (Hong Kong)		Jiuyue Yingfei	See Gold Dagger Romance
1982	CTV (Taiwan)	Wei Ziyun, Wang Meili, Liao Lijun, Chen Meixiu, Zhang Fujian, Chang Feng, Lei Hong, Lu Yilong	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Xiao Li Fei Dao (1982 TV series)
1984	TVB (Hong Kong)	Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Patrick Tse, Lisa Lui	Feidao, Youjian Feidao	See The Fallen Family
1985	ATV (Hong Kong)		Tianya Mingyue Dao	See Tin Ai Ming Yu Do
1986	ATV (Hong Kong)	Damian Lau, Bonnie Ngai, Katie Chan	Jiuyue Yingfei	See Condor in September
1989	ATV (Hong Kong)	Austin Wai, Chan Hiu-ying, Lau Wun-fung, Savio Tsang, Henry Lo	Tianya Mingyue Dao	See The Legend of Fu Hung Suet
1990	Changchun Film Studio (Mainland China)	Yu Jian, An Yi, Deng Xiaoou, Zhang Jian, Guo Feng, Zhao Chenhong	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Duo Qing Jian Ke
1991	TVB (Hong Kong)	Cheung Siu-fai, Margie Tsang, Hugo Ng	Biancheng Langzi	See The Black Sabre
1995	TVB (Hong Kong)		Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See The Romantic Swordsman (1995 TV series)
1999	Taiwan	Vincent Chiao, Wu Jing, Alyssa Chia, Stephanie Hsiao, Faye Yu, Zheng Jiaxin	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Legend of Dagger Li
2002	Mainland China	Vincent Chiao, Zhang Yan, Xiu Qing, Niu Li, Jin Qiaoqiao, Yuan Wenkang	Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Fei Dao Wen Qing
2003	Taiwan		Feidao, Youjian Feidao	See Flying Daggers
2008	Mainland China		Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian	See Xiao Li Fei Dao (2008 TV series)
2012	Mainland China		Tianya Mingyue Dao	See The Magic Blade (TV series)
2016	Mainland China	Zhu Yilong, Zhang Xinyu, Zhang Junning	Biancheng Langzi	See Bordertown Prodigal (2016 TV series)
2017	Mainland China	Hawick Lau, Yang Rong, Emma Wu, Kenny Kwan, Huang Youming, Yuan Bingyan, Yang Mingna, Yan Yikuan, Howie Huang, He Zhonghua	Feidao, Youjian Feidao	See The Legend of Flying Daggers (2017 TV series)