The leader of the Liuhe Guild. Yan Wushi destroyed the copy of the Zhuyang Strategy that Dou Yanshan ordered the Liuhe Guild to escort.
LINCHUAN ACADEMY (临川学宫)
The leading Confucian sect and the main force backing the Emperor of Chen. Their leader is Academy Master Ruyan Kehui, one of the world’s top ten martial artists.
Ruyan Kehui (汝鄢克惠)
Title(s): Linchuan Academy Master
Character Basis: Fictional
The leader of Linchuan Academy. A powerful and cultured martial artist who ranks in the top ten, he believes wholeheartedly in the Han’s right to rule.
Xie Xiang (谢湘)
Character Basis: Fictional
Academy Master Ruyan Kehui’s favorite disciple, who was sent to Zhou as an envoy. Arrogant but insightful, he has great faith in the Chen Dynasty.
Zhan Ziqian (展子虔)
Character Basis: Historical
Xie Xiang’s shixiong who accompanied him to Zhou. Loves to paint.
CHUNYANG MONASTERY (纯阳观)
The Daoist sect led by Yi Pichen, one of the top ten martial artists in the world.
Li Qingyu (李青鱼)
Title(s): One of the Twin Jades of Qingcheng
Character Basis: Fictional
Yi Pichen’s beloved final disciple and Su Qiao’s shidi, a rising star who shook the world with his martial arts debut at the Jade Terrace Discussion.
BIXIA SECT (碧霞宗)
A Daoist sect located on Zhunan Peak of Mount Tai, it has been slowly waning since the previous generation under Hui Leshan. The current sect leader is his disciple, Zhao Chiying.
Zhao Chiying (赵持盈)
Title(s): Bixia Sect Leader
Character Basis: Fictional
The current leader of Bixia Sect and known to be highly talented. Has been in secluded cultivation for a long time, leaving all sect affairs to Yue Kunchi.
Yue Kunchi (岳昆池)
Title(s): Bixia Sect Acting Sect Leader
Character Basis: Fictional
The current acting leader of Bixia Sect and Zhao Chiying’s shixiong. A mediocre martial artist who puts all his energies into administration.
Fan Yuanbai (范元白)
Character Basis: Fictional
Yue Kunchi’s disciple who was away from Bixia Sect visiting family. On returning, he’s greeted with a nasty surprise.
Lu Feng (卢峰)
Character Basis: Fictional
An elder of Bixia Sect who collaborates with Ruan Hailou.
DONGZHOU SECT (东洲派)
A foreign sect that resides in the eastern peninsular kingdom of Goguryeo. Ruan Hailou leads them in a bloody assault on Bixia Sect.
Ruan Hailou (阮海楼)
Character Basis: Fictional
Once a disciple of Bixia Sect and the shidi of former sect leader Hui Leshan. Left for unknown reasons ten years ago, but returns seeking a payment in blood.
QI DYNASTY (齐朝)
Also known as Northern Qi, the country occupies the land northeast of the Yangtze River and was founded by Gao Huan. Originally warlike and powerful, the reign of Gao Huan’s successors, especially the incompetent and frivolous Gao Wei, has put the kingdom into a steady decline. Its capital is Yecheng (located at the south of modern-day Hebei).
Chen Gong (陈恭)
Title(s): Duke of Pengcheng County
Character Basis: Fictional
Once a homeless youth who Shen Qiao met in Funing County, now a duke and Emperor Gao Wei’s new favorite.
ZHOU DYNASTY (周朝)
The country that occupies the region northwest of the Yangtze, also known as Northern Zhou. Its capital is Chang’an (now known as Xi’an). Though it was established by Yuwen Tai before his death, for years his nephew Yuwen Hu held power as regent, killing off Yuwen Tai’s puppet-ruler sons whenever he perceived them as a threat. The third such son, Yuwen Yong, managed to feign obedience for years before finally ambushing and killing Yuwen Hu, officially seizing back his imperial authority.
Yuwen Yong (宇文邕)
Title(s): Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
Character Basis: Historical
The reigning, warmongering emperor of Northern Zhou who rose to power after killing his cousin. Possesses a harsh and mistrustful personality, but is a talented statesman who puts all his effort into bolstering Northern Zhou both economically and militarily. As he dislikes all three schools of thought, he works closely with Yan Wushi and Huanyue Sect instead.
Puliuru Jian (普六茹坚)
Character Basis: Historical
A learned, high-ranking official of Zhou whom Shen Qiao met at Madam Qin’s birthday banquet.
Su Wei (苏威)
Title(s): Duke of Meiyang County
Character Basis: Historical
The current patriarch of the Su family, Su Wei comes from a distinguished line of scholar-officials and is highly talented himself. His younger brother is Su Qiao, and his mother is Madam Qin.
Madam Qin (秦老夫人)
Title(s): Su Matriarch
Character Basis: Fictional
The matriarch of the prominent Su family of Zhou and mother of the brothers, Su Wei and Su Qiao. Actually Aisaule, a former disciple of Hulugu who absconded with his keepsake twenty years ago.
Yuwen Qing (宇文庆)
Title(s): Court Councilor
Character Basis: Historical
An official from the Yuwen family who travels south as an envoy for the alliance treaty between Zhou and Chen. Lascivious and adores his concubine, Yu Zi.
CHEN DYNASTY (陈朝)
The country south of the Yangtze River, founded by Chen Baxian, also called Southern Chen. Unlike Qi and Zhou where most of the upper class are of Xianbei descent, the Chen Dynasty is dominated by the Han. Its capital is Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing), and the current ruler is Emperor Chen Xu.
GÖKTÜRK KHAGANATE (突厥)
A powerful Turkic empire north of the Great Wall, led by Taspar Khagan. Their people have been at odds with the nations of the Central Plains for years—relations between them are uneasy and tinged with hostility.
Hulugu (狐鹿估)
Character Basis: Fictional
Once the most powerful martial artist of the Göktürk Khaganate, he was defeated by Qi Fengge twenty years ago. Qi Fengge then made him swear not to set foot in the Central Plains. Before passing away, he asked his disciple, Duan Wenyang, to retrieve his keepsake from Madam Qin.
Kunye (昆邪)
Title(s): Wise King of the Left
Character Basis: Fictional
Hulugu’s disciple and said to be the best of the new generation of Göktürk martial artists. Thousand Autumns begins when he defeats Shen Qiao and throws him off the cliff at Banbu Peak.
Duan Wenyang (段文鸯)
Character Basis: Fictional
Hulugu’s disciple and Kunye’s shixiong who came to Northern Zhou at both his late master’s and the Khaganate’s bequest. A first-class martial artist who specializes in the whip.
Pu Anmi (蒲安密)
Character Basis: Fictional
Kunye’s disciple who came to support Ruan Hailou’s massacre of Bixia Sect. Like his master, he wields a saber.
OTHER CHARACTERS
Characters who aren’t associated with a particular faction, regardless of where they live.
Tao Hongjing (陶弘景)
Character Basis: Historical
The legendary creator of the Zhuyang Strategy. Before his death, he was known as a great genius and the one true master of martial arts for his success in marrying the principles of all three schools of thought.
Zhu Lengquan (竺冷泉)
Character Basis: Fictional
The abbot of Bailong Monastery. Has a sharp tongue.
Chuyi (初一)
Character Basis: Fictional
Zhu Lengquan’s senior disciple. A mischievous slacker.
Shiwu (十五)
Character Basis: Fictional
Zhu Lengquan’s junior disciple. Sweet and shy.