History Literature / HeavenSwordAndDragonSabre

* BadAssGrandpa: Zhang Sanfeng, who finished off a would-be assassin with one single hit at the age of ''110'' and is the most powerful character in the whole book.
** The Eagle King.

* AlmightyJanitor: Zhao Min's three servants A'da, A'er and A'san (literally Number One, Number Two and Number Three). One is a MasterSwordsman, the other two are top-tier pugilists. A'san is able to kill a high-ranked Shaolin monk.

* AlmightyJanitor: Zhao Min's three servants A'da, A'er and A'san (literally Number One, Number Two and Number Three). One is a MasterSwordman, the other two are top-tier pugilists. A'san is able to kill a high-ranked Shaolin monk.

* AnimalMotifs; The Four Ming Cult Guardians have one each; namely dragon, eagle, lion and bat.

* ContrivedCoincidence: Zhang Wuji just happens to fall down a cliff, eventually gets shelter in a cave, then finds a monkey whose body the Nine Yang Manual was sewn in. The "fall off a cliff, learn martial art" is the most common cliche in Wuxia novel, though.

* FragileSpeedster: Wei Yixiao (Green Bat King) is not as powerful as his fellow Ming Cult guardians, but has the speed to make up for it.

The third book in the ''Condor Trilogy'' by JinYong, set a century after the end of ''The Return of the Condor Heroes''.

* ExtremeDoormat: Zhang Wuji actually has a very weak mind despite all his deeds. All his motivations keep geting swung around by the harem and the people around him.

* WhamLine: Yin Susu's final word to her son: [[spoiler: to kill everyone presented when he grows up. [[AllLovingHero Fortunately, this doesn't stick.]]]]

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* RapeIsLove: A ''very'' fitting example is Yang Xiao and Ji Xiaofu. It's supposed to be justified and okay because, well, ''secretly'' she wanted it.

** The cryptic message that He Zudao was asked to deliver to the Shaolin Monk in chapter 2 was actually the location of an important martial art scroll. However, because the message He ZuDao delivered was wrong, no one was able to understand it. Much later in the story, the main protagonist accidentally found said scroll.

** The cryptic message that He ZuDao was asked to deliver to the Shaolin Monk in chapter 2 was actually the location of an important martial art scroll. However, because the message He ZuDao delivered was wrong, no one was able to understand it. Much later in the story, the main protagonist accidentally found said scroll.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Cheng Kun deliberately [[EverybodysDeadDave provoked]] Xie Xun into this as part of his XanatosGambit.

* BadAssArmy: The Ming Cult and Wu Xing Flags in the later chapters.

* ChaoticGood: The Ming Cult again, who are later revealed to be just {{Hero With Bad Publicity}}.

* HeelFaceTurn: Song [=QingShu=] because LoveMakesYouEvil

* SecondLove: Wuji's first (and arguably strongest) love being Zhiruo. It takes her [[{{Yandere}} completely]] [[MurderTheHypotenuse screwing]] [[IfICantHaveYou it]] [[MoralEventHorizon up]] for him to eventually decide to go with Zao Min.
* TangledFamilyTree: Ji Xiaofu, Yang Xiao, Yang Buhui and Yin Liting. Ji Xiaofu was engaged to Yi Liting when she was raped by Yang Xiao and subsequently had Yang Buhui. 18 years later, Yang Buhui fell in love with Yi Liting largely because she pitied him for losing Ji Xiaofu to her father. No wonder even Yang Xiao was speechless when Wuji broke the news.

** Fan Yao, who disfigured himself and went deep cover in Zhao Min's camp.
** Xiao Zhao tried to be this. It took Yang Xiao about 5 seconds to realise she's a spy.