Xiagu Danxin

The novel is set sometime around the late 18th century or early 19th century in China during the Qing dynasty. Jīn Shìyí (金世遺) had retired from the jianghu (martial artists' community) and settled on a remote island 20 years ago with his wife, Gǔ Zhīhuá (谷之華). Their son, Jīn Zhúliú (金逐流), who has inherited his father's skills and abilities, disguises himself as a beggar and roams the jianghu in search of adventure. He rescues and befriends Qín Yuánhào (秦元浩) of the Wudang Sect, defeats the imperial guard commander Wén Dàozhuāng (文道莊), foils an assassination attempt on his father's apprentice Jiāng Hǎitiān (江海天), and becomes famous in the jianghu for his deeds.

Shǐ Báidū (史白都), the founder and chief of the Six Harmonies Sect (六合幫), pledges allegiance to Sàfúdǐng (薩福鼎), a high-ranking Manchu aristocrat – much to the chagrin of his fellows in the jianghu. He intends to present lavish gifts to Safuding at the latter's 60th birthday party, but a string of pearls he prepared is stolen by his subordinate. The xuántiě (玄鐵), a precious piece of metal regarded as a sacred artefact of the Six Harmonies Sect, is stolen by Jin Zhuliu and Shi Baidu's younger sister, Shǐ Hóngyīng (史紅英). Jin Zhuliu and Shi Hongying were initially hostile towards each other when they first met, but they gradually develop a romantic relationship after their various encounters. Jin Zhuliu also meets Lì Nánxīng (厲南星), a grandnephew of Lì Shèngnán (厲勝男), the deceased leader of the disbanded Heavenly Demonic Cult (天魔教), and becomes sworn brothers with him. They join forces with Yùchí Jiǒng (尉遲炯) and his wife to disrupt Safuding's birthday party and rob him of several precious items.

Shi Baidu arranges for a marriage between his sister and Shuài Mèngxióng (帥孟雄), a Qing general leading imperial forces to suppress a rebellion in Xichang. He is actually plotting to lure Li Nanxing into a trap and harm him. Jin Zhuliu mistakenly believes that Shi Hongying loves Li Nanxing and feels heartbroken. However, after learning the truth, he rushes to save his sworn brother and engages enemies in battle. Li Nanxing is injured but is saved by Gōngsūn Yàn (公孫燕), the daughter of Gōngsūn Hóng (公孫宏), the leader of the Red Tassel Society (紅纓會). He gradually falls in love with Gongsun Yan. Even though his plot has failed, Shi Baidu still insists on making Shi Hongying marry Shuai Mengxiong. On the wedding day, Jin Zhuliu, Li Nanxing, Gongsun Yan and their allies show up in Xichang, disrupt the wedding and defeat Shuai Mengxiong and his forces. Shi Baidu meets his downfall and commits suicide in shame. Shi Hongying becomes the new chief of the Six Harmonies Sect and pledges to support the rebels in resisting the Qing government.

During the battle at Xichang, Li Nanxing and Gongsun Yan accidentally fall off a cliff together and are presumed dead. In the meantime, some jianghu lowlifes led by Yáng Hào (陽浩) reestablish the Heavenly Demonic Cult in Li Nanxing's name and commit several atrocities. Jin Zhuliu is surprised to hear that his sworn brother, whom he thought had died, is alive and has become a villain. He refuses to believe the rumours and infiltrates the Heavenly Demonic Cult to investigate. During this time, he encounters Li Nanxing, who has survived the fall. They discover that Yang Hao has found someone to impersonate Li Nanxing and pledged allegiance to the Qing government. Jin Zhuliu, Li Nanxing and their allies clash with Yang Hao and his supporters at the Heavenly Demonic Cult's headquarters and defeat the enemy, thereby preventing a major conflict in the jianghu from taking place. The cult is disbanded again and the majority of its members join the rebels. Around the time, Jin Zhuliu's parents also return to the mainland and defeat seven highly skilled martial artists from Fusang.

The protagonists and their allies learn that Safuding has contacted five tribal chiefs in Qinghai and obtained their support to attack the rebels in Xichang. Jin Zhuliu volunteers to travel to Xichang to warn the rebels and stop the Qinghai tribes from assisting Safuding. He eventually succeeds in his missions with the help of his friends and returns to Xichang in triumph. The novel ends on a happy note: Jin Zhuliu marries Shi Hongying while Li Nanxing marries Gongsun Yan, with blessings from the jianghu.

In 1971, the novel was adapted into a Hong Kong film titled The Patriotic Knights, produced by Great Wall Movie Enterprises and directed by Chang Hsin-yen.[1]

In 2006, the novel was adapted into a Chinese television series titled The Patriotic Knights, starring Chen Long as Jin Zhuliu, Stephanie Hsiao as Shi Hongying, Wallace Chung as Li Nanxing and He Meitian as Gongsun Yan (renamed to Zhong Yanyan in the series). The series is set in the late Ming dynasty instead of the Qing dynasty.