Huang Rong
By the time of the events of the first novel, Duan Zhixing has abdicated and become a Buddhist monk under the name "Reverend Yideng" (). He makes his first appearance when the protagonist Guo Jing and his love interest Huang Rong seek help from him after Huang Rong is critically wounded, and he uses his skills to heal Huang Rong of her internal injuries. Towards the end of the novel, he shows up again to help Guo Jing and Huang Rong deal with a minor villain, Qiu Qianren, whom he saves from death and accepts as an apprentice.