A Deadly Secret

A Deadly Secret
Cover of a 1985 edition of the novel
AuthorJin Yong
Original title連城訣
LanguageChinese
GenreWuxia
PublisherMing Pao, Southeast Asia Weekly
Publication date
1963
Publication placeHong Kong
Media typePrint
Preceded byThe Deer and the Cauldron 
Followed byThe Book and the Sword 
A Deadly Secret
Traditional Chinese連城訣
Simplified Chinese连城诀
Literal meaningMnemonic of the Linked Cities
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLián Chéng Jué
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLin4 Sing4 Kyut3
Su Xin Jian
Traditional Chinese素心劍
Simplified Chinese素心剑
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSù Xīn Jiàn
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingSou3 Sam1 Gim3

A Deadly Secret, also translated as Requiem of Ling Sing and Secret of the Linked Cities, is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It was first published in the magazine Southeast Asia Weekly (東南亞周刊) and the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao in 1963. Its original Chinese title was Su Xin Jian before Jin Yong changed it to Lian Cheng Jue.[1] The story revolves around the adventures of the protagonist Di Yun, an ordinary young peasant, who is imprisoned after being framed. In his quest for vengeance, he accidentally acquires the Liancheng Swordplay manual (連城劍谱), an ancient artifact not only prized for the skills detailed inside, but also for containing a secret leading to a treasure.

  1. ^ See Chen Zhenhui (陳鎮輝), Wuxia Xiaoshuo Xiaoyao Tan (武俠小說逍遙談), 2000, Huizhi Publishing Company (匯智出版有限公司), p. 58 and Jin Yong's afterword to the revised novel.