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Friends
Ding Qing was not only Gu Long's student, they were also congenial companions.
Ding Qing had once written in his memorial piece called "Me and Gu Long",
how his once rebellious, loose character whom everyone cold-shouldered was
welcomed with open arms by Gu Long.
He guided Ding Qing onto the right path in life; taught him the ways of life,
how to write creatively and even taught him how to conduct oneself.
This close teacher-student relationship was indeed rare in this world.
He infected Ding Qing with a great part of himself. They would often go out
drinking and discuss martial arts together.
It was only during those times that
Ding Qing really understood Gu Long's character. He understood that Gu Long was
not a cold-hearted person, and that Gu Long does not favour superficial and material
happiness, as it was the intense, deep-hearted happiness that he pursued.
Despite
having negativity that people criticised about, he was still a righteous, chivalrous
swordsman, who walked the earth with only a sword in hand but his sword has never
hurt anyone. Gu Long's friends come from all walks of life. He did not choose friends
by their reputation or status.
Be they guest poets or pawnbrokers, they're all equal
in Gu Long's eyes. He would often have gatherings at home, with guests such as
editors (publishing), authors, directors (motion picture), stars and also chivalrous
underworld guests and martial arts experts. They would drink and play word games for
entertainment.
He had a few other good friends other than Ding Qing, Jin Yong and
Ngai Hong are two friends Gu Long admitted to having. Once when they were having a drink together,
Gu Long came up with the first half of a couplet, but he couldn't think of the last half and asked Jin Yong and Ngai Hong to complete it.
Both couldn't
either and after much thought Jin Yong said, this couplet is nonsense!
They laughed and then made a pact that whoever could complete the couplet would
receive a signed book from the other two.
This episode was mentioned in the
annotation of one his novels, which included his views on his two friends.
He described Jin Yong as a deep thinker of wisdom, and Ngai Hong as a
quick-witted genius.
He even humorously added that his characters Ximen Chuixue
[Sai-Mun Chui-Suet] and Lu Xiaofeng [Luk Siu-Fung] are well known, but Jin Yong
and Ngai Hong are even more popular amongst contemporary readers.
Gu Long and
Jin Yong had regular written contacts where they would discuss swordsmanship
and martial arts. He describes Jin Yong as a well-versed novelist.
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The Early Days
By Pheonix