The Wuxia novel Smoking Hero by Nanyangxie (南洋邪) defies the conventional wisdom that it must be a story set solely in China. This story set in the middle Ayutthaya period, contains knowledge and information that is not widely known in the media by determining on historical documents from both Thailand and other countries. It combines the creativity and cultural resources of Thailand and Southeast Asia to produce an intriguing story that need not involve supernatural elements.
Synopsis
1633, early in the reign of King Prasat Thong, Ayutthaya was one of the most prosperous cities in the eastern world. But it was simmering with the power struggle of two major sects: The Freedom Mansion, led by a progressive Chinese squire known as the Golden Face Gentleman, whose ideology could turn the world upside down, and the Brahma Pavilion, a long-standing sect that controlled trade from the northern provinces, Korat, Laos, and Cambodia, led by Lord Malyavan who was a nobleman and a leading martial artist of the era.
A mysterious vigilante called Smoking Hero arose in the capital amid the tense situation. His only goal was to take revenge for his master's death at the hands of the crafty nemesis White Powder Ghost. The story becomes increasingly complicated. Besides taking over the martial arts world, the Freedom Mansion sought to overthrow the kingdom's corrupt governance. In the meantime, Brahma Pavilion made an effort to uphold the custom for the upper class's benefits. Once the smoke cleared, the true and false natures would be revealed.
Main Characters
Mek
Nickname: Smoke Hero (煙鬼英雄)
Born: 1601, Ayutthaya
A mystery vigilante who always smoking. He pursues vengeance for his master's death but becomes involved with the conflict between Brahma Pavilion and Freedom Mansion.
Chan
Nickname: Chan of Argue
Born: 1617, Ayutthaya
Young storytelling girl from a tea house in the market near Dutch village. She is interested in martial arts world's affair and wishes to meet Smoking Hero one day. Fate finally brought her to him.
Chailai
Born: 1610, Ayutthaya
Golden Flower Brothel's hottest prostitute. Aside from providing sex services, she also steals information from customers and converts it into money to feed her daughter Ramphai. Except for Mek, she had never fallen in love.
Chomkhwan
Born: 1605, Ayutthaya
A lady from a wealthy family who married Lert and had a son named Amphan. She possesses all of the qualities of a mother and wife, but she conceals the truth from the past.
Lert, Zhao Le (趙樂)
Nickname: Golden Face Gentleman (金面郎君)
Born: 1603, Ayutthaya
Zhao Liang's son, descended from the Song Dynasty royal line. He became an influential squire and martial artist after inheriting his father's position as the leader of Freedom Mansion. His goal is to bring forth political change in Siam.
Chu
Nickname: Lord Malyavan
Born: 1583, Lopburi
Leader of Brahma Pavilion who served as deputy overseer of the Royal Palace Guard Department with the title Luang Thep Boriban. He is a disciple of Ba Phitsanu of Khao Samo Khon Sect and rose to become one of the most powerful martial artists of era.
Phimsen
Born: 1608, Ayutthaya
Chu's right-hand man and personal clerk. The elders in the Brahma Pavilion respect his intelligence and always seek his advice, despite his humble rank. His background is still obscure.
Bai Shengxia (白生下)
Nickname: White Powder Ghost (磨粉鬼)
Born: 1567, Fuzhou
A cunning villain who always wears the Budai mask. He became Mek's sworn enemy after he killed his senior disciple Lao Gu.
Lao Gu (老古)
Real name: Chen Yuyong (陳玉庸)
Born: 1563, Xiamen
The eldest disciple of the Gu Mount Sect's Qingyun Zhenren. He unexpectedly saved Mek's life and taught him the Warm Mist & Cold Smoke Qi.
Thongdi
Nickname: Iron Arms
Born: 1599, Ayutthaya
An orphan Mon refugee who was taken in as a servant by Ok Luang Mongkhon and became Mek's sworn brother. He joined the Freedom Mansion after losing his master and being rescued by Eddie.
Mee
Nickname: Drunken Doctor
Born: 1593, Ayutthaya
Mek's close friend, a former royal doctor who was dismissed from the court due to his unusual treatment methods. He drinks heavily to quell his sorrows and became an alcoholic even though still being an excellent surgeon.
Cherm
Title: Khun Wichan Phuthorn
Born: 1589, Suphanburi
Patrol guard captain who never promoted to a high-ranking post because of his commitment to duty and refusal to compromise with the unjust. He coincidentally became Mek's ally.
Khuang
Nickname: The Wind God
Born: 1574, Chaktomuk
Disciple of Kaew the Fire God, the Khmer rebel leader around thirty years ago who possessed the Diamond Fur Glass Amulet, which was later delivered to him. He met Mek by chance and taught him the Whirlwind Fist.
Den
Nickname: The Lucky
Born: 1587, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Disciple of Khao Khun Phanom Sect and friend of Lao Gu. He and his seventeen companions made an unsuccessful attempt to drive the Japanese led by Ok Khun Senaphimuk out of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Sorn
Nickname: Lord Baliraja
Born: 1580, Lopburi
The eldest disciple of Ba Phitsanu and prospective leader of Khao Samo Khon Sect. He is the village head of Thale Chup Sorn with the rank of Phan, but he prefers to live in the wilderness. He travelled to the capital to assist Chu, in the battle against Bai Shengxia.
Chert
Born: 1610, Ayutthaya
Chu's eldest son, who is incompetent and envious of Phimsen, making him disfavoured by his father. Despite having vital helpers like Indra Face and Brahma Face, he consistently fails to prove his worth.
Lin Tongjun (林銅軍)
Nickname: Divine Ship God
Born: 1591, Nantou
Son of Lin Xiaofeng, an established member of Freedom Mansion. He was appointed one of the Eight Demigods and took control of business in Phetchaburi, He became Lert's brother-in-law by marrying the latter's elder sister, A Lan.
Li Daoguang (李道光)
Nickname: Noodle Eating Dragon
Born: 1595, Guangzhou
Son of Li Feilong, an established member of Freedom Mansion. He took over his father's business at Heavenly Dragon Restaurant and becomes one of the Eight Demigods. His favourite food is noodle, which is how he got his nickname.
Guo Qiuxiang (郭秋香)
Nickname: Emerald Asuri
Born: 1609, Quanzhou
One of the Eight Demigods of Freedom Mansion, proficient in agility and secret weaponry. She is an ambitious woman who tries to gain power by having an affair with Lert.
Prik
Nickname: Ferocious Yakshini
Born: 1596, Ayutthaya
She served as Lert's babysitter during his youth and later became one of the Eight Demigods of Freedom Mansion due to her unwavering loyalty. She is also skilled in a mace with great strength and dexterity.
Setiawan
Nickname: Broken Wings Garuda
Born: 1604, Surabaya
A silent, experienced artilleryman from Java who became one of the Eight Demigods after meeting Lert in Batavia. He is skilled with gunpowder and carries Collapsing Earth Dynamite, a destructive weapon.
Eddie van Haarlem
Nickname: Red Hair Gandharva
Born: 1600, Haarlem
A Dutch adventurer who befriended Lert in Batavia and later became one of Freedom Mansion's Eight Demigods. Aside from being a talented lute player, he is also a skilled fencer, having studied with Gerard Thibault of Antwerp, a well-known sword master in Europe.
Teresa
Nickname: Golden Voice Kinnari
Born: 1598, Ayutthaya
A half-Portuguese-Siamese Catholic devotee and one of the Eight Demigods of Freedom Mansion who has a powerful voice. She lives in a Portuguese village and teaches orphans about humanism philosophy at San Paolo Church.
Theng
Nickname: Boneless Mahoraga
Born: 1570, Tanintharyi
One of the Eight Demigods of Freedom Mansion. He practices a peculiar style of yoga, which has led to his sex addiction. Despite being a lecherous old man, he still had fearsome martial arts skills.
Saeng
Nickname: Lord Dhritarashtra
Born: 1584, Saraburi
Former treasure hunter in the eastern provinces. He coincedently found the ancient martial art script in the ruin and became one of the Brahma Pavilion’s Four Heavenly Kings. He is also a royal reporter of the Central Labour Department, titled Khun Yotha Boriban.
Sen
Nickname: Lord Virudhaka
Born: 1586, Ayutthaya
Former royal court scribe with exceptional calculating skill, which is the foundation of his boxing style. He then became one of the Brahma Pavilion's Four Heavenly Kings and served as the Department of Foreign Affairs' tax collector, with the title Khun Theppharat.
Sang
Nickname: Lord Vaishravana
Born: 1588, Ayutthaya
Former peasant and martial artist from Thung Kaew. He befriended Chu and later appointed as one of the Brahma Pavilion's Four Heavenly Kings. He is also the Granary Department's central accountant, with the title Khun Thep Kosa.
Sot
Nickname: Lord Virupaksha
Born: 1590, Wiset Chaichan
Former highway bandit who enjoys torturing people. He later became one of the Brahma Pavilion's Four Heavenly Kings after befriending Chu. He bears the title Khun Phatsadi Sai and serves as a Metropolitan Department jail warden.
King Prasat Thong
Born: 1599, Ayutthaya
The current king of Ayutthaya, son of Okya S i Thammathirat, the elder brother of King Songtham's mother. In order to reduce the power of the nobility, he maintains strict centralised oversight and aspires to become a Bodhisattva.
Sheikh Ahmad
Title: Ok Phra Chula
A Persian merchant from Astarabad, Khorasan. He entered the court service during the reign of King Songtham and was a close friend of King Prasat Thong. He became the minister of the Right Port Department, keeping an eye on the martial artists.
Joshil
Nickname: Hidden Blade
Born: 1595, Surat
Khoja mercenary and Shia Nizari Muslim, who became a servant and bodyguard of Ok Phra Chula. He inherited the ancient knowledge of the Hasshashin, skilled in both wrestling and assassination, using a hidden blade and Talwar sword as weapons.
Dolah
Nickname: Manta Ray
Born: 1606, Makassar
Bugis mercenary who served as a personal guard of Sulaiman, Governor of Songkhla. He travelled to Ayutthaya with the envoys, carrying secret mission to foment unrest among martial artists.
