Huo Qingtong in Jin Yong’s The Book and the Sword was the daughter of Mu Zhuolun, the chief of a Uyghur tribe in Xinjiang. Huo Qingtong in TVB’s television drama version of The Book and the Sword (1987) was played by Law Wai-kuen.
Huo Qingtong, who always wore an emerald feather and a yellow dress, was beautiful and brilliant with heroic spirit. She was a heroine with military talent who once led the Uyghur tribe to victory in a battle in Blackwater River against the Qing Army even though they were outnumbered. In terms of her clothing, it exuded a heroic and bold demeanour, coupling strength with gentleness. She was known to dress in bright yellow and wear on her head a small black hat with green embroidery and adorned with a green feather, giving out a sense of the temperament of a leader. Nevertheless, this resolute, resourceful and chivalrous woman had only regret in her love life for her one-sided love for Chen Jialuo, who fell in love with her sister, Princess Fragrance. Therefore, she could only bury her love in her heart.
Bonus: The Book and the Sword was the first television drama that Law Wai-kuen starred in after joining TVB. At the age of 21, Law Wai-kuen was charming and sweet but at the same time full of heroic spirit. As a newcomer, she already took on a leading role, leaving a lasting impression to the audiences. For the record, it was Fiona Leung Pui-ling who played Princess Fragrance, the younger sister of Huo Qingtong, and Nixon Pang Man-kin who played Chen Jialuo.
