life, Xiong suffered from depression and the quality of his works declined rapidly. He had to employ ghostwriters to co-write many of his later works because of his ailing health. On 21 September 1985, Xiong died at the age of 48. Xiong's death was caused by illness wrought by alcoholism – namely cirrhosis and esophageal hemorrhage. His friends brought him 48 bottles of XO Cognac at his funeral. Writing style Xiong was said to be influenced not only by wuxia fiction, but also by the works of Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, John Steinbeck and Friedrich Nietzsche. His novels are usually made up of short sentences and paragraphs, and mostly dialogues between characters – like a play script. In contrast with Xiong, other writers such as Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng took an alternative route in writing wuxia fiction by incorporating Chinese history, culture and philosophical ideas in their works. Xiong initially intended to follow them but changed his decision after exposure to works such as the James Bond series and The Godfather novels. The influence of these works, which relied on the idiosyncrasies of human life, razor-sharp wit, poetic philosophies, mysterious plots and spine-tingling thrills to achieve success, enabled Xiong to come up with a unique way of writing. List of works Some of these works were co-written with other writers. Standalone novels Divine Sword of the Sky (蒼穹神劍) Poison of the Sword and Fragrance of Plum Blossoms (劍毒梅香) Eerie Moon and Evil Star (月異星邪) Consort Xiang's Sword (湘妃劍) Legend of the Orphaned Star (孤星傳) Story of the Lost Soul (失魂引) Tale of the Wandering Swordsman (遊俠錄) The Flower-Guarding Bell (護花鈴) The Tune of the Colourful Ring (彩環曲) Broken Gold, Incomplete Jade (殘金缺玉) Lingering Fragrance in a Rain of Swords (飄香劍雨) Tale of a Remarkable Sword (劍玄錄) Journey of a Swordsman (劍客行) Cleansing Flowers, Refining the Sword (浣花洗劍錄) Lover's Arrow (情人箭) The Legend of the Banner Heroes (大旗英雄傳) Unofficial History of the Wulin (武林外史) The Sword and Exquisiteness (名劍風流) Legendary Siblings (絕代雙驕) Happy Heroes (歡樂英雄) The Celebrity (大人物) Meteor, Butterfly, Sword (流星‧蝴蝶‧劍) The Seven Killers (七殺手) Sword of the Third Young Master (三少爺的劍) The Jade Tiger (白玉老虎) Carved Jade Dragon (白玉雕龍) Flying Eagle over the Great Land (大地飛鷹) Full Moon and Curved Saber (圓月彎刀) Heroes Shed No Tears (英雄無淚) The Seven Stars Dragon King (七星龍王) The Sounds of the Saber Accompanied by Wind Chimes (風鈴中的刀聲) Furious Sword, Mad Flowers (怒劍狂花)