the cave on Mount Hua owing to Yue Buqun's treachery. The schools slaughter each other out of paranoia and distrust, ultimately leading to the alliance's dissolution. Linghu Chong defeats Lin Pingzhi and spares his life as he had promised Yue Lingshan, but permanently disables Lin Pingzhi to prevent him from hurting others again. Meanwhile, Yue Buqun is killed by Yilin when he is fighting with Linghu Chong during the frenzy. After the collapse of the alliance, Ren Woxing plans an attack on the scattered and fragmented "orthodox" schools in order to unite the jianghu under the control of his "evil" Sun Moon Holy Cult. He tries to force Linghu Chong to join him, but dies at a crucial moment from a stroke. Ren Yingying becomes the new leader of the Sun Moon Holy Cult and successfully negotiates a truce between the "orthodox" and "evil" sides of the jianghu. Three years later, she passes the leadership to Xiang Wentian and marries Linghu Chong and they live happily ever after. Characters Schools, clans and organisations Five Mountain Sword Schools Alliance Sun Moon Holy Cult The Sun Moon Holy Cult () is based on Black Woods Cliff (; in present-day Xibaipo, Hebei). Its origin is unclear, Martial artists in the jianghu often refer to the Sun Moon Holy Cult as the "Demonic Cult" (), as they previously did to the Ming Cult. Considered eccentric and heretical, the cult is a common enemy of the orthodox schools. Its members are known for engaging in various types of cult-like activities and committing heinous crimes. It was led by Ren Woxing until Dongfang Bubai ousts the former from power in a scheme. Dongfang treats his followers cruelly, forcing them to consume poison pills and giving them antidotes to temporarily ease their agony only if they obey him. Ren Woxing practises the "Cosmic Absorbing Power" (), which allows him to drain and absorb an opponent's inner energy, while Dongfang Bubai is said to be invincible after he mastered the skills in the Sunflower Manual (). Others Qingcheng School () Fuwei Security Service () Shaolin School () Wudang School () Themes In the afterword, Jin Yong mentions that The Smiling, Proud Wanderer can be read as a political allegory disguised as a wuxia novel. As an allegory, it can happen in "any dynasty or organisation". Jin Yong also stated in the afterword that after the novel was published,