Chor Lau-heung

Chu Liuxiang moves through the martial world with a grin and a reputation, more interested in puzzles and elegant thefts than outright bloodshed. This 1979 Hong Kong television adaptation follows the urbane protagonist as he untangles mysteries, foils crooked schemes, and deepens bonds with allies and occasional lovers. Each episode pits his wit and charm against rival clans, secret plots, and supernatural rumors, while side characters like Hu Tiehua and Su Rongrong bring humor, loyalty, and romantic sparks. The show keeps the tension in the present, offering action scenes, courtly banter, and clever detective work without revealing major twists or the series conclusion.

Created for television by Wong Tin-Lam and released in 1979, the series stars Adam Cheng Siu-Chow as Chu Liuxiang, with Angie Chiu Nga-Chi, Liza Wong Ming-Chuen, Richard Ng Man-Tat, and Ha Yue in key roles. It adapts Gu Long's popular novels for the small screen, emphasizing character interplay and atmospheric sets.

The series didn't rack up widely known international awards, and there aren't major festival prizes associated with it. Still, viewers and genre fans have kept its reputation alive through reruns and home-viewing, often pointing to the cast's chemistry as a primary strength.

As a televised Gu Long adaptation, it influenced how later productions approached suave, morally flexible heroes in Hong Kong drama. Adam Cheng's portrayal helped tie his public image to that kind of romantic swordsman, and the show kept Gu Long's blend of mystery and martial art aesthetics visible to TV audiences for years after its first run.

Reception among long-term wuxia viewers tends to be favorable, with a modest online rating reflecting enthusiastic but selective fandom. Commentators and fans highlight the mix of clever plotting, light romance, and staged combat, and the series repeatedly returns to themes of honor, friendship, loyalty, and the gray area between law and personal code.