How was the Deer and Cauldron written?

Lu Ding Ji was a martial arts novel written by the Ming Dynasty novelist, Mr. Jin Yong. The story took place at the end of the Ming Dynasty. It mainly told the story of a small character named Wei Xiaobao in the Jianghu. According to Mr. Jin Yong's recollection, the original inspiration for writing The Deer and Cauldron came from a legend he heard on a trip. The legend was about a deer being discovered in the Jiangnan water village. In the novel, Wei Xiaobao was portrayed as a witty, flexible, and sociable character. Through his constant efforts and adventures in Jianghu, he eventually became a legendary figure. In the process of writing, Mr. Jin Yong made many changes and refinements to the characters, plots, and scenes in the novel until he felt that the novel had reached the quality and level he wanted. The Deer and the Cauldron was first published in 1972 and quickly became a popular martial arts classic.