Another possibility is that his death is part of a tragic plot device. It might be used to create a sense of pathos and make the story more memorable. For example, his death could be due to a misunderstanding that couldn't be resolved in time, leaving the heroine heartbroken.
The exact time and reason for Cheng Lixue's death was uncertain because very little relevant information was preserved. However, according to some novel websites, Cheng Lixue might have died in battle with the enemy. Cheng Lixue was an extremely intelligent and brave person. She enjoyed a high reputation in the martial arts world. If she could stick to her beliefs and principles, she might become a legend. However, due to her radical personality, she might be treated unfairly and eventually die.
The hero of the Walled City, Duan Tongtian, was a character in " Bloody Pugilistic World." His ending in the story was that in a big battle, Duan Tongtian was killed by the enemy and was seriously injured, but he still persisted in fighting and finally fell on the battlefield. His courage and perseverance were admirable, and he had left a beautiful legend in Jianghu.
One example could be 'Watchmen'. In this novel, the so - called heroes have complex and often dark personalities. Rorschach, for instance, is a very anti - hero - like character. His fate at the end is quite tragic, which in a way shows the death of a hero in a non - traditional sense. The whole story challenges the traditional concept of heroes and shows that even those with powers can be deeply flawed.