Zhou Botong is a junior of
Wang Chongyang, the founder of the
Quanzhen Sect and one of the "Five Greats", the five most powerful martial artists in the
wulin of his time. Like his senior, he is highly-skilled in martial arts. However, he is also known for his childish temperament and playful behaviour, even when he is in his old age, hence he is nicknamed "Old Imp". In his younger days, he had a secret affair with Liu Ying, a consort of the
Dali Kingdom's ruler
Duan Zhixing, who is one of the "Five Greats". When Wang Chongyang found out about the affair, he forced Zhou Botong to end it and leave with him. Unknown to them, Liu Ying was already pregnant with Zhou Botong's child at the time, and she later gave birth to a son. The infant was mortally wounded by a masked Qiu Qianren. When Liu Ying begged Duan Zhixing to use his
neigong to save her son, Duan refused and the infant ultimately died. After Wang Chongyang's death, Zhou Botong wanders around with a copy of the
Nine Yin Manual, a highly coveted martial arts manual which Wang had entrusted to him for safekeeping but forbidden him from learning the skills in it. He meets
Huang Yaoshi, another of the "Five Greats", and Huang's wife Feng Heng, who tricked him into letting her read the manual. She had an
eidetic memory and was able to memorise the entire manual and rewrite it from memory for her husband. When Zhou Botong realised he had been tricked, he confronted Huang Yaoshi on
Peach Blossom Island and they fought. Both of them reached a stalemate and Zhou Botong was trapped for the next 15 years on the island, where he lived in a cave. Zhou Botong first appears in the novel when the protagonist
Guo Jing visits the island and encounters him. They become sworn brothers, and Guo Jing learns about the history of the "Five Greats" and the
Nine Yin Manual from Zhou Botong, who also teaches him two skills and makes him memorise the manual. With help from others, Zhou Botong ultimately resolves his conflict with Huang Yaoshi and leaves the island. Zhou Botong appears in
The Return of the Condor Heroes when he meets
Xiaolongnü by chance and they teach other one of their skills to counter the villain Jinlun Guoshi. Later, with help from the protagonist
Yang Guo, Zhou Botong meets Liu Ying, Duan Zhixing, and Qiu Qianren again. He forgives a dying Qiu Qianren for murdering his infant son, and reconciles with Liu Ying and Duan Zhixing. == Martial arts and skills ==