劍走偏鋒

Jian Zoupianfeng, pseudonym of prolific modern novelist

the sword moves with side stroke (modern idiom) / fig. unexpected winning move / unconventional gambit

double-edged sword / CL:口[kou3],把[ba3] / classifier for blows of a sword

to walk / to go / to run / to move (of vehicle) / to visit / to leave / to go away / to die (euph.) / from / through / away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走[che4 zou3]) / to change (shape, form, meaning)

to deviate from the correct course / (fig.) to go astray

to lean / to slant / oblique / prejudiced / to deviate from average / to stray from the intended line / stubbornly / contrary to expectations

to write with the tip of the brush tilted / (fig.) to resort to devious means

brush stroke to the side (calligraphy) / fig. side stroke / lateral thinking

point of a spear / edge of a tool / vanguard / forward (in sports team)