The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 20 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Huang Rong stood before her mother's tomb, pouring out her heart. She wondered why the more deeply she cared for someone, the more pain it brought her. Guo Jing had once promised to be with her forever, yet he had been titled Golden Dagger Son-in-law by the Mongols. Her father, Huang Yaoshi, overheard her lamentations and, filled with rage, declared his intention to kill Guo Jing, calling him shameless.
Huang Rong tried to defend Guo Jing, explaining his simple nature and how his acceptance of the title was due to an obligation to the Mongolians. Huang Yaoshi then revealed that Guo Jing had walked into his own trap and was currently ensnared in the Peach Blossom Formation. Huang Rong desperately wanted to save him, but her father forbade it, threatening to make Guo Jing die miserably if she dared to intervene.
He asserted that this was to show Guo Jing the severe consequences of wronging his daughter. Meanwhile, inside the cave, Zhou Botong continued recounting the tale of the Nine Yin Manual to Guo Jing. He explained how Huang Yaoshi's wife, feigning a lack of martial arts knowledge, had persuaded him to lend her the manual. To his surprise, she later returned it, claiming it was fake.
She even recited a different text from memory, accusing Ouyang Feng of swapping the original. Guo Jing, initially confused, soon realized the clever deception. Zhou Botong revealed that Mrs. Huang possessed an extraordinary photographic memory, capable of memorizing the entire manual after a single reading and even reciting it backward, a brilliant trait inherited by Huang Rong.
He then recounted Mrs. Huang's tragic end: after the "Twin Killers," Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng, stole her transcribed copy of the manual, she, while pregnant, exhausted herself attempting to rewrite it from memory for Huang Yaoshi, ultimately dying in childbirth. Guo Jing concluded that the manual brought only misfortune. Suddenly, the cave resonated with the melodic yet unsettling "Jade-colored Tidal Wave Song" played by Huang Yaoshi. Zhou Botong quickly instructed Guo Jing to sit down and enter meditation.
Though Zhou Botong himself struggled immensely, eventually collapsing under its influence, Guo Jing, through his inner cultivation and pure heart, managed to withstand the powerful melody. Impressed, Huang Yaoshi ceased playing. Once recovered, Zhou Botong praised Guo Jing's resilience, noting that Huang Yaoshi had to employ his most potent technique against him. Guo Jing humbly attributed his presence to his belief that Huang Yaoshi disliked him and he had come to die.
Curious about Guo Jing's unexpected strength, Zhou Botong inquired about his masters. Guo Jing listed his teachers: the Seven Heroes of the South, Taoist Ma Yu, and Hong Qigong, who taught him the Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms. Zhou Botong, observing Guo Jing's pure state during the music, deduced that Huang Yaoshi's true intent was to test the nature of Guo Jing's relationship with Huang Rong, and Guo Jing had merely been an unfortunate casualty of this elaborate test.
Guo Jing apologized for inadvertently involving Zhou Botong, but the elder dismissed it. Desiring a companion to practice his unique techniques, Zhou Botong insisted on teaching Guo Jing his self-created "Mutual Hands Combat." Guo Jing initially resisted, claiming he was too dull and only wished to see Huang Rong to explain himself. Zhou Botong, exasperated, argued that mastering formidable martial arts was crucial to gain Huang Yaoshi's approval and successfully marry Huang Rong. Convinced, Guo Jing agreed to learn.
The first lesson involved simultaneously drawing a perfect square with one hand and a perfect circle with the other. Despite hours of effort, Guo Jing struggled to coordinate his hands independently. Zhou Botong, who had spent fifteen years perfecting this skill, grew increasingly frustrated by Guo Jing's perceived denseness. Meanwhile, Huang Yaoshi confined Huang Rong to her room.
When she attempted to leave, he sternly threatened to kill Guo Jing, promising him a swift death if she remained obedient but a gruesome end if she defied him. Alone, Huang Rong grappled with a heart-wrenching dilemma. She vowed not to let her father kill Guo Jing, but realized that saving him would likely mean his return to Mongolia to marry the princess as the Golden Dagger Son-in-law.
The thought of this outcome made her feel she "can't live any more." She then found herself understanding Mu Nianci's past sorrow, concluding that "love is the most potent poison in this world." On their journey back to Niu Village, Yang Kang and Mu Nianci stopped at an inn. Yang Kang seemed distracted, and Mu Nianci asked if he was still contemplating Wanyan Honglie's words, which he denied.
Later that night, Mei Chaofeng suddenly burst into their room, intent on killing Yang Kang. She explained that Huang Yaoshi, her former master, had ordered her to eliminate anyone who had learned the Nine Yin Manual, which Yang Kang had inadvertently practiced. Yang Kang pleaded for his life, reminding her of his past kindness to her and his own tragic parental history.
Mei Chaofeng, out of a sense of past obligation, agreed to spare his life but insisted on destroying his martial arts. Feigning acceptance, Yang Kang offered her tea as a gesture of respect, then cunningly stabbed her. As he and Mu Nianci attempted to flee, they were intercepted by Wanyan Honglie's men, who had been sent to find Yang Kang. The men informed him that Wanyan Honglie wished to meet him on a bridge three nights later.
However, Yang Kang defiantly sent a message back, vowing to kill Wanyan Honglie if they ever met again, firm in his commitment to have nothing more to do with his adoptive father due to their "vengeful grudge." Mu Nianci, overjoyed by Yang Kang's unwavering stance, assured him that her recent physical suffering was worth hearing his declaration. Yang Kang, in turn, promised to protect her and ensure her safety for the rest of her life.
Back in the cave, after an entire night of persistent effort, Guo Jing surprised Zhou Botong by finally mastering the Dual Cultivation technique, successfully drawing a perfect square and circle simultaneously. Zhou Botong marvelled that Guo Jing achieved in one night what took him half a month, jokingly attributing it to Guo Jing's "dullness" which allowed for unparalleled focus, unlike his own easily distracted mind. He called Guo Jing a "lucky fool."
Zhou Botong then introduced the second lesson: performing South Mountain Fist with one hand and Yue Maiden Sword with the other. During their meal, which Zhou Botong explained was regularly provided by Huang Yaoshi, Guo Jing discovered a hidden note from Huang Rong in his steamed bun, which mentioned the upcoming "full moon night in 7 days." Before Guo Jing could fully read it, Zhou Botong quickly snatched and ate the note, asserting that "no paper, no trouble."
Though Guo Jing was eager to know its contents, Zhou Botong cryptically stated he would understand his "kindness" later and urged him to eat or resume training. When Guo Jing expressed his desire to find Huang Rong, Zhou Botong questioned his intentions, and upon hearing Guo Jing wished to marry her, reminded him of the importance of obtaining Huang Yaoshi's permission through proper channels, including parental consent and a matchmaker.
Inspired by this advice, Guo Jing then summoned his loyal white condors, realizing they could carry messages to his masters, ensuring a polite and proper approach to seeking Huang Rong's hand in marriage.
