The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 31 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
As a storm raged, Yang Kang ruthlessly stabbed Guo Jing from behind, after Ouyang Feng had entangled Guo Jing, creating an opening. Yang Kang, having found the Wumu Manual, joined Wanyan Honglie's group in seizing the stone box containing it and escaping. Wanyan Honglie was greatly pleased. Meanwhile, Huang Rong, after drawing the attention of imperial guards, returned to find Guo Jing gravely wounded and unconscious in a cave. Distraught, she cried out his name, "Jing! Jing! Jing!
Please don’t die! Jing! Wake up!" as she carefully helped him out of the cave. Huang Rong brought Guo Jing back to Qu San Tavern in Niu Village. A dagger, thrust into Guo Jing’s side by Yang Kang, was still embedded there, staining his clothes with blood. Huang Rong hesitated, fearing to pull it out herself, but Shagu, in her simple-minded way, playfully yanked it free. The sudden pain brought Guo Jing back to consciousness.
He was relieved to learn that the Wumu Manual had not fallen into the wrong hands. Seeing Huang Rong's tears, he reassured her, "There’re ways of healing in the Nine Yin Manual. I won’t die." He explained that healing would require them to sit in seclusion for seven days and seven nights, maintaining a constant inner power flow without any movement, or they risked serious injury. Huang Rong immediately thought of the secret chamber beneath the tavern.
As she helped Guo Jing to the chamber, she instructed Shagu not to tell anyone about their presence. However, Shagu, singing a repetitive tune about them eating watermelons inside, inadvertently revealed their secret. Fearing Shagu might accidentally endanger Guo Jing, Huang Rong considered drastic measures, but Guo Jing stopped her, insisting, "She is simple-minded. She knows no evil at all. How could you kill someone like that? If she dies because of me, I would never forgive myself."
Heartbroken after witnessing Yang Kang's betrayal, Mu Nianci reflected on her misplaced trust. " I thought he would become a hero who’d care about the people. I never expected he’d help the wicked and killed his sworn brother," she lamented. Overwhelmed by despair and feeling she had failed her adoptive parents and Guo Jing, she whispered an apology to her adoptive father before closing her eyes and throwing herself into a nearby lake.
Later, Wanyan Honglie and his entourage, having escaped the palace with what they believed to be the Wumu Manual, sought refuge at Qu San Tavern. Wanyan Honglie expressed relief, despite being pursued by Lin'an troops and even the eccentric Zhou Botong. When he eagerly opened the stone box, hoping to finally inspect the Wumu Manual, he discovered it was empty. He concluded the manual must still be within Cuihan Hall in the Imperial Palace.
Yang Kang volunteered to return, but Wanyan Honglie recognized the palace security would be heightened. He turned to Ouyang Feng, who, believing Guo Jing to be dead, agreed to help, thinking Zhou Botong was now his only key to the Nine Yin Manual. Ouyang Feng departed with his men, leaving Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang to await their return.
Wanyan Honglie then reminisced to Yang Kang about meeting his mother, Bao Xiruo, in Niu Village nineteen years ago, recounting how she had saved him and how he had fallen deeply in love, which ultimately led to the ruin of the Guo and Yang families. Unbeknownst to them, Guo Jing overheard this from the secret chamber, infuriated by Wanyan Honglie's audacity. " The wicked Wanyan Honglie is just steps away from me. I can simply kill him with this dagger!"
he fumed, wanting vengeance for his father and the Yang family. Huang Rong, however, held him back, reminding him that a gentleman's revenge can wait and his immediate priority was to heal. Wanyan Honglie then imparted some counsel to Yang Kang: to achieve greatness, one must forget love and worries and possess the courage to sever all ties. He declared his ambition to conquer the world with Yang Kang.
Guo Jing, still seething, muttered about Wanyan Honglie’s "despicable" actions and vowed to kill him. Huang Rong once more urged him to calm down and focus on his recovery. Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace's kitchen, staff puzzled over mysteriously disappearing dishes, speculating they had angered the Kitchen God. High above on the rafters, Hong Qigong sat, happily devouring the stolen food, his face gleaming with grease.
Zhou Botong, bored with Hong Qigong's continuous eating, declared he was "out for fun" and left the kitchen. Ouyang Feng's group returned to the Imperial Palace, noting the significantly tightened security. Inside, Zhou Botong, still seeking entertainment, encountered Sha Tongtian and his companions. He decided to play a prank, causing the men to scream about ghosts and flee in terror. Ouyang Feng, however, recognized Zhou Botong and asked him to translate the strange writings in the Nine Yin Manual.
Zhou Botong, ever playful, challenged Ouyang Feng to catch him first and dashed away. Elsewhere, at the Changtai Inn, Cheng Yaojia was about to continue her journey when the innkeeper's accomplices attempted to steal her horse. Fortunately, Lu Guanying, who had also stayed at the inn, intervened and helped her retrieve it. Discovering they were both headed to Niu Village, they decided to travel together.
Back in the secret chamber, Guo Jing felt much better, a testament to the miraculous healing techniques of the Nine Yin Manual. Huang Rong again reminded him to focus on healing. Outside, Sha Tongtian and his men returned, bruised and battered, claiming they had encountered a "ghost" in the palace, failed to retrieve the Wumu Manual, and that Ouyang Feng himself had been "caught by the ghost."
Wanyan Honglie, exasperated, left with Yang Kang for Zhoujing Hall, ordering the others to wait for Ouyang Feng. Guo Jing, hearing they had failed to secure the manual, felt a surge of relief. At Zhoujing Hall, Wanyan Honglie received alarming news: the Mongolians had captured Yan and Yun Sixteen Prefectures, placing Jin in a precarious position. Disillusioned by Ouyang Feng's lukewarm commitment, Wanyan Honglie resolved to seek assistance from Qiu Qianren of the Iron Palm Sect.
Starving, Sha Tongtian's group rummaged through Qu San Tavern and accidentally uncovered the entrance to the secret chamber. Huang Rong quickly donned Zhou Botong's ghost mask, terrifying them and making them flee, though she worried how long the trick would last. Soon after, Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia arrived at the tavern. Cheng Yaojia explained she was seeking her master's senior, Qu Lingfeng.
Lu Guanying, who was actively looking for Guo Jing, also shared a troubling rumor he'd heard: Huang Rong had supposedly died in a shipwreck, and her father, Huang Yaoshi, blamed Guo Jing and was seeking revenge. Inside the chamber, both Guo Jing and Huang Rong were stunned by this news. Guo Jing, agitated, wanted to confront Huang Yaoshi, but Huang Rong urged him to maintain his healing.
Meanwhile, Zhou Botong and Ouyang Feng continued their playful chase when they encountered Huang Yaoshi, who appeared grim and inquired about Guo Jing's whereabouts. Unaware of Huang Yaoshi's anger, Zhou Botong blithely directed him to Qu San Tavern in Niu Village. Outside the tavern, Lu Guanying offered Cheng Yaojia refuge at Guiyun Manor. Just then, Cheng Yaojia's master, Sun Bu'er of the Quanzhen Sect, arrived. Misinterpreting Lu Guanying's actions as inappropriate, Sun Bu'er immediately attacked him.
Before the situation could be resolved, Sha Tongtian's group, having realized they were tricked, returned to the tavern. Seeing the three martial artists, they mistakenly assumed they were the "ghosts" who had scared them earlier and quickly overpowered and captured Lu Guanying, Cheng Yaojia, and Sun Bu'er. Sha Tongtian then declared his intent to search the tavern for more "ghosts."
