The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 35 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Hua Zheng was overjoyed to see Guo Jing, exclaiming that she knew he would come to her rescue. Guo Jing checked if she was hurt, reassuring her that everything was fine. Huang Rong then pointed out Qiu Qianzhang to her father, Huang Yaoshi, recalling that Qiu Qianzhang had claimed Huang Yaoshi was dead back in Guiyun Manor, causing her great sorrow. Huang Yaoshi, angered by this, instructed Huang Rong to tear off Qiu Qianzhang's skin to make a waterskin.
Huang Rong enthusiastically agreed and began to slap Qiu Qianzhang repeatedly. Qiu Qianzhang tried to deter Huang Rong from further slapping him by humorously claiming that "she" had already suffered internal injury and needed 49 days of secluded recuperation without exposure to wind, or "she" would be doomed. One of Guo Jing's masters remarked that the Chief of Iron Palm Sect, once formidable, was now no match for a girl.
Qiu Qianzhang quickly retorted that he had merely held back his strength because Huang Rong was a delicate girl. When Guo Jing offered to fight him without any restraints, Qiu Qianzhang, seeking to avoid a real fight, claimed he needed to relieve himself. While he was attempting to escape under this pretext, Zhu Cong deftly took a token from him, which was identified as the Iron Palm Sect's revered Chief token, granting the holder safe passage across a vast region.
Realizing Qiu Qianzhang had slipped away, the group expressed their carelessness. Guo Jing then turned to Tolui and Hua Zheng, asking why they were there. Tolui explained that they had encountered the con man Qiu Qianzhang after their alliance with the Song court, who had tricked and captured them. Tolui then asked if Guo Jing had avenged his father and reminded him that Genghis Khan was awaiting his return to Mongolia to marry Hua Zheng.
Huang Rong asked Guo Jing if Hua Zheng was his fiancée, and upon his affirmation, she questioned why he would marry someone else when he had only her in his heart. Huang Yaoshi demanded Guo Jing declare that he would marry his daughter and never see Hua Zheng again. Guo Jing stated that he regarded Hua Zheng as a sister, having grown up together, and would miss her if he could no longer see her.
Huang Rong, trying to appear understanding, told Guo Jing he could see whomever he liked, believing he wouldn't truly love Hua Zheng. Huang Yaoshi pressed Guo Jing further, urging him to make it clear to everyone that he would marry Huang Rong. Tolui, recalling Genghis Khan's decree naming Guo Jing "Gold Dagger Son-in-law," urged him to return to Mongolia.
Hua Zheng, despite her sorrow, told them not to force Guo Jing, stating she would return to Mongolia alone as countless brave men would vie for her hand. Tolui, furious, declared that he and Guo Jing were no longer brothers, though he acknowledged Guo Jing's past kindness in saving his father and promised to care for Guo Jing's mother.
As Tolui, Hua Zheng, and Master Jebe turned to leave, Master Ke Zhen'e advised Guo Jing that while matters of the heart were personal, a man must never forsake his brothers and should always prioritize loyalty. Torn, Guo Jing finally called out, announcing his decision to marry Hua Zheng, explaining that he must honor his word.
Huang Yaoshi, enraged, offered to kill Hua Zheng to solve the problem, but Huang Rong intervened, saying that if Hua Zheng died, Guo Jing would hate her forever, and she didn't want him to hate her even if they couldn't be together. Guo Jing apologized to Huang Rong, who said she understood. She lamented that she was merely a swallow compared to them, like two condors on the steppes.
She asked Guo Jing why he had to marry Hua Zheng if he loved her. Guo Jing, admitting he was not bright and often struggled to understand things, firmly stated that he must keep his word. Tolui then invited Guo Jing to return to Mongolia with them, but Guo Jing explained he still needed to avenge his father by killing Wanyan Honglie and had promised Chief Hong to go to Yuezhou for an errand.
Hua Zheng agreed to meet him in Lin'an on August 6th, and they departed. Huang Yaoshi urged Huang Rong to return home and never see Guo Jing again. However, Huang Rong asserted that she would accompany Guo Jing to Yuezhou, stating that since he was marrying someone else, she would marry someone else too, but if he only had her in his heart, she would only have him in hers. She wanted to spend every remaining day with him happily.
As heavy rain poured, Guo Jing apologized to Huang Rong, expressing remorse that his past promise to Genghis Khan had led to their current predicament. Huang Rong assured him she didn't hate him, but wished they had never left Sunset Glow Island to avoid such troubles. She embraced the rain, saying there was no use running from what awaited them, and they should cherish every moment they had together.
Suddenly, Guo Jing noticed that the painting Huang Rong had given him was ruined by the rain. To their surprise, the water revealed hidden writings on the painting: "Wumu Manual," "Iron Palm," "Middle Peak," and "Second." Huang Rong realized that the painting, stolen by Qu Lingfeng from the palace, was not the Wumu Manual itself, but a guide to its whereabouts. She theorized that the writing pointed to Iron Palm Mountain.
Meanwhile, Wanyan Honglie expressed suspicion to Yang Kang about Mu Nianci's recent change in demeanor, noting her past animosity and newfound closeness. Yang Kang defended her, claiming she was a simple-minded girl, now pregnant with his child, and had a renewed appreciation for life after a brush with death.
Wanyan Honglie remained cautious but decided to send Mu Nianci with Yang Kang to Yuezhou, believing her connection to the Beggars' Sect and Hong Qigong would help Yang Kang smoothly secure the position of Chief. Despite some hesitation, Mu Nianci agreed, assuring Wanyan Honglie that Yang Kang would take care of her during the journey.
In Yuezhou, Yang Kang and Mu Nianci were courteously greeted by three nine-bag elders of the Beggars' Sect's Clean Clothes Faction, including Master Peng, who had arranged a banquet for them. During their meeting, the elders expressed skepticism about Yang Kang's claim that Chief Hong Qigong had personally passed him the Dog-Beating Staff. They questioned how the invincible Hong Qigong could have been in danger enough to require saving, and demanded supporting evidence.
Later, a frustrated Yang Kang confessed to Mu Nianci that he needed something to win the elders' trust before the assembly. He then insisted that she teach him the Carefree Fist, a unique martial art taught to her by Hong Qigong, which he believed would serve as proof of his connection to the former Chief. Mu Nianci reluctantly complied.
The next day, Yang Kang staged a dramatic display of the Carefree Fist in public, impressing the elders who observed from a distance. Convinced, they acknowledged Yang Kang's legitimacy, secretly hoping his leadership would benefit the Clean Clothes Faction. Guo Jing and Huang Rong also arrived in Yuezhou and met Lu Youjiao, an elder of the Beggars' Sect's Dirty Clothes Faction, at a tavern.
Lu Youjiao, overhearing them discussing the Iron Palm Sect, warned them of its power and its leaders' collusion with Jin forces. Huang Rong, however, jokingly mimicked Qiu Qianzhang's earlier excuse to use the restroom, making light of his supposed Iron Palm prowess. Guo Jing then asked Lu Youjiao about the distinction between the Clean and Dirty Clothes Factions of the Beggars' Sect.
Lu Youjiao explained that his faction comprised genuine beggars who lived simply, while the Clean Clothes Faction maintained a more conventional lifestyle. Huang Rong, observing Lu Youjiao's unkempt appearance, innocently remarked that he was "literally in rags and stank," questioning why the Dirty Clothes Faction chose to live in such squalor and suggesting that washing more often would allow the factions to merge. Offended, Lu Youjiao accused her of looking down on beggars and stormed off.
Guo Jing attempted to apologize, while Huang Rong, still puzzled, wondered why he was angry. Guo Jing, teasing her, explained that Lu Youjiao's name, "Youjiao," meant "stinking feet," and he used them to kick dogs, implying Huang Rong's comment had likened her to a "mean dog." Meanwhile, Yang Kang and his group arrived at the same tavern.
Spotting Guo Jing and Huang Rong, Yang Kang quickly gathered the elders he was with and falsely informed them that Chief Hong Qigong had passed away, hoping to further solidify his position and trust among them. Just then, Master Peng, one of the Clean Clothes Faction elders, approached Guo Jing and Huang Rong. He claimed that Lu Youjiao, a poisoning expert, had poisoned their food in revenge for Huang Rong's words and offered them an antidote.
Huang Rong was skeptical, boasting of her and Guo Jing's immunity to poisons and comparing Lu Youjiao's supposed poison to Ouyang Feng's potent concoctions, which had caused a fiery, crawling sensation in their throats. Undeterred, Master Peng told them to look into his eyes. Despite Huang Rong's initial defiance, calling his eyes "pig's eyes," both she and Guo Jing soon felt their eyelids grow heavy, their limbs weaken, and they fell into a deep sleep.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong later awoke in a dark, dusty, dilapidated room, their hands and feet bound. They struggled to understand what had happened. Huang Rong recalled Master Peng's hypnotic gaze. Yang Kang then entered, gloating that their ropes, twisted from cowhide and steel strings, were unbreakable, and they could not escape.
