The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 37 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
The Yuezhou assembly descended into chaos as Elder Li and Elder Yu sacrificed their lives to protest Yang Kang's collaboration with the Jin and his plan to move the Beggars' Sect south. Amidst this turmoil, Guo Jing, tied and silenced, found a breakthrough in understanding the Big Dipper Formation by observing the night sky.
As the last Elder fell, Lu Youjiao, deeply pained by the sight of his brethren's sacrifice, desperately implored Yang Kang not to be exploited by the Jin. Yang Kang, however, remained unmoved. Qiu Qianren then stepped forward, challenging Lu Youjiao who, though no match for Qiu Qianren's renewed skill, adamantly refused to surrender to the Jin. From his restraints, Guo Jing watched, noticing Qiu Qianren's surprising prowess.
With a powerful roar, Guo Jing broke free from his bonds and unsealed his mute point. He immediately joined the fray, using the formidable Big Dipper Formation to confront Qiu Qianren. Seeing Guo Jing and Huang Rong now unrestrained and fighting back, Yang Kang grew anxious, ordering his followers to subdue them. Elder Peng, aiming to wear down Guo Jing and Huang Rong, suggested a strategy of continuous attacks.
The relentless assault pushed Guo Jing and Huang Rong to the very edge of a cliff. Facing imminent danger, Huang Rong expressed her contentment to die alongside Guo Jing. Just as Yang Kang ordered his men to dash forward, Guo Jing swiftly lifted Huang Rong onto the altar. From there, Huang Rong quickly snatched the Dog-beating Staff, brandishing it as she announced to the assembly that Chief Hong Qigong was still alive, and Yang Kang had been spreading deceitful rumors.
Yang Kang tried to reassert his authority, ordering his men to push Guo Jing off the cliff and seize Huang Rong. Huang Rong countered by pointing out the plight of the Beggars' Sect under Yang Kang's false leadership, specifically mentioning the deaths of Elder Li and Elder Yu and the severe injury of Master Lu.
She then dramatically revealed Yang Kang's true identity, declaring him to be Wanyan Kang, son of Prince Zhao Wanyan Honglie of the Jin, and accused him of colluding with the Iron Palm Sect to betray the Song. To prove her claims, Huang Rong produced an Iron Palm Sect token that she had subtly taken from Yang Kang during their skirmish. Yang Kang reacted with an attempted assassination, attacking Huang Rong to silence her, but Guo Jing intervened.
When the elders still expressed doubt, particularly Elder Peng, who questioned her knowledge of the Dog-beating Staff Routines, Master Lu Youjiao, despite his injuries, confirmed that Huang Rong indeed performed the authentic routines, including Carefree Fist, and explained that the thirty-six routines are passed down verbally and through demonstration.
Challenged by Elder Peng and two other elders to prove her legitimacy, Huang Rong skillfully demonstrated the Dog-beating Staff Routines, effortlessly defeating them with moves like "Whack Two Dogs" and "Jab the Dog’s Bottom." With the truth undeniable, the Beggars' Sect disciples knelt, recognizing Huang Rong as their new Chief. Qiu Qianren, seeing their plans unravel, quickly advised Yang Kang that it was time to leave.
Yang Kang and Qiu Qianren made their escape, leaving Huang Rong to assume her new role. The Beggars' Sect elders began to prepare for the traditional spitting ceremony for a new chief, but Huang Rong abolished the ritual, stating that while faith must be followed, rigid etiquette was secondary. She appointed Master Jian and the eight-bag disciples to travel to Lin'an to escort Chief Hong Qigong back.
Master Lu Youjiao was entrusted to oversee the sect in her absence, after he had recovered from his injuries, and she specifically instructed him to ensure a proper burial for Elder Yu and Elder Li. With the Beggars' Sect affairs temporarily settled, Huang Rong and Guo Jing departed, now focused on deciphering the mystery of Qu Lingfeng's painting to prevent the Jin from getting the Wumu Manual. Just then, they spotted a familiar figure, Qiu Qianzhang, performing street tricks.
Huang Rong, recalling his earlier inconsistencies, questioned him about their previous meeting. When Qiu Qianzhang mistakenly mentioned Lin'an, Huang Rong pressed him on his whereabouts the previous night, exposing his lies. Attempting to escape by feigning a stomachache, Qiu Qianzhang was blocked by Guo Jing and Huang Rong.
Cornered, the trickster proposed a meeting seven days later at the foot of Iron Palm Mountain, a name that immediately piqued Huang Rong's interest, as it matched a phrase in the mysterious painting. Despite Guo Jing's doubts about Qiu Qianzhang's erratic behavior and skills, Huang Rong agreed to the meeting, intending to investigate Iron Palm Mountain. Meanwhile, the real Qiu Qianren led Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang to Iron Palm Mountain.
Upon arrival, Wanyan Honglie was captivated by the unique five-fingered peaks of the mountain, which Qiu Qianren explained was how the Iron Palm Sect derived its name. Curious about his host's background, Wanyan Honglie inquired how Qiu Qianren, a southerner, came to lead the sect. Qiu Qianren recounted that his late predecessor, Shangguan Jiannan, a former subordinate of General Han Shizhong, had chosen him over his twin brother to pass on his advanced martial arts due to his superior talent.
Wanyan Honglie then subtly probed about any belongings Yue Fei might have left behind after his death, but Qiu Qianren feigned ignorance and disinterest. Wanyan Honglie's keen observation confirmed his suspicion that Iron Palm Mountain was indeed the mountain depicted in Qu Lingfeng's painting, and he became convinced that the Wumu Manual was hidden there. Yang Kang, eager to prove himself and display his new skills learned from Ouyang Feng, suggested sending Chief Peng and others to search the mountain.
However, Wanyan Honglie advised caution, noting the pervasive sentry posts and guards. He explained that Qiu Qianren's alliance with the Jin was born more from his disdain for the Song than genuine loyalty, and he might resist if he knew they were after the Manual. Wanyan Honglie also clarified that the incompetent individual Yang Kang encountered at Guiyun Manor was likely Qiu Qianren's twin brother, not the formidable Qiu Qianren himself.
He admonished Yang Kang not to underestimate Guo Jing and Huang Rong, whose skills had greatly improved, and encouraged him to focus on learning from Ouyang Feng, as the Wumu Manual was their last hope for the Jin's declining military fortunes. Later, Yang Kang escorted a visibly weary and pregnant Mu Nianci for a walk.
She confessed her concern about Chief Hong Qigong, to which Yang Kang admitted that Hong Qigong was indeed poisoned by Ouyang Feng, alive but stripped of his martial arts. Noticing Mu Nianci's unspoken unhappiness about her pregnancy without being married, Yang Kang assured her that he would propose their marriage to Wanyan Honglie in a few days, especially now that he had a lead on the Wumu Manual.
He then revealed that their extended stay at Iron Palm Sect was due to the painting's hint about the manual's location. As they approached a unique mountain peak, Yang Kang and Mu Nianci attempted to explore it, but Qiu Qianren intercepted them, declaring it a forbidden area, the "second knuckle of the Middle Finger Peak," where ancestors' remains and relics were interred. Trespassers, even the chief, faced death.
Yang Kang, feigning understanding, retreated with Mu Nianci but inwardly rejoiced, now certain of the manual's hiding place. Meanwhile, Guo Jing and Huang Rong, after days of travel, finally arrived at Iron Palm Mountain. Huang Rong, leveraging the information from a tea house waiter she had skillfully coerced and her keen intellect, had deduced that the "second" in Qu Lingfeng's painting referred to the "second knuckle" of the mountain.
Using an Iron Palm token they possessed, they gained entry, disguised as Iron Palm Sect disciples. They observed Qiu Qianren practicing, with Huang Rong dismissively calling his moves a trick, but Guo Jing sensed a deeper, more refined inner power behind his seemingly simple actions. Their observation was cut short when they were called out by other sect members.
