The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 40 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Guo Jing and Huang Rong arrived at Taoyuan County, Huang Rong's condition worsening, her face growing paler. Following Ying's instructions, Guo Jing first opened the white pouch. It indicated that only Emperor Duan, the Southern Emperor who was on par with Huang Yaoshi, Ouyang Feng, and Hong Qigong, could save Huang Rong. Opening the second red pouch, they learned that Emperor Duan had become a recluse to avoid conflict, making him extremely difficult to meet.
Seeking medical treatment was a taboo, and his four disciples—the Fisherman, Woodsman, Farmer, and Scholar—would launch preemptive strikes to prevent them from passing. Therefore, they were instructed to pretend Hong Qigong had sent them. Once they met Emperor Duan, they were to hand him the drawing from the yellow pouch, which was Huang Rong's only hope.
Guo Jing expressed reluctance to lie, but Huang Rong assured him that her good fortune was in having met an honest man like him, urging him to tell the truth. As they continued, they encountered a serene river where a fisherman, wearing a bamboo hat, sat on a log bridge, seemingly fishing. Huang Rong recognized him as the first of Emperor Duan’s disciples, the Fisherman, who was blocking their path.
The Fisherman claimed he was trying to catch a gold salamander to combat a noxious insect plague in the village. Huang Rong seized the opportunity, asking Guo Jing to catch one for her in the river. Distracted by the golden salamander Guo Jing presented, the Fisherman let down his guard, allowing them to pass. As they crossed, Huang Rong quickly instructed Guo Jing to break the bridge, successfully overcoming the first challenge.
Further up the mountain, they found the path seemingly ended. A Woodsman was diligently binding firewood, paying them little attention. Huang Rong surmised that the Woodsman, assuming they had been allowed to pass by the Fisherman, was not on guard against them. She believed they simply needed to please him to gain passage. Observing the Woodsman’s deep and powerful voice and martial arts prowess, Huang Rong speculated he was a former general turned recluse.
She echoed his recitation of "Tongguan Elegy" with a poem about finding peace in nature, both reflecting on the suffering caused by war. Impressed by their understanding and insight, the Woodsman pointed them to the only way up the mountain: scaling the sheer cliff face using the hanging vines. Guo Jing, with Huang Rong on his back, began the arduous climb. His grip was firm, but the ascent was slow and taxing.
At one point, his hands slipped, and they plunged several feet. Huang Rong, terrified, begged him to let her go, fearing they would both fall. Guo Jing adamantly refused, reminding her of their vow to always be together, alive or dead. He urged her to use a thin rattan to tie them together for safety, but she tearfully refused. He persisted, biting down on his lip, but his strength waned, and they fell again.
Huang Rong’s arm slipped from his neck, but Guo Jing miraculously caught a vine. Despite her desperate pleas to give up, Guo Jing refused, his resolve unwavering. Through sheer determination, they eventually reached the top of the cliff. Continuing their journey, they encountered a strong Farmer struggling to hold up a giant boulder, claiming it would crush his ox if he let go. Guo Jing, ever kind-hearted, offered to help.
However, the Farmer immediately exposed his true intention, knowing they sought treatment for Huang Rong and intending to prevent them from passing. He challenged Guo Jing about his master. Guo Jing declared his master to be Hong Qigong, the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar. Huang Rong, noticing the Farmer's tactic, cleverly outwitted him, and the couple swiftly continued their journey, leaving the Farmer struggling with the boulder.
They then came upon a broken bridge spanning a gurgling stream, with a small pavilion nearby. Inside, a Scholar diligently read a sage's book. Huang Rong identified him as the last of Emperor Duan’s four disciples. She engaged him in a discussion about Confucius, revealing her deep understanding of the Analects. The Scholar, impressed by her ability to discern the hidden meaning in a passage about Confucius's 72 disciples, challenged her to complete a couplet.
He presented the first line: "With Qin, Se, Pi, and Pa, four kings share a common countenance." Huang Rong responded with: "With Chi, Mei, Wang, and Liang, four devils reveal their true intentions," a witty and pointed jab at the four disciples who had tried to block their path. The Scholar laughed, acknowledging the perfection and daring nature of her reply.
He then directed them across the broken bridge, implying that with a bridge in their hearts, their feet would guide them. Guo Jing carried Huang Rong, and they successfully "walked" across the seemingly impassable bridge. Having passed all four challenges, Guo Jing carried Huang Rong unimpeded to a monastery. A young sweeping monk informed them that Emperor Duan no longer lived in this world, plunging Guo Jing into despair. He refused to give up, insisting they find other renowned doctors.
Huang Rong, however, felt her time was short and preferred to spend her last days peacefully in the monastery rather than enduring futile journeys. As she spoke, she coughed violently, spitting blood, and then collapsed. Guo Jing desperately tried to transfer his inner energy to her, but it was to no avail. Huang Rong, weakly caressing his face, expressed her desire that he not be too sad.
Devastated, Guo Jing knelt outside in the pouring rain, pleading with Heaven to save Huang Rong. He recalled his mother teaching him that good deeds are rewarded, and although Huang Rong was mischievous, she had done no evil. He offered his own life in exchange for hers, staying on his knees all night. The next morning, a venerable master approached him, introducing himself as Yideng, the very Emperor Duan Guo Jing sought.
Relieved and overjoyed, Guo Jing learned that "Emperor Duan no longer lives in this world" meant his identity as a monk, Yideng. Guo Jing presented Yideng with the drawing from the yellow pouch. Yideng recognized it as a drawing depicting the story of King Sibi, who cut flesh from his own body to save a dove, a tale meant to subtly goad him into treating Huang Rong.
He examined Huang Rong, confirming her severe internal injuries, with her internal organs damaged and circulation blocked. Despite his disciples' pleas not to sacrifice his own well-being by using his most powerful martial arts, Yideng declared that saving lives was paramount. He ordered Guo Jing to stand guard, ensuring no one, not even his own disciples, entered, as Huang Rong's life depended on it.
During the treatment, Huang Rong experienced extreme sensations of heat and cold, as if between a volcano and an ice cave. After the intense healing process, Yideng, now with white hair and a much older appearance, announced that Huang Rong was cured and would fully recover in a couple of days. However, to save her, he had used his Divine Finger and Xiantian Skill, completely depleting his inner power.
It would take him five years of diligent cultivation to regain his martial arts, with any mistake leading to permanent invalidity or even death. Guo Jing and Huang Rong were overwhelmed by his sacrifice, finally understanding the true meaning of Ying's pouches and the King Sibi drawing—it was not a test, but a powerful moral imperative to ensure Yideng would use his unique skills to save Huang Rong, even at such a great personal cost.
