The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 44 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Huang Rong stood by the river, her shadow puppet clutched in her hand, singing a melancholic song about inevitable parting and a gloomy world. She confessed to Guo Jing that she had learned this song from a shadow play artist on the day she sent him to get mould cake, specifically to sing it for him before they parted.
With the dawn, Guo Jing was meant to return to Princess Hua Zheng, and Huang Rong feared they would never see each other again. She poured her heart into the song, hoping it would embed itself in his memory, ensuring he would never forget her. Deeply moved, Guo Jing embraced her as she wept silently. The somber mood was abruptly broken the next morning when a messenger arrived, asking for Guo Jing.
The man delivered a letter contained in an embroidered sachet, which Guo Jing recognized by his name stitched on it—a token he had given Tolui when they became sworn brothers. His eyes lit up with joy as he read the contents. He excitedly called Huang Rong over, declaring that the August 6th appointment was cancelled! Tolui had written that Hua Zheng had thought things over and their engagement was off. They could finally be together.
Overjoyed, they embraced and spun in circles, exclaiming their happiness. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Hua Zheng and Tolui waited in vain for Guo Jing until the city gates closed for the night. Tolui gently told Hua Zheng that Guo Jing was not coming, explaining that if he truly couldn't make it, he would have sent word. Hua Zheng, despite her disappointment, had no choice but to leave with Tolui.
At his royal residence, Yang Kang received a report from Sha Tongtian, confirming that Guo Jing had seen the sachet and note and had not returned to Mongolia. Yang Kang was pleased that his first step had succeeded and predicted Guo Jing would now head to Peach Blossom Island. He boasted to Nianci that he would soon obtain the Wumu Manual and rule the world. On Peach Blossom Island, Heretic Huang, Huang Yaoshi, was exasperated.
He was attempting to teach Shagu, his disciple Qu Lingfeng's daughter, to write, but she struggled even with the simple character for "Qu," her father's surname. Huang Yaoshi sighed, wondering how Qu Lingfeng could have had such a silly daughter. At the same time, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan arrived on the island looking for Huang Yaoshi. He, however, refused to see them, instructing a mute servant to send away "those unimportant people."
The servant then delivered a report to Huang Yaoshi, mistakenly informing him that Guo Jing had returned to Mongolia with Princess Hua Zheng and Huang Rong was left alone in Jiaxing, sad and lonely. Unaware of this mistaken report, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were happily walking hand-in-hand in Jiaxing. Guo Jing told Huang Rong he was glad his masters were on the island, as he planned to ask them to intercede with her father, Heretic Huang, for their marriage.
He also hoped his masters had resolved Heretic Huang's misunderstanding with the Quanzhen Sect, and that Heretic Huang would help them against Ouyang Feng at the upcoming Zuixian Tavern contest. Suddenly, they spotted Hong Qigong. Hong Qigong expressed his delight that Guo Jing would not have to return to Mongolia and could be with Huang Rong. Huang Rong noticed Hong Qigong seemed to be searching for someone. He confirmed he was looking for Ke Zhene.
Guo Jing was surprised, believing his eldest master was still on Peach Blossom Island. Hong Qigong explained he had seen Ke Zhene at the pier, looking disheveled and ferocious, yelling "Where is your conscience?" and threatening to "chop Rong’s head." Before Hong Qigong could question him, Ke Zhene had vanished. Hong Qigong speculated that perhaps an argument had erupted between Heretic Huang and Ke Zhene, given their similar eccentric natures.
He advised Guo Jing and Huang Rong to proceed to Peach Blossom Island as planned while he continued his search for Ke Zhene, hoping to clarify any misunderstanding. As they sailed towards Peach Blossom Island, Huang Rong confessed her anxieties to Guo Jing, asking if he would abandon her if his masters and mother disliked her. Guo Jing passionately affirmed his love, stating that her sadness brought him sadness, and her joy, joy.
He vowed to stand by her and protect her even if the entire world turned against her. Huang Rong, still uneasy, asked him to promise he would never leave her. Guo Jing, reminding her of their past trials and Hua Zheng's decision, pledged never to part from her in this life, the next, or the life after that, sealing it with a pinky promise.
Her spirits lifted, Huang Rong danced gracefully amidst the blooming peach trees, captivating Guo Jing, who thought she looked like a flower spirit. Their joyful interlude was shattered by a grim discovery. Guo Jing found his third master Han Baoju’s beloved horse dead in the peach forest, its neck and legs broken. A short distance away, Huang Rong gasped as she saw her mother's gravestone shattered. They rushed into the tomb, where they found a scene of carnage.
Guo Jing’s sixth master, Quan Jinfa, lay dead on the steps. His second master, Zhu Cong, was on the ground. Huang Rong questioned why her mother’s belongings were on Zhu Cong, but Guo Jing vehemently insisted that his master would never steal from her mother’s tomb. Deeper inside, they found other masters dead, confirming that all six masters who had come to the island were deceased, except for Ke Zhene.
They discovered an incomplete blood-written character left by his third master Han Baoju. Guo Jing immediately recognized it as part of the character for "East," referring to Heretic Huang. Enraged, he stormed into Huang Yaoshi’s room, where he found bloody clothes, which he took as irrefutable proof. Guo Jing, his voice filled with fury, vowed to find and kill Heretic Huang to avenge his masters.
Huang Rong, however, tried to reason with him, arguing that they didn't know the full truth and it might not be her father. But Guo Jing was beyond listening, pointing out that only Heretic Huang could move so freely on the island, break steel, open her mother's tomb, and kill at will. When Huang Rong asked what he would do to her if it was indeed her father, Guo Jing, in his distress, could only reply, "I don't know. .
. I don't know!" and fled from the tomb. Guo Jing desperately dug graves for his fallen masters, first with his broken sword, then with his bare, bloodied hands. As he prepared the bodies, he noticed a small jade shoe in his second master Zhu Cong's hand. He casually tossed it aside, but Huang Rong picked it up, realizing it wasn't her mother's and that the character "Zhao" was inscribed on its sole. Suddenly, anguished cries echoed through the island.
They found Guo Jing’s fourth master, Nan Xiren, covered in blood and in a state of delirium. Nan Xiren, enraged, began savagely attacking Guo Jing. Huang Rong pushed Nan Xiren away, but in his madness, he struck her. The blow landed on her soft armor, causing him immense pain and momentarily clearing his mind. With his dying breath, Nan Xiren used his fingers to draw a horizontal and vertical stroke on the ground.
Guo Jing, distraught, interpreted this as a clear indication that Nan Xiren was trying to write the character "Huang," confirming his belief that Heretic Huang was the murderer. At the freshly dug graves, Guo Jing knelt and swore to kill Heretic Huang for brutally murdering his masters. He then declared that he would never again accept any favor from anyone on this island, effectively breaking ties with Huang Rong.
She tried to stop him from leaving, reminding him they didn't know who would win in a confrontation, but he was resolute. Meanwhile, Qiu Chuji and Ma Yu arrived in Jiaxing. They discussed the challenging situation of having to contend with both Heretic Huang and Wanyan Honglie. Qiu Chuji mentioned he had summoned their brothers and his disciple Yin Zhiping to form the Big Dipper Formation, anticipating their arrival in Jiaxing soon.
Guo Jing walked through the bustling streets of Jiaxing, his face devoid of emotion. He paused at a stall selling Su's cakes, recalling how his seventh master, Han Xiaoying, had once made similar cakes in the desert. The familiar taste brought a wave of grief for his lost masters. He then made his way to Zuixian Tavern, the very place where he had shared drinks and camaraderie with his masters days earlier.
Qiu Chuji entered, carrying a large tripod, and happily reminisced about the legendary contest between himself and the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan eighteen years ago in that very tavern. As Qiu Chuji spoke of those days, tears welled in Guo Jing's eyes. He choked out the devastating news: five of his masters were dead, all but Ke Zhene. Qiu Chuji's face darkened, and he demanded to know who was responsible. Just then, Heretic Huang's distinctive flute music pierced the air. Guo Jing pushed open a window, seeing Heretic Huang fighting outside. His voice thick with hatred, Guo Jing declared to Qiu Chuji, "Heretic Huang! He killed my masters!"
