The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 49 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Heavy snow fell as tens of thousands of soldiers prepared for battle, awaiting their general's command. The war began, filling the battlefield with smoke and countless casualties. The city of Samarkhand, the new capital of Chorasmia, was well-defended and proved difficult to breach. During the assault, a feather arrow, bearing the mark of Prince Zhao of Jin, pierced and killed the Mongolian general Bo’orchu. The Mongolian forces were forced to retreat.
Temujin learned that the arrow belonged to Wanyan Honglie, who had sought refuge with King Mohammed in Samarkhand. The city was built against the extremely steep Mount Tumu, making direct assault impossible. Mohammed commanded one hundred thousand soldiers and was advised by Wanyan Honglie to engage in a protracted war, a tactic that would greatly disadvantage the Mongols. Temujin declared Wanyan Honglie their irreconcilable enemy, responsible for the deaths of Guo Jing's father and now Bo’orchu.
Guo Jing, filled with a desire for vengeance for Bo'orchu, stood ready. Temujin promised that whoever broke the city, captured Wanyan Honglie, and avenged his warrior, would be rewarded with all the people and treasures within Samarkhand. Later, Temujin asked Guo Jing if he remembered their conversation before the battle with Sengum, when he had questioned who would win. Guo Jing confidently stated that Temujin would emerge victorious in this battle as well.
Temujin expressed concern over the unusually long and cold winter, which made the war challenging. Withdrawing would expose their army to attacks from Jin from multiple directions, leading to heavy losses, while remaining static meant dwindling food supplies and plummeting morale, risking complete annihilation. Faced with such an unprecedented predicament, Temujin wondered if it was Heaven's will. Guo Jing, feeling helpless, wished Huang Rong were by his side, believing her cleverness would offer a solution.
That evening, Lu Youjiao found Guo Jing and led him to the base of Mount Tumu, informing him that Huang Rong was at the summit. Guo Jing initially doubted how Huang Rong could ascend such a perilous, icy peak, but his doubts vanished when Lu Youjiao showed him a piece of paper bearing Huang Rong's distinct handwriting, containing a poem. Resolved, Guo Jing declared that no mountain, however steep, would prevent him from reaching Rong.
With Lu Youjiao's help, who had roasted lamb legs arranged on the cliff as footholds, Guo Jing began his climb. Upon reaching the snowy summit, Guo Jing and Huang Rong shared a heartfelt reunion. Huang Rong feigned anger, playfully chiding him for being "fierce" to her on Peach Blossom Island and for pursuing his betrothal to Hua Zheng while she was held captive by Ouyang Feng.
Guo Jing, overcome with remorse, knelt to apologize, but Huang Rong quickly pulled him up, admitting she knew he worried for her and had even made a deal with Ouyang Feng for her sake. She recounted her escape from Ouyang Feng at Guiyun Manor, using her father's intricate formations, which Ouyang Feng later burned down in a rage. He had followed her to Mongolia, but she had managed to evade him.
Just then, Huang Rong subtly pointed out Ouyang Feng's shadow from behind a large rock, confirming he was still trailing them. She then turned to Guo Jing, proposing they return the following night for her to "explain the weird words in the Nine Yin Manual" to him, knowing Ouyang Feng would be listening. Guo Jing immediately understood her intention to trick him, and Huang Rong confirmed her plan to teach the Old Venom a lesson.
The following night, Huang Rong began "translating" the Nine Yin Manual for Guo Jing at the summit, ensuring Ouyang Feng, still hidden, could hear every word. Guo Jing, playing along, claimed he had memorized most of it. Ouyang Feng, believing he was successfully eavesdropping, relished the thought of acquiring the manual. Guo Jing then announced he had to leave for an hour due to Temujin's summons, promising to return to finish the translation that night.
Once Guo Jing left, Huang Rong spoke aloud to herself, feigning fear of being alone and expressing her intent to go down and return with Guo Jing. Ouyang Feng remained hidden, confident she would return. However, Huang Rong had already arranged with Lu Youjiao to soak the ropes wrapped around the lamb leg footholds in oil. Once she and Guo Jing were safely down, they burned the ropes, effectively trapping Ouyang Feng on the peak.
Guo Jing, impressed by Huang Rong's cleverness, expressed his joy at seeing her again and his desire never to be separated. He reaffirmed his plan to capture Wanyan Honglie and take Samarkhand, after which he would ask Temujin to cancel his marriage with Hua Zheng, a prospect that pleased Huang Rong greatly. Three days later, the Mongolian army faced a dire situation. Freezing temperatures led to widespread illness, and morale plummeted.
With only three days of food remaining, Guo Jing felt helpless despite Wanyan Honglie being within reach. He had studied the Wumu Manual but found its strategies ineffective against Samarkhand's unique defenses. Suddenly, Ouyang Feng, desperate and trapped, seemed to defy gravity, descending from the mountain. Seeing this, Huang Rong had a flash of inspiration, realizing Ouyang Feng had inadvertently shown them a new way to conquer the city.
Guo Jing immediately ordered all army tents to be cut and fashioned into 10,000 bat-shaped wings, using wooden poles for skeletons, to be completed within three hours. He sent word to Temujin to lead the main army to the South Gate. Temujin viewed this as Heaven's final opportunity, knowing failure would mark the end of his conquest. Guo Jing, along with his brave warriors, donned the improvised wings and flew into Samarkhand.
The city's defenders watched in disbelief as Mongolian soldiers rained down from the sky. King Mohammed of Chorasmia panicked and fled with Wanyan Honglie, attempting to escape through the East Gate. As the city fell to the Mongol forces, Huang Rong, anticipating Wanyan Honglie's cunning, had set an ambush with Lu Youjiao at the East Gate, where they successfully captured him.
Guo Jing confronted Wanyan Honglie, who defiantly warned him that Temujin was ambitious and that Guo Jing would regret serving him. Although Guo Jing yearned to kill his archenemy, he explained to Huang Rong that, as a Mongolian General, he must present Wanyan Honglie to Temujin. Huang Rong praised Guo Jing's achievement, assuring him that Temujin would grant any request, including the cancellation of his marriage to Hua Zheng. Guo Jing presented Wanyan Honglie to Temujin.
Temujin recalled Wanyan Honglie's past insolence and declared that the time for reckoning had come. Wanyan Honglie, however, merely laughed, asserting that Temujin, like himself, was merely chasing the world—a fierce beast that devours its conquerors. He declared that Temujin would soon share his fate. Temujin, unwavering, vowed to subdue this "beast." Wanyan Honglie then lamented his life, recalling the loss of his beloved wife, Bao Xiruo, and his son, Yang Kang.
He concluded that even conquering the world brought only "unbearable loneliness" and warned Temujin that he, too, would eventually face such a fate despite his many sons and warriors. With those final words, Wanyan Honglie took his own life, uttering "Xiruo." Guo Jing, though avenged, felt a profound sadness at the tragic end of his enemy. Temujin, fulfilling his promise, offered Guo Jing all the people and treasures of Samarkhand as a reward.
Guo Jing respectfully declined, expressing gratitude for Temujin's generosity and stating he needed no further rewards. Temujin, surprised, then asked what Guo Jing truly desired, promising to grant his wish. Guo Jing began to ask to "call off. . ." his marriage, but his words were cut short by the screams of innocent civilians being massacred by Mongolian soldiers. Horrified, Guo Jing immediately pleaded with Temujin to spare the city's inhabitants.
Temujin, enraged by Guo Jing's unexpected request, questioned why he would ask for mercy for his enemies after rejecting valuable rewards. Guo Jing countered, arguing that true heroes should embody tolerance and mercy, like the vast grasslands, and condemned the ruthless slaughter of innocents. Temujin, furious at Guo Jing's defiance and criticism, stormed away. Guo Jing was left in despair, looking at the devastated city and the suffering people, pondering the terrible cost of revenge and conquest.
