The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 50 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
After the war concluded, Master Lu led the Beggar Clan disciples back to the Central Plains. Huang Rong, filled with joy, tidied Guo Jing's tent. When Guo Jing returned looking distraught, she eagerly asked if he had successfully called off his marriage. Guo Jing looked pained and confessed that he hadn't mentioned it to the Great Khan. Before he could explain further, Hua Zheng arrived. Enraged, Huang Rong stormed off alone, disappearing before Guo Jing could catch up to her.
Guo Jing pursued Huang Rong for a long time across the desert. He encountered Ouyang Feng, who was trapped in quicksand. Guo Jing rescued Ouyang Feng, only to be told by him that Huang Rong had perished in the quicksand. Disbelieving, Guo Jing frantically leaped into the quicksand himself, crying out for Rong, oblivious to the danger. Ouyang Feng swiftly pulled Guo Jing out, immobilized him, and carried him to a nearby refugee dwelling.
Ouyang Feng, seeking to acquire the Nine Yin Manual, knew Guo Jing's stubbornness would prevent him from willingly translating it. He planned to spar with Guo Jing, hoping to gradually learn its techniques through their exchanges, believing that over time, he would master it. During their confinement, Ouyang Feng provided food and constantly urged Guo Jing to translate the Manual, warning him against any escape attempts.
Guo Jing accused Ouyang Feng of causing Huang Rong's death, though Ouyang Feng denied it, arguing he wouldn't kill her before she translated the Manual. Guo Jing retorted that Ouyang Feng's obsession with the Manual led to her demise and swore to avenge her. As they fought, Ouyang Feng mentally acknowledged Guo Jing's reluctance to translate but continued to learn key techniques from their exchanges.
While Ouyang Feng was away, Guo Jing secretly poured a potent poison into Ouyang Feng's water. This was the same medicine Ying had once used to harm Master Yi Deng, coating it on a Nine Dew Pill. The poison would not be fatal but would temporarily incapacitate one's martial arts. Guo Jing, having kept the pill, used it to his advantage. After Ouyang Feng consumed the poisoned water, he found himself unable to use his power.
Guo Jing revealed his action, spared Ouyang Feng's life, and seized the opportunity to escape. More than a month later, Master Jebe and his men, having successfully captured Mohammed's head, were returning to Mongolia to report their victory to the Great Khan. Along the way, they found Guo Jing, in a drunken stupor, repeatedly calling out Huang Rong's name. They brought him back to Mongolia.
Guo Jing was utterly dejected, spending his days drinking, blaming himself for Huang Rong's death, and lamenting that his martial arts couldn't protect her. Hua Zheng found him, chastised him for his cowardice, and urged him to embody the spirit of a true warrior who can rise again after being hurt, comparing him to a white condor soaring high. She emphasized that Huang Rong, even in heaven, would not wish to see him in such a state.
Her words resonated with Guo Jing, finally stirring him to recover. Having avenged his father's death, Guo Jing's mother, Mrs. Guo, inquired about his future plans. With the Great Khan preparing to invade Jin, Guo Jing declared his commitment to assist fully. He then expressed his desire for them to return to Niu Village after the campaign, aspiring to a peaceful life there.
The Great Khan, after months of preparation and with sufficient supplies and high morale, decided to launch the Jin campaign immediately. Scouts reported that Jin's elite forces were stationed in Tongguan, a strategically difficult location. Guo Jing proposed a strategy: feign an invasion of Daliang, the Jin capital, knowing that Jin forces would undoubtedly dispatch reinforcements from Tongguan, a long and exhausting journey.
The Mongolian army would then ambush these weary reinforcements outside Daliang, wiping them out before seizing the city. The Great Khan lauded this brilliant plan, recognizing its alignment with his own thoughts. Before the southern campaign, the Great Khan presented three pouches, one each to Guo Jing, Tolui, and Ögedei, instructing them to open them together in the Golden Throne Room after capturing Daliang, strictly forbidding any premature opening under penalty of military law.
Guo Jing requested to bring his mother along for the expedition, but the Great Khan, feigning anger, refused, stating that war was not a sightseeing trip and promising to care for Mrs. Guo until Guo Jing's victorious return. Mrs. Guo, observing the Great Khan's unusually generous rewards coupled with his refusal to let her accompany Guo Jing, suspected an ulterior motive. She confided in Guo Jing her fear that the Great Khan intended for him to undertake an unwelcome task.
Sensing danger, Mrs. Guo decided to discreetly open the pouch given to Guo Jing, confident that her sewing skills from Lin'an would allow her to reseal it undetected. Inside, they found a shocking command written in Mongolian: after annihilating Jin, the Mongolian army was to advance south and invade Lin'an, the Song capital, to destroy the Song dynasty.
The pouch also stated that if Guo Jing showed any disloyalty, he would be immediately executed, and his mother would also face execution. Realizing they were Song people and could never betray their homeland, Guo Jing and his mother resolved to flee Mongolia before the Great Khan discovered their knowledge of the secret command. Guo Jing left to prepare horses, while his mother began packing.
Upon his return, Guo Jing found his mother gone and was immediately apprehended and brought before the Great Khan. Guo Jing vehemently refused to betray the Song, despite the Great Khan's attempts to entice him with power and titles. He accused the Great Khan of treachery for planning to attack Song after allying against Jin. Enraged, the Great Khan ordered Guo Jing's execution, but Tolui, Master Jebe, and others pleaded for his life, citing his past services.
The Great Khan, giving him one last chance, offered him the title of Prince of Song and governorship of the southern territories if he helped annihilate the Song. Guo Jing firmly rejected the offer, declaring he would rather die than betray his homeland. The Great Khan then brought in Mrs. Guo, using her life as leverage.
Mrs. Guo, facing her son, reminded him of his birth in Niu Village, the meaning behind his name "Jing" (to remember the Jingkang Humiliation), and her efforts to raise him as a true man of Song. She implored him to uphold his integrity and not disgrace their family. With these final words, Mrs. Guo tragically plunged a dagger into her own chest.
Devastated, Guo Jing cradled his mother's body and fought his way out of the Great Khan's tent, with guards in pursuit. Master Jebe, ordered to capture him, confronted Guo Jing. Guo Jing pleaded to be allowed to first bury his mother. Witnessing Guo Jing's profound grief and remembering how Guo Jing had saved his life as a boy, Master Jebe, unable to condemn him to certain death, made the difficult decision to let him go. Guo Jing, mourning his mother, vowed never to forget his Song heritage and never to betray his country, honoring his mother's sacrifice.
