The Legend of the Condor Heroes Episode 51 Recap
> The Legend of the Condor Heroes Recap
Despite Genghis Khan's ruthlessness, Guo Jing's loyal followers, including Jebe and Tolui, risked their lives to help him escape. Jebe insisted that Guo Jing leave, saying he would surely die if taken back to the Great Khan. He reminded Guo Jing of how he had saved him as a boy and that he could not now stand by and watch him perish. Tolui also arrived, offering Guo Jing gold and urging him to flee.
Although Guo Jing tried to protect Jebe by claiming he was being taken back to the Khan, Jebe assured him he would be fine given his long service in countless battles. Tolui then asked the assembled soldiers if any were there for personal rewards, and they all affirmed their loyalty, wishing General Guo a safe journey home. Guo Jing, touched by their devotion but worried about their fate, was again urged to run.
Before Guo Jing departed, Hua Zheng came to bid him farewell. She tearfully confessed that she was the one who had informed her father, Genghis Khan, about Guo Jing and his mother's attempt to leave Mongolia. She hoped it would prevent him from departing, but never intended for such tragic consequences, especially his mother's death. Overwhelmed with shame, Hua Zheng told Guo Jing she didn't expect his forgiveness and formally annulled their betrothal, setting him free.
She wished him well before he left. Riding alone across the vast plains, Guo Jing reflected on the profound losses of the past year: five of his masters, his beloved Rong (whom he believed to be dead), and his mother had all passed away.
He questioned the very purpose of his martial arts, lamenting that despite mastering powerful techniques like the Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms, Mutual Hands Combat, Seventy-two Vacant Fist, and Nine Yin skills, he had failed to protect those dearest to him. He found himself deeply confused, contrasting the tragic ends of his heroic masters with the continued existence of wicked individuals like Ouyang Feng and Qiu Qianren.
Upon entering a city in the Central Plains, still clad in Mongolian attire, Guo Jing was mistaken for a brutal Mongolian soldier. Enraged villagers, who had suffered greatly under both Mongolian and Jin armies, savagely beat him. Adhering to his newfound resolve, Guo Jing refused to fight back, enduring the blows until his master, Hong Qigong, intervened and rescued him. Hong Qigong explained the people's turmoil, highlighting that the Mongols were just as cruel as the Jin.
Guo Jing reiterated his decision never to fight again and recounted the tragic deaths of his mother and Rong. Hong Qigong was heartbroken by the news, reminiscing about Huang Rong's lively spirit. Guo Jing felt his martial arts were useless if they couldn't protect his loved ones, noting how Genghis Khan's military triumphs only brought more suffering. He expressed a strong desire to forget all his martial skills.
Hong Qigong argued that martial arts, at their core, were for physical well-being and protecting the innocent. He mentioned his own partial recovery from injuries using the Nine Yin Manual and suggested they travel to Mount Hua for the upcoming Sword Meet. Guo Jing, however, was reluctant to participate in a competition for martial supremacy.
Seeing his disciple's despair, Hong Qigong shrewdly suggested that Zhou Botong, the Old Urchin, who was proficient in the Nine Yin Manual, could help Guo Jing forget his martial arts. He added that Zhou Botong would undoubtedly be at the Mount Hua Sword Meet because of its exciting nature. Convinced by the prospect of forgetting his martial arts, Guo Jing agreed to accompany his master.
As they ascended Mount Hua, Hong Qigong warned of the increasingly treacherous path, but Guo Jing was undeterred, eager to find Zhou Botong. They paused at the Chess Bet Pavilion, where legend held that Emperor Taizu of Song lost Mount Hua in a chess game to Taoist Chen Tuan, freeing its people from taxation – a stark contrast to the current war, which cost not just rulers' lives but also the peace of the common people.
Suddenly, they spotted Ouyang Feng rapidly climbing the mountain. Following him, they overheard him arguing with a young woman in a cave about the Nine Yin Manual. Guo Jing instantly recognized Huang Rong's voice and, to his immense joy, saw her, staff in hand, alive and well. She was cleverly instructing Ouyang Feng to cultivate the manual in reverse, blaming his lack of comprehension for his slow progress, thereby sending him off to practice further.
Overjoyed, Guo Jing rushed out and embraced Huang Rong tightly, relieved she was alive. Hong Qigong discreetly left them to check on Ouyang Feng. Guo Jing tearfully apologized, blaming himself for all their misfortunes. Huang Rong affectionately called him a "fool" but was deeply moved when he showed her her hairpin, which he had carried with him, believing it was all that remained after her supposed death in the quicksand.
He confessed he would take it out to remember her whenever he missed her. Huang Rong explained that she had faked her death in the quicksand trap, leaving the hairpin and a sable coat behind to deceive Ouyang Feng, who had been relentlessly pursuing her after she left the barrack. Guo Jing then explained his delay in annulling their betrothal, revealing he had risked his life to save the citizens of Samarkand from slaughter.
Huang Rong confirmed she had learned of his heroic act from refugees and had intended to return to him, but Ouyang Feng had found her again and forced her to translate the Nine Yin Manual. She admitted to teaching him a deliberately flawed, reversed version of the manual, which he had been diligently (and dangerously) cultivating. Huang Rong then offered to help Guo Jing win the title of "Number One" at the upcoming Sword Meet.
However, Guo Jing, still burdened by guilt over his mother's death and the suffering he felt his martial knowledge had caused, declined, reiterating his desire to forget all his martial arts. Though surprised, Huang Rong pledged to support him in whatever path he chose. Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Zhou Botong, who was being chased by Qiu Qianren, the latter having a venomous snake wrapped around his hand.
Ying Gu then arrived, consumed by rage and vowing to avenge her son's death at Qiu Qianren's hands. Zhou Botong, shielding Ying Gu from Qiu Qianren's attack, was stunned to learn he was the child's father. Ying Gu recounted how Qiu Qianren, mistakenly believing the child was Emperor Duan's, had fatally wounded him to compel Emperor Duan to expend five years of cultivation to save him. However, Emperor Duan, harboring deep resentment towards Ying Gu, had refused to intervene.
His subsequent regret led him to become a monk. Yi Deng, the former Emperor Duan, arrived and confirmed Ying Gu's story, expressing his twenty years of remorse and his desire to settle the past that day. Hong Qigong, outraged by Qiu Qianren's lifetime of wickedness and his collaboration with the Jin, fiercely attacked him. He condemned Qiu Qianren's treachery, contrasting it with the loyalty of his predecessor, Shangguan Jiannan, and questioning his right to compete for the "Number One" title.
As Hong Qigong prepared to deliver a fatal blow, Yi Deng intervened, offering his own life as atonement for his past inaction, believing his sacrifice could resolve the long-standing feud. Moved by Yi Deng's compassion and words that "a change of heart to goodness can shake heaven and earth," Qiu Qianren was overcome with repentance, remembering the noble teachings of his former master. He humbly asked Yi Deng to accept him as a disciple.
Yi Deng agreed, bestowing upon him the monastic name Ci’en. With the twenty-year feud resolved, Yi Deng bid farewell to the others and departed. Zhou Botong, citing other matters and still wanting to avoid Ying Gu, swiftly fled, with Ying Gu still hot on his heels.
Having witnessed these events and recalling Hong Qigong's earlier wisdom that martial arts, like water, could either bear or sink a boat depending on its user, Guo Jing realized he didn't need to forget his martial skills if he used them for justice and to help others. With this newfound clarity, the Mount Hua Sword Meet officially began.
Huang Rong cleverly laid out the rules: Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi would each spar with Guo Jing, and the victor would be the one who could defeat Guo Jing in fewer moves. However, if neither of them could defeat Guo Jing within 300 moves, then Guo Jing would be crowned the Number One martial artist.
Hong Qigong, despite having recovered much of his power through the Nine Yin Manual, declared he would only use his own school's techniques, refusing to rely on borrowed skills against Huang Yaoshi. Huang Yaoshi then stepped forward to begin his challenge against Guo Jing. After an intense battle of 300 moves, Huang Yaoshi was unable to defeat Guo Jing. With Huang Yaoshi's turn concluded, Hong Qigong prepared to face his disciple, Guo Jing.
