#OriginalLittle Dragon Maiden
The Return of the Condor Heroes is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, and the second part of the "Condor Trilogy". The Return of the Condor Heroes is the most extensively and deeply written novel by Jin Yong in terms of depicting emotions, and is called a "love letter" by readers. It has also been adapted into film and television works, animations, comics, and radio dramas multiple times.
Return of the Condor Heroes{char}
Book Cover
Author
Jin Yong
Genre
Novel{user}
Wuxia Series
Series
Condor Trilogy
Preceded by
Legend of the Condor Heroes
Followed by
Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber
Spin-offs
Chinese Translations
Publication date
1959
Editions
Edited
First published on May 20, 1959, in the inaugural issue of Ming Pao in Hong Kong. Serialized for about three years. The final version has 40 chapters, with chapter titles all being four characters. Published in 1994 by China Publishing House, known as the Sanlian Edition. Taiwan's Yuan-Liou Publishing House published the Century New Edition of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" revised by Jin Yong in 2003. Compared to the old and new versions, the main plot has not changed, but the author has made some modifications to certain details (such as Xiao Longnu being less cold and aloof), and considering the image of historical figures, individual real names that existed in history have been changed to fictional names (such as Yin Zhiping changed to Zhen Zhiping). In 2008, the revised edition was published by Guangzhou Publishing House.
Setting
Edited
The story is set during the Southern Song Dynasty, from the third year of Duanping to the first year of Kaiqing (1236-1259 AD). The revised edition places the Qingming Festival sacrifice to the Western Venom and Northern Beggar in Xiangyang one year after the great battle of Xiangyang, thus in 1260 AD. It begins more than ten years after the end of "Legend of the Condor Heroes" and concludes 77 years before the main events of "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" (Zhang Sanfeng's 90th birthday). Real historical figures appearing include Kublai Khan, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, Wang Chongyang, Duan Zhixing, Lü Wende (Lü Wen Huan in the revised edition), Möngke Khan, Yelü Chucai, etc. The focus of the Central Plains martial arts world in the setting is the confrontation with the invading Mongol army and martial artists from the Mongol Empire, while also emphasizing the protagonist's (Yang Guo's) struggle between his personal emotions and social etiquette and customs.
Jin Yong's works are mostly related to each other to varying degrees. "The Return of the Condor Heroes," "Legend of the Condor Heroes," and "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" are particularly closely related in their background and are collectively known as the "Condor Trilogy."
Guo Jing and Huang Rong, the protagonists of "Legend of the Condor Heroes," are already married in "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and are both influential leaders in the martial arts world. Huang Rong, who was entrusted with the responsibility of becoming the leader of the Beggar Gang, the largest sect in the jianghu, in "Legend of the Condor Heroes," continued to assist Guo Jing in leading the military and civilians of Xiangyang City against the Mongol invasion until the Great Gathering of Heroes at Dasheng Pass in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," when she stepped down. Yang Guo, the protagonist of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," was just born before the end of "Legend of the Condor Heroes" and was named by Guo Jing (in the revised edition, Huang Rong named him). Guo Fu, Wu Shi brothers (Wu Xiuwen, Wu Dunru), major characters in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," are also the children of Guo Jing and Huang Rong and Wu Santong from "Legend of the Condor Heroes." Figures like the Quanzhen Masters and the Five Greats also play important roles in both works. In contrast, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" are separated by a long period of time and have a shallower connection. Zhang Junbao, who appears at the end of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," founded the Wudang Sect in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" and is known as Zhang Sanfeng, playing a significant role. The Emei Sect, founded by Guo Xiang, the youngest daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, plays a crucial role in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber." The descendants of Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu, the "Yellow-Shirted Woman," make a fleeting appearance at the end of "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," leaving readers with endless imagination.
In terms of martial arts. The martial arts learned by Yang Guo, apart from those of the Ancient Tomb Sect, the Profound Iron Swordplay, and his own creations, all appeared in "Legend of the Condor Heroes." The "Nine Yang Manual" that appears at the end of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" inspired the martial arts of the Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei sects in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" and became one of the protagonist's main martial arts. The martial arts from the "Nine Yin Manual," which played important roles in "Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes," also reappeared quietly at the end of "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber."
Plot
Edited
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This article's plot, fictional terms, or character descriptions are too long and detailed. Details, terms, and character descriptions irrelevant to the main story need to be cleaned up.
During the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Li Mochou, known as the "Red-Haired Fairy," fell in love with Lu Zhanyuan, who was in love with He Yuanjun. Enraged, she took it out on Lu Zhanyuan's brother, Lu Liding, whom she killed along with his wife, and abducted their daughter, Lu Wushuang. Yang Guo, a wandering youth from Jiangnan, happened to pass by and was poisoned after picking up Li Mochou's unique hidden weapon, the "Ice Soul Silver Needle." Ouyang Feng, the "Western Venom" and one of the Five Greats of the martial arts world, encountered Yang Guo, took him as his adopted son, taught him martial arts (Toad Skill and the reverse cultivation of the Nine Yin Manual), and taught him how to expel the poison.
Shortly after, Yang Guo was found by Guo Jing, a renowned chivalrous hero and sworn brother of his deceased father Yang Kang, and his wife, Huang Rong, the leader of the Beggar Gang. They detoxified Yang Guo and learned that he was the son of Yang Kang and Mu Nianci. It turned out that Yang Guo's birth mother, Mu Nianci, had died of illness when he was eleven years old. Guo Jing planned to take Yang Guo to Peach Blossom Island to teach him martial arts, but Huang Rong, mindful of Yang Kang's past actions, only taught Yang Guo to read, hoping he would be influenced by Confucian classics. However, Yang Guo felt Huang Rong was biased. Coupled with provocations and insults from Guo Fu, Guo Jing and Huang Rong's daughter, and the Wu brothers, who were the same age, he got into a fight with the Wu brothers and severely injured Wu Xiuwen with his Toad Skill. Consequently, Guo Jing sent him to Quanzhen Sect to learn martial arts and cultivate his mind. However, Yang Guo's master, Zhao Zhijing, was displeased by Yang Guo's lack of flattery and, instead of teaching him martial arts, made him suffer greatly in the sect. Once, Zhao Zhijing forced Yang Guo, who had not been taught any martial arts, to spar with his senior brother Lu Qingdu. Yang Guo was beaten and, unable to bear it any longer, escaped from Quanzhen Sect and was taken in by Xiao Longnu, who lived in the Tomb of the Living Dead behind Zhongnan Mountain. The master and disciple practiced martial arts together in the tomb and grew up together, gradually developing feelings for each other.
Several years later, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were practicing the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra" behind Zhongnan Mountain when they were discovered by Zhao Zhijing and another Quanzhen Taoist, Zhen Zhiping (Yin Zhiping in the old version). Xiao Longnu was injured by the disturbance, and Zhen Zhiping became infatuated with her beauty. Xiao Longnu's senior sister, Li Mochou, suddenly appeared at the Ancient Tomb and forced Xiao Longnu to hand over the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra," the secret manual of the Ancient Tomb Sect. Xiao Longnu activated the tomb's mechanisms and escaped with Yang Guo. After escaping the Ancient Tomb, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu lived in a valley behind Zhongnan Mountain, where they encountered Ouyang Feng. Ouyang Feng, not wanting Xiao Longnu to know about the martial arts he taught Yang Guo, acupunctured Xiao Longnu. Coincidentally, Zhen Zhiping arrived and defiled the immobilized Xiao Longnu, who mistakenly believed it was Yang Guo. She expressed her desire to marry Yang Guo upon his return, but Yang Guo's response was nonsensical. Xiao Longnu left Zhongnan Mountain in anger. Yang Guo, unaware of the truth, searched everywhere for Xiao Longnu and, in the process, realized Xiao Longnu's love for him. While searching for Xiao Longnu, Yang Guo met Lu Wushuang, who was fleeing from Li Mochou, Yelü Qi, the son of Yelü Chu Cai, and Wanyan Ping, a descendant of the Jin imperial family who intended to assassinate Yelü Qi. Later, Yang Guo encountered Hong Qigong, the "Northern Beggar," on Mount Hua. Ouyang Feng also appeared on Mount Hua, and Yang Guo witnessed the duel between the two great masters, who both died.
Later, a heroes' gathering was held at the Lu Family Manor in Dasangguan by the heroes of the Central Plains to unite against the Mongol invasion. Yang Guo went to Lu Family Manor hoping to get news of Xiao Longnu but encountered Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and a group of Quanzhen Taoists. Guo Jing and Huang Rong learned that Yang Guo had left Quanzhen Sect years ago. Xiao Longnu also arrived at Lu Family Manor at this time and reunited with Yang Guo. Jinlun Guoshi (King Jinlun in the old version), a master from the Mongol Empire, led his disciples Huodu and Darba to challenge the heroes at the gathering. In the best-of-three competition, Huodu used a cunning trick to defeat Zhu Ziliu. At a critical moment, Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo were accidentally drawn into the conflict, and they combined their efforts using the Jade Maiden Heart Sword to help Guo Jing defeat Jinlun Guoshi. Guo Jing was impressed and grateful to Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo and planned to betroth his daughter Guo Fu to Yang Guo. Yang Guo refused, insisting on marrying Xiao Longnu. However, master-disciple marriage violated the customs of the time, and their love could not be accepted by the world. After leaving Lu Family Manor, they encountered Jinlun Guoshi, who had abducted Guo Fu, and Huang Rong and the Wu brothers, who had come to rescue Guo Fu. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu defeated Jinlun Guoshi again and rescued Guo Fu. Later, Xiao Longnu, persuaded by Huang Rong, left sadly, hoping Yang Guo would be accepted by Guo Jing and others. After Xiao Longnu left, Yang Guo, Huang Rong, Guo Fu, and the Wu brothers encountered Jinlun Guoshi again. Huang Rong and Yang Guo outsmarted Jinlun Guoshi and were aided by Cheng Ying, the closed-door disciple of Huang Yaoshi, the "Eastern Heretic," and Lu Wushuang's cousin, allowing them to escape.
After being rescued by Cheng Ying, Yang Guo learned that Lu Wushuang was fleeing from Li Mochou. He joined Cheng Ying, and later met Huang Yaoshi and Qu Shagu, the daughter of Huang Yaoshi's disciple Qu Lingfeng. Yang Guo and Huang Yaoshi hit it off immediately. Li Mochou tracked Lu Wushuang there, and Huang Yaoshi taught Yang Guo martial arts to counter Li Mochou's moves. Yang Guo then, along with Huang Yaoshi's disciple Feng Mofeng, repelled Li Mochou. Later, Yang Guo learned from Shagu that Guo Jing and Huang Rong were greatly involved in the death of his father, Yang Kang, and suspected they were his father's murderers. Enraged, Yang Guo went to seek refuge with Kublai Khan, the Mongol prince and master of Jinlun Guoshi. In Kublai Khan's army, Yang Guo not only met Jinlun Guoshi and six other Mongol masters but also encountered Zhou Botong, who had accidentally entered the camp. After Zhou Botong caused chaos in the camp, he was captured outside the camp by a fishing net formation set by a group of green-clad figures. Yang Guo and Kublai Khan's masters followed the green-clad figures into a valley and met Gongsun Lüe, the daughter of the valley master. It turned out that this valley was called Passionless Valley. Gongsun Zhi, the valley master, had ancestors who moved into this valley to live in seclusion during the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty. Because Zhou Botong had caused trouble in the valley earlier, they sent people to capture him to hold him accountable for his misdeeds.
Later, Zhou Botong escaped again, but Yang Guo saw Xiao Longnu in Passionless Valley. However, Xiao Longnu denied her identity, claiming to be the unmarried fiancée of Valley Master Gongsun Zhi. It turned out that after Xiao Longnu left Yang Guo, she suffered a qi deviation while practicing and was saved by Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi took Xiao Longnu to Passionless Valley and intended to marry her. Yang Guo's constant questioning of Xiao Longnu's identity angered Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi ordered his subordinates to set up a fishing net formation to capture Yang Guo. Xiao Longnu then admitted her identity to Yang Guo and was determined to die with Yang Guo rather than marry Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi attacked Yang Guo with his ultimate skill. Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo countered with the Jade Maiden Heart Sword, but they had accidentally been injured by the unique love flower in Passionless Valley earlier. At this moment, the love poison took effect, and they were defeated and captured by Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi offered to cure Yang Guo as a condition for marrying Xiao Longnu.
Later, Gongsun Lüe rescued Yang Guo but failed to steal the antidote for the love flower poison, the Passionless Pill. Gongsun Zhi intended to kill Gongsun Lüe according to the valley rules. Yang Guo intervened to save her, and they fell into a deep pool at the bottom of the earth.
Yang Guo and Gongsun Lüe discovered an old woman with crippled hands and feet in a cave within the deep pool. She was Gongsun Zhi's wife and Gongsun Lüe's mother, Qiu Qianchi. Years ago, Qiu Qianchi discovered Gongsun Zhi's affair with a maid and forced Gongsun Zhi to kill the maid. Gongsun Zhi retaliated by severing Qiu Qianchi's tendons and confining her in the underground cave. Qiu Qianchi survived for over ten years by eating dates from a jujube tree in the cave and developed the skill of spitting out date pits with internal energy. Yang Guo and Gongsun Lüe later brought Qiu Qianchi back to the surface and helped her defeat Gongsun Zhi. However, Qiu Qianchi learned that her brother Qiu Qianzhang was killed by Guo Jing and Huang Rong and demanded that Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu bring their heads back to Passionless Valley before she would give them the Passionless Pill to cure the love flower poison. Yang Guo, claiming Guo Jing and Huang Rong were his father's murderers, readily agreed to Qiu Qianchi's request.
Yang Guo, Xiao Longnu, and a group of Mongol masters left Passionless Valley and returned to Kublai Khan's camp. They learned that Guo Jing and Huang Rong were leading the heroes of the Central Plains martial arts world to defend Xiangyang City. Yang Guo promised Kublai Khan that he would infiltrate Xiangyang City to assassinate Guo Jing and act as a spy for the Mongols. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu arrived at Xiangyang City. Guo Jing, without holding any grudges, welcomed them to help resist the Mongols. Yang Guo repeatedly tried to kill Guo Jing but was moved by Guo Jing's righteousness and could not bring himself to do it. The Wu brothers were captured by Kublai Khan. Yang Guo accompanied Guo Jing to Kublai Khan's army for negotiations. Kublai Khan's masters surrounded and attacked Guo Jing. In a critical moment, Yang Guo decided to help Guo Jing escape. Although they escaped back to Xiangyang, Guo Jing was seriously injured. Seeing Guo Jing severely injured and Yang Guo reneging on his promise to kill him, Jinlun Guoshi and other masters infiltrated Xiangyang City to kill Guo Jing. At this time, Huang Rong, who was heavily pregnant, went into labor. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu worked together to protect Guo Jing and his wife. Huang Rong gave birth to twins. Jinlun Guoshi attempted to snatch the newborn daughter, Guo Xiang, as a hostage. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu desperately protected Guo Xiang. In the chaos, the infant Guo Xiang fell into the hands of Li Mochou, who had just arrived in Xiangyang. Li Mochou mistakenly believed Guo Xiang was the daughter of Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu. On one hand, she refused to return Guo Xiang to Yang Guo; on the other hand, she joined forces with Yang Guo to deal with Jinlun Guoshi and other Mongol masters who wanted to snatch Guo Xiang. In the chaos, Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo were separated. Yang Guo followed Li Mochou, who had abducted Guo Xiang, and encountered the Wu brothers, who were fighting over Guo Fu, and their father Wu Santong. To quell the conflict between the Wu brothers, Yang Guo falsely told them that Guo Jing and Huang Rong had betrothed Guo Fu to him, making them give up on Guo Fu. The Wu brothers eventually reconciled and, along with Yang Guo and their father Wu Santong, repelled Li Mochou. However, Li Mochou still abducted Guo Xiang. Yang Guo, believing he was poisoned by the love flower and would not live long, sucked the poisonous blood from the Wu brothers, who were poisoned by the Ice Soul Silver Needle, and fell unconscious. He was rescued by Wu Santong and Zhu Ziliu and brought back to Xiangyang. The Heavenly Indian Monk, Wu Santong's grand-uncle, diagnosed Yang Guo and believed that absorbing the poisonous blood had the effect of counteracting poison, delaying the onset of his symptoms. The Heavenly Indian Monk decided to go to Passionless Valley himself to understand the nature of the love flower poison and find a cure for Yang Guo.
Guo Fu, seeing Yang Guo and the others return to Xiangyang, learned that her sister Guo Xiang had been abducted by Li Mochou. She also learned from the Wu brothers that Yang Guo claimed his parents had betrothed him to her, causing the Wu brothers to distance themselves from her. Guo Fu angrily went to confront Yang Guo. Their verbal argument escalated into a physical fight. In her anger, Guo Fu grabbed the "Lady Sword" that Yang Guo brought from Passionless Valley and severed Yang Guo's right arm. Severely wounded, Yang Guo fled the Guo residence and was later rescued by a great eagle. The divine eagle took Yang Guo to the stone tomb of the ancient master Gu Duqiu Bai. There, Yang Guo recuperated while practicing Gu Duqiu Bai's martial arts with the help of the divine eagle. A few days later, Yang Guo's injuries healed, and he sneaked back into Xiangyang. He saw Guo Jing about to sever Guo Fu's right arm as compensation for Yang Guo. Huang Rong rescued Guo Fu and escorted her from Xiangyang to Peach Blossom Island. Along the way, they encountered Li Mochou, who was carrying Guo Xiang. Huang Rong, realizing Li Mochou did not know the infant girl in her hands was her daughter, devised a plan to make Li Mochou leave Guo Xiang. Unexpectedly, Guo Xiang was snatched by Yang Guo, who had been following Huang Rong, and taken to the Ancient Tomb on Zhongnan Mountain.
After being separated from Yang Guo, Xiao Longnu eventually found traces of him but happened to overhear Yang Guo falsely telling the Wu brothers that Guo Jing and Huang Rong had betrothed Guo Fu to him. Xiao Longnu believed it and left in disappointment. Later, Xiao Longnu overheard Zhao Zhijing threatening Zhen Zhiping with the humiliation of Xiao Longnu to obtain the position of Quanzhen Sect leader, realizing then that she had been defiled by Zhen Zhiping. In despair, Xiao Longnu abandoned Yang Guo and pursued Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhiping alone. While fleeing from Xiao Longnu, Zhao and Zhen encountered a Mongol army led by Jinlun Guoshi. It turned out that the Mongols had sent troops to deal with Quanzhen Sect. Zhao Zhijing hoped to become the leader of Quanzhen Sect with the help of the Mongols and colluded with Jinlun Guoshi, setting a trap to poison Zhou Botong. However, Zhou Botong was rescued by Xiao Longnu. Xiao Longnu also learned the technique of "Left and Right Mutual Combat" from Zhou Botong.
After rescuing Zhou Botong, Xiao Longnu continued to track Zhen Zhiping and Zhao Zhijing to Zhongnan Mountain. The Five Masters of Quanzhen were in seclusion practicing martial arts. Zhao Zhijing successfully forced Zhen Zhiping to give him the leadership, but Zhao Zhijing accepted the enfeoffment from the Mongols, causing internal strife within Quanzhen Sect. Jinlun Guoshi led a group of masters and Mongol soldiers to attack Chongyang Palace, captured Zhen Zhiping, and intended to kill him. However, Xiao Longnu, who had been observing from the sidelines, wanted to kill Zhen Zhiping herself, so she intervened to stop the Mongol masters and engaged in a fierce battle with Jinlun Guoshi and other masters. Zhen Zhiping, trying to save Xiao Longnu, entered the fray and was accidentally wounded by Xiao Longnu's sword. Coincidentally, the Five Masters of Quanzhen emerged from seclusion and, thinking Xiao Longnu had harmed their beloved disciple, attacked her. Xiao Longnu, caught between the Mongol masters and the Five Masters of Quanzhen, was severely wounded. When Yang Guo returned to the Ancient Tomb on Zhongnan Mountain, he discovered the changes at Chongyang Palace. After placing Guo Xiang in the Ancient Tomb, he went to Chongyang Palace and defeated Jinlun Guoshi and other masters with the Profound Iron Heavy Sword left by Gu Duqiu Bai. At this point, Zhen Zhiping revealed to the Five Masters of Quanzhen that he had defiled Xiao Longnu and then committed suicide. Disregarding the reputation of Quanzhen Sect, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu got married before the portrait of Wang Chongyang in Chongyang Palace and then returned to the Ancient Tomb. Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu healed their injuries in the Ancient Tomb. Meanwhile, Huang Rong, Guo Fu, Wu Santong and his son, and others came to Zhongnan Mountain. Led by Li Mochou, they entered the Ancient Tomb. Li Mochou, after entering the tomb, secretly attacked everyone. Guo Fu picked up the Ice Soul Silver Needle left by Li Mochou and intended to ambush Li Mochou but accidentally injured Xiao Longnu, who was practicing her healing. The poison of the Ice Soul Silver Needle thus entered Xiao Longnu's internal organs, with no cure.
Enraged, Yang Guo took Xiao Longnu and Guo Xiang away from the Ancient Tomb and encountered Master Yideng and his disciple Ci En. Yideng had received a letter from his disciple Zhu Ziliu, informing him of Yang Guo's love flower poisoning. Ci En, before becoming a monk, was the leader of the Iron Palm Sect, Qiu Qianren, the elder brother of Qiu Qianchi, the master of Passionless Valley. Ci En hoped to persuade Qiu Qianchi to hand over the antidote for the love flower poison. Yang Guo and his wife, along with Master Yideng and his disciples, came to Passionless Valley and found Zhou Botong, Huang Rong, Guo Fu, Yelü Qi, Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, and others, as well as Li Mochou and her disciples, had also arrived. Yang Guo returned Guo Xiang to Huang Rong. Huang Rong and Ci En went to negotiate with Qiu Qianchi, demanding she hand over the Passionless Pill. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Indian Monk, who had entered Passionless Valley earlier to understand the nature of the love flower poison, voluntarily got pricked by the love flower and fell unconscious. Li Mochou also accidentally fell into the love flower array. Although she escaped by sacrificing her disciple Hong Lingbo, she was poisoned by the love flower.
Huang Rong and Ci En met Qiu Qianchi. Qiu Qianchi incited Ci En to avenge his brother's death against Huang Rong. Ci En lost his reason, snatched Guo Xiang, and intended to kill her. However, Huang Rong immediately pretended to be Yinggu, who was driven mad by the loss of her son, reminding Ci En of the tragedy of killing Yinggu's newborn infant years ago. He finally gave up his revenge. Qiu Qianchi then demanded that Huang Rong withstand three mouthfuls of jujube pits spat by her without dodging as a condition for handing over the Passionless Pill. Huang Rong, with her wit and martial arts, successfully caught the three jujube pits without injury. However, Gongsun Zhi, who had been expelled from Passionless Valley, colluded with Li Mochou and successfully seized the Passionless Pill. Although Xiao Longnu later defeated Gongsun Zhi and recovered the Passionless Pill, Yang Guo learned that the Heavenly Indian Monk, who had woken up, had been killed by Li Mochou, and there was no one in the world who could cure Xiao Longnu. Unwilling to live alone, he threw the Passionless Pill into the bottom of Passionless Valley. Li Mochou was captured by everyone and later died by self-immolation unable to bear the effects of the love flower poison. Gongsun Zhi and Qiu Qianchi eventually died together.
Huang Rong deduced that the Heavenly Indian Monk had believed the Heartbreak Grass was the antidote for the love flower poison before his death. Unaware that Xiao Longnu's poison was incurable, she mentioned this, hoping Xiao Longnu would persuade Yang Guo to take it. Xiao Longnu carved sixteen characters on a stone cliff: "We will meet here in sixteen years. Our love is deep, do not break your promise." She then left without saying goodbye. Huang Rong realized at this point that Xiao Longnu's life was nearing its end. She could only falsely tell Yang Guo that Xiao Longnu had been taken as a disciple by the divine Nanhai Shenni, and her poison would surely be cured. However, Nanhai Shenni only visited China once every sixteen years, so Xiao Longnu had to wait sixteen years to see Yang Guo again. Yang Guo, half-believing, decided to take the Heartbreak Grass, successfully cured his love flower poison, and waited sixteen years to reunite with Xiao Longnu.
During the sixteen years, Yang Guo, with the divine eagle, roamed the land performing chivalrous deeds, becoming the well-known "Divine Eagle Hero." Guo Xiang also grew into a graceful young lady. Sixteen years later, Guo Xiang, along with her sister Guo Fu and brother Guo Polu, went north to Jinyang to invite Qiu Chuji to attend the Xiangyang Heroes' Gathering. On their return journey, they passed through Fengling Crossing. At an inn, Guo Xiang overheard guests talking about the "Divine Eagle Hero" and became very eager to meet him. Disregarding the family and the snowstorm, she followed the Western Mountain One-Cave Ghosts to meet the Divine Eagle Hero. She witnessed Yang Guo resolving the dispute between the Western Mountain One-Cave Ghosts and the Shi brothers of Wan Shou Mountain Villa. Later, she followed him to Black Dragon Pool, where Yinggu lived, to capture the Nine-Tailed Fox that could cure the third Shi brother. However, at Black Dragon Pool, she saw Yinggu, Yideng, Ci En, and Zhou Botong, and their decades-long grievances were resolved. Yang Guo received the spirit fox from Yinggu, curing the third Shi brother's illness. He then attended the thank-you banquet hosted by the Shi brothers with Guo Xiang. At this point, Guo Fu forcefully entered Wan Shou Mountain Villa to find Guo Xiang, and Yang Guo realized Guo Xiang's identity. At their parting, Yang Guo gave Guo Xiang three golden needles, promising to fulfill her three wishes. Guo Xiang immediately proposed her first wish: to see Yang Guo's true face, as he always wore a mask. After Yang Guo showed her his true face, Guo Xiang proposed her second wish: for Yang Guo to meet her in Xiangyang on her sixteenth birthday that year. Guo Xiang had not yet thought of her third wish.
When Guo Xiang returned to Xiangyang, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were preparing for the anti-Mongol heroes' gathering, which was scheduled for Guo Xiang's sixteenth birthday. The leader of the Beggar Gang, Lu Youjiao, was murdered. While Guo Xiang was paying respects to Lu Youjiao outside the city, she and Guo Fu were attacked by Nixing, a master under the Mongols. A mysterious master killed Nixing and rescued the Guo sisters. Afterward, Huang Rong discovered that a group of reclusive martial arts masters had come to Guo Xiang's room to wish her a happy birthday, deducing that Yang Guo had invited them and worrying that Yang Guo might harm Guo Xiang. In reality, Yang Guo, using Guo Xiang's birthday as a pretext, mobilized friendly forces from the jianghu to annihilate the vanguard of the Mongol invasion, destroy the Mongol army's front-line granaries and powder magazines, and expose the conspiracy of Huodu, Jinlun Guoshi's traitorous disciple, who had killed Lu Youjiao to seize the leadership of the Beggar Gang. Finally, Yang Guo personally appeared in Xiangyang to meet Guo Jing and others. At this time, Huang Yaoshi also arrived in Xiangyang. Yang Guo and Huang Yaoshi, one old and one young, went to catch up. Yang Guo also learned from him that the story of Nanhai Shenni was a fabrication by Huang Rong. Later, Yang Guo went to Tieqiang Temple, the place where his father Yang Kang died, and learned from Ke Zhen'e, Guo Jing's master, about his father Yang Kang's evil deeds and the cause of his death.
After Yang Guo and Huang Yaoshi left, Huang Rong told Guo Xiang about the three generations of grievances between the Guo and Yang families and stated that the story of Nanhai Shenni taking Xiao Longnu as a disciple was a fabrication she had made up to make Yang Guo survive. With the sixteen-year pact approaching, Huang Rong feared Yang Guo's reaction if he could not wait for Xiao Longnu and advised Guo Xiang not to contact Yang Guo again. However, Guo Xiang feared that Yang Guo might commit suicide if he couldn't see Xiao Longnu. Remembering that Yang Guo had not yet fulfilled her third wish, she went to find Yang Guo and told her third wish: that Yang Guo must not seek death. After leaving Xiangyang, Guo Xiang was captured by Jinlun Guoshi.
Jinlun Guoshi, appreciating Guo Xiang's intelligence and kindness, took her as a disciple and taught her some of his inner techniques. However, Guo Xiang taunted Jinlun Guoshi that his martial arts were inferior to Yang Guo's, prompting Jinlun Guoshi to take Guo Xiang to Passionless Valley to find Yang Guo for a duel. Yang Guo, unable to find Xiao Longnu at Passionless Valley on the appointed day, believed Xiao Longnu had died sixteen years ago and, in grief, leaped from the cliff into the valley. At this moment, Guo Xiang and Jinlun Guoshi arrived at Passionless Valley. Guo Xiang witnessed Yang Guo leap off the cliff and followed him. At this time, Huang Rong, Zhou Botong, Yinggu, Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, and Huang Yaoshi, among others, came to Passionless Valley in search of Guo Xiang and Yang Guo. They learned that Yang Guo and Guo Xiang had fallen into the valley. They worked together to subdue Jinlun Guoshi. Huang Rong's male and female eagles carried Guo Xiang from the valley floor to the cliff. It was discovered that Guo Xiang and Yang Guo were unharmed. It turned out that the bottom of the valley was a deep pool, and Yang Guo and Guo Xiang fell into the water unharmed. They worked together to climb into the valley but could not find Yang Guo. Guo Xiang, who remained on the cliff, was deceived by Jinlun Guoshi into helping him unseal his acupoints, which had been sealed by everyone. Guo Xiang was once again abducted by Jinlun Guoshi.
The Mongol army besieged Xiangyang for a long time. Jinlun Guoshi threatened to burn Guo Xiang alive on the battlefield, forcing Guo Jing to surrender. Guo Jing refused to surrender and vowed to resist to the death. At this moment, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu appeared to rescue Guo Xiang. It turned out that Yang Guo discovered that the cold pool at the bottom of Passionless Valley had another world. Xiao Longnu, having survived the fall into the pool, lived in a valley on the other side of the cold pool and miraculously detoxified herself by consuming jade honey and white fish from the pool. After reuniting with Yang Guo, they returned to the cliff and learned that Guo Xiang had been abducted. They went to rescue her, and Yang Guo eventually killed Jinlun Guoshi and rescued Guo Xiang. Afterward, Guo Fu's husband, Yelü Qi, was besieged by the Mongol army. Guo Fu begged Yang Guo to go to his rescue. Yang Guo demanded that Guo Fu kneel and kowtow, and then rescued Yelü Qi. Guo Fu finally deeply realized that her resentment towards Yang Guo was due to jealousy and apologized to Yang Guo. Later, Huang Yaoshi ordered the Song army to set up the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation to defeat the Mongol army. Yang Guo even used stones to snipe Möngke Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongols, who was leading the army personally.
After repelling the Mongol army, Yang Guo and his companions went to Mount Hua and encountered a group of petty individuals engaged in the "Third Mount Hua Sword Conference." Yang Guo scared them away and discussed the new Five Greats of the world with his companions, re-establishing them as: "Eastern Heretic - Huang Yaoshi, Western Madman - Yang Guo, Southern Monk - Master Yideng, Northern Hero - Guo Jing, Central Child - Zhou Botong." While descending Mount Hua, they encountered Jueyuan, a Shaolin monk, and his disciple Zhang Junbao, pursuing two Mongol masters, Xiaoxiangzi and Yin Kexi, to retrieve the "Lengjia Sutra" and the "Nine Yang Manual." Yang Guo taught Zhang Junbao three palm techniques to defeat Xiaoxiangzi and then, with Xiao Longnu, bid farewell to everyone and departed (The deeds of Guo Xiang and Zhang Junbao (Zhang Sanfeng) are further narrated in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber").
Subsequent Developments
Edited
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This article may contain original research.
As the second part of the "Condor Trilogy," although the main story of the sequel "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" is set much later (The Return of the Condor Heroes ends in 1260 AD, while the main story of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber begins in 1335 AD), because the beginning of "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" includes two chapters detailing Guo Xiang's deeds, and the main story "a hundred years later" also mentions past events in flashbacks, it is possible to know or infer the subsequent stories of some important characters.
The actual time gap between the two works is 3 or 4 years (there are differences between the second and third editions) from the end of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" (the re-evaluation of the Five Greats on Mount Hua) to the beginning of "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" (Guo Xiang visits Shaolin). The most obvious change mentioned at this time is that "Qiu Chuji had been dead for a long time," whereas in the Xiangyang battle at the end of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," he was only mentioned as "old and sick, unable to get out of bed."
The Ancient Tomb, once blocked by the Dragon-Breaking Stone, has been reopened (but it is uncertain whether this happened during the 16 years Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were separated or after their reunion). When Guo Xiang visited the Ancient Tomb, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were out, but their maidservant hosted her for three days.
As for other characters, although not explicitly mentioned one by one, since the author mentioned the names of Huang Yaoshi, Yideng, Zhou Botong, and Yinggu when Guo Xiang demonstrated their martial arts against Wuse, and did not specifically point out that they had passed away, it is highly likely that they are still alive, even though they are very old (should be nearly a hundred years old).
The author mentioned at the end of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" that because Möngke Khan died on the battlefield and Kublai Khan was vying for the Khanate with Ariq Böke, he did not attack Xiangyang again until many years later. Historically, the Mongols began besieging Xiangyang in 1267 AD and it fell in 1273 AD (and according to the flashback in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Xiangyang fell almost immediately). Therefore, the period from 1260 AD, when "The Return of the Condor Heroes" ends, to 1273 AD, when Xiangyang fell, can be considered the last period of peace for everyone.
According to later flashbacks, the fates of various individuals in the battle for Xiangyang in 1273 are as follows:
Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu: The later appearance of the yellow-shirted woman named Yang is likely their descendant.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong: Died martyrs (around 70 years old).
Guo Polu: Died a martyr with his parents, no descendants.
Guo Xiang: Was in Xichuan when the city fell. Later became a nun and founded the Emei Sect.
Yelü Qi and Guo Fu: Not explicitly mentioned (the later leader of the Beggar Gang, Yelü Yuanru, in the newspaper version should be their descendant, but it has been deleted in the second and subsequent editions), but the Beggar Gang they led does not seem to have suffered a devastating blow.
Wu Dunru and Yelü Yan: Not explicitly mentioned.
Wu Xiwen and Wanyan Ping: Wu Lie and his daughter in "Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" are their descendants and neighbors of Zhu Ziliu's descendants (Zhu Changling).
Main Characters
Edited
See also: List of characters in The Return of the Condor Heroes
Yang Guo - The male protagonist of the novel. He is the son of Yang Kang and Mu Nianci (Yang Kang and Qin Nanqin in the old version) from "Legend of the Condor Heroes." Handsome and intelligent, but born into poverty, leading to a personality of inferiority and extremism. He often acts impulsively due to anger. He hates evil and loves justice. In his youth, he rebelled against the constraints of famous teachings and disliked etiquette and customs, struggling between love and loyalty. He is proficient in the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra," Quanzhen Sect martial arts, and parts of the "Nine Yin Manual." Later, he was taught the moves and mental techniques of the Dog Beating Staff by Hong Qigong, the Northern Beggar, and Huang Rong, respectively. He was also taught the Jade Flute Swordplay and Finger Flicking Skill by Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic. He learned some Toad Skill and the mental techniques for reversing meridians from Ouyang Feng, the Western Venom. Among the first generation of the Five Greats, he can be considered to have learned from all of them except the Southern Emperor. His sect's founder, the female knight Lin Chaoying of the Ancient Tomb Sect, was also a master comparable to the Five Greats. Yang Guo can be said to have gathered the top martial arts of the era. After Guo Fu severed his arm, he practiced Gu Duqiu Bai's sword techniques with the Profound Iron Sword and created the "Melancholy Palm," finally becoming a supreme master. Later, he roamed the land performing chivalrous deeds, earning the title "Divine Eagle Hero." All factions in the martial arts world, regardless of good or evil, black or white, admired his character, obeyed his commands, regarded him as a confidant, or followed his lead. The "Divine Eagle Hero" had become an alternative martial arts alliance leader. At the end, he became the "Western Madman" among the "New Five Greats" and lived in seclusion with Xiao Longnu.
Xiao Longnu - The female protagonist of the novel. The third-generation successor of the Ancient Tomb Sect. She has a beautiful and ethereal appearance and a closed and conflicted personality. Her martial arts are powerful, not inferior to the Five Greats of the world. She is proficient in the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra," "Left and Right Mutual Combat," and parts of the "Nine Yin Manual." Besides the long sword, she also uses the unique soft weapon, the "White Silk Golden Bell." On the orders of her grandmother, Granny Sun, she took in the young Yang Guo and taught him martial arts. The two fell in love over time but suffered greatly wandering the jianghu because of this love. Later, her body was defiled by Zhen Zhiping (Yin Zhiping in the old version). During this time, she had a chance encounter with Zhou Botong and learned the "Left and Right Mutual Combat" technique from him, enabling her to use the Jade Maiden Heart Sword with both hands simultaneously and to face Jinlun Guoshi alone. Due to her meridians reversing during healing, she was accidentally injured by Guo Fu's needle poison, causing the poison to enter her internal organs, making it difficult to remove and shortening her lifespan. To prevent Yang Guo from dying with her, she left a message for Yang Guo on a large stone and jumped into the valley to commit suicide, but unexpectedly survived and detoxified herself. Sixteen years later, she reunited with Yang Guo in Passionless Valley. Afterward, she and Yang Guo assisted Guo Jing and Huang Rong in defending Xiangyang and rescuing Guo Xiang, becoming the renowned "Divine Couple." After the third Mount Hua Sword Conference, she disappeared from the martial arts world with Yang Guo.
Novel Chapters
Edited
The book has a total of forty chapters, with an additional epilogue:
Chapter 01: Heartless Wind and Moon
Chapter 02: Son of an Old Friend
Chapter 03: Seeking a Master in Zhongnan
Chapter 04: Under the Quanzhen Sect
Chapter 05: Tomb of the Living Dead
Chapter 06: Jade Maiden Heart Sutra
Chapter 07: Chongyang's Legacy
Chapter 08: White-Clad Maiden
Chapter 09: Avoiding Enemies with a Hundred Schemes
Chapter 10: Young Hero
Chapter 11: Tribulations in the Dust
Chapter 12: Heroes' Banquet
Chapter 13: Leader of the Martial Arts World
Chapter 14: The Great Barrier of Etiquette
Chapter 15: Disciple of the Eastern Heretic
Chapter 16: Deep Hatred for Father's Murderer
Chapter 17: Passionless Valley
Chapter 18: Valley Master Gongsun
Chapter 19: Old Woman Underground
Chapter 20: The Great Chivalrous Man
Chapter 21: Fierce Battle in Xiangyang
Chapter 22: Infant in a Perilous City
Chapter 23: Sibling Rivalry
Chapter 24: Confused Emotions
(Revised Edition changed to "Thrilling and Chilling")
Chapter 25: Internal and External Troubles
Chapter 26: Divine Eagle Heavy Sword
Chapter 27: Fighting with Wit and Strength
Chapter 28: Wedding Night
Chapter 29: Repeated Calamities
Chapter 30: Separation and Reunion
Chapter 31: Half a Pill
Chapter 32: What is Love?
Chapter 33: Night Talk at Fengling
Chapter 34: Resolving Disputes
Chapter 35: Three Golden Needles
Chapter 36: Offering Gifts for a Birthday
(Revised Edition changed to "Birthday Gift")
Chapter 37: Three Generations of Grievances
Chapter 38: Life and Death Uncertain
Chapter 39: Great Battle of Xiangyang
Chapter 40: Summit of Mount Hua
Creator's comments
"The Condor Heroes" is a wuxia novel created by Jin Yong, and it is the second part of the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes Trilogy." "The Condor Heroes" is the most deeply explored work of Jin Yong regarding emotions, which readers refer to as a "love letter." It has been adapted multiple times into films, animations, comics, and radio dramas.
The Condor Heroes
Book Cover
Author
Jin Yong
Genre
Novel
Language
Chinese
Theme
Wuxia
Publication Information
Publisher
Minghe Press, Hong Kong
Guangzhou Publishing House, People's Republic of China
Yuanliu Publishing Company, Taiwan
Publication Date
1959
Place of Publication
British Hong Kong
Medium
Print
Series
Series
The Legend of the Condor Heroes Trilogy
Predecessor
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Sequel
The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber
Derivative Works
Chinese Translations
Publication Date
1959
Version
Editor
First published in the inaugural issue of "Ming Pao" on May 20, 1959. Serialized for about three years. The definitive version has a total of 40 chapters, with titles of four characters each. In 1994, it was published by the Sanlian Bookstore as the Sanlian Edition. The Yuanliu Publishing Company in Taiwan published the revised Century New Version of "The Condor Heroes" in 2003. Comparing the new and old versions, the main plot remains unchanged, but the author modified certain details (e.g., Xiaolongnv is no longer frigid) and took historical figures' images into account, changing some of the real historical names to fictional ones (e.g., Yin Zhiping was changed to Zhen Zhibing). A new revised edition was published by Guangzhou Publishing House in 2008.
Background Setting
The time is set in the third year of the Daoping era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1236 to 1259, in the new revised version, some events are postponed to the Qingming festival the year after the big battle in Xiangyang, thus 1260), starting over a decade after the events of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," ending 77 years before the main storyline of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" (the 90th birthday of Zhang Sanfeng). Real historical figures appearing in the novel include Kublai Khan, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, Wang Chongyang, Duan Zhi Xing, Lü Wende (in the new revised version, it is Lü Wenzi), Meng Ge, Yelü Chucai, etc. The focus of the martial world in the Central Plains is on the confrontation with the invading Mongolian army and their martial artists, while also emphasizing the protagonist Yang Guo's struggle against societal customs and his own feelings.
Most of Jin Yong's works have either direct or indirect connections; "The Condor Heroes," "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," and "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" are particularly interrelated, collectively known as the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes Trilogy."
In "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," the main characters Guo Jing and Huang Rong are already married in "The Condor Heroes," both being significant leaders in the martial world. Huang Rong had taken on the position of the leader of the Beggar's Sect during the events in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and continuously helped Guo Jing in leading the city's military and civilians to resist the Mongolian invasion before and after relinquishing her leadership before the great victory at the martial arts conference at Guanda Mountain. The main character Yang Guo is just born before the end of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," named by Guo Jing (changed in the new revised version to Huang Rong naming him). Important characters like Guo Fu and the Wu brothers (Wu Xiuwen and Wu Dunru) are also the children of Guo and Huang and the children of Wu Santong in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." Various characters like the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, and the Five Greats of the world also have significant roles in both works. Meanwhile, the time gap between "The Condor Heroes" and "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" is much longer, and the connection is relatively shallow. Zhang Junbao, who appears at the end of "The Condor Heroes," establishes the Wudang Sect in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," known as Zhang Sanfeng, with important appearances. Guo and Huang's youngest daughter, Guo Xiang, establishes the Emei Sect in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," playing a significant role. The protagonist's descendants, Yang Guo and Long's descendent "Huang Shan Nu," appear end at "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" with a fleeting glimpse, leaving readers with endless imagination.
In terms of martial arts. Yang Guo's learned skills beyond the ancient tomb school, Xuantian sword techniques, and his self-created martial arts are all present in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." The appearance of the text "Nine Yang Manual" at the end of "The Condor Heroes" influences the martial arts of the Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei sects in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" and becomes one of the protagonist's main martial arts. Furthermore, the martial arts featuring prominently in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Condor Heroes" also quietly emerge again at the end of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber."
Plot
In the era of the Southern Song Dynasty, Li Mochou, known as the "Scarlet Serpent Fairy," kills the husband of the man she loves, Lu Zhanyuan, and his wife, He Yuanjun, out of anger at Lu's younger brother, Lu Liding, taking revenge on them. They also abduct their daughter, Lu Wushuang. A wandering young man from Jiangnan, Yang Guo, happens to pass by, picks up Li Mochou's unique secret weapon "Ice Soul Silver Needle" and gets poisoned. One of the top martial artists among the Five Greats, the "Western Poison" Ouyang Feng meets Yang Guo, adopting him as his godson and teaching him martial arts (the Toad Stance and the reverse technique of the Nine Yin Manual) and how to expel the poison.
Not long after, Yang Guo is found by Guo Jing, his deceased father's sworn brother and a well-known hero in the martial world, and his wife—Huang Rong, the leader of the Beggar's Sect. The couple cures Yang Guo from the poison and learns that he is the son of Yang Kang and Mu Nianci. It turns out Yang Guo's mother Mu Nianci passed away from an illness when he was eleven. Guo Jing intends to take Yang Guo to Peach Blossom Island to teach him martial arts, but Huang Rong refuses to teach him martial arts, instead hoping he will nurture himself with Confucian classics, recalling actions of Yang Guo's father, Yang Kang. Yang Guo thinks Huang Rong is biased, further provoked by insults from Guo Jing and Huang Rong's daughter Guo Fu and the Wu brothers of the same age, leading to a fight with the Wu brothers, where he injures Wu Xiuwen using the Toad Stance, and is thus sent to Quanzhen Sect to learn martial arts and cultivate himself.
However, Yang Guo’s master Zhao Zhijing, who doesn't gain Yang Guo's admiration, grows resentful and refuses to teach him martial arts, making him suffer in the class. One time, Zhao Zhijing forces Yang Guo, who has yet to be taught martial arts, to compete with his senior brother Lu Qingdu. Yang Guo endures the beating until he can’t take it anymore and ultimately escapes from Quanzhen Sect, where he is taken in by Xiaolongnv who lives in the Tomb of the Living Dead on Zhongnan Mountain. Both master and disciple grow strong together in the tomb, gradually developing feelings for each other.
Years later, while practicing the "Heart Sutra of the Jade Maiden" with Xiaolongnv in the back mountain, they are discovered by Zhao Zhijing and another Quanzhen Taoist Zhen Zhibing (the old version has Yin Zhiping). Xiaolongnv suffers internal injuries from harassment, and Zhen Zhibing becomes infatuated with her beauty. Xiaolongnv's Senior Sister Li Mochou suddenly appears in the ancient tomb, forcing Xiaolongnv to hand over the ancient tomb's martial arts secrets "Heart Sutra of the Jade Maiden." Xiaolongnv activates the mechanisms in the tomb and escapes with Yang Guo. After their escape, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv live in a valley on Zhongnan Mountain, but they encounter Ouyang Feng. Ouyang Feng, not wanting Xiaolongnv to discover the martial arts he taught Yang Guo, disables her acupuncture points. Unexpectedly, Zhen Zhibing arrives, violating the defenseless Xiaolongnv, who mistakenly believes that Yang Guo was the one who did it. When confronted after Yang Guo returns, she expresses her wish to marry him, but Yang Guo's reply is nonsensical, causing Xiaolongnv to leave Zhongnan Mountain in anger.
Yang Guo, oblivious, searches for Xiaolongnv, and along his journey, realizes Xiaolongnv's love for him. During his search, he meets Lu Wushuang, who is escaping from Li Mochou, Yelü Qiz and the Jin royal descendant Wan Yan Ping, who plans to assassinate Yelü Qiz. Later, Yang Guo meets "Beggar's Sect" Hong Qigong on Mount Hua, while Ouyang Feng also appears. Yang Guo witnesses the two masters battling to their deaths.
Later, heroes from the Central Plains meet at the Dasc Hall in Lu Family Village to unite against the Mongol invasion. Yang Guo goes to Lu Family Village hoping to gather information on Xiaolongnv but encounters Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and several Quanzhen disciples. Guo Jing and Huang Rong learn that Yang Guo has been away from Quanzhen Sect for years. At this time Xiaolongnv also arrives at Lu family village to reunite with Yang Guo. Mongolian Empire master Jin Lun Guoshi (in the old version Jin Lun Fa Wang) arrives with his disciples Huo Dou and Da’er Ba to challenge the heroes' conference. In a best of three match, Huo Dou wins against Zhu Ziliu through deception, and at a critical moment, Xiaolongnv and Yang Guo inadvertently become involved in the conflict, together using the Jade Maiden's pure heart sword to help Guo Jing defeat Jin Lun Guoshi. Guo Jing admires and thanks both Xiaolongnv and Yang Guo and plans to betroth his daughter Guo Fu to Yang Guo. Yang Guo refuses, insisting on marrying Xiaolongnv instead. However, marriage between master and disciple violates the etiquette of the time, so their love cannot be accepted by society. After leaving Lu Family Village, they again encounter Jin Lun Guoshi, who abducts Guo Fu, and Huang Rong and the Wu brothers, who come to rescue Guo Fu, with Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv defeating Jin Lun Guoshi to save Guo Fu. But later Xiaolongnv, persuaded by Huang Rong, hopes Yang Guo can be accepted by Guo Jing and the others, and she sadly departs. After Xiaolongnv leaves, Yang Guo, Huang Rong, Guo Fu, and the Wu brothers encounter Jin Lun Guoshi and successfully outsmart him with the help of Cheng Ying, the niece of Hong Qigong and Lu Wushuang.
After being saved by Cheng Ying, Yang Guo learns of Lu Wushuang's evasion from Li Mochou and becomes acquainted with Huang Yaoshi and his disciple Qu Lingfeng's daughter Qu Shagu. Yang Guo quickly bonds with Huang Yaoshi, and when Li Mochou trails Lu Wushuang here, Huang Yaoshi teaches Yang Guo martial arts to counter Li Mochou's moves. Yang Guo then teams up with Huang Yaoshi's disciple Feng Mofeng to repel Li Mochou. Later, Yang Guo learns from Shagu that Guo Jing and Huang Rong conspired with the death of his father Yang Kang, and he suspects them of being the murderers of his father. In anger, Yang Guo goes to seek refuge with Jin Lun Guoshi's master—Mongolian Prince Kublai Khan. In Kublai Khan's army, Yang Guo encounters the Jin Lun Guoshi and six other masters under the Mongol banner, and by chance meets Zhou Botong, who causes chaos within the camp. After Zhou Botong escapes, he and Yang Guo follow a group of green-clothed individuals into a valley, where he meets the valley lord's daughter Gongsun Lue.
This valley is known as the Valley of No Emotions, where the valley lord Gongsun Zhi's ancestors hid safely when the Anshi rebellion broke out in the Tang Dynasty. Because Zhou Botong earlier caused trouble in the valley, someone was assigned to capture him to hold him accountable for his misdeeds.
Later, Zhou Botong escapes again, but Yang Guo encounters Xiaolongnv in the Valley of No Emotions, but she denies her identity, claiming to be the betrothed wife of Gongsun Zhi. After Yang Guo's crisis, Xiaolongnv was saved by Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi wants to marry her, which angers Yang Guo when he continuously questions her identity. Gongsun Zhi orders his subordinates to capture Yang Guo in a net, while Xiaolongnv eventually admits her identity to Yang Guo and vows to die with him, refusing to marry Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi attacks Yang Guo with his best skills, and while Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv retaliate with their jade maiden sword, they unknowingly get hit by the Love Flower's poison, resulting in emotional turmoil and getting defeated by Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi demands marrying Xiaolongnv as a condition for treating Yang Guo. Later, Gongsun Lue rescues Yang Guo but fails to steal the antidote to the Love Flower poison, and Gongsun Zhi wants to kill Gongsun Lue for breaking the valley rules. Yang Guo intervenes to save her, and both fall into a deep pool.
In the cave beneath the deep pool, Yang Guo and Gongsun Lue discover an elderly woman without limbs, who turns out to be Gongsun Zhi's wife and Gongsun Lue's mother, Qiu Qianchi. Back in the day, Qiu Qianchi discovered the affair between Gongsun Zhi and his maid and forced Gongsun Zhi to kill the maid. Gongsun Zhi retaliated by breaking Qiu Qianchi's limbs and imprisoning her in the cave. For more than ten years, Qiu Qianchi relied on the jujubes growing in the cave to survive and learned to use her inner strength to spit out jujube seeds. Yang Guo and Gongsun Lue later bring Qiu Qianchi back to the surface and help her defeat Gongsun Zhi. However, Qiu Qianchi, upon learning of her brother Qiu Qianzhang's death at the hands of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, demands that Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv bring back Guo Jing and Huang Rong's heads in exchange for the antidote. Yang Guo agrees to Qiu Qianchi's request, claiming that Guo Jing and Huang Rong are indeed the murderers of his father.
Yang Guo, Xiaolongnv, and several Mongolian masters leave the Valley of No Emotions and return to Kublai Khan's camp. They learn that Guo Jing and Huang Rong lead the martial heroes from the Central Plains to defend the city against the Mongols, and Yang Guo promises Kublai Khan to infiltrate the city and assassinate Guo Jing as an informant for the Mongols. Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv arrive at Xiangyang City, where Guo Jing welcomes them to help against the Mongols, setting aside past grudges. Yang Guo tries multiple times to kill Guo Jing but is moved by his acts of kindness. The Wu brothers are captured by Kublai Khan, and Yang Guo accompanies Guo Jing to negotiate in Kublai Khan's camp. When experts under Kublai Khan attack Guo Jing, Yang Guo chooses to help him escape at a critical moment, and though they return to Xiangyang safely, Guo Jing suffers serious injuries. Seeing Guo Jing injured and Yang Guo's change of heart towards killing him, the experts under Jin Lun Guoshi enter Xiangyang to assassinate Guo Jing. At this moment, Huang Rong, who is pregnant, goes into labor; Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv protect Guo Jing and his wife. Huang Rong gives birth to twins, and Jin Lun Guoshi wants to abduct the newborn daughter Guo Xiang as a hostage. Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv fiercely protect Guo Xiang. Amid the chaos, the baby Guo Xiang ends up in Li Mochou's hands, who mistakenly believes Guo Xiang is the daughter of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv. While refusing to return Guo Xiang to Yang Guo, she teams up with Yang Guo to deal with Jin Lun Guoshi and other Mongolian masters who wish to take Guo Xiang away. In the confusion, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv become separated. Yang Guo closely follows Li Mochou, who has abducted Guo Xiang, and encounters the Wu brothers, who are clashing due to Guo Fu. To calm the Wu brothers, Yang Guo falsely claims that Guo Jing and Huang Rong have betrothed Guo Fu to him, which causes the Wu brothers to give up on her. In the end, the Wu brothers reconcile, collaborating with Yang Guo and their father Wu Santong to repel Li Mochou. However, Li Mochou still abducts Guo Xiang, and Yang Guo believes he is dying from the Love Flower's poison. He helps the Wu brothers extract the poisoned blood and ends up fainting. Wu Santong and Zhu Ziliu save him back to Xiangyang. After being diagnosed by Uncle Tianzhu, the divine monk, he concludes that Yang Guo's blood sucked from the poison has a counteracting effect, staving off the poison's effects. The divine monk decides to personally go to the Valley of No Emotions to understand the poison's nature before seeking a cure for Yang Guo.
Hearing about Yang Guo and the others returning to Xiangyang, Guo Fu learns of her sister Guo Xiang being abducted by Li Mochou and from the Wu brothers that Yang Guo claims Guo Jing and Huang Rong had promised Guo Fu to him, causing the Wu brothers to distance themselves from her. Furious, Guo Fu confronts Yang Guo directly, and after an exchange of words, she injures him by cutting off his right arm with Yang Guo's sword "The Lady's Sword" that he brought back from the Valley of No Emotions. Severely injured, Yang Guo escapes from the Guo mansion but is saved by a giant eagle. The condor takes Yang Guo to the tomb of the legendary expert Dugu Qiubai, where he heals and, with the eagle's help, learns Dugu Qiubai's martial arts. A few days later, when Yang Guo recovers, he sneaks back to Xiangyang and sees that Guo Jing intends to chop off Guo Fu's right arm as compensation to Yang Guo. Huang Rong rescues Guo Fu and escorts her away from Xiangyang to Peach Blossom Island, but they encounter Li Mochou, who is carrying Guo Xiang. Huang Rong discovers Li Mochou does not know the baby girl in her hands is her daughter, so she devises a plan to lead Li Mochou away from Guo Xiang. However, Guo Xiang is taken away by Yang Guo, who has been following Huang Rong, and is taken back to the ancient tomb on Zhongnan Mountain.
After failing to find Yang Guo, Xiaolongnv eventually hears of his whereabouts but happens to overhear him falsely claiming to the Wu brothers that Guo Jing and Huang Rong have promised Guo Fu to him. Xiaolongnv believes it and leaves in disappointment. Later, Xiaolongnv hears Zhao Zhijing insulting her and threatening Zhen Zhibing for the position of the head of Quanzhen Sect and realizes she has been defiled by him. Despairing, Xiaolongnv abandons Yang Guo and pursues Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing alone. The two flee and, during their escape, encounter Mongolian troops led by Jin Lun Guoshi as they attempt to fight against Quanzhen Sect. Zhao Zhijing hopes to use the Mongols to gain acceptance as the leader in Quanzhen Sect, conspiring with Jin Lun Guoshi while plotting against Zhou Botong. Zhou Botong, however, is rescued from the Mongolian troops by Xiaolongnv.
After saving Zhou Botong, Xiaolongnv tracks down Zhen Zhibing and Zhao Zhijing to Zhongnan Mountain. The Five Masters of Quanzhen are closing their doors for training, and Zhao Zhijing successfully pressures Zhen Zhibing to give up the sect leadership to him. However, Zhao Zhijing accepts the Mongolian command and causes turmoil within Quanzhen Sect. Jin Lun Guoshi leads masters and Mongolian soldiers into Chongyang Palace, capturing Zhen Zhibing and planning to kill him. However, Xiaolongnv, who has not interfered, wishes to kill Zhen Zhibing herself, thus staging a battle with numerous Mongolian experts. In the middle of the conflict, Zhen Zhibing, in order to save Xiaolongnv, ends up wounded by Xiaolongnv's sword. Just then, the Five Masters break through their meditation, believing Xiaolongnv harmed their beloved disciple, attacking her instead. Xiaolongnv brings great suffering upon herself, being caught on all sides by the Mongolian fighters and the Five Masters. Yang Guo, upon returning to the ancient tomb, realizes the changes in Chongyang Palace, places Guo Xiang in the tomb, and heads to Chongyang Palace, where he defeats Jin Lun Guoshi and his experts with the Xuantian heavy sword left by Dugu Qiubai. During this encounter, Zhen Zhibing reveals to the Five Masters that he defiled Xiaolongnv and then ends his own life. Ignoring the Quanzhen Sect’s reputation, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv hold a wedding ceremony before the portrait of Wang Chongyang in Chongyang Palace before returning to the ancient tomb. In the tomb, Yang Guo tends to Xiaolongnv’s wounds, while Huang Rong, Guo Fu, and the Wu family arrive at Zhongnan Mountain, led by Li Mochou. However, Li Mochou secretly attacks everyone. Guo Fu picks up Li Mochou's abandoned ice-cold silver needle to ambush Li Mochou but accidentally injures Xiaolongnv, causing the poison from the needle to enter her organs, incurable.
In anger, Yang Guo takes Xiaolongnv and Guo Xiang out of the ancient tomb when they encounter Master Yideng and his disciple Cien. Yideng received news from his disciple Zhu Ziliu about Yang Guo being poisoned by the Love Flower. Cien, before becoming a monk, was Qiu Qianren, the leader of the Iron Palm Sect, and is Gongsun Zhi's brother. Cien hopes to persuade Qiu Qianchi to hand over the antidote to the Love Flower poison. Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv join Master Yideng and his disciple and head to the Valley of No Emotions, discovering Zhou Botong, Huang Rong, Guo Fu, Yelü Qi, Cheng Ying, and Lu Wushuang, alongside Li Mochou's disciples, who have all arrived there. Yang Guo returns Guo Xiang to Huang Rong. Huang Rong and Cien go to negotiate with Qiu Qianchi for the antidote. Meanwhile, the divine monk from Tianzhu, who previously entered the Valley of No Emotions to study the poison, allows himself to be prickled by the Love Flower, falling into a coma due to the poison. Li Mochou accidentally becomes trapped within the Love Flower, and although she sacrifices her disciple Hong Lingbo to escape, she is poisoned as well.
Huang Rong and Cien meet with Qiu Qianchi, who incites Cien to avenge his brother, resulting in him losing his rationality. He grabs Guo Xiang, intending to kill her, but Huang Rong pretends to be Ying Gu, who has gone mad after the death of her newborn, prompting Cien to remember the evil deeds of killing Ying Gu's child, and he ultimately drops his vendetta. Qiu Qianchi demands Huang Rong, without evasion, to undergo three jujube prick stabbings as a condition for handing over the antidote. Huang Rong successfully receives the three stabs thanks to her wit and martial arts, without injury. However, Gongsun Zhi, expelled from the Valley of No Emotions, colludes with Li Mochou, obtaining the antidote. After Li Mochou defeats Gongsun Zhi to retrieve the antidote, Yang Guo learns from the divine monk, who awakens from the coma, that he has been killed by Li Mochou, leaving Xiaolongnv incurable. Not wishing to survive alone, he throws the antidote into the bottom of the valley. Li Mochou is captured by the crowd and later cannot endure the effects of the Love Flower poison, burning herself to death, and Gongsun Zhi and Qiu Qianchi eventually meet a similar fate.
Huang Rong deduces that before Tianzhu monk died, he believed the Love Flower's antidote lay within the Heartbroken Grass. Unaware that no one can remedy Xiaolongnv's poison, she hints to Xiaolongnv, hoping she can persuade Yang Guo to use the cure. Xiaolongnv carves on the cliff: "Sixteen years later, we shall meet here, husband's love is deep, do not break the promise," after which, she leaves without a word. Huang Rong realizes Xiaolongnv is nearing the end of her life, and is only left to tell Yang Guo that Xiaolongnv was taken as a disciple by a godly figure, South Sea's Shennian, who can certainly cure her poison. However, South Sea's Shennian only comes to the mainland once every sixteen years, meaning Xiaolongnv will have to wait sixteen years to see Yang Guo. Yang Guo, half believing, decides to take the Heartbroken Grass, ultimately staving off the Love Flower's poison and waiting for sixteen years to reunite with Xiaolongnv.
During the sixteen years, Yang Guo travels around helping the needy with his Eagle, becoming known as the "Condor Hero," while Guo Xiang grows into a graceful young lady over the years. Sixteen years later, Guo Xiang, along with her sister Guo Fu and brother Guo Pulu, travels north to Jinyang to invite Qiu Chuji to Xiangyang's hero conference. On their way back through Fengling Ferry, Guo Xiang hears the stories of the "Condor Hero" at the inn and is greatly inspired, defying her family and the wintry weather to follow the ghost of the West Mountain to find the Condor Hero. Witnessing Yang Guo resolve disputes with the Shishi brothers of Wan Shou Mountain, Guo Xiang accompanies him to the Black Dragon Pool, where they catch a nine-tailed spirit fox that can cure Shi Laosan's illness. Here they meet Yu Gu and Master Yideng, as well as Zhou Botong, resolving decades of grudges and past haze. Yang Guo receives a spiritual fox from Yu Gu and cures Shi Laosan, thereafter attending a thank-you feast from the Shishi brothers. At this moment, Guo Fu storms the Wan Shou Mountain to retrieve Guo Xiang, and Yang Guo finally learns of Guo Xiang's identity. At parting, Yang Guo gives Guo Xiang three golden needles, indicating he will fulfill three of her wishes. Guo Xiang immediately expresses her first wish, wanting to see Yang Guo's true face behind the mask he always wears. After Yang Guo reveals his face to Guo Xiang, she requests her second wish that Yang Guo come to Xiangyang on her sixteenth birthday to meet her. Guo Xiang has yet to think of her third wish.
Returning to Xiangyang, Guo Jing and Huang Rong are preparing for the anti-Mongol heroes' conference, and the conference date coincides with Guo Xiang's sixteenth birthday. The Beggar's Sect leader, Lu Youjiao, is killed, and while Guo Xiang is mourning Lu Youjiao at the city outskirts, she and Guo Fu are attacked by the Mongolian master Nimo Xing. A mysterious expert arrives, killing Nimo Xing and rescuing the Guo sisters. Afterwards, Huang Rong discovers a group of hidden masters have come to congratulate Guo Xiang. She guesses they are invited by Yang Guo, worrying whether Yang Guo might pose a threat to Guo Xiang. In reality, Yang Guo, thinking Guo Xiang’s birthday calls for celebration, mobilizes his allies to wipe out the initial Mongol vanguard, damaging their grain storage and munitions depot, exposing Jin Lun Guoshi's scheming disciple Huo Dou to assassinate the Beggar's Sect leader Liu Youjiao, and finally Yang Guo meets Guo Jing and others in Xiangyang. Huang Yaoshi arrives in Xiangyang as Yang Guo reunites with the elder and hears from him that the story of South Sea's Shennian is just a fabrication by Huang Rong.
Afterward, as Yang Guo leaves with Huang Yaoshi, Huang Rong tells Guo Xiang about the enmity between the Guo and Yang families over three generations, mentioning that the tale of South Sea's Shennian taking Xiaolongnv as a disciple is just made up to encourage Yang Guo to strive for survival. Now that the sixteen-year appointment is coming up, Huang Rong fears Yang Guo may not wait for Xiaolongnv and what reaction may ensue, advising Guo Xiang not to interact with Yang Guo again. But Guo Xiang fears that if Yang Guo does not see Xiaolongnv, he might take his own life. Remembering that Yang Guo has not fulfilled her third wish, she decides to find Yang Guo, expressing her wish that he must not seek death.
After leaving Xiangyang, Guo Xiang is captured by Jin Lun Guoshi, who appreciates her wisdom and kindness, accepting her as a disciple and teaching her some inner force principles. Guo Xiang mocks Jin Lun Guoshi, saying his martial arts cannot compare to Yang Guo's, leading Jin Lun Guoshi to bring Guo Xiang to the Valley of No Emotion to challenge Yang Guo. On the agreed day in the Valley of No Emotions, Yang Guo sees no signs of Xiaolongnv and believes she has been dead for sixteen years. Out of grief and anger, he leaps from a cliff into the valley's bottom, just as Guo Xiang and Jin Lun Guoshi arrive. Guo Xiang witnesses Yang Guo's leap and jumps off the cliff after him. Meanwhile, Huang Rong, Zhou Botong, Yu Gu, Cheng Ying, Lu Wushuang, and Huang Yaoshi are all looking for Guo Xiang and Yang Guo, learning that they have fallen into the valley. Together, they subdue Jin Lun Guoshi. Huang Rong's condor carries Guo Xiang back up from the depth, confirming Yang Guo and Guo Xiang are unharmed, as they land in a deep pool at the bottom. The group descends to the valley but does not find Yang Guo, instead leaving Gongsun Zhi tricking Guo Xiang, assisting him to unlock a blocked point, and Guo Xiang is abducted again.
The Mongolian army, while besieging Xiangyang, receives a threat from Jin Lun Guoshi to burn Guo Xiang alive if Guo Jing does not surrender. Guo Jing, refusing to yield, vows to fight to the death. At this moment, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv appear, coming to rescue Guo Xiang. It turns out that Yang Guo discovered another world in the cold pool at the bottom of the Valley of No Emotion and that Xiaolongnv, unharmed after her fall, has been living in the valley on the other side while alleviating her poison through eating honeybee from jade and the white fish in the water. After Yang Guo reunites with Xiaolongnv and returns to the cliff, learning about Guo Xiang's abduction, he rushes to rescue her, ultimately killing Jin Lun Guoshi to save Guo Xiang. Later, Guo Fu's husband Yelü Qi is besieged by the Mongolian army, and Guo Fu implores Yang Guo to assist, to which Yang Guo demands she kneel and bow her head as a condition for helping, paving the way for the rescue of Yelü Qi. Guo Fu, upon realizing her various resentments towards Yang Guo stem from jealousy, feels deeply sorry towards him.
Following Huang Yaoshi's orders, the Song army sets a formation of twenty-eight constellations, defeating the Mongolian troops, with Yang Guo sniping the Mongolian khan Meng Ge leading the charge with stones.
After repelling the Mongolian army, Yang Guo and the others find themselves at Mount Hua, where they witness a group of low-level thugs engaging in "The Third Hua Mountain Sword Debate." Yang Guo scares them away and discusses the new top five masters with his companions, renaming the Five Greats as: "East Hero – Huang Yaoshi, West Madman – Yang Guo, South Monk – Master Yideng, North Knight – Guo Jing, Central Kid – Zhou Botong." While descending from Mount Hua, they encounter Shaolin’s Jue Yuan and his disciple Zhang Junbao as they seek the "Lotus Sutra" and "Nine Yang Manual" from two Mongolian experts, prompting Yang Guo to impart three moves to Zhang Junbao, allowing him to defeat Xiaoxiangzi. Yang Guo then bids farewell to everyone with Xiaolongnv and departs (The stories of Guo Xiang and Zhang Junbao (Zhang Sanfeng) are continued in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber").
Subsequent Developments
As the second part of the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes Trilogy," although the main story in its sequel "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" is set in a time far apart (the ending of "The Condor Heroes" is set in 1260, while "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" starts in 1335), the segments in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" detail events involving Guo Xiang, allowing for some knowledge of or speculation about some important characters' subsequent stories.
The gap between the two parts is primarily between the ending of "The Condor Heroes" (discussion of the five masters' standings on Mount Hua) and the start of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" (Guo Xiang visiting Shaolin) which spans three or four years (with slight variances between editions). The most evident change noted during this gap is the mention that "Qiu Chuji has been long dead" while in the climax of "The Condor Heroes" it only mentions that he "was old and ill, unable to rise."
Moreover, the ancient tomb, formerly barred by the Dragon Breaker Stone, has reopened (though it remains uncertain whether it took place during the sixteen years Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv were separated or occurred after their reunion). When Guo Xiang visits the ancient tomb, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv are out, leaving her in the care of their maid for three days.
As for other characters, while they are not individually detailed, due to their names being mentioned during Guo Xiang's combat displays alongside the masters Huang Yaoshi, Master Yideng, Zhou Botong, and Yu Gu, their passing has not been explicitly ruled out. Hence, despite likely having aged (nearly one hundred years), they remain quite possibly alive at this time.
At the conclusion of "The Condor Heroes," the author hints that due to the death of Kublai Khan in battle, Kublai's intentions toward Xiangyang will not materialize quickly, as he contends with Ariq Boke for the khanate. Historically, the Mongols began their siege on Xiangyang in 1267, culminating in its fall in 1273 (and based on flashbacks in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Xiangyang quickly fell afterward). Therefore, the sixteen-year timeline stretching from 1260 to the fall of Xiangyang in 1273 signifies a period of peace for the characters.
According to later flashbacks during the fall of Xiangyang in 1273, the confirmed fate of known characters is as follows:
- Yang Guo and Xiaolongnv: the young lady in yellow with the surname Yang is likely their descendent;
- Guo Jing and Huang Rong: martyrs for their country (aged around seventy);
- Guo Pulu: dies alongside his parents as martyrs with no next generation;
- Guo Xiang: during the siege, she is in Xichuan, later becomes a nun, founding the Emei Sect;
- Yelü Qi and Guo Fu: no explicit mention occurs (the later Beggar's Sect leader Yelü Yuan is speculated as their descendant, but later editions have removed this); the sect appears to remain unscathed.
- Wu Dunru and Yelü Yan: also not explicitly mentioned.
- Wu Xiuwen and Wan Yan Ping's couple: they have a daughter and father who appear in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" as possible descendants living next to Zhu Ziliu's descendants.