The Return of the Condor Heroes 神鵰俠侶 [C-Drama] [HK-Drama] (1983) (Completed)

The story is set in mid-13th century at the height of the Mongolian Invasion. It is during this time that Guo Jing and Huang Rong, with their unmatchable reputation and skill, rally hundreds of thousands to defend Xiangyang, the last stronghold that stands in the Mongolians’ way.

The story begins with Li Mochou’s massacre of the Lu family. Her reasons of this massacre was the rejection of Lu Zhanyuan towards her, many years ago. Not realizing Lu Zhanyuan and his wife had died years earlier, Li Mochou attacked the family manor. As Lu Zhanyuan’s younger brother, sister-in-law, and Wu Sanniang fought against Li Mochou, their daughter Lu Wushuang escaped along with her cousin Cheng Ying. Despite hiding, Lu Wushuang was later abducted by Li Mochou while Cheng Ying was saved by East Heretic Huang Yaoshi.

An orphan by the name of Yang Guo, is accidentally hurt by one of Li Mochou’s poisonous needles. All of a sudden, a insane West Poison Ouyang Feng appeared and helped Yang Guo purge the poison after Yang Guo agreed to call him father. In his insanity, he treated Yang Guo as his son and taught him the Toad Stance.

Later on that day, Guo Jing and his family met Yang Guo, and found the little boy resembling Guo Jing’s sworn brother, Yang Kang. On learning that Yang Guo? was Yang Kang’s son, they took him back with them to the city. Ouyang Feng, while looking for his godson, encounters Guo Jing and a battle ensues. With both superb fighters almost being equals, both suffered injuries and Ouyang Feng fled. Guo Jing then brought Yang Guo back to Peach Blossom Island to take care of him. On their way they also pick up the Wu Brothers, who’s mother Wu Sanniang had been killed by Li Mochou and father Wu Santong? seemed to have disappeared.

Once back on the island, Guo Jing decided to take the three children and his own daughter Guo Fu as his martial arts disciples. Huang Rong, fearing Yang Guo would turn out like his father, convinced Guo Jing to let her teach Yang Guo. While the other children learned martial arts from Guo Jing, Yang Guo was taught how to read and write by Huang Rong. The other children would pick on Yang Guo and one day a fight ensued. Yang Guo, having not learned martial arts, was on the losing end. As the other children continued their assault, Yang Guo got angry and unexpectedly used the Toad Stance Ouyang Feng had taught him and critically injured Wu Xiuwen. Refusing to mention where he had learned the technique and to keep him from getting in fights with the other children, Yang Guo was sent to Quanzhen Sect on Mount Zhongnan for better guidance.

Upon reaching the foot of Mt. Zhongnan, Guo Jing broke a stone carving out of frustration when Yang Guo asked about his father’s death. Because of this, Quanzhen priests thought Guo Jing was barging into Mt. Zhongnan. Halfway up the mountain, they were attacked by 98 taoists, who used a modified Big Dipper Formation. As they attacked,Guo Jing was forced to fight back. As the battle continued, Yang Guo was abducted by a taoist priest. It was in this chaos that Guo Jing would fight and later defeat Mongolian Prince Huo Du. Yang Guo would manage to escape from his captor and get back to Guo Jing. Afterwards, the misunderstanding was explained. People had fought up Mount Zhongnan because false news was spread of a battle to determine a husband for the Ancient Tomb leader Xiaolongnu on her 18th birthday. Xiaolongnu was not only supposed to be beautiful, but the groom would gain access to all of the Ancient Tomb martial arts. The taoists had mistaken Guo Jing as one of the potential suitors and attacked.

When all the chaos concluded, Guo Jing entrusted Yang Guo to the Quanzhen Sect. Zhao Zhijing, who held a grudge against Guo Jing for the punishment he received for leading the Big Dipper Formation against the wrong person, mistreated Yang Guo, beating him and not teaching him martial arts. Zhao Zhijing? taught Yang Guo the theory, but never taught him stances. At a sparring session between disciples, Yang Guo was once again forced to use the Toad Stance. Afterwards, Yang Guo ran and ended up at the Ancient Tomb and was taken in by Xiaolongnu’s servant Granny Sun after Yang Guo and some taoists were stung by the Jade Bees.

After Yang Guo recovered, Xiaolongnu told Granny Sun to take Yang Guo back and give the Jade Bee antidote to the poisoned taoists. Upon arrival, they were refused entry and later a battle ensued between Hao Datong and Granny Sun. Granny Sun was critically injured when Xiaolongnu arrived and took both Granny Sun and Yang Guo back to the Ancient Tomb. It was there that Granny Sun made Xiaolongnu promise to take care of Yang Guo. Xiaolongnu agreed and Granny Sun died afterwards.

After accepted Yang Guo as a disciple, Xiaolongnu imparted her skills to Yang Guo and together, they ended up learning the top Ancient Tomb art, Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. However, they weren’t allow to wear anything in order to practice the internal cultivation portion. During one of these sessions, the two taoists Yin Zhiping and Zhao Zhijing went closer and closer to their location. This distraction would disrupt Xiaolongnu’s energy, severely injuring her. At that moment, Li Mochou was preparing to return to the Ancient Tomb to look for the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra…