[Condor Trilogy 02] • Legend of Condor Heroes Book 2

[Condor Trilogy 02] • Legend of Condor Heroes Book 2
Authors
Yong, Jin
Date
2010-12-13T00:00:00+00:00
Size
8.08 MB
Lang
en
Downloaded: 33 times

The Legend of Condor Heroes is a Chinese Martial Arts (Wuxia) novel by Louis Cha (Jin Yong), the biggest-selling author by far in the world of Chinese novels. The novel is the first part of the Condor Trilogy (The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Return of the Condor Heroes, and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber). Original Chinese title is "She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan". Alternate English titles is "Legend of the Eagle Shooting Hero". Presented here is book 2 of 5.

The story is historically set in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279) and at the beginning of the Jin invasion of northern China. The first part of the novel revolves around the friendship of two men, Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian, who become heroes in their own right as they fight the Jin invaders. The bond between the duo is so strong that they pledge to each other that their unborn children will become either sworn brothers (if both are of the same sex) or arranged to be married (if they are of opposite sexes).

The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of their sons after Guo's death and Yang's disappearance. Guo Jing, Guo Xiaotian's son, grows up in Mongolia under the care of Genghis Khan. Yang Kang, on the other hand, grows up in Jin as a Jurchen prince's son. Guo is mentored by the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" in martial arts but he is a slow learner and only manages to master part of the skills he was taught. Yang was mentored by Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect and he learns the evil "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" from Mei Chaofeng secretly.

The boys' personalities differ largely from each other due to the difference in the manners they were raised. Guo is honest, loyal and righteous, but slow witted. Conversely, Yang is clever, but scheming and treacherous. They eventually meet one another and their respective lovers, Huang Rong and Mu Nianci. The main plot follows Guo and Huang's adventures and their encounters with the Five Greats. Meanwhile, Yang plots with the Jurchens to destroy his native land of Song. Yang refuses to acknowledge his ethnicity and is strongly driven to acquire wealth, fame and glory. His treachery is slowly unveiled throughout the novel through the encounters he has with the protagonists.

Assisted by Guo, the Mongol military destroys the Jin Dynasty, subsequently turning its attention towards Song. Guo is unwilling to aid the Mongols in conquering his native homeland and leaves Mongolia. Guo returns to Song and helps his countrymen in countering the Mongol invasion. On the other hand, Yang meets his retributive end, leaving behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son who will become the main hero in the second part of the Condor Trilogy "Return of the Condor Heroes".