Hong Qigong - The Legend of The Condor Heroes

The Legend of The Condor Heroes

Little is known of Hong's past, except that he once mentioned that he was a slave of Jurchen officials in the Jin Empire before he joined the Beggars' Sect. He cut off his right forefinger in remorse after failing a mission, which cost a man's life, because of his overindulgence in fine cuisine.

Hong makes his first appearance in the novel during Guo Jing and Huang Rong's first adventure. Huang is preparing food and the fragrant scent titillates Hong's senses. Hong appears and asks to taste the food. Huang examines his physical appearance closely and sees his Dog Beating Staff and missing finger, which leads her to conclude that he is the "Northern Beggar".

Huang asks Hong to teach Guo martial arts, and in return, she prepares fine cuisine every day for him. Hong succumbs to the temptation of delicious food and stays for almost a month with them. During that period of time, Hong teaches Guo his 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms'. He was initially suspicious of Huang Rong when he recognises her as the daughter of his rival Huang Yaoshi. He was reluctant to teach her martial arts but eventually imparts the 'Carefree Fist' to her.

Hong leaves them after that and meets them again during their encounter with Ouyang Ke. The lecherous Ouyang was attempting to kidnap Cheng Yaojia and rape her but Guo, Huang and members of the Beggars' Sect save her. Hong helps them drive away Ouyang. Hong formally accepts Guo and Huang as his students and imparts the full set of the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' to Guo. Hong also teaches Huang the 'Rain of Petals' skill.

Hong sets foot on Peach Blossom Island later and intervenes in the contest between Guo Jing and Ouyang Ke. Huang Yaoshi allows Hong, Guo and Zhou Botong to leave Peach Blossom Island later on a damaged ship. The ship sinks in the middle of the sea but the trio are rescued by Ouyang Feng, whose ship coincidentally sails past the wreck. On board, Ouyang Feng uses all sorts of means to force Hong and Guo to hand over the Nine Yin Manual. However, they deliberately wrote a fake copy of the manual (with verses written in reverse manner) for him, in hope that he will be weakened after practising the skills wrongly.

Hong and Ouyang start fighting and the former was poisoned when the latter used snake venom on him, and the ship sank. Guo Jing and Huang Rong managed to rescue Hong and they settle on a nearby island. The Ouyangs also set foot on the island and the five of them are stranded there. Hong uses all his inner energy to heal himself by purging the poison from his body, but loses his powers in the process.

Hong decides to pass his position as the Beggars' Sect's chief to Huang Rong and teaches her the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique'. When Hong, Guo and Huang manage to leave the island, Hong follows them on their adventures together with Zhou Botong. They venture into the palace, where Hong says he wants to taste imperial cuisine again. When he meets his students again, Guo and Huang now have a better understanding of the Nine Yin Manual and they pass their knowledge to him to help him recover faster. Hong is briefly mentioned again in the scene on Mount Hua before the novel ends.