Hong Qigong - The Return of The Condor Heroes

The Return of The Condor Heroes

Hong makes a brief appearance in the sequel. He has regained his powers after losing them earlier in the first novel, and continues to roam the jianghu as a carefree old beggar hunting for culinary delights. He meets Yang Guo on Mount Hua and is impressed with the young man's chivalric nature. He also runs into his old rival Ouyang Feng there.

Hong and Ouyang engage each other in a battle again, which lasted four days. The fight is only interrupted when Yang comes at intervals to serve them meals. The animosity between the two rivals is too strong for them to bear and they continue to pit their inner energies against each other for a full day. Both of them suffer from exhaustion but are unwilling to back down to uphold their ego. They decide to use Yang, who has been an observer for the past few days, as an intermediate. Hong and Ouyang teach Yang their respective skills and ask Yang to perform for each other to see.

Hong teaches Yang the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique'. Ouyang had apparently lost after Yang performed the last stance 'No Dogs Under Heaven'. Ouyang spends the following night thinking of a counter move and the next morning he asks Yang to perform in front of Hong. Hong is shocked when he sees that Ouyang has managed to overcome his most powerful move. Hong finally realises that there will be no eventual victor between him and Ouyang. He laughs hysterically and embraces his rival in defeat. At the same time, Ouyang seems to have recovered from his insanity as he finally recognises Hong. The two of them die together amidst laughter and forgotten past feuds. Yang buries them side by side on Mount Hua.

Read more about this topic:  Hong Qigong

Famous quotes containing the words return, condor and/or heroes:

    This spending of the best part of one’s life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it reminds me of the Englishman who went to India to make a fortune first, in order that he might return to England and live the life of a poet. He should have gone up garret at once.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    Of late, eternal Condor years
    So shake the very Heaven on high
    With tumult as they thunder by,
    I have no time for idle cares
    Through gazing on the unquiet sky.
    Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)

    The apple tree has been celebrated by the Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, and Scandinavians. Some have thought that the first human pair were tempted by its fruit. Goddesses are fabled to have contended for it, dragons were set to watch it, and heroes were employed to pluck it.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)