Return of the Condor Heroes
1959
Return of the 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 second part of the Condor Trilogy (The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Return of the Condor Heroes, and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber). Historially set at the end the Song Dynasty and at the beginning of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, the story revolves around Yang Guo and his lover Xiaolongnü in their adventure in the Wulin fraternity, which does not approve of their taboo love between master and apprentice. Original Chinese title is "Shen Diao Xia Lü". Alternate English titles are "The Giant Eagle and Its Companion", and "Divine Eagle, Chivalric Companion". Presented here is book 1 of 5.
The protagonist, Yang Guo, is the orphaned son of the antagonist, Yang Kang, of the first novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. He is raised briefly by the couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong before being sent to the Quanzhen Sect for better guidance in moral values and orthodox martial arts. At Quanzhen, Yang is often picked on and bullied by his fellow students and his teacher Zhao Zhijing is biased against him. Yang flees and ventures unknowingly into the nearby Tomb of the Living Dead, where the Ancient Tomb Sect is housed. He is saved by Xiaolongnü, a mysterious maiden of unknown origin, and becomes her disciple. They live together in the tomb for many years until Yang grows up. By then, Yang sees Xiaolongnü more than merely his highly-respected teacher, as he has gradually developed romantic feelings for her.
However, their love is forbidden by societal laws in the Chinese Confucianist society of that time. Throughout the story, their love meets with several tests, such as the misunderstandings that threaten to tear them apart and the encounter with Gongsun Zhi. Finally, after their reunion and marriage, Xiaolongnü leaves Yang again, owing to her belief she cannot recover from a fatal poison, and promises to meet him again sixteen years later. While Yang is wandering the land alone, he meets several formidable pugilists and a giant Condor. His adventures gradually mould him into a courageous pugilist, whose prowess matches the Five Greats of his age. Yang serves his nation by helping the Han Chinese of Song defeat the Mongol invaders. At the end of the novel, he is finally reunited with Xiaolongnü and they are recognized as heroes.
