Chapter 52: The Sleeping Memory Awakens

Gong Sunzhi was filled with lust and had already assumed Gu Qing was holding his own child, so when he heard Huang Rong’s name, he instinctively thought this was Gu Qing and Huang Rong’s illegitimate son… otherwise, why would Gu Qing be holding a child and claim his luck was good?

This made Huang Yaoshi sit up straight.

Gong Sunzhi was staring at Gu Qing when suddenly his vision blurred; before he could comprehend, the white-bearded, blue-robed old man appeared before him, and in an instant, a rapid series of slaps—“slap slap slap slap”—struck him senseless, stars dancing before his eyes. When the slaps finally ceased, Gong Sunzhi barely opened his eyes to see the white-bearded, blue-robed old man sitting beneath a tree, holding the child, as if he had never moved.

The man standing before him had become Gu Qing.

“Slap!”

Gu Qing slapped Gong Sunzhi across the face and said, “I advise you to watch your words and actions.”

Humiliated beyond endurance, Gong Sunzhi flew into a rage.

Gong Sunzhi was, after all, a top-tier martial artist; over the years, he had carried guilt over Ru’er’s fate, and since then, he had severed all emotional attachments and devoted himself entirely to martial cultivation—until he saw Cheng Ying, when desire stirred, and he conceived the plan to eliminate Gu Qing. Then came the Mongols’ humiliation and burning, which shattered his psyche.

Now, humiliated again by Gu Qing, his malice erupted—he wielded both sword and knife, slashing toward Gu Qing.

Gu Qing had no intention of fighting him—he leapt aside and landed beside Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng.

Gong Sunzhi, heedless of everything, swung his sword and knife—but before the weapons could land, his body suddenly rose into the air, flying several zhang before crashing to the ground.

Feeling Hong Qigong’s palm force, Gong Sunzhi instantly regained his composure.

“Seventh Brother, shouldn’t we leave matters of the younger generation to the younger generation?”

Huang Yaoshi, holding Guo Xiang, suddenly spoke: “When I was at Lu’s Manor, I met Jing’er—he spoke highly of this man. In your view, how many moves would Gu Qing need to defeat this madman?”

Huang Yaoshi seemed curious.

Hong Qigong studied Gu Qing and asked, “How has your martial progress been lately?”

“Aside from internal energy, my progress in all other areas has been substantial.”

Gu Qing spoke honestly: his internal energy, like Qiu Chuji’s, was already among the finest in the world—more than sufficient. Recently, he had been accumulating good karma to advance the Dragon and Elephant Power or pursue the ultimate Yin-Yang Harmony, while also meticulously studying the techniques within the Nine Yin Manual.

“Then how many moves do you think it would take to defeat him?”

Hong Qigong asked.

Gu Qing carefully observed Gong Sunzhi, knowing his greatest threat lay in his dual weapons—using sword techniques with the knife and knife techniques with the sword, flashy and unpredictable. Without understanding his patterns, it would be troublesome—but Gu Qing himself practiced the Left-Right Mutual Combat technique and could wield the Jade Maiden’s Pure Heart Sword Art, giving him an edge in form.

“With steady, methodical moves, about one hundred and fifty.”

Gu Qing assessed seriously: “If you take a risky approach, within twenty moves.”

Gu Qing’s words made Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong exchange a glance.

“I know your goal.”

Huang Yaoshi glanced at the crumpled Guo Xiang and said, “If you defeat him within one hundred and fifty moves, I’ll return with you to Xiangyang. If you defeat him within twenty moves, I’ll grant you one additional wish.”

Here, Huang Yaoshi smiled carefree: “I heard you asked Hong Qigong for the Nine Yin Manual’s master scroll—he refused you. How petty. As for me—even if you asked for my head, I’d give it to you!”

With this declaration, Huang Yaoshi appeared utterly composed and unbound.

Hong Qigong stood beside him, scowling, deeply displeased by Huang Yaoshi’s unprovoked superiority.

“Boy.”

Huang Yaoshi looked at Gu Qing and said, “We’re not here to idle.”

His implication: the Yin-Yang Harmony, Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong had already cracked.

“Good!”

Gu Qing asked Huang Yaoshi for a sword, took it, and stepped before Gong Sunzhi.

Gong Sunzhi hated Gu Qing with every fiber of his being. Now, one hand gripping the knife, the other the sword, he crossed them sharply—knife striking left, sword striking right—sweeping toward Gu Qing’s head, his voice cold: “Today, it’s life or death, no mercy!”

Gu Qing held his sword but did not press the attack; instead, he used the Ancient Tomb’s lightness skill to evade entirely, watching intently as Gong Sunzhi’s moves unfolded… Gong Sunzhi’s Yin-Yang Reversed Blade Art was ancient, refined by Qiu Qianchi into a flawless system—now, knife and sword shifted unpredictably: the long knife suddenly executed sword techniques, the sword abruptly switched to knife methods, alternating and looping, dazzling and chaotic.

The technique was indeed impressive—but Gong Sunzhi had been betrayed by Jin Yong.

When Yang Guo fought Gong Sunzhi, Qiu Qianchi had revealed all his martial secrets—even specific counters. Now, observing Gong Sunzhi’s patterns, Gu Qing sought the openings in his knife and sword, analyzing them with the Nine Yin Manual’s master scroll, cross-verifying his insights—his mind was already clear.

To win within twenty moves by taking a risky approach, he must use the original novel’s counter.

“Begin counting moves!”

Gu Qing called out. Seeing Gong Sunzhi’s long knife flick, he shouted: “Stab his right thigh!” As he thrust, Gong Sunzhi’s knife moved, exposing a massive opening—Gu Qing slashed, forcing Gong Sunzhi to recoil instantly; his robe tore open, while his sword moved to seal his own acupoints.

“Aren’t you skilled in the Closed Acupoint Art? Why guard against this?”

Gu Qing knew Gong Sunzhi’s every weakness—he asked, watching him protect his acupoints.

Gong Sunzhi possessed the Closed Acupoint Art, rendering all point-striking techniques useless against him—but it was the most useless martial skill, requiring lifelong abstinence from meat and alcohol.

Hearing Gu Qing’s words, Gong Sunzhi’s face turned purple. He had been beaten bloody by the Mongols—his Closed Acupoint Art was long broken. Now, wielding both weapons, he lunged forward again.

“Stab his spine!”

Gu Qing’s figure flickered behind Gong Sunzhi. Startled, Gong Sunzhi swung his knife back—but Gu Qing leapt into the air, flipping mid-flight, crying: “Stab his forehead!” His sword arced sharply toward the brow.

These two feints forced Gong Sunzhi to immediately defend his entire body.

“Slice his ass!”

Gu Qing’s sword swept low. Gong Sunzhi raised his knife to block—just as he turned, Gu Qing shouted: “Stab his heart!”

Gong Sunzhi, without hesitation, raised his sword to guard his chest—but as he turned, he saw Gu Qing hurl his sword upward, swift as lightning. Before he could react, the blade pierced his throat.

Gong Sunzhi had been calculating against a sword-wielding Gu Qing—this throw shattered his distance judgment. The blade now pierced his throat. He glared at Gu Qing, eyes wide with fury.

Gu Qing had said “stab his heart”…

“Swish!”

Gu Qing pulled out the sword, stared at the hole in Gong Sunzhi’s throat, scratched his head, and said apologetically: “Sorry—I thought your heart had risen to your throat. Guess it didn’t…”

“I’ll count that as a miss.”

Gu Qing offered an apology as if he’d just drunk three cups of self-punishment: “Let’s continue.”

Gong Sunzhi collapsed backward—he could fight no more.

Less than twenty moves—even less than ten—Gu Qing had already won.

Huang Yaoshi looked at Gu Qing, realizing only someone who understood Gong Sunzhi’s techniques so deeply could defeat him so effortlessly. Now that Gu Qing had won, Huang Yaoshi said calmly: “Boy, name your wish.”

Even if he asked for the martial arts of Peach Blossom Island, Huang Yaoshi would not hesitate.

“I—I want Cheng Ying!”

Gu Qing blurted out.

Huang Yaoshi’s hand paused mid-beard-stroking: “You mentioned your proposal to Hong Qigong—I heard from Jing’er that you’re deeply attached to the Ancient Tomb’s Xiaolongnu.”

Otherwise, Gu Qing was a brilliant young man—Huang Yaoshi would gladly have approved.

“Yes, yes.”

Gu Qing said: “I’ve already pledged my word to Xiaolongnu.”

“Then why do you want Cheng Ying?”

Huang Yaoshi shook his head, smiling faintly for the first time.

“Yes, yes.”

Gu Qing said: “I want to marry both.”

Huang Yaoshi’s smile vanished instantly—the dormant memory within him suddenly awakened.

The fury of breaking a disciple’s leg returned!

In the revised edition of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Huang Yaoshi loved Mei Chaofeng, turning his tragic devotion into a character trait that diminished his dignity—making his pursuit of Mei Chaofeng after leaving Peach Blossom Island seem almost lecherous. This version is not adopted here.

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(End of Chapter)