This article will analyze the reasons why Jin Yong did not dare to continue the story of Guo Jing and Yang Guo after the work “The Return of the Condor Heroes.”
No Sequel to The Return of the Condor Heroes
For readers who love Jin Yong’s martial arts novels, it’s important to note that “Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre” is not a direct sequel to “The Return of the Condor Heroes.” Not only do Guo Jing and Yang Guo not appear in the era of “Heavenly Sword,” but Jin Yong also intentionally skips nearly a hundred years, moving the backdrop of this work directly to the later Yuan Dynasty.
We know that “The Return of the Condor Heroes” has a seamless connection with “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.” After the death of Yang Kang, his son Yang Guo begins to make a name for himself in the martial world. Although Guo Jing has yielded the position of main character to Yang Guo, he still plays an important role in the era of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” with many memorable segments.
So, why did Jin Yong not write a continuation of the story about Guo Jing and Yang Guo? Indeed, at the end of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” both Guo Jing and Yang Guo are in their prime. Jin Yong could fully unleash his rich imagination, recounting where Yang Guo went after retiring or how Guo Jing fought valiantly in Xiangyang, ultimately sacrificing himself for the nation.
As for Yang Guo, Jin Yong cleverly borrowed the words of Huang Shanuzi to express a phrase: “Behind the southern mountains – Grave of the living – The Return of the Condor Heroes – Vanished from the martial world” (translated: Behind the Southern Mountain – Grave of the Living – The Return of the Condor Heroes – Forever lost in the mortal realm), which can be seen as a brief explanation of Yang Guo’s fate.
In reality, Jin Yong’s reluctance to continue “The Return of the Condor Heroes” stemmed from his own struggles, as he wrote in the original work: “During the Yuan Dynasty, Central China fell into the hands of foreign tribes, and the people suffered under the Mongolian horses, living in a boiling water and fire situation. To resist the brutality of officials, the people had to protect themselves…”
In actual history, Xiangyang was indeed razed by the Mongolian army, after which all of Central China fell into the hands of Kublai Khan. If he had continued “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” he would have had to portray this dark period. Thus, the martial arts novel would lose its sense of heroism for readers, replaced by a stifling atmosphere, as the Mongols had conquered the world, and the martial sects could only “protect themselves.” Consequently, a martial arts novel would no longer embody the spirit of “righteousness.” Moreover, if a sequel were written during the time of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” readers would be forced to witness Guo Jing’s tragic fate before his death.
How Did Guo Jing Suffer Before His Death?
At the end of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” Yang Guo, at 36 years old, has become one of the masters of the Five Greats, on par with predecessors like Guo Jing, Huang Yaoshi, Master Yideng, and Zhou Botong. However, just as he was dubbed the “Western Madman,” Yang Guo, alongside Xiao Longnu, bid farewell to the martial heroes and retreated to seclusion. With Yang Guo gone, he completely disappeared, causing Guo Xiang to spend 24 years searching for him.
It can be assumed that when war broke out again in Xiangyang, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were living in a secluded place, completely unaware of Guo Jing’s brave battles.
Additionally, although Guo Polu, Wu Dunru, and Wu Yuzheng followed Guo Jing for many years, they were of inferior talent. After years of training, they remained third-rate characters, unable to match up to the top masters, only able to contend with ordinary soldiers. Jia Lueqi had become the new leader of the Beggar’s Sect. His potential was decent, but his time in charge was too short. Especially, he had not yet grasped the last four moves of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and could only recklessly charge into battle. Thus, Jia Lueqi could not be considered a top master either.
Looking at other masters like Zhou Botong, Master Yideng, and Huang Yaoshi, by the end of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” they were all nearing a hundred years old. When Kublai Khan led 100,000 elite troops back, many years had passed. At this point, Zhou Botong had already returned to dust with Master Yideng and Ying Gu in the Hundred Flower Valley. It is no surprise that Jin Yong, in “Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre,” wrote, “The myriad flowers of the lake have fallen silent,” implying the quiet departure of these senior masters.
So when Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu left Mount Hua, did Huang Yaoshi return to Xiangyang with Guo Jing and Huang Rong? The answer is no; Huang Yaoshi likely continued to travel the world, ultimately passing away peacefully in a picturesque location. Thus, compared to the previous great battle at Xiangyang, Guo Jing was not only missing Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu but also the senior masters like Huang Yaoshi, Master Yideng, Zhou Botong, and Ying Gu.
Nevertheless, Guo Jing still had three experts fighting alongside him. These three experts were Huang Rong, Cheng Ying, and Lu Wushuang. Huang Rong had also obtained the complete Nine Yin Manual, coupled with the unpredictable Dog-Beating Stick Technique, making her deserving of being a top master.
As for Cheng Ying, she had mastered the Divine Finger Technique and was probably also taught the complete Nine Yin Manual by Huang Yaoshi. Cheng Ying was intelligent and skilled, quickly mastering two ultimate skills in just a few years, thus becoming a top master in the martial world.
Lu Wushuang, though crippled with one leg, had been taught the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra by Yang Guo. Furthermore, the martial arts of the Five Greats were declining, as some masters retreated into seclusion while others passed away. In this subsequent martial world, Lu Wushuang became a contemporary master.
However, even with the support of Huang Rong, Cheng Ying, and Lu Wushuang, Guo Jing still felt powerless. Although Guo Jing’s martial skills were high, he was ultimately just flesh and blood, while the Mongolian army was overwhelming and approaching rapidly; inside the city, only elderly, sickly soldiers remained. One can imagine the suffering in Guo Jing’s heart.
At this point, we can understand Jin Yong’s dilemma. Rather than writing a continuation of “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” which would have felt forced, it was better to leave Guo Jing’s death as it was, allowing readers to imagine and fill in the missing details themselves.
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