A Start from Misunderstanding The novel “The Return of the Condor Heroes” by Jin Yong revolves around the theme of love, inspired by the line “What is love in this world? That couples swear to live and die together,” spoken by Li Mo Chou. Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu dedicated their lives to demonstrating “what love is.” They share a bond, but is it love? According to an article on Sohu, Yang Guo eventually realizes what Xiao Long Nu truly feels for him.
T he love between Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu in “The Return of the Condor Heroes” has always been a topic of debate. (Image: Sohu)
As mentioned, Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu spent their lives trying to explain the word “love.” However, at first glance, their relationship does not appear to be one of love, as it began from a misunderstanding. When Yang Guo first entered the Ancient Tomb Sect, he felt no romantic attraction towards the slightly older girl; instead, he regarded her with admiration and respect. The text describes, “Yang Guo looked up, their eyes met, and he saw that this girl was elegant and graceful, unable to look directly at her. Yet, her demeanor was cold and distant, as pure as snow and ice. He couldn’t tell if she was happy, angry, or sad, and was taken aback, thinking, ‘Is this girl made of glass or snow? Is she human or a spirit, or perhaps a Bodhisattva?’ Although her voice was soft and enchanting, there was a distinct absence of warmth, leaving him momentarily speechless. There was respect, but no love.”
The feelings between Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu changed after the “Zhang Zhi Ping incident.” (Image: Sohu)
Xiao Long Nu also remained cold towards Yang Guo. When did her attitude change? The answer lies in the “Zhang Zhi Ping incident.” In earlier versions, he was known as Yuan Zhi Ping, but in the new version, Jin Yong renamed this Taoist priest to Zhang Zhi Ping. Zhang Zhi Ping took advantage of Xiao Long Nu being incapacitated by Ouyang Feng to humiliate her. Upon returning from training, Yang Guo noticed a complete shift in Xiao Long Nu’s demeanor towards him. She embraced him warmly, displaying a gentleness he had never witnessed before. When she expressed her desire to marry Yang Guo, he felt astonished rather than joyful. To him, Xiao Long Nu was still just a master. Later, the two parted ways due to misunderstandings. In subsequent events, Yang Guo found himself caught in Xiao Long Nu’s misconceptions and eventually realized that he had indeed fallen in love with her. The Wedding Night and Zhang Zhi Ping’s Last Words Yang Guo’s love for Xiao Long Nu felt overwhelming, not only because of her frequent departures without explanation that left him anxious but also due to the opposition from Guo Jing and the other heroes. At the Hero Conference, Yang Guo rejected the marriage arranged by Guo Jing and boldly declared his intention to marry Xiao Long Nu. The crowd was astonished and mocked him. Guo Jing and his wife were furious upon hearing his words, which went against societal norms, and Guo Jing even threatened to kill Yang Guo. This only fueled Yang Guo’s rebellious spirit. He was inherently defiant; if others said go east, he would choose to go west. At this point, Yang Guo hadn’t fully grasped the situation, viewing Guo Jing as “the enemy who killed his father,” making it impossible for him to comply with Guo Jing. Naturally, he felt compelled to stand against Guo Jing to the very end.
Yang Guo felt as though he was caught in Xiao Long Nu’s misunderstandings, blindly falling in love with her. (Image: Sohu)
It can be said that Yang Guo’s mindset at this time was not purely driven by his love for Xiao Long Nu, but also by his rebellious attitude. Nevertheless, above all, true love does not lie; Yang Guo genuinely loved Xiao Long Nu. But what about Xiao Long Nu? Her feelings were equally hard to articulate. After the battle at Chongyang Palace, they married in the presence of Sun Bu’er and returned to the Ancient Tomb, where they celebrated their wedding night. However, their night was unlike that of typical couples; they did not share tender gestures. Yang Guo realized that for Xiao Long Nu, their relationship had shifted from passionate love to familial affection! The dialogue between Zhang Zhi Ping before he died adds another layer of complexity to Xiao Long Nu’s emotions. After being attacked by the Golden Wheel Dharma King, Zhang Zhi Ping, while guilty, genuinely loved her and could not stand by, so he rushed in to take the fatal blow for her. He was severely injured, and Xiao Long Nu found herself overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. Although she despised the one who had violated her, she also felt a pang of sorrow for him. The text states: “Xiao Long Nu was taken aback, realizing that he had saved her life. Seeing his back injured and his chest pierced, all fatal wounds, in an instant, her hate turned to pity, and she gently asked, ‘Why did you do this?'”
Zhang Zhi Ping took advantage of Xiao Long Nu’s incapacitation by Ouyang Feng to humiliate her. (Image: Sohu)
When Yang Guo arrived, Xiao Long Nu spoke, “Guo Er, that day I was paralyzed by Ouyang Feng and couldn’t move, and I was humiliated. Even if my wounds heal, I cannot be with you. But he… he risked his life to save me, so don’t blame him anymore. Ultimately, it is my unfortunate fate.” Zhang Zhi Ping also replied, “Master, I have committed a grave offense by taking advantage of the situation to insult Long girl. I ask that you do not make things difficult for her and Yang Guo any longer. At this point, Yang Guo finally understood why, on the day he returned from training and met Zhang Zhi Ping, he was in disarray. And when he unsealed Xiao Long Nu’s acupoint, why she was so gentle and warm towards him. However, when she truly married Yang Guo later, they were more like family. By this time, Yang Guo understood that after years of separation, when they finally reunited as husband and wife, their once fiery love had faded, leaving only familial affection.
It wasn’t until he encountered Zhang Zhi Ping that Yang Guo finally understood Xiao Long Nu’s feelings for him. (Image: Sohu)
Nonetheless, this situation further highlights Jin Yong’s intent, as “The Return of the Condor Heroes” does not end on a perfect note. The journey Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu undergo, filled with countless hardships before finally being together, illustrates the true value of love. Whether their bond is one of love or familial affection seems less