Episode 30 recap: Guo Jing and Huang Rong's Battle at Mount Hua.
Guo Jing questioned Tie Mu Zhen about the tremendous achievements in his life, and how many skeletons and tears of widows and orphans they were bought with. He believed that true heroes are those who protect the common people, and killing many does not necessarily make one a hero. Guo Jing fought against Hong Qi Gong and Huang Yao Shi, and Huang Rong declared that if the battle was not decided within 300 moves, Guo Jing would be the victor.
Qiu Qian Ren led a group of Jin warriors to massacre the Song soldiers, and Zhou Bo Tong pursued Qiu Qian Ren to continue the fight. On the other side, Qiu Qian Ren and Ke Zhen E saw the Jin soldiers being slaughtered and decided to help them. Guo Jing was trapped in a difficult situation, as he did not want to resolve the conflict through martial arts. Liang Zi Weng saw the trapped Guo Jing and tried to drink his blood, but Guo Jing was able to push him away, causing Liang Zi Weng's death.
Qiu Qian Ren threatened Zhou Bo Tong with poisonous snakes, and Zhou Bo Tong sought help from Guo Jing, but the crazed Guo Jing was unable to hear his plea. Ying Gu eventually came to rescue Zhou Bo Tong.
Guo Jing felt that after over a decade of martial arts training, he was unable to save Huang Rong and her mother, nor could he kill the murderers of his five masters, who had also caused harm to many Song civilians. In his crazed state, he wanted to end his own life, but at the critical moment, Duan Kun, the Great Monk Yidengjia, arrived to save Guo Jing.
The Great Monk Yidengjia told Guo Jing that every martial arts master faces such a crisis, and many become trapped in their own demons, like Qiu Qian Ren and Ouyang Feng. Remembering the teachings of his seven masters and his mother, Guo Jing asked the Great Monk if ignoring one's abilities to help others was also a sin. The Great Monk told Guo Jing that what he becomes is not determined by his martial arts, but by his own choices.
Guo Jing, enlightened by the Great Monk's guidance, easily defeated Qiu Qian Ren. Guo Jing did not kill Qiu Qian Ren, but hoped he could use his martial arts to benefit the people, as he believed the corrupt officials had caused the downfall of the Song.
The Great Monk prevented Ying Gu from killing Qiu Qian Ren, as he believed this would only lead to more bloodshed. The Great Monk also explained to Qiu Qian Ren that his master Shangguan Jiannan had always protected the people, and Qiu Qian Ren was convinced to follow the Great Monk and learn the Buddhist teachings to atone for his sins.
The Mongols are about to attack Xiangyang, and to protect the city, Guo Jing plans to take a desperate gamble. He secretly infiltrates the Mongol camp, but unexpectedly finds Ouyang Feng there, and following Ouyang Feng, he discovers that Huang Rong is still alive.
Guo Jing seizes the chance when Ouyang Feng leaves the tent to rescue Huang Rong. The two long-separated lovers are finally reunited, and Huang Rong tells Guo Jing that she was captured by Ouyang Feng after leaving the tent that day. Guo Jing tells Huang Rong that he has come to assassinate Tie Mu Zhen, as a citizen of the Song Dynasty he cannot bear to see Tie Mu Zhen invade the Song and harm its people.
Huang Rong knows that Guo Jing alone cannot fight against the hundred thousand strong army, but she is willing to accompany him on this mission. Guo Jing and Huang Rong eavesdrop on a conversation between the Second Prince and Ouyang Feng, learning that the Second Prince plans to force Tie Mu Zhen to attack Xiangyang.
Amidst the chaos, Ouyang Feng wants to assist the Second Prince, but Guo Jing confronts him and lures him away using the secrets of the Nine Yin Manual. After a fierce battle, the aging Ouyang Feng is no match for Guo Jing, and becomes obsessed with cultivating the Nine Yin Manual, losing his sense of self. He is eventually tricked by Huang Rong into thinking he is battling the legendary "Ouyang Feng" and spends the rest of his days in this delusion.
Guo Jing confronts the Khan and questions whether the order to withdraw from Xiangyang is genuine. Tie Mu Zhen keeps Guo Jing alone in the tent, recalling that he had earlier wanted to make Guo Jing his son-in-law, but realizing that Guo Jing is ultimately a Han person who will be loyal to the Song Dynasty.
Tie Mu Zhen knows Guo Jing's purpose, and since he is now gravely ill, he no longer needs Guo Jing to eliminate him. Tie Mu Zhen does not want to see Guo Jing fight against Tolui, and Guo Jing has not taken the opportunity to attack during the brothers' conflict, proving himself a man of principle.
Guo Jing believes that true heroes should benefit the common people, while Tie Mu Zhen feels that to be a hero, one must slay countless enemies. Though the Mongols have withdrawn, Guo Jing is uncertain if he can stop their next southern invasion, but he is determined to devote his life to this cause.
Huang Rong takes Guo Jing to observe the Sword Debate at Mount Hua. At the peak, with the Southern Emperor in seclusion and the Western Poison absent, only the Northern Beggar Hong Qigong and the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi have accepted the challenge. Huang Rong arranges for Guo Jing to compete against the two masters, and if Guo Jing can hold his own for 300 moves, he will be declared the winner of the annual Sword Debate.
The chivalrous deeds of the great hero Guo Jing have become legendary, while the young Yang Guo, having grown up in seclusion with his mother Mu Nianci, is about to embark on another grand adventure in the martial arts world.
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