Book And Sword

Book and Sword is Louis Cha's first novel.
An English translation of the book was done by Graham Earnshaw.

Graham did a great job translating the book.
Originally, published online, Graham have recently published the book in 2003. A version of the translated book is out and can be found on popular online retailers.

A link to Graham Earnshaw's Book and Sword website can be found here.

There are several serial adaptation that have came out for this series, including a recent one that was released in 2003 I believed. I have tried watching several episodes of the new series but could not get into it.

However, you can buy it on YesAsia.com currently for under $50. No English subtitles are available. The version released by TaiSeng have burnt in Chinese subtitles. $48.99 version (International released) and $47.99 version (US Released). Unfortunately, I do not know the differences in the 2 version.

Return of the Condor Heroes Anime released on DVD

For those of you who don't know. The Return of the Condor Heroes, who first 23 episodes were fansubbed by our friends over at live-evil.org, have been licensed and release by Tai Seng. live-evil.org is no longer releasing any of the 23 fansubbed episodes that they have previously released.

The first half of the series consist of 26 episodes, which will be released on 7 DVDs. The audio languages will be Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, and Mandarin Stereo. No Japanese audio will be on this disc unfortunately. There will selectable English and Chinese subtitles. The disc will also contain a menu, chapters and trailers. It will be presented in full screen.

Theme song on the DVD release is sung by Andy Lau, the actor who played the title character in the HK TVB version in 1983.

Episode 1 is already released.
Expected release date for Volume 2 will be on 12/14/04.

Suggested retail price is $19.95

Also, the series is known as Condor Hero.

The Nippon Animation site for the series can be found here.

So far, I have not seen any reliable news as to when the final half of the series will be made. Since episode 26 ends at Loveless Valley.

Louis Cha Literary Genius lives on.

I found a recent article about Louis Cha also known as Jin Yong. He's the writer to all the WuXia series that we have been fansubbing.

Source article can be found here.
I have also reposted the article here, just in case they delete it.
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BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- With a huge popular following, standing ovation and warm applause, Louis Cha no doubt attracted more than his fair share of attention at a lecture organized by the Fifth Shenzhen Reading Month.

It is said that wherever Chinese people live, there are wuxia (also known as martial arts) legends, which are like fairy tales for adults. Wu means martial arts, and xia means a heroic and chivalrous spirit, said Shenzhen Daily on Thursday.

Louis Cha, the creator of adult fairy tales, has not just started a Louis Cha reading craze. He has also become a cultural phenomenon in Chinese communities around the world. His works, all written between 1955 to 1972, have become a byword for martial arts legends in Chinese. The stories themselves are filled with secret societies, honor and betrayal, hospitality and love, revenge and duty as well as the magical kung fu style.

Like most classics, they are large works set against a meticulously researched historical background. Dozens of films and TV series have been adapted from his novels.

"My reading experience of Louis Cha's wuxia began with the TV series Legend of Condor Heroes almost 20 years ago. The hero's personality is very similar to mine, so I saw myself living the hero’s life on TV," said Xi Shijun, a Louis Cha fan in his forties.

Like Xi, many Chinese people have grown up with Louis Cha's novels. While the values and tastes of readers have changed dramatically during recent decades, these novels remain like permanent magnets that draw generations of Chinese readers.

The touching heroic spirit and everlasting love is always able to touch people's soft spot regardless of sex, age, educational background and social status. That's why Louis Cha's works boast the largest readership base: from unsophisticated peasants to urban sophisticated professionals, from government officials to scientific researchers.

Cha, whose texts are deemed the classics of traditional wuxia writing, has a theory about fabrication: "To make a lie credible you'd better tell 10 true things with it."

The theory works well when applied to Cha’s writing. In his books, the stories are always set in contexts full of rich and faithful historical details; the rationales and terminologies of martial arts are elaborately described. As a result, he somehow achieves a sense of verisimilitude for the utopia of his martial arts heroes.

Cha also believes what makes a great novel is the realistic depiction of human characters, the power to create and portray a vivid character that people understand, have compassion for and are touched by what he does.

Louis Cha's novels bring readers joy and Cha has equal fun in creating them. "Writing gives me space for my imagination and joy in creating characters, just like a director."

Notwithstanding this, Cha said his real aim in writing novels is to assert traditional Chinese ethics and sublime moral qualities.

"Wuxia novels must depict justice and righteousness. Good people fight off bad guys. Traditional ethics are asserted through the characters and their stories, not by preaching with words."

Cha has contributed to society as a master of literature for several decades. These days he is retired and leads a carefree life.

"Now I concentrate on academic research. I am particularly interested in the history of the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire fell while China remains. I believe it has to do with Chinese culture."

Cha remarks that the joy in writing novels comes from creating while that of studying history comes from discovery. He finds joy in evaluating history with new perspectives, concluding new theories, getting inspiration and advancing spiritual civilization.

YesAsia sales

YesAsia.com is having a pretty good sales on the WuXia series that we fansubbed.

Legend of the Condor Heroes, which is called Legend of the Arching Heroes on their website. Price is $48.99.

I own this version of LOCH, the dvd quality is better than the vcd version. Unfortunately, it have burnt in Chinese subtitles. And of course, there is no English subtitles on here.

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State of Divinity, which is called Proud Cold and Blood Hot on their website. Price is $48.99.

I only own the VCD version. The scenery is breathtaking and the fighting is unbelievable. This show reignited my passion in watching WuXia serials again. This was the show that made me wanted to start fansubbing WuXia serials.

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Demi God Semi Devils, which is called Heavenly Dragon the Eight Episode on their website. Price is $48.99.

I own the DVD set of this. (Did not buy from yesasia.com though, so some of the statments here might be misleading.) It have removable Chinese subtitles. Have a nice keepcase box that house the dvds.

6 Fingers Demon of Lute (aka Dreadful Melody)

Viet title: Lục Chỉ Cầm Ma
Character/Cast

Xue Mei aka "6 fingered demon of Lute"---------played by Ning Jing
Fu Yun-Jun----------played by Nicky Wu
Lu Lin---------played by Benny Chan
Dong Fang-Bai------------played by Chang Cheng
Tan Yue-Hua--------------played by Kimiko
Lu Teng-Kong----------played by Gao Feng
Xi Meng Yi-Niang-------------played by Zhang Yan-Bing
Qi Fu-----------played by Shi Fan-Xi
Han Yu-Xia----------played by Gao Si
Ghost servant---------played by Li Qin-long
Duan Mu-Hong---------played by Zhao Yun
Firece Fire Founder-------played by Lu Yong
Fire wind nun---------played by Wang Xin-Fen
Saint of ghost-------played by Duan Qiu-Xu
He Qing Hua---------played by Liu Xue-Fei
Ci-Lai Monk----------played by Zhou Nan
Han Xun----------played by Yu Jian-guo
Sheng Cai--------played by Wei Wei

Total episode: 35

Story:
There's a weepful melody coming from a lake where A boat is floating on the water, and the melody seems to be re-telling a bloody story that happened 16 years ago.........in order to steal the "demoniac lute", 6 renown sects surrounded Xue Mei's home. Xue Mei(played by Ning Jing) saw her parents slaughtered, and her little brother Xiao Lin(played by Benny Chan) missing in this midst of killing; Xue Mei carried the "demoniac lute" running toward a deep valley.

16 years later on this same day is "Tian Hu" head Lu Teng-Kong's(played by Gao Feng) day to retire. A mysterious person requests a guarding-transport to be done and the condition is to have Lu Teng conveying a box personally, delivering it to "Han Xun" home in Su-Zhou.

Lu Lin(played by Benny Chan), the young master of "Tian Hu" guarding-transport agency is a driven young man who deceived his parents to accept this business to deliver the box but unbeknwonst to him, the "demoniac lute" lies inside this box.

"demoniac ute" appears in the world once again, many skilled martial art swordsmen have already attempted to steal this box. Lu Teng-Kong and Xi Meng Yi-Niang(played by Gao Feng and Zhang Yan-Bing) order Lu Lin continuing to transport the box while they fight off trespassers. The eldest disciple of "Fierce fire" sect Yue Hua(played by Kimiko) disguises as Lu Lin, asking "Ghost-servant"(played by Li Qin-Long) to steal the fake box while she toys and entraps Lu Lin. In the critical moment, "6 fingered demon of lute" appears helping Lu Lin to steal the box back. On the journey together, Yue Hua falls in love for Lu Lin.

"Ghost servant" returns to "Ghost Palace" to open the box but to find out that the "demoniac lute" is a fake. Thus, "saint of ghost"(played by Duan Qiu-Xu) yells in rage.

Lu Lin meet with Lu Teng-Kong and Xi Meng Yi-Niang delivering the box to "Han Xu" Home. Han Xu and Han Yu-Xia(played by Yu Jian-Guo and Gao Si respectively) accepts the package but discover that the box contains their young master Han Ping's head. So, all of them start fighting each other and Xi Meng Yi-niang dies due to injury. However, all of them realize there's a 6 digits hand print on the box so they all decide to ask "Mr. 6 digits" to get a better understanding of the matter.

Every sect gather together at "Fairy peak" to find "Mr. 6 digit" already dead. Han Ping's head, Left-and-Right Guards, Black-and-White's corpses are already giving everyone an entanglement that's difficult to solve. Then they all start fighting one another due to their own selfish reasons, and Lu Lin arrives a moment later at the peak to find his parents lifeless, thus Lu Lin is overwhelmed by their deaths.

At this time, "Sky Dragon 8 tunes" jangles and "6 fingered demon of lute" is indeed the player. Yue Hua recognizes her as the person who aids Lu Lin to transport the box, causing uproars and fighting from people in each sect. Lu Lin understood that he is used so he hates the "6 fingered demon of lute". "6 fingered demon of Lute" says she is the daughter of Wang Dong, called Xue Mei. Her purpose to cause a bloodbath among the 6 renown sects is to overthrow the martial world's order avenging her parents death. The strength of "Sky Dragon 8 tunes" is so powerful that there is countless deaths on "Fairy Peak". During her fight with Lu Lin, Xue Mei recognizes Lu Lin's birthmark and realizes Lu Lin is her long lost brother. Thus, she carries her lute running away.

Because each sect wants to get rid of "6 fingered demon of lute", they recommend Dong Fang-Bai(played by Chang Cheng) as the martial alliance leader. Xue Mei let Lu Lin know about the cause of their parents' death explicitly but Lu Lin doesn't believe her, accusing her as the murderer who kills his parents instead. Lu Lin asks to be Dong Fang-Bai's disciples, working hard to learn kung-fu and vowing to make a revenge on Xue Mei. "Fierce Fire Founder" and "saint of ghost"(played by Lu Yong and Duan Qiu-Xu) attack "6 fingered demon of lute" together, getting Xue Mei wounded and Lu Lin happens to encounter her at a wounded state, but Lu Lin let her go because his humaneness doesn't allow him to kill her. When every sect learns about Lu Lin letting Xue Mei go, they all acknowledge that Lu Lin is "6 fingered demon of Lute"'s biological brother. In order to prove that Lu Lin is unrelated to "6 fingered demon of Lute", they compel Lu Lin to get the head of "6 fingered demon of Lute". Dong Fang-Bai murders "Saint of Ghost" and frames "6 fingered demon of Lute" for this, so Lu Lin hates Xue Mei even more.

"6 fingered demon of Lute" meets with Dong Fang-Bai, and Dong Fang-Bai expresses candidly that it's difficult to resolve his history with Wang Dong.

Scholor Yun Jun(played by Nicky Wu) who guards the lute has always advised Xue Mei in earnest to discard the demoniac lute, to forget her plan to revenge. Since things are getting ugly, while he worries over Xue Mei may be controlled by the demoniac lute once again, Yun Jun uses all his might to dismantle the demoniac lute and dying after using all his power. Xue Mei painfully grieves over Yun Jun's death.

"Fierce Fire Founder" investigates Dong Fang-Bai's conspiracy so Dong Fang-Bai hunts "Fierce Fire Founder" down to kill him. Yue Hua implores for mercy for her master so Dong Fang-Bai destroys "Firece Fire Founder"'s kung fu instead of killing "Firece Fire founder", compelling Yue Hua to marry him and imprisoning "Firece Fire founder" in a jail simultaneously. Dong Fang-Bai wants to exterminate "6 fingered demon of Lute" with Lu Lin. Xue Mei doesn't want to harm Lu Lin so she doesn't use the demoniac lute, hence injured by them once again.

"Ghost Servant" rescues Yue Hua and they reveal Dong Fang-Bai's conspiracy. Lu Lin attacks Dong Fang-bai with Yue Hua, "Ghost Servant" and Xue Mei, but all of them are injured by Dong Fang-bai with Dong Fang-Bai getting ahold of the demoniac lute.

What's the fate of Xue Mei and Lu Lin's brother and sister life? Will the bloody history of the demoniac lute vanish from now on?


sina page
pictures..

Summary above was taken from tvseriessensation.com. Join the discussion thread there.

Twin of Brothers

I found a short summary and list of cast members for the TVB Twin of Brothers.
The website I found it on here is TV Series Sensation.

TWIN OF BROTHERS
Dai Tong Seung Lung Juen
Đại Đường Song Long

Cast
Raymond Lam - Kau Chung (Khấu Trọng)
Ron Ng - Tsui Chi Ling (Từ Tử Lăng)
Tavia Yeung - Lee Sau Ling (Lý Tú Ninh)
Li Qian - Sung Yuk Chi (Tóng Ngọc Chí)
Leila Tong - Si Fei Huen (Sư Phi Huyên)
Nancy Wu - Wan Wan (Quanh Quanh)
Christine Ng - Fu Kwan Cheuk / Fu Kwan Yu (Phó Quân Trác / Dụ)
Evonne Yung - Zhu Yu Yan (Trúc Ngọc Dinh)
Derek Kwok - Hau Hei Pak (Hồ Hy Bạch)
Yuen Tak Cheung - Lee Shi Min (Lý Thế Văn)
Waise Lee - Yu Man Fa Kap (Nhũ Văn Hóa Cập)
Ellesmere Choi - Duk Ku Chak (Độc Cô Sách)
Savio Tsang - Shek Chi Hin (Thạch Chí Hiên)
Rubyanne Choi - Dung Suk Nei (Ðổng Thục Nghi)
Mark Kwok - Lee Kin Sing (Lý Kiến Thành)
Mary Hon - Fan Ching Wai (Phàn Thanh Huệ)
Chan San Chung - Yu Man Chi Kap (Nhũ Văn Chí Cập)
Anthony Tang - Lee Yuen Kat
Chan Hung Lit - Chuen Choi Lam
Gordon Liu - Lee Hau Seung
Au Siu Wai - Lei Jing
Lai Hon Chi - Wong Sai Chung (Dương Thế Sung)
Lo Lok Lam - Sung Kuet (Tóng Khiết)
Yeung Ying Wai - Sung Si Do (Tóng Sư Ðao)
Lau Gong - Lei Yuen
Ngai Wai - Lei Mat (Lý Mật)
Wong Wai Leung - Hui Hang Ji

Producer
Chong Wai Kin (A Step into the Past, The Legend of Lady Yang)

Sypnosis

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, there exist a number of different forces. CHUNG (LAM RAYMOND) and LING (NG CHEUK HAI, RON) gain their power in the chaotic time with their naive bravery.

There is a legend stating that the "Immortality Routine" is the vital key to the Yeung's Treasure. CHUNG and LING learn the Martial Arts tricks in the "Immortality Routine" by chance. They suddenly become the most wanted people in the Martial Arts world. Luckily, they are always saved by a nun HUEN (TONG, LEILA). LING loves HUEN from the first sight. However, she is a sacred virgin and cannot have any love affair. On the other hand, a girl KOON (WU TING YAN, NANCY) from an unorthodox sect loves LING. Meanwhile, CHUNG and LING meet MAN, who later becomes the Tong Dynasty Prince, and his sister NING (YEUNG YI, TAVIA). CHUNG is attracted to NING and so works for them.

Unfortunately, Ning is engaged to a tycoon SHIU (MAO HUAFENG), who is jealous of CHUNG and tries to harm him. CHUNG swears to create his own success and draws a line with MAN. In fact, CHUNG's argumentative friend CHI (LI QIAN) loves him secretly.

Will CHUNG and Ling succeed after all kinds of challenges and suffering?

Genre: Tang Dynasty Costume Drama/Historical/Magical/Kung-Fu

Episodes/Tapes: 42/21 (Canto) - 66/33 (Viet)

Release Date: July 2004 (Canto) - September 2004 (Viet)

Click here to join the thread for this series on TVSeriesSensasion.com..

English Subtitled HK TVB Serials

HK TVB have released a lot of their new shows with English subtitled. However, it does not seem to be for purchased but for rental only. The shows are on DVD.

I have had a chance to watch 2 of their shows with English subtitles. I was very suprised at how well done it was. The 2 shows I saw was Twin of Brothers and To Get Unstuck in Time.

Twin of Brothers is a WuXia that they collaborated with Mainland China to do. It was their big budget tv series for the 2004 year. The only complaint I have about the subtitles were that they use magical references instead of martial arts terminologies. Other than that, it was pretty good. The show does use traditiona wirework as well as computer generated sequences. Overall they did a good blend of traditional wirework, CGI, and martial arts.

To Get Unstuck In Time was a modern day HK drama that is very similar to the American movie Frequency. Basically, a modern day HK Cop uses his father's old cell phone to talk to his dad 20 years in the past. The twist comes in the fact that he changes the past which forces him to fix a lot of mistakes in the new timeline due to it. It had a really good storyline.

Current Status of the Shows

Currently, I have no plan on releasing any new fan subbed episodes this year. It might changed once the holidays roll around and I have some spare time.

So currenlty, the released episodes that we have so far stands as follow:

Legend of the Condor Heroes 2003 - episode 1 thru 4 have been fansubbed and released. There are 42 episodes total in this series.

State of Divinity 2001 = episode 1 -4 have been fansubbed and released. There are 40 episodes total for this series.

DemiGods and SemiDevils 2003 - only episode 1 have been fansubbed and released. There are 40 episodes total for this series.

All episodes are distributed by live-evil.org

LOCH Episode 9 Synopsis

Guo Jing and the young beggar became really good friend and seem to perfectly suited to one another. However, one day the young beggar, in tears, decided to bid farewell to Guo Jing. Guo Jing head to Beijing and encountered a traveling martial arts father-daughter who are setting up a stage to find her a husband. The father name is Mu Yidai and his beautiful daughter name is Mu Nianci. The stage attracted all sort of ruffians who wants to win the beautiful Mu Nianci's hand. She defeats them all. However, the young prince, Wanyan Kang also came up on stage to fight for her hand. The father tries to stop the match saying he only wanted serious suitors and Wanyan Kang say he is serious. So the two fight and falls in love with one another on the stage, but Wanyan Kang is a playful prince and steals her shoe and refuse to marry her. Guo Jing tries to intervene but is beaten up. Qui Chuji's martial brother, a Taoist priest, appears and reprimand Wanyan Kang and threatened to report what he sees to Wanyan Kang's master, but Wanyan Kang's bodyguards attack and injured him. Just when things were coming to a boiling point, Wanyan Kang's mother, Bao XiRuo appears in a carriage telling him to apologize and go home. Mu YiDai see Bao XiRuo and recognizes her, for he is really her former husband, Yang TieXin, whom everyone had thought died long ago.
At the Jin's palace, a banquet is held for all the martial artists who had decided to join the Jin's cause.

LOCH Episode 8 Synopsis

Temujin defeats San Kun and unified the prarie under one ruler. He engage Hua Zheng to Guo Jing for Guo Jing's role in his victory. Guo Jing, only considering Hua Zheng as his sister, wanted to refuse but had a hard time doing so. Temujin proclaim Guo Jing to be the "Golden Dagger Prince Consort".

Shortly after the announcement by Temujin, Guo Jing's 6 masters informed him that he needed to get ready to head south back into China so that they can meet up for the duel against Qui Chuji and Yang Kang on March 24 at the restaurant they first met the priest in Chiangnan. They wanted him to get some worldly experience first. Hua Zheng pleads for him not to leave but Guo Jing leaves anyways.

To give Guo Jing some wordly experience, Guo Jing and his masters parted company, promising to meet at the restaurant at the appointed time. Left alone, Guo Jing travels around and in one village he encounter a young beggar who was caught robbing some food. He treated the young beggar to lunch. The young beggar had exquisite eating habits and order the most expensive food and a big banquet. They both ate the large banquet while a large group of villagers watch them.

LOCH Episode 7 Synopsis

For 2 years, Guo Jing practice meditation nightly upon the cliff with Ma YuFei. One day to test how far Guo Jing have come along in his study, his 6 masters, the 7 Weirdos of the South, gave him a series of tasks. They saw that he was faster and have improved his martial arts. He was able to tame a wild red horse that his master, a famous horse tamer, had truoble taming. He was able to execute the sword stances his 7th master taught him perfectly. Seeing how fast he have come along and knowing that he was not the brightest tool in the shed, the 6 masters grew suspicious about him. They told him to go rest, but secretly agreed among one another to trail him to see where he goes.

That night, they saw him climb up the cliff by himself with extremely fast lightness kung fu that they had no skills in. Unable to follow, some of them returned back to camp for ropes to make the climb up. Meanwhile, Guo Jing and Ma YuFei discovered that Mei Chaofeng was practicing her Nine Yine White Bone claw martial arts up there. Alarmed at this discovery, Ma YuFei told Guo Jing to inform his masters that Ma YuFei. Meanwhile, some of the 7 Weirdos of the South have managed to climb up the cliff and discovered that Mei Chaofeng was back. However, they mistakenly jumped to the conclusion that Guo Jing had betrayed them by joining forces with Mei Chaofeng and that he had accepted an enemy as his master.

That same night, Guo Jing and Ma YuFei also witnessed that Sang Kun and Wan Yan Hong Lie were making secret plans to take advantage of Durksh and Hua Zheng's wedding to kill Temujin.

Guo Jing goes to inform his masters about Mei ChaoFend and were attacked by them. Luckily, Ma YuFei appears and clears up the misunderstanding. They confronted Mei ChaoFeng by pretending to be the 7 Taoist priest of Quanzhen and brokered a peace between her and the 7 Weirdos.

Guo Jing then rush off on his new red horse to warn Temujin about San Kun's treachary. Temujin had already went out to meet the engagement party. Temujin dismisses Guo Jing claims as nonsense and a battle ensue where Temujin is injured by an arrow. Durksh, however, is captured. An injured TemujinDurksh is released but carry news back to his father that Temujin is fatally injured so San Kun attacks the following day. Temujin really fake the arrow injury and rally his troops against San Kun's attack.

LOCH Episode 6 Synopsis

Prince Wan Ya Hong Lie seeing the 7 Weirdos of the South tries to avoid them from noticing them since he was fearful that they would recognize him from the restaurant in Chiangnan years ago. Temujin, seeing how adept the 7 Weirdos are, asked them to stay and teach his men some moves. They agreed since this will allow them to be close to Guo Jing. Ke Zhen E relates to Li Ping why they are the one to search for her and not Qui Chuji.

For the next few years, the 6 remaining Weirdos of the South devote their time to teaching Guo Jing martial arts. However, due to his slow understanding, Guo Jing did not learn very much. Temujin's youngest daughter, Hua Zheng, often finds his slow understanding and punishments from his masters very amusing.

One night, Qui Chuji's apprentice, Yin Zhiping, bring news about Yang Kang to the 7 Weirdos of the South, Guo Jing and his mother. But Yin Zhiping also took the opporunity to test Guo Jing's skill and found it very lacking. Yang Kang's skill was suppose to be more advance than Yin Zhiping's. Guo Jin's masters decided they need to force Guo Jing to learn martials arts night and day.

One day, after a long session of training and being punished, Hua Zheng rans up to Guo Jing and informed him that Temujin was hunting condors and for them to go watch. Temujin told his warriors if anyone can shoot down a condor he will be rewarded. Guo Jing with one arrow shot down 2 condors thereby winning favor with Temujin. Guo Jing foolishly asked Temujin if Hua Zheng's engagement to Duruksh, San Kun's son, be annulled. Temujin refused him saying that was a childish request and gave him a jewelled golden dagger instead.

Hua Zheng and Guo Jing found out that the condors that he killed left behind baby condors up high on a cliff. Guo Jing tried but could not reached for them. A Taoist priest named Ma YuFie flew up to the cliff and rescue the condors. Hua Zheng takes the condors and care for them. Ma YuFie offers Guo Jing the chance to learn this skills if he will come at night up that cliff.

That night, Guo Jing attempted to climb up the cliff, but it was too steep. Screaming for help, the Taoist priest drop a rope and help him up. After asking Guo Jing never to reveal to his other masters that he was being taught this skill, Ma YuFie teaches Guo Jing the proper way to meditate and cultivate his internal chi; thereby revealing to Guo Jing that the reason why he was not getting anywhere in his martial arts practice was because his masters in their haste to impart their skills forgot to teach him the foundation to martial arts. So Guo Jing learns meditation skills from the Taoist priest, Ma YuFie.

LOCH Episode 5 Synopsis

At the banquet, Temujin asked the Jin prince if any other Mongolians heroes were gonna be receiving an award, but were told only he and his adopted father. Temujin saw this for the political action it was and informed the Jin princes that there were 2 others heroes, his 2 adopted brothers. But the Jin prince laughed and scoffed at his suggestion of awarding Temujin's 2 brothers also.

Temujin met up with his two adopted brothers and escorted the Jin princes to his adopted father's camp. Along the way they were attacked by an enemy tribe (about 30,000 men) who wished to be awarded as well. Temujin and his troops defeated the ethnic tribe easily. The Jin princes were alarmed at how powerful Temujin's troops are and were more determined to drive a wedge between Temujin and his adopted brothers.

Also at this time, the 7 Weirdos of the South finally finds Guo Jing after years of searching for Guo Jing and his mother, Li Ping. Finding out that Guo Jing was a very slow learner, they agreed to teach him only if he came up to the mountain that night to meet them. Slow comprehension can be overcome with patience but without courage there would be no point in wasting their time.

That night, up in the mountain, the 7 Weirdos waited patiently for Guo Jing to come when they encountered skulls stacked up in a unique combination. Ke Zhen E came to the conclusion that Eastern Herectic's two disciples, Mei Chaofeng and Chen XuangFeng, were hiding Mongolia to learn Nine Yin White Bone Claw, a fierce martial art. Years ago, these two had killed Ke zhen E's two sworn brothers and caused him to blind. Wanting to take revenge, the 7 Weirdos set up a trap for Mei Chaofeng and Chen XuangFeng.

Mei Chaofeng shows up but detect the 7 Weirdos and started attacking and was defeating them, but Ke Zhen E luckily caused her to be blind with his flying darts. Chen XuangFeng shows up shortly after this with Guo Jing as his captive. The 7 Weirdos looked with trepidation at this turn of event. Guo Jing takes out the sword given to him by Qiu Chuji and stabbed Chen XuanFeng and mortally wounded him. Chen XuanFeng laughed ironically at this situation since he was famed throughout the martial world as not fearing any sharp weapon but he was just mortally wounded by a young boy with no martial arts skills. Mei Chaofeng, now blinded, and the mortally wounded Chen XuanFeng fled from the 7 Weirdos, but not before mortally wounding one of the 7 Weirdos (the 5th sworn brother, Zhang ???, as well. Chen XuangFeng before dying told Mei Chaofeng that the manuscript to Nine Yin White Bone Claw were etched on his body and to use the knife that killed him to cut off of his body. They remembered how they had to fled Peach Blossom Isles after stealing this manuscript from their master and remembered their love. Then Chen XuangFeng dies.

Another tender moment was also happening at the scene of the fight. The 5th member in 7 Weirdos of the South were now dying and Han Xiaoying, the 7th member and only female member of the group, were both lamenting at how stupid they were for not publicly acknowledging their love for one another. Guo Jing was told to bowed to his Zhang ??? and calling him master. Zhang ??? dies. The 7 Weirdos accepts Guo Jing as their disciple and descended down from the mountain in the early dawn of the day.

Guo Jing comes down to hear the news that Temujin's adopted brother, San Kun, son had released a herd of horses to trample over Tolui. Guo Jing rushes to rescue ToLui with the help of his new masters. Guo Jing bravely saves Tolui and his sister from being trampled.

Temujin's adopted father reprimanded his grandson, Durksh, and San Kun glowered at Temujin while the Jin princes rejoiced at seeing the wedge that was being created between the 3 brothers. To smooth things over, Temujin promises his youngest daughter, Hua Zheng, to be wedded to Durksh when they become of age. Temujin's adopted father decided to offer one of San Kun's daughters to one of Temujin's son to be his wife....

LOCH Episode 4 Synopsis

Temujin's soldiers threatened to kill Guo Jing if he did not revealed the whereabouts of the hidden warrior, whose name was Jebeh. Guo Jing stubbornly refused to reveal Jebeh's location. Temujin's solider was about to beat Guo Jing when Jebeh appears out of the haystack to save him. Knowing he was about to be killed, Jebeh laments to Temujin and his soldiers that he could not be killed by a hero or die on the battlefield. Temujin was offended when he heard this and got one of his warrior, Bogurchi , to fight Jebeh. Jebeh, thankful for Temujin's generosity, offer to duel with Bogurchi without any arrows. The two duel with Jebeh catching Bogurchi's arrows and using it against him. Jebeh shows off his phenomenal skills as a marksman. Impressed, Temujin offers Jebeh a position in his tribe. Jebeh willingly accept. Temujin impressed with Guo Jing's loyalty and strong character offer to take the boy into the tribe as well.

Guo Jing and his mom, Li Ping, joins Temujin's tribe, with Jebeh's as Guo Jing's master.

There in the tribe, Guo Jing befriends ToLui, the youngest son of Temujin and they become AnDap, blood brother, as well as befriending To Lui's little sister, Hua Zheng.

The 2 Jin princes, Wan Yan Ho Lie and his brother, comes to Mongolia to award Temujin and his adopted father. However, their real purpose is to break Temujin's alliance with his two brothers apart so that Temujin will not be able to unite all the Mongolian tribes under one leader and attacked the Jin.

Temujin entertains the 2 princes with wine and sensuous dancing girls.

LOCH Episode 3 Synopsis

Duan Tien De suddenly emerged from hiding from the temple once the martial arts fighters were injured. Cursing at Qiu Chuji, he attempts to kill him, but were stopped by Master Jiao Mu. After accidentally killing Master Jiao Mu, he fled with Li Ping while the helpless 8 remaing martial artists are too injured to stop him.

After using their internal chi to heal themselves, Qiu Chuji attempted to apologize to the 7 Weirdos of the South; but were taunted by their leader, Ke Zhen E, into another duel to square everything off. Qiu Chuji came up with a different proposal. Each side will search for one of the missing mothers and their unborn child. During the next 18 years, each side will teach the unborn child all the martial arts they knew, and then the 2 children will duel with one another. The winner will gain honor for his master(s).

The 7 Weirdos of the South was charged with looking for Duan Tian De and Guo Xiao Tian's wife, Li Ping.
The Taoist Priest, Qiu Chuji, was charged with looking for Yang Tie Xin's wife, Bao Xi Ruo.

Upon fleeing the temple, Duan Tian De was fleeing toward the Jin Empire so that he can collect his reward. Upon entering Jin territories, he and Li Ping were pressed into a chain gang. While in the chain gang, the gang were attacked by Mongolian bandits killing everyone. Duan Tian De faked his death and Li Ping hid and faked her death as well. After the fight, Duan Tian De robbed the dead and fled to unknown parts, not realizing that Li Ping was still alive. That night, Li Ping gave birth alone to her son, Guo Jing, in the cold, barren Mongolian wilderness among the dead.

Meanwhile, Bao Xi Ruo, living with the Jin prince, gave birth within the luxury of a Jin Palace to a healthy baby boy named Wan Yan Kang.

Years later, upon the wide expanse of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, Temujin (Genghis Khan) amassed his troops to fight another Mongolian tribe. A young Guo Jing witnessed the battle scene from afar. Seeing a fearless warrior fight with his tribe against Temujin's troops, Guo Jing was impressed. However, Temujin quickly defeated that tribe and forced those tribe's warriors to flee. Guo Jing helps hide the fearless warrior that he saw, but Temujin's men comes to question Guo Jing on the whereabout of that missing warrior....

LOCH Episode 2 Synopsis

Bao Xiruo wakes up to the discovery that she have been rescued by the person whom she rescued that one winter night weeks ago. She did not expect that this person was a royal member of the Jin country. His name was Prince Wan Yan Hong Lie. Meanwhile, Qiu Chuji continue his pursuit of Duan Tiande from Ox Village located in Linan to a China temple in ChiangNan. Duan TianDe had dressed Li Ping as a male soldier and ask for sanctuary at the temple. The abbot of the temple being a former sworn brother to Duan Tian De's father agreed. Qiu Chuji order the temple abbot, Master Jiao Mu, to hand over Duan TianDe and the woman. Master Jiao Mu, not realizing that Li Ping was a woman, refused his request. Master Jiao Mu went to the 7 Weirdos of the South (ChiangNan) to request help in mediating this mess. However, both sides end up fighting one another at the mediation site with WanYan Hong Lie witnessing on the side. The fight came back to the temple and in the end, both sides end up injuring one another. Finally, when his pursuer is injured, Duan TianDe makes his appearance.

LOCH Episode 1 Synopsis

Near the end of the Song Dynasty, corrupt officials ruled, creating conflicts and discontent among the local people. Under these tumultuous times, the common people are filled with righteous indignation at the royal government, and thus chivalrous people emerged in the martial arts world to punish the wicked.

On one winter day, a chivalrous Taoist priest, Qiu Chuji, killed a corrupt government and then fled to Ox Village where he encountered two righteous men, Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tie Xin. After befriending them, he found out their two wives were pregnant and gave them each a precious dagger to celebrate the event, carving the names of the 2 unborn child on the daggers each, Guo Jing and Yang Kang. The two sworn brothers exchange knives saying if it were one had a boy and one had a girl, they would married, and if they were of the same sex they would be sworn siblings. Qiu Chuji left shortly after that.

One winter night, Yang Tie Xin’s wife, Bao Xi Ruo, rescued an injured man and let him rest in her barn. The following day, the injured man disappeared. Besotted by her beauty, the injured man, who was really got a Jin’s prince, got a corrupt Song’s official, Duan Tian De, to pin some charges on Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tie Xin and ordered their captured. This resulted in a blood fight that left Guo Xiaotian dead and Yang Tie Xin dead with his body missing. The 2 wives were captured. However, Bao XiRuo was rescued by the Jin prince . Guo Xiaotian’s wife, Li Ping, was captured by Duan Tian De. Qui Chuji arrived to find Guo and Yang brothers dead, and swore to rescue their wives and unborn children and take revenge for this dastardly deed.

Chinese to English Translation Tools

Due to the fact that I cannot read Chinese or even understand it for that matter. I use the following tools to translate Chinese to English.

World Lingo

AltaVista Babelfish

Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre

Chinese website can be found here

Current English translation from Indonesian translation of the Chinese books can be found here. (That was a mouth full. LOL.) You must create a user account to read it.

We have released no English subtitles for this series.

Considered to be the last part in the Condor Trilogy. However, IMO, none of the tv series adaptations does a real good job I think of showing how this series related to the first 2 parts of the trilogy. Especially in this adpatation, Guo Xiang is barely mentioned at all. However, this adaptation was pretty decent. There were a lot of pretty actresses. :D

Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre is also known as:
Co Gai Do Long (Viet title that makes no sense at all)
Y Thien Do Long Ky (another Viet title)
Yi Tian Tu Long Ji (chinese title)
Kung Fu Cult Hero (stand alone movie starring Jet Li)

Currently, in America, there is an English full colored comic book version of the series being published by ComicsOne, which can be found here.
There's a combo deal for the first 8 graphics novel for $36.95, which can be found here.

Legend of the Condor Heroes

Legend of the Condor Heroes' Chinese website can be found here.

Currently, episodes 1 to 4 have been English subtitled. There are 42 episodes totaled for this series.

Legend of the Condor Heroes are known by the following other title:
Anh Hung Xa Dieu
Eagle Shooting Hero
Brave Archer
THE LEGEND OF EAGLE-SHOOTING HERO
She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan

Also considered the first part in the Condor Trilogy.
Second part is Return of the Condor Heroes.
Third and final part is Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre.

There is a black and white comic book manga of this out in Chinese by Li Zhi Qing. YesAsia.com seems to carry some of it. Some books seem to be sold out.

Also, Moinllieon on the spcnet.tv forums have been translating the Chinese novels up to Chapter 4. Links can be found here. Please scroll down to Jin Yong's Legend of the Condor Heroes to find the appropriate links.
Chapter 4 can be found in a thread. Chapter 5 onward is being translated by Patudo and Strunf. Thread for Chapter 4 and onward can be found here.

List of Cast Members for LOCH 2003

Li Ya Peng/ly a bang----------Guo Ching/Quach Tinh
Zhou Shun/chau tan-----------Huang Rong/Hoang Dung
Shui Ling/thuy linh--------Mo Nian Ci/Moc Niem Tu
Zhou Jie/chau kiet-------------Yang Kang/Duong Khang
Cao Pei Chang----------Tong Cha Huang Yao Xi/Hoang Nhuoc Su
Yao Yong---------Xi Du Au Yang Fung/Au Duong Phong
Yang Li Ping---------Mei Chao Fung/Mai Nhuoc Phong
Ah Sze Ru-----------Princess Hua Zheng/Cong Chua
Lao Wan Tong aka Zhou bo tong----------Zhao Niang
Lui Li Ping----------Li Ping, mother of Guo Ching

Demi Gods Semi Devils

Demi Gods Semi Devils (DGSD) is known by the following names:
Tian Long Bat Bu
Heaven Dragon Eight Parts
Thien Long Bat Bo


I found a Vietnamese website dedicated to this series here.
Also found the Chinese website here.

Currently, we only have episode 1 fansubbed for the 2003 Mainland version that was released.

State of Divinity

This is the English Translation of Jin Yong's (Louis Cha's) State of Divinity novels. You can find it here.

You can also find episode synopsis of the 2001 version of State of Divinity that we are currently fansubbing here.

A Chinese website can be found here.

State of Divinity is know by many names:
The Smiling Proud Wanderer
Xiao Ao Jiang Hu
Swordsman
Blood Cold and Proud Hot

A 26 volumes of the black and white comic books version of this series in Chinese can be found here.
Some of the books seem sold out as well. Artist is Li Zhi Qing.

Return of the Condor Heroes

Return of the Condor Heroes, which is a continuation to the Legend of the Condor Heroes, is currently being filmed in the Mainland. Pictures can be found here.

If you can read chinese, daily updates of ROCH can be found here.

	Little Dragon Girl is played by Liu Yi Fei, who was also in Tian Long Bat Bu (Demi God Semi Devils)
	Yang Guo is played by Huang Xiao Ming.
	On the left is Guo Fu who is played by Chen Sha Sha, who is also known as Chen Zi Han ( 陈紫涵 ). To the far right is Guo Xiang who is played by Yang Mi. And the middle is Guo Jing's only son.

I am definitely very excited about this series. I will try to get you more up to date information as I get them.


Different Titles for Return of the Condor Heroes are:
Sacred Eagle And Chilvarous Companion
Than Dieu Dai Hiep
Than Dieu Hiep Lu
SHEN DIAO XIA LU

ComicsOne publishes an ongoing English version comic books in full colored here.
A combo of the first 7 graphic novels for $33 can be found here.

AsiaPac books also publish a black and white comic book set which is complete. Seem like it part of it is out of print. It can be found here.

Also, Noodles on the spcnet.tv forums have been translating the Chinese novels up to Chapter 23 or 24. Links can be found here. Please scroll down to Jin Yong's Return of the Condor Heroes to find the appropriate links. Chapter 1-7 are separate links, and chapter 8 onward, however, are unfortunately in a discussion thread.

Pictures above are taken from sina.com.

Welcome

WXFS stands for Wu Xia Fan Subbers.
Basically, we put english subtitles on Chinese Wu Xia.
Current project includes

• Legend of the Condor Heroes 2003
• Demi God Semi Devils 2003
• State of Divinity 2001

Distribution of the shows are done thru live-evil.org
You will also find pix of upcoming shows that we might be interested in doing.
Status of the above project are slow going at the moment.
My apologies.
-binky