In the late years of the Southern Song Dynasty, Yang Guo, a young man from Jiangnan, was orphaned at a tender age. He was sent by his father's sworn brother, the renowned hero Guo Jing, to the Quanzhen Sect—the orthodox school of Taoism—to learn martial arts. The Quanzhen Sect had strict rules, and the rebellious Yang Guo suffered greatly under its discipline. Unable to endure any longer, he eventually fled the sect and was taken in as a disciple by Xiao Longnü, who resided in the Tomb of the Living Dead. Master and disciple trained together in the tomb, growing up side by side, and gradually developed feelings for each other.
To ensure Yang Guo could be accepted by Guo Jing and others, Xiao Longnü left in sorrow. Later, in utter despair, she sought death but was saved by Gongsun Zhi, the master of the Valley of Despair. Enchanted by Xiao Longnü, Gongsun Zhi forced her to marry him. Knowing that Yang Guo's feelings for her remained unchanged, Xiao Longnü refused the marriage proposal. Unwilling to accept this, Gongsun Zhi wounded Yang Guo with the unique "Love Flower" of the Valley of Despair. The only antidote was the Valley's exclusive "Heartbreak Pill." Gongsun Zhi had intended to use this to coerce them, but unexpectedly, it led to the appearance of his original wife, Qiu Qianchi. Seizing the opportunity, Qiu Qianchi eliminated the valley master and demanded that Yang Guo bring her the heads of Guo Jing and his wife—the killers of her brother—in exchange for the antidote.
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