Heroes' Summit Gathers Amidst Storm, The Infamous Jade Hawk Johnson (Part 1)

After Helen Wong retired as Chief of the Beggar Sect, she and George Kwok didn’t really have any official titles anymore. They weren’t sect leaders or branch chiefs. But with their legendary reputations, they didn’t need any formal status—just the names "George Kwok and Helen Wong" were enough to command respect. These two, the main characters of Legend of the Condor Heroes, once awkward youngsters, had become towering figures by the time of the Return of the Condor Heroes era, quietly serving as a banner for the righteous side of the martial world.

The couple guarded Xiangyang, resisting foreign invaders through storms and strife for decades, earning the respect and admiration of all martial artists. Even those from the underworld couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up at the mention of George Kwok, calling him a true hero.

Under the call of the great hero George Kwok, several Heroes’ Summits were held. As far as I know, each one was a big deal.

The first time, the Mongols launched a massive invasion, and George Kwok convened a grand assembly to elect a martial arts leader, aiming to unite the martial world against the foreign threat. That was when the old man Golden Wheel made his official debut, the story of Return of the Condor Heroes truly kicked off, Grace Kwok was rescued, and Yang Guo lost his arm.

The second time, it was the same—another massive Mongol invasion, another gathering of the best, another effort to unite against the enemy. That time, the old man Golden Wheel exited the stage for good, the name of the Condor Hero became legend, Grace Kwok was rescued, and Möngke kicked the bucket.

George Kwok wasn’t one to abuse his reputation—every time he sent out a Hero’s Invitation, it meant something big was going down. If it didn’t concern the fate of the nation or some huge martial arts affair, this low-key guy wouldn’t show up just to remind everyone he existed. A few days ago, George Kwok’s Hero’s Invitation once again spread across the land, reaching every corner of the country. The whole martial world was watching—everyone knew something earth-shaking was about to happen.

Looks like this ever-low-key Northern Hero is about to swing that Dragon Subduing Palm again.

Xiangyang, crowds everywhere.

This was the frontline border city, the first to face the Mongol army’s southern invasion. You’d think business would be dead here. But with the fate of the entire Song Dynasty hanging on this place, no matter how much the bureaucrats bickered or how clueless the emperor was, Xiangyang still got its share of funds and supplies—at least when they left the national treasury. After all the skimming and corruption, who knows how much really made it to the city’s defenses—that’s a whole other story.

Bottom line: the streets of Xiangyang looked pretty prosperous, way better than Chengdu over in the "occupied zone." Like it or not, the Zhao Song Dynasty really did know a thing or two about running an economy.

"Sister Yvonne, and all the other sisters, and Brother Wu—let me introduce you all to my parents and give you a proper welcome at home!" Grace Kwok was back on her own turf, her excitement bubbling over so much she was practically bouncing as she walked. She pointed happily at a distant residence: "Look, that's my house! If my parents knew there were so many amazing heroines and legendary martial artists in the world, they'd be absolutely thrilled. Come on, follow me!"

But Jill Young immediately refused: "Hold up, skip it."

"Huh?" Grace Kwok was stunned, not understanding: "Why?"

"Well…" Jill Young's expression got complicated, her mouth moving like she wanted to say something outrageous. Wu Zhengfeng’s eyes narrowed—uh oh, judging by that look, she’s about to say something wild again! So Wu Zhengfeng quickly cut in, using her most mature, gentle, rational, and goddess-like voice: "Your parents sent out invitations for the Heroes’ Summit, and the event is happening tonight. I’m sure they’re swamped with important stuff right now, juggling a million things. It really wouldn’t be the best time to barge in and distract them."

"Uh…" Grace Kwok wasn’t a kid anymore. She hesitated right away. She knew her dad’s temperament best—no matter who showed up from any sect, he’d always make sure to follow all the proper hospitality rituals, and that meant a ton of extra work. Even with her sisters, brother-in-law, and all the other helpers, they’d still be shorthanded. Yeah, this probably wasn’t the time to add more chaos.

"But, fellow martial artists are guests, and you sisters are even more distinguished guests—how could they neglect you for anyone else?"

"Little Grace, don’t be so polite. Go help your parents—coming home right now is already a good thing for them. Besides, there’s a ton of us, and if we all showed up, it’d be tough to arrange. You have to prioritize, right? Once everything settles down, we’ll come visit properly." Wu Zhengfeng kept up her gentle goddess routine. With that soft, persuasive smile and convincing voice, you could almost see five-cent sparkles radiating around her.

"Whoa, that goddess glow is blinding!" Jill Young immediately shielded her eyes, dramatically leaning away. Wu Zhengfeng’s forehead twitched in annoyance—she was trying to smooth things over, and here was Jill sabotaging her! If looks could kill…

"Ahem, anyway, I just don’t want to get mixed up with all those random people. All that endless introducing—this sect, that sect—just thinking about it gives me a headache." Jill Young gave Grace Kwok a crisp pat on the shoulder. "Go on, girl, you head home! We’ll wander around the city. When all the riffraff are gone, you can throw me a super VIP welcome banquet."

"Oh, okay, I’ll go then." Jill Young finally convinced Grace Kwok. After all, being a bit of an oddball is standard for quirky martial artists—"not wanting to hang out with random folks" is practically a prerequisite. Her grandpa, Brother Yang, and Sister Dragon were all the same way, nothing strange about it. So, after saying her goodbyes, Grace Kwok dashed back to the Kwok Family Manor. Along the way, even the street beggars and old flower sellers greeted her with delight. Xiangyang really was her home turf.

After Grace Kwok left, the group found an inn and checked in. With over twenty people, they booked out the whole place. With cash on the table, No One Under Heaven took over the entire establishment—even the kitchen and laundry were handled by their own people, so safety and secrecy were guaranteed.

Once everything was settled, Wu Zhengfeng pushed open the door to Jill Young’s room—just in time to see Jill putting on clothes.

This chapter isn’t over yet~.~ Click next page to keep reading!

The clothes were men’s.

"I knew it—" Wu Zhengfeng slapped her forehead, groaning in mild agony. "I just knew 'Jade Hawk Johnson' wouldn’t sit still! I mean, going to the Heroes’ Summit isn’t a bad idea, scoping out the Central Plains martial world and picking up intel. But does it really have to be 'Jade Hawk Johnson'?"

"Of course it does!" Crack—her muscles and bones subtly shifted. Ever since mastering 'Eggshell,' these tendon-and-bone changes had become second nature. Jill Young slid her arm into the sleeve, all fired up: "A bunch of people are getting together to figure out how to take me down, and it’s not even for something I actually did. You’d put up with that?"

"I mean, sure…" Wu Zhengfeng rubbed her temples, troubled. "But you’re not really 'Jade Hawk Johnson.' That’s just a made-up identity. You could just drop the fake name and let them chase shadows—they’ll never pin it on us."

"Doesn’t matter. One thing doesn’t cancel out the other—‘they can’t find me’ and ‘they’re causing me trouble’ are two separate issues. Besides, I worked my butt off building up my alt, setting up a united front—how could I just delete my account over something like this?" Jill Young ran her fingers through her hair, twisting it up into a classic rich-kid bun: "Bottom line, if anyone tries to dump their crap on me, I’ll shove their head right into that crap!"

Alt? Delete account? No clue. But whatever, Jill Young always talks nonsense—nothing new there. Wu Zhengfeng knew she couldn’t talk Jill out of it—she’d known from the start, really—so she just warned, "Take it easy, okay? Don’t forget George Kwok and Helen Wong will be there. You’ll have to see them again, and if your cover gets blown, that’s trouble."

"Relax, relax, I’ve got it covered. Besides, my disguises are basically performance art." Swish—accessories in place, the final touch. Loose robes, ornate patterns, Jill Young’s transformation was complete. In just seconds, she switched from a domme queen to a dashing young lord. A little brow furrow, a pair of devilish eyes, a sly smirk—she was the picture of rebellious charm. If she posted cosplay pics, she’d have girls swooning by the dozen.

Jill Young checked herself out in the mirror, nodding with satisfaction—then suddenly got all dramatic: Damn, why did I have to be born a girl to get this kind of looks? Why is it that Professor Yang, a legit dude, isn’t nearly as handsome as 'Jade Hawk Johnson'?

Uh, wait, by symmetry, does that mean Professor Yang would be even prettier in drag? No way, absolutely not—just imagining it makes me want to laugh!

"Sis—uh, no, gotta update the title—'This Young Lord' is off! Little lady, wait for me to come back and spoil you, okay?" Jill Young’s words flew fast as lightning, and with a big "Mwah!" she planted a kiss on Wu Zhengfeng’s face. "Wha—?!" Caught off guard, Wu Zhengfeng jumped two meters like a cat with its tail stepped on, eyes wide in shock.

"What’s up with you? Such a big reaction? Haha, we’re basically an old married couple—still so shy?" Jill Young waved and headed out: "I’m borrowing Simone for a bit."

Creak—the door shut, leaving Wu Zhengfeng alone in the room. She subconsciously touched the spot Jill had kissed, a blush spreading across her cheeks, her gaze a little unsteady. Jill’s wild antics were nothing new, but today, after she’d transformed into 'Jade Hawk Johnson,' it felt totally different. Wu Zhengfeng’s face was burning, her heart racing.

"So weird…" she laughed at herself, pushing aside the strange feeling.

Meanwhile, the notorious demon lord Hawk and the scheming enchantress Simone began their secret, shady conference.

"Boss, dressed like this…" Simone eyed the clothes in Jill Young’s hand, even she looked a bit troubled: "Sure, it’s pretty, but isn’t it a bit…"

"Enchantress, quit your nonsense! You gotta look the part—if you dress like a proper lady, how’s anyone supposed to notice your strengths?" Jade Hawk Johnson’s gaze lingered on Simone’s chest, clearly meaning something other than martial arts. "Actually, it’s mostly so nobody recognizes you. Usually you wear lowly servant’s clothes, all covered up. This time, you gotta go the opposite way—no one will connect the dots. I designed this outfit just for you, and nobody’s seen it before. It’s perfect."

"Designed just for me?" Lady Simone was surprised, eyeing the outfit with growing interest. Sure enough, it was gorgeous, her favorite shade of purple-red, and the style was spot-on. Five stars, really. The only issue was how revealing it was… Wait, come to think of it, she never used to care about stuff like that.

Maybe it’s just from living in a world where people actually care about decency, hanging around folks who actually have standards—maybe that’s rubbed off a bit? But really, wearing something like this isn’t such a big deal… right?

"Don’t just stand there—get changed!" Jill Young didn’t give her any time to think, immediately starting the forced makeover. One tug and the old servant’s outfit went flying onto the screen. "Wear it like this—why keep the collar so buttoned up? Loosen up! Yeah, that’s it, now let’s do your hair like this, and some makeup—perfect! What a little temptress, truly a pro. Come with me, tonight there’ll be hundreds of strong men gathered, you might even break a sweat. Gotta keep those flowers watered, ha ha!"

"Don’t say stuff that makes people misunderstand! And what exactly is my profession, anyway!" Lady Simone finally protested, taking her first step against tyranny—well, at least in her imagination. In reality, as dusk fell, two shadows slipped out of the inn, dodging all suspicious eyes and weird beggars.

In the distance, the brightly lit courtyard was ready—the Heroes’ Summit was about to begin.

The Beggar Sect was still in charge of reception, with current chief Yelü Qi bustling about, greeting guests from all directions. The spacious courtyard, once a military training ground, was perfect for an event like the Heroes’ Summit, with four gates—east, south, west, and north. The Xiangyang garrison handled security outside, while Beggar Sect disciples kept a close eye on everyone inside.

The crowd grew and the guests multiplied. As the lanterns came on, a man arrived at the north gate. He was tall and well-built, not yet forty, dressed simply but with a touch of elegance. His eyes were long and narrow, his nose hooked like a hawk’s. He was good-looking, but the way he looked at people—as if they were prey—was intimidating, making anyone who met his gaze feel a chill.

But tonight, he’d deliberately toned down his aura, his eyebrows curved as if he were easygoing, seeming much more approachable. That tiny detail changed his whole vibe.

"Honored guest, where do you hail from, and what’s your name?"

"I’m from beyond the North Gate, surname Tong. I’m the seventh brother in my family, so they call me Tong Qi."