The Gong Nam Freaks' final, noble mission.

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04-28-12, 04:14 AM
Ken Cheng

The Gong Nam Freaks' final, noble mission.

The Gong Nam 7 Freaks were never wulin's greatest stalwarts. The number of martial artists superior to them in LOCH is legion, and during the story, they suffered more defeats than they celebrated victories. Their last mission, which ended with all but one of them killed, was perhaps their most noble. They went to Peach Blossom Island not to start or take part in a fight (though they certainly got one), but to try to make peace between East Heretic Wong Yerk See and the Cheun Jen 6 Disciples. Wong Yerk See or any of the Cheun Jen Disciples were more powerful than the Freaks, but the Freaks nevertheless took it upon themselves to intercede and attempt to serve as mediators. In the end, five of them would lose their lives on Peach Blossom Island, but they went down serving a noble cause. This is something that should not be overlooked when examining the legacy of the Gong Nam Freaks.
04-28-12, 06:04 AM
Banh Mi

How about Ke Zhen E turning tail and leaving the island while his other comrades suffered and died? Uncharacteristic of his too proud to live attitude most of the time.
04-28-12, 11:44 AM
Ken Cheng

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banh Mi

How about Ke Zhen E turning tail and leaving the island while his other comrades suffered and died? Uncharacteristic of his too proud to live attitude most of the time.

But sensible. If he died too, no one would be around to tell the world about what happened and to attempt to avenge the other Freaks.

In the 1982 adaptation, Ohr Jen Ngok had to be convinced by Nam Hei Yan to try to escape...using that very reasoning.
04-29-12, 02:06 PM
Banh Mi

That logic could be applied to all the other near death situations he stubbornly refused to get out of.
Furthermore, one of his comrades was still alive at the time. And was still alive when GJ got there. Would he really leave a comrade behind?
04-29-12, 03:55 PM
Ken Cheng

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banh Mi

That logic could be applied to all the other near death situations he stubbornly refused to get out of.
Furthermore, one of his comrades was still alive at the time. And was still alive when GJ got there. Would he really leave a comrade behind?

In those previous situations, however, most of his comrades were able to get away safely. This time, he *knew* that four of them had already fallen, and if at least one of them didn't survive, their deaths would go unavenged...possibly even unknown.

The Freaks could take a chance against Mui Chiu Fung; they did manage to survive against her on multiple occasions. Against this enemy, however, they had no chance at all.
05-01-12, 01:10 AM
Ian Liew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Cheng

In those previous situations, however, most of his comrades were able to get away safely. This time, he *knew* that four of them had already fallen, and if at least one of them didn't survive, their deaths would go unavenged...possibly even unknown.

In the novel I think only three had fallen (Zhu Cong had fallen but was still breathing) before Ke Zhener and Nan Xiren fled the scene. Han Xiaoying only fell after they had left, but she was as good as dead anyway.

I don't think Ke Zhener abandoned Nan Xiren in a fight - they split up so that at least one of them would have a better chance to make it out. When he heard Nan Xiren scream there was no longer anything he could do but run and weep. There wasn't really any shame in what Ke did, and he was more than willing to join his brothers and sister in death after he had delivered his message. Ke Zhener had a few personality faults, but being afraid of dying was definitely not one of them.
05-01-12, 02:23 AM
Ken Cheng

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Liew

In the novel I think only three had fallen (Zhu Cong had fallen but was still breathing) before Ke Zhener and Nan Xiren fled the scene. Han Xiaoying only fell after they had left, but she was as good as dead anyway.

I don't think Ke Zhener abandoned Nan Xiren in a fight - they split up so that at least one of them would have a better chance to make it out. When he heard Nan Xiren scream there was no longer anything he could do but run and weep. There wasn't really any shame in what Ke did, and he was more than willing to join his brothers and sister in death after he had delivered his message. Ke Zhener had a few personality faults, but being afraid of dying was definitely not one of them.

Definitely not. Over the years, he was willing to fight it out with the likes of Yau Chui Gei, Mui Chiu Fung, Wong Yerk See, Au Yeung Fung, and Lee Mok Sau...any one of whom could have killed him.