Was Passionless Valley known to the cognoscenti of wulin before ROCH?

[Ken Cheng]

When Passionless Valley was first introduced in the middle of ROCH, the place and associated wulin subcommunity had not previously been mentioned. We know for sure that the Kau siblings of the Iron Palm Union knew of its existence (because sister Kau Cheen Chek had married into the Gung Sheun Family of Passionless Valley), but did the cognoscenti of greater wulin (e.g. the Greats, the Cheun Jen Sect Elders, etc.) have any idea that such a place and organization existed before Yeung Gor, etc., visited it?

[whiteskwirl]

BTW, "Passionless" Valley is a poor translation, I'm guessing from the TV shows, but 絕情谷 should be translated as Heartless Valley or Cruel Valley because 絕情 means heartless or cruel, completely different from "passionless".

[tape]

I have no idea why certain words sound better together (besides certain sounds being more pleasant?), but Passionless Valley sounds better than Heartless Valley. Perhaps Heartless Grove?

[whiteskwirl]

I have no idea why certain words sound better together (besides certain sounds being more pleasant?), but Passionless Valley sounds better than Heartless Valley. Perhaps Heartless Grove?

Passionless is completely the wrong word, though, as it denotes indifference to something. Heartless is not only the correct translation, but also goes long with it's master's personality, who was himself cruel. So Passionless does not fit at all.

[BlackRaven]

Would Ruthless Valley be an acceptable compromise? Passionless Valley makes it sound like it's a place for monks lol

[whiteskwirl]

Would Ruthless Valley be an acceptable compromise? Passionless Valley makes it sound like it's a place for monks lol

Ruthless Valley would also be acceptable, though ruthless has the feeling of uncompromising and unsympathetic action, while heartless or cruel can merely describe one's personality of frame of mind, something innate within the person even when he or she is not acting out. These little shades of meaning are what makes language and translation so interesting and difficult.

[Ken Cheng]

Interesting sidebar on translations, guys, but anybody want to take a stab at the original question?

[Ken Cheng]

In the world of ROCH, Passionless Valley seemed quite secluded. While the Iron Palm Union knew of its existence due to Kau Cheen Chek's marriage to Gung Sheun Tze (and it's an untold story how this ill-fated couple first met), the rest of wulin seemed oblivious to its existence until Chow Bak Tung wandered there (leading Yeung Gor and many others to eventually discover the valley). Beyond the persons already named, was anyone else in wulin at the time aware of Passionless Valley's existence?