Yu Doi Nam: would you have liked to see him fully restored as a martial artist?

[Ken Cheng]

Yu Doi Nam (Mo Dong Hero # 3) spent twenty years as a cripple after being assaulted by Mongol mercenary warriors seeking the Dragon Sabre. Decades later, the medical knowledge of Yu's martial nephew Cheung Mo Gei restored him to some semblance of mobility (could walk with crutches and use his hands and arms normally for common everyday activities), but as of the end of the story, Yu was no longer a practitioner of martial arts.

If it were up to you, would you have restored Yu Doi Nam to functional practitioner of martial arts by the end of the story?

[tape]

He's a good guy and having martial arts is better than not having martial arts, but it reminds me of a few stories from ESPN's 30 for 30 series.

Some superstar athletes on the high school and collegiate level for one reason or another were derailed, and decades later when interviewed are completely fine living their normal life and are glad they're no longer in the spotlight. They don't miss or relish their former abilities.

Nobody would turn down more mobility and ability, but there sure is a lot of evidence that a less abled, peaceful life could result in more happiness. During HSDS Yu is already in his 50's being paralyzed for 20 years, and I think he's reached a mindset where having or not having martial arts really makes no difference.

All that said, yeah restore his abilities. It sucks seeing someone as a shell of their former self.

[Ian Liew]

It would have been nice, but probably not essential. Wudang's teachings went far beyond their martial arts, and Yu Daiyan could very well have been contented with just playing a senior role and helping Yu Lianzhou and Song Yuanqiao run Wudang. Even if he had recovered his martial arts, he was probably at the age where he wasn't going to run around jianghu anymore.

[wkeej]

I think there is no need to restore his full martial arts. Is there any part in the story which you suffer (after being treated) due to the lack of martial arts?