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Zhu Cong

Zhu Cong

Zhu Cong (朱聪 – Zhū Cōng) was the second master of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan and one of Guo Jing’s teachers. Known as the “Witty Scholar” (妙手书生 – miào shǒu shūshēng), he specialised in pickpocketing techniques and created his own martial arts style.

Biography

Zhu Cong originated from Shandong Wenshang but later settled in Zhejiang Jiaxing’s Ke Family Village. Despite being a down-and-out scholar, he became one of the most skilled members of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan. Although ranked second among the seven, his actual combat ability surpassed even Ke Zhen’e in practical fighting due to Ke’s blindness.

Zhu Cong participated in the fierce battle against the Twin Evils of Dark Wind in Mongolia alongside his fellow eccentrics. He later trained Guo Jing alongside his sworn brothers and sisters, teaching the young hero not only martial arts but also tactical thinking and adaptability.

Tragically, Zhu Cong met his end on Peach Blossom Island when Ouyang Feng killed him using the Toad Skill (蛤蟆功 – hámagōng). However, even in death, he managed to steal a crucial piece of evidence—a small shoe from Yang Kang—which later became key evidence for Huang Rong to solve the mystery surrounding Yang Kang’s death.

Personality

Zhu Cong possessed exceptional tactical intelligence and quick thinking despite his scholarly appearance. He demonstrated remarkable adaptability in combat situations and could analyse complex scenarios rapidly. His pickpocketing skills reflected his cunning nature and ability to turn any situation to his advantage.

Martial arts

Nothingness Fist

Zhu Cong’s signature fighting style, the Nothingness Fist (空空拳 – kōngkōng quán), formed the foundation of his combat approach. This technique contained subtle and refined moves that, despite their apparent simplicity, proved highly effective in combat. When Tolui learned three clever moves from Zhu Cong, he was able to defeat seven or eight opponents single-handedly using these techniques repeatedly. The moves were so effective that even though they were simple, they represented the essence of the Empty Hand Technique and made Tolui unbeatable among the Mongol children.

Tendon-splitting Bone-dislocation Hand

Zhu Cong created his own Tendon-splitting Bone-dislocation Hand (分筋错骨手 – fēn jīn cuò gǔ shǒu) technique for disarming opponents and controlling their movements. This martial art specialised in dislocating joints and breaking bones through extremely fast hand movements, targeting the opponent’s limbs, head, and neck bones while avoiding the torso.

Zhu Cong regretted not learning this technique from experts during his time in the Central Plains, and since none of his sworn brothers knew it either, he decided to create it himself. As the “Witty Scholar” with extremely dexterous hands and expertise in acupoint striking, he had the two major advantages needed to research tendon-separating and bone-displacing techniques. After several years of study, he had mastered the subtleties of this art. Though his methods differed from traditionally taught techniques, they were quite powerful and effective.

The technique included moves like “Warrior’s wrist-breaking” (壮士断腕 – zhuàng shì duàn wàn), which involved grabbing the opponent’s wrist and elbow simultaneously, then twisting to dislocate the joint. Another technique was called “Laughter relieves the jaw” (笑语解颐 – xiào yǔ jiě yí), which involved grabbing the opponent’s cheek and pulling outward to dislocate the jaw joint.

Iron Fan Acupoint Striking

Using his iron fan, Zhu Cong mastered Iron Fan Acupoint Striking (铁扇打穴 – tiě shàn dǎ xué) to target acupoints and disable opponents.

Pickpocketing Skills

Zhu Cong’s most remarkable skill was his pickpocketing mastery (盗术 – dào shù). He could steal items from opponents during combat without detection, removing objects from clothing, pockets, and even weapons from hands. This skill was so refined that he could steal multiple items in a single encounter, often using distraction to gain tactical advantages.

Weapons

Zhu Cong’s primary weapon was an iron fan, which appeared to be a simple oil-paper fan but was actually made of iron. This deceptive weapon perfectly complemented his fighting style and pickpocketing techniques.

Relationships

Martial lineage

As Guo Jing’s second shifu, Zhu Cong played a crucial role in the young hero’s development. He taught Guo Jing not only martial arts but also the importance of quick thinking and adaptability in combat alongside martial arts techniques.

Sworn siblings

Zhu Cong was the second brother among the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan, maintaining close bonds with all his sworn siblings. His death on Peach Blossom Island had a profound impact on the group and became a turning point in their collective story.

Legacy

Zhu Cong’s death significantly influenced Guo Jing’s development and the remaining Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan. His pickpocketing skills and tactical intelligence were passed down to his disciples, and his death on Peach Blossom Island led to major plot developments in the story.

See also

Portrayals

Zhu Cong has been portrayed by various actors in adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes:

Television Series

Most adaptations emphasize Zhu Cong’s tactical intelligence, his pickpocketing skills, and his role as one of Guo Jing’s teachers, while showcasing his adaptability and cunning in combat situations.