Plot summary
The story is set in 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty. Hu Fei is a young swordsman raised by Ping Asi after his parents' deaths. While roaming around, he encounters a ruthless villain, Feng Tiannan, and seeks to kill him to avenge the victims. He also meets Yuan Ziyi, a young lady who shows signs of affection towards him but shows up to stop him every time he comes close to killing Feng.
Based on what Ping told him, Hu believes that the legendary swordsman Miao Renfeng is responsible for his parents' deaths. When he finally finds Miao, he sees that Miao has been temporarily blinded by a deadly poison. Refusing to take advantage of Miao's plight to avenge his parents, Hu agrees to help Miao find a cure for his eyes. At the same time, he is so impressed by Miao's honourable character that he wonders if Ping is mistaken about Miao. While searching for the cure, he meets Cheng Lingsu, an apprentice of a deceased medicine guru, and witnesses her defeating her three evil seniors with her calm and wit.
Cheng accompanies Hu to heal Miao, who regains his sight and admits that he unintentionally killed Hu's father years ago. Filled with sorrow upon learning the truth, Hu leaves with Cheng, who becomes his sworn sister. While travelling together, they chance upon an election for a new chief of the wulin hosted by the general Fuk'anggan. The event is actually a plan by Fuk'anggan to instigate turmoil and ensure that the wulin will not pose a threat to the Qing government. Hu and Cheng disguise themselves to attend the election and, with Yuan's help, they expose and foil Fuk'anggan's plot.
They come under attack by Fuk'anggan's men and Hu is poisoned while shielding Cheng with his body. Cheng sacrifices her life to save Hu and reveals to him before dying that she loves him, filling him with anguish and regret. At Cheng's funeral, Hu meets Yuan, who tells him that she has already taken an oath to be a Buddhist nun in her childhood, so she cannot be together with him although she also loves him. She puts her palms together and recites a silent prayer before leaving.
