The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian vow that their unborn children will become sworn siblings if they are the same sex, or a married couple if opposite. This pledge binds the destinies of two families across generations. The promise quietly guides the relationships and choices of their children as war looms on the borders of Jin and Song.

Bao Xiruo tends to a wounded stranger she finds near their village, not knowing his true identity. The man is Wanyan Honglie, the Jin prince whose future will clash with Bao's family. This act of mercy quietly entwines their fates with political consequences far beyond the village.

Wanyan Honglie attacks Yang Tiexin's village to assert Jin power, leaving chaos in his wake. Guo Xiaotian is killed, and Yang Tiexin goes missing, presumed dead or lost to the war. Bao Xiruo's world collapses as her family is torn apart by the conflict.

Li Ping wanders into Mongolia and gives birth to Guo Jing, who grows up under the care of Genghis Khan's circle. He trains with the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, Ma Yu, and learns archery from Jebe, shaping his sense of justice and loyalty. This cross-cultural upbringing anchors his later steadfastness.

Bao Xiruo is captured by Wanyan Honglie and agrees to marry him, believing her husband is dead. She gives birth to Yang Kang, who is raised as a Jurchen nobleman at the Jin court. He is mentored by Qiu Chuji but secretly learns the Nine Yin White Bone Claw from Mei Chaofeng.

Yang Kang becomes clever and ambitious, yet torn by his Han heritage. He aligns with the Jin and plots to conquer his ancestral homeland, revealing his treacherous nature in feuds with Guo Jing and Huang Rong. His choices deepen the rift between the two generations of heroes.

Guo Jing, honest and steadfast, meets Huang Rong and the pair embark on a series of adventures through the wulin. They encounter the Five Greats, learning from the era's strongest martial artists and shaping their skills and philosophies. Their bond stands in contrast to Yang Kang's deceitful path.

As their journeys continue, Guo Jing learns who was behind his father's death and the true forces shaping his lineage. The revelation strengthens his resolve to uphold righteousness and defend his people. This truth propels him to confront powerful enemies in the years ahead.

With Guo Jing's help, the Mongols defeat the Jin Empire and shift their attention toward the Song. Guo Jing refuses to aid the invaders in attacking his homeland, choosing loyalty to the Han people instead. He eventually withdraws from the Mongol cause to return and defend the Song realm.

Yang Kang dies from poisoning after attempting to kill Huang Rong with a palm strike, but ends up striking her spiked armor, causing the toxin to stain it. He leaves behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son, whom Guo Jing names Yang Guo. His death brings a bitter cost to the conflicts of the era.

Mu Nianci and Guo Jing's naming of Yang Guo foreshadows a new generation shaped by the fallout of Yang Kang's treachery. The boy embodies the lingering tension between the two bloodlines and the unresolved ambitions of their fathers. His existence promises future adventures for the wulin.

The Mongol invasion of the Song Empire is temporarily halted when Genghis Khan dies, changing the momentum of the conflict. The pause reshapes strategic plans for Jin, Song, and Mongol forces and prolongs the struggle in the region. The pause allows time for new alliances and trials to unfold.