The protagonist, who refers to himself as "Gouzazhong" ( actually "mongrel canine", a colloquialism for "bastard"), first seems as a younger beggar roaming the streets ofKaifengin search of his misplaced mom. He witnesses a battle between severaljianghufigures and meets the Shi couple and members of the Snowy Mountain Sect. An accident causes him to be taken away by Xie Yanke, an eccentric martial artist, to his secluded residence on Motian Cliff. Xie Yanke, who's regularly bothered by Gouzazhong, decides to show him martial arts. Gouzazhong learnsqicultivation strategies below Xie Yanke's tutelage for six years, however is unaware that Xie really harbours in poor health intentions and has been instructing him the flawed strategies, within the hope that he'll maintain inner wounds and finally die.On the similar time, the chief of the Changle Sect, Shi Zhongyu, mysteriously disappears. The larger a part of the novel offers with the issues that come up as Gouzhazhong is mistaken for Shi Zhongyu, not solely by members of the sect (for ulterior motives), by additionally by Shi Zhongyu's mother and father, the Shi couple, Shi Zhongyu's lover Ding Dang, and members of the Snowy Mountain Sect. Though the 2 bear a splitting resemblance, their characters can't be extra completely different: Gouzhazhong is straightforward, sincere and intelligent, whereas Shi Zhongyu, the son of the Shi couple, has a foul status for being a lewd and sly womaniser. Gouzhazhong acquires consummate fight expertise within the course of. He's hounded by members of the Snowy Mountain Sect who mistake him for Shi Zhongyu, who molested Axiu, the granddaughter of the Snowy Mountain Sect's chief. He acquires Axiu as his girlfriend after varied incidents, throughout which the misunderstandings are steadily resolved.The novel culminates in an episode when the leaders of assorted sects are coerced into visiting a secluded island by a pair of mysterious, extremely expert messengers to have fun theLaba Competition. The story then results in a shocking conclusion: revelations on the island and extra revelations regarding Gouzhazhong's true parentage.