Xiao Yuanshan, who suffered grave injuries while fending off the attackers, carved a message in the Khitan language on a rock before jumping off a cliff with his family.
The surviving assailants managed to catch the infant, decided to spare his life, and entrusted him to the care of Qiao Sanhuai, a Han Chinese peasant, and his wife.
By the time the events of the novel take place, Qiao Feng, who is around the age of 30, is regarded as the most powerful fighter in the wulin (martial artists' community) and is best known for his mastery of the "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" (降龍十八掌).
Qiao Feng's life is turned upside-down when his Khitan ancestry is revealed at a Beggars' Gang meeting in Apricot Forest (杏子林) near Wuxi; he had never been told about his true parentage until that point in time.
He is also suspected of murdering the gang's deputy chief, Ma Dayuan, who was the safekeeper of a sealed letter containing details of Qiao Feng's background.
Some Beggars' Gang members, including four senior elders, who had found out about Qiao Feng's background earlier had attempted to overthrow him from his position as chief out of fear that he might turn against them.
He calls himself "Xiao Feng" from then on[8] and seeks vengeance on "Leading Big Brother", the man who led the ambush on his parents 30 years ago at Yanmen Pass.
Duan Zhengchun replies "yes" and expresses regret, mistakenly thinking that Xiao Feng is referring to his past philandering ways and the children he has out of wedlock with his many mistresses.
One day, when the Jurchens are attacked by Khitan soldiers, Xiao Feng defeats them and captures their leader, who turns out to be Yelü Hongji, the ruler of the Khitan-led Liao Empire.
[7] Some time later, Xiao Feng returns to the Song Empire to find Azi and attend another wulin meeting at Shaolin Monastery, where he combines forces with his two other sworn brothers, Duan Yu and Xuzhu, to defeat all their opponents.
Azi escapes and seeks help from Duan Yu and Xuzhu, who manage to rally their allies in the wulin to infiltrate the Liao Empire and save Xiao Feng.
Feeling guilty for holding the emperor hostage and "betraying" his country's expansion plans, Xiao Feng commits suicide to prove that his actions were for the greater good of peace between both sides and not to earn rewards from Song.