One day, Yang Tiexin's wife, Bao Xiruo, saves a wounded Jurchen warrior, who turns out to be Wanyan Honglie, the sixth prince of the Jin Empire.

Smitten by Bao Xiruo's beauty Wanyan Honglie later sends his troops to attack Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian's village.

He learns martial arts from the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" and Ma Yu of the Quanzhen School, as well as archery skills from Jebe.

The Chinese title of the novel is derived from an incident in Guo Jing's youth when he shot two eagles with a single arrow.

Although he is mentored by Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen School, he also secretly learns the evil "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" technique from Mei Chaofeng.

Yang Kang refuses to acknowledge his Han ethnicity and is strongly driven to acquire wealth, fame, glory, and powerful skills.