The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Set in 12th-century China during the wars between the Jin and Song empires and the rise of the Mongol Empire, the story follows the intertwined fates of two families.

Qiu Chuji, a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen Sect, befriends two warriors – Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin – and helps them name their unborn sons in remembrance of the Jingkang Incident. Soon after, the Jin prince Wanyan Honglie orchestrates an attack on the Guo and Yang families. Guo Xiaotian is killed while Yang Tiexin disappears. Guo Xiaotian's widow, Li Ping, flees to Mongolia, where she gives birth to Guo Jing and raises him under the protection of Genghis Khan. Meanwhile, Yang Tiexin's wife, Bao Xiruo, is taken in by Wanyan Honglie and gives birth to Yang Kang, who is raised as a Jin nobleman.

Years later, Guo Jing grows up in Mongolia. Though slow-witted, he becomes a competent martial artist after undergoing training by the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" and other masters. He also earns the favour of Genghis Khan, who betroths him to his daughter Huazheng. Guo Jing eventually travels south and meets Huang Rong, the intelligent daughter of Huang Yaoshi, one of the top five martial artists in the wulin. The two fall in love and go on a series of adventures together.

During his journey, Guo Jing encounters Yang Kang, who has grown up cunning and ambitious. Yang Kang refuses to acknowledge his Han Chinese heritage and aligns himself with his stepfather Wanyan Honglie. Their conflict intensifies after Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo are reunited but ultimately die while attempting to escape, leaving Yang Kang further entrenched in his loyalty to the Jin Empire.

While roaming the wulin, Guo Jing and Huang Rong encounter the other top martial artists, including Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng. They become the former's apprentices, learning his most formidable skills "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" and "Dog Beating Staff Skill". At one point, Huang Rong even succeeds Hong Qigong as the chief of the Beggar Clan. Meanwhile, a longstanding rivalry over a highly-coveted martial arts manual, the Jiuyin Zhenjing, continues to drive conflicts in the wulin.

Yang Kang's villainy culminates in betrayal and murder. All this time, he has been lying to his romantic partner, Mu Nianci, about his loyalty to the Jin Empire even though he genuinely loves her. His treachery is ultimately exposed and he dies after a failed attempt at hurting Huang Rong, leaving behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son.

Meanwhile, Guo Jing participates in the Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire and avenges his father by killing Wanyan Honglie. However, when Genghis Khan sets his sights on conquering the Song Empire, Guo Jing refuses to fight for the Khan against his ancestral homeland. After Li Ping sacrifices her life to remind Guo Jing of his heritage, he parts ways with the Mongols and returns to the Song Empire.

The story concludes with Guo Jing and Huang Rong reconciling after various misunderstandings and getting engaged. The couple dedicate themselves to protecting the Song Empire from an impending Mongol invasion, and their story continues in the sequel.

The novel has been translated into English in four volumes:

1. A Hero Born by Anna Holmwood (2018)^[2]
2. A Bond Undone by Gigi Chang (2019)
3. A Snake Lies Waiting by Anna Holmwood and Gigi Chang (2020)
4. A Heart Divided by Gigi Chang and Shelly Bryant (2021)