Skillfully combining fictional characters and events with characters from history, Jin Yong's last wuxia novel tells the story of an unconventional hero who achieved fame and success only due to luck and clever tricks. Born in a Yangzhou brothel, Wei Xiao Bao is naturally cunning, witty, and lazy. Thinking he has learned everything there is to know about heroes from ancient times from the patrons of the local teahouse, Xiao Bao decides he wants to become one of them too. As per his wish, he helps Mao Xi Ba, a brave man who was falling on hard times. Xiao Bao then convinces Mao Xi Ba to bring him to Beijing, where the real adventure begins.