The story is set in China during the Ming dynasty, and revolves around two protagonists - Nip Fung (Wind) and Bou Ging-wan (Cloud) - who learn martial arts in their early years and grow up to become legendary fighters in the jianghu (martial artists' community).
Juet-mou-san (Lord Godless), a formidable Japanese warrior, brings his family and followers to China to cause trouble and becomes a menace to the Chinese jianghu.