At the end of the Song Dynasty, turmoil grips the court and the people suffer in misery. With life and death hanging in the balance, countless talented and unusual figures begin to emerge across the martial world. Legend has it that whoever obtains the Scroll of Tracing Time will rule the martial world. Thus, righteous heroes who care for all under heaven clash with evil sects seeking the treasure to satisfy their selfish desires.
The scholar Jiang Ziqiu sets out for a major city to seek opportunities and put his talents to use. Along the way, he meets a beggar named Xiaopingzi. The two happen upon a battlefield in the wake of a sect war and accidentally find the Scroll of Tracing Time. Hunted at every turn, they encounter the wealthy young lady Qi Yanxin in a ruined temple and join forces with her. Traveling together, they champion justice, grow stronger, and unite the martial world, seeking a sliver of hope for the suffering people. Jiang Ziqiu faces hardship after hardship, yet always manages to escape danger. But one day, he overhears Qi Yanxin talking with a mysterious man, and their conversation appears to involve court politics. On reflection, he realizes that every time he has been attacked along the way, there have been many suspicious details. He begins to test her, again and again, and their relationship repeatedly faces crises.
