In the final years of the Ming Dynasty, eunuchs hold sway. The loyal and valiant Yan family father and son are framed by Liu Jin, the "Emperor in All but Name," and exiled. As they pass through the territory of the Rongmei Tusi, they are ambushed by remnants of Prince Ning's rebel forces. Yan Yun is killed, while his son Yan Nanfei is rescued by the swordsman Mo Bai and the young woman Mo Yue.
Tian Shijue, who goes by the name Mo Bai, is the son of Tian Xiu, the former ruler of the Rongmei Tusi. Fifteen years ago, his illegitimate elder brother, Baili Pi, seized power and usurped the throne. Tian Shijue survived by chance after his wet nurse exchanged him for her own child.
Meanwhile, rumors spread that the "Saltwater Goddess," a Xilankapu textile said to contain clues to a treasure from the previous dynasty, has resurfaced. Xilankapu was added to China's first national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006, and its return sparks one conflict after another.
Two young men who share similar misfortunes roam the martial world, punishing the wicked and eliminating evil, in a tragic song of a turbulent age. In the end, Yan Nanfei helps Mo Bai reclaim the Tusi throne, while Mo Bai helps Yan Nanfei clear his name. Each fulfills his own mission.
