The story begins in ancient China with Mrs. Ba giving birth to her ninth child, a girl, which disappoints her husband, who had hoped for another boy. Despite his reaction, one of their younger daughters is excited and rushes to the riverbank to share the news with her sisters. Nearby, a group of eight orphan boys, adopted by Master Tan Long, are engaged in play. The two families are fierce rivals, divided by their different fighting styles; the girls are trained in the Wuang sword techniques, while the boys learn Shaolin Kung Fu.