A Better Jianghu (2026) Movie Script
[After Yue Fei was killed, ]
[the powerful minister Qin Hui]
[recruited numerous martial arts factions]
[to consolidate his power, ]
[turning them into his private army]
[and naming them]
[the Imperial Guard.]
[Led by Yuan Hanting, ]
[they were highly skilled and ruthless, ]
[hunting down those]
[who supported the fight against the Jin]
[and were regarded as]
[enemies of the entire
martial arts world.]
[On the day our story begins, ]
[the Imperial Guard was escorting a Jin
diplomatic mission back to the capital.]
[They had been staying in
Qilipu Village for some time.]
[Among their ranks was Shen Fang, ]
[a low-ranking civilian official]
[temporarily assigned to
escort the mission.]
Shen Fang!
Sir!
Sir!
Sir.
Well..
Stop looking.
He's completely dead.
Shen Fang,
the Jin envoy, has taken a fancy
to a woman
and wants to marry her.
He wants an auspicious wedding date.
Your two superiors
picked a date,
but His Excellency wasn't satisfied.
You're in luck.
You'll be promoted three ranks.
Now you get to pick the date.
I don't know how to read the signs
for an auspicious date.
How much longer are you going to
make me wait?
Just do it.
Yes.
I don't know how to
pick an auspicious date.
- Find someone else.
- Three.
I still have silver at home.
I'll give it all to you.
Find someone else.
Two!
What days did they pick?
Tell me.
You're courting death!
You Han people are really useless.
It's today.
Today...
Today...
It's today.
Sir, he says today is an auspicious day.
Today?
Yes, yes, yes.
Yes, sir.
He thinks it's great.
As long as he's satisfied.
As long as he's satisfied.
As long as he's satisfied.
Hold on.
It's not over yet.
His Excellency is off
to the bridal chamber.
We Song scholars are renowned for
our literary flair.
Go write some poems
to liven things up.
Get writing.
Right here.
What are you looking at?
You don't stop until His Excellency stops.
Write!
Write!
[Volume One: Shen Fang, the Great Hero]
[Nine months later]
Is the road to Tianmu Mountain
easy to travel?
Going down is easy.
Going up is hard.
You're Shen Fang, Hero Shen?
[Imperial Guard Wanted List:
No. 4Shen Fang]
It's me.
I am Ma Daming,
ordered by Zhuifeng Hall
to escort you into Lin'an City.
This is my partner, Weinan.
After you.
Imperial Guards have been very active
in the city recently,
investigating people in secret.
Hero Shen, you're ranked fourth
on the Imperial Guard's A List.
That's a little too conspicuous.
I'm afraid
you could be in for trouble.
No worries. No worries.
We are only responsible for
bringing him into the city.
We don't know anything else.
We don't know anything else.
How has the Hall Master been lately?
We are always away all year round,
so we don't always get to
see the Hall Master.
Hey!
Didn't I tell you to run?
Go!
Go!
Go!
Is this the only move you know?
The Hall Master of the Zhuifeng Hall
passed away long ago.
Who are you?
What do you want?
Hero Shen,
you must be frightened.
I'll talk.
That's enough.
Stop crying.
It's a waste of time.
Hero Shen,
come and sit.
I'd better just kneel here.
You know me?
If I'm not mistaken,
you're the Second-in-Command
of the Imperial Guard.
Would you rather I ask the questions,
or will you tell me yourself?
I'll tell you myself.
You'd better ask.
Nine months ago,
7 Jin envoys,
an Imperial Guard officer,
31 Imperial Guard soldiers,
and two civilian officials escorting them
were killed at Qilipu.
Of the hundreds of villagers there,
you were the only one who escaped alive.
Word on the martial arts world is that.
Shen Fang, sword in hand
and blood spattering his blue robes,
avenged the dead and
endured his hardships in silence.
You've become a legendary hero,
famous throughout the martial arts world.
Should I continue?
41 lives!
They were all blamed on me.
I wouldn't even kill a chicken,
let alone 41 people!
Does that sound plausible to me?
But that arrogant verse
you left behind after the killings.
That does sound like the kind of thing
a scholar like you would do.
It really wasn't me!
It really wasn't me!
It was a man riding a camel.
That little bastard
was highly skilled in martial arts.
He killed everyone.
Then why did he spare only you?
I fainted from fear.
I really don't know.
For more than half a year,
everyone in the martial arts world
has respected you as a hero.
Why do you never tell others the truth?
The Imperial Guard is hunting me down.
If I burn my bridges
in the martial arts world too,
how am I supposed to survive?
If you want to stay alive,
why not head north to Huaishang?
Why come all the way to Lin'an?
For over 6 months,
I've been searching for
that little bastard on the camel.
He's the only one who can clear my name!
I heard he appeared in Lin'an recently.
Who told you that?
A man named Du Huaishan
and another named Jiao Siyin.
They're gathering provisions
for the anti-Jin volunteer forces
north of the Yangtze.
They want my help.
Then
let's meet them.
I am Du Huaishan.
Greetings.
With the city on edge,
you were wise
to choose
this meeting place.
It was a last-minute decision on my part.
Wasn't there another gentleman
with you, the senior Jiao Siyin?
This is...
My companion,
Weinan.
Greetings, Senior Du.
Brother Shen, have you heard about
the major incident in Jiangxi?
280,000 taels of silver
belonging to
the Fujian Intendant of Transport
were stolen in Ganzhou.
Word is,
the silver belonged to
that old scoundrel Qin Hui himself.
After the incident,
we investigated all the way.
Seven days ago,
we finally got news.
The silver has turned up
at the Haodeng Tower
in Yuhang County.
Kid,
we're with the anti-Jin forces north
of the Yangtze.
We'll take the silver!
What do you think?
You've taken out plenty of Imperial Guard.
That makes you our friend.
Why not
donate the silver
to our cause
as a favor?
No.
Ugh,
all that talk for nothing.
Guess we'll have to fight after all.
This silver is mine.
If anyone wants it,
come and try to take it!
Did he really say that?
Exact words.
What do you think, Brother Shen?
It's too hot.
I need to relieve myself.
Did he really say that?
Exact words.
I thought it was pretty arrogant too,
but it sounds just like him.
You said
they've tracked down
that camel-riding guy.
Jiao Siyin is following him personally.
He sends me updates every day.
They're just waiting for me to show up.
They trust you?
They trust me all right.
They trust me completely.
Great.
Have some tea.
Okay.
May I ask, Second Commander,
will you be the one
handling the recovery
of the 280,000 taels of silver
that were stolen?
I have a small suggestion.
Everyone in the martial arts world knows
the top masters of the Imperial Guard are.
Two,
Four,
and Six.
The Two are the Fang brothers,
who handle the buying and selling.
The Six
are the Flying Six Guards.
And the Four
are the Four Plowmen:
Mai Dalang,
Gu Er,
Nong San,
and Tian Si.
Don't let their farmer looks fool you.
Plenty of martial arts masters
have fallen to them.
I'll have them go with you
to meet
that camel-riding kid.
Great minds think alike.
That's exactly what I meant.
But...
Don't worry.
You just need to find out
what he's capable of.
I'll handle
the fighting myself.
You're already one step ahead of me.
Remember,
as far as everyone else is concerned,
they're your men,
and they take orders from you.
But in private...
I am a prisoner,
and I'm beneath contempt.
That's a bit harsh.
Not at all.
Oh, by the way,
I forgot to mention.
I put a little poison
in your tea.
That's fine.
He's got the antidote.
You need to take it every 3 hours,
or the itching will become unbearable.
I'll be waiting for good news.
[Volume 2: Night Rain on Golden Lotus]
[Trade Market, Tongling]
Come with me.
Leave the horses to them!
This is Jiao.
Hey.
Close the door.
The rain is blowing in.
Hero Shen, come in.
This place
used to be one of the border markets
for peace talks.
The owner here's a woman,
and she runs a food and drink business.
Getting something
to eat or drink isn't a problem,
but there's nowhere to stay.
Nowhere to stay?
Yeah.
There should be a room here.
Let's talk over here.
Hero Shen,
that courtyard in the back
used to be where the owner
and her staff lived.
They cleared it out
for that camel-riding guy.
I've been keeping an eye on it.
He went in and hasn't come back out.
Close the door. The rain is blowing in.
Who are all these people?
I don't know either.
The rain is getting heavier,
and there are more and more people.
Looks like we can't leave for a while.
Now that you're here, Hero Shen,
it's settled.
That's for sure.
Where's the silver?
Where else would it be?
It was moved into the room.
Go check the stable.
Come on, Hero Shen.
Why bother with the wagons now?
I've already checked.
There's nothing inside.
The markings on the shafts
show they're all
from the same escort agency.
Eight wagons in total.
Each worth 35,000 taels.
That's 280,000 taels altogether.
The numbers add up.
Hero Shen,
stop looking.
That little bastard is in the room.
Why not go over
and run him through with your sword?
Good point.
I'll go meet him right now.
Wait.
It's not the time yet.
Who is he?
Shut up,
you old fossil!
Who do you think you are,
ordering everyone around?
I've been sick of you for a long time!
Hey, Weinan,
watch your tone!
Apologize to your senior.
Apologize.
He's asking you a question.
Who am I?
You?
Aren't you my assistant, Weinan?
Who am I?
Then who are you?
Who exactly is he?
How would I know?
Who am I?
What are you doing?
He is right there.
Why don't I go in and take a look?
Then we'll know everything.
Brother Shen,
what exactly is going on?
What are you doing?
We're just checking things out!
Tell him
who I am.
Tell the truth!
Mai Dalang,
an Imperial Guard officer.
You've colluded with the Imperial Guard
and become their lackey.
I've checked the wagons.
They were definitely carrying something.
There's no use keeping them alive.
Kill them all.
Stop chasing.
They're not worth two coppers.
Clean up the stable.
What? You want to kill me?
I'm the only one
who knows the camel-riding guy now.
Kill me then.
You are one of us.
We don't attack our own people.
Let's go see the landlady.
Money's a wonderful thing.
You didn't do all this just
to buy yourself a meal, did you?
You're the owner?
We're all owners here.
I don't understand.
My husband is an outlaw.
He was executed a few years back,
so the brothers took over this place
to make a living.
There's no boss here.
We're all brothers.
You get it?
Got it.
You're all good, straight-talking folks
from the underworld.
Let's cut to the chase.
Three gold sycees,
and I'll ask just three questions.
Hu!
Yes.
Go ahead. I'm listening.
Who's staying in your best room?
When did he arrive,
and how long is he planning to stay?
He's
a young lad.
He paid a fortune,
brought more than a dozen armed escorts,
and owns all those wagons outside.
He arrived the day
before yesterday around noon.
He said he'd leave once the rain stopped.
Do us a favor.
We'd like to take a look inside.
Go ahead.
No one's stopping you.
No need to pay.
We want to keep a low profile.
Now I'm curious.
What line of work
are you people in, anyway?
[Imperial Guard]
What a rotten day.
There's not much to eat out here
in the middle of nowhere,
so I brought you some braised beef
and roast chicken.
Is there any wine?
Yes, there is.
Half a pot of Huangjiu.
I knew something was wrong.
Brother.
It's all my fault.
The bloodstains were discovered.
Scholar, how are you?
Huaishan
is dead.
[Volume Three: The Scholar,
Good for Nothing]
Don't move.
[One Year AgoFuyang County Office]
A month ago,
Master Wan beat two young storytellers
to death
because they knew
he'd performed for the Jin.
Your entire county office took his bribes
and helped him escape punishment.
Isn't that right?
The man who killed them was Master Wan.
What does it have to do with me?
Not just him.
Every official involved will pay.
I'll use this list to send each of you
to your graves.
[Fuyang County Office]
[County Magistrate Zhang Gong]
Go find the registrar
and the deputy magistrate.
Leave him.
[Registrator Shen Fang]
To me.
They are all in this together.
I can't deal with them alone.
I'm utterly useless.
What's the use of crying?
Who?
Who are you?
I'm here to kill you.
Kill me?
Why kill me?
I'll kill you for the same reason
you're crying.
What is your relationship with them?
Just a man of the martial world
who kills scoundrels like them.
I couldn't save those girls.
How am I any different
from those scoundrels?
Kill me.
Stop crying.
They were only six!
Only six!
I started studying at 10,
passed the provincial exam
with top honors at 18,
and entered government service at 23.
I thought I had a bright future
ahead of me.
I thought I could root
out corruption in the government.
But I couldn't even
save little girls, just six years old.
Enough.
Heroine,
you're not going to kill me?
I want to help too.
Is there anything I can do for you?
Have all the guests left?
Yes, they've all gone.
[Happiness]
I'm finally able to breathe!
Thank goodness,
from now on, we are couples.
It's just an act.
You just focus on being an official,
and I'll take care of my business.
If we're ever found out,
and they come to kill you,
just say you knew nothing about it.
Got that?
Does it hurt?
This little scratch is nothing.
Um...
Spit it out.
You're so good at martial arts.
Could you teach me?
You don't want to be a scholar anymore.
You want to be a hero?
Maybe...
Maybe it will come in handy someday.
[Qilipu VillageAfter the Incident]
So that's what happened.
That camel-riding guy
killed all the Jin envoys
and the Imperial Guards.
Well done.
If I ever run into him,
I'll buy him a few rounds.
Then why did he spare you?
Maybe
for the same reason I did back then.
This is a major case.
Yuan Hanting will almost certainly
handle it personally.
There's nowhere left
in this world for me to hide.
Sanniang,
let's go.
Yuan Hanting has killed
countless martial artists.
I should have killed him long ago,
but I just didn't have the chance.
We're hardly the only ones
who want Yuan Hanting dead.
The Imperial Guard has a
top-tier wanted list.
I'd wager most of
the martial artists on it
would jump at the chance to kill him.
I overheard that camel-riding guy
talking about
a fortune he'd set his sights on:
280,000 taels in dirty money
that the Fujian transport commissioner
was moving for Qin Hui.
If he makes a move,
we could use his name
to bring together the top fighters
on the A-list
and take Yuan Hanting down.
I didn't expect you, a weak scholar,
to be quite ruthless when you get tough.
Huaishan
is dead.
We'll hold Yuan Hanting responsible
for thisfor now.
How long has it been,
Second Brother?
A long time.
Something's not right.
You think
he recognized Fourth Brother?
I'm not sure.
They exchanged a look,
then suddenly attacked.
Fourth Master was far too slow.
I've never seen swordsmanship
that incredible.
I don't care who he is.
I...
I'm done playing with you lot.
But he
let you off again.
Don't you find that strange?
Of course I do.
I asked him about it.
He said he only kills
those who attack him.
Then how did you two
end up flying out of there?
A stray blast of sword energy
caught us.
Look.
Boss, should we send up a signal?
He knows the Imperial Guard is here.
If he wants to leave, who can stop him?
With sword energy that powerful,
the three of us might not
stand a chance against him.
[Chancellor Qin Hui's Residence]
Second Commander.
[There's definitely an ambush here.]
Oh.
Second Commander,
sorry to keep you waiting.
It's fine.
The Chancellor still isn't feeling well.
He took his medicine and went to sleep.
I invited you here
to ask about the silver.
How is it going?
Please rest assured, Prime Minister.
I've just confirmed a lead,
and I'm about to set out.
We'll have answers
within two days.
Good, good.
Fu,
saddle the horses.
Go with the Second Commander.
Master,
I remember the last time
I took my medicine
was over 50 li from here.
It's about time.
Brother Shen,
I heard
the martial arts world holds you
in very high regard.
Oh.
It's all a case of undeserved fame.
I'm just waiting
for the Second Commander to
deal with that camel-riding guy
and clear my name.
You think it's an undeserved reputation,
but they think it's real.
You,
do something for me first.
The antidote
can be given to you anytime.
Could it be
you are unwilling?
Listen up, heroes.
I have something to say.
I wonder if you heroes
can recognize me.
- Who?
- Who?
I'm Shen Fang from Zhenjiang.
Let me see.
Shen Fang?
Are you the Shen Fang who
killed the Jin and wrote a rebellious poem
at Qilipu?
Guaranteed authentic.
Damn it.
You think I'll just take your word for it?
In the middle of nowhere,
I could say I'm Qin Hui.
[Class-A Wanted List]
Let me take a look at this.
It really is Shen Fang.
It really is Hero Shen.
I've heard so much about you.
You're too kind.
Thank you.
Hero Shen,
you suddenly appeared here.
What brings you here?
I wonder if you heroes know
who is staying in that room.
One of those Imperial Guard's lackeys.
What?
One of those Imperial Guard's lackeys.
Damn it.
What are they doing here?
Bullshit!
He is Shen Fang, indeed,
but he's a lackey for the Imperial Guard.
What?
Hero Shen is a lackey?
You...
You what?
I...
It's so itchy.
Hero Shen!
Look!
He's been poisoned by the Imperial Guard.
Those two
are also men of the Imperial Guard,
and so is he!
Save me, sir!
What are you doing?
Trying to silence us?
What, we're not even allowed to speak now?
If they're with the Imperial Guard,
say so!
If they're not, say so!
Why resort to violence?
Let them explain clearly.
Are you from the Imperial Guard?
Make it clear.
Make it clear.
Calm down, everyone.
Life in the martial world
is hard for all of us.
Today, there's no one here
from the imperial court.
We're all fellow martial artists.
Whether you're Imperial Guards
or heroes,
once the rain stops,
we all go our separate ways
and never see each other again.
Today, I, Sanniang,
give you my word:
There are no Imperial Guards here.
I don't buy it.
Then who are they?
You can see they outnumber us.
A fight wouldn't be worth it.
Why don't you leave for now?
[I've set out. Keep them occupied.]
Stop arguing, everyone!
Listen to me.
Take the owner's advice.
It's not worth risking your lives
over this.
Exactly.
Move along!
Come on, everyone, move along!
Tomorrow, the food and drinks are on me!
Let's drink.
Boss lady,
I'll show you some respect.
Save me, sir!
Save me, sir!
[Chapter 4: The Class-A Masters]
You
have already messed up once.
One more mistake...
Understood.
And you're dead.
What do you think
of the current situation?
How would I dare
to have an opinion?
I can't make heads or tails of it either.
When will the Second Commander arrive?
Tonight.
Oh.
Well, if you ask me,
since
the Second Commander
is already on his way,
we might as well wait quietly
to avoid any complications.
Am I right?
Yes.
And no.
What do you mean?
Your task was merely
to identify the camel boy
but that's far from enough for me.
I also lost a brother.
If I don't do something to show for it,
how can I answer to my superiors?
Right, right. That makes sense.
I want to get rid of all these people
to answer to the Second Commander.
Do you have any good ideas?
Poison them.
I have to say,
you're really cunning.
Erlang.
Go
And discuss this properly
with the proprietress.
Poison...
Poison them all?
Not exactly.
Some of them are our people.
Huh?
Look ahead.
The one with the green hat.
Behind you,
the three in purple trousers.
And the ones dressed as monks.
The monks are yours too?
Except for them,
everyone else...
Go.
Erlang,
in a while, go to the stable
and drive all our horses
into the woods behind the mountain.
Poison all the other horses.
No one leaves.
Third Brother,
tell our men
not to put anything into their mouths.
I want to test this kid
and see what he does.
Understood.
Follow Erlang and Sanlang
and see what they're up to.
Go quickly.
Second Commander Yuan will arrive tonight.
Before he gets here,
we must eliminate all the Imperial Guards.
Everything's been done as you asked.
Then let's wait for a moment.
They've all collapsed.
What's going on?
I did exactly as you asked!
How would I know?
Just kidding.
Finish them off.
Leave no survivors.
Light the candles!
Tombstone-Breaker, Qin Wen,
[No. 3 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Tombstone-Breaker, Qin Wen]
Number three on the Class A list.
I say, you two, stop pretending!
These Imperial Guard officers
are going to mince us
like dumpling filling!
[No. 2 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Monk Jin]
Mai Dalang asked me to use poison.
Other than his own men,
everyone had to die.
We swapped out the poison
for sleeping powder.
I believe the three masters will definitely
find a way to get through this.
Monk Jin.
You finally came.
Erlang, Sanlang,
this is Monk Jin,
number two on the Class A list.
Old man Qin,
your skills
have deteriorated a lot.
Alas,
fists fear the young and strong.
At my age,
I'll just make do.
Take good care of them for me.
They're already fighting over there.
Why did you drag me over here?
I've been secretly in contact
with that camel boy.
We have a bigger plan
than just killing Second Commander Yuan.
We need your cooperation, Sanniang.
This is the address.
Why are you only telling me
something this important now?
It was really inconvenient
to explain in detail before.
Please forgive me, Sanniang.
Hurry and go.
We'll meet again
in Huaishang after it's done.
Scholar.
What else haven't you told me?
Nothing.
Truly nothing.
Hurry.
As if you'd dare.
Hyah!
You've got
to put some muscle into it.
[No. 1 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Geng Canghuai]
As expected,
Lord Geng, number one
on the Class A list, has also come.
So you're a master of disguise.
No wonder you could never be found.
If he hadn't assassinated
that old scoundrel Qin Hui,
how could he ever have made number one?
If you could kill 200.
Mingcheng Palace guards,
you could be number one too.
Jin,
I'll let you have the first place.
Spare me that nonsense.
Where did Shen Fang go?
Leaving us here
to do the dirty work!
So it really was that scholar.
He brought you all here
to
Team up and kill someone, didn't he?
Forget about it.
You
aren't leaving here alive today.
Neither is Yuan Hanting.
The famous buyer and seller
among the Imperial Guards.
The life-buyer,
Fang Youwei.
The life-seller,
Fang Youdao.
I've long heard that your swift sword
is unmatched under heaven.
If they hadn't tested your skills,
I might not have been able to dodge
the full force of that strike.
Originally, this sword
was meant for you.
I didn't expect you to use your men
to test this move for you.
Thanks for your hard work.
Take good care of these brave men.
Oh, you're here.
Come in.
The moment to unveil the mystery
is finally here.
Just as I thought.
Hero Shen,
after staging such a grand show,
are you finally going to tell the truth?
Do you want to hear it?
Can I speak first?
This matter is really interesting.
See if my deduction is correct.
Please.
Alright.
Then I'll start with Haodeng Tower.
[Chapter 5: The Play at Haodeng Tower]
The play at Haodeng Tower
almost fooled me.
The only flaw
was in the tiny details
on those corpses.
I'd seen the bodies
of those killed
in the Fujian silver transport case.
I'd also seen the dead at Qilipu.
The wounds on both sets of bodies
were exactly the same.
If the killer at Qilipu
was that camel boy,
then he must have stolen the silver too.
Truly a top master.
Although the corpses at Haodeng Tower
were carefully made to look identical,
the fatal wounds were of another kind.
The technique was far inferior.
So my conclusion is
that Haodeng Tower was a sham.
The real silver
probably never reached Lin'an.
I guess those bodies
must have been some unlucky bandits.
You're the only one
who's seen the camel boy's real skills
and lived to tell the tale.
Since the silver is in his hands,
you two must be connected.
So...
So,
knowing full well
that something was wrong with me,
you still played along with me.
That's my move.
Meticulous in your reasoning,
decisive in your actions.
A scheme like this
is beyond common folk
in the martial world.
A true scholar, indeed.
That statement is wrong.
I am no longer a scholar.
Scholars
are useless.
It's better to pick up a long sword
and become a man of the martial world.
A man of the martial world?
The rule of the martial world is
that every grudge must be avenged!
You brought in the three top masters
from the wanted list
and staged this whole affair
all to have me dead.
Exactly.
I suspect there's more to it.
If I die,
the White Rainbow signal
will definitely be released.
Then every imperial guard
guarding the nearby ferry crossings
within a hundred miles will rush here.
With river defenses left wide open,
that camel boy
can take the silver across the river.
If I don't die,
he can't take that much silver across.
A plot within a plot.
Brilliant.
But what of the silver crossing the river?
To deliver it to the rebel army?
To fight the Jin?
To unleash fury.
Fury?
Fury that makes one's hair
stand on end.
Fury of a commoner.
Two corpses lying on the ground.
Blood flowing for five paces.
All under heaven in mourning.
Today is the day.
Looking for gunpowder?
I played a trick on you earlier
when I said I'd poisoned you.
Actually, I lied.
The antidote Dalang gave you
was just a common tonic.
Don't you feel your vision
is much clearer?
So when you pretended
to be poisoned earlier,
he became certain of trickery.
He just told me
he sent someone to sneak into the room
and take the gunpowder.
Let me introduce you to a friend.
You're wrong again this time.
She's just the proprietress.
She has nothing to do with me.
Before you sacrificed yourself,
you let her leave alone
and didn't want her to die,
right?
What a pity.
She's really a tough nut to crack.
I used three needles,
yet she didn't utter a word.
I suddenly remembered
that a few years ago,
at the Wuxi Prefect's office,
nine officials died overnight.
The culprit was said to be a woman.
Her methods were rather similar
to Haodeng Tower's.
I'll cut each of you once,
until you die.
If one person speaks,
both can live.
Who should I start with?
I'll talk!
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
Please.
I beg you.
I beg you.
Useless thing.
You like me,
don't you?
When did it start?
All you know how to do is cry.
I'm leaving first.
That was close.
That boy is taking the Chizhou ferry.
I expect him to arrive at the Yin hour.
Calculate the time
and send a fake White Rainbow signal.
Withdraw the guards.
[Chizhou]
lure him out.
[Third quarter of the Yin hour,
Chizhou ferry crossing]
Thank you, brothers,
for these past few days.
We part ways here.
Who goes there?
How dare you trespass
at an official ferry crossing at night?
Take him down!
Let me borrow your boat.
Second Master, should we make a move?
No rush.
Once he's on the boat,
it'll be hard to escape.
We finally meet.
You really wanted to see me.
I've dreamed of meeting you.
Am I that famous?
You're about to be more famous than me.
Being famous in the martial world
isn't necessarily a good thing.
If one remains forever unknown,
what's the point
of roaming the martial world?
Well said.
A battle between you and me
will surely make us famous.
Excellent!
That was your fastest sword move just now.
I've seen it all.
You're not getting away.
And you certainly won't
get away with the silver.
I'm not getting away,
but who said I was carrying silver?
The address you gave me
wasn't even for this place.
Where exactly is the silver?
Stop hiding it from me.
I heard Commander Yuan's
martial arts skills are unrivaled.
Too bad you can't swim.
Here's a gift for you!
The ship is sinking!
Go save the Second Commander!
After that incident at Qilipu,
the whole village fled.
The village became a ghost town.
The silver that Luo Han stole
is buried there.
All for today.
Everyone, follow me!
Load the remaining silver onto the carts.
You can
tell me the truth now, can't you?
What exactly happened in Qilipu back then?
I...
played the hero once.
[Epilogue: A Man of the Martial World]
Shen Fang.
Shen Fang!
I'm talking to you, Shen Fang.
Write it down.
Write!
Write!
Write!
Didn't you ask me to liven things up?
I'll give you a little entertainment!
All my life on Lake Tai,
I've rowed these short boats
countless times.
But then he appeared at that very moment.
He saved you.
More than that.
Like you,
he gave me a second life.
Now that I'm back,
why do I sorrow
over the waters and clouds?
I'd trade the long sword in its case
for a single small boat,
and return to an old fisherman's life.
Silver and official seals are not for me.
I've already wasted my years
among the hills and valleys.
Great work!
Keep writing.
Slice fresh perch,
pour fine wine,
and sing a sorrowful song.
Growing up in peaceful times,
who could have imagined
I'd face war today?
Slice fresh perch,
pour fine wine,
and sing a sorrowful song.
Growing up in peaceful times,
who could have imagined
I'd face war today?
Why did you stop writing?
It's been 10 years.
I still haven't figured out
how to finish it.
Then how about I finish it for you?
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way!
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way.
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way!
Looking back at the vault of heaven,
two tears fall into the clear waters.
Ah!
Who are you?
My name is Luo Han.
I'm from the frontier.
And you?
Shen Fang.
Brother Shen.
What fine writing.
But the poem is rather gloomy.
The land is broken,
and my heart burns with anger.
Then unleash your fury.
Like me.
You look a lot like someone I know.
Who?
A friend of mine.
I respect her
and admire her.
I really want to be
a person of the martial world like her.
I spent a long time
and couldn't find the
martial world you all spoke of,
only to find.
I was already in the martial world.
The Jin people came to see Qin Hui.
When he was captured back then,
the Jin gave him a slow-acting poison.
Every year, he has to spend
100,000 taels of silver
to buy medicine from the Jin to ease it.
But this time is different.
How is it different?
The Jin envoy brought a painting.
I heard
that Qin Hui knew about this painting
and didn't hesitate to spend a fortune
to buy back the original.
A full 280,000 taels.
280,000 taels for a painting?
I want to see
what this painting looks like.
I think
everyone in the world should see it,
right?
[North of the Huai River,
Jin territory]
A full 280,000 taels.
Where is the painting
the Chancellor wanted?
This silver is military pay
for the anti-Jin rebel army.
Whether you can take it away,
you'll have to ask them.
What did you say?
My lord,
this painting is being passed around
all over the streets.
The emperor should have seen it too.
My lord!
My lord!
My lord!
- Please calm down, my lord!
- My lord!
My lord!
[Historical records: In the 25th year of
the Shaoxing era, Qin Hui died of illness.]
My lord!
My lord!
[Since Qin Hui died, over a thousand
kneeling statues of him have been erected.]
[A Better Jianghu]
[Director: Liu Wenpu]
Here you go.
Two flatbreads for you two,
and freshly brewed tea.
Enjoy.
That bastard didn't die,
and wants to retire from the martial world
and live a quiet life!
The martial world?
I've never even entered it.
How could it be so easy to leave?
He's here.
A man of the martial world, Luo Han.
A woman of the martial world,
Jing Sanniang.
Tell me,
am I considered
a man of the martial world now?
[the powerful minister Qin Hui]
[recruited numerous martial arts factions]
[to consolidate his power, ]
[turning them into his private army]
[and naming them]
[the Imperial Guard.]
[Led by Yuan Hanting, ]
[they were highly skilled and ruthless, ]
[hunting down those]
[who supported the fight against the Jin]
[and were regarded as]
[enemies of the entire
martial arts world.]
[On the day our story begins, ]
[the Imperial Guard was escorting a Jin
diplomatic mission back to the capital.]
[They had been staying in
Qilipu Village for some time.]
[Among their ranks was Shen Fang, ]
[a low-ranking civilian official]
[temporarily assigned to
escort the mission.]
Shen Fang!
Sir!
Sir!
Sir.
Well..
Stop looking.
He's completely dead.
Shen Fang,
the Jin envoy, has taken a fancy
to a woman
and wants to marry her.
He wants an auspicious wedding date.
Your two superiors
picked a date,
but His Excellency wasn't satisfied.
You're in luck.
You'll be promoted three ranks.
Now you get to pick the date.
I don't know how to read the signs
for an auspicious date.
How much longer are you going to
make me wait?
Just do it.
Yes.
I don't know how to
pick an auspicious date.
- Find someone else.
- Three.
I still have silver at home.
I'll give it all to you.
Find someone else.
Two!
What days did they pick?
Tell me.
You're courting death!
You Han people are really useless.
It's today.
Today...
Today...
It's today.
Sir, he says today is an auspicious day.
Today?
Yes, yes, yes.
Yes, sir.
He thinks it's great.
As long as he's satisfied.
As long as he's satisfied.
As long as he's satisfied.
Hold on.
It's not over yet.
His Excellency is off
to the bridal chamber.
We Song scholars are renowned for
our literary flair.
Go write some poems
to liven things up.
Get writing.
Right here.
What are you looking at?
You don't stop until His Excellency stops.
Write!
Write!
[Volume One: Shen Fang, the Great Hero]
[Nine months later]
Is the road to Tianmu Mountain
easy to travel?
Going down is easy.
Going up is hard.
You're Shen Fang, Hero Shen?
[Imperial Guard Wanted List:
No. 4Shen Fang]
It's me.
I am Ma Daming,
ordered by Zhuifeng Hall
to escort you into Lin'an City.
This is my partner, Weinan.
After you.
Imperial Guards have been very active
in the city recently,
investigating people in secret.
Hero Shen, you're ranked fourth
on the Imperial Guard's A List.
That's a little too conspicuous.
I'm afraid
you could be in for trouble.
No worries. No worries.
We are only responsible for
bringing him into the city.
We don't know anything else.
We don't know anything else.
How has the Hall Master been lately?
We are always away all year round,
so we don't always get to
see the Hall Master.
Hey!
Didn't I tell you to run?
Go!
Go!
Go!
Is this the only move you know?
The Hall Master of the Zhuifeng Hall
passed away long ago.
Who are you?
What do you want?
Hero Shen,
you must be frightened.
I'll talk.
That's enough.
Stop crying.
It's a waste of time.
Hero Shen,
come and sit.
I'd better just kneel here.
You know me?
If I'm not mistaken,
you're the Second-in-Command
of the Imperial Guard.
Would you rather I ask the questions,
or will you tell me yourself?
I'll tell you myself.
You'd better ask.
Nine months ago,
7 Jin envoys,
an Imperial Guard officer,
31 Imperial Guard soldiers,
and two civilian officials escorting them
were killed at Qilipu.
Of the hundreds of villagers there,
you were the only one who escaped alive.
Word on the martial arts world is that.
Shen Fang, sword in hand
and blood spattering his blue robes,
avenged the dead and
endured his hardships in silence.
You've become a legendary hero,
famous throughout the martial arts world.
Should I continue?
41 lives!
They were all blamed on me.
I wouldn't even kill a chicken,
let alone 41 people!
Does that sound plausible to me?
But that arrogant verse
you left behind after the killings.
That does sound like the kind of thing
a scholar like you would do.
It really wasn't me!
It really wasn't me!
It was a man riding a camel.
That little bastard
was highly skilled in martial arts.
He killed everyone.
Then why did he spare only you?
I fainted from fear.
I really don't know.
For more than half a year,
everyone in the martial arts world
has respected you as a hero.
Why do you never tell others the truth?
The Imperial Guard is hunting me down.
If I burn my bridges
in the martial arts world too,
how am I supposed to survive?
If you want to stay alive,
why not head north to Huaishang?
Why come all the way to Lin'an?
For over 6 months,
I've been searching for
that little bastard on the camel.
He's the only one who can clear my name!
I heard he appeared in Lin'an recently.
Who told you that?
A man named Du Huaishan
and another named Jiao Siyin.
They're gathering provisions
for the anti-Jin volunteer forces
north of the Yangtze.
They want my help.
Then
let's meet them.
I am Du Huaishan.
Greetings.
With the city on edge,
you were wise
to choose
this meeting place.
It was a last-minute decision on my part.
Wasn't there another gentleman
with you, the senior Jiao Siyin?
This is...
My companion,
Weinan.
Greetings, Senior Du.
Brother Shen, have you heard about
the major incident in Jiangxi?
280,000 taels of silver
belonging to
the Fujian Intendant of Transport
were stolen in Ganzhou.
Word is,
the silver belonged to
that old scoundrel Qin Hui himself.
After the incident,
we investigated all the way.
Seven days ago,
we finally got news.
The silver has turned up
at the Haodeng Tower
in Yuhang County.
Kid,
we're with the anti-Jin forces north
of the Yangtze.
We'll take the silver!
What do you think?
You've taken out plenty of Imperial Guard.
That makes you our friend.
Why not
donate the silver
to our cause
as a favor?
No.
Ugh,
all that talk for nothing.
Guess we'll have to fight after all.
This silver is mine.
If anyone wants it,
come and try to take it!
Did he really say that?
Exact words.
What do you think, Brother Shen?
It's too hot.
I need to relieve myself.
Did he really say that?
Exact words.
I thought it was pretty arrogant too,
but it sounds just like him.
You said
they've tracked down
that camel-riding guy.
Jiao Siyin is following him personally.
He sends me updates every day.
They're just waiting for me to show up.
They trust you?
They trust me all right.
They trust me completely.
Great.
Have some tea.
Okay.
May I ask, Second Commander,
will you be the one
handling the recovery
of the 280,000 taels of silver
that were stolen?
I have a small suggestion.
Everyone in the martial arts world knows
the top masters of the Imperial Guard are.
Two,
Four,
and Six.
The Two are the Fang brothers,
who handle the buying and selling.
The Six
are the Flying Six Guards.
And the Four
are the Four Plowmen:
Mai Dalang,
Gu Er,
Nong San,
and Tian Si.
Don't let their farmer looks fool you.
Plenty of martial arts masters
have fallen to them.
I'll have them go with you
to meet
that camel-riding kid.
Great minds think alike.
That's exactly what I meant.
But...
Don't worry.
You just need to find out
what he's capable of.
I'll handle
the fighting myself.
You're already one step ahead of me.
Remember,
as far as everyone else is concerned,
they're your men,
and they take orders from you.
But in private...
I am a prisoner,
and I'm beneath contempt.
That's a bit harsh.
Not at all.
Oh, by the way,
I forgot to mention.
I put a little poison
in your tea.
That's fine.
He's got the antidote.
You need to take it every 3 hours,
or the itching will become unbearable.
I'll be waiting for good news.
[Volume 2: Night Rain on Golden Lotus]
[Trade Market, Tongling]
Come with me.
Leave the horses to them!
This is Jiao.
Hey.
Close the door.
The rain is blowing in.
Hero Shen, come in.
This place
used to be one of the border markets
for peace talks.
The owner here's a woman,
and she runs a food and drink business.
Getting something
to eat or drink isn't a problem,
but there's nowhere to stay.
Nowhere to stay?
Yeah.
There should be a room here.
Let's talk over here.
Hero Shen,
that courtyard in the back
used to be where the owner
and her staff lived.
They cleared it out
for that camel-riding guy.
I've been keeping an eye on it.
He went in and hasn't come back out.
Close the door. The rain is blowing in.
Who are all these people?
I don't know either.
The rain is getting heavier,
and there are more and more people.
Looks like we can't leave for a while.
Now that you're here, Hero Shen,
it's settled.
That's for sure.
Where's the silver?
Where else would it be?
It was moved into the room.
Go check the stable.
Come on, Hero Shen.
Why bother with the wagons now?
I've already checked.
There's nothing inside.
The markings on the shafts
show they're all
from the same escort agency.
Eight wagons in total.
Each worth 35,000 taels.
That's 280,000 taels altogether.
The numbers add up.
Hero Shen,
stop looking.
That little bastard is in the room.
Why not go over
and run him through with your sword?
Good point.
I'll go meet him right now.
Wait.
It's not the time yet.
Who is he?
Shut up,
you old fossil!
Who do you think you are,
ordering everyone around?
I've been sick of you for a long time!
Hey, Weinan,
watch your tone!
Apologize to your senior.
Apologize.
He's asking you a question.
Who am I?
You?
Aren't you my assistant, Weinan?
Who am I?
Then who are you?
Who exactly is he?
How would I know?
Who am I?
What are you doing?
He is right there.
Why don't I go in and take a look?
Then we'll know everything.
Brother Shen,
what exactly is going on?
What are you doing?
We're just checking things out!
Tell him
who I am.
Tell the truth!
Mai Dalang,
an Imperial Guard officer.
You've colluded with the Imperial Guard
and become their lackey.
I've checked the wagons.
They were definitely carrying something.
There's no use keeping them alive.
Kill them all.
Stop chasing.
They're not worth two coppers.
Clean up the stable.
What? You want to kill me?
I'm the only one
who knows the camel-riding guy now.
Kill me then.
You are one of us.
We don't attack our own people.
Let's go see the landlady.
Money's a wonderful thing.
You didn't do all this just
to buy yourself a meal, did you?
You're the owner?
We're all owners here.
I don't understand.
My husband is an outlaw.
He was executed a few years back,
so the brothers took over this place
to make a living.
There's no boss here.
We're all brothers.
You get it?
Got it.
You're all good, straight-talking folks
from the underworld.
Let's cut to the chase.
Three gold sycees,
and I'll ask just three questions.
Hu!
Yes.
Go ahead. I'm listening.
Who's staying in your best room?
When did he arrive,
and how long is he planning to stay?
He's
a young lad.
He paid a fortune,
brought more than a dozen armed escorts,
and owns all those wagons outside.
He arrived the day
before yesterday around noon.
He said he'd leave once the rain stopped.
Do us a favor.
We'd like to take a look inside.
Go ahead.
No one's stopping you.
No need to pay.
We want to keep a low profile.
Now I'm curious.
What line of work
are you people in, anyway?
[Imperial Guard]
What a rotten day.
There's not much to eat out here
in the middle of nowhere,
so I brought you some braised beef
and roast chicken.
Is there any wine?
Yes, there is.
Half a pot of Huangjiu.
I knew something was wrong.
Brother.
It's all my fault.
The bloodstains were discovered.
Scholar, how are you?
Huaishan
is dead.
[Volume Three: The Scholar,
Good for Nothing]
Don't move.
[One Year AgoFuyang County Office]
A month ago,
Master Wan beat two young storytellers
to death
because they knew
he'd performed for the Jin.
Your entire county office took his bribes
and helped him escape punishment.
Isn't that right?
The man who killed them was Master Wan.
What does it have to do with me?
Not just him.
Every official involved will pay.
I'll use this list to send each of you
to your graves.
[Fuyang County Office]
[County Magistrate Zhang Gong]
Go find the registrar
and the deputy magistrate.
Leave him.
[Registrator Shen Fang]
To me.
They are all in this together.
I can't deal with them alone.
I'm utterly useless.
What's the use of crying?
Who?
Who are you?
I'm here to kill you.
Kill me?
Why kill me?
I'll kill you for the same reason
you're crying.
What is your relationship with them?
Just a man of the martial world
who kills scoundrels like them.
I couldn't save those girls.
How am I any different
from those scoundrels?
Kill me.
Stop crying.
They were only six!
Only six!
I started studying at 10,
passed the provincial exam
with top honors at 18,
and entered government service at 23.
I thought I had a bright future
ahead of me.
I thought I could root
out corruption in the government.
But I couldn't even
save little girls, just six years old.
Enough.
Heroine,
you're not going to kill me?
I want to help too.
Is there anything I can do for you?
Have all the guests left?
Yes, they've all gone.
[Happiness]
I'm finally able to breathe!
Thank goodness,
from now on, we are couples.
It's just an act.
You just focus on being an official,
and I'll take care of my business.
If we're ever found out,
and they come to kill you,
just say you knew nothing about it.
Got that?
Does it hurt?
This little scratch is nothing.
Um...
Spit it out.
You're so good at martial arts.
Could you teach me?
You don't want to be a scholar anymore.
You want to be a hero?
Maybe...
Maybe it will come in handy someday.
[Qilipu VillageAfter the Incident]
So that's what happened.
That camel-riding guy
killed all the Jin envoys
and the Imperial Guards.
Well done.
If I ever run into him,
I'll buy him a few rounds.
Then why did he spare you?
Maybe
for the same reason I did back then.
This is a major case.
Yuan Hanting will almost certainly
handle it personally.
There's nowhere left
in this world for me to hide.
Sanniang,
let's go.
Yuan Hanting has killed
countless martial artists.
I should have killed him long ago,
but I just didn't have the chance.
We're hardly the only ones
who want Yuan Hanting dead.
The Imperial Guard has a
top-tier wanted list.
I'd wager most of
the martial artists on it
would jump at the chance to kill him.
I overheard that camel-riding guy
talking about
a fortune he'd set his sights on:
280,000 taels in dirty money
that the Fujian transport commissioner
was moving for Qin Hui.
If he makes a move,
we could use his name
to bring together the top fighters
on the A-list
and take Yuan Hanting down.
I didn't expect you, a weak scholar,
to be quite ruthless when you get tough.
Huaishan
is dead.
We'll hold Yuan Hanting responsible
for thisfor now.
How long has it been,
Second Brother?
A long time.
Something's not right.
You think
he recognized Fourth Brother?
I'm not sure.
They exchanged a look,
then suddenly attacked.
Fourth Master was far too slow.
I've never seen swordsmanship
that incredible.
I don't care who he is.
I...
I'm done playing with you lot.
But he
let you off again.
Don't you find that strange?
Of course I do.
I asked him about it.
He said he only kills
those who attack him.
Then how did you two
end up flying out of there?
A stray blast of sword energy
caught us.
Look.
Boss, should we send up a signal?
He knows the Imperial Guard is here.
If he wants to leave, who can stop him?
With sword energy that powerful,
the three of us might not
stand a chance against him.
[Chancellor Qin Hui's Residence]
Second Commander.
[There's definitely an ambush here.]
Oh.
Second Commander,
sorry to keep you waiting.
It's fine.
The Chancellor still isn't feeling well.
He took his medicine and went to sleep.
I invited you here
to ask about the silver.
How is it going?
Please rest assured, Prime Minister.
I've just confirmed a lead,
and I'm about to set out.
We'll have answers
within two days.
Good, good.
Fu,
saddle the horses.
Go with the Second Commander.
Master,
I remember the last time
I took my medicine
was over 50 li from here.
It's about time.
Brother Shen,
I heard
the martial arts world holds you
in very high regard.
Oh.
It's all a case of undeserved fame.
I'm just waiting
for the Second Commander to
deal with that camel-riding guy
and clear my name.
You think it's an undeserved reputation,
but they think it's real.
You,
do something for me first.
The antidote
can be given to you anytime.
Could it be
you are unwilling?
Listen up, heroes.
I have something to say.
I wonder if you heroes
can recognize me.
- Who?
- Who?
I'm Shen Fang from Zhenjiang.
Let me see.
Shen Fang?
Are you the Shen Fang who
killed the Jin and wrote a rebellious poem
at Qilipu?
Guaranteed authentic.
Damn it.
You think I'll just take your word for it?
In the middle of nowhere,
I could say I'm Qin Hui.
[Class-A Wanted List]
Let me take a look at this.
It really is Shen Fang.
It really is Hero Shen.
I've heard so much about you.
You're too kind.
Thank you.
Hero Shen,
you suddenly appeared here.
What brings you here?
I wonder if you heroes know
who is staying in that room.
One of those Imperial Guard's lackeys.
What?
One of those Imperial Guard's lackeys.
Damn it.
What are they doing here?
Bullshit!
He is Shen Fang, indeed,
but he's a lackey for the Imperial Guard.
What?
Hero Shen is a lackey?
You...
You what?
I...
It's so itchy.
Hero Shen!
Look!
He's been poisoned by the Imperial Guard.
Those two
are also men of the Imperial Guard,
and so is he!
Save me, sir!
What are you doing?
Trying to silence us?
What, we're not even allowed to speak now?
If they're with the Imperial Guard,
say so!
If they're not, say so!
Why resort to violence?
Let them explain clearly.
Are you from the Imperial Guard?
Make it clear.
Make it clear.
Calm down, everyone.
Life in the martial world
is hard for all of us.
Today, there's no one here
from the imperial court.
We're all fellow martial artists.
Whether you're Imperial Guards
or heroes,
once the rain stops,
we all go our separate ways
and never see each other again.
Today, I, Sanniang,
give you my word:
There are no Imperial Guards here.
I don't buy it.
Then who are they?
You can see they outnumber us.
A fight wouldn't be worth it.
Why don't you leave for now?
[I've set out. Keep them occupied.]
Stop arguing, everyone!
Listen to me.
Take the owner's advice.
It's not worth risking your lives
over this.
Exactly.
Move along!
Come on, everyone, move along!
Tomorrow, the food and drinks are on me!
Let's drink.
Boss lady,
I'll show you some respect.
Save me, sir!
Save me, sir!
[Chapter 4: The Class-A Masters]
You
have already messed up once.
One more mistake...
Understood.
And you're dead.
What do you think
of the current situation?
How would I dare
to have an opinion?
I can't make heads or tails of it either.
When will the Second Commander arrive?
Tonight.
Oh.
Well, if you ask me,
since
the Second Commander
is already on his way,
we might as well wait quietly
to avoid any complications.
Am I right?
Yes.
And no.
What do you mean?
Your task was merely
to identify the camel boy
but that's far from enough for me.
I also lost a brother.
If I don't do something to show for it,
how can I answer to my superiors?
Right, right. That makes sense.
I want to get rid of all these people
to answer to the Second Commander.
Do you have any good ideas?
Poison them.
I have to say,
you're really cunning.
Erlang.
Go
And discuss this properly
with the proprietress.
Poison...
Poison them all?
Not exactly.
Some of them are our people.
Huh?
Look ahead.
The one with the green hat.
Behind you,
the three in purple trousers.
And the ones dressed as monks.
The monks are yours too?
Except for them,
everyone else...
Go.
Erlang,
in a while, go to the stable
and drive all our horses
into the woods behind the mountain.
Poison all the other horses.
No one leaves.
Third Brother,
tell our men
not to put anything into their mouths.
I want to test this kid
and see what he does.
Understood.
Follow Erlang and Sanlang
and see what they're up to.
Go quickly.
Second Commander Yuan will arrive tonight.
Before he gets here,
we must eliminate all the Imperial Guards.
Everything's been done as you asked.
Then let's wait for a moment.
They've all collapsed.
What's going on?
I did exactly as you asked!
How would I know?
Just kidding.
Finish them off.
Leave no survivors.
Light the candles!
Tombstone-Breaker, Qin Wen,
[No. 3 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Tombstone-Breaker, Qin Wen]
Number three on the Class A list.
I say, you two, stop pretending!
These Imperial Guard officers
are going to mince us
like dumpling filling!
[No. 2 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Monk Jin]
Mai Dalang asked me to use poison.
Other than his own men,
everyone had to die.
We swapped out the poison
for sleeping powder.
I believe the three masters will definitely
find a way to get through this.
Monk Jin.
You finally came.
Erlang, Sanlang,
this is Monk Jin,
number two on the Class A list.
Old man Qin,
your skills
have deteriorated a lot.
Alas,
fists fear the young and strong.
At my age,
I'll just make do.
Take good care of them for me.
They're already fighting over there.
Why did you drag me over here?
I've been secretly in contact
with that camel boy.
We have a bigger plan
than just killing Second Commander Yuan.
We need your cooperation, Sanniang.
This is the address.
Why are you only telling me
something this important now?
It was really inconvenient
to explain in detail before.
Please forgive me, Sanniang.
Hurry and go.
We'll meet again
in Huaishang after it's done.
Scholar.
What else haven't you told me?
Nothing.
Truly nothing.
Hurry.
As if you'd dare.
Hyah!
You've got
to put some muscle into it.
[No. 1 on the Imperial Guard Wanted List:
Geng Canghuai]
As expected,
Lord Geng, number one
on the Class A list, has also come.
So you're a master of disguise.
No wonder you could never be found.
If he hadn't assassinated
that old scoundrel Qin Hui,
how could he ever have made number one?
If you could kill 200.
Mingcheng Palace guards,
you could be number one too.
Jin,
I'll let you have the first place.
Spare me that nonsense.
Where did Shen Fang go?
Leaving us here
to do the dirty work!
So it really was that scholar.
He brought you all here
to
Team up and kill someone, didn't he?
Forget about it.
You
aren't leaving here alive today.
Neither is Yuan Hanting.
The famous buyer and seller
among the Imperial Guards.
The life-buyer,
Fang Youwei.
The life-seller,
Fang Youdao.
I've long heard that your swift sword
is unmatched under heaven.
If they hadn't tested your skills,
I might not have been able to dodge
the full force of that strike.
Originally, this sword
was meant for you.
I didn't expect you to use your men
to test this move for you.
Thanks for your hard work.
Take good care of these brave men.
Oh, you're here.
Come in.
The moment to unveil the mystery
is finally here.
Just as I thought.
Hero Shen,
after staging such a grand show,
are you finally going to tell the truth?
Do you want to hear it?
Can I speak first?
This matter is really interesting.
See if my deduction is correct.
Please.
Alright.
Then I'll start with Haodeng Tower.
[Chapter 5: The Play at Haodeng Tower]
The play at Haodeng Tower
almost fooled me.
The only flaw
was in the tiny details
on those corpses.
I'd seen the bodies
of those killed
in the Fujian silver transport case.
I'd also seen the dead at Qilipu.
The wounds on both sets of bodies
were exactly the same.
If the killer at Qilipu
was that camel boy,
then he must have stolen the silver too.
Truly a top master.
Although the corpses at Haodeng Tower
were carefully made to look identical,
the fatal wounds were of another kind.
The technique was far inferior.
So my conclusion is
that Haodeng Tower was a sham.
The real silver
probably never reached Lin'an.
I guess those bodies
must have been some unlucky bandits.
You're the only one
who's seen the camel boy's real skills
and lived to tell the tale.
Since the silver is in his hands,
you two must be connected.
So...
So,
knowing full well
that something was wrong with me,
you still played along with me.
That's my move.
Meticulous in your reasoning,
decisive in your actions.
A scheme like this
is beyond common folk
in the martial world.
A true scholar, indeed.
That statement is wrong.
I am no longer a scholar.
Scholars
are useless.
It's better to pick up a long sword
and become a man of the martial world.
A man of the martial world?
The rule of the martial world is
that every grudge must be avenged!
You brought in the three top masters
from the wanted list
and staged this whole affair
all to have me dead.
Exactly.
I suspect there's more to it.
If I die,
the White Rainbow signal
will definitely be released.
Then every imperial guard
guarding the nearby ferry crossings
within a hundred miles will rush here.
With river defenses left wide open,
that camel boy
can take the silver across the river.
If I don't die,
he can't take that much silver across.
A plot within a plot.
Brilliant.
But what of the silver crossing the river?
To deliver it to the rebel army?
To fight the Jin?
To unleash fury.
Fury?
Fury that makes one's hair
stand on end.
Fury of a commoner.
Two corpses lying on the ground.
Blood flowing for five paces.
All under heaven in mourning.
Today is the day.
Looking for gunpowder?
I played a trick on you earlier
when I said I'd poisoned you.
Actually, I lied.
The antidote Dalang gave you
was just a common tonic.
Don't you feel your vision
is much clearer?
So when you pretended
to be poisoned earlier,
he became certain of trickery.
He just told me
he sent someone to sneak into the room
and take the gunpowder.
Let me introduce you to a friend.
You're wrong again this time.
She's just the proprietress.
She has nothing to do with me.
Before you sacrificed yourself,
you let her leave alone
and didn't want her to die,
right?
What a pity.
She's really a tough nut to crack.
I used three needles,
yet she didn't utter a word.
I suddenly remembered
that a few years ago,
at the Wuxi Prefect's office,
nine officials died overnight.
The culprit was said to be a woman.
Her methods were rather similar
to Haodeng Tower's.
I'll cut each of you once,
until you die.
If one person speaks,
both can live.
Who should I start with?
I'll talk!
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
I'll talk.
Please.
I beg you.
I beg you.
Useless thing.
You like me,
don't you?
When did it start?
All you know how to do is cry.
I'm leaving first.
That was close.
That boy is taking the Chizhou ferry.
I expect him to arrive at the Yin hour.
Calculate the time
and send a fake White Rainbow signal.
Withdraw the guards.
[Chizhou]
lure him out.
[Third quarter of the Yin hour,
Chizhou ferry crossing]
Thank you, brothers,
for these past few days.
We part ways here.
Who goes there?
How dare you trespass
at an official ferry crossing at night?
Take him down!
Let me borrow your boat.
Second Master, should we make a move?
No rush.
Once he's on the boat,
it'll be hard to escape.
We finally meet.
You really wanted to see me.
I've dreamed of meeting you.
Am I that famous?
You're about to be more famous than me.
Being famous in the martial world
isn't necessarily a good thing.
If one remains forever unknown,
what's the point
of roaming the martial world?
Well said.
A battle between you and me
will surely make us famous.
Excellent!
That was your fastest sword move just now.
I've seen it all.
You're not getting away.
And you certainly won't
get away with the silver.
I'm not getting away,
but who said I was carrying silver?
The address you gave me
wasn't even for this place.
Where exactly is the silver?
Stop hiding it from me.
I heard Commander Yuan's
martial arts skills are unrivaled.
Too bad you can't swim.
Here's a gift for you!
The ship is sinking!
Go save the Second Commander!
After that incident at Qilipu,
the whole village fled.
The village became a ghost town.
The silver that Luo Han stole
is buried there.
All for today.
Everyone, follow me!
Load the remaining silver onto the carts.
You can
tell me the truth now, can't you?
What exactly happened in Qilipu back then?
I...
played the hero once.
[Epilogue: A Man of the Martial World]
Shen Fang.
Shen Fang!
I'm talking to you, Shen Fang.
Write it down.
Write!
Write!
Write!
Didn't you ask me to liven things up?
I'll give you a little entertainment!
All my life on Lake Tai,
I've rowed these short boats
countless times.
But then he appeared at that very moment.
He saved you.
More than that.
Like you,
he gave me a second life.
Now that I'm back,
why do I sorrow
over the waters and clouds?
I'd trade the long sword in its case
for a single small boat,
and return to an old fisherman's life.
Silver and official seals are not for me.
I've already wasted my years
among the hills and valleys.
Great work!
Keep writing.
Slice fresh perch,
pour fine wine,
and sing a sorrowful song.
Growing up in peaceful times,
who could have imagined
I'd face war today?
Slice fresh perch,
pour fine wine,
and sing a sorrowful song.
Growing up in peaceful times,
who could have imagined
I'd face war today?
Why did you stop writing?
It's been 10 years.
I still haven't figured out
how to finish it.
Then how about I finish it for you?
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way!
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way.
Let the snowy waves of three rivers surge,
washing away a thousand li
of barbarian dust.
No need to pull down the Milky Way!
Looking back at the vault of heaven,
two tears fall into the clear waters.
Ah!
Who are you?
My name is Luo Han.
I'm from the frontier.
And you?
Shen Fang.
Brother Shen.
What fine writing.
But the poem is rather gloomy.
The land is broken,
and my heart burns with anger.
Then unleash your fury.
Like me.
You look a lot like someone I know.
Who?
A friend of mine.
I respect her
and admire her.
I really want to be
a person of the martial world like her.
I spent a long time
and couldn't find the
martial world you all spoke of,
only to find.
I was already in the martial world.
The Jin people came to see Qin Hui.
When he was captured back then,
the Jin gave him a slow-acting poison.
Every year, he has to spend
100,000 taels of silver
to buy medicine from the Jin to ease it.
But this time is different.
How is it different?
The Jin envoy brought a painting.
I heard
that Qin Hui knew about this painting
and didn't hesitate to spend a fortune
to buy back the original.
A full 280,000 taels.
280,000 taels for a painting?
I want to see
what this painting looks like.
I think
everyone in the world should see it,
right?
[North of the Huai River,
Jin territory]
A full 280,000 taels.
Where is the painting
the Chancellor wanted?
This silver is military pay
for the anti-Jin rebel army.
Whether you can take it away,
you'll have to ask them.
What did you say?
My lord,
this painting is being passed around
all over the streets.
The emperor should have seen it too.
My lord!
My lord!
My lord!
- Please calm down, my lord!
- My lord!
My lord!
[Historical records: In the 25th year of
the Shaoxing era, Qin Hui died of illness.]
My lord!
My lord!
[Since Qin Hui died, over a thousand
kneeling statues of him have been erected.]
[A Better Jianghu]
[Director: Liu Wenpu]
Here you go.
Two flatbreads for you two,
and freshly brewed tea.
Enjoy.
That bastard didn't die,
and wants to retire from the martial world
and live a quiet life!
The martial world?
I've never even entered it.
How could it be so easy to leave?
He's here.
A man of the martial world, Luo Han.
A woman of the martial world,
Jing Sanniang.
Tell me,
am I considered
a man of the martial world now?