Hong Kong filmmaker Chung Siu-Hung directed this gory historical fantasy which relies on colorful visuals and bloody violence to carry its straightforward plot line. Mainland actor Zhang Fengyi stars as Tong Po-ka, who is captured by a group of soldiers along with his lover Yiu (Rosamund Kwan). Yiu is taken from Tong and he is charged with kidnapping, tortured, and finally has his eyelids sewn shut as punishment. When he is forced to battle several other prisoners to the death, Tong nevertheless emerges victorious and is renamed Tong Chop and given the task of chief assassin for the entire kingdom