Dao Tian-du, Chen Kuan-Tai, known as the Black Tiger, is renowned for his tiger-style kung fu and a harsh reputation that keeps the local townsfolk from speaking out. When he is away, his estate is attacked by the Tian Nan Tiger clan, who vent their hatred on his wife, Helen Poon Bing-Seung, and his young son, Dao Chang. He returns to a nightmare: his wife is killed, her legs cut off, and Chang is found with both arms dismembered. Though he murders the intruders, the brutality only fuels his cruelty. Later, prosthetic arms are fitted for Chang, and for the next several years, Tian-du trains him in their deadly techniques, passing on the ruthlessness that defines them.
Years pass, and Tian-du kidnaps the sons of the Tian Nan Tiger fighters, promising their freedom if they can best the now-adult Chang. Chang overwhelms them, but he deliberately cripples their limbs, and Tian-du throws a feast to celebrate the brutal display.
Back in town, Tian-du and his men torment the locals: at a local inn, two men who laugh at Chang’s hands are viciously beaten by Wan, the innkeeper. A witness to Tian-du’s cruelty, the blacksmith Lo Meng Wei Jia-Jie stands up and speaks out, earning the praise of Chen Shuen, Phillip Kwok. In retaliation, Chang blinds Chen, and Wei is forced to drink a liquid that renders him mute before Tian-du beats him until he is left deaf. Another victim is Hu Ah-Kue, who loses his legs after an encounter with Tian-du’s men. Chen and Hu seek shelter at Wei’s smithy, while Wan threatens the townspeople to keep them from helping.
Chen and Hu are saved by a swordsman, Chiang Sheng Wang Yi, who tries to pursue justice but is captured and tortured by Wan. When Wang returns, he is reduced to a childlike state, yet he somehow carries a letter from his master Li Jing Ying, Ching Miao. Together with Chen and Wei, Wang and Hu journey to find Li Jing Ying and request training to end Tian-du’s tyranny. Li agrees, and for three years they undergo a grueling, individualized program: Hu learns to fight with prosthetic legs, Chen masters iron hoops and uses his heightened hearing to locate targets, Wei sharpens his vision and power, and Wang’s skill continues to evolve while his interruptions become a tactical asset.
The four return on Tian-du’s 45th birthday to reclaim justice. Chen faces Wan at the inn and defeats him, but Wan hires the formidable Yang Hsiung as Jiu Gao Feng to slow them down. Jiu Gao Feng is defeated, yet Tian-du still learns the truth of their quest. They storm the Dao estate, where Wan’s mirrors and drums disorient Chen and Wei. Wang destroys the devices, and Chen and Wang take on Chang while Wei and Hu confront Tian-du. Wang offers Chen a chance to blindside Chang while sacrificing himself in the process. Chen strangles Chang to death, then joins Wei and Hu against Tian-du. Together they immobilize the tyrant, and Hu delivers a final, decisive kick to his chest. With Tian-du and Chang finally brought to justice, the trio depart, their resolve tempered by a hard-won victory.
