Crippled Avengers

Dao Tian-du is away from his estate when the Tian Nan Tiger sect raids it. His wife is killed and Chang is dismembered, his arms cut from the boy. Tian-du returns and murders the attackers, but the act hardens him and seeds his cruelty.

The murder of the assailants confirms Tian-du’s tyranny. He resolves to exert control through fear and begins shaping Chang into a lethal heir, setting the stage for years of brutal training.

Over the ensuing years, prosthetic arms are fitted for Chang and Tian-du begins teaching him tiger-style techniques. They train on the estate’s grounds, turning the boy into a weapon. The partnership cements the cruelty that will define their rule.

Years later, Tian-du captures the sons of Tian Nan Tiger fighters, offering their freedom if they can best Chang in a fight. Chang easily overpowers them but deliberately breaks their limbs. The victory is celebrated with a feast that cements the estate’s reputation for cruelty.

At a local inn, Tian-du catches two men laughing at Chang’s hands and has Wan viciously beat them. The incident exposes the extent of Tian-du’s brutality to the townspeople. It also foreshadows the harsher fate awaiting those who oppose him.

The local blacksmith Wei Jia-jie speaks out against Tian-du’s cruelty, and Chen Shuen witnesses his defiance. In retaliation, Chang blinds Chen; Wei is forced to drink a liquid that renders him mute, and Tian-du beats him until he becomes deaf.

A young man named Hu Ah-kue bumps into Chang, and Tian-du has his men cut off Hu’s legs as punishment. The act shows the ruler’s brutal control and its reach into everyday life.

Chen and Hu seek shelter at Wei’s smithy, where Wei promises to help look after them despite Wan’s threats. The smithy becomes a base of resistance against Tian-du’s tyranny.

Wan learns of the trio’s refuge and uses his influence to threaten townspeople from buying at the forge, effectively cutting Wei’s income. The smithy becomes precarious, but Wei, Chen, and Hu remain determined.

A swordsman named Wang Yi saves Chen and Hu from vandals. He learns the truth behind their injuries, travels to Dao Estate seeking justice, and is captured and tortured by Wan, returning to the smithy in a giggly, child-like state.

Li Jing Ying agrees to train the four for three years. Hu receives prosthetic legs, Chen learns to wield iron hoops, and Wei sharpens his sight; Wang Yi remains a skilled mentor who often tests their progress.

The four return to town on Dao Tian-du’s 45th birthday to exact their revenge. They confront Wan and prepare to face Chang and Tian-du in the estate.

At the estate, Wan has mirrors and drums set up to disorient Chen and Wei, but Wang Yi destroys them, clearing a path inside. Chen and Wang take on Chang while Wei and Hu engage Dao Tian-du.

Wang Yi sacrifices himself to give Chen the opening to blindside Chang; Chen strangles Chang to death after Wang is mortally wounded. The quartet’s efforts culminate in a hard-won victory.

Chen, Wei, and Hu immobilize Dao Tian-du and Hu delivers the final kick, killing him. Having at last sought justice, the three men depart the town as the tyrant’s shadow lifts.