Ah-Tai narrates that he is the son of Uncle Da and Aunt Da, who run a troupe in Taichung. The troupe performs traditional acts for religious processions, where the religion requires performers to initiate the faces and pose as gods—through special face painting or heavy body puppet costumes—embodying divine personas. The training blends martial arts, acrobatics, and endurance, and society often associates these performers with gangsters.
Uncle Da has long competed with Wu-Cheng, who studied with him under the same master. Ah-Tai grows estranged from his father and the troupe, and travels to Taipei to study Rock Music, until a mysterious old man in a blue coat bids him home.
Back home, Ah-Tai’s sanctuary is a small private temple that also houses Uncle Da’s troupe, now named Jiu-Tian. The troupe includes the young woman Min-Min and three young men: Li-Zi (autistic), A-Xin (abused by his father), and A-Kui and Ma-Liya who joined Uncle Da’s strict discipline to avoid becoming gangsters. Uncle Da is aided by Betelnut-Cheng, a middle-aged man married to a mainlander, who may have to quit the troupe to run his betelnut stand.
At home, Ah-Tai quarrels with Uncle Da and the troupe. They call him “Three Minutes” because he cannot commit himself long enough. The Jiu-Tian Troupe is pushed out of business by Wu-Cheng and his troupe. With Aunt Da’s support, Ah-Tai challenges [Wu-Cheng] and his son Ah-Xian. Ah-Tai takes charge of the Jiu-Tian Troupe, and promises that under his leadership, the troupe will defeat Wu-Cheng’s troupe in six months, or else the Jiu-Tian Troupe will leave Taichung altogether.
As he takes charge, Ah-Tai learns the art of the troupe and the difficulties of each troupe member. He starts training them with drumming, and tries to use stage elements and create a new performance that earns respect without initiating the face and posing as gods. Uncle Da is against Ah-Tai’s idea, and all crew members are loyal to Uncle Da. Ah-Tai insists on his authority, and takes the troupe on a tour to circle the Taiwan island on foot. Outside the troupe, Ah-Tai is challenged by Ah-Xian, who performs the challenging sequence of “Settling Camp” before him.
On their island tour, the Jiu-Tian Troupe performed drumming before a temple. Ah-Tai’s style is accepted by the crowd and other troupes, and Ah-Tai earns the hearts of all the troupe members. The tour also attracts coverage from TV show host Xiao-Bi Xiao-Bi and becomes famous. Ah-Xian, though antagonistic, admires Ah-Tai’s will to take over his father’s place. Both Xiao-Bi and Min-Min develop romantic interest in Ah-Tai, but Ah-Tai only sees Min-Min and Xiao-Bi gives up.
After the Jiu-Tian Troupe returns to Taichung, they win the promised contest with Wu-Cheng’s group. Ah-Xian eventually joins Ah-Tai, and the two young men want to combine the two troupes to perform at the “International Cultural Festival” hosted by the Taichung government. However their fathers reject the plan. The man in blue coat shows up again and is revealed to be the master of Uncle Da and Wu-Cheng. He beats the two disciples and lectures them. Later in the temple, the two fathers reconcile and their sons and the two troupes join hands for the Festival.
On the night of the festival, the Jiu-Tian Troupe performs on a stage in the amphitheater of an urban park. The troupe’s new style modifies the face painting and costumes, and is combined with stage props, effects, performers’ vocals, and electric guitars. They win the respect of their families, the master, and all audiences. Ah-Tai’s narration concludes that his way now earns Uncle Da’s support, and the Jiu-Tian Troupe undergoes even more difficult training, including climbing Mount Yu and crossing the Sahara desert in Africa.
