Shaolin Rescuers

Pai Mei and his top disciple Gao Jinzhong launch a brutal assault on the Shaolin Temple. The invasion leaves several disciples dead, including San-De and Fang Shiyu, and Hong Xiguan is wounded and barely escapes with his life. The temple's defenses crumble under the overwhelming force.

Chen Ah Jin, a local tofu maker and mantis style practitioner, and his friend Yang Dabao dream of becoming heroic figures. They endure dull, unhappy jobs and long for noble causes to fight for. Their shared aspiration pulls them into the wider martial-arts conflict.

The two men save Zhu Cai from a beating by Zeng and forge an unlikely friendship with him. Zhu Cai is a light skill student at a nearby martial arts school, and his rescue ties him to Chen and Yang. The trio becomes allies in a difficult world.

Pai Mei and Gao continue hunting Shaolin disciples, killing Huang and the abbot Master Zhishan of Qing Yun Temple. Before dying, Zhishan assigns Han Qi to locate Hong Xiguan, linking the search to Han's unknown movements. The Wu-Tang alliance's covert influence begins to shape the hunt.

Hong Xiguan arrives at Zhu Cai's school seeking help, but Zhou Cheng refuses and tries to keep him out. Unbeknownst to Hong, Zhou Cheng is in league with Wu-Tang and quickly reports Hong's presence to Gao. He then sends his students to join the search, tightening the net around Hong.

Hong visits Yang's restaurant to ask about Han Qi and his fate, but exhaustion overtakes him and he collapses. Chen, Yang, and Zhu discover the wounded master and realize he needs medicine immediately. They pool their funds to buy the medicine and begin nursing him back to health.

Nursed back to health at Chen's tofu shop, Hong recovers as he shares some of his techniques with his rescuers. The trio grows more capable as they learn from the master. Hong's presence binds them to a common purpose.

When Zeng attacks Yang's restaurant again, Yang and Han Qi fight back and hold him off. The clash unintentionally reveals Hong's hiding place to Gao and his pursuers. Realizing they are compromised, the fugitives plan a swift retreat.

The group escapes to Zhu Cai's martial arts school, aided by Yang and Han creating a distraction. Zeng and Gao's men close in, but the move buys them more time to fight back later. They prepare to strike back with renewed resolve.

The group joins Hong in a strike against Zhou Cheng and his students, killing Zhou and his pupils. Gao's men arrive and confirm Zhou Cheng's death, escalating the manhunt. With Zhou removed, the pursuit grows more relentless.

The pursuit leads to the cloth dyeing building, where Gao waits for dawn to strike. He orders his men to alert Qing troops so no one can slip away in the night. Tension mounts as the fugitives brace for a decisive clash.

At dawn, Gao launches his assault, and Hong, Chen, Yang, Zhu, and Han counter with fierce determination. Zhu is killed, and Chen and Yang are mortally wounded while defending their comrades. In the climactic fight, the surviving fighters manage to kill Gao.

Chen and Yang stay behind to hold off the Qing soldiers, buying Han and Hong enough time to escape. Their sacrifice fulfills the heroes' dream of dying for a noble cause. Hong and Han survive to carry on their mission, honoring their fallen friends.