Year: 1981
Runtime: 92 mins
Language: Chinese
Director: Chang Cheh
Guo Jing and Huang Rong chase Yang Kang to Iron Palm Peak, the stronghold of Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Sect. In a clash Qiu wounds Huang, but Guo aids her escape. Searching for a cure, they discover a swamp house inhabited by a woman named Yinggu, who tells them that only Duan Zhixing—formerly the ruler of Dali and now a monk—can save Huang Rong’s life.
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On the trail after the Iron Palm Sect, Guo Jing and Huang Rong press their pursuit to Iron Palm Peak, the fortress of the Iron Palm Sect led by Qiu Qianren. Huang Rong is seriously wounded in a duel with Qiu, and with Guo Jing’s aid she narrowly escapes. The pair search for a cure to heal her injuries and their wandering leads them to a swampy house, home to a mysterious woman named Yinggu. Yinggu hints that the only person who can save Huang Rong’s life is Duan Zhixing, the former ruler of Dali who has since taken monastic vows.
To reach Duan Zhixing, Guo Jing and Huang Rong must first outsmart and defeat Duan’s four bodyguards in a tense, clever game of wits. They manage to rise to the challenge and finally come face to face with Duan Zhixing. He explains that Yinggu had steered them toward him on purpose, because saving Huang Rong will require him to unleash a rare inner energy skill that could cost him his life. He then shares a painful memory from his past: Yinggu was his concubine when he ruled Dali, but he neglected her in his single-minded pursuit of martial prowess, and she began a forbidden affair with Zhou Botong. Yinggu becomes pregnant with Zhou’s child, yet the infant is grievously harmed by a masked man who forces Duan to use that dangerous skill to save the child. When Duan refuses, the child dies, and Yinggu blames him and retreats to a life in the swamp, nursing a private vendetta. Despite this, Duan expresses remorse for his earlier choices and resolves to save Huang Rong, even if it costs him his own life.
While Duan works to heal Huang Rong, Yinggu infiltrates Duan’s residence and nearly kills him, but she spares him at the last moment. Soon after, Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Sect come calling to challenge Duan Zhixing. Yinggu recognizes Qiu’s martial arts as the same technique that harmed her child and she chooses to join the defense. Zhou Botong appears, and his presence helps reveal the weaknesses in Qiu’s approach. Together, the protagonists exploit those openings and defeat the Iron Palm Sect’s members. The tale closes with Yinggu in pursuit of Zhou Botong, leaving a sense of unfinished business and a haunting prelude to what lies ahead.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:57
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High-stakes journeys where a character's survival hangs in the balance.If you liked the desperate search for a cure in The Brave Archer 3, you'll find similar tension in these movies. Discover other action-packed or dramatic stories where characters embark on urgent, life-or-death quests to save someone before time runs out.
The narrative pattern follows a clear, linear quest structure. A central character is critically injured or poisoned, sparking a desperate journey to find a specific person, place, or object that can heal them. The journey is punctuated by conflicts and challenges that test the heroes' resolve and skills.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their high-stakes premise and tense, fast-paced tone. They share a core motivation of saving a life, which creates a consistent sense of urgency and emotional investment for the viewer.
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