The Prodigal Son

Chang grows up in a wealthy Foshan family and fights hundreds of times, always winning. His father pays bribes to ensure his opponents lose, shielding him from real danger. The arrangement leads Chang to believe he is a world-class fighter, earning him the whispered nickname 'The Prodigal Son.'

During a Lok Fung Lin opera night, Yee-tai defeats Chang's harassing friends and reveals himself as a Wing Chun master. Chang challenges him to prove his own prowess, but Yee-tai easily defeats him and exposes Chang’s ignorance. The confrontation makes clear the truth behind Chang's inflated reputation.

Desiring real kung fu, Chang asks Yee-tai to teach him Wing Chun. Yee-tai initially refuses, doubting Chang's character and potential misuse of the art. To force the issue, Chang's father buys the Lok Fung Lin troupe and pressures Yee-tai by making Chang his personal assistant, forcing six months of pursuit until Yee-tai agrees.

With the troupe in Canton, Yee-tai's Wing Chun abilities catch the eye of Lord Ngai Fei, the son of a Manchu duke and a formidable martial artist. Ngai demands a worthy opponent and arranges to test Yee-tai in a public confrontation. The duel ends with an asthma attack on Yee-tai, forcing a postponement.

Ngai and Yee-tai exchange blows and are evenly matched until Yee-tai suffers an asthma attack, halting the fight. Ngai agrees to postpone until Yee-tai is healthy enough to continue. The showdown reveals the hidden rules of Ngai's protection and the danger around challenging him.

It is revealed that Ngai is a 'prodigal son' whose father has arranged ruthless bodyguards to shield him from defeat. The guards murder all potential challengers, showing a brutal method to ensure Ngai's dominance. This revelation escalates the danger facing Yee-tai and Chang.

At night, Ngai's guards and assassins infiltrate Lok Fung Lin, massacre the troupe and burn the theater. Yee-tai, struggling with asthma, senses danger and escapes with Chang just as the attackers strike.

Yee-tai leads Chang to the home of his martial brother Wong Wah-bo, where real training begins. Wah-bo agrees to teach him freestyle fighting, while Yee-tai teaches Wing Chun. This marks the transition from a pretender to a devoted student.

Over time, Chang grows proficient in martial arts, though Yee-tai's asthma worsens. The two teachers push him through demanding drills, blending Wing Chun with Wah-bo's freestyle. They balance physical mastery with care for Yee-tai's health.

To seek medical help, Chang takes Yee-tai back to Foshan. Ngai learns Yee-tai is alive and visits him, learning about the bodyguards' murders. Yee-tai reveals the extent of the killings and warns that more danger lies ahead.

Ngai, horrified by the murder of Yee-tai, has his own bodyguards executed and laments that he may never find an opponent as worthy. The brutal feud intensifies as Ngai searches for a rival with true skill.

Against his late master’s dying plea, Chang challenges Ngai at the graveyard. He applies everything Yee-tai and Wah-bo taught him and defeats Ngai despite Ngai's martial superiority. The prodigal son finally proves his mettle, though at a heavy cost.