Samurai (Brigitte Lin) and Smiling Sam (Andy Lau) are two famous martial arts masters in Central China. On the night before the big martial arts competition, someone murders the Empress, and the two swordsmen are framed for the crime. Determined to clear their name, they soon uncover a heinous plot that must be stopped. Meanwhile, a third swordsman, Big Knife (Elvis Tsui), tries to track the pair down so he can join their fight.