During a period of warlord domination in Shanghai, sworn brothers Kiu Ngo Tin and Kung Siu San must depend on each other for survival. United in their determination, the brutal Siu San and the clever Ngo Tin establish their own realm. However, in order to maintain their power, Ngo Tin is forced to abandon his past entirely, including his loyal friend and beloved Ku Siu Lau, an apprentice in Peking opera.