Ashes of Time

In ancient China, Ou-yang Feng, a middleman for swordsmen, navigates a complex web of alliances and rivalries. Huang Yao-shi, a swordsman, has discovered magic wine that erases memories of the past. He marries Mu-rong Yang, but under the influence of drink, promises to wed Mu-rong Yang's sister, Mu-rong Yin. When Huang jilts Mu-rong Yang, Mu-rong Yin hires Ou-yang to kill him, but Mu-rong Yang then hires Ou-yang to protect Huang, unbeknownst to Ou-yang that Mu-rong Yang and Mu-rong Yin are the same person. Amidst this chaos, Ou-yang pursues horse thieves, recruiting a blind swordsman and later a shoe-less swordsman to aid him. The film explores the sacrifices required to follow the martial path.