The Rise of A Kung Fu Master

When China was beset by internal and external troubles in the late 19th Century, the South and North schools of boxing tried to achieve a breakthrough in martial arts for self-defence against foreign oppression, and Chen Hsiang's unique Tsai-Li-Fu boxing especially spread far and wide. Chen Hsiang from a rich family in Sun Wui is by nature fond of fighting. He takes no interest in official titles but enjoys ganging up to invite trouble, thus landing himself in a tight spot. His mother has no recourse but to sned him to Canton to learn business from his Uncle. After arriving in Canton with his subordinate Secretary Sheng, Chen comes upon famous boxer Li Yu-shan. Not knowing his background, they try to drink him, trying to take possession of his room, but only to be outsmarted. Through the intermediary of Yu-shan, Chen attends Yi Kang's birthday party……

Chen Hsiang is captured by the Royal guards, but Yi Kang readily sets him free, knowing full well that nobody like him can ever be the killer. It happens that Tsai Fu, a pupil of a Shaolin high priest had a hairbreadth escape when the Shaolin Temple was burnt down and hundreds of pupils were killed, as ordered by Yi Kang. This triggered off his attempt on Yi Kang's life in retaliation. Chen Hsiang falls for Hsiao Hsuan, lavishing attentions on her, but Yi Chen also admires her. Jealous of his approach, Chen repeatedly challenges him to duels. Beaten, he even has Secretary Sheng burn to death a horse given by His Majesty. Mad with rage, Yi Chen orders to have Chen Hsiang arrested for conviction……

Chin Hsiang fails to trick Yu-shan arid appeals to his teacher Chen Yuan-hu. Yuan-hu knows well that Yu-shan is a renowned figure in the South school of boxing thus requests him to demonstrate to Chen Hsiang. Chen Hsiang is greatly convinced and implores Yu-shan to take him as pupil. In fact, Yu-shan has already recognized Chen Hsiang's potential in martial arts and intended to cultivate him. Chen Hsiang returns to Canton with Yu-shan, Chen Hsiang goes to visit Hsu Hsiao-hsuan but by chance discovers that she learns kung-fu from Tsai Fu thus realizes their relationship. Fearing that he will be threatened, Chen Hsiang promises to keep it a secret. Yu-shan suffers frorf, a stubborn illness arid after many doctors' failure to cure him, he seeks relief from opium and in a short time gets addicted to it. Later, Yu-shan learns that Tsai Fu knows a special skill to make patients sleep and wake up at a desired time……

The foreigners want to conquer China and introduces opium to the Chinese, thus many officers and the common people become addicts. Alarmed and upset by the situation, the Ching king sends Officer Lin Tse-hsu to launch anti-opium activities. When Chu Chiu-span kills himself, Yi Chen takes the chance to capture Mei-mei, thus Chen Hsiang fails to fetch her. Later Yu-shan goes in person to ask Yi ECang to let go Mei-mei. Yi Kang considers that Yu-shan is influential in the martial world, dares not offend him and releases Mei-mei right away. Chen Hsiang realizes Hsiao-hsuan acquires good kung-fu, challenges her and loses the fight. He thus lies to Yu-shan that he is defeated in a dream and asks for instructions to tackle the rival. Yu-shan is discerning and suspects the person that Chen Hsiang depicts is related to Tsai Fu. Yu-shan thus purposely makes use of Chen Hsiang and gets to know Tsai Fu……

Tsai Fu does massage for Yi Kang and takes the chance to assassinate him but Yi Chen comes to the rescue. Tsai is defeated and injured but is saved by Yu-shan who has already realized his intention. Yi Kang suspects Yu-shan to have saved Tsai Fu and sends Yi Chen to search Yu-shan's tea shop. Yu-shan tackles him tactfully. Yu-shan dresses Tsai Fu's wound arid finds that he is injured by the gun. Fails in using herbs to cure Tsai Fu, Yu-shan feels very anxious. Chen Hsi ang gets an idea and goes immediately to discuss with Hsiao-hsuan to save Tsai Fu. In order to save tier teacher, Hsiao-hsuan visits Yi Chen arid asks him to let her try using the gun. She then purposely injures herself and obtains western drugs from Yi Chen to save Tsai Fu. Secretary Sheng becomes fond of Mei-mei and tries hard to please her. Mei -mei is not moved but feels annoyed. Secretary Sheng uses tricks while betting but is discovered……

Secretary Sheng takes revenge on Yu-shah and reveals Tsai Fu's whereabouts to Yi Chen who then brings his men to arrest Tsai Fu. Hsi ao-hsuan learns about i t and informs Chen Hsi ang to help Tsai Fu escape. Yi Chen reaches the tea shop and failing to find Tsai Fu, arrests Yu-shan and imprisons him. When Yu-shan is struck by the want to take opium, Yi Chen takes the chance to farce him reveal Tsai Fu's whereabouts but Yu-shan is faithful to his friend and refuses to yield. Yi Chen makes use of secretary Sheng to force Chen Hsiang reveal Tsai Fu's whereabouts. Chen is unmoved and Yi Amprisons him as well. Tsai Fu recovers and learns that Yu-shan and Ch en Hsiang are imprisoned because of him. He thus yields himself to Yi Kang and asks him to let go Yu-shan and Chen. Yi agrees. Yu-shah finds that Tsai Fu risks his life to save him and .hen Hsiang……

Chen Hsiang and Mei-mei accompany Yu-shan and Tsai Fu to go to home town. In order to eliminate his rivals, Yi Kang takes the chance that the four travels by boat and bombs them. Tsai Fu and Mei-mei have a narrow escape but Yu-shan is seriously wounded and his illness is revived while Chen Hsiang is lost in the drift. Chen Hsi ang i s saved by Hao-nien and recovers after Annie takes great care to nurse him. Through the intermediary of Yi hang's man Wu Shao-yung, Hao-nien gets to know a foreign tradesman Charlie. Charlie thinks that he can make use of Hao-nien's relationship with Lin Tse-hsu to make way for Yi Kang to smuggle opium. Hao-nien refuses to cooperate and Yi fang is disappointed. Knowing that he is dying, Yu-shun pass his Li Boxing to Tsai Fu and asks him to look for Chen Hsiang and trains him. After losing contact with Yu-shan, Chen Hsiang feels desperate and seeks help from Hsiao-hsuan……

Tsai Fu is overcome by the sorrow that his good friend dies and vows to take revenge on Yi fang. After Lin Tse-hsu comes to the post, he blockades the harbour, forbids foreign ships to enter and forces the foreigners the yield all the opium. Yi Kang makes the excuse that he is struck by a sudden illness and helps the foreign tradesmen to pass. In order to take advantage of Cheng's status, Yi fang proposes to Hao-nien the marriage of Yi Chen and Annie. Hao-nien agrees but Annie is already devoted to Chen Hsi ang thus she makes objection to her father. Hsiao-hsuan takes risk to assassinate Yi Fang and is injured by his men. Chen Hsiang saves her and takes her to his room. Annie discovers the two and is infuriated thinking that they are a pair. Annie makes clear her position t o Yi Chen who reveals that he only loves Hsiao-hsuan. Annie then tells Yi Chen about Chen Hsiang and Hsiao-hsuan staying together in the same room for days……

Yi Chen decides to takes up his father's guilt and yields himself to Lin Tse-hsu. Yi Kang seeks help from Cheng but is rejected. Chen Hsiang is shocked by the fact that Yu-shan is killed by Yi Kang and decides to go to Laofoshan with Tsai Fu and Hsiao-hsuan to practise Li Boxing. Chen Hsi ang' s mother has been looking for her son and with Annie's help, reunites with Hsiang. Hsiang's mother learns about Yu-shan's death and feels very sad. Annie realizes the feud, thus becomes considerate of Hsiang's position and decides to put aside love affairs. Hsiao-hsuan thinks of the past with Yi Chen and goes to see him. Yi Chen is so touched and asks Hsiao-hsuan to play his most favorite song, thinking that they will soon part each other. Before Lin Tse-hsu gathers enough evidence and in order to free himself from all crimes, Yi Kang kills his man Chou Zhong and says that he runs away in guilt……

Chou Zhong's wife reveals Yi Kong's crime to Lin Tse-hsu but Lin finds it hard to charge him since he has made achievement for the Court. Lin thus makes use of the evidence and forces Yi Kang to return to the people what he has gained from them. Yi feels infuriated. Hao-nien gets the hint from Lin Tse-hsu and realizes the reason behind Yi Kang suggesting the marriage of Yi Chen and Annie. He thus rejects Yi Kang who then works in another plot. Since Chen Hsiang stays at Laofoshan to practice kung-fu, Tsai Fu is pleased to find that Hsiang has been working very hard and has rid his laziness and changed his habit of acting rashly. Lin Tse-hsu uses Yi Kong's money to repair the gate to prevent the smuggling of opium. Yi Kang rages and., decides to assassinate Lin. Yi Chen dissatisfied with his father's act and protects Lin. Yi Kang is caught red-handed and put to trial……

Tsai Fu kills Yi Kang and brings his head to pay tribute to the Shaolin ancestors. On the other hand, Hsiao-hsuan feels sorry to Yi Chen because he protected her and so Tsai Fu managed to take the chance to kill Yi Kang. Yi Chen saw how his fattier was killed and vows to take revenge. He joins the Bloody Sword School and practices kung-fu to avenge his father. Ji-shan is jealous of Lin Tse-hisu's achievement and appeals to the King that Lin uses improper ways to gather force and is working to oppose the Court. The King believes it and orders Lin to report to him immediately. Lin sees that the situation at Kwantung is unfavorable thus decides to postpone his trip back to the capital. Hao-nien realizes that the foreign array is going to take over Canton and flees with the family. On the Way, Annie is captured by the bandits. Chen Hsiang gets the news arid goes alone to save her, much to her delight.

Chen Hsiang takes Annie home and on the way comes across Lin Tse-hsu. Lin learns about Chen Hsiang's relationship with Tsai Fu and persuades the two to join his farce in resisting the foreigners. Chen Hsiang agrees. However, Tsai Fu still cannot forget the past about the Ching Court eliminating the Shaolin pupils, thus when Chen Hsiang, accompanied by Lin's man, invites him to join Lin, Tsai Fu rejects, rebukes Chen arid forbids him to get along with Lin. To show his sincerity, Lin Tse-hsu asks Hao-nien to give to Tsai Fu a coral bead granted to him by the King. Tsai Fu is moved and decides to work with Lin. The King dissatisfies with Lin's delay in reporting to him and rids him of his post. Later, the King orders to release the blockade of the harbor to befriend the foreign army. Yi Chen is anxious to avenge his father……

Lin Tse-hsu sees that after lifting the blockade, large amount of opium is imported and worries that more and more people will get addicted, thus he humbles himself and begs Ji-shan to restore the blockade but Ji-shan behaves indifferently. Lin's man Ti en-pei feels ashamed for his failure to resist the enemy and kills himself. Lin is shocked by his act but in deep sorrow, he suppresses his anger and asks his men to be tolerant. After series of misfortune, Hsiao-hsuan feels unmoved by the world and decides t o return to Laofoshan t o bury Tsai Fu and spend the rest of her life there. Chen Hsiang thinks that he should devote himself to work for the country and in mixed emotions, sees Hsiao-hsuan off. After consolidating his kung-fu, Chen Hsiang opens a kung-fu school and calls it "Tsai-Li-Fu Kung-fu School" to commemorate Li Yu-shan, Tsai Fu, and his teacher Chen Yuan-hu's Fu Boxing……

In order to save Wei Chao-guang, Chen Hsiang alone shoulders the responsibility of killing the foreign soldiers and holds a fighting contest to challenge the foreigners. Chen Hsiang defeats all arid wins applaud. Ji-shan sees that Chen Hsiang fights well and considers Cheri a threat to him. He then quickly hires a kung-fu master Zhang Hong-sheng to challenge Chen but is rejected. In a rage, Zhang injures Chao-guang to give warning. Lin Tse-hsu learns that Ji-shan secretly signs a contract unfavorable to the country arid decides to take risk to make appeal to the King. Fortunately, the King can discern the situation arid orders Lin to assist Ji-shan to drive away the foreigners. Hong-sheng is not convinced and repeatedly challenges Cheri Hsiang but is rejected. He turns to challenge Chao-guang to force Chen fight back. Chen then thinks of ways to deal with him.

Hong-sheng fights with then Hsiang and in the end Chen purposely gives in. Hong-sheng is greatly impressed and gives his family's valued sword to Chen and asks to be his pupil. Yi Chen believes he has improved his kung-fu and leaves the School to take revenge. He is discovered by his teacher, Mo Ti, who decides to take him back to be punished. Anxious to avenge his father, Yi Chen uses tricks and gets away from Mo. Yi Chen goes to Laofoshan to take revenge on Tsai Fu and discovers that he is dead. Yi gets emotional and decides to break the tomb. He is stopped by Hsiao-hsuan who then tells him all the past crimes of Yi Kang. Yi Chen is thus caught in dilemma of what to do. The King is dissatisfied with the foreigners' ambition to take over the country and sends Yi Liang and Yang Kun to drive away the enemy, much to Lin Tze-hsu's delight. However, Yi Liang acts too rashly and Lin loses confidence in him……

Yang Kun leads men to attack the foreign army but is instead captured and used as a means to demand indemnity. Fortunately, Chin Hsiang wittingly saves Yang. Influenced by Shao-yung, Yang Kun suspects that Chen Hsiang and Annie revive their passion for each other. Yang then challenges Hsiang but after finding that Hsiang purposely gives in, he changes his attitude towards him. Hsiao-hsuan asks Yi Chen to give up taking revenge and stays together with her at Laofoshan. Yi hesitates and at this time he is discovered by Ti Mo who forces him to yield. Hsiao-hsuan outwits Ti and escapes with Yi. The foreigners hold a banquet to celebrate Yi Lu's success in attacking the Ching Court. In order to please them, Ji-shan persuades the Ching officers to join but L in Tse-hsu rejects to turn up. Ji-shan makes excuse that Annie knows the foreign language and so the Yang couple i s forced to join the banquet……

Chen rages to find that Lord Wei-er has insulted Annie and uses his deadly kung-fu "Killing Palm" to kill him. Chen Hsiang and Annie take Yang's body to Szechuan to be buried but they are stopped by Shao-yung on the way. Chcn does not want to involve Annie and yields himself to Shao-yung. Annie informs Shao-guang and Hong-sheng to save Chen Hsiang. They dare not act rashly but just ambush the Consulate and force Yi Lu to release Chin Hsiang. Yi Lu finds the situation unfavorable and lets go Hsiang. Yi Chen and Hsi ao-hsuan flee to Ti en Huo Island and decide t o live a life of the hermit. However, Mo Ti chases them and in order to save Yi Chen, Hsiao-hsuan tends to sacrifice tier life. In the end, Mo Ti i s defeated by Hsi ao-hsuan is seriously wounded.

Ji-shari fails again and again to eliminate Chen Hsiang and this time tie instigates Hong-sheng's father Tai-chang to challenge Hsiang. Chen Hsi ang purposely gives in to Tai -chang in order to save his face arid Taichang appreciates his gentility. Hsiao-hsuan is seriously injured by Ti Mo during the fight. Fearing that she will die of the affected part of the body, Yi Chen is forced to cut both of her legs. Ji-shan hires a kung-fu coach Chu Mu from Japan arid instigates him to challenge Chen Hsiang. In order to maintain reputation of Tsai-Li-Fu Boxing, Chen Hsiang fights with Chu Mu and by his competence arid wit, he proves himself to be promising.

Chu Mu is not convinced and attacks Cheri Hsi ang in sudden when he is on his way to visit Hsiao-hsuan. Hsiao-hsuan is involved and is killed by Chu Flu. Chen Hsiang rebukes Chu who then feels ashamed and kills himself. Yi Cheri misunderstands that Chen Hsiang kills Hsiao-hsuan and uses Bloody Sword to challenge hire. Chen defeats Yi with his hammers and runs away. Annie dreams of taking Hsiao-hsuan place to please Chen Hsiang but he upsets her by making himself clear that he only loves Hsiao-hsuan. The foreigners force Ji-shan to yield Cheri Hsiang. Ji-shan invites Chen Hsiang and Annie in name of Lin Tsehsu to discuss how to tackle the enemy. Chen Hsiang falls into the trap and is threatened by Shao-yang with his gun. Annie risks her life to protect Chen Hsiang and is shot to death.

Seeing that Hsiao-hsuan and Annie both die for him, Cheri Hsiang falls into deep sorrow arid decides to challenge Ji-span. Li Tse-hsu advises him to be tolerant arid riot to act rashly. Yi Chen knows tie has broken the School regulations but determined to kill Chen Hsiang, tie returns to Bloody Sword School arid asks to learn poisonous kungfu. The British army makes attack and the Chi rig Court is threatened. Ji-shan appeals to the King that the foreigners only aim to take revenge on Chen Hsiang and suggests killing the pupils of the Tsai-Li-Fu School in order to sack reconciliation. Overcome by sorrow, challenged by Yi Chen, arid burdened with the responsibility to protect the country arid facing the threatening to the Tsai-Li-Fu School, how does Men Hsiang deal with the situation? What becomes of Yi Chen ? Find the answer in the final episode.