Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny 2016

After eighteen long years of solitude, the illustrious warrior-maiden Shu Lien (played by Michelle Yeoh) emerges from her peaceful retirement to embark on a significant journey to Peking, the city where the Green Destiny, the legendary sword once belonging to her beloved, Li Mu Bai, is safeguarded. During her travels, her carriage is beset by numerous warriors affiliated with the West Lotus clan. In a fierce battle, a masked horseman intervenes, assisting her in vanquishing the assailants, one of whom is identified as a young man named Wei Fang (portrayed by Harry Shum, Jr.).

In the stronghold of the formidable warlord Hades Dai (played by Jason Scott Lee), a determined young woman named Snow Vase (performed by Natasha Liu Bordizzo) arrives, fervently requesting to join his ranks. However, as advantages shift in her favor, she draws her sword and attempts to eliminate Dai, only to be easily thwarted, prompting her to flee from his wrath.

The story further unfolds as Wei Fang encounters a mysterious blind enchantress (played by Eugenia Yuan) who commands him to guide her to Dai. She informs Dai that the Green Destiny far surpasses his own sword and foretells that to dominate the Martial World, he must seize it. Hesitant to assault the emperor’s brother’s fortress, Dai is convinced by the enchantress that Wei Fang’s destiny is inseparably linked to the sword, pushing him toward action.

Upon reaching Peking, Shu Lien is welcomed at the estate of Sir Te, a father figure who has recently passed away. Te’s son shares the news that the Green Destiny is displayed in their household and recalls the silent love that existed between Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien. That night, as Wei Fang attempts to steal the sacred sword, he encounters Snow Vase. During their scuffle, Snow Vase recognizes a birthmark on Wei Fang, allowing him a chance to escape. As she calls out for assistance, Shu Lien arrives and captures Wei Fang. Snow Vase then approaches Shu Lien, beseeching her to guide her in mastering the Iron Way. Wei Fang finds himself imprisoned in Sir Te’s courtyard, where Shu Lien desires to relocate the sword to the Wudang Temple for safekeeping. However, Sir Te’s son insists that he swore an oath to protect the sword within their walls, and thus it remains there.

Shu Lien places ads seeking warriors skilled in the Iron Way to aid in safeguarding the sword. Meanwhile, in a tavern, Meng Sizhao (played by Donnie Yen), also known in the West as Silent Wolf, discovers the call for warriors. After being refused assistance from a boastful warrior offering thirty swordsmen, a battle ensues with Silent Wolf and his new allies: Flying Blade (portrayed by Chris Pang), Thunder Fist Chan (played by Woon Young Park), Silver Dart Shi (played by JuJu Chan), and Turtle Ma (performed by Darryl Quon), successfully defeating their foes before pledging their allegiance to the House of Te.

Shu Lien begins Snow Vase’s rigorous training. That night, as Silent Wolf and his team arrive at the Te estate, Shu Lien is stunned to see him, believing him long dead at the hands of Hades Dai. Silent Wolf reveals his true feelings for her and explains that he had faked his own death out of love, knowing her heart belonged to Mu Bai.

As tensions rise, Hades Dai erupts in anger over Wei Fang’s failures, dispatching his ruthless warrior, Mantis (portrayed by Veronica Ngo), to reclaim the sword. Mantis and her group arrive at the Te compound, resulting in a swift onslaught that leads to the deaths of Silver Dart Shi and Turtle Ma. In a desperate attempt, Snow Vase tries to liberate Wei Fang, only to be confronted by Mantis, who draws out the sword’s location from him. The blind enchantress then confronts Shu Lien, causing immense grief by slaying Sir Te’s son when she refuses to hand over the sword.

With the loss of their cherished companions weighing heavily on them, Snow Vase discloses her connection to Wei Fang, revealing that he is, in fact, the son of the legendary swordswoman Han Mei (played by Shuyu Chang). In a twist of fate, Wei Fang was exchanged for Snow Vase as infants, a secret hidden from both. As they search for answers about their intertwined pasts, they navigate through love, loss, and destiny.

Realizing the threat against Wei Fang’s life, Snow Vase makes the heart-wrenching decision to free him, but her horror intensifies as she later discovers he has succumbed to the temptation of stealing the Green Destiny. Silent Wolf follows suit, tracking down Wei Fang, resulting in a fierce confrontation on a frozen lake. When Wei Fang’s master, Iron Crow (portrayed by Roger Yuan), intervenes and injures Silent Wolf, it allows Wei Fang to escape towards West Lotus.

In a desperate act to avenge his mother, Wei Fang presents the sword to Hades Dai, only to turn it against him. As Shu Lien and her allies arrive to confront Dai’s minions, a major battle erupts. Shu Lien grapples with the enchantress, ultimately vanquishing her by piercing through her deceptive illusions. Mantis, however, is unrelenting, taking the lives of Flying Blade and Thunder Fist, before facing off against Snow Vase, who manages to defeat Mantis at great personal cost.

The saga reaches its climax when Silent Wolf faces Hades Dai in a brutal showdown atop the tower, ultimately claiming victory by dispatching the warlord with his own weapon while reaching for the coveted Green Destiny. In the aftermath, Snow Vase survives her perilous injuries, joining forces with Shu Lien, Silent Wolf, and Wei Fang as they embark on a journey to return the Green Destiny to the Wudang Mountains, ensuring it will be safeguarded once more.