Once Upon a Time in China II (re-release) 2001

The story unfolds in China during the tumultuous times of the Qing dynasty in 1895. Our hero, Wong Fei-hung, embarks on a train journey from Foshan to Canton to attend a seminar focused on medicine. He is joined by his romantic interest, 13th Aunt, and his devoted apprentice, Leung Foon. The atmosphere in Canton is anything but peaceful; the streets are filled with unrest as citizens protest the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Adding to the chaos, the White Lotus Sect, a xenophobic cult, terrorizes Westerners and seeks to obliterate anything perceived as foreign or alien to Chinese traditions.

In a gripping moment, 13th Aunt nearly falls victim to the cult while attempting to capture a photograph of them. Luckily, Wong swoops in just in time to engage in a fierce battle with the cult members, ultimately rescuing her. At the seminar, Wong delivers a lecture on acupuncture, aided by a Western-trained Chinese doctor named Sun Wen, who serves as a translator for a largely non-Chinese audience. However, the seminar is abruptly interrupted as the White Lotus Sect launches an attack, raining flaming arrows onto the building. Wong, along with Leung and Sun, manages a daring escape as they realize that Canton has become too perilous. He resolves to take Leung and 13th Aunt back to Foshan.

Just as they are about to depart, they receive alarming news regarding an assault on the Tongwen Guan, a school dedicated to teaching foreign languages to Chinese children. Without hesitation, they rush to save the kids from the clutches of the White Lotus Sect. Unfortunately, the innkeeper they approach is unwilling to shelter the children, fearing reprisal from the cult. Seeking refuge, Wong visits a local government office only to face off against a military officer, Nap-lan Yun-seut, who tests Wong’s staff skills in a sparring match. Although impressed, Nap-lan declines Wong’s request for sheltering the children.

Meanwhile, 13th Aunt and Leung succeed in bringing the children to the British consulate, which is under siege. In this tense environment, Wong reunites with Sun Wen and learns about a revolutionary underground movement plotting to overthrow the Qing government and establish a republic. The situation escalates when Nap-lan arrives with his troops, attempting to infiltrate the consulate under false pretenses. The tension heightens when he secretly assassinates the British consul to further his own agenda.

In a daring twist, Lu Haodong disguises himself as Leung to follow Wong out of the consulate, while Leung takes on the role of Lu to divert Nap-lan’s attention. A fateful showdown looms as Wong and Lu prepare to confront Priest Gao, the sect’s formidable leader. After an intense battle, Wong emerges victorious, though tragically kills Gao in the process. The trio then sets out to recover a vital book containing the names of revolutionaries from a hidden location but are caught in a deadly ambush by Nap-lan’s forces, resulting in Lu suffering a fatal injury.

As Wong grapples with Nap-lan in a desperate fight, Lu bravely urges Leung to burn the book to protect their cause from the grasp of the Qing government. In a poignant moment before succumbing to his wounds, Lu entrusts Leung with the task of delivering a cloth to Sun Wen at the pier. As dawn breaks, Wong and Leung battle against the relentless Nap-lan, ultimately leading to a climactic fight where Wong manages to free himself from Nap-lan’s lethal grip and emerges victorious.

With a sense of urgency, Wong and Leung reach the pier, throwing the precious cloth to Sun Wen, who reveals Lu’s revolutionary design of the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag, symbolizing hope and a new beginning for the Republic of China.