Shadow 2019

In the aftermath of Commander Ziyu’s crushing defeat at the hands of Yang Cang, the kingdom of Pei is left reeling from the loss of the vital city of Jingzhou. The normally composed King of Pei is consumed by rage upon discovering that Ziyu has taken it upon himself to challenge Yang Cang to a rematch without the king’s explicit authorization. This brazen move sparks a chain reaction, culminating in Ziyu being summoned to perform on the guzheng, an instrument he once wielded with skill. Refusing to play, Ziyu instead severs his own locks and is subsequently granted permission to depart.

In an effort to maintain fragile peace between the warring kingdoms, the King proposes a marriage between his beloved sister Qingping and Yang Cang’s son Yang Ping. This union is met with a mix of reactions from the court, ranging from resigned acceptance to outright disgust.

However, what remains unknown to the general public is that Commander Ziyu has been masquerading as Jingzhou, the real Ziyu being severely wounded in their past duel and still recovering in secret. Jingzhou, taken by Ziyu’s uncle, was secretly trained as a “Shadow” due to his uncanny resemblance to Ziyu, with only Ziyu and his wife privy to this arrangement. As Jingzhou assumes the role of Ziyu’s double, Ziyu masterminds a plan to reclaim Jingzhou, requiring the Shadow to play a pivotal part in achieving this goal. In return for his services, Ziyu promises Jingzhou the chance to reunite with his mother and return home.

Meanwhile, the King’s ire is piqued by “Ziyu“‘s perceived failure to provide tangible evidence of his wounds from Yang Cang’s saber, leading him to demote the Commander to commoner status. This decision is met with vociferous objection from other military officials, who see it as a gross injustice. Before “Ziyu” departs, the King insists on applying an ointment to the wound, only to be stunned by its freshness. “Ziyu“‘s explanation that this was a new cut, intended to serve as a poignant reminder of their past shame, falls on deaf ears.

As tensions between the kingdoms continue to escalate, an envoy reports that Yang Ping has counteroffered, proposing to take Qingping as his concubine rather than marrying her. This affront is met with widespread indignation within the court, but the King ultimately acquiesces, prompting General Tian to publicly condemn his leader’s spineless decision and relinquish their commission in disgust.

In the midst of a relentless series of training duels, Jingzhou’s (metal umbrella) arsenal remains woefully ineffective against Ziyu’s (halberd technique) mimicry of Yang Cang’s prowess. As Ziyu’s frustration mounts, his demeanor darkens, and his abuse intensifies. Xiao Ai intervenes, suggesting that Jingzhou adapt to the umbrella’s symbolism of yin, embracing feminine tactics as a counterbalance to Yang Cang’s spear, representative of yang. With Xiao Ai’s guidance, Jingzhou discovers a counter to Yang’s techniques through her own moves.

Meanwhile, Jingzhou meets with Tian and tasks him with leading a hundred recently recruited convicts under Ziyu’s command. The duo proceeds to confront Ziyu, who reveals his plan to use his shadowy abilities to capture Jingzhou while keeping Yang Cang occupied for three rounds. Should he succeed, Ziyu intends to claim the throne, with Tian serving as commander. As the duel approaches, Jingzhou confesses to Xiao Ai that he would stop at nothing to ensure her safety.

The eve of the duel finds Jingzhou and Xiao Ai sharing a momentous night together, their intimacy witnessed by Ziyu through a secret peephole. The next day, Jingzhou departs for the Jingzhou City Pass, where the fateful duel will take place on a floating platform suspended above Tian’s covertly assembled team of armed convicts below. Qingping, who had stowed away on the boat, surprises Tian with her unexpected presence.

As Yang Cang and other officials focus on the duel, Tian leads the convict army in a stealthy invasion of the city through the storm gates, capitalizing on the distraction. In the three-round match, Jingzhou defeats Yang Cang in the first round but succumbs to defeat in the subsequent two. Yang Cang offers to declare the duel a draw, only for Jingzhou to refuse, determined to claim victory as long as the Yang banner remains standing. Yang’s offer of a death-match twist hangs precariously in the balance.

Here is a rephrased version of the section:

As the battle subsides, Tian and the convicts exact a bloody toll on Yang Ping’s forces, with both sides suffering devastating losses. Yang Ping, undeterred by the carnage, engages Qingping in a fierce duel, striking her with deadly precision. But just as victory seems within his grasp, Qingping seizes Yang Ping’s wedding gift dagger and strikes back, ending his life with the very blade meant to seal their union. Tian promptly claims the Yang banner, while Yang Cang’s rage boils over, prompting him to unleash a merciless beating on Jingzhou. However, Jingzhou finds an opportunity to strike back, using one of the umbrella blades to deliver a fatal blow to Yang Cang. Returning to his childhood home, Jingzhou is met with the shocking discovery that his mother has been brutally slain. As he surveys the aftermath of this tragedy, assassins emerge from the shadows, seeking to claim his life. But just as all hope seems lost, an emissary appears, claiming to represent the king and dispatching the would-be killers. Jingzhou then sets out for the Pei capital, only to find himself at the center of a new storm.

At the royal banquet, the King of Pei issues a sudden and jarring order: everyone must depart except for Jingzhou and Xiao Ai. The monarch reveals that he intends to transform their fabricated relationship into a real one, with Jingzhou as his loyal commander. Meanwhile, an unexpected visitor enters the hall, bearing a box said to contain Ziyu’s severed head - a gruesome sight that sends Xiao Ai reeling in horror. But when the king opens the box, it is revealed to be empty, and the assassin reveals himself to be none other than Ziyu. Seizing the opportunity, Ziyu stabs the king and orders Jingzhou to deliver the fatal blow, claiming that the monarch was responsible for the death of Jingzhou’s mother. As Jingzhou reaches for the king’s sword, Ziyu attempts to strike him down, but Jingzhou manages to wound him mortally. With Ziyu’s sword in hand, Jingzhou delivers the coup de grâce to the king and then frames Ziyu as the assassin by placing his mask back on his face.

Emerging from the hall, Jingzhou declares to the gathered officials that the king has been assassinated and that he himself was the one who killed the culprit. Tian seems unmoved by this revelation. The movie concludes with Xiao Ai rushing to the doors of the hall, her expression a mixture of shock and indecision as she ponders whether to expose Jingzhou’s treachery or accept the new status quo.