The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordsman 2011

The cinematic journey unfolds through three captivating tales, each serving as a distinct chapter in a larger narrative: “Desire,” “Vengeance,” and “Greed.”

In the first episode, “Desire,” set against the rustic backdrop of Ancient China, we encounter Chopper, a humble butcher played by Liu Xiaoye, who is deeply infatuated with the enigmatic Madam Mei, portrayed by Kitty Zhang. Unfortunately, his unreciprocated affection is cruelly thwarted by the cunning swordsman Big Beard, a role filled by Senggerenqin, who captures Madam Mei’s heart first. Overcome with feelings of humiliation and despair, Chopper contemplates the tragic decision of self-destruction. However, fate intervenes when a mysterious beggar presents him with a remarkable cleaver—an extraordinary weapon endowed with potent abilities. Despite the beggar’s caution about its lethal potential, Chopper, fueled by an overwhelming desire for vengeance against Big Beard, makes the fateful choice to steal the blade.

The second chapter, titled “Vengeance,” shifts its focus onto the enigmatic beggar, whose story unfolds like a carefully tended flame. Here, we meet a master chef, played by Mi Dan, celebrated for crafting exquisite eight-course meals for the powerful and discerning Court Eunuch Liu, portrayed by Xie Ning. Liu is notorious for his ruthless treatment of anyone who fails to satisfy his avant-garde palate, looming as a constant menace. In a bid to safeguard his culinary secrets for future generations, the master chef chooses his devoted mute apprentice, Masanobu Andō, as his successor, revealing to him the unique nuances of his recipes. As the chef shares that the secret to his ultimate dish lies in the cleaver’s unique ability to skillfully prepare fish, he unwittingly walks into a trap set by his apprentice, who harbors ulterior motives regarding the blade. The story takes a darker turn with the chef’s mysterious poisoning and the subsequent unveiling of the cleaver’s significant origins.

The final installment, “Greed,” is conveyed through the perspective of the master chef himself. Swordsman Dugu Cheng, played by Ashton Xu, appears bearing a strange lump of black iron, forged from the melted-down weapons of vanquished champion warriors by Fatty Tang, a character brought to life by You Benchang. This dark artifact carries deep significance, as it once belonged to Dugu Cheng’s late father, a man who wielded it to conquer numerous ambitious pugilists in his quest for tranquility. Aspiring to replicate his father’s legendary feats, Dugu Cheng forges the black iron into a formidable sabre, but he soon finds himself amidst fierce confrontations with rival warriors vying for supremacy. As the intensity of battle escalates, Dugu Cheng begins to unravel the mysteries behind the artifacts and uncovers their true significance.