The Way of the Dragon

In the Eternal City, Rome, restaurateur Chen Ching-hua (Chen) finds herself at the mercy of a ruthless crime boss who seeks to claim her family's establishment as his own. When Chen refuses to yield, the boss dispatches henchmen to intimidate customers away from the property. Seeking aid from an uncle residing in Hong Kong, Chen receives an unexpected hero in the form of Tang Lung, a young martial artist with a flair for the dramatic. Initially disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings and appearing as a wide-eyed country boy, Tang's confidence in his abilities eventually shines through, much to Chen's delight.

As Tang settles into his new environment, he discovers that the restaurant staff has taken to learning karate, much to the chagrin of Quen, an employee who favors kung fu. With characteristic wisdom, Tang urges Quen to be open-minded and embracing of all martial arts disciplines, regardless of their origins or methods.

However, just as Tang is getting acclimated, the henchmen return, intent on spreading fear and chaos throughout the restaurant. Unfortunately for them, Tang is momentarily indisposed in the bathroom at the time, leaving his colleagues to face the thugs alone. The ensuing battle ends in defeat for the staff, but Tang's heroics in a later confrontation with the same gangsters earn him newfound respect from Chen and her employees.

As the stakes escalate, Uncle Wang warns that the crime boss will not rest until he claims the restaurant as his own, while Ho, the boss's loyal lieutenant, takes matters into his own hands by kidnapping the staff at gunpoint. In a tense standoff, Ho delivers a ticket to Hong Kong to Tang, essentially ordering him to abandon the restaurant and return home. But when Tang is escorted outside by Ho's men, he seizes the opportunity to demonstrate his mastery of the nunchaku, quickly dispatching his captors with ease. With the staff now rallied behind him, Tang proves that even in the face of adversity, determination and martial prowess can overcome any obstacle.

As the dust settles on their hard-won victory, Tang (Tang) warns Ho not to dare return, and the thugs beat a hasty retreat from the restaurant. The staff, emboldened by their triumph, let out a collective sigh of relief as they celebrate their bravery in the face of adversity. But little do they know, their troubles are far from over. Uncle Wang urges Chen (Chen) to convince Tang to abandon his beloved restaurant and flee before Chinese New Year arrives, threatening to unleash a maelstrom of retribution upon him if he fails. However, Tang refuses to be swayed, opting instead to stand firm against the gang boss's empty threats.

In a shocking turn of events, an assassin attempts to take out Tang from afar using a high-powered sniper rifle, but the restaurant owner's keen senses and quick reflexes prove too much for the would-be killer. Undeterred, Tang tracks down the would-be hitman and delivers a brutal beatdown, exploiting his attacker's impatience and waste of ammunition. Upon returning to the apartment, Tang discovers that Chen has vanished, prompting him to assume that Ho has kidnapped her. With his instincts on high alert, Tang rallies the restaurant staff and charges into battle against the gang boss' henchmen at their stronghold.

With a fierce determination in his eyes, Tang issues a stern warning to the boss: leave the restaurant alone or face the consequences. The staff rejoices at their victory once more, but their celebration is short-lived as news arrives in the form of a telegram that Tang has been summoned back to Hong Kong. Assuring his loyal employees that he will not rest until justice is served and the situation is resolved, Tang sets out to prepare for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, Ho secretly recruits two formidable martial artists from different corners of the globe – a Japanese karate master and an European expert in the art of combat – who initially refuse to put aside their differences and collaborate. As fate would have it, these two formidable foes converge on the restaurant under the guise of a truce, only to launch a surprise attack on Tang's loyal staff.

Uncle Wang seizes the opportunity to betray his former comrades, knifing the remaining members of the staff in a ruthless bid to curry favor with the crime boss and secure his own financial windfall. With his conscience clear, Tang intervenes just as Uncle Wang is about to deliver the final blow, allowing the staff to finish off their treacherous leader.

As Tang is lured away by Ho for a decisive showdown with Colt at the iconic Colosseum, he leaves behind Uncle Wang and the remaining members of the staff. In a heart-stopping ten-minute battle, Tang dominates Colt, ultimately ending his opponent's life with a heavy heart after Colt refused an opportunity to spare his own.

In a poignant gesture of respect for his fallen foe, Tang places Colt's gi and black belt atop his body before setting out in hot pursuit of Ho. Upon discovering Uncle Wang's treachery, Tang returns to the ambush site, only to find himself confronted by the crime boss, who opens fire on both Uncle Wang and Ho.

With Chen at the helm, the authorities close in, arresting the crime boss as he attempts to take aim at Tang. Having finally resolved the crisis, Tang departs for Hong Kong, where Quen reveals to Chen that Tang is a solitary figure who will never find peace or settle down.