Chinese martial artist Bo-Wu, after dedicating himself to ten years of training on Emei Mountain, returns to his village during a time of great unrest. On his journey home, he helps some foreign missionaries when they are thrown from their carriage in an accident. Despite his distrust of foreigners he strikes up a friendship with one of the young missionaries.Once at home, Bo-Wu sees an increasingly hazardous conflict building between Chinese farmers and the local Christian gangsters. Finally he can no longer tolerate the injustice; he joins the Yihetuan (the Boxer Rebellion) to fight against foreign invaders. The Yihetuan believe their Lingfu (spiritual amulets) will make them invincible against guns and cannons. But their battle against the coalition army fails and the Yihetuan is betrayed by the Qing Court, which tries to have them eliminated.During this tragic time, Bo-Wu is gravely injured. He and his brother make a desperate run for their lives, hopingfor a miracle.