In 198 BC, Cao Cao (played by Chow Yun Fat), the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, embarked on a campaign to the east, where he vanquished China’s formidable warrior, Lu Bu, instilling fear in the hearts of ambitious warlords throughout the nation. Years later, after gaining control over the Han Emperor, Cao Cao declared himself the King of Wei. He constructed the grand Bronze Sparrow Island as a testament to his authority, sparking rumors that he intended to usurp the Emperor. Meanwhile, young lovers Mu Shun (Hiroshi Tamaki) and Ling Ju (Liu Yi-Fei) are taken from a prison camp to a secluded tomb, where they endure five harsh years training as assassins for a clandestine mission. By 220 BC, celestial omens suggest significant upheaval. Consequently, Cao’s son, Cao Pi (Yau Sam-Chi), along with Cao’s supporters, encourage him to claim the title of Emperor, unaware of the secretive adversaries plotting against him.