In the 36-year period before the New Era
2 devastating wars took place in the Martial World
The first, in Dimcheong Mt
30,000 were killed Hungry condors filled the skies
The second was in the bottom of Wudong Mt
It lasted 14 days and caused 100,000 casualties
From that onwards, most masters in the martial world were all dead
Thus the martial world entered the Quiet Period
lasting over 30 years
On the surface, it was a stage of truce
In fact there were undercurrents of unrest
Then emerged 72 new forces
termed the 72 Trails of Smoke
heralding the dawn of the New Era
In these warring years a traveling scholar
untrained in martial arts
recorded the important events of the era and
sold them for a living
His name is Fong and I am the one
To this martial world, I was an observer
But inevitably I become totally involved
Returning from Tibet in the 24th of the New Era
I met Tien Fung, leader of the Ten Flags
in an intriguing encounter
Smoke arises, blood is in the air
Life or death, I must face it
Trying to escape
Yet you are already trapped
Suspicious arise
Confidence shattered
One whiff, and I am down forever
Who is to grieve? Who is to be glad?
The powerful Tien Fung leads his Ten Flags of men
Those're spread all over the land
and are known the Tien Clan
It happened in the 24th of the New Era
on the 6th day of the sixth month
In Bar Bridge Paper Mill founded for over 80 years
an unusual incident happened
Boss, somebody is asking for you
Have some tea Okay
It's good tea
What can I do for you, Mr. Tsui?
Go right ahead
I have a proposition to make
Say
Can you print 5000 copies of this in 10 days?
And have your book store underwritten its sales?
I have to see what sort of book first
Of course, I came across it by accident
the yet published Fong's Memoirs
My beloved came riding
On what? Bamboo horse
My beloved came riding on a bamboo horse
He frolicked with me
Although there are only 8 pages but they are all genuine
All the unusual events in the past 10 years
have been recorded by Fong That's why his memoirs
are widely-read in the martial world
It will be a big business for you!
This, I know
Have you ever seen Fong's handwriting?
Yes, in these 8 pages
I'm sorry to tell you
What's wrong?
These 8 pages aren't authentic
Boss!
Bar Bridge was the territory of the Tien Clan's White Flag
Three days afterwards
Poisonous Wasp you killed the Paper Mill's boss
May I ask who you are?
No.3 of the Tien Clan's White Flag!
Tien Clan?
Right, I have to know what goes on around here
Why did you kill him?
In the 6th of the New Era drought struck
Bandits abounded. Living was difficult
Starvation caused cannibalism within members of families
Those still strong enough were busy digging up graves
13 royal tombs in Weiying were dug up in one night
General Pingnam's tomb in Butterfly Valley
was rumored to be full of treasures
What is it?
It seems we're being watched
It's only the wind
Found it!
No.3!
No.10, is the boss here yet?
Not yet!
I heard you've really fixed up the Iron Gang, haven't you?
No big deal!
Seems you Red Flags are getting all the attention
No.3, are you jealous?
Dare I?
Why has the boss asked us to come?
God knows! But he's been very strange
ever since having acquired the 12 districts
Why do you say that?
Since the Yellow Flags ran down the Pangs
the Tien Clan is the 3rd most powerful of the 72
Since then, the boss has quietened!
What's your opinion?
He is trying to bring back truce to gain repute
That's his own will only
The vendetta amongst the 72 is too deep-rooted and cannot be solved
Boss!
3 days ago Shum Castle sent me a secret letter
The Master of Shum Castle and I met only once 5 years ago
Yet, he's asking for my help!
Your help?
An unusual event occurred at the Castle recently
What event?
Butterflies!
Butterflies?
They found butterflies which kill in the Castle
No.3, set up your men around the castle in 2 days
and monitor all activities at the castle!
No.10, set up checkpoints at all important paths
at the foot of the Shum Castle Mount
Check everybody who goes through
I'll be there in 3 days' time
Big-eyed, you sneak in Shum Castle
and find out what happened!
Come out you've been following me for 2 days
Green Shadow?
I couldn't imagine why the Tien Clan's No.1 man
would get so interested in butterflies
You haven't changed a bit!
Why have you been following me?
I've always been interested in others' secrets
And now you're coming after mine?
Many amongst the 72 are coming for you!
But they'll all end up the same!
I'm not amongst the 72
so I should be the exception!
And I'm really here to help!
Like how?
Depends on what you'll let me into
You think it's a deal?
I'll go on my own then
Go to where?
The Shum Castle
How did you find out?
That's my secret
What else do you know?
Bar Bridge murder and 8 pages of Fong's Memoirs
What else?
The killer butterflies mentioned in the memoirs
You believe in the Fong's Memoirs?
No harm done. Fong knows a lot
It's easy for scholars to talk
But there's a great difference between writing and fighting
On the other hand he's gained fame in these few short years
his motives are questionable
At least he isn't amongst the 72
That's why he's been able to observe and report, right?
You've been shown for only 1 year what do you know?
That's where experience counts, right?
Okay, come and see what you can pick up
Shum Castle?!
No.3
Boss
Nobody's been through ever since we arrived
It's all quiet at the Castle not a light, no smoke, nothing
And Big-eyed?
No news at all
Go in now
We've found Big-eyed
A butterfly?
Take this place apart
What are you looking for?
The inhabitants of Shum Castle
Don't bother
Why?
There's already someone on your left!
Why are you in Shum Castle?
What are you doing here? Are you dumb?
Maybe she's really dumb Why you get so mad?
Why can't you fool see her?
Maybe she's got supernatural powers
That's why she's come in unnoticed!
Why are you using a lantern in daytime?
She's come from underground, that's why
How do you know?
Entrance to the underground!
Who's there?
Master Shum?
Boss Tien?
So you've arrived
What happened?
And this is?
I'm...
She's Green Shadow!
So, you're Green Shadow
You've also heard of me?
Master Shum, what happened?
This isn't a suitable place to talk. Follow me
Chee, notify madam that our guests are here
This was my first encounter with Tien Fung
in this entire incident
Boss Tien, it's a small world
But this renowned leader of the Ten Flags
seemed displeased at seeing
a scholar like me
What's Fong's business here?
Like you, I was invited here
Although your memoirs have some repute
a scholar like you
can only get in the way and make things worse
And I've always resented interference in my own affairs
Boss Tien, my intentions are simple
to record the incident entirely
to serve as a warning to others
Satisfied now? Leave a little room for others
Master Shum, what really happened?
It terrifies me every time I think of it
This year on the 5th day of the fifth month
the day to commemorate my ancestors' death
We all felt it was very odd 3 days later, my wife
Since then my servants felt the Castle is cursed
and left one after another
The day after
Lau
How come there're so many butterflies?
I think we'd better get away from here
Master, quick, go into the underground
Master, save me!
Mr. Fong, how long have you been here?
2 days
All the time underground?
Right
No wonder the White Flags couldn't find you
Master Shum, one more question
Please, go ahead!
Have you noticed anything above ground these 2 days?
None
That's strange. With Big Eyes' kung fu he can't be dead so suddenly!
This is my wife
This wine is to thank you all for coming Okay
I've prepared your rooms
I'm sorry you'll have to stay underground
Please don't be too hospitable
She is called Chee
Nobody knows her name or where she came from
How did she get here then?
I found her on her own and being a deaf and mute
I took pity on her and brought her back
to become my personal maid
This was many years ago
The only reason she stays here
is because she has nowhere to go
This is where I meditate
Why you brought me here?
Do you believe in ghosts?
They're there if you believe otherwise no
The 5th day of the fifth month is the memorial day of the death of my father
He's killed by butterflies 10 years ago
Big Eyes' wounds are made up of
numerous tiny holes his skin's swollen a lot
All symptoms of poison
Are there really killer butterflies?
My father didn't believe in ghosts
and went to dig up treasures of General of Pinnan
He lived peacefully for 10 years after that, but one day
It's a nightmare to recall my father's death!
Don't worry over it Let's work out together
Chee will take you to your room
Thank you You'd better get some rest too
Good night
Boss, he died the same way as Big-eyed
Boss
If the doors were shut
the butterflies must have got in through here
I'll seal up the Castle with nets!
Madam, not a single butterfly in this entire 20 mile radius
Where can they hide themselves?
Miss Green Shadow!
Oh, it's you!
What are you looking for?
You were supposed to be clever
You're looking for the Castle's secret entrance?
Why should I tell you?
You were here first you should know more
The Shum Castle underground is a labyrinth
It may take 2 weeks to know your way around
There must be something behind all this
I've knocked on most of the walls!
If there is a secret door it must be very thick
and can only be moved by mechanics
If so it'd certainly make a loud noise
A loud noise?
Seems I should take you somewhere
What's this?
A secret room for making specimen butterflies
How did you find it?
Somebody took me here
Master Shum?
No, the dumb maid
Don't you find her suspicious?
How?
I followed her last night Suddenly, she disappeared!
When was that?
Just before the White Flag man died
Where?
Where I was looking just now
What's wrong?
That's odd Chee was with me at that time too
Where?
On the way back to my room
Strange. How could she be present at 2 places at the same time?
Do the butterflies appear regularly?
I'm not sure yet, but it coincides with
what is mentioned in the Fong Memoirs
Right, when we received the Shum Castle's invitation
and the Bar Bridge Murder due to the Memoirs
both are related to killer butterflies
Boss, something's wrong
It's locked on the inside
Blast it open
Take her away!
Watch out, the explosives!
Up there!
The air shaft was like a labyrinth
No one knew where the butterflies would strike again
Could the butterfly wings give us clues? I'm not sure
But all those invited to Shum Castle
didn't know what to say
Especially Tien Fung
But it's more complicated than just killer butterflies
when Shum who lived under the threat of butterflies
left an unusual will
My dear wife, I have a wish left
let out the message-carrying pigeon
and in 3 days' time Shuen, Kwok and Li will arrive
I have a letter to be read to them
Remember, read it in all 3's presence! Remember!
It is rumored that 10 years ago
a very knowledgeable hermit lived
Not only was he an excellent martial artist
he was also learned in the human sciences
He had 4 students, the Thunders
Expect for Yu who is now dead
the other 3 all made their name
They're the 3 mentioned in the will
What's so extraordinary about their martial art?
Li is best at small hand weapons
called Thousand Hands!
His attacks are totally unexpected
His expertise is regarded as second to none
But Kwok, alias Magic Fire has the most killing power
The famous dynamite sect of Fireball
was wiped out by him overnight
So for Shuen who is known of Flying Cloud
nobody knows what he looks like
He once went through the Forbidden Palace
The Thunders are a secret society
We're not sure of their power
but 3 of the Thunders will soon be here
Don't directly confront them
I never suspected you're
Everyone here thinks you're deaf
But I know you're not
You've been in the castle for so long
you know a lot of secrets here
I've been wondering why you don't seem
to be afraid of the killer butterflies?
Why?
Does the Butterfly Specimen room belong to Shum?
Another strange thing why are there 2 Chees?
Don't that right?
If so
who is the other one?
Why are you such frightened?
You forgot your lantern
So, you really know a lot!
What are you doing? Let her go!
She's quite frightened, don't scare her
Otherwise, she won't come to us again
What is this place?
In older days, See Miu mixed
nitrates, sulphur and charcoal
to make Fire-powder
In Sung Dynasty a weapon called Fire Gun
and was able to shoot fire
Fire-powder put into bamboo arrows
could missile the arrows to attack
It seems that this is an arsenal room
Just look at the equipment here
the owner must be making the similar kind of weapons
Do you think Shum Castle is related to The 72?
It could be We know too little of this place
It's been 3 days will they come on time?
Li Kim, the Thousand Hands! Kwok Lik, the Magic Fire!
Shum summoned us here such early
there must be something unusual
Kwok you've been acting peculiar recently
Could you be planning against us?
Li, don't imagine things It's important that we're together
Then, the world will one day turn up side down
Shuen used to be the first to come
but why hasn't come yet?
But someone has already come
It's a lassie
Shum Castle is getting more crowded
There's a secret road-block on the way
Now there're strangers even in our meeting place
Are you from the Thunders?
Who are you?
A friend of Master Shum
Friend?
How do you know we will be here?
Because my husband is dead!
Madam Shum!
You are?
I'm Tien Fung!
Leader of the Ten Flags?
And you?
This is Kwok Lik, the Magic Fire Li Kim, the Thousand Hands
Madam Shum, why are so crowded here?
Li Kim...
A disaster of the killer butterflies had occurred
no one remained!
Except the Shum couple
They asked for our help
Although we had no conflict before
2 tigers can't exist at the same time
Since you are the guests of Shum Castle
the Tien Clan will surely not have any interference
Madam Shum!
Madam Shum, let's wait for Shuen first
Well, take a rest first then
and we'll read the letter as soon as Shuen arrives
No.3!
Boss!
Wait for Shuen and call me immediately
No attack as you meet
Do killer butterflies really exist?
If not
where are the Shum's people then?
It's indeed a kind of unnoticed but quick killer
Even us, the Thunders can't get anything beforehand
It's odd that even Shum was dead
And that particular thing...
We can look for it though the castle is large
How do deal with the people here?
There're two kinds of people only
one is our men
and the other is our enemies
Since the people here aren't ours
they should be the second one
Then we mustn't let anyone leave here alive
Oh, it's you?
Don't you fear the killer butterflies?
And how about you?
I know this!
See that!
It seems odd according to Li's saying
Since Shum knows the Three quite well
why didn't he ask for their help?
Also they can go and come freely
which shows that they're quite familiar with it
What's their relation with the Shum?
I don't know but do you remember the arsenal room?
Since the Shum Castle has lots of secrets
they may all relate with the Thunders
And including the killer butterflies?
Possible!
The Bar Bridge Murder was caused by it too
Those 8 pages aren't written by me
I haven't written such 8 pages among my work
What on earth is happening?
There must be someone using my name
to spread the rumor of killer butterflies
But killer butterflies did occur!
If so, those butterflies are controlled by someone
Armored Man?
Get him!
You see! It's Shuen's Flying Cloud
Why did he do that?
It may be a trap
If so, we'll take action tonight
Maybe the armored man was spying on us
He seems quite familiar with the Shum Castle
He should have been here before
Who's he then?
It's probably Shuen Kwong
If so, what's for?
Maybe he hopes to get the letter earlier
Madam Shum
how about if we read out first!
Where's she!
Shuen!
You shouldn't be here
You are?
You're not so lucky this time Madam Shum
If we haven't met 2 Chees at the same time
we probably don't know
someone tries to disguise herself
The smell left behind whenever the butterflies come
derives from the butterfly-controlling medicine
The Art of Controlling butterflies has reappeared
and I'm glad to have come across it
It's only a threat
Madam Shum died doubtfully
Probably she left with many unsolved question
Maybe you should be more cruel
so that I wouldn't suspect your death
and now everything is clear
Master Shum!
Fong, I've underestimated you
Well, a common man in the martial world
is usually looked down by the others
But one thing you're wrong
The Thunders planned out a secret 6 years ago
to create certain kinds of powerful weapon
so that working place had been moved to the Yu's
and even announced Yu was dead
Actually Yu hadn't died because Yu is Shum
You're out of my expectation
You're also out of the 3's expectation
You use the Art of controlling butterflies
to create a threat
You kill all the spies in the Castle first
then used killer butterflies to make confusion
And ordered Wasp
to use false Fong's Memoirs rumored the killer butterflies
But it's uncovered by the papermill owner
so Wasp had to kill him
Later you cheated Tien Fung to come here
and pretended to be dead
Everyone believed you were killed by the butterflies
and left them to fight with each other
Since the Shum Castle appeared for only 6 years
the 10-year-ago butterfly disaster should be a fake as well
And the letter is only to make Li and Kwok stay there
and fight with the Tien Clan
Your disguising in Shuen is to divert our attention
Besides, Shuen hadn't arrived after several days
and his unique weapon is at you
it seems that he must be killed by you
Actually, Chee's dumb is made by you
You not only made her serve you
but also as a disguising tool
In order to avoid trouble
poor Chee is acting as a dumb mute and fool
You're no use to me anymore!
There's no use for a man knows too much
You should know that I'm not the only one who knows
Could be! But I'll kill them one by one
Help! Green Shadow
Fong
Boss
The Martial World is paved by blood
and the 72 followed the Survival to the Fittest
I'm coming up to say goodbye
You really go?
The affair here
has become the conflict between the Tien and the Thunder
so I'm an outsider now
Goodbye, Fong
Hoping that you'll win
Definitely!
The fight between Tien and the Thunder is unavoidable
I left Shum Castle at dawn
and I don't know what's happening after that
No.1
He's Yu, not No.1
How's it possible?
Well, just a revolt among yourself!
Was No.1 killed by you?
Why did you kill him?
Four among us is to many!
You may never find yourself in such chaos
Don't move, or you'll be buried
The mud here is too soft
It'll collapse when dynamiting
Since we trust you
and moved our plan here
and asked you to protect the incomplete gun
Trust me? How about the spies then!
No, they came to protect you
to let you concentrate on your work
If it's revealed
the whole Castle will be vanished
But you'll destroy here too
I won't have any share in the Thunders
you're just taking my advantage
and kill me after completion
Then you three will fight among yourself
but unfortunately I'm cleverer than you guys
It's clear that who's the winner now
It's the end of you!
No more Thunders in the 72
And no more Tien Clan too
The Magic Fire Crow?!
Don't touch it!
Goodbye
Hoping that you'll win!