在中国一个偏远村庄里，普通的造纸匠刘金喜（甄子丹饰）与妻子阿玉（汤唯饰）及两个儿子过着平静的生活。当两名强盗企图抢劫附近的一家杂货铺时，恰好在场的刘金喜挺身而出进行阻拦，最终将这两名强盗击杀。
The year is 1917; the setting, Liu Village on China's southwestern frontier. Liu Jinxi (Donnie Yen) and his wife, Ayu (Tang Wei), lead a simple, happy life raising their two sons, Fangzheng and Xiaotian. Their tranquility is shattered—and their lives upended—when two uninvited guests arrive. The pair attempt to rob the village strongbox but run into Jinxi; in the ensuing chaotic scuffle, Jinxi inadvertently kills both bandits. Since one of the bandits was a wanted fugitive, the local magistrate is overjoyed, and the villagers hail Jinxi as a hero. However, this seemingly accidental killing arouses the suspicions of Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a detective from the magistrate's office. Observing telltale signs that the bandits were slain by someone of exceptional martial prowess, Xu remains in the village to subject Jinxi to a series of observations, investigations, and tests.
As this unfolds, Jinxi’s mysterious true identity gradually comes to light, and Liu Village faces an unprecedented crisis...
