Martial Substitute Path

Action director Li Sen (played by Dong Wei), who has been out of the spotlight for many years, returns to the industry because his former partner, the director, wants to complete his last work. Action actor Li Shilong (played by Liu Junqian), who is deeply immersed in films but lacks opportunities, struggles painfully on the edge of idealism and reality. The two generations of action actors meet by chance, resonate with each other, and decide to use this 'final work' to reignite the glory of Hong Kong action films. Sen is also eager to restore his reputation so that his daughter Cherry (played by Cai Siyun), whose wedding is approaching, can have a moment to shine and to heal their estranged father-daughter relationship. However, as Sen returns to the film set, he realizes that everything is different now, and he encounters Liang Zhiwei (played by Wu Yunlong), the male lead with whom he has a grudge, who has now become a famous action star. The two have differing views on what constitutes the spirit of Hong Kong action films. Long finds himself caught in the middle of the new grudges and old hatreds between Sen and Wei. Various difficulties during the filming process and a past involving Sen cause Long to gradually doubt the future of both Sen and action films. A sudden incident pushes the master and apprentice to the brink of losing control.