In western China, under a sky filled with yellow sand, horses neigh and people are angry. A boy named Hai Ge (played by Gao Wei), who has followed his father practicing the Guān xī Wú jí sword technique since childhood, comes to Shuangqi Town in accordance with his father's last wishes to find his betrothed wife, Hao Mei (played by Zhao Mana). He laments the coldness of human sentiments and the harshness of the world, as Hao Mei and her father, Lamezi (played by Chang Jiang), show no regard for this boy. With no hope for marriage, Hai Ge is forced to temporarily work as a helper in Lamezi's store. One day, the bandit Er Ye attempts to assault Hao Mei, but ends up being killed by Hai Ge. This act infuriates the bandit leader Yidao Xian (played by Sun Haiying), who has long been entrenched in Shuangqi Town. This leads to a chaotic scene where swords clash and blood splatters in the rolling sand... The film won the Best Art Award at the 1991 Golden Rooster Awards, the Best Film Award at the 3rd Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Tokyo in 1992, the Annual Excellent Mainland Film Award in the Commercial Screening category at the 5th China Times Evening News Film Awards in 1992, and the International Critics' Prize at the 1993 Berlin Film Festival.
