Lei Li (David Chiang, taking over for Jimmy Wang, but playing a new character) was a master of twin swords, but he was also arrogant. This is why he lost a duel with Lung Er Zi (Ku Feng), who has a triple staff chained together, after our hero gets framed for a robbery that he did not commit. Lung Er Zi  demands his right arm as his prize and Lei Li, thinking that he’s fighting an honest man, can only become humble and sacrifice that part of his body.

As if this is some kind of horror movie and not just a Shaw Brothers martial arts film, we watch Lei Li’s arm as it rots in a tree.

In an attempt to escape the martial world, our hero has become a waiter, but wandering swordsman Junjie (Ti Long) comes to the town that he’s hiding in and starts to be, well, a hero. This angers Lung Er Zi, who comes to learn who is stealing away attention from him. Of course, this being a Chang Cheh movie — yes, he has returned, even if Jimmy Wang moved on — you know that Junjie and Lei Li will become brothers, one will die horribly and our hero will have to kill everyone in his path.

Known as Triple Irons in the U.S., this is one of the best Shaw Brothers movies that I have seen so far. It’s almost perfect and man, that bridge battle at the end!

I can’t wait to watch the movie that unites Chiang with Wang, One-Armed Swordsmen.