Rusty Blade (2022) - full transcript

My master once said,

you can never put down

the sword that feeds you.

The way of the sword can

lead a man down a dark path

After all, the sword

and soul thirsts for blood

It's either kill or be killed.

Even if you become a master,

you will eventually be killed.

I don't believe in fate.

My master said,

fate is an illusion.

For nothing in this world

hasn't already happened before.

China’s ancient bounty

hunters—-Off-staff swordsman

without fixed salaries

employed by government

Gui Dao Lin!

I'm not in that line

of work anymore!

If they want to die, I'm

not going to stop them

but there's no reason

for us to kill each other!

You've murdered

countless people!

You can't escape the

blood debt owed this easily!

Ten against one!

What are you afraid of?

! Kill him!

I'll double the reward!

Wait.

Let's observe for now.

Hey!

Hey!

If he escapes today,

he'll be back for revenge.

Individually, we

don't stand a chance.

Attack!

Stay back!

I'll face him!

Useless! The bunch of you!

Go, cut the head off

and take it back to the

magistrate to collect the reward.

Many thanks Cai Bu Tou.

We might not have

escaped with our lives.

Good of you to know.

What about the ones that died?

Burry them.

In their eyes, our

lives are worthless.

Our payment better

not be in fabric again,

how are we meant to survive?

Let me talk to the magistrate.

It's about time we

changed the way we lived.

Coming from Yiwu,

I battled against pirates on

the coast in my early years.

After I was discharged, I

drifted from place to place.

I met my wife in the north west.

She is also a southerner.

I wanted to give up the

sword and lead a normal life.

But the way of the

sword is all I know.

I became a subordinate of the

magistrate but struggle

to make ends meet.

I often think of what

my master said-

"You can never put down

the sword that feeds you".

Brother Lin wields a long sword.

I also wield a long sword.

I hear he studied the sword

scriptures of Yu Da You.

But the scripture only

teaches cudgel techniques.

I also studied a sword

scripture and this

scripture taught only

the way of the sword.

He never speaks to

me about his martial arts.

Da Wei!

It's okay!

Who might this be?

This man said he is

here to deliver you silver.

Brother Lin! Your

reputation precedes you.

I'm just a nobody, where

might the reputation come from?

Tai Ping's first swordsman.

Nicknamed 'Monster Sword Lin'.

A terrible name, but

a fitting reputation.

don't turn around

I'm here to challenge you!

I don't accept, you can go.

Are you afraid? Or do

you find me unworthy?

I have a wife and daughter now.

Those fighting

days are behind me.

Stay for a meal if

you want to be friends.

If swords aredrawn,

I may not hold back.

You can tell everyone

you defeated me.

You don't accept?

Yet you still hold

on to your sword.

You're not fooling anyone.

You get quite a few

challengers don't you?

This is the only way I know

how to provide for my family.

A time will come when

I will burry this sword.

You won't fight for nothing,

I'll pay you silver.

I will wait for you at the

graveyard after midnight.

You will regret it

if you don't come.

Wan Yu!

I bought you make up.

The porridge is watery!

This is the last of the rice.

I will buy some more tomorrow.

They've stoped accepting fabric.

They only accept money from now.

I see...

How about...

we stopped eating rice from now?

I know the rice here

isn't as good as back

home but it's still

what you are used to.

Don't worry, I'll figure it out.

Is this a friendly fight

or do you want my neck?

Of course a friendly fight.

But who will believe me if I

don't show them your head?

Where's the silver?

I hear you studied the

scripture of Yu Da You.

I have too,

lets find out which one

of us is the real deal!

Real skill is within

me, come get a taste!

Again!

Let me tell you a secret.

Yu Da You's sword scriptures

is written for the cudgel.

Liar!

How can a sword scripture

be written about the cudgel?

Yu Da You believed that

within a cudgel lays a sword.

He integrated sword techniques

with cudgel techniques.

It's a pity

I discovered it too late.

You have bested me, kill me.

Get out of here!

You're letting me go?

Don't regret it.

One day I'll come

back to kill you.

By then, I'll be gone.

As long as you hold

a sword, I'll find you.

When I first began my

training with the sword,

I always asked my master

"What's the next move?".

My master said

"You don't have to think about

what's next.It's all

a matter of timing".

After all these years,

I've no idea if I've made

the right or wrong decision.

I can smell medicine

and meat in this room

Have you been paid?

Don’t be misguided by Lu Qian

Don’t worry so much!

Us sword masters always

do things by the books

Since you became a

subordinate of the magistrate

the silver doesn’t always come

But no matter how hard life gets

never touch the silver

that doesn’t belong to us

After marrying you

I have become more cautious.

Every job i take

I’m afraid of not coming back

This is what drives my sword

to become faster and faster

Da Wei!

A Qiang!

Stop running!

Da Wei!

I know your wife is sick.

And you can't cook

so I've come to help.

How is everything?

Has Sister gotten better yet?

Sister

How are you feeling?

Sister!

Are you okay?

I'm much better.

Here, I'll do it. Go rest.

You wouldn't know what to do,

here pass me the bowl.

I'm really envious

of your family.

It's time you

found another wife!

It's not so easy to find

someone like your wife!

Father, I'm hungry!

Me too, me too!

A Qiang! You must give the

meat to your little sister first!

Little sister, you eat.

There's plenty to go around.

A Qiang, you have to eat and

grow up strong to

protect little sister.

I'll protect everyone

when I grow up!

I've located Jin Man Tang.

The salt and iron

merchants of the

criminal syndicate

all pay homage to him.

These businesses were

all made illegal by the court.

That's where the

magistrate and Cai Bu

Tou received a hefty

amount of silver from.

I've got a plan to

replace Jin Man Tang.

Gao Meng and Li Fei will join.

Plus you that makes four.

You're the master of the blade,

we need your help.

Do you want to become

a constable or a thief?

Lowly subordinates like

us don't have anything.

We'll never become a constable.

If you don't go,

I won't force you.

If we fail,

Just look after my

son if I don't return.

we will be hunted and killed.

Your wife has enough

to see a doctor this time.

But what about next time?

If we suceed,

I'll help you to

become a constable.

It's still dark.

Where are you going?

To catch a criminal.

Everytime you go,

I get worried sick.

From the day you met me,

you knew this was who I am.

How long will you be gone?

I'll be back soon.

Why don't you do

something different?

Different trades

are world apart.

I'll go prepare your provisions.

Jin Man Tang's underlings

have been sent away.

When we arrive,

we'll wait till dark

and then strike!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

You dare bite the

hand that feeds you!

There are rules

even among thieves!

We made a decision to do this.

There's no right or wrong.

Everything is right

when we succeed.

We leave his family alone.

We'll try our best

but it's kill or be killed.

try to

Gentlemen! We have

someone very dangerous inside,

I suggest you go somewhere else!

Who do you associate with?

My association is with

the highest authority.

I abide by the unwritten

rules of the trade.

It's not worth your trouble.

You must be kidding!

Salt and iron traders

have no authority!

It seems they have a death wish!

Let's make their wish come true!

My lady!

Ah!

Jin Man Tang!

do you want your son?

Where's the gold?!

Tell me and I will

spare you and your son.

Gold!

Gold!

Remember this face when

you seek revenge

in the next life!

You've got the gold!

If you don't keep your word,

you're lower than rats!

Last night must've been

very dangerous right?

Yeah

If you are tired, go rest.

I've been thinking

about what you said.

About what?

Let's go to Jiang Nan.

I'm giving up this

life of a swordsman.

Lord Cai!

Did you get rid of Jin Man Tang?

Indeed.

You!

You've got balls.

Not a single piece of

your gold is missing.

Let me replace Jin Man Tang,

you won't regret it.

What is it that you want?

I want to become

an official constable!

Impossible.

I'll double Jin Man

Tang's monthly offering.

I will let you know.

Sir... There's one more thing.

What is it?

It won't be easy to

explain to the magistrate.

Someone will need to take the

fall for it to

convince everyone.

Let Dawei Lin take the blame

I"m taking Ping

Er out for a while.

Don't stay out too late.

Okay.

Da Wei!

It's okay.

Don't be afraid.

Cai Bu Tou,

what do you think you're doing?

I think you know

what we're doing.

Arrest him!

Take him away!

Tell me! Tell me who

else you were working with!

hurry up

Tell me!

Sister!

Come! Come inside!

Please sit!

Why did Da Wei get arrested?

I only just found out

about Brother Li's arrest!

Tell me what happened!

I've heard it's got to do

with some unexplained gold.

I don't know exactly

This time, I'm afraid

it's more fortunate.

I want to see him!

I'm afraid that's

going to be difficult.

I know you can make it happen!

That will depend on...

I'll make the arrangement.

I need you to kill someone.

I'm not cheap!

That's the reason

why I'm hiring you.

You better watch

yourself if you don't pay up.

I get it.

Money gets things done.

I packed you some water

and food for the journey...

I probably won't

ever make it back.

If you meet someone...

-I'll wait for you to come back!

Enough chit chat! Let's go!

Lord brother

Safe journey.

Da Wei!

Goodbye.

Monster Sword Lin!

Someone has

hired me to kill you.

Get on with it.

What are you waiting for?

You don't even have a blade.

Where's the fun in that?

I promise, you'll

die by my hands!

On the path that I

chose, life can be fleeting.

Exile and death,

they are one and the same to me!

The day you hold a blade again,

is the day that I'll kill you.

You let me go before,

consider the debt re-paid. Go!

During my exile,

many changes

happened in Tai Ping.

Some people became the

most powerful swordsman.

From now on,

this is my territory!

Constable Lu won't let

you get away with this! Ah!

Some people entered

the salt and iron business;

some people came

back from the dead.

Ah!

Some people, are

still waiting for me.

Ten years later

Huang Teng Da!

Enough with the bullshit.

How much is our salt worth?!

They've raised the

taxes again in this town!

Locals get 40/60 cut.

Outsiders get 30/70 cut!

What are you talking about?

Last time was 50/50!

Salt smuggling is illegal!

Constable Lu Qian

controls everything

so the magistrate

turns a blind eye.

If it's too little,

go find Constable Lu!

Any less, I'll kill you.

Feeling hungry.

-Hungry?

Better quickly go home to eat.

Look!

Do you like it?

Oh? Brother!

That looks like Lu Qian's son.

The girl is pretty too!

Yeah, get him!

Beat him up!

Where are you running too?

Let go of me! Let go of me!!

Father!

I"ll kill him!

Father!

You can't beat him.

I'll make this simple and clear.

Those who want to

die, draw your blades.

Those who want to live,

get out of here.

Look who it is! Constable Lu!

Although you are

in the North West,

this area still falls within the

jurisdiction of the high court.

And so to fight me,

is to fight the high court.

You really think you have

the ability to defeat me?

Win or lose, it doesn't matter.

Once you draw your blade,

I'll catch you.

You don't think I will?

Will you?

-I...

There's really no need is there?

After all,

you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

We do all the labouring.

You make seventy percent profit!

Everything is a mess now!

It's time for a change!

Is it too much to ask you to

share an extra ten

percent with us?!

My shit can be

shared with you to eat.

To appease the people,

the Emporor released

all the prisoners.

Jin Man Tang is coming

and seeking revenge to

those that took away what's his!

Lets go!

You!

Brother, shall I kill him

to make an example?

What's the rush?

He's a nobody.

Jin Man Tang is returning.

Let's wait.

Uncle!

Who is Jin Man Tang?

He's a sworn

enemy of your father.

Brother Lu!

We have enough food at home.

You don't need to send anymore.

Stop being so polite with me,

I'll do whatever I can to help.

Wan Yu! Your hands are so cold!

You don't need

to go on like this.

It's been ten years.

Is it worth it?

By the way,

the Emporer has

pardoned many prisoners.

If Lin Da Wei is still alive,

he should be returning home.

However I fear he

returns with his enemies.

Brother!

Is Jin Man Tang

playing games with us?

Play us?

I'll skin him alive.

Who's there?!

Relax, there are many of you.

Jin Man Tang?

Qian Ren Zhan,

have you really killed

a thousand people?

No need for small talk.

Let's talk business.

Who do I need to kill?

And how do we split the salt

and iron business afterwards?

You're expertese is in killing,

mine is in trading.

There will be

enough to go around.

Kill these people for me.

Are they highly skilled?

If not, you don't need me.

Of course they're skilled.

He's called Lin Da Wei!

Who?

Lin Da Wei!

I made a vow,

if he doesn't

picked up the sword,

I won't kill him.

Great!

Spread the news!

If these people run away,

I'll destroy Tai Ping!

By doing this, they'll be ready.

That's how we

make it interesting.

When I drew closer

and closer to home,

I stopped thinking about the

past; about what

was right or wrong.

I only thought about one thing:

to finish my journey home.

Hey!

Who are you?

Mother! There's another

homeless man here!

Coming dear!

Da Wei...

Put these clothes on.

Just stop it!

Mother and I have gotten by just

fine without you

these past ten years.

That's enough!

I'm just speaking the truth.

Now that I'm back,

my plan is to take

us all to Jiang Nan.

Go if you want.

I'm not going anywhere!

The people in Tai

Ping think you are dead.

But I know you're alive,

yet when I look at you,

you still feel like a stranger.

I understand.

Many things can

change in ten years.

Tell me! Why were you exiled?

Whose gold was that they found?

At that time,

all I wanted was for our

family to live a better life.

Who knew I would

fall into a trap.

No matter how

difficult life got,

you should never

do anything deceitful.

These past ten years,

do you know how we've survived?!

I'm so sorry...

Say something else!

I was exiled three

thousand miles away.

I'm no longer the

person I was before.

I put down the blade,

the person who I

was no longer exists.

Da Wei!

I never thought

you'd actually return!

These past ten yeras,

Tai Ping is doing okay?

All these years, it's only now

that Tai Ping is

developing better.

The situation is

becoming complicated.

Jin Man Tang is

coming back for revenge.

The emperor has

pardoned prisoners.

He is no longer wanted.

All those years ago, when

I stabbed him in the back,

such a pity,my blade

was one inch off.

Now it's come back to haunt us.

He says he's coming back

for double of what he has lost.

What we did back

then was atrocious.

I've decided to take my wife

and daughter away from here.

There's no where safe to go.

Where will you take them?

Who has taken over Jin

Man Tang's business?

I have.

You?

There's no good or bad business.

I am a good person.

By taking over this business,

it has become good business.

No one dares to compete with me.

There is Qian Ren Zhan,

highly skilled in martial arts.

He often opposes me.

I've heard of him,

someone paid him

to assassinate me.

Unbelievable!

I've thought long

and hard about it.

Who wanted me dead?

Who do you think?

Who ever it was, I don't

want to know anymore.

I just want to live out

the rest of my days.

Remember, you owe me my gold.

Brother Li!

That goes without saying!

Who are you looking for?

Uncle Lin!

You are?

I'm Lu Qiang!

You've grown tall!

Father said,

ten years ago, you were the

top swordsman in Tai Ping!

Please, teach me!

Martial arts will only attract

the scourge of murder.

Once the blade is drawn,

it is difficult to control.

I just want to protect Lin Ping.

Alright, let me see

what you've got.

Again.

Attack with the blade

raised high to the sky.

Defend with the blade

lowered to the earth.

With every move,

ask yourself why?

You cannot afford

to make mistakes.

Who taught you?

My Father.

Does your father want

you to become a constable?

No, he wants me to do business.

Looks like he

really cares for you.

Come, again!

Do you know why I've returned?

The scar on my

chest still hurts.

Every debt must

be collected. Kill me,

let my family go.

You're already a dead man.

Dead men don't make requests.

Ten years ago, you

murdered my wife and son.

You stole my gold.

I wonder if I kill your family,

will your heart suffer?

If I die,

will you let them go?

Would you believe

me if I said yes?

Jin Man Tang is back!

Li Fei's family has

been murdered!

Should we escape?!

Where will you escape to?

We've spent ten years building

up to what we have today.

How many people have died?

How much gold have we spent?

Notify Lin Da Wei to

come collect his gold.

Jin Man Tang wants revenge?

He'll be the first to fight.

Brother Li, you

should see the notice.

The bodies of Li

Fei and his wife

are in boxes under

the notice too.

Ten years ago, you were the

first blade master of Tai Ping.

Now...

-I'm just an ordinary person.

I no longer live by the sword.

You've got your

share of the gold.

Yet you do nothing

to help the situation.

Do not forget, it was you who

murdered Jin Man Tang's wife.

And you murdered his son!

Oh? Was it?

If I hadn't stayed loyal,

you would all have

been exiled for ten years!

You have the ability

to fight the enemy,

yet you choose to run away.

Are you a coward?

You live your

life,and I live mine.

Wan Yu! What do you

think Brother Lin should do?

A real man will do what's right.

Do you know who

we will deal with?

Regardless of who it is,

you must face the

consequences of your actions.

You see! You see!

Even a women is braver than you.

We will discuss

countermeasures tomorrow.

Da Wei, we can't avoid this.

I remember the

first time I saw you.

You were waving your long sword

around and saved

me from the theives.

I'll remember that moment

for the rest of my life.

Flowers may rebirth.

But we only older.

As we grow old,

we need to do things

that is within our control.

You're afraid!

There is no victory with fear.

I cann't afford to lose,

there are no second chances.

I only want to spend what's

left of my life with

the both of you.

Did you really murder

Jin Man Tang's wife?

Things that

happened in the past,

should stay in the past.

I don't want my

husband to be a coward.

When I burried my blade,

I wanted to avoid trouble.

The blade is just a tool.

The curse of the blade

will be with us forever.

Lord Cai!

Will the magistrate be

willing to meet with me?

The magistrate has not received

any homage from you recently.

To be honest,

our recent orders have

been affected by Jin

Man Tang and Qian

Ren Zhan's interference.

They have killed quite

a few of our people.

If you're not fit for the job,

stop wasting everybodies time.

Sir! We are low on man power.

Qian Ren Zhan

is quite formidable.

Please, if Lord Cai can

give us more skilled men.

We're in this together!

Who said we're in this together.

You're nothing but

a lowly subordinant.

Remember,

I'm the hand that feeds you!

Me!

There's no need to

be afraid everyone!

Jin Man Tang and Qian

Ren Zhan are not a problem.

No matter how

high their skills are,

they cannot be

higher than the sky.

No matter how

tough their leader is,

they cannot be

tougher than the earth.

We have Tai Ping's first

swordsman,Monster Blade Lin.

And I will be the leader!

We'll attack first instead of

waiting for them to come to us!

Heroes of Tai Ping,

it doesn't matter if you

are an outsider or a local,

I give you gold.

Join us, fight for a

worthy cause and get paid!

Brother!

We'll go at midnight.

Thirsty yet?

Our own wine that we make here.

You wine smells like shit!

I can't stomach it.

That's okay.

You don't need

to drink this wine.

Where is Jin Man Tang?

Tell me, and I'll spare you.

I don't know what

you're talking about.

I"m here to steal the gold.

Stealing the gold?

You'll die for that too.

Thirsty yet?

Gao Meng!

Success or failure,it

depends on you. Be careful!

Don't worry, brother!

Hyah!

What's the situation?

Tian Yi Dao was a set up!

Go back and tell Lu Qian

and Lin Da Wei to wash

their necks clean for

me to cut their heads off!

When facing an opponent,

you must master what your

oppenent thinks you do not know!

Do not use

techniqes in which you

are not confident

against an enemy.

Hide your weakness

with your strengths!

This will be my last

time teaching you.

Your skills haven't

developed completely yet.

Be careful with who you face.

Let go of me!

They're all dead!

Lin Da Wei is next.

Come escape with me!

What are you doing!

They'll be coming for you to!

I've got gold and the

magistrate's protection,

we can survive!

Let go of me!

You go then!

let me go

what to do

Father!

What are you doing?!

You two get out of here.

You call yourself a fucking man?

If it weren't for me

these past ten years,

your wife and daughter would've

starved to death long ago!

Do you love Wan Yu?

With you, she'll never

have the life she deserves!

My exile, was it you?

Yes!

Because of Wan Yu?

Yes!

You piece of shit!

Wan Yu and Ping Er will only

be safe if they come with me.

You can take them away too,

but Jin Man Tang and

Qian Ren Zhan will find you.

Da Wei!

Let me take Wan Yu and

Ping Er out of town to safety

then I'll return with men!

Let him take Ping Er.

I will stay with you.

-Why are you staying?

I will wait for you at home.

We lived together,

we'll die together.

Ping Er and Lu

Qiang are young still,

they shouldn't have to

carry the debt you owe!

Father!

I want to stay!

I will fight beside Uncle Lin!

This fight is beyond you.

than force yourself

You only have one life.

Live your life and take

care of my daughter.

Once we arrive,

we will come back straight away!

Hyah! Hyah!

Father!

Let's go back and face Jin

Man Tang and Qian Ren Zhan!

Father!

Fine, then I'll go!

Master needs my help!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Come back this instance!

Hyah!

Please come back alive!

It seems the

unfinished business ten

yeras ago finally

will come to an end.

Gao Meng!

-Yes!

Take Ping Er and

get out of here.

I'm going to go save my son!

Hyah!

Why haven't you

gotten out of here?

Why bother! This is all I have.

I can only become

a begger if I leave.

Who knows where I'll die.

No more running!

Give me a jug of wine!

It's just you?

Just me!

Reckless.

Surrender now.

Surrender?

You murder my wife and son,

take my business and

you tell me to surrender?

Do you have no shame?

My life,

it's yours.

But leave the innocent alone.

There's no such

thing as innocence!

Everyone's a fucking accomplice!

If you cut your

hand off right now,

I'll leave Tai Ping alone!

Master!

Don't do it!

Lu Qiang!

You must be Jin Man Tang.

You want to destroy Tai Ping?

You'll have to go

through me first!

Who are you?

The constable's son!

Kill them all!

Why aren't you doing anything?

We have more men.

It just doesn't seem fair.

I'll wait a little bit longer.

I told you to wait

but you didn't listen.

Looking for death!

Mother fucker!

Stabbed in the same spot!

Father! Father!

Ah!

Father!

It seems you haven't

improved these past ten years!

Don't think it'll

be easy for you.

Even though our

swords are different,

but we walk along the same path.

Is this all you've got?

Once again, you look down on me!

I knew you couldn't

burry your blade.

You forced my hand!

I should thank you.

I haven't let loose in a

fight like this in a long time!

Enough bullshit!

Let's fight.

Now I'm at the end of my road,

I remember again

what my master said-

'Fate is an illusion,

for nothing in this

world hasn't already

happened before.'

Da Wei,

come home.

Those sharp weapons are

instruments of evil omen,

and not the instruments

of the superior man, he

uses them only on the

compulsion of necessity,

calm and repose are what

he prizes—-Tao Teh Ching