Gu Shengzhai, a mild-mannered scholar and painter living in a small, secluded village, encounters the mysterious and stoic Yang Huizhen, who turns out to be an escaped noblewoman. Yang and her family have fallen victim to a corrupt eunuch who has murdered her father and is now hunting her. As Gu becomes entangled in her plight, he uncovers the presence of deadly supernatural forces and assiduous assassins. Yang, along with her blind mother, takes refuge within his home. Meanwhile, their pursuers close in, bringing danger directly to Gu’s previously peaceful life.

Compassionate yet cunning, Gu devises a strategy to turn the tables on their attackers. He transforms his unassuming dwelling into a fortress filled with booby traps and clever defenses. Teaming up with Yang, he orchestrates a plan against the overwhelming odds they face, leveraging both intellect and physical prowess. The ensuing series of battles waged between the hunted and the hunters are fierce and meticulously designed, blending elements of spirituality and martial arts.