In Qing Dynasty China, legendary swordsman Li Mu Bai decides to retire from his warrior life and bequeath his fabled sword, Green Destiny, to a benefactor. He entrusts this precious weapon to his old friend Yu Shu Lien, who runs a security company in Beijing. Before Shu Lien can deliver the sword to Beijing, it is stolen by a masked thief. As Shu Lien pursues the culprit, it becomes clear that the thief possesses skills only known to students of the Wudang martial arts sect.

The search for the stolen sword leads to the affluent Governor Yu's household and his daughter, Jen Yu, who is soon to marry into an arranged relationship. Beneath her aristocratic façade, Jen harbors the restless heart of a warrior and a secret life connected to the criminal underworld. As mysteries unfold, the paths of the characters intertwine in complex relationships ridden with unfulfilled love, honor, and betrayal. The quest to retrieve Green Destiny casts a spotlight on personal desires and the struggles between following one's heart and adhering to societal expectations.