plot

ThefilmopensupwithanassassinationattemptonthekingofJoseonDynastyatsomesortofreception.Theattemptisfoiledbyaspecialsecuritysquad,andspecificallybyitsleader,Gyu-yup.Aseriesofdeathsofprominentpoliticiansleadstoanighttimebattleinwhichonemember,afemale,ofwhatisapparentlyanassassinduo,iscaptured.Gyu-yuprecognizesthisfemale,andafterhertortureinprison(ofwhichGyu-yupisleftinchargewhensherefusestodivulgeanyinformation),thefilmflashesbacktoGyu-yupspast.ShortlyaftertheJapaneseinvasionsofKoreainthemiddleoftheJoseonDynasty,amilitaryunitofelitesoldiers(madeupofstudentsoftheClearWindShiningMoonswordschool)iscreatedtoensurethepeaceandthesecurity/safetyofthecountry.Initscenter,thetwobestswordsmen,Ji-hwanandGyu-yup,arealsotwoinseparablefriends.Butapoliticalcoupdetatplot(itisreferredtoasaquot;rebellionquot;inthefilm)forcesGyu-yup,threatenedwiththedeathofhisentireunitofelitesoldiers,tonotonlykillhisfencingmaster,butalsoJi-hwan,whoisseeingthefemaleassassinfromthenightbattle,Shi-young(whowasalsoawarrioratthetime,andthedaughteroftheschoolsfencingmaster).Havinghadtobeheadhismaster,killhisbestfriendandhisbestfriendslover,andleadhistroopsagainstmembersoftheirowntrainingschool(asonecharacterprotests,quot;wehavekilledthebrotherswithwhomweshedbloodquot;),weareledtounderstandthatGyu-yuplosessomepartofhimself.Thefilmreturnstothepresent,fiveyearsaftertheeventsintheflashback.Gyu-hupisknownasacoldandcruelcommander,nicknamedquot;thehumanbutcher.quot;ThediscoveryofaswordduringthenightbattlethatcarriesthesealofGyu-yupsoldunit(suchswords,withtheexceptionofGyu-yups,wereapparentlydestroyedandatleastnotinusebythistime,sotheonlyotherpersonwhocouldbewieldingoneisJi-hwan)confirmsthefactthatJi-hwanisbackaswell(andnotdeadasGyu-yuphadthought).Thecurrentking(theusurpergeneralwho,inGyu-yupsflashback,isthecommanderwhoforceshimtochoosebetweenthedeathsofhismenandleadinghismenagainstJi-hwan,Shi-young,andthetrainingmaster)himselfbecomesembroiledinwhatamounttoattemptstocoveruphistracksandbetraysatleastoneofhisforemostcommandersbyorderinghisassassination.ThekingthenplansanexcursionaimedatdrawingoutJi-hwanandShi-young(whowearemadetounderstandwasallowedtobefreedbyJi-hwanindisguiseunderGyu-yupswatch)intotheopenwheretheyaremeanttobekilled.Theexcursion(ofwhichJi-hwanandShi-youngbecomeaware)takesplace,andthekingisalmostkilledbyJi-hwan,butheismomentarilydistractedbythedeathofShi-youngatthehandsofthekingselitebodyguardandtroops.Theking,stabbingJi-hwanwithaheretoforehiddendagger,pushesJi-hwanaway;andthekingcontinuestolookonasJi-hwanbattlesmoretroops.Almostdefeated,Gyu-yup,finallymovedbycompassionandhispastrelationshipwithShi-youngandJi-hwan,comestoJi-hwansrescue.HepleadsforhisandJi-hwansfreedom(Gyu-yuphadpromisedhisnecktothecurrentkingduringtherebellioninordertosavehisowntroopsfromexecution,andthenow-kingtookthistomeanthispromisewasbindinginperpetuity),andwhenthatismetwithsilence,heandJi-hwanengagethetroopsthathavesurroundedthem.Themovieendsbyfreezingtheoldfriends,unitedinbattleagain,inactionagainsttheusurperkingstroops.