The Legend Of Dik Ching

During the reign of Sung Jen-tsung in the year of Chia Yu, the Dik family are credited for worthy services rendered with imperial permission to deal exclusively in salt, rice and iron. The only heir of the family, Dik Ching, specializing in martial arts, is free and easy with no ambition for official titles. So his mother puts his brother Meng Chung-tsai in charge of the family businesses. Finally, bowing to his mother's wishes, Dik becomes a petty officer. Drunk, Dik Ching demonstrates his skills in the presence of self-stylec World No. 1 Archer Chang Chung, winning his and the public's applause. Chiao Ting-kuei, graced by the liege with a golden sword for services rendered in youth, is demoted for offending Court officials. Broke and helpless, he swaggers and swindles everywhere.… ...

Dik's sister Wei Nuang, voluntarily divorced by her seriously ill husband, operated a wine shop for a living. Pan Hsiung, a rich family-in-the-Capital, who has been covetous of Dik's monopolized business, colludes with Secretary Han Kun to profiteer by secretly transporting government salt to Hsi Liao. When Dik comes to office, he tries to frame Dik, but Yang's remonstrance with the liege prevents him from conviction. Pan Hsiung spreads rumors of salt shortage so as to raise prices. In a countermeasure, Dik pleads with Emp. Jen-tsung to allow free trade in salt and announces news to this effect, winning Yang Tao's approbation. When transporting government salt out of the go down, Dik discovers some bags contain sand only. A thorough investigation shows Pan Hsiu has tampered with them to destroy evidence of their smuggling. Dik then lays the case before the monarch.… ...

Yuan Yen-lieh orders E Ba Cha, his subordinate,to fight with Dik who wins the fight because of the help of Tzu-en. Tzu-en loves Dik whole-heartedly but it is only a one-sided love. Dik falls in love with Shuang-shuang when they meet. Pang Hsiung is bribed to help Hsi Liao to conquer. Chung Yuan. Dik misunderstands that Shuang-shuang wants to get the military map. Later, Tzu-en is surprised to see that Dik asks pardon from Shuang-shuang. Dik wants to attack E Ba Cha but is injured. Since Dik wants Shuang-shuang to stay with him, he pretends to have been injured seriously. But Dik's mother is not pleased with the open nature of Shuang-shuang.

Pang Hsiung wants to find a husband for Yuan-yuan, his daughter. By accident, Ting-Kuei is chosen but Yuan-yuan does not want to marry him. A maid is married to him. Dik's mother gives a ring to Tzu-en as engagement. On the other hand, Dik also gives another ring to Shuang-shuang which makes the two girls embarrassed. The condition of Dik worsens suddenly because he was injured by the Poisonous Palm and can only be cured by -the Snowy Cicade of Hsi Liao. Neither Dik's mother nor Shuang-shuang can get the anti-dote. At last, Shuang-shuang and Tzu-en sneak into the palace and steal it. Unluckily they are discovered. Tzu-en is caught.

At the time Tzu-en is caught, Tuan Wen appears and saves her. Jen-tsung is attracted by Tzu-en. In order to get Tzu-en, he summons beauties from the country. Pang Hsiung also gets Yuan- yuan into the palace. But she only becomes a maid. When Jen-tsung knows that Tzu-en is Yang Tao's daughter, he summons her as his concubine. Tzu-en hints to Dik to save her. Dik rushes to the palace and says that he is engaged with Tzu-en. Jen-tsung can only release her.

Dik Ching and Ting-kuei become friends

Since the officers gang with the ruffians, the villagers lead a poor life. Once they join together, to rob food but are all arrested by Pang Hsiu. Dik comes across Chang Chung, now the leader of Ching Feng stockade. Dik advises the Four Tigers to work for the court. However, Pang Hsiu accuses Dik of ganging with the robbers. Dik is so angry that he reveals the bad deeds,of Pang Hsiu in front of the others. Dik and the Four Tigers get rid of the Hsi Liaos. And the five become sworn brothers. Dik gets the flag of the army of Hsi Liao and goes back to the camp. Since a tribe fo Hsi Liao is exterminated, Yuan Yen-lieh sends E Ba-cha to kill Dik. After E Ba-cha has failed and is caught, Tuan Wen releases him away. But Dik witnesses it.

Pang Hsiung asks Jen-tsung to send Dik to send Dik to attack His Liao. Knowing that his Kung Fu is not good enough, he wants to learn from Tuan Wen. He begins to lean Tie Kou Fist, Kung Fu of Hsi Liao. Shuang-shuang goes to the Dik's house to find Dik but is rejected by Dik's mother Mistaking that Tzu-en wants to possess Dik, Shuang-shuang decides to go back to Tan Tan. Before she leaves, she asks Dik to see her, off. But Dik is ordered to see Jen-tsung. Failing to see Dik, Shuang-shuang leaves Chung Yuan sadly. Tuan Wen knows that his identity is discovered; he decides to go back to Hsi Liao. After knowing that, Madam Yang poisons him so as to stop him from setting off.

Tuan Wen was the No.l fighter of Hsi Liao. Failing to kill Yang Tao, he was saved by Madam Yang unexpectedly. Tuan Wen was so grateful to her that he stayed in the Yang's house and be the teacher of Tzu-en. Kuo-ying loves Dik secretly. And so she sneaks into the army to see him. When it is discovered, Ting-kuei bears the responsibility and Kuo-ying is kicked away from the army. Pang Hsiu orders Dik and the Four Tigers to go for a check when they reach the border of Hsi Liao. In fact, he has planned with Yuan Yen-lieh to catch Dik. Surprisingly, Dik defeats them with Tie Kuo Fist. Out of rage, Yuan Yen-lieh sends his men to disguise as Sung's soldiers to rape and robin Tan Tan.

The troop of Dik is led to Tan Tan since Ting-kuei has lost the map. Thinking that the Sung is going to attack them, they prepare themselves for the battle. Knowing that they have made a mistake, Dik stops the fight. Ting-kuei goes to see Prince Ha Erh-cha of Tan Tan and apologizes for his fault. Not believing what he says, Ha Erh-cha attacks Dik. In the fight, Ha Erh-cha is injured and Dik is defeated by Shuang-shuang. Seeing that they have succeeded in plotting against Dik, Pang Hsiu says that Dik has destroyed their, plan. They set off to the court with no concern for the safety of Dik-. He even accuses Dik of betraying the country before Jen-tsung. Thinking it is the truth, Jen-tsung orders to arrest the family members of -the Diks and execute them later.

Mistaking that Dik wants to attack Tan Tan, Ha Cha-tao wants to kill him. Shuang-shuang is willing to die so as to save Dik but is prevented. Seeing that Shuang-shuang is ill for Dik, Ha Cha-tao let Dik marry into Tan Tan but Dik does not yield to Tan Tan. The Four Tigers are so worried about Dik's safety that they dig an underground passage to the camp so as to save Dik. Unluckily, they has dug it wrongly and are finally caught. Failing to save the Four Tigers, Ting-kuei is also kept in Tan Tan. Shuang-shuang decides to betray her own country so as to save Dik out of her love. Ha Cha-tao is angry with her.

In order to plot against Dik, Pang Hsiung accuses him of ganging with the enemy and revolting against the court. Fortunately, He Kuang helps Dik to attack Hsi Liao as a compensation. Ambushed by Yuan Yen-lieh, He Kuang is injured by a poisonous arrow. He pretends to yield to Yuan Yen-lieh and cheats him to attack Dik. Actually a trap is prepared for him. Dik blackmails the King of Hsi Liao to give him the Pearl Flag with Yuan Yen-lieh. Hei Li, the son-in-law of the King, fights with Dik and is killed in a battle. Pang Hsiung catches Wei Nuang and accuses her of using spells to plot against Yuan-yuan and the prince. He even provokes Jen-tsung to kill Dik's mother.

Dik, who has been informed by Tzu-en, hurries to the execution ground to save his mother. Protected by the Pearl Flag, Dik is not injured by Pang Hsiung. Since Dik has won the battle, the Diks is forgiven and Dik is appointed the First General too. By chance, Dik discovers the plan of Pang Hsiu of leading to troops to attack Tan Tan. Yang Tao decides to kill him when he knows it. On 'the day of execution, deceived by Yuan-yuan, Jen- tsung comes and only punishes him to become an ordinary man. Shuang-shuang goes to Chung Yuan to ask for marriage. But Dik's mother only wants to take her as her god daughter. Shuang-shuang is not able to win her favor.