Original subtitles

The weight of war is a heavy burden to bear.

Some say it's a necessity,

a stage on which good can triumph over evil.

But sometimes the cost is too great to justify the means.

Axe.

Axe!

For all the lines that have been crossed

in the name of justice...

taking a life for a life

will only perpetuate the cycle.

The war must be fought from within.

It'll take a lifetime to make amends

for the terrible things I've done.

I take refuge in the Buddha.

I take refuge in the Dharma.

I take refuge in the Sangha.

The corruption of our world is diluvian in proportions,

in places like Mong La, where the wicked run rampant.

Human trafficking trade

is estimated at $32 billion per annum.

Animal trafficking is estimated

at $23 billion per annum.

Narco trafficking is estimated at $150 billion per annum.

How do you combat evil

when the whole world has lost its way?

And in a place like Mong La,

a border town of ungoverned criminals?

Why can't you just sit down?

The doctor is coming very soon,

and he's gonna see everyone, everyone.

Please just...

Okay, just line here.

You just stay here, okay?

Sit up.

Sit down here.

Line up here.

And the doctor is coming very soon, okay?

Everybody, don't worry.

Everything is gonna be fine.

He cannot see everyone at the same time, right?

Please. Please wait. He's coming soon, okay?

Please wait. Please wait.

Everybody, don't worry. Don't worry.

He's gonna see every single of you.

Good morning. Good morning.

Who's next?

Mr. Jok.

Chen Man is here to see you.

Hello, brother.

Double-palm po pai strike.

- Forgot that one. - You always did.

Come, sit down. Let's have some cha.

Have you seen Sifu?

We met last month.

Age takes its right, but he refuses to admit it, especially when he is ill.

Do you think I can help him?

There can be no change.

You should go see him.

I will. We will. We'll go together.

You were lucky that the master taught you King-fu with a stick.

Why? You never got to learn?

No, and now it is impossible for me to learn.

I think he just liked me more than he liked you.

Is it true that Sifu gave your mother the entire form?

You know what? That's true, all in all.

"They are very close together.

How close?

I'm just joking. That joke is 40 years old.

I know I'm not supposed to make jokes about your mother.

I'm sorry.

Come on.

Now?

If you have not forgotten.

According to the words of our great master,

"Unless you have emptiness and complete calm,

the butterfly will leave."

You are not only skilled at martial arts, you have a friendly heart too.

Thanks brother.

You see? He never left.

So about the second half of the form.

I'm gonna show it to you next time.

Why not now?

- Well... - Because you have patients.

And you need to have patience.

Next time, then.

Thanks for the first half of the form at least.

I owe you, Axe.

And where do I go to collect?

Chen Man Karaoke Club.

Is that as exciting as it sounds?

Maybe more so. Come visit.

We are the best blues club in town.

- Yeah, and the only one. - That too.

Let me know when you have time, Axe,

and we can go see Sifu together.

For sure. We'll do that.

Thanks brother.

Bye.

You, boy! What's your name?

He has been watching you all morning.

He never answers when I speak to him.

His name is Wai.

Well, I was hoping he would tell me that.

He can't.

He can't talk.

Why is that?

He's from a very poor family.

His father lost his job and started drinking heavily.

There was a tragedy in this village before you arrived.

One night

robbers came to their house,

and they kidnapped his sisters when their father was away.

Wai's mother tried to stop them.

And they murdered her in front of Wai.

The gangs from Mong La have too much power.

No one can stop them.

Axe, your destiny awaits you.

- Please, I need more time. - Don't we all?

But I'm not finished, I tell you.

And I'm telling you that you are.

Come on!

You know why the watchmen keep fish here, Mr. Li?

They eat the mosquitoes.

It's nature's way of dealing with parasites.

All I need's for my luck to change.

It already did,

but for the worst.

You know the worst thing that can happen

to a bad gambler, Li?

It's when the house doesn't care about its money any more...

when you're worth more as an example to others.

Please. Please. You can't kill me.

I have something, something for your master, for Qmom.

Well, all he needs you for is fish food.

There is a girl in my village...

Master Qmom has more wives than an emperor, Li.

Do you think some village whore can do anything?

No, no, no. I know Qmom. He's a man of faith.

The girl, Tara, she knew things she couldn't know,

do things no one can do,

and she also has the power of healing.

We shall see.

We shall see.

I like to prepare the meat before I eat it.

Mr. Li.

Mr. Li.

Let's talk about Tara.

Yeah, I can.

Definitely.

He's useful, we keep him.

No map.

My map is here.

Are you so smart that you have the map in your head?

And my debts, lord...

You... will be forgiven?

If you do this well, I'm in debt to you.

Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you!

Do you think she's really?

Of course, there are more.

Follow him and bring the woman back.

Take care anyone who dares to get in the way.

Your prayer will come true.

There is no prayer, but a curse.

I challenge you to a duel of life and death.

If you refuse, I'm forced to kill you.

I'll give you your duel.

I'll allow you to live.

But I'll guarantee you

that you'll never act this foolish again.

What's your name, brother?

Nobody fights so well

should fight for so little.

You take things from Mr. Shang's store every day without paying a penny.

Actually, I'm very, very close to Mr. Shang.

Him and his whole family are very good friends of mine.

I pay for his granddaughter to go to school.

I take care of their family.

But Shang is a proud man.

So, for his sake, not for mine,

when I go by the store every day,

I take a little fruit, a little vegetable, a little bread,

for his sake, to give him face.

I am Mrs. Shang! I am Mrs. Shang!

Without him, we had died long time ago.

I'm sorry, for the misunderstanding.

You know, strange or negative words carry great weight.

They're like a poison.

They carry their own life.

How can I make up my mistake?

Go get me the biggest sack you can find

and fill it full of down feathers

and carry it to the top of the highest hill you can find

and throw all the feathers everywhere in the wind.

And come back a week later and find every feather,

put it back in the bag and bring me the bag.

Sifu, take me as a student.

If you're my student...

let this be your first lesson.

Catch her! Catch her!

Nice try.

Don't be scared...

yet.

Sau. Sau.

One more person.

So, as you can see,

she can't really straighten out her neck,

so I'm just gonna see if I can

relieve this in here a little bit.

How's that?

Yeah.

- Good. - Looks good.

Wai, what happened?

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

Tell me what's wrong.

My father has a knife.

He going to kill himself.

You take me to him. You take me to him.

I help you, okay?

Come, take me to him.

Let's go.

Dada!

Dada!

Please, stop!

Please, brother.

This isn't the answer.

You know nothing.

Then tell me.

You can tell me.

I don't deserve to live.

But I cannot die

unless I'm brave enough to end it now!

Brave is to live through this for him.

He needs you. He loves you.

I want to die!

You have to forget about the past.

You have him to live for.

I'm not a coward.

I will prove it!

I will kill you first and then kill myself!

Kill me.

I give you my life so you can live for him.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

She loves flowers.

She said she loves flowers.

She loves these.

Who are you?

I am nothing. I am everything.

I am emptiness.

The suchness of luminosity unborn and undying.

You have turned from you ways of the past,

ways of pain and great suffering.

You will soon face a crossroad,

another chance to save the many

you could not save before.

You are the only one.

Why have you come?

It is you who will come to me.

Come to me. Come to me.

Sifu?

A Mr. Yuen here to see you.

But we're already closed.

I wonder if he could see me tomorrow.

I don't think so, Sifu.

Okay.

I'm sorry to trouble you at such late hour, Sifu.

We've come a long way.

Come in.

Sit down here.

Sit here.

In the three years I've lived in this village,

you've never come to my home before.

Something must be troubling you.

I have heard many things about you.

Like?

How you dealt with undesirable people.

That was a long time ago.

With my money, I can do certain things.

With certain things, I am powerless.

What is this leading to, brother?

Children in our village has been going missing.

- Young girls. - How many?

From the last two years, seven.

As of yesterday, eight.

I have three daughters.

The two youngest are here.

And your oldest daughter?

She disappeared two days ago.

Tara...

Welcome, my honored guest.

Guest or prisoner?

Guest or prisoner does not matter.

At last you can sleep peacefully.

Unlike you, who dream of scorpions even when you sleep.

Tara...

She's special.

The whole village has always tried to hide and protect her.

Well, in what way is she special?

Tara, you have something magical in your eyes.

Tell me what do you see?

When she was a baby, I noticed certain gifts.

At her words, rains come down.

From her hand, light can heal.

If your heart is so dark, why are your walls so white?

I have suffered from a curse since birth.

The whole world is gray for my eyes...

except the red spots on these walls.

As powerful as Qmom is,

he is cursed with a strange sickness.

He can no longer walk in the sun.

He has to live in the fortress that he's built for himself.

As powerful as I am...

...I'm jailing between these white walls!

Tara, you...

You can free me from this.

And he thinks that your daughter can heal him.

Qmom disease will spread like never before.

He can walk wherever he wills.

More young girls kidnapped, torn from their homes.

My people...

have lost hope.

All I have, you can get your share.

All you want, I can give to you.

With all great understanding and compassion

of a father and the pain you're going through...

- I gave vows... - I have gold.

Please. I have land.

It's not about money.

I don't want money. I don't need money.

- I want to... - But you're the only one...

But you're the only one I know who can do this.

I don't know what you want.

But I know what you don't want.

Then you leave me with no choice.

Then you take my daughter,

because I'm quite sure I will not return alive.

Dad!

Tara...

You will never leave from here.

Not in this life.

Take the girls home.

- I'll get your daughter. - Thank you.

Okay. Don't cry.

Don't cry.

This is Tara.

Remember to light up your father's incense.

- What does she mean? - It's the anniversary of my father's death today.

- But how did she know? - Why would not she know?

Okay, come on.

We light incense on evil.

Does she know I killed the old man?

Hi, little girl. Come on, you'll get a candy.

What do you want? I don't want to accompany you! No!

Leave my daughter! Leave my daughter! Help! Help!

You daughter was lost.

We were merely trying to take her home.

What's the problem?

You know, this border town, it's got quite a reputation

for murderers, rapists,

drug dealers, drug addicts.

Which one of these categories do you fall under, brah?

Is kidnapping your thing?

You know, there's no greater evil

than those who harm children.

You know what I did before I started kidnapping children?

No, what did you do?

I was a hitman for the Triads.

You are one of those idiots who learn Kung Fu,

believing all true power

must come from a spiritual foundation.

I have learned Kung Fu to kill.

Those like me, we will always be much stronger.

Our attention is focused on one thing.

You, however, are divided into two things...

your phony spiritual and your physical technique.

You are at a tremendous disadvantage.

Our Kung Fu very good Kung Fu.

Come with me. I want to teach you something.

Good kung fu.

Mr. Hou, as far as I know, you have been practicing during Lei Shen for a long time.

You are active and well-known in the martial arts world, right?

Yes, Master Chen Man.

What's your point?

I mean that our company has a reputation...

...serving only honest guests with high standards.

What you have done...

...especially to beat women in our company, is unacceptable.

You should know that they are my people and I have the right to defend them.

She stole from me!

She took my money and ring.

That was a precious family heirloom.

Mr. Hou.

We have run the company for a while.

Don't make a scene because you lost some worthless things. Who cares?

I care!

Shut up! This is my territory!

I have the last word!

Get rid of him!

I want to ask you just one thing, Mei Ling.

Do you steal from Mr. Hou?

Yes, sir.

Why?

I have a daughter.

And how old is she?

Seven.

She has leukaemia.

I come from deep mountains in the north.

They say, with the best medical treatment,

it could be curable.

But if I don't get her to the better hospital, she will die.

Please forgive me.

I believe you.

This should be enough money for you and your daughter

to live a life without want.

Take care for your daughter

and never leave her side again.

Remember, no matter how poor you are

and how hard life is,

never steal.

Set a good example for your daughter.

Gentlemen, let me summarize this for you:

Our properties are worth 300,000 var...

...and you are currently exploiting 50 properties, right?

A golden opportunity.

Golden?

Hardly.

Highest gold content is that...

When you have the latest information.

I have heard that the ground you thought is good...

is poisonous and heavily polluted.

Nothing grows there and even a cockroach can't survive.

Now you are trying to find a scapegoat...

because you don't manage it yourself.

Then, I'm not...

Sifu, Chen.

Mr. Axe stands outside and wants to talk with you. It is urgent.

When I invited you to visit,

I figured we'd just play some music...

have a few laughs.

Raiding Qmom's place, that's no easy thing.

And we know for a fact that this girl Tara is even there?

I know she's there.

Is that all you have to say, brother?

Yeah, take it on faith.

So you're finally calling in that marker.

That I am, brother.

With this, I'm ready for anything.

Death by a thousand cuts.

I see you keep these blades very sharp.

Once a month.

Old habits die hard.

Old habits die hard.

Amazing.

Thank you.

I only know Qmom by reputation.

I know you guys are in the same town, the same business.

What's the story with this guy?

He control drugs, human trafficking, and extortion.

It sounds to me like you think somebody needs to stop

this guy anyway, so...

Against Qmom, things can turn real hard real quick.

That's why we need the right tools

and the right people for the job.

I know it's you, Infidel.

How's the debt-collecting business coming?

Never better, but I could sure use a new gig.

What's with the freeze frame, guys?

Darius is in there, partying like a rock star.

So what?

And the only people he's letting in

are hot girls and pizza-delivery boys.

So we're getting the band back together, huh?

Looks like it.

- Yep. - Okay, brother.

So when you gonna pay Mr. Wong back his money, huh?

Soon.

There's never a pizza guy around

when you need one, right?

Axe. Wait, it's too loud in here.

Axe?

Nothing special, handsome.

Just another day in the office.

Right.

I'll see you there.

Sifu, Chen Man and I,

we were just travelling through the area.

We decided to stop by and see you.

You have learned King-fu well...

...but when it comes to lying you aren't very good.

Sifu, how has your health been lately?

It's been okay, but when a road is used less...

...has become inevitable, overgrowth of weeds and thorns.

The end of the road is not in sight. How long my trip will be unknown.

You see,

the mind is infinite,

but the body is finite.

That being said, if my eyes don't deceive me,

we're gonna have a lot of time to receive your wisdom.

Sifu, that's something I've wanted to ask you.

Why have you always been kind to Axe, but so strict to me...

...Even though I've been with you for years and studied with you since I was little?

Have I done something wrong?

We are often strictest against those closest to us.

Sifu, I don't understand.

You don't know that...

You are my son.

Sifu...

What did you say?

Am I your son?

Why you didn't say that before?

You telling me now?

My principle has always been to choose the right opportunity.

You've always been a student and I've always been waiting for this moment...

...my son.

So this is it?

Only three of us?

Hollywood.

You made it.

Hey, big man.

So how's the music business?

Gone to shit when Motown closed.

Why don't we just go find the man with the plan?

First up, I know why everybody's here.

You're all here because you think you owe me something.

You don't owe me nothing.

But you owe yourselves the war ethics

that we have all created over the years.

Don't know about the rest of you,

but I'm here because Chan offered me

an unlimited bar tab for life.

Okay, so we're hitting Qmom's place.

This is the only image we have of him.

So he's not a target, but he's a very important player.

This is the woman we're looking for...

early 20s.

She's almost certainly being held

in the basement of the club, heavily guarded.

We're gonna go for the girl. That's why we're here.

Chen Man will cover us on the perimeter in and out.

My spectacular little brother.

All right, Infidel, see if you can get me

a detailed map of the joint.

On it.

Yinying, I want you to go in there dressed as a customer.

You can dress like someone real sexy. It's up to you.

Hollywood, Scarecrow,

I want you guys to run an inventory

on what we have and what we need.

Copy that.

All right, I know I'm asking a lot,

but for what it's worth, cause is just, and we are righteous.

Bro, I have one question.

All right.

What the hell is that name... Qmom?

I really don't know,

but I could introduce you to his mama,

and you could ask her.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

There are four guys in front of us.

The third from the left, Black Claw Ma...

...the Qmom's best torpedo.

Where do I know that name... Black Claw Ma? I know it.

He wasn't with Qmom before.

He has the same background as us.

His King-Fu training is similar to our brother.

In another life we could have been friends.

Not in this one, at least not yet.

What do you think?

If anybody knows the inner workings

of Qmom's place, it's Black Claw Ma.

Do you really think he's changing page?

There's two kinds of dogs, Chen.

There's the kind of dog that's loyal

to his master until the end.

And there's the kind of dog that'll bite his master

the first chance he gets.

We just have to see which kind of dog this guy is.

- Good day, Sifu Axe. - Good day.

You're still keeping that mystical bell, huh?

It gives me security.

It shows me if the one who comes in is kind.

What medicine are you looking for today?

- Pain reliever? - Yeah, but not for me.

The wild one.

Now I remember you. Axe.

Otherwise known as "the Mongkok Demon Slayer."

But, you know, Mongkok is in Hong Kong,

and we're in Mong La,

somewhere in the frontier land between

Laos, Cambodia, Thailand.

We're in all these places.

But I remember you.

Black Claw Ma, another face from the past.

You were an asshole then,

and you're an asshole now.

I'm... I'm deeply hurt.

Your words deeply hurt me.

You really think your teacher would show all his secrets?

You know, I'm just a simple country boy.

I have no aspirations to be anything great,

receive any great teachings

or techniques from any great master.

I'm simply not worthy.

Enough of the history lesson, Axe.

Why did you bring me here?

Well, you know, the last time I saw you,

it seems like you sort of have your head up Qmom's ass,

and I wondered if maybe

you might like to give a chance to improve the view.

So you're offering me a job?

It's not exactly a job.

It's just sort of an escape plan.

You're the one who needs the escape route, Axe.

And you're the one that'll need some healing.

Here we go.

Can we talk about it?

Help! Stop fighting!

That's enough. Sifu Axe, stop fighting.

Call an ambulance.

I'll pay for everything. Don't worry, brother.

You...

You...

Infidel, what'd you come up with on the intel?

Qmom has a reputation.

He's something of a martial arts master.

And because he's a master, he won't use guns.

The problem is his team does,

and they're heavily armed, and that's gonna be a problem.

We're gonna try out going in with a soft insertion...

cool, calm.

And if you hear Miriam say, "Go hard"...

it's gonna get hard.

Okay, here's how the club works.

Only the select few are allowed deep inside,

and those that are

have to be rich enough, beautiful enough...

or powerful enough.

Everyone who does get in is divided

in three classes of guests.

White, you just get access to the main dance floor.

Black, you can get into the main one and a second one.

With a red bracelet, you get access to the whole club,

including private rooms

and all the fun things that happen there.

How come you didn't get the red one?

I didn't get one.

I got two.

Each room has at least five security guards on site.

Each dance floor has its own bartender,

each with his own special shaker.

I saw these three guys that I tried to follow,

but they were all led off into the private area.

They got a very strange tattoo.

So this is... She's trying to write fire.

That's the tribal sign from her father's village.

Her father has the same one.

Fire and wood.

That's proof she is here.

There's a private event booked at Baihu tomorrow,

which is fewer guests, fewer guards.

The thing of it is, is we only have two bracelets.

Hollywood and I will use ours

to get in the front or back door.

My student will let Yinying and Infidel in.

One, two, three points in this club

is the best place to hide an M4.

So we got two restrooms here and here,

and they got trash cans in them.

Put the upper and lower in there with the ammo.

I think that'll work.

Okay, so sounds like a plan, everybody.

Any questions?

I have one question.

What exactly is our exit strategy?

Well, we're gonna go in like shadows, go out like thunder.

I can see the evil that you have committed.

Violence for personal gain.

The killing of the innocent.

Are you not tired of this life of pain and suffering?

Don't try to read my men.

They say that you refuse to eat.

What I can see, is that your people are eating too much.

Even when you starve...

So you're joking, huh?

You don't sleep or make any decision.

Tell me what are you waiting for?

I might be waiting for...

that you should take away the knife.

By the way...

There have been a few guests.

These are honored guests from your hometown.

Do you like card games?

Tara...

Chose a card.

Don't you even dare to guess?

No Please. No Please!

Tara...

Tara...

One more card.

It's enough. It's enough.

I'll give you what you want.

The guy at the door is one of Chen Man's students.

Who are you? This is a private party! Follow me!

Brother, go help the others.

You don't need me here?

It's an order.

Yes, sir.

Are you blind...

Are you deliberately hiding things for me?

Do you know what you're taking from me today...

Can I take it back from you?

- Then you lose it forever. - Really?

That is to say

that the world as we used to know it doesn't exist any more.

It's gone.

The traditions, the values, the ethics,

the morals given to us by our fathers,

by our fathers' fathers,

our ancestors, our masters

are not rapidly diminishing.

They are almost literally gone.

Asian martial arts have gone all over the world.

But it is at risk of a deep, dark sickness,

for there are those who have sought to use

their strength and knowledge

not for the greater good,

but for their own evil ambitions.

These are the masterless ones,

the ronins,

the ones who have broken the lineage.

Where those who have the most precious wisdom

to leave behind to us

have been forsaken, ridiculed, and ignored.

We can't do more...

...to take the hearts that love kung-fu...

...lit a spark and keep the flame alive.

Hopefully, the dark clouds gone...

...and a new day may start.

Kung Fu is not just for the Chinese.

It's for all people,

as all martial arts are for all people.

Lastly, I just wanted to say, it's been my honour

to be alive in a time where real masters have walked here,

where I've been able to walk,

to listen to them when they've spoken,

and they've led all of us to where we are today.

All of us in this room,

if we can devote every last breaths we have,

to the propagation of trying to protect

the last bit of unbroken lineage...

and commit our lives to helping the innocent,

the needy, the defenceless...

setting an example of humility and servitude

for the generations to come...

then Kung Fu may yet survive us all.

All of these words today that we've all spoken

will have been worth something,

and our prayers will not be empty.

- Cheers! - Cheers!

I ain't take no tickets this barbecue

I been down this road before

I ain't take no tickets this barbecue

I been down this road before

I opened my eyes I saw the light

I ain't messing with you no more

I got someone new

You and I are through

But we're cool, baby

We're cool like a polar bear

When you see my new girlfriend

You gonna have to change your underwear

Baby you lie

You don't even ever try

You lie, you don't even have a shot

You never work you're always drinking

You just high, sitting there thinking

I said baby

You just say that because you're jealous and bitter

And that might be because you know I had your sister

And the baby sitter

But we're cool baby we're cool here in Memphis

Let me say goodbye and it sound like...