Souten no Ken

Kenshiro fights guards while his past as Yan Wang is sought by Emperor Puyi's forces in 1935.

In 1932, Kenshiro Kasumi, also known as Yan Wang, abandons his wedding to Pan Yu Ling in Shanghai to battle the Hong Hua Hui gang before departing for Japan. By 1935, Emperor Puyi of Manchuko visits Japan and demands Yan Wang join his Imperial Guard. Li Yong Jian and the Qing Bang gang deny knowing him. Meanwhile, Kenshiro teaches at Towa Women's University, where he inadvertently embarrasses Aya Kitaoji. In Ginza, he encounters Pan Guang Lin and confronts an Emperor's guard from Hiei who is tracking Yan Wang. The guard reveals the Hong Hua Hui massacred the Qing Bang and seeks Yan Wang's death to secure his position. Enraged by this news and the guard's demeanor, Kenshiro kills the guard and his men.

Kenshiro confronts the Emperor while Li Yong Jian faces his poisoned fate

Panic spreads among the Emperor regarding potential poisoning, while Jin Ke-Rong discovers that the men tracking Li Yong Jian have been killed. Kenshiro encounters Li Yong Jian, triggering a memory of three years prior when he eliminated the Hong Hua Hui leaders to aid Pan Guang Lin’s Qing Bang. Li informs Kenshiro that Pan Guang Lin was murdered by the Hong Hua Hui. Following this revelation, Li Yong Jian recognizes he is succumbing to poison and chooses to end his life. Subsequently, Kenshiro reveals his identity as Yan Wang to the Emperor, criticizing his poor treatment of Li. Although the Emperor respects Kenshiro’s loyalty and initiates a combat challenge, anticipating his own death, Kenshiro ultimately spares him and departs without striking a blow.

Li attempts suicide to hide identity while Jin Ke-Rong uses him as bait for Kenshiro

Li attempts suicide by jumping onto concrete to disfigure his face, but Jin Ke-Rong saves him to use as bait against Kenshiro. Kenshiro discovers the plot and searches for Li. Jin Ke-Rong recounts a past encounter in Shanghai where he fought Kenshiro to a draw without the latter using Hokuto. Kenshiro eventually locates Jin Ke-Rong and engages him in a physical contest. This time, Kenshiro employs his Hokuto technique to immobilize Jin Ke-Rong and prepares to execute him. The narrative focuses on the confrontation between Kenshiro and Jin Ke-Rong, highlighting the shift in power dynamics from their previous encounter. Li's desperate act serves as the catalyst for this final showdown, emphasizing Kenshiro's resolve to protect his friend while dealing with the persistent threat posed by Jin Ke-Rong.

Kenshiro spares Jin, receives a letter from the deceased Yu Ling, and prepares to travel to Shanghai for revenge.

Kenshiro spares Jin, who agrees to return the dying Li to Shanghai. Li reveals that the Hong Hua Hui murdered his fiancé Yu Ling and gives Kenshiro her final letter. Kenshiro remembers how Yu Ling saved him after a past battle. In Shanghai, surviving Hong Hua Hui members send assassins to Japan. Kenshiro departs the university after thanking founder Takeshi Kitaoji, whom he saved years ago in Shanghai along with Kitaoji’s daughter Aya. Aya travels to the docks with the Vice-Principal, where they encounter gangsters. A young man resembling Kenshiro intervenes, revealing himself as Kenshiro’s younger brother, Ramon Kasumi. Aya watches tearfully as Kenshiro leaves for Shanghai.

Kenshiro arrives in Shanghai, confronting the Hong Hua Hui and rescuing Zhi Ying from execution.

Kenshiro enters Shanghai, where the Hong Hua Hui controls the French Concession under Jean Carnet. After witnessing the gang execute a drug dealer and threaten his young accomplice, Zhi Ying, Kenshiro intervenes as Yan Wang, killing the attackers. Zhi Ying steals Kenshiro’s bag and delivers it to his father, Ye, a former Qing Bang member currently tortured by the Hong Hua Hui. When the gang attempts to round up remaining Qing Bang members and further humiliate Ye, Kenshiro secretly retaliates by crashing and burning their trucks, eliminating the threat. Ye reveals that his injuries resulted from the "Game of Death," a lethal fighting contest hosted by the Hong Hua Hui within the "Great New World" building, where many of his comrades have perished.

Kenshiro Disguises as Ye to Defeat Goran in the Great New World Arena

Kenshiro, Ye, and Ye's son arrive at the Great New World, observing an arena with red-hot furnace chimneys. Huang Zi Fei announces a match where the foreign fighter Goran quickly defeats a Qing Bang member. Kenshiro learns that Ye's brother Zhang has joined the Hong Hua Hui. Following Huang to a church, Kenshiro overhears Huang bribing a priest for absolution. Kenshiro then enters the confessional, forcing the priest to reveal Huang's sins. During the next fight, Jean Carnet refuses to bet on Huang's champion Goran, as Huang has secretly arranged for Goran's death. Kenshiro enters the ring disguised as Ye, wearing bandages. He taunts Goran, who offers a free punch. Kenshiro accepts and defeats Goran with a single strike.

Kenshiro defeats Goran while Charles de Guise prevents Huang from executing him.

Kenshiro’s punch stuns Goran, who accidentally grabs a red-hot chimney. After recovering, Goran attacks Kenshiro, removing bandages that might reveal his identity as Yan Wang. Meanwhile, Ye attempts to detonate hand grenades with Huang but is discovered by Charles de Guise. Kenshiro endures Goran’s assault and demonstrates his martial arts skills. Upon realizing Kenshiro’s true identity, Huang orders his execution, but Charles de Guise stops the French troops. Goran pretends to surrender and applies a Muay Thai head-lock, which proves ineffective. Kenshiro then uses Tomon Ketsu Ha Shiso to destroy Goran’s bones, causing him to collapse.

Kenshiro Evades Assassins While Ye Reveals Pan Guang Lin's Prison Fate

Wu Dong-Lai of the Hong Hua Hui learns of Yan Wang in Shanghai. At the Great New World, Charles de Guise demands Huang congratulate the winner, but Huang refuses. Wu’s men attack Yan Wang, yet Kenshiro deflects the bullets and kills Huang. De Guise recognizes Kenshiro as a threat to French influence. Wu places a bounty on Yan Wang. In a bar, a gang leader plans to poison him. The barman recognizes Kenshiro and serves the poisoned drink to the gang leader, who dies. Kenshiro disguises himself and catches up with Ye. Ye informs him that de Guise revealed his friend Pan Guang Lin remains alive in a prison where Wu is having his legs slowly eaten by rats.

Kenshiro confronts Mei Yu while Wu hires Ling Wang to eliminate Yan Wang

Ye explains to Kenshiro that Wu Dong Lai despises Pan Guang Lin due to Pan's romantic pursuit of Mei Yu, who loved Pan. Kenshiro locates Mei Yu and reveals his identity, only to be rebuked by her for abandoning the women associated with him and Pan. Concurrently, Wu informs Hong Hua Hui leaders that he has employed Ling Wang to handle Yan Wang. Kenshiro discloses to Mei Yu that he killed Yu Ling and Boss Weng, Pan's benefactor who betrayed him for Qing Bang control. Mei Yu reveals that Ling Wang was the actual murderer of Yu Ling. Meanwhile, Ling Wang arrives in Shanghai and taunts Pan within his prison cell.

Kenshiro and Ling Wang clash at Mei Yu's party while Wu causes chaos.

Mei Yu invites Wu to her birthday party to assist Kenshiro in locating him. De Guise informs Kenshiro that Wu will attend and that Ling Wang, holder of the Hokuto Sonkaken, is in Shanghai. Kenshiro infiltrates the event disguised as a waiter, where he encounters Ling Wang, who has also arrived in disguise. Meanwhile, Wu creates mayhem by firing his gun randomly. After Wu departs, De Guise anticipates a duel between the two masters. Ling Wang attempts to drain Kenshiro's Qi but fails, prompting Kenshiro to attack. The confrontation concludes in a draw, leaving both with broken arms. Kenshiro subsequently deduces Pan's location by analyzing the scents he detected on Ling Wang during their encounter.

Kenshiro and Ye race to Gongzhou Citadel to rescue Guang Lin from Wu’s deadly trap.

De Guise reveals Guang Lin is alive, prompting Kenshiro to brace his broken arm and join Ye for a rescue mission. Following clues, they identify the Gongzhou Citadel on the Suzhou River as the location. Kenshiro consults a Dragon Medallion from a past astrologer to choose between protecting Mei Yu or saving Guang Lin, deciding on the latter. Ling Wang attempts to block their vehicle with his own steel-braced arm, but they evade him and continue in the damaged car. At the citadel, Wu prepares to drop Guang Lin into boiling oil for a surprise meal for Mei Yu. Kenshiro, Ye, and Ye’s son arrive just in time to intervene. Kenshiro stops Wu’s escape and forces him into the boiling oil vat.

Kenshiro amputates Guang Lin's legs while Ling Wang confronts Kenshiro over Yu Ling's death.

Kenshiro amputates Guang Lin's gangrenous legs and cauterizes the wounds with gunpowder to save him. Mei Yu deduces that de Guise intends to ally with Guang Lin to resurrect the Qing Bang and dominate Shanghai. Ling Wang overhears this plot and attacks de Guise, who defends himself using Hokuto Sonkaken techniques before Ling Wang departs to hunt Yan Wang. Tian Xue Fang joins Hong Hua Hui leaders, struggling with a steel toupee. A newspaper falsely reports Ling Wang's death, with Pan Guang Lin officiating the funeral at the Great New World. Kenshiro and Ye lead the procession as hidden Qing Bang members join, allowing Guang Lin to emerge from the coffin as their leader. Ling Wang then confronts Kenshiro, revealing he killed Yu Ling because she abandoned him for Kenshiro after he was manipulated by Boss Weng to assassinate other Qing Bang leaders, initiating a Hokuto battle between them.

Mei Yu reunites with Guang Lin while Kenshiro battles Ling Wang who uses opium for Hikou Heni

Mei Yu and Pan Guang Lin tearfully reunite, with Guang Lin thanking de Guise for his assistance. Jean Carnet and Tian Xue Fang reluctantly agree to cooperate against the re-formed Qing Bang despite mutual disgust. De Guise attempts to bribe Guang Lin with gold to regain power, but Mei Yu intervenes, warning that de Guise is untrustworthy. Kenshiro fights Ling Wang, discovering that his pressure point strikes are ineffective. Ling Wang explains he sacrificed his sanity and used opium to achieve Hikou Heni, allowing him to move pressure points within his body. Kenshiro defeats Ling Wang but spares his life. Ling Wang then reveals that Yu Ling remains alive.

Ling Wang's sacrifice and Kenshiro's resolve in Shanghai's aftermath

Ling Wang reveals to Kenshiro that he spared Yu Ling during the Shanghai upheaval a year ago, erasing her memory to sever her ties to him. Kenshiro accepts this, relieved she lives. Tian Xue Fang attacks Yan Wang at a hotel, causing an explosion that forces Ling Wang and Kenshiro to flee into the river. De Guise confronts Carnet regarding Hong Hua Hui connections, providing false papers for his departure. Kenshiro attempts to rescue Ling Wang, but Ling Wang dies without revealing Yu Ling's whereabouts. Kenshiro informs Guang Lin of the events, stating Yu Ling is safer apart from them. Kenshiro and Guang Lin then initiate their control over Shanghai, starting with a corrupt priest.

Pan Guang Lin consolidates Qing Bang power while Li Xiu Bao escapes an army

Pan Guang Lin re-asserts his authority as leader of the Qing Bang, eliminating Carnet and a traitor within their ranks, while Kenshiro eliminates Tian Xue Fang. Meanwhile, elsewhere in China, a woman bandit leader named Li Xiu Bao rescues her followers from an invading army. One of the rescued men recalls how Ling Wang delivered her with amnesia and how she rose to become their leader. Great Master Wang tells her that a man called Kitaoji could be called on in a time of need.

Bandits invade Shanghai while De Guise reveals her true identity to Kenshiro

Kitaoji and Kenshiro discuss Japan's expansion and hope Shanghai becomes a haven for displaced people. Zhang Tai Yan gathers Hong Hua Hui members on a ship, warning that visitors from the plains are arriving. A train of bandits enters Shanghai, shooting anyone in their path, followed by a second train. Tai Yan permits them to loot the city. Kenshiro drives a bus into the bandits, and Ye shoots the rest. De Guise invites bandit Li Xui Bao and her group to help deal with the chaos. At a public gathering, De Guise approaches the severed heads of three bandit leaders to pay respects, despite them not being her people. Kenshiro detects something familiar about her. Tai Yan arrives, prepared to kill her for interfering, but becomes smitten by her beauty instead. Kenshiro then realizes that Li Xui Bao is Pan Yu Ling.

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