In this prequel to Brotherhood of Blades (2014), Lu Yang continues to elaborate on the loyalty of those who find themselves caught up in an incident surrounding the Ming Dynasty. Shen Lian, played by Chang Chen, still appears as a main character but this time, the focus is on a conspiracy to accuse him of murder. He used to serve as an imperial guard but now he is a wanted criminal and must clear himself of a false charge, all alone. Disguising himself, he searches for the one who conspired against him and realizes that Lu, who survived on the battlefield thanks to Shen Lian, actually led the conspiracy. In Brotherhood of Blades II, Lu Yang tells us how difficult it is to defend basic human values like loyalty and romantic love during such a confusing period. Standing in contrast to this touching atmosphere, swordfights give us visual pleasure. To enjoy this prequel, see how the story is linked to the original and what changes have been made. (HER Namwoong)