# The Brave Archer 3

The Brave Archer 3, also known as Blast of the Iron Palm, is a 1981 Hong Kong film adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The film was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chang Cheh, starring Alexander Fu Sheng and Niu-niu in the lead roles. The film is the third part of a trilogy and was preceded by The Brave Archer (1977) and The Brave Archer 2 (1978). The film has two unofficial sequels, The Brave Archer and His Mate (1982) and Little Dragon Maiden (1983), both of which were based on The Return of the Condor Heroes. The theme song of the film, Say Cheung Kei (四張機), was composed by Chang Cheh, arranged by Joseph Koo and performed in Cantonese by Jenny Tseng.

## Plot

Guo Jing and Huang Rong pursue Yang Kang to Iron Palm Peak, where Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Sect is based. Huang is injured by Qiu in a fight and she escapes with Guo Jing's help. Guo brings her in search of a cure to heal her wounds and they stumble upon a house in a swamp, inhabited by a woman called Yinggu. Yinggu tells them that the only person who can save Huang Rong's life is Duan Zhixing, the former ruler of the Kingdom of Dali, who has become a monk now.
Guo and Huang travel to find Duan Zhixing, but they must defeat Duan's four bodyguards in a battle of wits first. They manage to overcome the odds and eventually meet Duan Zhixing. Duan explains to them that Yinggu had directed them to him on purpose, because in order to save Huang Rong, Duan will need to use a special inner energy skill that may cost him his life if he uses it. Duan then proceeds to tell them a story of his past. Yinggu was actually Duan Zhixing's concubine when he was still the ruler of Dali, but Duan neglects her due to his obsession with martial arts and she has a secret affair with Zhou Botong. Yinggu becomes pregnant with Zhou's child later without Zhou knowing. The infant is mortally wounded by a masked man, who wants to force Duan Zhixing to use that special skill to save the infants's life. Duan refuses and the child dies. Yinggu hates Duan for that and she leaves him to lead a life in the swamp, while secretly plotting her revenge. Duan Zhixing tells Guo Jing and Huang Rong that he regrets his past decision and he decides to save Huang's life now, at the expense of his own.
While Duan is healing Huang, Yinggu infiltrates Duan's residence and almost kills him, but she changes her mind at the last moment. Duan does not blame her and allows her to leave again. Just then, Qiu Qianren and the Iron Palm Sect's members show up to challenge Duan Zhixing to a fight. Yinggu recognizes Qiu's martial arts technique and realizes that Qiu is actually the masked man who injured her child, and she joins in the fight. Not long later, Zhou Botong appears and Yinggu recognizes him. Zhou points out the weaknesses in Qiu Qianren's martial arts and eventually the protagonists defeat the Iron Palm Sect people. The film ends with Yinggu running after Zhou Botong.

## Cast

* Alexander Fu Sheng as Guo Jing
* Niu-niu as Huang Rong
* Philip Kwok as Zhou Botong
* Yu Tai-ping as Yang Kang
* Yeung Hung as Wang Chongyang
* Ti Lung as Duan Zhixing
* Lau Wai-ling as Dali empress
* Ching Li as Liu Ying / Yinggu
* Lu Feng as Zhang Shaoshou
* Sun Chien as Zhu Ziliu
* Wong Lik as Wu Santong
* Chiang Sheng as Diancang Yuyin
* Lo Mang as Qiu Qianren
* Chu Ko as Qiu Li