In the late Ching Dynasty, political corruption and natural disasters plagued the land. The government sets up reservations in remote wastelands to put away the hungry and wandering people caught between uprising forces, religious sects and other groups. In these "thief villages," as they were called, poverty equals crime for generations of villagers. As was common for "thief villagers," Xia-Dou and Ji-Dan are chosen to sit in as substitute prisoners in a dungeon. One day, the warden assigns them a secret mission. They comply, embarking on an unpredictable adventure.