Spirit of resilience gives animation a genuine appeal

Starting where the first film left off, Ajuan leaves his hometown in southern China for the bustling metropolis of Shanghai. He works as a laborer on a construction site to raise money for his gravely ill father's medical expenses.

A chance encounter leads the protagonist to meet Wang Zhaoyu, a young woman who abandoned her studies in the United States to return to Shanghai to rescue the family's martial arts club — her late father's lifelong passion — from financial turmoil.

The two share a common goal — while Ajuan seeks shelter due to the high cost of living, Wang aims to recruit talent for a kickboxing match to attract investors and revitalize the club burdened by debts.

However, a greedy businessman operating a boxing club plots to manipulate the match's outcome, working with his top fighter to thwart the two youngsters at every turn, even resorting to cunning tactics.