民初期间，战争连连，世道混乱，营长胡啸天看不过洪师长之子恃权鱼肉百姓，错手将他杀死，因而亡命天涯，逃亡至柴家村。殷素媚为维持家人生计，嫁给村长柴增荣之六岁侄孙柴世耀为妻，耀之嬷嬷柴大娘对媚管教甚严，媚不敢越礼半步。啸天被聘到柴家修补围墙，与媚接触日多，互生情愫，但碍于礼教，二人仍克己守礼，未敢流露真情。山贼袭击柴家村，啸天助村人退贼，受村民爱戴。耀的亲戚王一贵暗生嫉妒，中伤啸天与媚有染，贵更欲强奸媚，幸天及时相救，贵逃脱。啸天为保护媚的贞节，决定离开柴家村，贵与山贼合作掳走耀报复，天挺身相救，但天的好友贺坚（黄秋生饰）却奉洪师长之命前来捉捕天，天两面受敌，展开连场恶斗……

A fugitive soldier finds refuge in a village and falls for a married woman, but tradition keeps them apart. When bandits attack and betrayal strikes, he must fight to protect her and survive his past.