When "chivalry" becomes a burden for survival, and when martial arts cannot untie the knot of life, how can a person confirm his own existence in the reality where ideals are corroded?
Realistic features:
Realistic martial arts: Fight descriptions focus on physical exertion, environmental restrictions, and subsequent injuries. Experts will be hungry, tired, and worried about medical expenses.
Dialogue subtext: Character dialogue is full of market wisdom, calculation and helplessness, with few impassioned declarations. The real conflict is in the exchange of glances and the unspoken words.
Details overwhelm romance: focus on depicting the height of the pawn shop counter, the color of the medicine residue, the patches on the old shirt, and the oiliness of the abacus beads. These details together form the weight of "life" and bring the suspended romance of martial arts to life.
Anti-climax processing: Key turning points often occur in dull or even useless situations. The greatest tragedy is not death, but hope being worn away again and again into the numbness of accepting fate.
Gray character spectrum: There are no black and white characters. Everyone struggles to survive within their own position and limitations. Evil people have their own last resort, and good people have their own selfishness and weakness.
Concept: Heroes become rusty, new world