本片为着名导演兼武术指导程小东於演员时代的代表作。故事描述,程小东因误杀罪入狱,一死囚临终前交予他半爿铜牌,嘱他寻找另半爿铜牌,当会知其妙用。后程在狱中结识侯朝声,一同逃狱;逃亡期间二人得悉铜牌牵涉到一段江湖恩怨,且始知彼此身上均有半爿铜牌,一凑合即出现「长白之巅,猛虎之岭」八个字,另有山脉图绞,二人凭线索去到长白山猛虎岭找出「通臂拳」秘笈,遂苦练拳法以力敌追兵……Ching, a small-time crook, is sent to prison. There he meets a one-eyed master who has been sentenced to death. Shortly before he is executed, he gives Ching a wooden keepsake, half of which is missing, and cryptically tells him he must search for the other half, for then he will understand. Shortly thereafter Ching breaks out of prison with another inmate and goes in quest of the missing piece to discover its secret. However, he is not the only one after it. A gang leader who also wants the piece is now on Ching's tracks. Also, the inmate with which Ching originally escaped now seems to be popping up everywhere. What secret lies behind the wooden puzzle?