Despite the three martial arts masters' efforts that saved the people of the slum during the first encounter with the Axe Gang, they are eventually banished from their homes (due to unpaid rent). Although they promise to fight against and also with each other another day, their lives are cut short early in the film.
In-universe, all the people of the slum cry over their bodies after they're killed by the Harpists hired by the Axe Gang.
In the same scene, the Landlord and Landlady, upon receiving a What the Hell, Hero? for not doing anything despite being powerful kung-fu fighters, reveal that the reason they gave up and pretended to be normal people is because their son was killed in a fight.
During the Harpists attack, the Landlady keeps interrupting while her husband keeps pulling her back. It seems as though the Landlady is struggling not to intervene and the Landlord is trying to keep her from breaking their vow. When they finally act, however, it is the Landlord who jumps into the fight first while the Landlady gets the Baker and the Tailor to safety. Despite this, the Tailor still dies in front of her. The actress, Qiu Yuen, puts in an excellent performance despite her silence, and superb camera work gives the moment the severity it deserves.
The romantic subplot, believe it or not.
Sing, as a young boy, attempted to defend a mute girl from some bullies, who were in the process of stealing a lollipop from her. He believes himself a capable kung-fu warrior, but he is unceremoniously beaten and humiliated. He decides at that moment that trying to do good just isn't worth it, and sets out to become a criminal.
When he meets that girl again, they've both grown up. He, a homeless criminal wannabe, and she, running a humble refreshments cart. He and Bone swipe the ice cream cones without paying, leaving her to chase fruitlessly after Sing as he laughs maniacally at her.
After The Beast beats Sing within an inch of his life and the Landlord and Landlady rescue him, they ask him why he saved them. He only has enough strength left to sketch the lollipop with his own blood before passing out. Meanwhile, the girl is trying to reassemble the broken lollipop. She picks it up, thinking she has succeeded, only for it to fall apart again.
