Long Ago In China is a story of love and greed during the Tang Dynasty in China. The Empress Wei Ling has ordered the assassination of nine children from two previous wives of the Emperor so that her son Zhou will someday sit on the ivory throne. The Emperor's sister, Li Song, hears of the plot and sends her personal Talon warriors to save them. Lian, a female warrior, is the fastest rider so is the first to arrive at the sanctuary. At sword point she commandeers a boat and escapes through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Chen, the drunken boat owner is constantly at odds with Lian who would gladly kill the man if she knew the river and could sail the vessel. She has the chore of guarding the children, fighting assassins, and keeping Chen sober enough to sail the boat and escape the enemy.