The year is 228 of the Common Era, and China is divided into Three Kingdoms, which find themselves at odds with each other. A seemingly decisive battle has just taken place, with the Shu army clashing with the Wei. But military leaders in the state of Shu believe that the battle’s result was swayed by a campaign of misinformation – with faulty information leading to a critical misjudgment. They believe that this was all masterminded by Chen Gong, a powerful spy believed to be located somewhere in Wei lands.

They fell in love; Chen Qiushui was 20. Wang Biyun was 18. When Qiushui fled Taiwan after the 228 Massacre, Biyun gave him a gold engagement ring and they promised to meet again. Qiushui served as an army doctor during the Korean War, where he met Wang Jindi, a nurse from Shanghai who fell in love with him instantly. Years had gone by, Qiushui married Jindi and settled in Tibet. While in Taiwan, Biyun buried Qiushui's mother and continued to pray for his return. Flashback to modern time, Biyun is living in New York. Her niece played by Isabella Leong, a writer, has travelled to Tibet to find out what happened to Qiushui. Through the pictures she sends back via internet, Biyun finally gets to see the familiar face once again.

According to demon lore, it takes hundreds of years to attain human form. Even then, lacking a human heart, a demon cannot experience the true pains and passions of existence. However, there is a legend that if a pure human heart is freely offered to a demon, it can become a mortal and experience true life. Sequel of Painted Skin (2008).