As a child, I was always fascinated by the mythical power of the Chinese sword.

There were times that I, without my parents' knowledge, sneaked into one of the cinemas in my hometown just to be entertained by the much awaited martial art movies produced in Hong Kong. The chances are, I would end up hypnotised by the atheistic yet dignified way in which the kungfu hero mastered his or her sword.

One of the greatest martial art movies of all times, and perhaps among the most classic in a century of Chinese films, is The Chivalrous Lady (Xia Nu), featuring the legendary actress Xu Feng. I was thoroughly mesmerised by the mystifying atmosphere, and the awesome, seasoned swordswomanship of the protagonist.