向荣（姜大卫 饰）和根莱（狄龙 饰）是一对亲密无间的好朋友。忽然，向荣遭逢家庭变故，一时不知所措，幸得根莱伸出援手才得以渡过难关。一日，向荣不幸遭歹徒痛殴，又是根莱恰巧路过相救。向荣请深感不懂武功的无奈，于是请求根莱带他去拜师习武。拜师入门后，向荣的武艺进步神速；但却屡屡误伤伤师兄弟，师傅只能将他逐出了师门。后来向荣遇到了当日仇人，学得一身武艺的他痛殴了对方，因此被黑社会大佬看好，聘为打手。而此时根莱却做了干探，两个好朋友注定要拼个你死我活。

When Ti Lung and David Chiang left Shaw Brothers, they returned a year later after learning directing and defied their former studio heroics making films with social leanings. Directed by Ti, The Young Rebel is one such film. Fatherless as a child, Hsiang (Chiang) supports his mother. When gangsters kill his mother, he kills in revenge. Unlike his swordplay heroes, Hsiang admits guilt, expresses sorrow and is imprisoned