In southern Taiwan spring 1867, American merchant ship Rover capsized. Entering a sacred territory, fourteen American sailors were killed by local Taiwanese tribes. Tokitok, Chief of the Liangkiau 18 Community must confront new challenges.
U.S. consul Charles Le Gendre travels to Taiwan to investigate the Rover incident. Tiap-moe repatriates her brother Jie. She repeatedly warns him to hide their mixed indigenous and Han Hakka identity and avoid fights.
Qing officials falsely claim the Rover crew was rescued and the indigenous were penalized. Tiap-moe teaches Charles Seqalu legends and culture. Liu Ming-deng forms an army. The Chief Military General of the Qing Empire heads to Liangkiau.
Charles finds remains of the crew. Tiap-moe says Sialiao are the weakest in Liangkiau. Tokitok and Isa lead warriors and Tiap-moe leads them to safety, where village chief Lin A-Jiu gives Charles key relics of the Rover's captain.
US marines land in the Liangkiau jungles. Seqalu people look to their native spirits as they prepare for battle. Tiap-moe and Jie continue their quest for identity. Isa instigates Cudjuy on the day of the five-year sacrifice.
The battle continues in the Seqalu nation. The indigenous warriors entrench the Qing army on the mountain walls as they prepare for an attack. The more well-armed Isa people clash with Tokitok and Umi, who tries to play mediator.
The Qing army prepares for battle. Sui, Zhu Yi-Bing, and Lin A-Jiu struggle to strike or wait. Tiap-moe interprets for the Qing generals and the army is ordered to return. Tiap-moe and Tokitok meet again but they argue and stand opposed.
Charles suspects Tiap-moe knows about Tokitok's planned attack. Fear and shame take over as she struggles between two sides. Tokitok brings different indigenous armies together and asks Han leaders to join them in resisting Western powers.
Sui loses control of the village as houses are burned. Lin A-Jiu brings some peace as he mediates between the two sides. Charles tries to negotiates a ceasefire but fears Tiap-moe is untrustworthy. Tiap-moe discovers secrets of her roots.
The Qing army pushes into indigenous terrain. Tokitok confronts and negotiates with the Qing army as brutal murders of the indigenous continue. Tiap-moe becomes critically ill. Charles prays to the indigenous gods to cure Tiap-moe.
Zhu Yi-bing leads the villagers after noticing the Qing army is reluctant to take action against the indigenous warriors. Charles, Pickering, and Jie go on a quest to find an ancient river through the mountains. Charles is taken hostage.
The Qing generals ask Han villagers to help in burning the indigenous hills. Tokitok's army faces the foreign forces. Tiap-moe and Jie lead indigenous fighters as they clash with Lin A-Jiu. Will the prophecy of the end of days come true?
