Set in 1895, late Qing Dynasty, Wong Fei Hung, his companion Leung Foon and developing romantic interest 13th Aunt travel by train to Canton to attend a lecture on techniques of Western and Eastern medicine. Wong lectures on the benefits of acupuncture whilst another doctor translates for the British audience.
The seminar is besieged by the fanatical White Lotus Society, led by the seemingly invincible Priest Kung. The extreme nationalist cult aim to force all foreigners out of Canton and they fire flaming arrows into the building where the seminar is taking place. This cult is most likely based on a rebellious anti-foreigner group called the Fists of Righteous Harmony which actually existed in the year 1900.
However the White Lotus Society in the film also has references to historical White Lotus, such as cult of Maitreya.