The Emperor commissions the bell maker, Tien Sin, to make a new bell to be hung in the hall of his ancestors however when he comes to hear the bell be rung he is dissatisfied with the sound. If the sound is not rectified, the Emperor vows to have Tien Sin executed. Tien Sin's daughter, Hsi Shih, seeks to the aid of the court magician and the Spirit of the Willow Tree to find a way to make the bell sound perfect but what will be the cost of such perfection?