The film is set in western China in 700 AD during the Tang dynasty, and revolves around two protagonists, the first whom is Lieutenant Li of the Chinese army.

Li's refusal to kill Göktürk women and child prisoners is classed as a mutiny, leading him to be expelled from the army and to become a fugitive, traveling through the Gobi Desert.

Li protects the caravan from Göktürks as well as the overlord of the region, Master An, who is hired by the Göktürk Khan to seize the relic.

In a twist of fate, Lai Xi discovers that the caravan is on a mission and helps Li to defend it, to ensure that it arrives at the capital safely.

[2] While signing the project, Rahman was working with violinist Joshua Bell on compositions based on poems by the Persian poet Rumi.