Dance of the Phoenix Episode 5 Recap
> Dance of the Phoenix Recap
Jun Linyuan, Feng Xun, and Xuan Yi arrived in Border City and immediately sought Lord Bi's help to find Feng Xiaowu, showing him a portrait. Lord Bi found the woman in the painting familiar but claimed not to know her. Jun Linyuan then led his companions to the Feng family's old mansion. Feng Yiran and Feng Liu, from the Feng family of the capital, stepped out to greet them upon hearing of His Highness's arrival.
Feng Wu, who was hoping to avoid them, accidentally ran right into the group. Jun Linyuan and his companions found Feng Wu familiar but didn't immediately recognize her as Feng Xiaowu, given her current fair skin and beautiful appearance contrasted with Feng Xiaowu's previous dark, spotty complexion. Feng Wu feigned a wooden and clumsy demeanor, bowing stiffly. Feng Xun found her new subdued manner uninteresting and remarked that she seemed useless without her cultivation.
Jun Linyuan and Xuan Yi tacitly agreed, and the three left the Feng's old mansion. While awaiting news from Lord Bi, Jun Linyuan decided to explore Border City. On their walk, they overheard townspeople discussing the "Fifth Young Lady" of the Feng family, although no one knew her by name.
The locals gossiped about the cruelty of the Feng family of the capital, who had sent a "young master" and "sixth young lady" to reside in the Fifth Young Lady's home, treating her poorly. Jun Linyuan listened, a hint of concern in his eyes. Feng Xun still complained about Feng Wu's boring new personality, but Xuan Yi suggested she might have reasons beyond her control and that perhaps losing her cultivation base was actually better for her.
Unable to find Feng Xiaowu or the Celestial Fruit through conventional means, Jun Linyuan decided on a different approach. He inquired about the most renowned alchemist in Border City and was directed to Old Man Ba. Jun Linyuan reasoned that if Feng Xiaowu, a commoner, had obtained the Celestial Fruit, she would surely seek an alchemist to refine it.
Feng Wu, who had earlier given Feng Yiran a cryptic "poem" (the periodic table) to distract him in his search for the Phoenix Sword, rushed to Old Man Ba's place, anxious about the Nine Transformation Spirit Restoration Pill. She worried Jun Linyuan was close to discovering her. Just as she was discussing this with Old Man Ba, Jun Linyuan, Feng Xun, and Xuan Yi arrived.
Upon seeing the energetic Feng Wu, they immediately realized her previous "dull" act had been deliberate. Feng Wu quickly fabricated a sob story, claiming her and her mother were helpless and that the Feng family denied them food and clothing, forcing them into poverty. She tearfully explained that she had to pretend to be weak and incompetent to survive the oppression of her family.
Old Man Ba corroborated her tale, emphasizing her pitiable situation and his role in teaching her medicine to make a living. Jun Linyuan, though noting her feigned tears, believed that she was indeed mistreated within her family. He told her to stop crying, as it made her look unattractive. Jun Linyuan announced that they would accompany her back to the Feng Mansion and stay overnight.
With the powerful trio's backing, Feng Yiran and Feng Liu dared not challenge Feng Wu and even provided her with household expenses, an amount she hadn't received in three years. To further consolidate her position and hopefully discourage their extended stay, Feng Wu cooked a lavish meal for her guests. Feng Xun and Xuan Yi were greatly impressed by her cooking, so much so that Feng Xun suggested they should stay at the Feng Mansion until they found Feng Xiaowu.
Feng Wu inwardly panicked, realizing this would only increase her chances of being exposed. That evening, she secretly instructed Qiu Ling to capture several rats and release them into Jun Linyuan's, Feng Xun's, and Xuan Yi's rooms, knowing Feng Xun's extreme fear of rodents would surely drive them away overnight.
However, Qiu Ling, while outside their door, overheard Jun Linyuan instructing Feng Xun and Xuan Yi to be considerate of Feng Wu during their stay, hoping to curb Feng Yiran and Feng Liu's arrogance towards her. Jun Linyuan admitted that while Feng Wu might have exaggerated her plight, she had likely been genuinely bullied.
Feng Xun teased Jun Linyuan about still seeing Feng Wu as his fiancée, but Jun Linyuan insisted he only needed her as a local guide to find Feng Xiaowu. Touched by Jun Linyuan's unexpected kindness and concern, Qiu Ling's heart softened, and she ultimately decided not to release the rats. Feng Wu later scolded Qiu Ling for her leniency, but Qiu Ling defended herself, explaining her change of heart.
Feng Wu then resolved to find another way to make them leave. The following morning, Feng Wu directly approached Jun Linyuan, asking him to find alternative lodging, citing their broken engagement and the need to avoid "unnecessary trouble." Jun Linyuan refused, stating that he still needed her. He noted her resemblance to Feng Xiaowu, remarking that she looked "quite like that ugly girl." Feng Wu, fearing exposure, deflected by accusing him of implicitly calling her ugly.
Jun Linyuan, undeterred, reiterated that he needed her as a guide. At that moment, a servant announced Lord Bi's arrival. Meanwhile, Yu Mingye, having gathered information from various people in the city, eventually found Old Man Ba's residence. Feng Wu, still in her disguise as Feng Xiaowu, had previously visited Old Man Ba with the Celestial Fruit, which led to her being recognized by some.
Yu Mingye, identifying himself as the King in Black, interrogated Old Man Ba through the night about Feng Xiaowu and the Celestial Fruit, but Old Man Ba adamantly denied any knowledge, claiming he had never met the person in the drawing nor seen any Celestial Fruit. Yu Mingye, a man of the Darknight Court, insisted he would not give up until he got what he wanted.
Separately, Lord Bi's investigation yielded a crucial clue: Feng Xiaowu had reportedly visited an alchemist in the city. Jun Linyuan immediately connected this information to Old Man Ba, whom they had already encountered.
