Fall in Love with a Fox Episode 1 Recap
> Fall in Love with a Fox Recap
Where people exist, there is the martial arts world. This world is home to various sects that, while different, coexist harmoniously. Taoyuan Valley is known for its strict rules, Jin's Escort Agency for its generosity and justice, and the Nonuple Palace stands as the foremost power. Five years ago, rumors circulated about a secret manual called the Puyuan Canon, capable of bestowing unparalleled martial arts prowess. The Xu family, guardians of this scripture, suffered a massacre, and the canon vanished.
Five years later, the lost canon has mysteriously reappeared. The story begins with Jin Baiwan, a cook at Jin's Escort Agency. Jin Baiwan stepped out and was immediately surrounded by people from bookstores and eager readers. They pressed her for updates on the novels written by her Miss, Qiu Qiuer, who is currently the most popular novel author. They knew that Jin Baiwan was the only one who could persuade her Miss to update.
Jin Baiwan, stating she was just a cook, tried to escape, noticing it looked like rain and she needed to collect laundry at home. Returning home, Jin Baiwan found her Miss, Jin Muqiu, distraught and threatening self-harm. Jin Muqiu adamantly refused to marry into Taoyuan Valley, happy with her current life writing novels and having never even met the Lord of Valley Junior.
She feared he would be a debauched, unfaithful man and that she would face a cruel mother-in-law, eventually leading to her demise, just like in the melodramatic plots of her novels. Jin Baiwan comforted her, claiming to have already devised a plan. Yu Linfeng, the Lord of Valley Junior from Taoyuan Valley, arrived at Jin's Escort Agency to fulfill the marriage contract, expressing his sincerity.
He noted that Miss Jin was late to meet him and wondered if she was dissatisfied with the match. Jin Baiwan brought Jin Muqiu, who initially hid her face with a fan. When she lowered the fan, her face was covered in erythema. Yu Linfeng said her willingness to meet him despite this condition showed great sincerity. He then formally asked if she was willing to marry into Taoyuan Valley. Jin Muqiu immediately agreed.
Jin Baiwan was thrown into a panic. She recalled that five years ago, Jin Muqiu had saved her when she had lost her memory and had protected her ever since. Feeling deeply indebted, Jin Baiwan realized she couldn't provide a suitable dowry for her Miss. Overhearing the escort chief turn down a job to escort a Buddhist scripture because they were short-handed, Jin Baiwan immediately volunteered to take on the task herself.
For Jin Muqiu's dowry, Jin Baiwan, who had not left the agency alone in the five years since she was saved, decided to venture out into the martial arts world. Jin Baiwan successfully reached Furong Town. Along the way, she heard people discussing a zither player, Mr Qu. Initially dismissive, she was captivated upon seeing Qu Jinyu and sat down to listen.
Unseen by her, a group of people watched her and her package, having learned she was escorting the long-lost Puyuan Canon. Qu Jinyu noticed them. While playing, he subtly took care of the lurking attackers. They became angry, and Jin Baiwan stepped forward. Qu Jinyu, portraying helplessness, thanked her profusely, claiming she had saved him and asking for her name. He introduced himself as Qu Jinyu. They parted ways, with Jin Baiwan helping the seemingly injured Qu Jinyu.
Later, while Jin Baiwan was eating noodles, someone attempted to poison her using a snake trick. Qu Jinyu appeared again, orchestrating a distraction involving a child stealing a purse, which foiled the poisoning attempt and made it appear as though Jin Baiwan had saved him from the thief. Jin Baiwan began to suspect Qu Jinyu attracted trouble. He further requested she become his bodyguard, praising her martial arts skill and ability to deter attackers.
As Qu Jinyu made his request, they were suddenly surrounded. This turned out to be a trap set by Yu Chen and the Mole Gang, with the gang acting openly and Yu Chen in the shadows. Yu Chen stepped out, claiming the canon and directing the gang. They captured Jin Baiwan and Qu Jinyu. Jin Baiwan realized the attackers were after her package and wondered if Qu Jinyu was somehow involved.
During the struggle, one of the Mole Gang members appeared to die, but Jin Baiwan saw through the deception. The gang took them away, falsely accusing Jin Baiwan of murder. Jin Baiwan also noticed that Qu Jinyu displayed martial arts skill despite his earlier claims. Back at Jin's Escort Agency, Jin Muqiu and Yu Linfeng received troubling news: messages had been sent to various sects claiming Jin Baiwan was escorting the Puyuan Canon, putting her in great danger.
Yu Linfeng deemed the timing during their marriage preparations suspicious and deliberate. He insisted their priority was to return to Taoyuan Valley, promising to send people to search for Baiwan and keep Jin Muqiu informed. Jin Muqiu, standing behind Yu Linfeng, expressed her concern, revealing she knew the Mole Gang leader hadn't died and it was a trap. Imprisoned, Jin Baiwan and Qu Jinyu discussed their predicament.
Qu Jinyu reiterated that he had to help her since she had saved him earlier. Jin Baiwan apologized for having initially thought he was merely a handsome, useless young man. Qu Jinyu teased her about finding him handsome. They learned that the canon's wooden box was specially sealed by Jin's Escort Agency and could not be opened by force by anyone other than the designated escort person.
Qu Jinyu proposed a plan to retrieve the canon and escape, but warned it would require a significant sacrifice from her, even getting married. They decided to stage a dramatic scene for their captors. In the jail cell, they pretended to be a desperate couple on the verge of death, performing a makeshift marriage ceremony. Jin Baiwan agreed to the plan, willing to do anything, even marrying the Mole Gang leader (in the performance), to retrieve the canon and escape.
Crying, they exchanged vows, Qu Jinyu pledging eternal devotion to "Miss Baiwan." They also loudly announced that forcing the wooden box open would trigger an internal mechanism, causing the gunpowder inside to explode and destroy the canon and everything around it. Mole Gang members overheard their 'marriage' and the warning about the box. They reported to their boss, who was alive and well after faking his death. The boss decided to exploit their apparent affection.
He entered the cell, emphasizing the paramount importance of love over worldly possessions like scriptures. Knowing only Jin Baiwan could open the box, he threatened to kill Qu Jinyu unless she complied. Jin Baiwan pretended to yield, agreeing to open the box to save Qu Jinyu. As she approached, she revealed that the box had no complex mechanism but was made of wood designed to ignite instantly when exposed to fire.
She threatened to burn the box and the canon if they were not released immediately. Just then, Yu Chen appeared, claiming to be an old acquaintance of Jin's Escort Agency. He confronted the Mole Gang, creating a diversion and helping Jin Baiwan and Qu Jinyu escape from the prison. Yu Chen led them away from the fleeing Mole Gang members and took them to his house. Jin Baiwan was relieved, thanking Yu Chen for saving them and offering them shelter.
Qu Jinyu had sustained a slight injury. At Yu's house, Jin Baiwan tended to Qu Jinyu's wound. She mentioned their fake marriage in the cell, telling him not to take it seriously. He agreed but noted her apparent concern. He asked if she already had someone she cared for. She denied it, stating she was focused on her adventures in the martial arts world and not concerned with romantic matters. He then asked if she would be willing to stay if a handsome, wise, and courageous man wanted to keep her by his side.
