Fall in Love with a Fox Episode 19 Recap
> Fall in Love with a Fox Recap
Jin Baiwan meets Jing Yuan, instinctively recoiling. Jing Yuan comments on meeting her when she was eight years old, noting she didn't have the same fear then. He asks if she has forgotten everything after ten years in his Nonuple Palace. Jin Baiwan explains she came to the Wuhu Meeting specifically to obtain the Lingyao Herb to regain her memory and discover her identity.
Jing Yuan inquires about her plans after recovering her memory, to which she replies she will "do what I should do." He reminds her that when she first joined Nonuple Palace, she said she wanted to enforce justice and do what she wanted, observing that she hasn't changed despite her experiences. When asked why he called her, Jing Yuan explains he fishes by waiting for the right time rather than luring, implying his desired outcomes require patience.
Jin Baiwan suggests this approach might backfire. Qu Zheng then arrives, and his subordinate reports failing to stop him. Qu Zheng confronts Jing Yuan, stating it was improper to take "his wife" without consent and wishes to leave. Jing Yuan dismisses this, claiming he only wanted to reminisce with an old acquaintance. Qu Zheng asserts Jing Yuan is mistaken and hasn't found the right person. Jing Yuan acknowledges potential errors but ominous declares everything will soon be revealed.
Returning to her companions, Jin Baiwan relays that Qu Zheng has also arrived, causing them distress. However, they agree the more immediate problem is the first round knockout competition scheduled for the following day. When the knockout round commences, Zi Jing announces the rules: contestants will be divided into red and blue camps to find a total of 70 tokens hidden in the forest within six hours. The team with more tokens wins, while the losing team is fully eliminated.
Scores will be reported three times, and after the second report, contestants can switch camps. The winning team proceeds to a one-on-one round for the final prize, the Lingyao Herb. Jin Baiwan and Jin Muqiu quickly choose the red camp. Noticing this, Qu Zheng deliberately selects the blue camp and attempts to persuade Jin Baiwan to join him, implying one of them will be eliminated if they are on opposing sides. Jin Baiwan refuses to be on his team.
Meanwhile, Qingyun is instructed by Jing Yuan that as the representative of Nonuple Palace, he must win the first round, and therefore must join the blue camp, which he reluctantly does. As contestants choose, some note that with Nonuple Palace joining the blue camp, it is likely to win. The competition begins, with contestants entering the forest to find tokens. Yu Linfeng also joins the red team.
During the search, Jin Muqiu and a friend are confronted by Yu Chen, who attempts to take their discovered tokens. Jin Muqiu defends herself, instructing her friend to leave while she handles him. Later, while Jin Muqiu is with Yu Linfeng, they are chased. Yu Linfeng protects her, an act that touches Jin Muqiu. However, their emotional moment is disrupted when Yu Linfeng brings up the strict rules of Taoyuan Valley and the incident involving her novels.
Jin Muqiu confronts him, asking if destroying her novels is the price for marrying into his family. Yu Linfeng insists the valley cannot accept her novels and asks if she would end their relationship over "mere novels." Jin Muqiu tearfully states her novels are not mere playthings and questions if they should continue their relationship if he believes that. Meanwhile, Qu Zheng actively gathers tokens for the blue team, amassing a significant number.
He even obtains tokens from disciples of Feng Mount by reminding them of a past favor owed by their Grandmaster, sidestepping the standard competition. He later encounters Jin Baiwan, revealing the large number of tokens he has collected. He notes their blue team is far ahead and refers to her as "Envoy Xueyue."
During the competition, a conflict erupts between members of the same team, prompting Zi Jing, acting as a referee, to intervene and announce a new rule: teammates are strictly prohibited from attacking each other. Later, Jin Baiwan realizes the red team is significantly behind, seeing the reported score is 15 for red and 21 for blue, with blue having a clear lead.
Qu Zheng finds her again and taunts her, suggesting she quit the competition as the gap is too large to overcome. However, the first bell signals the end of the initial phase and the start of the camp switching phase. This new phase allows contestants to switch camps by obtaining an opponent's sash and having it confirmed by Nonuple Palace disciples.
Dialogue among observers reveals this phase is designed to create chaos and test contestants' moral character, as switching camps is viewed by many martial artists as a form of betrayal, potentially leading to ostracism. Jin Baiwan worries about the situation but refuses Qu Zheng's offer to switch to the winning blue team. Unexpectedly, Qingyun is reported to have switched to the red team.
This action surprises Jing Yuan, who views it as a humiliation to Nonuple Palace, though his subordinate suggests Qingyun has his own reasons, which Jing Yuan attributes to his feelings for Jin Baiwan and calls a repeated act of disobedience. As more people switch, primarily to the blue team, the score gap widens further. Qingyun finds Jin Baiwan, explaining he cannot leave her in danger as the competition becomes more perilous, and promises to ensure she wins the Lingyao Herb.
It becomes clear, however, that even with Qingyun's efforts, the remaining tokens are unlikely to be enough to close the significant lead held by the blue team. Qingyun reiterates his commitment to helping her win before leaving. The third bell rings, signaling the start of the final fifteen minutes of the competition. Jin Baiwan is told by someone that this final segment is where anything goes, with contestants using any means necessary to win.
Seeking clarity, Jin Baiwan asks Zi Jing if all rules are broken in the last fifteen minutes. Zi Jing confirms that the "only" standing rule is that no harm can come to disciples of Nonuple Palace, who are serving as judges. Jin Baiwan acknowledges this information, formulating a plan. She distances herself from others, instructing anyone following her not to interfere with her pursuit of the Lingyao Herb. Then, she quietly returns to the blue team's stronghold.
Finding a Nonuple Palace guard there who was seeking refuge, she confirms the 'rules can be broken except harming Nonuple Palace disciples' understanding. Apologizing, she quickly incapacitates the guard, rationalizing that merely knocking him out doesn't violate the rule. She then proceeds to take a large number of tokens from the blue team's collection. Just as she is about to make her escape, Yu Chen from the blue team appears. He confronts her angrily, recognizing her and accusing her of stealing their tokens and betraying her original team, leading to a confrontation as other blue team members arrive.
