Her Fantastic Adventures Episode 31 Recap
> Her Fantastic Adventures Recap
Magistrate Du is discovered to be connected to the Sacred Blood Sect. Chief Inspector Jin is found disposing of bodies, claiming they were prisoners who died of illness or during toxicity tests under Magistrate Du's orders. Guard Xing attempts to intervene, and Duan Yu arrives, confronting Chief Inspector Jin and accusing him of aiding evil.
Duan Yu inspects the bodies and reveals that the prisoners' red eyes indicate they died from Bloodcraft, confirming their death was at the hands of the Sacred Blood Sect. Chief Inspector Jin pleads ignorance, stating Magistrate Du told him the bodies were for testing. Duan Yu tells Jin that if he wants to live, he must testify against Magistrate Du.
With Chief Inspector Jin as a witness and the bodies as evidence, Duan Yu reports to Duan Yan, and Duan Yan orders Magistrate Du Huaichang to be captured alive at all costs. Meanwhile, in the Du Residence, Ruoyun is unwell, suffering from anxiety and loss of appetite due to the revelations about her identity. Magistrate Du is deeply worried and instructs a servant to monitor Ruoyun closely and report any changes.
Later, servants hear a scream from Ruoyun's room but she refuses to let them in. Magistrate Du finds Ruoyun in distress near Yuanhua's body. Ruoyun is distraught, claiming she didn't mean to kill Yuanhua and doesn't know how it happened, saying she woke up and found herself in that state.
Magistrate Du tries to comfort her, telling her not to be afraid and promising she will become the Priestess once the Sacred Blood Sect is restored, assuring her that no matter her condition, others will only admire her. However, Ruoyun rejects this, stating she doesn't want admiration or the position of Priestess, wishing only to be an ordinary person and return to her old life.
Magistrate Du, realizing Duan Yan already suspects him and they are in danger in Changqing, asks Ruoyun if she is willing to leave forever and start over somewhere no one knows them. Ruoyun agrees, wanting only to be with him away from the people and events that haunt her. Magistrate Du orders a carriage prepared for them to leave the city immediately, cautioning his men not to harm the ordinary servants in the residence.
Around the same time, the Priest, Lu Zizheng, is discussed by members of the Duan family (or their allies), noting his unusual interference in secular affairs, particularly his public support for Gu Qingqiao and his apparent deep concern for her. They observe that Gu Qingqiao seems to be keeping him at a distance and has agreed not to share their plan with him yet.
Lu Zizheng has knocked out the Wuyi Guards and entered the Duan family dungeon where Gu Qingqiao is held. He tells her that Duan Yan is busy pursuing Magistrate Du, making it the ideal time for her to escape. Gu Qingqiao hesitates, mentioning she hasn't gathered all the Four Treasures and feels it's not the right time to return to the Divine Palace.
Lu Zizheng reassures her, claiming he knows the locations of two treasures and that Duan Yan has the last treasure map, promising to get her out and figure out the rest. Gu Qingqiao questions how he knows about the treasure map, as she didn't know about it when she left the Divine Palace. Lu asserts that as a Priest, he knows the secrets of the four noble families and the events in Jizhou made the information easy to deduce.
Gu Qingqiao presses him on how he knew Duan Yan specifically had the map, leading Lu to feel hurt and ask if she doubts him after all they've been through. Gu Qingqiao clarifies she's not doubting him, merely being cautious due to the complex situation. Duan Yu arrives and confronts Lu Zizheng for trespassing and attacking the guards, questioning his motives. Lu asks why he should explain himself to Duan Yu.
They argue, with Duan Yu stating Gu Qingqiao is his fiancée and his responsibility. Lu challenges him, asking why he waited so long to save her if that were true. Lu firmly states Gu Qingqiao is his friend and he will protect her regardless of his status as Priest. Gu Qingqiao interrupts, telling Duan Yu he's mistaken and Lu is helping her.
Then, she reveals to Lu that her apparent break with the Duan family and subsequent suffering were part of a strategic plan devised with Duan Yu to expose Magistrate Du, whom they suspected was involved with the Sacred Blood Sect. Lu is surprised she didn't tell him about this "bitter trick," but Gu Qingqiao explains it was too confidential and she didn't want to endanger him. Gu Qingqiao asks about Magistrate Du's situation.
Duan Yu confirms that Chief Inspector Jin confessed, solidifying the evidence of Magistrate Du's identity. Hearing that Magistrate Du is exposed and has likely fled, Lu Zizheng volunteers to assist in his capture. Duan Yu initially declines, but Lu insists they go together. The Duan family forces pursue Magistrate Du's carriage. Duan Yu and Chief Inspector Jin intercept the carriage first. Magistrate Du claims he is merely retiring to his hometown.
Duan Yu presents Chief Inspector Jin, who tells Magistrate Du that the bodies have been found and identified, revealing his connection to the Sacred Blood Sect. Magistrate Du denies the accusation, but Jin insists he knows the truth. Duan Yu asks Magistrate Du to return to Changqing for trial, for the sake of their families' long acquaintance. Magistrate Du's daughter, Ruoyun, is in the carriage, and he tells her to stay inside. Duan Yan arrives, reinforcing the pursuit.
Magistrate Du, seeing no escape, makes a desperate offer to Duan Yan: he will reveal the whereabouts of the Sacred Blood Sect Leader in exchange for Ruoyun's safety. Duan Yan orders his men to be cautious. Magistrate Du throws a smoke bomb, attempting to escape, but they are quickly surrounded. Ruoyun is injured when the carriage is overturned. Xing Si rushes to help her.
Magistrate Du, seeing Xing Si approach Ruoyun, misinterprets his intention and uses Bloodcraft to attack Xing Si, screaming not to touch his daughter. To save Xing Si, Duan Yu strikes Magistrate Du. Seeing the opportunity, Lu Zizheng quickly moves in and kills the weakened Magistrate Du, stating it is the last thing he can do for the Sacred Blood Sect.
Lu then takes the Meridian Gate necklace from his person and places it on Magistrate Du's body, presenting it as evidence found on him. Gu Qingqiao identifies the necklace as one of the Four Treasures, recognizing it from having seen it on the Sacred Blood Sect Leader before, thus concluding that Magistrate Du was indeed the Leader. Duan Yan's men ask what to do with Ruoyun.
Duan Yu intervenes, pleading with Duan Yan to spare Ruoyun as she is innocent and previously saved his life. Shaoyi also speaks up in her defense, arguing she is different from other Sacred Blood Sect members and might even be able to change back. Considering Ruoyun's innocence, lack of martial arts or Bloodcraft skills, and Duan Yu's plea, Duan Yan agrees to take her back to the Duan Residence for the time being.
Ruoyun expresses gratitude to Duan Yan and is helped away by Xing Si and Shaoyi. Later, Gu Qingqiao is wearing the Meridian Gate necklace given to her by Duan Yu. They discuss their confusion surrounding Magistrate Du's death – why no other Sacred Blood Sect members came to his aid, and why the treasure map was not found on him.
Gu Qingqiao questions Magistrate Du's motive for fleeing if he was the Leader, wondering why he wouldn't stop Duan Yan from killing her, as her death would presumably hinder the Sect's plans. Duan Yu suggests Magistrate Du might have fled because he realized he was suspected. Duan Yu assures her that Xing Si is thoroughly searching the Du Residence for the missing map.
Gu Qingqiao is distracted, thinking about the portrait inside the Meridian Gate and wishing they had cameras to take photos together. Lu Zizheng arrives, intending to escort Gu Qingqiao home. Duan Yu insists on taking her himself, suggesting Lu must be busy with Sacred Blood Sect matters now. Lu retorts that Duan Yu must be equally busy, but Gu Qingqiao ultimately leaves with Lu.
Gu Qingqiao's father, Gu Xingwu, is deeply concerned about her health, as a doctor confirms her pulse is very weak and she has little time left. Gu Xingwu reveals to Duan Yu that he knows Gu Qingqiao is the Star of Rebellion, but emphasizes that she is his daughter and he will not let anything happen to her. Showing Duan Yu her rapidly greying hair, he pleads with him to find a way to save her.
Duan Yu promises to do everything in his power to protect her. Xing Si continues the extensive search of the Du Residence for the treasure map, including looking for secret rooms and investigating Magistrate Du's close contacts like Yang Chunfeng. He reports to Duan Yu that no trace of the map has been found, suggesting it might have been destroyed before Magistrate Du fled.
Duan Yu rejects this possibility and orders the search to continue, simultaneously ordering the Du Residence sealed. Xing Si visits Ruoyun and asks if her father ever mentioned the treasure map, explaining that finding it might help her stay in the Duan family and avoid hardship. Ruoyun maintains she knows nothing about it.
She asks Xing Si where she will be sent, feeling that as someone with Sacred Blood Sect blood, now looking different and having lost her father and status, no relatives will take her in. Xing Si assures her there's always a way and that he and Shaoyi will ensure she is not mistreated. Ruoyun expresses despair, questioning the purpose of her life now that her father is dead and her family is ruined.
Overwhelmed, she confesses to Xing Si that she killed Yuanhua during a moment when she lost control, asking if Duan Yan will kill her if he finds out. Xing Si, pretending not to have heard, urges her never to speak of it again. Later, Ruoyun overhears Shaoyi pleading with Duan Yan to let her stay in the Duan Residence longer, only to be met with a cold refusal.
Duan Yan states that keeping her is inappropriate due to her identity and gender, and that not killing her is already his greatest generosity. When Shaoyi offers to marry her to protect her, Duan Yan dismisses the idea as absurd and forbids it, causing Shaoyi to angrily leave, calling Duan Yan heartless. Having overheard this, Ruoyun feels a sense of bitter irony for hoping for protection from her father's killer.
Concluding she has no place in the world, she decides to end her life and take her secret with her. As she prepares to do so, Lu Zizheng appears, stopping her. He asks why she is there and she gives a vague excuse. He then questions why she didn't tell Duan Yan that her father wasn't the real Sacred Blood Sect Leader, revealing that Magistrate Du had been harboring someone who was the true Leader. Ruoyun asks how he knows this. Lu Zizheng then reveals the shocking truth: he himself is that person, the real Sacred Blood Sect Leader.
