Joy of Life Episode 34 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Wuzhu, guided by his fragmented memories, located Ku He's secluded cliff cave, a retreat hidden behind a roaring waterfall. Ku He, anticipating Wuzhu's arrival, acknowledged Wuzhu's unchanging nature despite his memory loss. Wuzhu declared his purpose: to fight. He proposed that if Ku He remained in his retreat and did not interfere with Xiao En's return to Beiqi, Wuzhu would not intervene.
However, Ku He adamantly stated that Xiao En must not return alive, a declaration Wuzhu met with a challenge to fight. It was at this point that Haitang Duoduo, Ku He's highly skilled disciple who had been observing from the forest, swiftly intervened. She paused their impending duel, asserting that if Wuzhu were to accept such a fight, survival would be difficult. Without further ado, she lunged at Wuzhu with her twin axes.
Wuzhu adeptly evaded her blows, causing his raft to rock precariously. Ku He then sternly cautioned Haitang against her impetuousness, reminding her that she was no match for Wuzhu. Ignoring her master, Haitang leaped onto the raft, relentlessly pressing her attack against Wuzhu with her sharp broadaxe. Wuzhu calmly and expertly defended himself, quickly deflecting her assault, leading Haitang to admit her defeat.
She even expressed awe at Wuzhu's remarkable ability to detect her presence and tactical shifts during their brief interaction, confessing she could not overcome him. Ku He then explicitly ordered Haitang to proceed into Nanqing territory to kill Xiao En before he could return to the capital. Haitang, concerned that Wuzhu had overheard their plan, questioned how she could possibly leave unnoticed. Ku He simply replied that anyone except a Great Master was free to depart.
As Haitang departed, she paused to playfully inquire about Wuzhu's secret to his incredibly smooth and flawless skin, leaving him visibly flustered. After Haitang left, Wuzhu plunged into the roaring waterfall, commencing his anticipated duel with Ku He. From a distance, Haitang watched, marveling at the intense battle within the cave, the clash of their internal energies churning the waterfall into a chaotic spray. Despite knowing her master couldn't hear, she couldn't help but cheer him on.
Back at the mission's resting place, Wang Qinian proudly reported to Fan Xian and Gao Da that he had successfully diffused Xiao En's hostility with his witty words. He also pointed out Si Lili, who was being escorted, remarking on her apparent affection for Fan Xian. Gao Da surprisingly agreed, teasing Fan Xian about it. Fan Xian dismissed their banter and immediately demanded a precise recount of Wang Qinian’s conversation with Xiao En.
Wang Qinian reported to Fan Xian that he had deliberately downplayed his own importance to Xiao En, hoping to prevent Xiao En from using him as leverage. However, Fan Xian gravely concluded that, contrary to Wang Qinian’s belief, Xiao En would likely attempt to kill him within the day, a prediction that baffled both Wang Qinian and Gao Da. That night, Fan Xian secretly entered Xiao En's carriage.
He revealed that he had been poisoning Xiao En's food for days and now directly administered more poison with a hollow needle. While doing so, he disarmed Xiao En, retrieving a sharpened bamboo piece hidden within the iron chains. Fan Xian confronted Xiao En, revealing his knowledge of the plan to kill Wang Qinian. Xiao En confessed his intent. Fan Xian warned Xiao En to leave Wang Qinian unharmed, asserting that Wang Qinian was a valuable subordinate.
After Fan Xian left, Xiao En, using his internal energy, expelled the poison from his body. Fan Xian later showed the sharpened bamboo piece to a terrified Wang Qinian and Gao Da. He explained that Xiao En, brutal and cunning, and having been imprisoned for years, desperately craved an outlet for his pent-up rage and would likely choose a seemingly insignificant target like Wang Qinian.
However, Fan Xian also clarified that Xiao En wouldn't attempt to seize Wang Qinian as leverage, as his paramount concern was survival, and such a move would risk his life. Wang Qinian finally grasped the dangerous truth. Later, before retiring for the night, Fan Xian discreetly informed Wang Qinian and Gao Da that their route to Beiqi would pass through Cangzhou, emphasizing the need for secrecy to avoid premature interception. Meanwhile, Yan Xiaoyi received an urgent, secret edict.
Despite his officers suggesting he rest, he insisted on patrolling the border, believing Beiqi would not cause trouble. Upon receiving the edict, he immediately decided to pursue an assassination mission in Cangzhou, which lay on Fan Xian’s route to Beiqi. He informed his loyal subordinates that this was a dangerous mission that required crossing the border, a severe breach of law. He offered them the choice to stay behind without consequence, but all of them chose to follow him.
Yan Xiaoyi revealed their target was the person traveling through Cangzhou to Beiqi, which implies Fan Xian. Elsewhere, Guo Baokun, seeking revenge for his father, secretly visited Guo Youzhi in prison. He proudly informed his father that he had hired a group of assassins, whom he deemed exceptional, to ambush Fan Xian in the wilderness.
Guo Youzhi, horrified by his son’s reckless plan, vehemently tried to dissuade him, but Guo Baokun, consumed by his desire for vengeance and convinced of his own strategic genius after reading military texts, refused to listen. The next day, Guo Baokun met with the leader of his hired killers, Zhao Da, outside the city gate. Zhao Da explained that his "assassins," who were supposedly retired soldiers, couldn't enter the city due to the "tricky" nature of their equipment.
To Guo Baokun’s dismay, these turned out to be ordinary villagers loudly hawking vegetables from a cart. Zhao Da insisted they were seasoned veterans and demonstrated their "weapons" – sickles and rolling pins. Despite his disappointment, Guo Baokun, having no other suitable candidates, reluctantly took them along. Their journey quickly turned into a disaster when Guo Baokun's specially chosen "Supreme horse," a ceremonial animal unsuited for long-distance travel and deprived of premium forage, collapsed from relentless diarrhea.
Unaccustomed to such physical hardship, Guo Baokun struggled immensely, often having to be carried by Zhao Da. Despite the bitterness of the wild food and the grueling trek, he remained resolute in his determination to kill Fan Xian. He then instructed his ragtag group to launch a surprise attack on Fan Xian, confident in his own military strategy. Fan Xian continued to subtly poison Xiao En with his hollow needle, feigning respect for the elder while administering the potent substance.
Xiao En, still cunning, probed Fan Xian about his intentions and cultivation, observing Fan Xian's diligent practice and strong perseverance. Fan Xian, deflecting the probes, then proceeded to Si Lili's carriage. Upon entering Si Lili's carriage, Fan Xian's fatigue was immediately apparent to her. She compassionately offered him a massage, which he accepted. Fan Xian then initiated a psychological interrogation, questioning why Si Lili showed him kindness despite his past actions—arresting, threatening, and interrogating her.
Si Lili confessed that while her experiences with him were arduous, she found herself unable to hate him. She explained that his saving her life eventually allowed her to escape her plight, leaving her conflicted between gratitude and resentment. Ultimately, she admitted that his "shadow" had been carved into her heart. Fan Xian, seeing through her outward composure, produced a hairpin she had been secretly clutching since entering the carriage.
He directly addressed her fears, explaining that she kept the hairpin as her only reliance against his perceived "animal disposition," yet lacked the courage to either harm him or commit suicide, as she desired to live. Overwhelmed by being completely exposed, Si Lili broke down, crying uncontrollably. Fan Xian encouraged her to release all her pent-up emotions, causing her loud sobs to echo outside the carriage.
Xiao En overheard her crying and asked Wang Qinian about Fan Xian, noting that Fan Xian must be formidable to break Si Lili's emotional defenses in enemy territory, predicting Fan Xian would become a great enemy for Beiqi. After her catharsis, Si Lili felt much lighter and revealed her true identity: Li Lisi, a member of the Nanqing imperial family.
During Emperor Qing’s bloody ascent to the throne, her clan was nearly annihilated, forcing her and her family to flee to Beiqi. Beiqi then used her younger brother, her only remaining kin, to coerce her into becoming a spy in Nanqing. Fan Xian offered to help her rescue her brother and bring him back to Nanqing. Si Lili, however, only wanted to know if Fan Xian was getting married.
When he confirmed his engagement and his deep affection for his fiancée, she, despite her inner sadness, wished him a long and happy marriage. Fan Xian then assured her that no one would harm her on the way and that he was indeed sending her home. Meanwhile, Fei Jie, deeply worried about Fan Xian, angrily confronted Chen Pingping.
He expressed his concern that by sending Fan Xian into such danger, Chen Pingping was deliberately putting his "nephew" in harm's way, especially after Fei Jie had rushed back to the capital, enduring six assassination attempts on his way. Fei Jie was particularly concerned about Xiao En's dangerous nature. Chen Pingping, however, could only offer evasive answers to Fei Jie's worries.
Unbeknownst to Fei Jie, Chen Pingping had indeed ordered Shadow to withdraw all the black knights from Fan Xian's side, leaving him vulnerable. Shadow questioned Chen Pingping’s decision, citing intelligence that Shangshan Hu, Beiqi's War God and Xiao En's adoptive son, was moving south to rescue Xiao En, which would put Fan Xian in direct confrontation with him.
Chen Pingping, however, instructed Shadow not to inform Fei Jie and revealed his deeper motive: he had spent years gaining Fan Xian's trust to prepare him for this moment, hinting at a larger plan that was finally nearing fruition. Later, Xiao En, affected by Chen Pingping's manipulations, warned Fan Xian not to trust Chen Pingping, saying he would regret it.
Fan Xian, having learned from Wuzhu that his mother had a connection to Xiao En and that her arrival in this world was tied to him, needed to extract a secret from Xiao En. He confided in Wang Qinian and Gao Da, asserting their trustworthiness as declared by his father. Fan Xian revealed his audacious plan to "kidnap" Xiao En.
He explained that his mother had once traveled with Xiao En and had even suggested her very existence was somehow connected to him, so he needed to question Xiao En. He intended to impersonate Shangshan Hu, Xiao En's adoptive son, to stage a fake rescue.
This would not only allow him to question Xiao En but also ensure that Beiqi, believing their own people rescued Xiao En, would be in the wrong and thus not impede the exchange for Yan Bingyun.
