Joy of Life Episode 35 Recap
> Joy of Life Recap
Fan Xian, leading the mission to the Nanqing border, orchestrated a deceptive plan with Gao Da. Disguised men, pretending to be Shangshan Hu's subordinates, knocked out Gao Da and "rescued" Xiao En, who then galloped away. Fan Xian feigned pursuit, while Wang Qinian, who had already set up an ambush, reported that the ruse was successful; everyone believed Shangshan Hu’s men were responsible. Fan Xian confirmed that someone was still covertly following Xiao En.
Xiao En, in his escape, discovered Wang Qinian's presence. He confronted Wang Qinian, accusing him of setting the iron chains that tripped his horse. Wang Qinian, using his lightness skill to evade Xiao En's attacks, casually confirmed his involvement and continued leaving marks on stones, telling Xiao En to focus on his escape. Wang Qinian led Xiao En to a steep ravine, where Fan Xian descended to engage Xiao En in battle. Both sustained injuries during their fierce exchange.
Gao Da and his team arrived, surrounding Xiao En, who then realized he had been tricked. Fan Xian, commenting on Xiao En's age, revealed that the "rescue" was a ruse orchestrated by him, confirming that the men who pretended to be Shangshan Hu's subordinates were his own people. Xiao En asked if Fan Xian's intention was to kill him, but Fan Xian then pressed Xiao En for his secrets, asking if he knew Danzhou.
When Fan Xian stated he grew up there, Xiao En's demeanor shifted, and he simply urged Fan Xian to kill him. As Fan Xian held Xiao En, having thrown his dagger away earlier, Haitang Duoduo suddenly appeared from the jungle and sat on a rock. Fan Xian threatened Xiao En’s life if she approached, but she dared him to proceed, revealing she was not there to save Xiao En.
Fan Xian identified her as Haitang Duoduo, Saintess of Beiqi and Ku He's apprentice. Haitang Duoduo acknowledged Fan Xian as Nanqing's "poetic genius" but also labeled him "insidious and ruthless." She then said she also intended to kill Xiao En, offering to let Fan Xian kill him while she watched. Instead, Fan Xian challenged Haitang Duoduo to a fight. Haitang Duoduo, surprised, reluctantly agreed.
Their acrobatic battle was intense, with Haitang Duoduo calling Fan Xian "insane" and "shameless" for his tactics. Fan Xian eventually admitted defeat, calling a halt and praising her "above Ninth Dan" skill. He explained he fought to spar with a master to improve his martial arts. He also asked why Ku He wanted Xiao En dead, but Haitang Duoduo refused to answer. She then insisted he kill Xiao En.
Fan Xian refused, explaining that he had invested too much effort in capturing Xiao En to simply kill him. Haitang Duoduo, growing impatient, again threatened to kill Xiao En herself. At this point, Guo Baokun and Zhao Da with his retired soldiers had also arrived, hiding nearby. Yan Xiaoyi, who was observing Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo from behind a rock, suddenly shot an arrow at Fan Xian, declaring his intent to avenge his humiliation in the capital.
Haitang Duoduo instinctively intercepted the arrow. Fan Xian pulled Haitang Duoduo behind a large rock, identifying Yan Xiaoyi as Nanqing's unparalleled Ninth Dan archer. He then tried to instigate a fight between Yan Xiaoyi and Haitang Duoduo, suggesting it would bring Yan Xiaoyi great fame. Yan Xiaoyi, however, was focused on killing Fan Xian. As Yan Xiaoyi prepared to shoot again, a cavalry force was heard approaching. He temporarily ceased fire, and Haitang Duoduo seized the opportunity to slip away.
The cavalry turned out to be Beiqi soldiers led by Shangshan Hu, Xiao En's adoptive son. Shangshan Hu, enraged to see Xiao En injured, confronted Fan Xian, asking if Fan Xian was responsible for his adoptive father's wounds. Fan Xian, recognizing Shangshan Hu's formidable skill, attempted to appease him with poetry, but Shangshan Hu dismissed it, threatening to make it Fan Xian’s last will. Fan Xian then tried to provoke him by questioning his surname.
Meanwhile, Guo Baokun, hiding nearby, intended to kill Shangshan Hu for military honors to free his father, but Zhao Da advised waiting for Fan Xian to die first. Xiao En intervened, stopping Shangshan Hu from killing Fan Xian, insisting Fan Xian be taken back to Beiqi to ascertain his identity. Fan Xian, Wang Qinian, and Gao Da were taken captive. Shangshan Hu also threatened to kill Wang Qinian and Gao Da, which Fan Xian desperately tried to prevent.
Just then, Yan Xiaoyi and his cavalry appeared, blocking their path and still demanding Fan Xian's death. Yan Xiaoyi offered Shangshan Hu a deal: kill Fan Xian, and he would leave. When Shangshan Hu refused, Yan Xiaoyi ordered his men to attack everyone. In the ensuing chaos, Guo Baokun, seeing an opportunity for military glory to free his father, urged Zhao Da and his veterans to attack Shangshan Hu. Zhao Da and his men charged Shangshan Hu.
Yan Xiaoyi took the opportunity to wound Shangshan Hu with an arrow and then killed Zhao Da's old soldiers. Guo Baokun pursued Fan Xian, who had been pulled behind a rock by Xiao En. Guo Baokun attempted to stab Fan Xian, but Fan Xian deftly used a rope to seize the knife from Guo Baokun. Fan Xian then kicked Guo Baokun out of the way of an arrow shot by Yan Xiaoyi.
Yan Xiaoyi, intent on silencing all witnesses to his unauthorized actions, then killed Zhao Da. Guo Baokun, terrified, pleaded for his life, identifying himself and his men to Yan Xiaoyi as loyal Qing subjects, not bandits. Fan Xian, realizing Haitang Duoduo was still nearby, called out for her help. Haitang Duoduo appeared, swinging her battle-axe and knocking Yan Xiaoyi to the ground, which prompted Yan Xiaoyi and his men to retreat.
Haitang Duoduo then declared her intention to kill Xiao En. Fan Xian, exhausted and knowing he was no match for her, stepped forward to stop her. He discreetly administered a drug to her. Haitang Duoduo, surprised by the sudden flush and racing heart, accused Fan Xian of insidious tactics. Fan Xian, to make her retreat, brazenly claimed it was an aphrodisiac and warned her he never takes advantage of others in distress.
Still affected, Haitang Duoduo ran into the forest and plunged into a river to clear her head. Fan Xian wanted to hide Xiao En, but the mission's guards arrived and took Xiao En back. Fan Xian quickly told Xiao En to claim he was captured by Fan Xian, asserting that only Fan Xian truly wanted to keep him alive.
Wang Qinian, quick-witted, then spun a convincing story for the mission officials: Shangshan Hu had attempted to rescue Xiao En but was repelled by Fan Xian, which everyone believed. Later, Fan Xian engaged Xiao En in conversation, trying to extract his secrets and asking what was so special about Danzhou that made Xiao En hold back from killing him earlier. Xiao En protested that while he wanted to escape, he didn't intend to betray the country by killing mission members.
He then warned Fan Xian about Chen Pingping's loyalty, pointing out the suspicious absence of the black knights during the entire ordeal, and urged Fan Xian to cultivate more allies, rather than relying solely on Chen Pingping. Wang Qinian concurred, noting Shangshan Hu's brazen attack near Beiqi, indicating potential dangers for Xiao En within Beiqi's court. Fan Xian, still bothered by the black knights' absence, dismissed Wang Qinian's suggestion of Chen Pingping's "oversight."
He then arranged for the burial of the fallen soldiers. Fan Xian approached Guo Baokun, who was distraught over his failed revenge. Fan Xian offered a deal: he would personally petition Emperor Qing to release Guo Baokun's father, Guo Youzhi, whose clique charges were now less significant with Princess Royal Li Yunrui out of the capital.
In return, Guo Baokun had to testify that Yan Xiaoyi colluded with Beiqi to assassinate the mission, and also ensure his family's network allied with Fan Xian in court once his father was free. Guo Baokun, feeling he had no other recourse, reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, Si Lili, hearing about Fan Xian's initial claim of using an aphrodisiac on Haitang Duoduo, confronted him with sarcastic remarks, questioning his integrity.
As Fan Xian attempted to leave, Yan Xiaoyi reappeared and shot an arrow at him. Si Lili selflessly shielded Fan Xian, taking the arrow. Yan Xiaoyi fled. Fan Xian carried Si Lili to a carriage, and being the only one with medical expertise, removed her upper garment to treat the wound, explaining the urgency. When Si Lili awoke, she was embarrassed about her clothes and continued to question Fan Xian about the "aphrodisiac."
Just then, Wang Qinian called Fan Xian, informing him that Haitang Duoduo was waiting. Fan Xian went to meet Haitang Duoduo by the river, noting she had dried her clothes with internal force. She demanded an antidote for the drug. Fan Xian insisted it was not an aphrodisiac, but a metabolism-boosting agent he created, explaining its effects caused a racing heart and flush, not poison.
He admitted to lying earlier to make her retreat, arguing that if he hadn't, she would have attacked him then. When she continued to challenge him, he argued she wouldn't kill him as it would ignite a war between Nanqing and Beiqi, and her true nature wasn't bloodthirsty, citing her hesitation to kill Xiao En earlier. He even offered her a fruit from the mission's supplies, which she accepted, acknowledging his peculiar character.
Gao Da, observing from a distance, worried for Fan Xian, but Wang Qinian confidently declared that Fan Xian and the Saintess had likely resolved their differences and become friends, perhaps even sharing fruit, attributing it to Fan Xian's charm and his teacher Fei Jie's potent "aphrodisiac."
