Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 16 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
As Yuan Ziyi feigned sleep, Hu Fei, feeling shy about directly confessing his feelings, placed a small comb he had bought for her beside her pillow. He told her softly that he always wanted to make her happy but often messed things up, asking for her forgiveness. He explained that if she wore the comb in her hair the next day, it would signify her reciprocation of his feelings; otherwise, he would forget he ever mentioned it.
Yuan Ziyi, sensing his approach, opened her eyes and their gazes met, sparking a mutual affection. Just as Hu Fei leaned closer to Yuan Ziyi, they heard approaching horse hooves. Yuan Ziyi immediately sat up, and Hu Fei quickly put out their fire. Soon, Feng Tiannan, his son, and Liu Zhiguo with their men arrived at the Guanyin Temple, seeking shelter from the heavy rain. Feng Tiannan, ever cautious, had his men check the temple before they entered.
While resting, Feng Tiannan urged his men to eat quickly, insisting they must continue their journey despite the rain, fearing for their safety if they stayed too long near the main road. Hu Fei recognized Feng Tiannan, his long-sought target for vengeance for the Zhong family. Hu Fei dramatically leaped from the rafters, announcing "Feng Tiannan!" He quickly engaged the men, striking down Feng Tiannan's companions with precise knife movements and forceful kicks.
In a short time, only Feng Tiannan, his son, and Hu Fei remained in the temple, while Yuan Ziyi observed silently from her hiding spot. Seeing Hu Fei's determination, Feng Tiannan, knowing he was outmatched, pleaded for his son's life, offering his own in exchange. Hu Fei pressed him, recalling Feng Tiannan's merciless actions against Zhong Asi's family, including young San and Er. Overwhelmed, Feng Tiannan prepared to take his own life.
At that critical moment, a silver whip flashed out, coiling around his weapon and stopping him. Yuan Ziyi then stated that it was inappropriate to shed blood within a temple, and sternly ordered Feng Tiannan and his son to leave, letting them escape. Furious, Hu Fei demanded to know why Yuan Ziyi had stopped him and prevented him from avenging Fourth Uncle Zhong.
Yuan Ziyi simply stated she had her reasons, but when Hu Fei called her unreasonable, she retorted, "That's right. This is who I am. Now that you've seen my true colours." Hu Fei insisted she explain herself before leaving, but Yuan Ziyi refused, declaring she was not as good as he thought and reiterating, "This is who I am." She spoke of her master's words about divine judgment, believing her current predicament was a consequence of her karma.
With finality, she told Hu Fei, "From now on, we're even. I'll have nothing more to do with you." As she finished speaking, she brandished her silver whip, actively blocking Hu Fei's pursuit of Feng Tiannan. Their ensuing duel was intense, with Yuan Ziyi holding nothing back, leaving Hu Fei no chance to recover.
After a series of rapid maneuvers and clashing weapons, Hu Fei was the first to cease fighting, looking at Yuan Ziyi with a deep sense of disappointment and sorrow, rather than fear. Yuan Ziyi offered no explanation for her actions, choosing to let the misunderstanding fester between them. She reiterated that their obligations were settled and turned to leave. Hu Fei chased after her, desperately calling her name, pleading for her to return and forgive him for turning against her.
He searched the mountains, but Yuan Ziyi had vanished, though unbeknownst to him, she was nearby, crying silently in a hidden spot. Hu Fei eventually returned alone to the Guanyin Temple, where he stood for a moment, lost in thought amidst the traces of their bitter struggle. He then retrieved his wrapped belongings from behind the Guanyin statue and departed.
Tian Guinong received the devastating news that despite the best efforts of skilled doctors, his and Nan Lan's unborn child could not be saved. Monks were brought in to recite the Mantra of Rebirth-in-Pureland for the child's soul. Tian Guinong visited a grief-stricken Nan Lan, who apologized, blaming herself for their loss. He reassured her that it wasn't her fault, though a doctor explained her prolonged depression and a blow to her abdomen had caused the tragedy.
Unbeknownst to Nan Lan, Tian Guinong’s men wondered if he was heading to confront Miao Renfeng. Driven by his own sorrow and a desire for vengeance, Tian Guinong then sought out Shi Wanchen, a poison expert who had pledged allegiance to him after being expelled from his own sect decades ago. Tian Guinong, cutting through Shi Wanchen's feigned surprise, ordered him to kill someone, stating, "This time, he must die."
He then questioned the progress on Shi Wanchen's research into the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis, a deadly plant Shi Wanchen had previously mentioned could kill silently, wondering why, after all the money provided, it wasn't ready. Shi Wanchen led Tian Guinong to a hidden, dark area, revealing his cultivation of the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis. He explained that this "darkest thing" could only germinate in such lightless conditions.
Tian Guinong, seeing no signs of growth, angrily demanded what Shi Wanchen had been doing for years. Shi Wanchen explained that even his own master, who had obtained the seeds from abroad, had failed to cultivate it for years. Only recently had he discovered that the plant required watering with fluid from rotten bodies to grow properly.
He recounted his master’s previous warnings about the plant's extreme toxicity, capable of killing silently and undetectably once refined, and how fortunate it was that it was so difficult to cultivate, otherwise the world would never know peace. Chen Yu, the newly appointed Chief of the Taiji Sect after being personally chosen by the late Chief Lv Xixian, addressed the assembled heroes.
He vowed to restore the sect's prominence, lamenting how previous chiefs had merely preserved its status rather than allowing it to flourish. He announced his intention to attend the World's Sect Leaders Gathering in the capital, an invitation extended by the imperial court in recognition of his service. Later, Feng Tiannan and his son arrived, joining the celebratory banquet.
Feng Tiannan, looking disheveled, confessed to Chen Yu that he had "failed miserably in an easy task" due to an "unlucky day." He requested money from their past business dealings for his urgent journey north and asked Chen Yu to look after Liu Zhiguo for a few days, to which Chen Yu readily agreed, promising to treat Liu Zhiguo as his own brother. Feng Tiannan and his son then departed for the capital, expecting to meet Chen Yu there.
After Feng Tiannan's departure, some of Chen Yu's men spoke disparagingly of Feng Tiannan's downfall at the hands of an unknown young man. Chen Yu, however, chastised them, reminding them that Feng Tiannan, though humbled, was still a formidable figure with extensive connections in the Foshan martial arts world. Later, Hu Fei arrived at the Taiji Sect, drawn by the lively atmosphere of the three-day banquet celebrating Chen Yu's ascension.
He inquired if anyone had seen a lady dressed in purple clothes, unaware that Liu Zhiguo had spotted him and quickly informed Chen Yu, seeing it as an opportunity to avenge Feng Tiannan. Chen Yu, having heard tales of Hu Fei forcing the Feng family to abandon their home and business, was intrigued. Chen Yu approached Hu Fei, introducing himself and asking why Hu Fei was present.
Hu Fei explained he was looking for a lost friend and had stumbled upon the celebration. Chen Yu then warmly invited him to join the martial arts elite in the inner chambers, explaining that the outer banquet was for commoners.
Hu Fei initially declined, wanting to continue his search, but Chen Yu pressed him, saying, "making an appointment is not as good as meeting by chance" and that he would be honored if Hu Fei joined them for a drink at the head table. Hu Fei, accepting the invitation, then asked a servant if he had seen a lady in purple with a silver whip, to which the servant replied he would help look for her later.
Hu Fei entered what he believed was a private guest room, expressing discomfort at being alone, but was assured by the servant that others would soon join. He settled down, unaware he had walked into Chen Yu's meticulously laid trap. Hu Fei suddenly found himself plummeting into a deep pit, dozens of meters below. He angrily yelled for his captors, demanding to know who they were and why they had ambushed him, calling them cowards for fighting dirty.
Chen Yu's men, observing from above, dismissed him as an "ordinary guy" and left him to his fate. Frustrated and regretting his predicament, Hu Fei began to search for an escape. He soon heard a voice and discovered an old man, pale and with an injured leg, sitting on a stone bed. Hu Fei introduced himself, explaining that the Taiji Sect and Feng Tiannan had conspired to trap him.
The old man, who revealed himself as Sun Gangfeng, a martial uncle of the Taiji Sect, explained that Chen Yu, his martial nephew and the sect's new leader, had also imprisoned him. Sun Gangfeng expressed the near impossibility of escape, but Hu Fei, refusing to simply await death, urged him to share any knowledge of an exit, hoping to learn a way for both of them to escape. Sun Gangfeng, convinced by Hu Fei's determination, agreed to show him something.
