Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 19 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
Hu Fei, without complaint, continued to water the flowers with manure. When he asked if two buckets were enough, Cheng Lingsu simply told him to get another. He then tried to negotiate, mentioning it was getting dark and asking if he could go to Medicine King Manor first and return later. Cheng Lingsu sternly told him to stay and water the flowers, stating that she only allowed him to stay because he seemed nice.
She accused him of insincerity if he was helping purely for directions. Accepting her words, Hu Fei continued his task. Seeing his sincerity, Cheng Lingsu eventually gave him two blue flowers, saying she wouldn't let him work for nothing. As they left, Lv Xiaomei complained about getting only "wild flowers" for all their effort, but Hu Fei quieted her, acknowledging they were in the wrong for ruining Cheng Lingsu's flowers earlier.
Cheng Lingsu then asked for Hu Fei's name and, upon learning it, instructed him to head northeast if he intended to go to Medicine King Manor. Hu Fei and Lv Xiaomei reached a mysterious farmhouse. Hu Fei noted its eerie atmosphere, and they soon heard people shouting for the King of Poison, claiming they had found him. From inside, Jiang Xiaotie, son of Xue Que and Jiang Tieshan, nervously asked his father if their enemies could breach the defenses.
Jiang Tieshan assured him they could not, explaining that anyone approaching the Blood Chinquapin plants would die. Hu Fei realized this must be the King of Poison's residence. Lv Xiaomei pointed out the "creepy red flowers" surrounding the house, correctly identifying them as toxic and urging caution. Hu Fei announced his presence, stating he came unarmed, meant no harm, and sought medicine. Jiang Tieshan defiantly declared from within that intruders could enter "if they have a death wish."
Suddenly, Lv Xiaomei collapsed, overcome by the poison from the Blood Chinquapin. Jiang Tieshan, observing Hu Fei, was astonished that he hadn't succumbed to the same fate. Rushing to Lv Xiaomei's side, Hu Fei confirmed she had been poisoned. He immediately gave her the blue flower he received earlier, telling her it was an antidote, which quickly revived her.
He then surmised that the young lady who gave him the flower must be connected to the King of Poison and decided they should return to her for help instead of attempting to force their way in. Meanwhile, inside the farmhouse, Xue Que realized with alarm that Cheng Lingsu's blue flowers could neutralize the Blood Chinquapin poison. Jiang Tieshan shared her concern, fearing their family would die if their enemies discovered this vulnerability.
Xue Que instructed their son, Jiang Xiaotie, to go out after dark and destroy all the blue flowers, to which he readily agreed. Hu Fei called out to Cheng Lingsu's house, and she immediately invited them in. He recognized her and apologized for troubling her late at night. Cheng Lingsu offered them a simple meal, apologizing for the humble hospitality.
Lv Xiaomei, wary of Cheng Lingsu's apparent foreknowledge and solitary dwelling in such an isolated place, whispered to Hu Fei not to eat or drink. Hu Fei, however, reminded her that Cheng Lingsu had saved them with the blue flower. Inside, Lv Xiaomei continued to refuse food and tea, claiming a stomach ache and lack of appetite. Cheng Lingsu pointedly asked if she was displeased with the hospitality.
Hu Fei quickly covered for Lv Xiaomei, explaining that she knew his large appetite and was ensuring he had enough to eat. Cheng Lingsu then asked if he could finish all the food, which he confidently affirmed. Hu Fei also asked if she lived alone, and Cheng Lingsu revealed she had been on her own since she was thirteen, acknowledging the difficulties faced by a young woman living alone.
As Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu conversed, Jiang Xiaotie appeared outside on horseback, riding through Cheng Lingsu's flower field and setting it on fire. Cheng Lingsu rushed out, demanding to know who he was and why he was destroying her flowers, ordering him to leave. She used an etching bone nail to injure him, and he fled. Upon returning, Hu Fei discovered Lv Xiaomei appearing completely drunk, despite having consumed no alcohol.
Cheng Lingsu calmly explained that Lv Xiaomei was indeed drunk, but not from alcohol, and that her excessive caution was precisely why she succumbed to it. She then contrasted Lv Xiaomei’s wariness with Hu Fei’s obedience, noting he did the manual labor when asked and ate the food provided, leading her to wonder how she could ever harm someone so compliant. Hu Fei realized that by simply following Cheng Lingsu's instructions, he had inadvertently done everything correctly.
He complimented her clever "prank," admitting he still didn't fully grasp how she managed it. Cheng Lingsu revealed the flower was called "Drunken Fragrance," its petals so intoxicating that prolonged exposure to its scent could induce drunkenness. She had placed an antidote in the food and tea, but Lv Xiaomei's refusal to partake had left her vulnerable. Hu Fei then asked Cheng Lingsu her name.
She introduced herself as Cheng Lingsu, explaining that her name was derived from the classic medical texts "Lingshu Jing" and "Suwen". She cautioned him not to use her surname in front of others. Hu Fei suggested calling her "Young Lady Ling," but noted it might be mistaken for "Young Lady Lin." Cheng Lingsu assured him that Lv Xiaomei would recover by sunrise. Declaring her need to meet some people, she invited Hu Fei to join her, which he readily accepted.
She instructed him to carry a heavy bamboo basket. As they journeyed into the dark Black Tiger Grove, Hu Fei questioned her easy trust in people, to which she responded that living life with everyone as a potential enemy would be dull. He then brought up her earlier instruction to take a twenty-li detour northeast to Medicine King Manor, which was actually in the northwest. Cheng Lingsu revealed they were never going to the manor at all.
Her initial instruction to water the flowers was a test, and the detour was to ensure he arrived at the manor at dusk when the Blood Chinquapin's toxicity was weakest, allowing her blue flowers to serve as an effective antidote. Hu Fei expressed his immense gratitude, realizing he narrowly avoided the fate of the corpses he saw, which she identified as victims of the incurable Wraith Bat poison.
Upon reaching their destination, Cheng Lingsu had Hu Fei put down the basket and instructed him to hide. She then laid down three strict rules for him: no talking, no fighting or using hidden weapons, and most importantly, to stay within three steps of her. Hu Fei agreed to all terms. She gave him a pill to hold in his mouth, not to swallow, again reminding him of their three promises.
As the moon rose, Hu Fei observed a limping, hunchbacked woman, Xue Que, and a burly man, Jiang Tieshan, approaching with a lantern that soon emitted a poisonous smoke. Jiang Tieshan called out to "Senior Murong," announcing their arrival as promised. From the bamboo basket, Murong Jingyue emerged, accusing his siblings of becoming increasingly cunning. Jiang Tieshan retorted, mockingly, that this was rich coming from someone hiding in a basket, and challenged Murong Jingyue’s ability to neutralize his poison.
Feigning defeat, Murong Jingyue offered an antidote. Jiang Tieshan then demanded an exchange of antidotes, claiming their son, Jiang Xiaotie, had been poisoned by Murong Jingyue. Murong Jingyue was shocked, denying any involvement, as he hadn't seen Xiaotie in years, and accused the couple of kidnapping him. Xue Que scoffed at his denial, stating Xiaotie was hit by his poisoned dart, and sarcastically "congratulated" him on cultivating the deadly Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis.
Murong Jingyue scoffed back, saying if he had succeeded, he wouldn't be wasting time with them. Jiang Tieshan produced a letter, asking if Murong Jingyue hadn't invited them. Murong Jingyue denied writing the letter but acknowledged the handwriting was very similar. Jiang Tieshan then threatened him, demanding the antidote or he would not leave Black Tiger Grove alive.
Suddenly, a paper note stuck to a tree trunk glowed, revealing a message signed by "Lingsu," scolding them for their infighting and lack of respect for their shared martial lineage. Realizing Cheng Lingsu was the mastermind, Jiang Tieshan called for her to reveal herself. She and Hu Fei emerged from the foliage. Xue Que immediately accused Cheng Lingsu of possessing the "Verse of King of Poison," claiming their Master had unfairly favored her.
Cheng Lingsu chastised them for their heartlessness, pointing out that despite their Master's lifelong guidance and generosity, they cared nothing for his death, only for his legacy. Xue Que directly accused Cheng Lingsu of orchestrating both their meeting and Jiang Xiaotie's poisoning, demanding she hand over the "Verse of King of Poison" for all fellow disciples to see.
Cheng Lingsu confirmed she indeed had the "Verse of King of Poison" and then revealed her Master Wu Chen's last words: a message to her, his disciple Lingsu, instructing her to share the "Verse of King of Poison" only with whichever of his three elder disciples mourned his passing. Those who showed no grief, he declared, were no longer his disciples and had severed all ties of kinship. As the paper began to emit poison, Jiang Tieshan alerted Xue Que.
Murong Jingyue collapsed from the paper's poison. Jiang Tieshan and Xue Que immediately attacked Cheng Lingsu. Hu Fei instinctively intervened, taking a hit to protect her. Unable to overcome Hu Fei's defense, and despite their cunning use of poisons, the couple eventually fled Black Tiger Grove. Hu Fei, however, had been poisoned. Cheng Lingsu, though initially displeased, scolded him for breaking all three of his promises—talking, fighting, and straying more than three steps from her.
Hu Fei apologized, explaining his urgency stemmed from their ruthless attacks and his concern for her safety. Cheng Lingsu, however, pointed out his mistake in forgetting her instructions and deflecting blame. Hu Fei confessed that he worried the vengeful couple would relentlessly pursue him with poisons if they targeted him and was trying to shield her from that. He reiterated that he saw her as a true friend, reciprocating her earlier kindness with the blue flowers and guidance.
Cheng Lingsu, accepting his sincerity, agreed to save him "one more time." She directed him to look at his poisoned palm, then revealed that had he not intervened, she would have subdued them herself. While acknowledging his good intentions, she demonstrated her own defense: her clothes were coated with Scarlet Scorpion Powder, which would have inflicted a burning pain on anyone who touched her.
She then focused on his more serious palm poison, urging him to sit so she could treat it. Hu Fei, impressed by Cheng Lingsu's meticulous planning, felt he should never underestimate her. He confirmed that her martial siblings also practiced the Toxic Palm Strike, a common skill among the King of Poison's disciples. He then deduced that Master Wu Chen was the true King of Poison.
He was curious about the Master's death and why his siblings showed him such disrespect. Cheng Lingsu confirmed she had mimicked Murong Jingyue's handwriting on the note, using triple-refined alum solution for the master’s last words and tiger bone marrow to make it glow in the dark, revealing her ingenious methods. She mused on her own life, constantly strategizing poison use and defense, contrasting it with Hu Fei’s more peaceful existence.
She reassured him that Murong Jingyue would remain unconscious for at least another six hours. When Hu Fei’s palm poison was miraculously cured, he expressed his awe, but Cheng Lingsu downplayed it, saying her Master’s surgical feats, like opening bodies and reconnecting limbs, were far more extraordinary.
Hu Fei acknowledged the Master as the true "King of Medicine," a title Cheng Lingsu said her Master would have cherished, calling Hu Fei a "young friend," lamenting that "sadly, he's no longer with us." Hu Fei observed that, despite Xue Que's claims of favoritism, only Cheng Lingsu truly missed their Master. Cheng Lingsu then recounted the tragic history of her sect: Master Wu Chen had initially taken three disciples—Murong Jingyue, Jiang Tieshan, and Xue Que.
However, their constant infighting forced him, in his old age, to accept a fourth disciple, Cheng Lingsu, fearing no one could control them after his demise. The conflict began when Xue Que, infatuated with the already married Murong Jingyue, poisoned his wife. In retaliation, Murong Jingyue disfigured Xue Que with a poison that left her a limping hunchback, prompting her to betray their Master and join their martial uncle, Shi Wanchen.
Despite this, Jiang Tieshan, who had always loved Xue Que, married her without hesitation. Perplexingly, after their marriage, Murong Jingyue’s affections for Xue Que rekindled, leading him to incessantly harass her, reigniting his bitter feud with Jiang Tieshan. Exhausted by their conflicts, Master Wu Chen failed to resolve the cycle of animosity. Jiang Tieshan, fiercely loyal to his wife, constructed a hidden house in a valley and surrounded it with Blood Chinquapin plants, initially to deter Murong Jingyue.
However, due to their numerous enemies in the martial world, the fortified residence became a general sanctuary. Cheng Lingsu clarified the widespread "King of Poison" reputation, explaining that various exaggerated rumors about him were actually a result of the collective misdeeds of her three elder siblings and her Master's unparalleled skill with poisons, not his indiscriminate killing.
She expressed frustration that all strange poisoning cases in the martial world were unfairly attributed to her Master, who had proudly considered himself the "King of Medicine." Cheng Lingsu informed Hu Fei they had two more tasks. Hu Fei, still blaming himself for his rash intervention that allowed her siblings to escape, offered to help. Cheng Lingsu, accepting his offer, instructed him to carry Murong Jingyue back in the basket.
Meanwhile, inside their concealed home, Jiang Xiaotie was in agony from the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis poison, with Xue Que desperately trying to alleviate his suffering. Cheng Lingsu then led Hu Fei and blacksmith Wang to Jiang Tieshan and Xue Que's residence, instructing Wang that he could finally exact his revenge. Upon their arrival, Hu Fei placed the basket containing Murong Jingyue at the entrance while Cheng Lingsu announced their presence.
Inside, Xue Que immediately ordered Jiang Tieshan to secure the entrance, determined to keep them out. Hu Fei wondered if the couple had fled, but Cheng Lingsu confidently stated that blacksmith Wang knew their exact location. Xue Que, regretting her past decision to spare Wang, despaired that their enemies knew their whereabouts and that Cheng Lingsu's blue flowers could nullify their Blood Chinquapin defense.
Cheng Lingsu then directed Wang to seal all other ventilation shafts and lit candles at the pipes, effectively trapping the couple. Xue Que realized with dawning horror that Cheng Lingsu was not attempting to enter, but rather to seal them inside. Panicked, she urged Jiang Tieshan to intensify the detoxification efforts for Jiang Xiaotie.
Jiang Tieshan doubted their ability to cure the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis poison, but Xue Que defiantly declared she would not stand by and watch her son die, insisting he help her.
