Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 37 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
With the World's Sect Leaders Gathering approaching, Tian Guinong instructed Tao Baisui to keep Miao Renfeng imprisoned, ensuring he remained alive until after Tian's marriage to Nan Lan, so Miao Renfeng could hear the wedding suona. Tao Baisui confirmed that martial experts were guarding Miao Renfeng, whose shoulder blade had been pierced, rendering escape impossible. Nan Lan, feigning trust, wore her wedding dress for Tian Guinong, telling him she hoped for his victory at the gathering.
She apologized for her past lack of understanding, acknowledging his efforts in bringing Ruolan back to her and reuniting mother and daughter. She vowed to repay him for the rest of her life. When Tian Guinong asked if she missed or thought of Ruolan's father, Nan Lan firmly declared she no longer cared whether he was alive or dead, wanting nothing to do with him.
She asserted that only Tian Guinong and Ruolan were in her heart from then on, and she cared for no one else, asking him to treat them well. Tian Guinong, convinced by Nan Lan's act, departed for the capital. Nan Lan, assisted by a maid, then infiltrated the secret room where Miao Renfeng was held. The martial experts guarding him were heavily intoxicated and distracted, celebrating their capture of Miao Renfeng and vowing vengeance for their fallen brothers.
Nan Lan found Miao Renfeng battered and bruised, but managed to cut his chains. The noise drew more disciples, but Miao Renfeng swiftly dispatched them. As Nan Lan gathered Ruolan and their belongings, additional guards appeared, demanding the child, calling her Miao Renfeng's biological daughter. Nan Lan desperately tried to protect Ruolan. Despite his severe injuries, Miao Renfeng fought to ensure their safety, eventually breaking through the cordon of guards. He told Nan Lan, "Come.
Let's go home," leading her and Ruolan back to Miao's villa. Meanwhile, Feihong reported to Yuan Ziyi that the Firearm Brigade was intensively training and bringing in elite soldiers, all under Hailan Bi's command. Hailan Bi had publicly declared himself the sect leader of Heilong Sect and already secured one Jade Dragon Cup by default.
Feihong expressed concern about the Brigade's Western muskets and their potential for chaos at the gathering, stating that their martial arts would be insufficient against them. Yuan Ziyi, however, emphasized the need for calm and prioritizing understanding the enemy's full plan. Feihong also reported on the many traps and secret doors at the gathering venue, suggesting that the Firearm Brigade was likely encamped at the King's residence, where Fu Kangan had sent Hailan Bi to protect the Old Madam.
Yuan Ziyi then proposed visiting the King's residence herself, under the pretext of delivering medicine to the Old Madam, to ascertain their plans. Before she left, her Master cautioned her, clearly referring to Hu Fei, saying that while he was powerful, he would only cause trouble if he couldn't follow orders, and they couldn't risk the trust of the Red Flower Club or allow martial artists to fall into the court's trap. Yuan Ziyi affirmed her understanding.
At the King's residence, a guard insisted on searching everyone under Commander Fu's order. Yuan Ziyi bypassed this by invoking the Old Madam's name. Inside, she presented the "medicine" as a Snow Lotus Beauty Cream made by her master, promising it would keep the Old Madam looking young and fresh. She flattered the Old Madam profusely, suggesting that with the cream, she and Commander Fu would look like siblings. The delighted Old Madam accepted the gift.
When her grandchildren became interested in the cream, Yuan Ziyi distracted them with magic tricks, conjuring fruits and promising more if she could visit again. The children insisted on her returning the next day, leading the Old Madam to grant Yuan Ziyi and her companion passes to freely enter and exit the King's residence, ensuring no guards would stop them.
Before the gathering, Ji Xiaofeng informed Hu Fei about the competition structure: over a hundred sects would compete for twenty-four imperial cups, including eight Silver Dragon, eight Gold Dragon, and eight Jade Dragon Cups. Four Jade Dragon Cups were already designated, meaning fierce competition for the remaining four. Ji Xiaofeng expressed his hope that Hu Fei would help Huaquan Sect achieve renown, even if it was just a Silver Dragon Cup.
Hu Fei assured Ji Xiaofeng that he would not embarrass the sect. Hu Fei found the name of Shi Wanchen, the "Lord of Poison" who likely created the poison that killed his father, on the list. Cheng Lingsu also chided Hu Fei, noting that his recent notoriety in the capital meant his beard disguise was no longer viable. Hu Fei, trusting her ingenuity, asked her to devise a new disguise.
Playfully, Cheng Lingsu suggested a long, yellow beard and a sallow face, making him look like a man with a hard life, to which Hu Fei jokingly retorted he'd resemble an ox. She then promised to reveal her true plan for his disguise later, and Hu Fei praised her resourcefulness. At the capital's largest restaurant, Manager Sai, acting on Hailan Bi's behalf, gave instructions to his assistant regarding the gambling operation.
He stressed the importance of remembering the predetermined winners and losers to ensure Hailan Bi's profits. Manager Sai boastfully declared that their casino was backed by the Qing national treasury, offering instant payouts to entice gamblers, and confidently stated that anyone betting against them was simply handing over their money. He ordered his assistant to "hype up the place" and attract as many people as possible.
His assistant confirmed that the best storytellers in Beijing would be there to ensure a massive crowd. The storyteller then began his performance, hyping up the World's Sect Leaders Gathering as an epic contest where heroes would reveal their true talents. On the day of the World's Sect Leaders Gathering, Hu Fei, accompanied by Cheng Lingsu and Ji Xiaofeng, arrived at the venue. Unlike his previous disguise, he wore a mask covering half his face, effectively concealing his identity.
A guard tried to make him remove it, but Ji Xiaofeng intervened, stating that their sect leader had a facial injury and could not show his true face. After a brief dispute, they were allowed to proceed. Fu Kangan then made his grand entrance, which was met with respectful greetings from all the assembled sect leaders. He announced that the Emperor was closely following the gathering and had commissioned twenty-four imperial cups to be awarded to the victors.
The storyteller in the restaurant outside dramatically described the exquisite craftsmanship of these cups, further fueling the excitement. He clarified that with over a hundred sects vying for only twenty-four cups, the winners would be determined purely by their skill and capability. The martial arts contest then officially began. The tournament began with predetermined matches, as an audience member observed that participants had paid Hailan Bi to fix the outcomes.
The first match saw Hou Liang of the Monkey Fist Sect challenged by Huang Xijie of the Erlang Fist Sect. The storyteller, following his script, began an elaborate and exaggerated description of the Monkey Fist, but the contest was brief, ending with Huang Xijie declared the winner of the first round. Hu Fei, disguised as Cheng Linghu, approached Cheng Lingsu, asking about Shi Wanchen's whereabouts.
Cheng Lingsu informed him that the Medicine King Sect was excused from the initial rounds and would proceed directly to the finals for the Jade Dragon Cup. This solidified Hu Fei's resolve to reach the finals himself to confront Shi Wanchen. He told Ji Xiaofeng that merely a Silver Dragon Cup would not be enough for Huaquan Sect, aiming instead for a Jade Dragon Cup, much to Ji Xiaofeng's delight.
The fixed matches continued, with Ouyang Gongzheng of the Yanqing Fist Sect winning the third round. When the announcer called for the next challenger, Hu Fei, disguised as Cheng Linghu, unexpectedly stepped onto the stage to challenge Ouyang Gongzheng. This caught Hailan Bi and his team completely off guard, as Hu Fei was not part of their prearranged schedule, leading to confusion among his subordinates.
Hailan Bi himself was surprised, but seeing Fu Kangan's interest in this "interesting" new fighter, he instructed Ouyang Gongzheng to "make it quick" and even offered protection if Hu Fei were to die. During the fight, the storyteller, still relying on his script, continued to describe a match between Yanqing Fist and Xiantian Fist's Guo Yutang, much to the audience's chagrin, who quickly called him out for fabricating the narrative.
Fu Kangan, however, was impressed by Cheng Linghu's skill and ordered the fight to continue. Hu Fei swiftly defeated Ouyang Gongzheng. Hu Fei continued his winning streak in subsequent matches, dispatching opponents quickly. One opponent even complained to Hu Fei that he had paid 2,000 taels to last longer, to which Hu Fei retorted he had paid 4,000 taels to win. This unexpected success caused dismay among Hailan Bi's team, realizing their betting scheme was in jeopardy.
Observing Hu Fei's surprising prowess, Zhou Tiejiao recognized him despite his disguise and immediately sent Wang Tie'e to the gambling house to place all their bets on Huaquan Sect. Their strategy paid off, and they quickly won thousands of taels of silver. Wang Tie'e, now with considerable winnings, decided to wager it all again on Huaquan Sect, although he felt a growing unease.
The next opponent announced by the storyteller was Shangguan Tiesheng, the sect leader of Xuanzhi Sect from Kaifeng, known as the "Smoking Commoner." The storyteller warned the audience that Shangguan Tiesheng was a formidable and feared opponent, notorious for using "mystifying smoke" and with refined charcoal in his pipe as a lethal weapon. He highlighted Shangguan Tiesheng's close connection to Wen Zuiweng, who had been defeated earlier, implying Shangguan Tiesheng would seek revenge.
Despite Hu Fei's exceptional martial arts, Wang Tie'e and others present worried that while visible attacks are easily dodged, hidden dangers like poisonous smoke are far more difficult to counter, suggesting this might be the end of Hu Fei's winning streak.
