Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 39 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
The martial arts tournament continued, with various sects falling one after another to Hu Fei, who was representing the Huaquan Sect and had already won three rounds in a row. A guard announced the arrival of Fu Kangan, who was accompanied by the Tianshan Sect master, the All-knowing Nun, and two disciples. Hu Fei's attention was drawn to Yuan Ziyi, dressed as a nun and using the alias Yuan Xing.
The All-knowing Nun, seeing Hu Fei's success, stated there was no need for a "sledgehammer to crack a nut" for a mere "nobody," and sent Yuan Xing forward to be Hu Fei's opponent. Yuan Xing then declared herself as a Tianshan Sect disciple and ready to fight. Yuan Xing (Yuan Ziyi) and Hu Fei engaged in a fierce contest that moved from the stage to the rooftops.
During their exchange, Hu Fei questioned Yuan Xing's true intentions, then observed the extensive ambushes, realizing the gathering was a "banquet of treachery." Fu Kangan, seeing that his plot had been exposed, ceased concealment and instructed Official Hailan Bi to secure the doors, allowing entry but no exit. After Yuan Xing conceded to Hu Fei's formidable skill, Hailan Bi, frustrated that even the Tianshan Sect couldn't defeat Hu Fei, loudly challenged anyone else present to face him.
At that moment, Tian Guinong, carrying his Cool Moon saber, arrived at the gathering, accompanied by Shi Wanchen and two traitors from Medicine King Valley. Tian Guinong greeted Fu Kangan and apologized for his delay, then introduced Shi Wanchen as his friend, the "King of Poison" and chief of Medicine King Sect. Murmurs spread through the hall as people questioned Shi Wanchen's claim to be the Medicine King Sect leader, knowing Master Wu Chen held that title.
Ke Zirong from Qiqing Sect, who had suffered at Shi Wanchen's hands before, openly exposed him, stating that Shi Wanchen had long been "kicked out a long time ago" from the Medicine King Sect and was merely "deceiving us with a false title." Infuriated, Shi Wanchen confronted Ke Zirong, reminding him that physical contact wasn't necessary for his poisons. He then demonstrated his fearsome reputation by poisoning Ke Zirong.
With the Cool Moon saber in hand and Shi Wanchen providing support, Tian Guinong declared his intention to claim the Jade Dragon Cup. Fu Kangan gave the signal for the match to begin, stating that if Tian Guinong failed to win against Hu Fei, the Jade Dragon Cup would go to the Huaquan Sect. Tian Guinong scoffed at the idea, reiterating that he came specifically for the Jade Dragon Cup.
Hu Fei accepted the challenge, and the two began a fierce battle. Cheng Lingsu observed Shi Wanchen covertly deploying poisonous smoke and retaliated in kind, matching him in a closely fought duel. Meanwhile, Tian Guinong skillfully severed Hu Fei's longsword. With his weapon destroyed, Hu Fei was no match for Tian Guinong and was swiftly struck down from the stage. Fu Kangan then declared Tian Guinong the deserving winner of the Jade Dragon Cup.
As Tian Guinong approached the Jade Dragon Cup, Cheng Lingsu seized the opportunity to secretly poison him, then cleverly shifted the blame to Shi Wanchen. Infuriated, Shi Wanchen ordered Xue Que and Murong Jingyue to attack Cheng Lingsu. In an instant, the hall erupted into chaos, with multiple groups, led by Hu Fei and Tian Guinong respectively, engaging in fierce combat. Fu Kangan, content to "let them fight each other to exhaustion first," watched without intervention.
Cheng Lingsu and Shi Wanchen continued their poisoned battle, with Cheng Lingsu demonstrating her superior knowledge by revealing the antidote to Shi Wanchen's Brigitte silkworm poison using the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis flower. Amidst the chaos, Tian Guinong attacked Hu Fei, injuring and poisoning him, causing Hu Fei's mask to fall off and reveal his true identity.
Tian Guinong recognized Hu Fei and confessed that he had killed Hu Fei's parents, Hu Yidao and his wife, and intended for Hu Fei to die by the same poison, reuniting father and son. Fu Kangan, seeing the opportunity, commanded his household guards to surround them, determined not to let the Red Flower Club escape. Just as Tian Guinong was about to deliver a fatal blow, Miao Renfeng burst in.
Without hesitation, he swiftly killed Tian Guinong, avenging the Hu family. Following Fu Kangan's command, his guards swarmed forward, and muskets fired from all directions at the martial arts heroes. Despite the heroes fighting back and trying to escape, they faced three fortified doorways from the main hall to the manor gate, each hotly contested. The All-knowing Nun took Fu Kangan hostage, forcing him to retreat towards the main hall. Cheng Lingsu, supporting the injured Hu Fei, followed.
However, in a selfless act to protect them, Miao Renfeng sacrificed himself and died under a hail of musket fire, telling Hu Fei to "take good care of our kid." As dawn broke, reinforcements arrived outside the manor. The All-knowing Nun and her group used Fu Kangan as a shield, attempting to escape the capital in a carriage.
However, Zhou Tiejiao had received orders from Hailan Bi that "no one is allowed to leave" the city, and thus obeyed and prepared to "close the gate and tighten the security." Zhou Tiejiao explicitly instructed his subordinates to prioritize not letting anyone out, regardless of the chaos within the city. Ma Chunhua, who had been taken along, learned of the situation and intervened, preventing the city gates from closing fully to allow the carriage to pass.
In doing so, she was struck by an arrow and severely wounded. Ma Chunhua, hit by an arrow in her heart, was beyond Cheng Lingsu's medical abilities; only a life-extending pill kept her clinging to life. Hu Fei comforted her, promising to take care of her children, Pingping and An'an. Ma Chunhua expressed two dying wishes to Hu Fei: to be buried beside her Senior Xu, and to see Fu Kangan one last time.
Cheng Lingsu, despite her reservations about Fu Kangan, administered a pill to Ma Chunhua, giving her approximately fifteen minutes to live, so she could see him. When Fu Kangan was brought to her, he was overwhelmed with grief, recognizing his profound debt to Ma Chunhua. Though they shared no words, the encounter provided Ma Chunhua with closure. Fu Kangan silently pledged to wait for her in their next life, understanding he had failed her in this one.
Lu Xiaomei questioned why they fulfilled Ma Chunhua's wish to see the "heartless man" who had hurt her, to which Cheng Lingsu explained the complex nature of love, where "the one who hurts you the most is usually the one you love the most." Emperor Qianlong was informed by Hailan Bi that Fu Kangan had been kidnapped by the All-knowing Nun and taken out of the city to the suburbs.
Hailan Bi reported that his Firearm Brigade failed to stop them out of concern for Fu Kangan's safety, but he had since surrounded the kidnappers with a capable troop. Hailan Bi presented the Emperor with a dilemma: a strong assault risked Fu Kangan's life, but inaction might allow the "traitors" to escape, damaging the Qing dynasty's reputation. Qianlong, after dismissing Hailan Bi, grappled with the decision.
Meanwhile, Zhou Tiejiao and his brothers discussed Fu Kangan's uncertain fate, anticipating the Emperor's verdict. Finally, Qianlong, seemingly having made his decision, commanded an attendant to grind ink, signaling a decree was imminent.
