Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
Hailan Bi, disregarding the objections of Zhou Tiejiao and his men, insisted on shelling the isolated island with gunpowder to level it, indifferent to Fu Kangan's fate. His subordinate questioned, "Commander Hai. We don't know whether Official Fu is dead or alive. You can't fire the cannon." But Hailan Bi believed, "If he is still alive, these traitors will use him as a hostage to exchange for their freedom. Since he has yet to appear, it means he's already dead.
We need to fight to the end and fire the cannon at the island. Leave no one alive to avenge Official Fu and build the Qing Empire's pride." Zhou Tiejiao and his allies recognized Hailan Bi was "trying to gain an achievement" and remarked that even if Official Fu wasn't dead, he would "be blasted to death by the cannon." Hailan Bi ordered, "Cannoneers, get to your positions!"
An official reminded Hailan Bi that he lacked His Majesty's edict and that such a rash action could incur the Emperor's wrath, given His Majesty's deep affection for Fu Kangan, "like a father towards his child." Hailan Bi dismissed this, claiming he had already met His Majesty who would "never let the traitors escape" and reiterated his command to fire. Just as he gave the order, a eunuch arrived with "His Majesty's edict" of "Keep the peace."
However, Hailan Bi still ignored the imperial decree and prepared to launch the attack. At that critical moment, Fu Kangan himself appeared. Hailan Bi's subordinate urged him not to break the deal with the rebels, but Hailan Bi saw it as an opportunity "to wipe out Red Flower Club." Fu Kangan sternly intervened, "His Majesty's edict is here! Are you trying to defy His Majesty's will?" Hailan Bi, subdued, replied, "I dare not."
Fu Kangan then commanded all troops to retreat immediately. Prior to this, Fu Kangan had hoped to take Pingping and An'an back to his residence. However, the children were unwilling, insisting, "I want to be with Uncle Hu." Acknowledging his remorse, Fu Kangan did not force them, instead intending to give Hu Fei His Majesty's personal edict as a "death-exemption token."
Hu Fei refused the edict, stating, "The people of the martial arts world keep their promises, act righteously and cherish their reputations. If His Majesty keeps his promise, I won't be needing this paper." Impressed by Hu Fei's chivalry, Fu Kangan ordered all guards to return to the capital and cease pursuing Hu Fei and his companions.
With the World's Sect Leaders Gathering concluded and all matters settled, Yuan Ziyi, having shaved her head, prepared to return to the Tianshan Sect with her master. Cheng Lingsu asked, "Now that the tournament has ended, everything is over. What do you plan to do, Sister Yuan?" Yuan Ziyi replied that "Everything has been decided. I have to return to Tianshan with Master." Cheng Lingsu expressed surprise, "You are leaving? I thought you will be coming with us."
Yuan Ziyi explained that as "I'm already a nun, we are already strangers." Cheng Lingsu suggested she could return to secular life, as her tonsure was due to Fu Kangan's actions, but Yuan Ziyi responded, "Amitabha. I am already a follower of Buddhism. Having secular thoughts will be breaking the vow."
Before leaving, she gave Cheng Lingsu an Epiphyllum Dew Token as a gift, hoping it would protect her and prevent her from "miss[ing] out on a good relationship" with Hu Fei. This act brought back vivid memories for Hu Fei of their shared past, including his confession, "Since I got to know you, we have experienced many things together. After I got injured, you also cared for me meticulously. It's something I've never felt before.
So, I'm really afraid that you'll leave me one day." He had even offered her a wooden comb, asking, "Are you going to accept it now?" He also remembered his playful remark, "With your looks, even if you become a nun, you will also be a pretty nun." Yet, Yuan Ziyi's final words to him in his memory echoed her current resolve: "Every meeting is not permanent and won't be long-lasting. There are many fears in our lives.
Life is short like the morning dew. Love creates worries. Love creates fear. Those who stay away from love will have neither worry nor fear." Hu Fei did not try to keep Yuan Ziyi, instead wishing Master Yuan Xing a life of "perfect virtue and merit," accepting their paths diverged and their earthly ties were severed. Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu then visited Nan Lan and her daughter, Miao Ruolan, and paid their respects before Miao Renfeng's memorial tablet.
Afterwards, they traveled to Medicine King Valley for a period of respite, where they spent a brief but beautiful time together. During this time, Hu Fei asked Cheng Lingsu how she cultivated the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis, as Shi Wanchen had failed to do so his entire life. Cheng Lingsu revealed it was by chance after her master passed away when wine accidentally dripped into a pot of the plant under his memorial tablet.
Hu Fei remarked that "Every coincidence is fate." He also pondered living in Medicine King Valley for life, to which Cheng Lingsu agreed that her master chose the place for its rich medicinal resources, including condensation grass. When Hu Fei expressed worry about Shi Wanchen still being at large, Cheng Lingsu reassured him, "How can a man's ambition be thwarted? I will still accompany you even if you're going a thousand li away to hunt him down.
I can't let you disgrace the name of the Hu Family." She also promised to make "100 Nine Times Vitality Restoring Pills" for her own health, stating that her longevity depended more on him not making her worry than on the pills themselves, playfully calling him "the most important ingredient" or "the herb" in her life, a "precious treasure."
However, Shi Wanchen, still obsessed with the Verse of King of Poison, led Xue Que and Murong Jingyue in a surprise attack on Hu Fei, leaving him poisoned and unconscious. Cheng Lingsu quickly administered an antidote to Hu Fei, instructing him to "Control your breathing. Remember the three promises." Shi Wanchen and his accomplices pressed her for the Verse of King of Poison and Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis.
Cheng Lingsu retorted that she could cure Hu Fei even with heartbreak grass, but Shi Wanchen sneered, asking how she could treat Hu Fei when "the three of us are fighting against you?" Cheng Lingsu then proposed a deal: she would surrender the Verse of King of Poison if they would leave Medicine King Valley permanently. Shi Wanchen, however, demanded she prove the authenticity of the "Verse of King of Poison."
Cheng Lingsu claimed the knowledge was etched in her memory and offered to demonstrate it. She spoke of the Brigitte silkworm poison technique, which, according to her master's book, was typically colorless and odorless on objects but would show a faint green color on human flesh.
She then revealed a secret from the Verse of King of Poison that Shi Wanchen was unaware of: there was a method to apply the Brigitte silkworm poison powder to a person without the green color appearing. Shi Wanchen, skeptical but intrigued, demanded she demonstrate. Despite Murong Jingyue's protests and attempts to warn him against Cheng Lingsu's trickery, Shi Wanchen forced Murong Jingyue to offer his hand for the demonstration.
Cheng Lingsu then instructed him to mix Peacock's Gallbladder and Arsenic with the Brigitte silkworm poison. Shi Wanchen performed the mixture, and indeed, the green color was hidden. However, this combination of the three poisons created a unique and incurable poison. Murong Jingyue, now suffering agonizing pain, pleaded with Cheng Lingsu for an antidote, while Xue Que also begged for her senior brother's life, even offering to kowtow.
Cheng Lingsu, however, remained resolute, stating that she would "punish" them for their "evil deeds." As Murong Jingyue suffered and Xue Que pleaded, Xue Que suddenly rushed to snatch the Verse of King of Poison and held a dagger to Cheng Lingsu's neck. Hu Fei, who had been struggling to recover, sensed Cheng Lingsu's danger. Disregarding his own perilous condition and his promise to Cheng Lingsu, he acted decisively, striking down both Murong Jingyue and Xue Que.
Hu Fei later regretted his impatience, acknowledging, "I didn't keep our promise. But how can I see them hurting you without doing anything?" In the ensuing chaos, Shi Wanchen was blinded by Hu Fei but managed to slash Hu Fei's wrist before escaping. This wound introduced the combined triple poison into Hu Fei's system, causing him excruciating pain "like millions of ants gnawing at his heart."
Knowing his death was imminent, Hu Fei, seeing Cheng Lingsu's tearful face, reflected on their time in Medicine King Valley, expressing that it had been "the happiest times of my life" and wishing he could stay there with her forever. Before Hu Fei could finish his words, his body went numb, his speech blurred, and he collapsed, paralyzed.
He could only watch helplessly as Cheng Lingsu, with a look of firm resolve, retrieved the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis and a candle from a cabinet. She then applied the candle, made from the flower's pistil, to his wound and began to suck out the poisons, telling him, "I just fed you a paralysis medicine. If I didn't do that, you wouldn't allow me to suck the poison out for you."
She recounted their memory of swearing brotherhood, playfully teasing him about looking like a groom while she looked like a bride, and their vow, "From today onwards, we share our blessings and misfortune together. Anyone who breaks the promise will be punished." Cheng Lingsu explained that her master had declared this particular triple poison incurable because "no physician in this world is willing to sacrifice their own life to save a patient."
However, she clarified, "But you are not a patient to me but my. . ." (implying 'brother' or 'loved one'). She further explained that while Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis was the king of poisons, it could also counteract and remove the other two poisons in his body. Weakened after extracting the toxins, Cheng Lingsu slowly collapsed into Hu Fei's arms, reminiscing about his beard, "you look nice with a beard.
I want to see what you look like with a beard again." She confessed, "Actually, I was already poisoned. Just like the Seven Pistil Chaenomeles sinensis, the thing you love the most is also the most poisonous. I don't regret it." Her final words to him were a plea, "Remember the thing you promised me. You've never listened to me. This time. You must listen to me. When you wake up, live your life well for me.
We made a pinky swear. You must not break your promise." She then quietly passed away. After Cheng Lingsu's death, Hu Fei personally hunted down and killed Shi Wanchen. He then buried Cheng Lingsu in a snow cave, which was marked by a tombstone. Years later, Hu Fei, having grown a beard, would visit the graves of his parents, Miao Renfeng, and Cheng Lingsu on their respective memorial days. Nan Lan and her daughter, Miao Ruolan, would also join him.
Sitting by Cheng Lingsu's tombstone, observing distant candlelight, Hu Fei's mind wandered, recalling countless memories. Every word, every smile from Cheng Lingsu, which he had once taken for granted, now clearly revealed the tender affection they held. Young Ruolan, observing Hu Fei, discerned his longing for Cheng Lingsu. Hu Fei then recounted to Ruolan the poignant tale of the Epiphyllum blooming for Veda, his voice stirring endless ripples of emotion.
The story described the Epiphyllum as a flower goddess who fell in love with a young man, a gardener. Angered, the Jade Emperor separated them, turning the goddess into a flower that blooms only once a year and sending the man to become a monk named Veda, instructing him to forget her. Yet, the goddess never forgot and chose to bloom during Veda's annual visit to gather flower dew, hoping "to make Veda remember some of his past." Ruolan, moved by the tale, wished that "both of them don't miss out on each other again."
