Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 5 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recaps
Emperor Qianlong was concerned about the powerful martial arts sects causing unrest and threatening the stability of his reign. To address this, Fu Kangan presented a plan after three days of deliberation. He explained that these self-proclaimed righteous martial artists were prone to infighting and forming factions, which would eventually become a major threat to the imperial court.
When asked for a solution to prevent trouble without direct confrontation, Fu Kangan proposed sending out "Hero Invitations" to gather heroes from across the land in the capital for a martial arts contest, thereby inciting them to turn against each other. Emperor Qianlong was pleased with this idea, comparing it to the tale of Yan Zi killing three heroes with two peaches, emphasizing that it would be more enjoyable to watch them compete and fight amongst themselves.
Fu Kangan acknowledged the Emperor's insight. Meanwhile, Tao Baisui reported to Tian Guinong on Miao Renfeng's whereabouts, mentioning that Miao Renfeng had visited various poison experts and even Reverend Yi Chen of the Medicine King Valley after Yan Ji's death. Tian Guinong thanked Tao Baisui for his years of undercover work, monitoring Yan Ji and gathering intelligence on Miao Renfeng, and invited him to officially return to the Tianlong Sect, promising him good treatment.
When asked about recent major events in the martial arts world, Tao Baisui revealed news from a friend in the capital that the imperial court planned to host a World's Sect Leaders Gathering. Tian Guinong understood the Emperor's true intention behind the gathering: to consolidate control over the martial arts world, eliminate defiant individuals, and recruit those who knew how to align themselves with the authorities.
He dismissed the naive idea of fighting for a place, likening the gathering to an imperial examination where one could gain high status by demonstrating loyalty and contributing to the court, thereby earning the respect of all. Tao Baisui praised Tian Guinong's wisdom. Elsewhere, Hu Fei was eating under a tree when he saw a beautiful woman in purple, Yuan Ziyi, riding past on her horse.
He was captivated by her beauty, but his admiration quickly turned to anger when her horse's hooves splashed mud all over his face. Enraged, Hu Fei jumped onto his own horse and pursued her, demanding an explanation. His horse proved uncooperative, getting stuck behind a tree. Frustrated, Hu Fei continued on foot, complaining about his horse, until he again spotted Yuan Ziyi's mount. Following its tracks, he stumbled upon her bathing by a waterfall.
Although he tried to avert his gaze, Yuan Ziyi mistakenly thought he was a peeping tom and promptly threw him into the river. Yuan Ziyi, a young woman with impressive martial arts skills, was on her way to Foshan to find her father and was annoyed by Hu Fei, who she considered a nuisance. As she left, she took Hu Fei's cloth bundle and clothes, leaving him no choice but to steal ragged clothes from a scarecrow for modesty.
He then traveled overnight, looking like a beggar. Hu Fei arrived in Foshan at noon, a prosperous town bustling with activity. Penniless and starving, he found himself competing with beggars for food. The half-steamed bun he managed to grab was quickly given to needy children. Meanwhile, outside the Foshan county yamen, drums echoed as a haggard peasant woman, Zhong Si Sao, and the well-dressed Seventh Master, a steward of the Feng Family, presented their cases.
The chief constable deferentially acknowledged Seventh Master, and without investigating Zhong Si Sao's claim of innocence, ordered Zhong Asi to be imprisoned for allegedly stealing a goose from the Feng Family. Zhong Si Sao desperately sought justice at the ancestral temple, repeatedly wailing that they had never stolen or eaten a goose. Onlookers sympathized, knowing Zhong Asi's good character and that his predicament stemmed from offending the powerful Feng Family, who wanted his land deed.
They believed the theft accusation was merely a pretense. Feng Yiming, the son of Feng Tiannan, directly pressured the county magistrate to acquire the Zhong Family's land deed that very day, threatening to involve Fu Kangan's envoys and suggesting the magistrate could be replaced if he failed. The magistrate, left with no alternative, resigned himself to torturing Zhong Asi into confessing.
At a local restaurant, Yuan Ziyi, having kept Hu Fei's money and saber manual, generously treated everyone to a meal. She also overheard conversations about the Zhong family's plight, learning that the Feng family would show no mercy to those who crossed them, regardless of justice. The situation escalated dramatically when Zhong Si Sao, desperate to prove her family's innocence, used a sickle to cut open her young son, San's, stomach.
She showed the horrified crowd the meager snails found inside, crying and laughing hysterically, clearly having lost her mind. The onlookers watched in fear and pity, lamenting the Feng Family's absolute power that had driven someone to such a tragic end. Despite this horrifying incident, Seventh Master remained unyielding, arguing that San not having eaten goose meat did not clear Er, Zhong Asi's other son. Feng Family servants then unleashed two vicious dogs that lunged towards the remaining child.
Just in time, Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi intervened, kicking away the dogs and quickly overpowering the Feng Family's enraged henchmen. Determined to bring justice to the Zhong family, Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi decided to confront the Feng Family directly. Yuan Ziyi declared her intention to seek revenge, and Hu Fei suggested a strategy of systematically targeting Feng Family establishments until Feng Tiannan himself appeared. At a Feng Family restaurant, they were challenged by guards.
Hu Fei humorously introduced himself as "Ba Fengmao" (meaning "Pull Goose Feather") and Yuan Ziyi as "Zheng Fengzhua" (meaning "Steamed Goose Claw") before they defeated the guards. They then coerced the chef into revealing the extent of Feng Tiannan's properties, learning that any business with "Heroes" in its name belonged to him, including "Heroes Restaurant," "Heroes Pawn Shop," and "Heroes Club." Realizing Feng Tiannan's widespread influence, Hu Fei decided they needed a proper "meeting gift" for him.
They proceeded to the Heroes Pawn Shop. Inside, Hu Fei, accompanied by Yuan Ziyi and leading the captured Feng Family guards whom he sarcastically referred to as "six vicious dogs," demanded to pawn the "dogs" for six thousand taels, one thousand each. The pawnbroker, recognizing Hu Fei's intention to cause trouble, tried to stall, citing the rule against pawning live animals, while secretly dispatching a clerk to summon martial artists from the compound.
When the martial artists arrived, the pawnbroker's demeanor immediately shifted to arrogance. However, Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi quickly subdued the martial artists, forcing the terrified pawnbroker to beg for mercy and fetch the money.
