Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 9 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recaps
Physician Xu, who had previously treated Mrs. Zhong and harbored a deep hatred for the Feng father and son, offered to help Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi evade their pursuers. He led them to a secluded thatched cottage where he usually collected medicinal herbs and rested, assuring them that Feng Tiannan's men would not find them in such a remote place. However, Hu Fei's leg injury was severe and required immediate attention.
Physician Xu went out alone to gather more herbs. While he was away, Hu Fei drifted into a coma, but even then, he was plagued by a dream where he urged someone to run, fearing they would be caught. In his dream, he felt his legs giving out and worried about being a burden. Meanwhile, Physician Xu was apprehended by Feng Yiming's men, who recognized him as a friend of the Zhong family who had treated Mrs. Zhong.
Feng Yiming, pleased with his capture, ordered Physician Xu to be taken away despite his pleas of innocence. After an unknown period, Hu Fei awoke to find himself clutching Yuan Ziyi's hand. She released it when he stirred, and he realized she had been by his side the entire time. He asked if she had saved him, to which she replied, "Who else could it be?"
He recounted his dream, where he worried about both of them being caught, but she sarcastically pointed out that in his dream, he imagined himself heroically telling her to run while she supposedly fell into a trap. She then returned the Hu family's saber manual to him, stating that she needed him to recover and train for decades before he could challenge her.
Hu Fei retorted that even with his leg injury, he was still more than capable of defeating her. Annoyed by his boastful remarks, Yuan Ziyi warned that Feng Yiming should have silenced his tongue to prevent him from upsetting others, then proceeded to set the splints on his leg, eliciting a yelp of pain from Hu Fei despite his earlier bravado.
Determined to lure Yuan Ziyi out, Feng Yiming paraded Mrs. Zhong and Physician Xu in the streets, publicly denouncing Physician Xu as an "immoral physician" in league with Hu Fei. He offered a reward for information on Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi's whereabouts, threatening anyone who withheld information with the same public humiliation. Physician Xu courageously condemned the Feng family's tyranny and assured them they would face retribution.
Upon hearing the news, Yuan Ziyi bravely confronted the Feng family, battling through numerous ambushes and assassins. She fought her way through the chaotic streets, intending to reach the execution platform, but the sheer number of assailants forced her to prioritize rescuing Physician Xu first. As dusk settled, Hu Fei, growing worried by Yuan Ziyi's prolonged absence, hobbled outside on a crutch. Just then, Yuan Ziyi and Physician Xu returned.
Yuan Ziyi, wanting to protect Hu Fei from further danger, concealed the full extent of Mrs. Zhong's plight. She entrusted Physician Xu with the task of escorting Hu Fei to Weituo Sect for proper treatment for his leg. To ensure he received the best care, she gave Physician Xu her personal jade pendant, instructing them to present it to the sect. Hu Fei, sensing her unspoken intentions, questioned why she wouldn't accompany him.
Yuan Ziyi claimed she had other important matters to attend to, curtly warning him not to meddle in affairs of different martial arts sects and reminding him they were merely acquaintances. She insisted that the carriage and horses were ready and they should depart at dawn. When Hu Fei asked her name, she promised to reveal it upon his return from Weituo Sect. Meanwhile, Feng Yiming reported his failure to capture Yuan Ziyi to his father, Feng Tiannan.
Feng Tiannan, however, remained calm, explaining that Yuan Ziyi's appearance indicated she hadn't abandoned Mrs. Zhong, thus giving them more opportunities. He advised patience, noting that their most formidable fighters, the Two Great Cavaliers, had not yet made their move. Feng Tiannan then chillingly outlined his plan: to torture Mrs. Zhong further, systematically maiming her to serve as a public deterrent, even if Yuan Ziyi ultimately evaded capture.
The next morning, as Hu Fei and Physician Xu set off in a carriage, Hu Fei noticed Physician Xu's melancholic expression. He suspected it was related to Yuan Ziyi and, after a brief exchange where Physician Xu tried to deflect his questions about the "pity" of the "young lady," Hu Fei decided to turn the carriage back. Foshan Town was eerily quiet; shops were shuttered, and the streets were deserted as citizens hid behind locked doors.
Yuan Ziyi had already initiated her plan, walking boldly into the execution ground. She quickly overwhelmed the assassins lying in wait, then stormed the county office, capturing the corrupt county magistrate. Holding him hostage, she demanded Mrs. Zhong's release from the Feng family. However, the magistrate, in a desperate bid for survival, threatened Feng Yiming, revealing that he possessed incriminating evidence that could bring down the entire Feng clan. This only hardened Feng Tiannan's resolve to silence him.
With Feng Tiannan's explicit command, Feng Yiming shot the magistrate dead with an arrow. With her hostage gone, Yuan Ziyi surged onto the execution platform. With a swift flick of her whip, she slashed Feng Yiming across the face, splattering blood into a nearby hotpot from which Feng Tiannan was casually eating. Unfazed on the surface, Feng Tiannan forced himself to continue eating, hiding his disgust as he savored the confrontation.
As Yuan Ziyi faced a new wave of attackers, including the renowned Two Great Cavaliers, whose allegiance to the Feng family puzzled her, Hu Fei, despite his injured leg, fought his way through the streets. A guard rushed to inform Feng Tiannan that the young man had also invaded the town, to which Feng Tiannan replied, welcoming the challenge.
As Hu Fei struggled to advance, a crowd of townspeople blocked his path, desperately pleading with him to leave, fearing Feng Tiannan's retribution if he proceeded. They spoke of Feng Tiannan's threats to burn their homes and kill their families. Overwhelmed by the plight of the elderly, women, and children, Hu Fei hesitated. Suddenly, a volley of arrows rained down from behind the crowd. Most of the unarmed citizens were unable to dodge and fell, pierced by the arrows.
Hu Fei himself was struck multiple times. Mustering his remaining strength, Hu Fei finally reached the execution platform and joined Yuan Ziyi, together dispatching the remaining assassins. From a nearby pavilion, Feng Tiannan and Feng Yiming watched, confident in their ultimate victory. Feng Tiannan then ordered his guards to force all the townspeople from their homes, driving them to the execution site.
He stood before the terrified crowd, inciting them to attack Hu Fei and Yuan Ziyi, promising rewards of ten taels of silver for a punch and ten thousand taels for their deaths. Upon seeing him, Yuan Ziyi exclaimed, "Why are you here?" to which Hu Fei retorted, "Since you can come, why can't I?" He then added, "You couldn't deceive me with your little tricks. I just didn't want to expose your lie."
When Yuan Ziyi worried about his leg, Hu Fei proudly declared it had healed long ago. Yuan Ziyi chided his recklessness, but Hu Fei playfully suggested that if he were to be handicapped, she would have to marry him and care for him forever. Yuan Ziyi dismissed the idea, but as the situation grew dire, she vowed that if they were to die that day, she would die before him. He then declared his intention to avenge the Zhong family, while Feng Tiannan mockingly questioned how much punishment he thought he could take.
