The Flame's Daughter Episode 35 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
Ji Jinglei arrived at Prince Jingyuan's manor to see Yu Zihan. Yu Zihan was saddened to see Ji Jinglei's damaged eyes and asked what happened to them, but Ji Jinglei replied that it was no use seeking a doctor. Ji Jinglei, in turn, congratulated Yu Zihan on his legs being cured. Yu Zihan pressed Ji Jinglei about who was responsible, and Ji Jinglei named the Dark River Palace.
Ji Jinglei then informed Yu Zihan that he had brought Lei Jinghong with him, and assured Yu Zihan that Lei Jinghong and the Thunderbolt Clique had never harmed Lie Ruge. Yu Zihan revealed he already knew this, then told Ji Jinglei that another person was also there to meet him. Meanwhile, Yin Xue was suffering from the Chill, which had deeply penetrated his internal organs, making any treatment ineffective.
He confided in Youqin Hong about his plan to use the Dark River Internal Energy to protect his heart. He believed this would allow him to regain seventy percent of his internal energy within half a year and keep the Chill from recurring. Youqin Hong desperately warned him against this, explaining that after six months, both the Chill and the Dark River Internal Energy would simultaneously backfire, leaving no hope for his survival.
Despite Youqin Hong's pleas, Yin Xue's resolve was firm, and he ordered Youqin Hong to stand guard at the door. Youqin Hong initially refused but eventually complied. Yu Zihan then brought Lie Ruge to meet Ji Jinglei. Overjoyed to hear Lie Ruge's voice and realize she was alive, Ji Jinglei wept. Lie Ruge comforted her senior brother. Ji Jinglei brought up Xun Yi, and Yu Zihan confirmed that Lie Ruge was already aware of the situation.
Lie Ruge explained that she didn't want to expose Xun Yi's attempt on her life, believing Xun Yi had been lenient due to a predicament, and revealing it would only cause Ji Jinglei further pain. Yu Zihan assured them he would send imperial bodyguards to protect Ji Jinglei.
Ji Jinglei then informed Lie Ruge that Zhongli Wulei had reclaimed authority over Azure Dragon Hall and that once news of her survival spread, the entire hall would rally behind her to restore her as the sect leader. Lie Ruge, however, felt the timing was not right for her to reappear, as Flaming Hill Manor was too divided. She proposed that Ji Jinglei return to the manor and, with Zhongli Wulei's cooperation, support Yi Lang's ascension to sect leader.
This strategy would help stabilize the situation and give them time to prepare for a decisive strike. Ji Jinglei, despite his concerns for Lie Ruge's well-being, agreed to her plan. Under the cool night sky, Yu Zihan accompanied Lie Ruge back to Flower Tasting Brothel. He reflected on how he had always wished to walk her out, a simple act that his former condition on the wheelchair prevented, and was content to finally fulfill that wish.
Back at the brothel, Lie Ruge found Yin Xue taking medicine. She happily shared the news that Yu Zihan had taken her to see Ji Jinglei and Lei Jinghong, both of whom were alive. Yin Xue smiled, stating that seeing her martial siblings reunited brought him peace, and that he could now return to Ethereality Clique once the manor was taken back and the Martial Arts Society purged.
Lie Ruge was surprised, realizing he had never told her he planned to return. She turned to Youqin Hong, asking if Yin Xue had mentioned this to him. Youqin Hong, with a heavy heart, nodded. The following day, Yu Zihan, Yin Xue, and Lie Ruge saw Ji Jinglei and Bi'er off as they departed for Flaming Hill Manor.
Afterward, Yu Zihan and Yin Xue spoke privately, both acknowledging their limited time and discussing their joint efforts to deal with Anye Luo and the Dark River Palace. Upon his return to Flaming Hill Manor, Ji Jinglei feigned weakness and blindness in front of Yi Lang, leading Yi Lang to relax his guard.
Bi'er explained to Yi Lang that Ji Jinglei had been abducted and tortured by Lei Jinghong, though his eyes were specifically harmed by the Third Sect Leader of Dark River Palace. She subtly conveyed that Ji Jinglei was too emotionally unstable to lead. Hall Leader Ling then pressed for the immediate election of a new sect leader. Yi Lang initially proposed Ji Jinglei, but Ji Jinglei explicitly refused the position.
Bi'er reiterated Ji Jinglei's current inability to lead to Hall Leader Ling in a private conversation, and Yi Lang, pretending reluctance, finally accepted the nomination. Yi Lang held Zhan Feng captive in the dungeon of Flaming Hill Manor, subjecting him to torture. Yi Lang gloated, announcing that he would become the sect leader the following day, and mused that if Lie Mingjing had only passed the position to him sooner, much suffering could have been avoided.
Zhan Feng, however, retorted that Yi Lang was unworthy. Yi Lang then offered Zhan Feng a final meeting with Ying Yi, who was being sent back to Dark River Palace. Zhan Feng agreed, and upon seeing Ying Yi, he quietly asked her if she had revealed Lie Ruge's survival to Yi Lang. Ying Yi reassured him that she had not. After a brief farewell with Zhan Feng, Yi Lang escorted Ying Yi towards the Dark River Palace.
Xun Yi, wearing a veil, met them on the way. She informed Ying Yi that, by the Third Sect Leader's decree, she would be spared the torture typically inflicted at Dark River Palace. Instead, she was to drown herself in the river, thus leaving her a whole corpse. Ying Yi was forced into the river and drowned as Xun Yi watched.
In Tianxia Wudao City, Dao Wuxia, having restored Dao Liexiang's freedom, prepared gifts and asked her to accompany him to Yi Lang's inauguration as sect leader. Dao Liexiang reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, during their travels, Lie Ruge and Lei Jinghong discovered Ying Yi's body, who appeared to have drowned. Lie Ruge, saddened by the sight, offered money to a kind passerby to ensure Ying Yi received a proper burial.
Ying Yi's tragic death heightened Lie Ruge's concern for Zhan Feng, fearing he too was in danger. Yin Xue, present with them, comforted her, explaining that in such circumstances, sometimes no news was the best news. Yu Zihan dispatched Bodyguard Huang with imperial guards to Flaming Hill Manor to attend Yi Lang's inauguration ceremony, ostensibly under the name of the Prince of Jingyuan, but secretly to protect Lie Ruge.
Yu Zihan instructed Huang to meet Lie Ruge in Miaohe Town, assuring him that Yi Lang would not dare refuse entry to imperial representatives, even if he suspected their true intentions. In Miaohe Town, Lei Jinghong presented Lie Ruge with Flaming Hill Manor guard uniforms. They planned to disguise themselves and stealthily infiltrate the manor. Lie Ruge expressed concern about the risks, but Lei Jinghong reassured her that with Yin Xue's guidance, they would be safe.
