The Flame's Daughter Episode 43 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
Lie Ruge relocated various hall leaders and guests to Duan Lei Zhuang, protecting them from Swordless City's pursuit. Her aim was to vindicate Duan Lei Zhuang, but the hall leaders questioned this, noting that Flaming Manor had initially ruled on the case and was now overturning its own verdict. Lie Ruge explained that Flaming Manor had undergone many changes, and the original verdict was erroneous.
To restore Flaming Manor's reputation in the martial arts world and clear Old Sect Leader Xie's name, she presented Zhan Feng as a crucial witness. Zhan Feng then recounted the true events, revealing how he had been manipulated into concealing the truth, thus wronging many, including Old Sect Leader Xie. He stated that Dao Wuxia's recent death was a just consequence. Zhan Feng described a confrontation with Yi Lang, who had been planting bombs.
Lie Ruge intervened, stopping Zhan Feng from killing Yi Lang and instead sending Yi Lang to Ping'an Town. She explained that she had discovered Yi Lang was not an orphan but had been abducted by human traffickers, and his real mother, Ms. Huang, ran a noodle shop in Ping'an Town. Out of gratitude for Ms. Huang's kindness, Lie Ruge wished for Yi Lang and his mother to have one last encounter.
In a separate instance, Lie Ruge had also orchestrated the escape of another individual, instructing them to flee as they were considered "dead" by Swordless City, while she detonated bombs and had Zhan Feng escort the person away with a witness. Upon hearing the full account, the hall leaders realized they had narrowly escaped the schemes of Dark River Palace and Swordless City.
Lie Ruge assured them that she and Zhan Feng would personally handle Dark River Palace, only requesting their assistance in the final phase to eliminate any remaining forces once Dark River Palace's power crumbled. The hall leaders and guests readily pledged their support to Flaming Manor. After their departure, Lie Ruge bid Zhan Feng farewell. Afterward, Lie Ruge burned paper money for Old Master Duan Zhuang and Xiaofeng, feeling their names were finally cleared and they could rest in peace.
Zhan Feng complimented her, remarking on her resemblance to Old Sect Leader Lie in bearing. Soon, Feng Huang arrived to inform Lie Ruge that Dao Liexiang had already left. Lie Ruge, having anticipated this, was concerned for Dao Liexiang's well-being given the absence of any servants in the Dao family. She promised Feng Huang that she would ensure Dao Liexiang's safety, acknowledging Lei Jinghong's deep affection.
Lie Ruge then instructed Zhongli Wu Lei to arrange for men to discreetly protect Dao Liexiang day and night. Meanwhile, Lei Jinghong was found heavily drinking at the place where Dao Liexiang had departed. Feng Huang, exasperated, urged him to sober up and pursue vengeance, accusing him of wasting his life. When Lei Jinghong lamented that Dao Liexiang was gone and he couldn't find her, Feng Huang angrily rebuked him for his self-pity and offered to take him to her.
In Ping'an Town, amidst heavy rain, Lei Jinghong caught up with Dao Liexiang, who was about to leave a noodle shop. He called her his "wife," but she rejected the term. Dao Liexiang, in utter despair, declared she was returning to Swordless City to accept punishment, regretting her past choices and asserting she had "married the wrong man."
Lei Jinghong tried to dissuade her, reminding her that she was the last of her family and that their sects were inherently adversarial, warning that they would become bitter enemies if she left. Dao Liexiang, however, simply stated that they were enemies to begin with and walked away, leaving Lei Jinghong heartbroken. Feng Huang expressed concern for Dao Liexiang, but Lei Jinghong reassured her that Lie Ruge had already dispatched men to protect her.
Zhan Feng returned to Dark River Palace to report. An Ye Luo questioned him about Lei Jinghong, asking why he had not brought Lei Jinghong's head. Zhan Feng explained that Lei Jinghong was Lie Ruge's friend. An Ye Luo, with a hint of sarcasm, asked if Zhan Feng was afraid to harm his "love," which Zhan Feng admitted.
An Ye Luo chose not to punish him, but instead assigned the task of killing Lei Jinghong to An Ye Jue, stating that An Ye Jue had deeper connections with the Lei family and this would be a test of her loyalty. He reminded An Ye Jue of past failures to eliminate his "love" and Lei Jinghong, declaring this her "last chance" to prove herself. Troubled and conflicted, An Ye Jue accepted the assignment.
Soon after, Xun Yi, worried about An Ye Jue, offered to accompany her, and An Ye Jue agreed. Upon Dao Liexiang's return to Swordless City, she found many citizens leaving, openly discussing Dao Wuxia's alleged crimes, including illicit taxation, collusion with Dark River Palace, and connivance with Japanese pirates, which had caused widespread suffering. These revelations brought clarity to Dao Liexiang, prompting her to reconsider Swordless City's future.
Confronted by guards for returning with "traitor Lei Jinghong," she firmly asserted her right to be in the Dao family's mourning hall and demanded a mourning robe. Later, dressed in mourning attire, she stood before Dao Wuxia's spirit tablet, vowing to atone for the Dao family's past misdeeds and rebuild Swordless City. When her generals spoke of seeking vengeance against Lei Jinghong, Zhan Feng, and Lie Ruge, Dao Liexiang sternly rebuked them.
She recounted the Dao family's crimes—conspiring with Japanese bandits, harming citizens, collecting private taxes, framing Thunderbolt Clique, and ruthlessly killing loyal warriors—declaring them all punishable by death. She warned that if these crimes were publicized, none of them would survive. She further explained that the other martial arts sects had not yet attacked Swordless City out of respect for Zhan Feng and Lie Ruge.
Dao Liexiang then firmly declared an end to the vendetta, commanding her forces to "eliminate evil and promote goodwill" and "make up for the sins of the Dao family," and to stop seeking revenge for Dao Wuxia. She proclaimed that the grievances between Swordless City and Thunderbolt Clique were now cleared. Her generals, acknowledging her authority as the last remaining Dao family member, agreed to follow her commands.
Meanwhile, Lie Ruge visited Lei Jinghong, who was now in better spirits, carefully folding the wedding robes he had worn. He expressed his belief that Dao Liexiang had not yet fully reconciled her feelings and that he would patiently wait for her. Lie Ruge informed him it was time to return to Jiangnan, as Thunderbolt Clique needed him.
Disciples from Thunderbolt Clique arrived at Flaming Manor, reporting that many scattered members were rejoining the sect since Dao Wuxia's death, and several old helmsmen were present, making the reconstruction of Thunderbolt Clique possible. Overwhelmed with emotion, Lei Jinghong prepared to depart for Jiangnan with Feng Huang. Lie Ruge, though he declined a personal escort, discreetly ordered Zhongli Wu Lei to send men to guard him secretly on his journey.
Lei Jinghong then requested to borrow some of Flaming Manor's Azure Dragon Hall disciples, as his own forces were depleted, a request Lie Ruge readily granted, lightheartedly warning him that if he engaged in any evil deeds, she would kill him herself. Lei Jinghong thanked her, promising that Thunderbolt Clique would stand by Flaming Manor in the future to eliminate Dark River Palace. Afterward, Lie Ruge instructed Zhongli Wu Lei to prepare their forces for an impending fierce battle.
During a brief period of peace, Lie Ruge and Yin Xue returned to Ping'an Town and visited Ms. Huang's noodle shop. Ms. Huang greeted them warmly, joking about them eloping again. Yin Xue, with a smile, declared their relationship was now "open and aboveboard" with a marriage certificate, and he could openly call Lie Ruge his wife. While eating, Lie Ruge burned her mouth on the hot noodles.
Yin Xue became overly concerned, trying to check her mouth, which Lie Ruge found amusing, teasing him to "act like an elder." Yin Xue then suggested they share a single bowl of noodles, recounting a folk tale about fated lovers eating the last noodle simultaneously. Ms. Huang observed their playful, childlike affection. After their meal, Yin Xue led Lie Ruge to Xue Ji Bakery.
Lie Ruge revealed that she now knew this place was An Ye Ming's temporary refuge after escaping Dark River Palace. Reflecting on the impending final, dangerous battle against Dark River Palace, Lie Ruge made a solemn declaration to Yin Xue: "The day that Dark River Palace gets defeated will be the day that you marry me." Yin Xue, amused, called it a "forced marriage" and "seizing by force," but confessed, "I want to. I've wanted it for so many years."
On their way back, Lei Jinghong, Feng Huang, and the Thunderbolt Clique disciples were ambushed by An Ye Jue and her forces. Seeing Lei Jinghong about to be captured, An Ye Jue ordered Xun Yi to pretend to betray her by stabbing her, so Xun Yi could rescue Lei Jinghong. Xun Yi, torn and reluctant to harm her mother, hesitated, expressing concern that An Ye Jue would die.
An Ye Jue insisted she would rather die within Dark River Palace and repeatedly urged Xun Yi to strike. Just as Xun Yi struggled with the decision, Lie Ruge appeared, expertly disguised as An Ye Ming. An Ye Jue, who had never seen the real Lie Ruge, was completely disoriented and genuinely believed she was seeing An Ye Ming. Lie Ruge, in character as An Ye Ming, taunted An Ye Jue, asking if she had forgotten her "Third Younger Sister."
An Ye Jue, visibly distraught, denied being An Ye Ming's "Third Younger Sister," claiming she was adopted by Old Sect Leader. Lie Ruge (as An Ye Ming) retorted that she had raised both An Ye Jue and An Ye Luo, which only fueled An Ye Jue's hatred, prompting her to demand to be killed.
Overwhelmed by the shocking appearance of An Ye Ming, An Ye Jue immediately ordered her subordinates to retreat, and she and Xun Yi hastily returned to Dark River Palace. On the journey back to Dark River Palace, An Ye Jue grew increasingly suspicious. She reasoned that if An Ye Ming were truly alive, An Ye Luo would have sought her out already.
Concluding that she had been tricked, An Ye Jue immobilized Xun Yi by striking a pressure point and turned back. Meanwhile, Lie Ruge, still expertly disguised as An Ye Ming, was with Yin Xue. An Ye Jue confronted Lie Ruge, still disbelieving, insisting that An Ye Ming was dead. At this point, Yin Xue stepped in, claiming he had rescued An Ye Ming years ago and kept her hidden, even establishing Flower Tasting Brothel as a cover for her safety.
Lie Ruge, maintaining her An Ye Ming persona, explained her return was to avenge her husband, Zhan Feitian, and declared she was not afraid of An Ye Luo but had been waiting for him. An Ye Jue, who had devoted her life to An Ye Luo and committed many evils for him, was shattered by the revelation. She lamented that despite all her sacrifices, An Ye Luo's heart still belonged only to An Ye Ming.
Overwhelmed with despair, An Ye Jue begged An Ye Ming to disappear so An Ye Luo would not see her, ultimately dropping her sword and fleeing in heartbreak, unable to harm her "younger sister." Meanwhile, Xun Yi, having managed to break free from the pressure point, rushed to find Lie Ruge.
Upon seeing her, Xun Yi immediately recognized her and, kneeling, apologized profusely for stabbing her in the forest, explaining she was forced by her mother, who had threatened Lei Jinghong's life. Xun Yi, consumed by guilt, offered to accept any punishment, even death, to atone for her betrayal. Lie Ruge, understanding Xun Yi's predicament, assured her that she knew Xun Yi had been soft-hearted and had not inflicted a fatal wound.
Yin Xue then intervened, suggesting that instead of seeking death, Xun Yi's help in eliminating An Ye Luo would be far more valuable. Xun Yi, though hesitant to harm her mother, readily agreed to help kill An Ye Luo. Yin Xue clarified that her role would be to lure An Ye Luo out, while the task of killing him would be theirs.
