The Flame's Daughter Episode 7 Recap
> The Flame's Daughter Recap
While traveling, Lie Ruge and Yin Xue stopped at a restaurant for noodles, where they overheard the owner discussing the severe taxes levied by a Jianghu group in Ping'an Town. The owner explained that prices in Ping'an Town were twice as high as elsewhere, and a private tax, heavier than government taxes, was collected monthly. Failure to pay resulted in non-stop accidents and unrest for families, forcing many like him to move out.
Recalling that Flaming Manor had strictly forbidden such practices, Lie Ruge decided they must go to Ping'an Town to investigate. Yin Xue questioned if her superficial understanding would be enough, but Lie Ruge insisted on going to confirm the situation and report to her father, Lie Mingjing.
Upon arriving in Ping'an Town, Lie Ruge, now broke and hungry, tried to find work but was repeatedly turned away by shop owners who found her too delicate and claimed their businesses were struggling. They suggested she leave Ping'an Town for a livelihood elsewhere. Seeing her distress, Yin Xue mysteriously produced a sesame seed cake, claiming it was a gift.
Lie Ruge, noticing a female sesame seed cake vendor coyly glancing at Yin Xue, teasingly accused him of "sacrificing his looks" for the treat. Yin Xue defended himself, saying he was merely establishing good relationships with neighbors, which was crucial for their plans. Lie Ruge then realized the vendor's story was true; even the sesame seed cake was twice as expensive as in Luoyang.
Yin Xue then revealed that he had already made arrangements, having purchased a sesame seed cake shop an hour ago with his own funds, accumulated from Flower Tasting Brothel. Lie Ruge felt guilty about using his money, but Yin Xue playfully asked if she had any to buy a shop herself. He declared himself the boss and appointed her as his "sesame seed cake chef," similar to her role as Madam Hua in Flower Tasting Brothel.
Lie Ruge agreed, and Yin Xue announced they would open the next day after getting a shop sign. He then arranged for two instructors to teach Lie Ruge how to make sesame seed cakes, stressing the importance of kneading dough correctly. Meanwhile, at Flaming Manor, the Azure Dragon Hall, which is affiliated with Flaming Manor and gathers intelligence, reported Lie Ruge's arrival in Ping'an Town.
Huang Cong, reporting to Lie Mingjing on Yu Zihan's behalf, mentioned that a "Sir" (referring to Yin Xue) had previously saved Yu Zihan’s life and Flaming Manor itself. Lie Mingjing calmly stated that Yin Xue was an old acquaintance whom he completely trusted. After Huang Cong departed, Lie Mingjing dispatched Yi Lang to Snap Thunder Village to meet Xie Houyou and secretly ensure Lie Ruge’s safety.
Xie Houyou in turn entrusted the task to his bright young grandson, Xie Xiaofeng, instructing him to befriend Lie Ruge, secretly protect her, and report back daily. After much practice, Lie Ruge finally learned to make sesame seed cakes. Yin Xue named their new establishment "Xue's Sesame Seed Cake." On opening day, Lie Ruge nervously stood behind a basket of fragrant sesame seed cakes. Xiaofeng eagerly volunteered to light the celebratory firecrackers.
Yin Xue, with his striking appearance and elegant demeanor, attracted a large crowd, proclaiming free sesame seed cakes for the day and a "buy two get one free" promotion for the next three days. Among the crowd was Lei Jinghong, who had been lingering in Ping'an Town after parting with his sister. He expressed surprise at Lie Ruge’s venture, noting the high prices in Ping'an Town.
Lie Ruge reflected on Yin Xue, the esteemed "top beauty of Flower Tasting Brothel," opening a sesame seed cake shop, finding it somewhat out of place. Yin Xue then mused that "every kind of ostentation are just soap bubbles," and that their simple life in this "paradise-like small town," accompanied by each other daily, was far superior: "I'd rather envy a pair of mandarin ducks who can be together until they die, than envy an immortal."
That evening, Yin Xue, with the help of Lei Jinghong and Xiaofeng, hung hundreds of intricately crafted palace lanterns across the main street of Ping'an Town. With a quick display of his Ethereal Sect arts, he magically lit them all, transforming the street into a dazzling spectacle under the starlit sky. Lie Ruge was deeply moved, believing the neighbors, who marveled at the unprecedented beauty, were even more touched than she was.
She commented that Yin Xue was truly the "big boss of Flower Tasting Brothel." Lie Ruge also expressed her envy of Yin Xue's mastery, lamenting her own poor martial arts foundation in Flaming Fisticuffs, feeling as though her spiritual energy was inexplicably bound. Yin Xue candidly agreed her foundation was indeed very bad, prompting Lie Ruge to remark on his unusual style of consolation.
As she realized she still needed to prepare dough for the next day, Yin Xue continued carving a special stamp by candlelight, promising she would see its purpose tomorrow. Lie Ruge, worried about his eyesight, lit a candle to illuminate his work, jokingly adding that she didn't want the Flower Tasting Brothel girls fighting her if his eyes got damaged.
The next morning, Yin Xue unveiled his creation: a stamp of a beautiful woman in a red dress, which Lie Ruge recognized as herself. He explained it was made with edible food dye and would be imprinted on every sesame seed cake. He announced they would only sell a fixed quantity of 500 cakes each day, creating scarcity to increase demand and draw more customers to Ping'an Town, thereby helping other local businesses.
Lie Ruge found this business principle very novel. Lei Jinghong and Xiaofeng also requested their own personalized stamps. Yin Xue, however, declared the shop closed for the day and proposed a visit to World Swordless City for a meal at Dongbin Restaurant. Lie Ruge expressed reservations, citing the complex Jianghu dynamics and the unique identities of herself and Lei Jinghong. Lei Jinghong added that his father and World Swordless City were rivals.
Despite their concerns, Yin Xue dismissed them, stating it was merely a meal, and enthusiastically took Xiaofeng and Lei Jinghong with him. Meanwhile, Dao Liexiang, having heard of Yin Xue's arrival in Ping'an Town, was intercepted by her brother Dao Wuxia while trying to sneak out. Dao Wuxia reminded her of her duties as the Third Miss of World Swordless City and their ambition to dominate the Martial Arts Society, which required eliminating Flaming Manor and Thunderbolt Clique of Jiangnan.
He strictly forbade her from leaving World Swordless City. Later, at Dongbin Restaurant, Yin Xue, Lie Ruge, Lei Jinghong, and Xiaofeng found the second floor booked by Dao Liexiang, whose fearsome reputation for dismembering those who crossed her was relayed by the terrified waiter. Unfazed, Yin Xue instructed Xiaofeng to "borrow" an item from Dao Liexiang to compel her to come downstairs. Xiaofeng snatched a zither string, drawing Dao Liexiang down to their table.
Yin Xue revealed he knew her personality and anticipated her chase. Though Dao Liexiang disavowed any connection to Yin Xue, claiming the zither string was from a Flower Tasting Brothel courtesan, she still offered a stern warning: they had three days to leave Ping'an Town, or she would deal with them "discourteously." When they returned, they found "Xue's Sesame Seed Cake" vandalized. Neighbors urged them to leave, confirming World Swordless City's tyrannical presence.
Lei Jinghong was enraged, but Yin Xue stopped him, understanding Dao Liexiang's actions as a warning for them to escape. Yin Xue then pondered if Dao Liexiang's warning was connected to the private taxes. Lei Jinghong confirmed the existence of private taxes, and Yin Xue, confident that Lie Ruge would not back down, decided they would continue selling sesame seed cakes while investigating the matter. Elsewhere, Zhan Feng, tormented by Lie Ruge's absence, indulged in daily drinking.
Upon learning she was in Ping'an Town, he grew concerned. His subordinate, scolding him for his unkempt state, confirmed that Lie Mingjing had sent Yi Lang to arrange for Xie Houyou to protect Lie Ruge. Dismissing Snap Thunder Village's capabilities, Zhan Feng worried about Lie Ruge being under the watchful eyes of the ambitious World Swordless City. He commanded Azure Dragon Hall to report news from Ping'an Town, Snap Thunder Village, and World Swordless City three times a day.
Later, a subordinate informed Zhan Feng that Lie Ruge and Yin Xue were living together, and Yin Xue had illuminated the entire street with a hundred lanterns just to make her smile, leading locals to believe they were an eloped couple. This news inflamed Zhan Feng with jealousy. Meanwhile, Yu Zihan experienced a miraculous recovery, regaining his hearing. Delighted by the sounds of the manor, he asked Xuan Huang to push him around.
However, during their walk, he suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed. Xuan Huang frantically tried to stop the mysterious lady who had seemingly cured Yu Zihan, accusing her of causing his relapse. The lady, however, calmly warned that harming her would lead to the destruction of the Thunderbolt Clique, stating she accepted any condemnation. Despite Chi Zhang, the divine doctor, finding nothing amiss, Yu Zihan insisted that his sudden illness was part of a larger, complex scheme. He once again lost consciousness, leaving those around him in turmoil.
