A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 10 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
Observing a news report, Zhou Zhifei deduced that Gu Yizhong must have contacted his father, urging him to leave Suzhou quickly. However, Gu Xixing responded by placing a public notice, making it clear he would not depart, at least not until after his 60th birthday celebration. It seemed father and son were acting in concert. Meanwhile, Gu Yizhong awoke to find Vice Director Huang by his bedside, returning a watch.
Gu Yizhong, displaying his social grace, insisted Huang keep the watch as he had many like it at home. Huang accepted, agreeing to support each other at Station No. 90 to overcome their adversaries. Huang confided that Kondo had ordered him to investigate Zhou Zhifei for contact with Mr. Xu from Chongqing CBIS, a dangerous connection the Japanese strictly forbade as it was a "dead line" not to be crossed.
Huang planned to send Gu Yizhong to inspect the Taicang Substation the next morning. Gao Hu arrived with breakfast from the canteen, but Gu Yizhong declined, suggesting they eat at a restaurant instead. Section Chief Xie had given Gu Yizhong the day off for his father's birthday and assigned Gao Hu to assist him with any needs.
Gu Yizhong then took Gao Hu to a local bathhouse, explaining the Suzhou customs of "Skin Wrapped in Water" for morning tea and "Water Wrapped in Skin" for afternoon baths. While there, Gu Yizhong subtly arranged for their expenses to be put on his tab and found an opportunity to meet with Butler Fu separately, instructing Gao Hu to wait. Quan Shui and Zhou Zhifei met on a boat, the atmosphere slightly heavy.
Zhou Zhifei questioned the meeting location, but Quan Shui reminded him of a happier time in 1933 when they, along with Sicheng, Xiaolan, and Jinhai, toured Suzhou on a similar boat. The memory brought a hint of sadness to Zhou Zhifei as he confirmed his knowledge of Jinhai's death, noting it was related to Gu Yizhong.
He then proposed a chilling plan: he wanted to use their top assassin, Feng Zhiguo, to kill Gu Xixing regardless of whether he accepted the appointment letter. If Gu Xixing refused, the assassin would act for the Japanese; if he accepted, he would be eliminated as a traitor. Either way, Gu Xixing's death would not be directly attributed to Zhou Zhifei's group.
Quan Shui questioned this motive, asking why he sought Gu Xixing's death when his conflict was with Gu Yizhong, and Zhou Zhifei stated it was to avenge Jinhai. Quan Shui said this wasn't part of her plan for coming to Suzhou and she couldn't help. Zhou Zhifei countered that helping him was helping her, revealing he knew she had been staying at Gu's Garden for two months and was familiar with its layout.
He warned her that Huang Xinzhai, a Juntong agent, would soon discover her location there and it would become unsafe. Quan Shui said she intended to withdraw soon. Zhou Zhifei then inquired about the girl she brought, Haimo, and Quan Shui clarified she was not involved in their work and she had only used her identity to gain residence in Gu's Garden.
Zhou Zhifei also conveyed a message from Mr. Xu from Chongqing, who appreciated Quan Shui's talent and hoped she would return to their group. Reminiscing about their past, Zhou Zhifei urged Quan Shui to return to their former life, but she replied that while she often missed those times, many things had changed and couldn't go back. At Gu's Garden, Quan Shui attempted to eavesdrop on Butler Fu reporting to Gu Xixing about his meeting with Gu Yizhong.
Lin Juan (the false Haimo) confronted Quan Shui, warning her not to listen and announcing her intention to confess to Master Gu that she was not the real Haimo, saying she couldn't keep up the act. Enraged, Quan Shui pulled out a hairpin, revealing it was soaked in potassium cyanide for suicide if necessary, and threatened Lin Juan, warning that even a slight pressure could overwhelm her instantly.
She further threatened Lin Juan's brother, who was training in the Air Force, if Lin Juan jeopardized their organization's action. Quan Shui then gave Lin Juan a letter from her brother, forwarded from the liaison office. In the letter, addressed to "Sister Juan," her brother wrote about graduating from Aviation School and transferring to military service, enduring difficult base conditions and rough food but filled with patriotic fervor and excitement at the prospect of flying and fighting against the Japanese.
He missed her and longed to visit Gele Mountain with her again. Quan Shui told Lin Juan she would overlook her transgression today for the sake of her brother bravely saving the country but warned her of consequences if she interfered with the organization's actions again. Meanwhile, members of the Party received orders from the organization to protect Gu Xixing's safety at all costs and crush the enemy plot.
According to their intelligence, the Japanese had issued a final ultimatum, ordering Gu Yizhong to deliver the appointment letter for the Wu County Magistrate position to his father at the birthday banquet the next day. They knew Gu Xixing was a former Kuomintang left-wing figure who had retired because he disapproved of Chiang Kai-shek's abuse of power.
His influence in the Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou areas, and even Shanghai, made him a key target for the Wang Regime traitors to win over. The Party believed Gu Xixing would never work for the Japanese and worried that if persuasion failed, the Japanese might resort to ruthless measures against the old gentleman. Relocating him quickly was deemed the best approach.
Gu Xixing's daughter, Huizhong, had tried to convince him to leave, but he insisted on holding his birthday banquet first, speculating that he might be waiting for his son, Gu Yizhong. Some saw Gu Yizhong's expected arrival as an opportunity to apprehend him and resolve the mystery of "Cell 8," stating that their safety was not guaranteed until the matter was clarified.
However, the special agent reiterated that the primary mission was solely Gu Xixing's safety, and they must not act rashly until he could safely withdraw from Suzhou. Zhou offered pear-syrup candy to Ruotong, who had been coughing, and emphasized the importance of communists prioritizing the overall situation and controlling personal emotions when faced with tasks, recounting his own experience serving as a guard for Commissar Xiang in the New Fourth Army and showing an award received from the Commissar.
Zhou also expressed concern for Ruotong's health and suggested she not participate in the operation at Gu's Garden the next day, but she insisted, citing her greater familiarity with the location and asking him to trust her.
Zhou also spoke with his wife, Huizhong, urging her not to attend her father's birthday, but she felt she must bring their son, Junsheng, as her father repeatedly told her he wanted to see the child and should not be all alone on his special day without any children present. Gu Xixing spoke privately with Lin Juan.
He revealed he knew she wasn't the real Haimo, recalling how her father, Zhang Yuquan, his sworn brother from Huangpu, had vowed his daughter would never sing ballads but instead attend school. Lin Juan confessed her real name was Lin Juan, and the true Haimo had died prematurely at age eleven. She admitted she was Zhang Yuquan's student, and he had treated her like a daughter after Haimo's death, teaching her ballad singing.
She stated that Quan Shui's account had been fabricated, except for the truth that her teacher died at the hands of the Japanese. Gu Xixing accepted her apology, stating he didn't care about her name or origin; as Yuquan's student and having saved Yizhong's life, this great kindness would not be forgotten, and he would treat her as if she were the real Haimo. Lin Juan expressed her deep gratitude.
Gu Xixing then warned her that Mrs. Weng (Quan Shui) seemed not like a good sort and advised her to keep her distance, asking her to listen to his arrangements for the following day if she trusted him. Lin Juan agreed. On the day of Gu Xixing's 60th birthday, guests arrived, including an opera troupe. Mrs. Weng (Quan Shui) spoke with Butler Fu, confirming Master Gu's intention to formally adopt Haimo as his goddaughter.
Huizhong arrived with her son, Junsheng, and Gu Xixing was overjoyed to see his grandson, admiring his features. He gave Huizhong gold bars and money, telling her to use it for her life or for the revolution, as he knew her organization was extremely poor and lacked funds. He then urged her to leave with Junsheng before the guests and potential troubles arrived, dismissing her plea for him to leave with them as Zhiping had arrangements.
Gu Xixing stated he had to provide an explanation to the people of Suzhou and would not hide or be a deserter. Huizhong worried about the potential conflict with Gu Yizhong delivering the appointment letter, but her father told her not to worry. She then departed with Junsheng and Wang Ma, with assurances that the Division Commander had arrangements for their safety. Outside, Gu Yizhong and Gao Hu waited before entering.
Inside, Gu Xixing welcomed his guests, addressing rumors that he intended to collaborate. He declared that in his heart, there was only one leader, Sun Yat-sen, and one government, the National Government in Chongqing, apologizing for the disturbances the rumors caused. Guests applauded his stance.
He then announced a personal matter, asking them to witness his formal adoption of Lin Juan as his goddaughter, introducing her as the daughter of his sworn brother Zhang Yuquan, who had tragically lost her parents at a young age. Just as he introduced her, Gu Yizhong and Gao Hu arrived. Gu Yizhong addressed Gu Xixing as "Dad," but Gu Xixing refused the title, calling him a rebellious son who has no face.
Gu Yizhong announced he was there on behalf of Station No. 90 to deliver a birthday gift: the appointment letter for the Magistrate of Wu County. He read the letter, which stated the National Government's Jiangsu Provincial Government was appointing Gu Xixing as the Magistrate of Wu County.
Gu Xixing scoffed, stating he only knew the National Government was in Chongqing, its Jiangsu Provincial Government chairman was Gu Zhutong, and its office was in Jinhua, questioning the legitimacy of Gao Guanwu, the chairman named in the letter, calling him a "bullshit chairman." Guests applauded Gu Xixing's defiance. Declaring misfortune in his family due to this rebellious son, Gu Xixing announced he would "clean house."
When Gu Yizhong again addressed him as "Dad," Gu Xixing tore the appointment letter, causing chaos to erupt. Guests and guards intervened, but Gu Xixing pushed them away. Amid the turmoil and shouting, someone identified a gunman. Gu Xixing brandished a pistol, warning others not to move. As guards confronted Gu Yizhong's men, Zeng stepped forward and dared them to shoot him. Gu Yizhong was denounced as a traitor trying to implicate his father.
Despite efforts by others like Zhaohe, Zeng, and a Division Commander present to stop him, Gu Xixing fired, shooting Gu Yizhong in the shoulder. In the ensuing chaos, Sha was killed while protecting Gu Xixing. Gao Hu helped the injured Gu Yizhong and others retreat. Gu Yizhong was taken away. Back at Station 90, someone likened the scene to an "Execution at the Military Gate" from opera.
Despite his shoulder injury, Gu Yizhong confirmed his father was unharmed but still unwilling to leave Gu's Garden, stating he would try to persuade him. However, during the chaos orchestrated by Gu Yizhong, Gu Xixing and Butler Fu managed to escape the garden by boat, with Sha sacrificing his life in the process. Back at his office, Gu Yizhong waited for confirmation of his father's safety.
He received a coded call with the phrase "Young Master Gu, the account owed by Lugaojian, it's time to clear it," confirming his father's safe departure. Meanwhile, back at Gu's Garden, Lin Juan discovered money and a note left for her by Gu Xixing, implying they had departed. Lin Juan commented that her Uncle Gu had left, and the Japanese could no longer trouble him.
Realizing the situation, she told Quan Shui (Mrs. Weng) that they must leave immediately before agents from Station No. 90 arrived, urging her to pack quickly. As they prepared to depart, the sounds of Japanese forces were heard.
Kondo Masao and Japanese soldiers arrived at the bridge leading to the garden, with Kondo calling out to Mr. Gu and suggesting they emulate Bai Letian to enjoy the moon, tea, music, and poetry together, unaware that Gu Xixing had already made his escape.
