A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 18 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
Gu Yizhong was present at the prison when the Warden explained he was personally overseeing an important prisoner on instructions from Station Chief Zhou. This prisoner was scheduled for handover for Section Chief Xie. After the Warden received a phone call and left, allowing Gu Yizhong to access the keys, chaos erupted. A gunshot was heard from inside the prison. Gu Yizhong rushed towards the sound, a flashback of Jiang Boxian being shot flashing in his mind.
An agent was found injured and quickly transported to the infirmary. Captain Zhang arrived on the scene with Section Chief Xie Wenchao, instructing Xie to handle the situation and remarking on Gu Yizhong's cunning, noting their previous plan had not succeeded. Zhang confirmed the injured person, referred to as their "friend from Shanghai," had been sent to the Appeasement Military Hospital with security teams following.
He considered Gu Yizhong a difficult person to deal with but insisted they could manage if they remained focused. At the Zhou's Mansion, Spring received a phone call from a Mr. Shen, who informed her that Jiang Boxian was at the Appeasement Military Hospital. She immediately ordered the Third Brigade transferred there. Yuqing attempted to stop Spring from leaving, citing Zhou Zhifei's explicit instructions that she was not to go out.
Spring, however, drew a gun and forced Yuqing to drive her. Yuqing reluctantly complied, immediately calling Zhou Zhifei to report that Spring had left and had threatened her with a gun. At the Appeasement Military Hospital, Spring, alone initially, learned that Jiang Boxian was in Ward 5 on the second floor, and that both the first and second floors were occupied by agents from No. 76 and No. 90.
She fought her way past agents outside but was intercepted by Zhou Zhifei before she could reach Jiang Boxian's ward. Zhou Zhifei warned her that the area was a trap set by Mr. Li and agents from No. 90, filled with armed individuals, and that entering would be suicidal. He also revealed that a Japanese squad was nearby and likely heading towards the hospital, urging her to leave immediately to avoid capture.
Spring asked about Jiang Boxian, but Zhou Zhifei insisted she save herself first, making her promise not to die. After Spring left, Zhou Zhifei informed his agents outside the ward that members of the Loyal and Righteous Army had attempted to seize a prisoner, resulting in five of them being killed and one escaping. He ordered a thorough search of the hospital and lethal force against any remaining intruders.
Zhou Zhifei then entered Ward 5 to speak with Jiang Boxian, introducing himself as Zhou Zhifei from the Suzhou Station. Jiang Boxian was defiant, stating he had come to Shanghai to connect with capable individuals resisting the Japanese, not to negotiate with the Japanese. Zhou Zhifei explained that Mr. Li's primary objective was to prevent Jiang Boxian from meeting with the Japanese and mentioned that Jiang Boxian's wife and child were expected to arrive in Suzhou the next day.
Jiang remained steadfast, asserting his family understood his readiness to sacrifice for the nation. As Japanese forces approached the hospital, Zhou Zhifei quickly misdirected their search by claiming the commotion was caused by Loyal and Righteous Army members who had already been dealt with. Returning to Zhou's Mansion, Zhou Zhifei confronted Spring, addressing her as Ou Xinping.
He expressed his fury that she had ignored his warnings about the hospital being a trap set by Mr. Li and No. 90 agents and criticized her mission as foolishly naive. A heated argument ensued about Jiang Boxian's intentions and the true nature of their respective missions.
Ou Xinping adamantly stated her belief that Jiang Boxian was there to negotiate with the Japanese and that she had to prevent Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek from following Wang Jingwei by taking Jiang Boxian away. Zhou Zhifei questioned her ability to single-handedly stop such events, arguing that Mr. Li's goal of detaining Jiang Boxian to prevent him from meeting the Japanese aligned with her own objective. Ou Xinping rejected this, stating Mr. Li was Zhou's backer, not hers.
The argument escalated, and Zhou Zhifei, losing his temper, drew his gun and ordered Yuqing to search Ou Xinping thoroughly, revealing his knowledge of her methods for concealing weapons under her armpit and on her inner thigh. He confiscated her guns and restricted her to the room, ordering her not to leave. He then told Yuqing to leave the room. Gu Yizhong learned that Xiao Junxia was alive and imprisoned in the dungeon at No. 90.
He decided to use a tunnel strategy to rescue him. He reported this discovery upwards and received approval. He discussed the discovery with someone he addressed as "Sir," confirming Xiao Junxia's location and expressing his intention to distance himself from Zhou Zhifei's potential scheme. He then sought out Fu Gui, asking for his help.
Fu Gui directly asked Gu Yizhong if he was responsible for the Division Commander's death, which Gu Yizhong vehemently denied, stating he was a human, not a monster. Believing him, Fu Gui, addressing him as "Young Master," agreed to help rescue the underground party member from the heavily guarded No. 90 dungeon. Gu Yizhong instructed Fu Gui to rent a property at 113 Pishi Street for the operation.
Fu Gui warned that Zhou Zhifei was cunning and it might be a trap, but Gu Yizhong remained resolute, declaring he would rescue Xiao Junxia regardless of the danger. Impressed by his determination, Fu Gui praised him, calling him a true son of the Division Commander and like the Gu family. They agreed not to meet again after the following day, but someone would contact Fu Gui at the rented address with the details of the plan.
Gu Yizhong then went to the Anji Garment Shop, asking Uncle Gen to keep watch outside while he spoke with Xiao Ruotong. He shared the news that Junxia was alive and held in the No. 90 dungeon, which he had personally confirmed. He delivered more urgent news: Zhou Zhifei planned to execute a group of stubborn elements in five days as retaliation, and Junxia was on the list.
Gu Yizhong then explained his rescue plan, showing Xiao Ruotong a Suzhou underground pipeline map from the 1930 renovation. He highlighted a dark channel that ran near the artificial mountain at No. 90, situated below the artificial mountain and dungeon, recalling hearing the sound of water while he was imprisoned there.
He explained the channel connected Pishi Street to Xiangfusi Lane and that digging approximately ten meters down from 113 Pishi Street, which Fu Gui would rent, should reach the dark channel, providing access to the inside of the No. 90 great prison. He provided Xiao Ruotong with detailed maps of the tunnel entrance and dark channel direction, emphasizing that only she could interpret them, and promised to determine Junxia's specific location later.
He stressed that this perilous plan was their only option due to the stringent security at No. 90 and Zhou Zhifei's growing suspicion of him. Xiao Ruotong agreed to meet Fu Gui at 113 Pishi Street the next morning. As No. 90 was still monitoring him, Gu Yizhong quickly departed, returning the fountain pen she had given him earlier. Xiao Ruotong felt a sense of relief after he left.
The following morning, Xiao Ruotong arrived at 113 Pishi Street, where Fu Gui was waiting with three excavators. Fu Gui casually referred to them as "grave robbers," mentioning he had told them there were underground treasures. The crew initially appeared dismissive of Xiao Ruotong because she was a woman, but Fu Gui vouched for her, highlighting her crucial role with the map/blueprint.
Before starting, the crew performed a ritual, which initially confused Xiao Ruotong, but their professional approach demonstrated their expertise in excavation. Upon returning to No. 90, Gu Yizhong was summoned by Vice Station Chief Huang Xinzhai, who offered him peanuts and inquired about the incident at the Appeasement Military Hospital, asking if he knew No. 76 had sent someone to their dungeon.
Huang Xinzhai then produced a file on Ou Xinping, identifying her as Zhou Zhifei's former lover/paramour from the CBIS when he was there, an old agent, and one of the key figures, the "Twenty Arhats," in the organization's founding. He showed Gu Yizhong a photo, noting the photo was unclear but stating her presence was confirmed by her demeanor, height, and build, as agents from No. 76 recognized her.
Huang Xinzhai speculated that Xu Enzeng had sent Ou Xinping to try and pull Zhou Zhifei back into the CBIS fold, adding that such maneuvers were common in their line of work, which served political purposes. Gu Yizhong feigned inexperience, acknowledging he had much to learn from Huang Xinzhai, who boasted of his ability to spot disguised individuals, stating looks alone were insufficient.
Huang Xinzhai further revealed that Chief Wan Lilang from No. 76 had personally assigned him a dedicated team from No. 76, stationed at the Xinsu Hotel and under his command, to oversee this matter. He confidently stated that two members of this team recognized Ou Xinping, making her capture inevitable, likening her potential escape to the impossibility of Sun Wukong fleeing Buddha's grasp. As their conversation concluded, Xie Wenchao was discovered eavesdropping outside the office door.
