A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 2 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
During his journey to the execution ground, Gu Yizhong received a secret message from the New Fourth Army detailing an escape method. Arriving at the execution ground, he witnessed his comrades being sacrificed and inwardly desired to shout anti-Japanese slogans. Suddenly, a fellow soldier sacrificed himself to save him, and Gu Yizhong seized the opportunity to escape. Secret agents pretended to fire shots to cover his escape.
Gu Xixing arrived with his troops and felt some relief upon seeing that his son was still alive. In this moment between life and death, Gu Yizhong felt deep gratitude for his comrades' sacrifice and vowed to remember his anti-Japanese resolve. Huang Xinzhai informed Kondo Masao that Zhou Zhifei intended to execute Gu Yizhong, which greatly enraged Kondo. He immediately confronted Zhou Zhifei and demanded Gu Yizhong's immediate release.
Facing Kondo's anger, Zhou Zhifei cleverly placated him with a strategic explanation: he was only temporarily "borrowing" Gu Yizhong and guaranteed his safe return soon. He used the agreement between Wang Jingwei and the Japanese army as justification, emphasizing that the Japanese military should not arbitrarily interfere with the actions of the Suzhou agent station. This ultimately forced Kondo to reluctantly back down.
Meanwhile, after learning that her younger brother Gu Yizhong had successfully escaped, Gu Huizhong felt relieved but also fell into deep thought. She carefully reviewed the rescue operation and keenly sensed that the action might have been foreseen by the enemy. Given that the operation was commanded by someone codenamed "Eagle," Gu Huizhong began to suspect Eagle's loyalty, especially considering her husband, Hu Zhiping, was heading to meet Eagle, which intensified her inner worries.
Facing difficult circumstances, Gu Huizhong entrusted her precious bracelet to Xiao Ruotong, hoping Xiao Ruotong could use it as a token to go to the meeting point and rescue Hu Zhiping, who was in danger. Xiao Ruotong knew the task was arduous but was deeply moved by Gu Huizhong's trust and resolutely set out on the path to rescue. Xiao Ruotong, carrying the bracelet, followed Gu Huizhong's instructions to the agreed-upon restaurant.
Upon seeing Hu Zhiping, she immediately went forward, showed him the bracelet, and gestured for him to leave with her. However, a sudden shout from an agent broke the calm. Hu Zhiping quickly pulled Xiao Ruotong and rushed to the second floor, opening a window to find an escape route. Seeing some sacks piled below, Xiao Ruotong didn't hesitate and jumped down, landing safely cushioned by the sacks.
Agents followed closely behind, firing several shots at their retreating figures, but it was too late. At the same time, Gu Yizhong returned home and searched high and low, finally finding his treasured pistol. Just as he was about to take the gun and leave, Gu Xixing entered. Facing his father's questions, Gu Yizhong seemed nervous, but Gu Xixing didn't scold him.
Instead, he patiently taught him the techniques of shooting, including checking the magazine, opening the safety, aiming, and firing. After confirming Gu Yizhong had basic self-defense capabilities, Gu Xixing tended to a minor injury on Gu Yizhong's arm with medicine. He informed Gu Yizhong that his sister Huizhong had returned, pregnant, with Hu Zhiping, but they had already left again with Xiao Ruotong.
Gu Xixing expressed understanding and support for Gu Yizhong's anti-Japanese efforts, comparing it to his own decision years ago to join the Baoding Military Academy rather than inherit the family business. He told Gu Yizhong to remember the principles of loyalty, integrity, propriety, righteousness, probity, and a sense of shame. He gave Gu Yizhong the loaded pistol and some money, asking him to return for his 60th birthday next month before seeing him off.
Hu Zhiping and Xiao Ruotong safely returned to Gu Xixing's house. Gu Huizhong then took Hu Zhiping to see Gu Xixing. There was subtle tension among the three due to past history. Gu Xixing, though showing some displeasure towards Hu Zhiping for taking his daughter away for ten years and now bringing her back pregnant to hide, acknowledged Zhiping's abilities but criticized his inability to protect his family.
Seeing Gu Huizhong was pregnant, he ultimately chose tolerance and acceptance, lecturing Hu Zhiping on the family virtues and emphasizing the duty to the nation when family duty is neglected. He instructed Hu Zhiping to protect Gu Huizhong at all costs and arranged for them to be given travel money before they left. Later, Xiao Ruotong found Gu Yizhong at his home. She noticed he was injured, but he said he was fine.
Gu Yizhong recounted to her that Junxia had been shot and killed, and none of the other comrades survived the ambush at Yi Garden, revealing it was a trap set by No. 90. He also shared that Gu Huizhong and Hu Zhiping's liaison point had been exposed, and Chang from the rice store was dead. They concluded there was a traitor among them. Gu Yizhong mentioned Junxia's dying instruction to meet Eagle at the Good Friends Cafe that night.
Despite Gu Huizhong's suspicions about Eagle, Gu Yizhong felt compelled to go. Xiao Ruotong decided to accompany him. The two arrived at the Good Friends Cafe. They spotted Duan Wentao, whom Xiao Ruotong recognized as Junxia's classmate. They discussed how to identify Eagle among the crowd. Just then, agents from No. 90, including Section Chief Lian, appeared.
Section Chief Lian spoke to Duan Wentao, hinting he was hunting a CPC mole within No. 90 and implying he knew Duan Wentao was the target. At 8:10, agents stormed the cafe. Duan Wentao was shot. Gu Yizhong and Xiao Ruotong quickly rushed to him as he lay dying, asking if he was Eagle, but he was killed by multiple shots before he could answer. Later, Zhou Zhifei and Huang Xinzhai discussed Duan Wentao's death.
Zhou Zhifei confirmed that Duan Wentao was indeed a mole, but not the vital "Cell 8" they had cultivated. He revealed that Chen Gang from the Telecom Department had given information about the New Fourth Army's radio signal location near the Xiao Village pier to Huang Xinzhai without following proper procedure, and ordered Chen Gang fired. Zhou Zhifei explained his plan was to pressure the Communist Party towards the Taihu Lake base, allowing Cell 8 to pinpoint its location.
He reaffirmed to Huang Xinzhai that Duan Wentao was not Eagle and refused to disclose Cell 8's identity. They agreed that using Gu Yizhong as a scapegoat was effective for now, shifting suspicion onto him within the Communist ranks. Hu Zhiping, Gu Huizhong, Xiao Ruotong, Dalong, and Bingmei made their way to the Xiao Village pier. They met Shuisheng, an underground liaison introduced to the Party by Junxia and who used to be a tenant of Xiao Ruotong's family.
Shuisheng explained that due to strict security checks, they needed approval from the base to go there, which would take three to five days. Xiao Ruotong stressed the urgency of reporting the traitor at the Suzhou liaison point and the base's need for a radio station. Shuisheng agreed to use the radio to request permission for them to come and arranged to leave at 3 a. m.
if a reply was received that night, as Japanese checkpoints on the lake would be less stringent during the guard change. Worried about Gu Yizhong being alone in Suzhou, Xiao Ruotong decided to go back to the city to find him and bring him to the pier so they could travel to the base together.
Despite the early hour and police patrolling the lake, the group (including Huizhong, Zhiping, Ruotong, Dalong, Bingmei, and Shuisheng) prepared to leave by boat from the pier. Shuisheng led the way in one boat, with the others following in a second boat. As they were on the lake, they realized they were being pursued by Japanese soldiers from Iwai's squad. Shuisheng told the others to go ahead and stated he would distract the pursuers. Bingmei was hesitant, but Shuisheng insisted.
Dalong joined his mother in the other boat. Shuisheng heroically sacrificed himself to cover their escape. The remaining group eventually arrived at the New Fourth Army 6th Division base on an island in Taihu Lake. They were met by soldiers who took their weapons. When they protested, a soldier told them that newcomers were not allowed to carry weapons on the island until they had been screened.
Xiao Ruotong further explained to Gu Yizhong that this was due to the suspicion of a traitor within the organization, and they themselves were suspects. Gu Yizhong protested being treated like prisoners, but Xiao Ruotong calmed him. Gu Huizhong stated that Gu Yizhong needed medical attention for his arm wound, and the soldiers arranged for a military doctor.
