A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 21 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
Upon visiting Hu Zhiping, Zhou Zhenwu presented baby formula as a gift, mentioning it was hard to find and from the black market, suggesting it was a valuable item. Hu Zhiping expressed gratitude, noting that his wife, Gu Huizhong, had been very worried about getting milk for their child, and invited Zhou Zhenwu to stay for lunch. Zhou Zhenwu inquired about Gu Huizhong's absence and then asked about any recent news from Xiao Ruotong.
Zhou Zhenwu replied that Xiao Ruotong had been showing poor organizational discipline and wasn't reporting everything to him. Zhou Zhenwu then revealed sensitive intelligence: agents from No. 90 had learned that the Jiangsu Provincial Committee leaders were planning to pass through Suzhou. As Hu Zhiping absorbed this alarming news and realized the implication, Zhou Zhenwu identified him, declaring, "Cell 8, it was you," and drew a gun.
In a desperate move, Hu Zhiping used his child to distract Zhou Zhenwu, throwing the infant towards him. As Zhou Zhenwu instinctively moved to catch the child, Hu Zhiping seized the opportunity and fatally shot him. Upon Gu Huizhong's return, Hu Zhiping urgently explained the immediate danger, stating their location was compromised and they needed to leave quickly. He rushed her to pack essentials, insisting they leave most belongings behind except for the radio. They fled to a new location.
Concern grew when it was reported that Zhou Zhenwu, who had gone to Hu Zhiping's residence alone, had been missing for three hours. Gu Yizhong noted Zhou Zhenwu had been reckless. Aware of Hu Zhiping's address near Yinjia Creek where Zhou Zhenwu had called from, and concerned by the delay, Gu Yizhong asked Xiao Ruotong to accompany him to investigate. Upon arrival, they discovered signs of a struggle, including bloodstains and a red star emblem.
Investigating further, they located Zhou Zhenwu's body. Xiao Ruotong, distraught, identified the body as "Old Zhou's" and closed his eyes. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she became urgent, stating that the Jiangsu Provincial Committee leaders were in danger and she needed to warn them as No. 90 was taking action.
Gu Yizhong urged her to calm down and agreed they should split up; he would arrange for the body to be handled by people from Yizhuang, while she went to give the warning. Hu Zhiping took Gu Huizhong to a new, seemingly safe location. Gu Huizhong questioned him about what had happened, who he had met, and why they had to move so suddenly.
Hu Zhiping was initially evasive, simply saying "Nothing," but then stated that everything he did was for her, their family, and their child Junsheng. He reminded her to give Junsheng the milk powder he had obtained. They were met by Huang Xinzhai, who welcomed them, referring to Hu Zhiping as "Station Chief" and assuring them they were among allies in the same camp.
Later, Xie Wenchao received a report confirming that "traitor Zhou" had been shot and killed, with credit given to agent Li Lushen. Xie Wenchao instructed his subordinate to verify the death through other sources before reporting the victory to Chongqing. Elsewhere, Spring reacted with sadness upon hearing the news. Separately, someone referred to as "Teacher" received intelligence that CBIS agents were responsible for a recent operation and that a shooter might be hiding near the Confucius Temple.
They also received a secret report from Ding Zili in Zhenjiang identifying a new special agent dispatched from Chongqing as Ji Hongbo, a former secretary of Xu Enzeng. The Teacher decided to delay action to catch them all together. Meanwhile, Hu Zhiping made a phone call, demanding fifty thousand legal tender immediately for critical information about the location of three high-profile leaders from the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee.
He warned that he would go to Vice Director Huang Xinzhai if his demand wasn't met. The person on the other end agreed to the price but requested time, giving Hu Zhiping an hour to wait at the Earth Temple. Gu Huizhong overheard this call and grew deeply suspicious. Gu Huizhong waited for Hu Zhiping's return and confronted him at gunpoint, asking if the money he brought back was from Zhou Zhifei.
She demanded to know if he was "Cell 8". He confessed that he was. Shortly after, No. 90 agents arrived at their location, demanding entry, but were immediately followed and confronted by members of the New Fourth Army's Enemy Intelligence Section, led by Section Chief Wang and Captain He. The New Fourth Army comrades revealed that the information about the provincial leaders passing through Suzhou was a ruse orchestrated by Director Lin and the Provincial Committee to expose Cell 8.
In a flashback, Hu Zhiping explained that before the Garden of Pleasance operation, he was tasked by Minister Liu of the Provincial Committee to rescue Nakanishi Tarou, a vital Japanese Comintern member. To protect the mission if captured, he swallowed Nakanishi Tarou's photograph. He was indeed captured by Zhou Zhifei, the Director of the Suzhou Agent Station. Zhou Zhifei threatened him by showing him photos of Gu Huizhong and their unborn child taken at Zhou Zhifei's house.
Faced with this blackmail, Hu Zhiping was forced to betray his oath and join No. 90 as Cell 8. Zhou Zhifei further threatened to publicize a recording of his defection if he ever went against them. Under duress, Hu Zhiping had to forge a photo for Eagle, knowing it would send the action team into a trap with no hope of return.
He also admitted that after his defection, he attempted to use the situation to frame Eagle and clear his own suspicion, but this plan was complicated by Gu Yizhong's involvement. Returning to the present confrontation, Gu Huizhong was devastated, recalling their shared revolutionary past, how he was her spiritual mentor, and how she defied her father to elope with him, enduring hardships out of love and faith in their cause.
She accused him of betraying everything – the Party, their promises, and their ideals – calling him inhumane. Hu Zhiping pleaded that his betrayal in the Garden of Pleasance operation was his only mistake in fourteen years of dedication to the Party since joining during the low point of the revolution in 1927. He begged her to escape with him and Junsheng to Hong Kong, to leave everything behind and return to a peaceful life, arguing they now had money.
Gu Huizhong retorted that he had harmed her brother, caused the death of her father, and cost the lives of many comrades. She insisted his only option was to surrender to the organization. Hu Zhiping refused, believing he would not be spared after causing so many deaths. He continued to urge her to go with him. As he moved towards her, she warned him to stop, believing he loved her too much to shoot. A struggle for the gun ensued.
The gun fired, and Gu Huizhong was shot, falling to the ground. Hu Zhiping rushed to her side, holding her and pleading with her to stay alive. Zhou Zhifei, present with the No. 90 agents, then demanded that Hu Zhiping reveal the location of the provincial leaders, Eagle, and the New Fourth Army liaison point. Hu Zhiping, heartbroken over Gu Huizhong, declared he would tell them nothing if she died.
Seeing that Hu Zhiping would not yield, Zhou Zhifei shot and killed him. Shortly after, Gu Yizhong arrived, finding Gu Huizhong gravely wounded. He frantically held her, trying to rouse her and calling out for help to get her to a hospital.
