A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 23 Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
Zhou Zhifei arranged to meet with Jiang Boxian in Suzhou, offering him the opportunity to explore the city, specifically mentioning Willow Garden. Jiang Boxian, who possessed Qian Gu's rare Ming Dynasty painting, the "Tiger Hill Front Mountain Painting", agreed to an outing the following day. Jiang instructed Zhou's subordinates not to hinder his plans, to which a subordinate replied they only followed Mr. Zhou's orders as instructed by Mr. Li. Jiang also offered to send some paintings to Zhou later.
After Jiang Boxian departed, Zhou Zhifei told Yuqing that he had given Jiang an opportunity to escape and that his ultimate fate would be left to chance. Yuqing presented Zhou with gifts from Jiang: ten gold bars and a bracelet. Zhou dismissed these as insignificant compared to the priceless Qian Gu painting Jiang held.
Returning to No. 90, Zhou Zhifei learned from Xie Wenchao via phone that Gu Yizhong had not fled as expected but had returned to work as usual. Zhou found Gu's return surprising, as the exposure of Cell 8 and the rescue of Xiao Junxia should have allowed Gu to clear his name with the Communist Party.
Gao Hu reported that Warden Lu Yaoting had escaped overnight due to pressure from the Japanese following the dungeon explosion, unwilling to become a scapegoat. Zhou confirmed Lu's escape had been arranged and instructed Gao Hu to spread a specific message about Lu. Shortly after, Kondo Masao arrived and ordered an assembly. Kondo addressed the assembled agents, expressing anger that news of the blown-up dungeon had reached Nanjing, resulting in him being mocked.
Displaying a photo of Jiang Boxian, he announced a 10,000 yuan reward for his capture and warned that anyone withholding information would face the same fate as the fugitive warden, Lu. Huang Xinzhai visited Zhou Zhifei to discuss the dungeon incident.
Huang suspected an insider was involved, pointing to Gu Yizhong's background in architecture (necessary for building the tunnel), his recorded visit to the prison before the incident, and his past connection to Xiao Junxia as reasons for suspicion and motive. Zhou questioned Huang's purpose in confiding in him. Huang declared absolute loyalty to the Empire and willingness to sacrifice anyone for the "great cause."
Huang then subtly probed whether Gu Yizhong held any leverage over Zhou, referencing the deaths of Gu's father and sister and questioning Zhou's decision to let the warden take the blame instead of reporting to Kondo. Zhou turned the question back on Huang, asking why he wasn't reporting his suspicions directly to the Japanese. Huang replied that his findings were merely speculations without concrete proof and commented on the complicated situation at the station with various factions present (Old C.
T. U. , Young M. I. B. , and Fourth Master). Huang requested Zhou stop Xie Wenchao's investigation into him, vehemently denying any ties to Chongqing and stating he only followed Zhou's lead. Zhou thanked Huang for his candor. Zhou then asked to borrow Huang's kitchen that evening to host a dinner at his dormitory, as he lacked a kitchen.
Huang initially thought Zhou wanted to drink with him but understood the request and agreed, declining Zhou's invitation to join the dinner due to a prior engagement. Later that evening, Zhou Zhifei hosted Gu Yizhong at Huang Xinzhai's house. Zhou's wife had prepared special dishes from their hometown, Yixing, including rare winter bamboo shoots sourced by Mr. Li's friend. Zhou poured wine, remarking on the lack of trust among agents since a past incident involving Wu Sibao.
Gu prompted Zhou to state his purpose directly. Zhou addressed Gu's sister's death, claiming he was not involved but that Hu Zhiping was responsible, and Zhou had killed Hu, avenging her. He toasted Gu's sister. Zhou then asked why Gu had returned to No. 90. Gu replied he had unfinished business. When Zhou asked if it concerned him, Gu contrasted his own focus on national interests with Zhou's apparent personal vendettas, stating national affairs were beyond individuals.
Zhou reminded Gu that Cell 8 had been exposed and Xiao Junxia rescued, suggesting Gu should be clear with the Communist Party and leave No. 90. Gu argued that the life of an agent was irrevocably tied to political work and a lifelong commitment. Zhou praised Gu but cautioned against dying for the Japanese, using the fugitive warden Lu Yaoting as an example of someone prioritizing self-preservation.
Zhou reiterated that he had no personal feud with Gu regarding his family's deaths, suggesting Gu's true enemy was the Japanese. He proposed they co-exist peacefully at No. 90. Zhou continued to praise Gu, mentioned Mr. Li's upcoming visit, and offered to introduce them. Zhou pressed Gu again on his reason for returning. Gu replied that he was there for Jiang Boxian. Zhou noted the 10,000 yuan reward but questioned if Gu cared about such money.
Zhou instructed Gu to tell his contacts that Jiang Boxian was Mr. Li's wanted criminal and untouchable, and claimed that "he", Zhou, desired Jiang Boxian most, hinting at a difficult situation he was in and implying Jiang was currently under his control. Gu then departed. Outside, Huang Xinzhai intercepted Gu Yizhong, asking why he left so early. Huang speculated that Zhou had gained significant advantage and warned Gu not to trust Zhou, calling him dishonest. Gu expressed a different view.
Huang dramatically claimed Gu had been "poisoned" by Zhou's influence and offered to work together to capture Jiang Boxian for the reward. He revealed that drunken No. 76 agents had mentioned Jiang would be at Willow Garden the following afternoon. Huang stated he needed help and invited Gu to join him, promising substantial rewards. Gu replied he would consider it. Gu Yizhong then made a phone call, confirming Willow Garden as the target for the following afternoon.
Huang Xinzhai met with Ji Hongbo of the Chongqing C. T. U. faction at a brothel. Ji commented on the meeting location and presented Huang (from the M. I. B. faction) with authentic travel documents, business permits, money, and gold bars for him and his wife, assuring Huang that his mother was safe and well cared for in Chongqing.
Huang stated his involvement was solely for his mother's sake and mentioned that Zhou Zhifei suspected him of leaking Zhou's address after the assassination attempt. Huang requested four men, six guns, 100 bullets, and a car to be stationed at the back door path of Willow Garden the next afternoon, informing Ji that Jiang Boxian would be there.
Ji acknowledged the request, noting that Jiang's security was handled by No. 76 agents with two bodyguards, but the total number of escorts was unknown. Ji concluded the meeting. Ou Xinping met with a contact, exchanging information in return for the release of someone named Haimo, who the contact assured her was safe and not involved in their work.
This contact discussed the political importance of Jiang Boxian, the concern that Chongqing might secretly negotiate with the Japanese potentially harming the Anti-Japanese National United Front, and how this could make the Nanjing Wang regime a useless pawn. They noted that Zhou, Kondo, Huang, and the Chongqing C. T. U. were all interested in Jiang. The contact speculated the Willow Garden tip might be a trap set by Zhou to cause infighting.
They agreed that rescuing Jiang Boxian was the best course of action. Zhou Zhifei and Ou Xinping were in a car. Zhou apologized for previously slapping her and offered her the chance to hit him back. He warned her about the unreliability of men, contrasting long-time friends with recent acquaintances, implying a warning about Gu Yizhong. Ou defended Gu, calling him a good person.
Zhou refuted this, labeling Gu unfilial and disloyal for abandoning his girlfriend and allegedly causing his father and sister's deaths. Ou insisted Gu had his difficulties, which Zhou dismissed as men's excuses to deceive women. Ou then ordered Zhou to get out of the car.
The following day at Willow Garden, a rescuer (implied to be Gu Yizhong), identified himself as "Mr. Li's guest" to Jiang Boxian's bodyguards, and finding suspicious activity near the back door, informed Jiang he was sent by Chongqing to rescue him and guided him towards the back door. However, Huang Xinzhai appeared at the back door, recognized the rescuer, and ordered his men to kill him. Ji Hongbo, waiting in a car outside, was also assassinated.
As gunfire erupted, Xie Wenchao arrived with his team, creating further chaos and casualties. The rescuer urged Jiang to head for the front door where someone was waiting. Shortly after, Ou Xinping arrived at the garden. Zhou Zhifei contacted Kondo Masao, reporting that Jiang Boxian was at Willow Garden and that a situation was unfolding. During the shootout in the garden, Ou Xinping rushed towards the scene.
Zhou Zhifei attempted to stop her outside, warning her it was a deadly trap filled with top assassins from the Peace Army and that she wouldn't survive. Ou insisted she had to rescue Jiang Boxian for Chongqing, prioritizing his return over her own life. Zhou physically tried to restrain her, telling her the current situation couldn't be changed and to go back.
Ou broke free, drew a gun, and threatened Zhou, ordering him not to follow her before entering the garden. Inside, Ou reached Jiang Boxian and urged him to leave with her. Someone (implied to be Gu Yizhong) provided cover fire, eliminating several agents. Jiang was quickly guided towards an escape vehicle by others. Ou covered the retreat, telling Jiang to hurry into the car and instructing her teammates to meet at a designated liaison point.
As Jiang and the others escaped, Kondo's forces arrived and demanded surrender. Ou Xinping was captured while providing cover for the escape. After the incident, a distraught Xie Wenchao contacted Zhou Zhifei by phone, reporting the chaos and casualties at Willow Garden and frantically claiming someone had tried to shoot him. Zhou questioned Xie about leaking his home address, asking how many gold bars he received in exchange. Xie vehemently denied any contact with Chongqing.
Zhou thanked him and confirmed Jiang Boxian had escaped, adding that Xie's cousin-in-law (Ou Xinping) was alright, despite having slapped him previously. Zhou Zhifei then spoke with Yuqing about Ou Xinping. Yuqing asked if Zhou had helped the rescuers. Zhou confirmed Jiang Boxian had escaped. Yuqing then inquired about her cousin-in-law, Ou Xinping. Zhou informed her that Ou had been captured and was imprisoned at No. 90. He mentioned that Kondo was attempting to persuade her to defect.
Zhou believed Ou would never betray her principles, given her deep hatred for the Japanese, expecting her fate would be either to kill Japanese or be killed by them. Yuqing asked if Zhou could find a way to save her. Zhou Zhifei reported to Kondo Masao, presenting a photograph of Huang Xinzhai meeting with a Chongqing agent. Zhou revealed that Huang was a Chongqing M. I. B.
spy with frequent ties to high-ranking officials and was involved in smuggling and the Ding Jiansheng case, offering confiscated gold bars from Huang's home as proof. He stated that Huang had acted on orders from Chongqing to rescue Jiang Boxian. Kondo acknowledged Huang's identity as a spy. Kondo then inquired about Zhou Zhifei's prior relationship with Ou Xinping.
