A Lonely Hero's Journey Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> A Lonely Hero's Journey Recap
During the court proceedings, just as Judge Jin Jichang was preparing to deliver an unfavorable verdict against Gu Yizhong, Haimo and Luo Wuqiang unexpectedly entered the courtroom, bringing a turning point to the case. Luo Wuqiang, serving as a representative of the CPC Delegation at the Nanjing Military Mediation Committee and former Deputy Division Commander of the New Fourth Army's 6th Division, stepped forward.
He testified to Gu Yizhong's innocence, declaring that while Gu Yizhong was officially part of No. 90, he was, in fact, an inner line contact for the Communist Party. Luo Wuqiang recounted how Gu Yizhong had saved him and his comrades multiple times from attacks by No. 90, enabling eight thousand soldiers to formally join the Anti-Japanese National United Front.
Luo Wuqiang presented a report from Huang Qiushou, an underground member of the Communist Party who sacrificed his life, stating it proved Gu Yizhong had consistently worked for the United Front. He appealed to the court to immediately declare Gu Yizhong innocent and release him, stating he was framed and wrongly accused.
However, Zhou Zhifei, representing the prosecution, pushed back, arguing that Luo Wuqiang's testimony only proved Gu Yizhong's past assistance but did not clear his name from more recent, heinous crimes. He presented documentation alleging Gu Yizhong had personally planned the murder of Ou Xinping, the Jiangsu District Director of the CBIS, and several CBIS agents. As witnesses were called, a man named Ou Maochun dramatically burst forward, expressing immense grief over the death of his sister, Ou Xinping.
He vehemently accused Gu Yizhong of being a traitor who colluded with the Japanese, responsible for the deaths of his sister and over a dozen CBIS agents. Overcome with emotion, Ou Maochun attempted to physically attack Gu Yizhong but was restrained. He identified himself as Ou Xinping's younger brother from Meixian, Guangdong, presenting identification documents as proof. The courtroom erupted, and the judge, unable to maintain order, was forced to declare a recess. Gu Yizhong was taken back to prison.
Zhou Zhifei appeared before Gu Yizhong in the prison, stating he had previously offered Gu a way out, which Gu refused, implying Gu had chosen a path leading to his demise within the prison walls. Haimo visited Gu Yizhong in prison again, expressing her deep concern. She informed him that Luo Wuqiang mentioned the underground party planned a prison break to rescue him, though they were constrained by discipline.
Gu Yizhong strongly objected, explaining that escaping under these circumstances would only solidify the traitor label against him, his father, and Gu's Garden. He insisted on being cleared and walking out as a patriot from the Kuomintang's prison the same way he was brought in. He then asked Haimo about her relationship with Ou Xinping. Haimo recounted meeting Ou Xinping in Hong Kong and how they often discussed their families.
She specifically mentioned that Ou Xinping never spoke of having a brother and had told her that her entire family, over thirty people, had been killed in an explosion, with Ou Xinping being the sole survivor. This detail immediately raised Gu Yizhong's suspicions about the identity of Ou Maochun. He instructed Haimo to ask their lawyer to investigate Ou Maochun, suggesting he could be an impostor.
He believed that proving Ou Maochun was fake would dismantle all of Zhou Zhifei's fabricated evidence and witnesses. Haimo expressed her understanding, promising to follow up on the investigation. Meanwhile, Captain Zhang Jiping and his daughter were having a quiet moment when they were suddenly attacked. His daughter's quick reaction saved his life, but Captain Zhang was still injured. The underground organization acted swiftly, investigating Ou Maochun and revealing his true identity.
He was not Ou Maochun but a man surnamed Ding, hired by Zhou Zhifei to impersonate Ou Maochun and testify against Gu Yizhong as part of a scheme to frame him. Inspired by the Communist Party, Ding, the impostor Ou Maochun, experienced a change of heart. He bravely went back to court and publicly exposed Zhou Zhifei's plot. As Zhou Zhifei tried to deny the accusations, Luo Wuqiang introduced another crucial witness: Captain Zhang Jiping.
Despite being injured, Captain Zhang appeared in court. He not only accused Zhou Zhifei of being a traitor but also presented original documents from the No. 90 Suzhou Agent Station, including a detailed report on how Ou Xinping and other agents were betrayed.
These documents, bearing Zhou Zhifei's personal signature and identified as being written by him under his alias Zhou Youren when he was the station chief at No. 90, served as irrefutable evidence, leaving Zhou Zhifei with no room for denial. Judge Jin Jichang reviewed the evidence provided by Captain Zhang, gaining a clear understanding of Zhou Zhifei's culpability.
However, Zhou Zhifei made a final attempt to leverage his position, claiming he was the chief commissioner of the Suzhou Traitor-purging Committee appointed by Mr. Dai to assist with their work and ordering Judge Jin Jichang to quickly convict traitors. Judge Jin Jichang was unmoved, instead ordering Zhou Zhifei's arrest, dismissing his protests and threats to report to Nanjing and have Mr. Dai send troops. Yuqing visited Zhou Zhifei in prison. Zhou Zhifei remained outwardly calm, analyzing his downfall.
He believed it was due to his former superior, Xu Enzeng (of the CBIS), who held a grudge because Zhou Zhifei didn't return to the CBIS after defecting from No. 90 but instead joined Dai Li's Military Bureau (often referred to as the NBIS). He instructed Yuqing to find Jiang Boxian, a well-connected individual known for his greed, who was said to be a distant relative of Chiang Kai-shek and close to both Xu Enzeng and Dai Li.
Zhou Zhifei hoped Jiang Boxian could intercede with Xu Enzeng on his behalf, making it easier for Dai Li to arrange his release. Following Zhou Zhifei's instructions, Yuqing used all their family assets to try and bribe Jiang Boxian. Jiang Boxian greedily accepted not only the substantial gifts but also insisted on taking Yuqing's personal jewelry, including a valuable heirloom she was wearing.
Only then did he reveal shocking news: Dai Li's plane had crashed into Daishan near Nanjing the day before, and he was dead. This devastating news, also reported in the newspapers, crushed Zhou Zhifei's hopes of rescue and signaled his impending doom. Zhou Zhifei said his final goodbyes to Yuqing, assuring her he would be out soon, despite knowing his fate was sealed. Yuqing expressed her love for him, which he acknowledged he had heard.
Zhou Zhifei then asked to see his son, Youfei. He gave Youfei final instructions, urging him never to engage in activities that would betray their country, take care of his mother, finish his studies, and grow up to be an outstanding man. Adding to the grim developments, Kondo Masao, who was awaiting repatriation, was suddenly attacked and killed by assailants. Before dying, he learned this was arranged by Zhou Zhifei.
Zhou Zhifei requested to see Gu Yizhong in prison for a final meeting. He said it had been five years and it was time to settle their grudge, noting the ironic reversal of their positions since their last meeting in the same cell. He still blamed his downfall on Dai Li's death, calling it a case of fate intervening.
He pointed out that Gu Yizhong was still incorrigible, suggesting Gu Yizhong would use the gun he had hidden in his hat, a trick Zhou Zhifei claimed to have taught him in agent training, to kill him. Zhou Zhifei challenged Gu Yizhong to shoot him personally, saying he wanted to die by Gu Yizhong's hand rather than that of the prison guards, believing it would be worth it.
Gu Yizhong refused, stating he was different; the people's bullets and the public trial of history held greater significance as a warning than a personal act of revenge. Zhou Zhifei questioned how Gu Yizhong could endure five years of being labeled a traitor, losing his family and home, and still reach this point. Gu Yizhong responded by quoting Mr. Sicheng's architectural philosophy: "Arches above are beams, arches below are columns. Beams and columns are straight, only arches are curved.
Straight and curved intermingle, hence the strength is infinite." This suggested he achieved his goal by adapting and using indirect means, unlike Zhou Zhifei's straightforward approach. Zhou Zhifei claimed Gu Yizhong "used curves against straight lines" to defeat his own "being flexible." Gu Yizhong corrected him, stating it was faith. He concluded that Zhou Zhifei lacked faith and was not worthy of being human.
As Zhou Zhifei was led away for execution after being sentenced to death for collaborating with an enemy nation and attempting to betray his country, he asked Gu Yizhong one last question: if he was "Lonely Boat." After Zhou Zhifei's execution, Gu Yizhong tearfully buried his father, feeling a mix of sorrow and relief and noting that justice had been served. Following the funeral, his cousin Lu Zheng asked about his future plans.
Gu Yizhong decided to reopen the Yizhong Architecture Research Society and focus on repairing the many ancient buildings in Suzhou damaged during the war, preserving the city's historical memory, acknowledging this work was more suited to him than being a spy. Despite his work, Gu Yizhong often found himself thinking of Haimo. While repairing Gu's Garden, Lu Zheng's comments about missing Haimo made him realize the depth of his feelings.
He went to listen to Pingtang ballads, thinking of her and reciting poems related to the concept of a "lonely boat" and yearning for home, accepting that some people, once missed, cannot be brought back. Leaving the Pingtang performance, Gu Yizhong felt a sense of anticipation, hoping for contact from the New Fourth Army. As he walked, he heard the distinct melody of Suzhou Pingtang, different from the performance hall but familiar.
Following the sound, he was surprised to see Haimo descending from a boat. She spoke a secret code phrase. Gu Yizhong, recognizing it, was overcome with emotion, grasping her hand and addressing her as "Comrade Haimo." She corrected him, revealing her real name was Lin Shujuan. In that moment of reunion, they silently acknowledged their shared revolutionary mission, ready to continue their work together.
