Forward Forever Episode 48 Recap, Plot

> Forward Forever
> Forward Forever Recap

Yu Chu, following a pre-arranged plan, observed Hua Jiuqing leaving the Qingbangtangkou. She immediately called Chong Liming at the café, reporting that the Qingbang had fallen for their trap. Meanwhile, Si San and Wagner, positioned on a rooftop across from the bank, discussed their ongoing suspicions about Yang Zhen. Si San questioned Chong Liming's readiness to accept Yang Zhen back, pointing out Yang Zhen's recent abnormal behavior and frequent night excursions. Wagner agreed that Yang Zhen seemed restless.

At the bank, Inspector Huang was already investigating the reported robbery, noting that four or five armed individuals had broken in, apparently targeting the VIP vault. Hua Jiuqing arrived and, after being greeted as 'Prince', requested Inspector Huang to inspect Mr. Jin's belongings in the VIP vault to confirm their presence. After verifying that the pharmacological report was still in the private safe, she left with her men.

Observing Hua Jiuqing's departure, A Yi immediately informed Chong Liming by phone that the real target was in a car following the main convoy. Si San, Wagner, and Wen Gou then launched their ambush, opening fire on the Qingbang convoy. Chong Liming intercepted Hua Jiuqing, demanding the report, only to discover her bag contained merely blank paper. He realized they had been fooled by a decoy.

As patrol room officers rapidly approached, Chong Liming and his group were forced to retreat. It was revealed that A Yi had uncovered Hua Jiuqing's "Mingxiu Plank Road" tactic, a feint to distract them while the real documents were moved. A Yi confronted Big Cat, who was carrying the real report, in an alley and managed to secure the box.

Upon returning to the Ritz Hotel, Chong Liming's group found the box, containing the pharmacological report and secret Qingbang documents, on their table. Yu Chu explained that A Yi, as a member of the Southern interim government, could not openly assist them and had covertly delivered the box after seeing through Hua Jiuqing's scheme.

Wagner examined the pharmacological report, which shockingly revealed that keliline was a capsule containing large amounts of hallucinogenic ingredients, primarily heroin—a substance already banned in Britain and its colonies, and that the British were disguising heroin as keliline to sell in China. Chong Liming declared that exposing this truth would defeat Taihe Foreign Trade and drive the illicit drug out of China.

Further examination of the documents also uncovered evidence of Qingbang's extensive arms smuggling, including Maxim machine guns, howitzers, and 500 "jin" of black powder, an amount sufficient to demolish an entire building. Chong Liming expressed concern that possessing these Qingbang secrets would only lead to more trouble. Back at his headquarters, Big Cat reported his failure to Mr. Jin. While meticulously cutting his nails, Mr. Jin expressed his dissatisfaction. He then silently threw a knife onto the table.

Yuan Kai, comprehending the unspoken order, immediately slit Big Cat's throat, killing him. Mr. Jin then ordered Hua Jiuqing to go to the Ritz Hotel, retrieve the documents, and eliminate everyone who had seen them. Hua Jiuqing, attempting to atone for her previous failure, argued for a less extreme approach, citing Chong Liming's status as a 'Prince' of the imperial court and warning against imperial retaliation, requesting to handle it herself.

Mr. Jin, however, pressed her to understand the gravity of his command. After Hua Jiuqing departed, Yuan Kai informed a distraught Hua Jiuqing that this was Mr. Jin's will and that he was now her personal bodyguard. Overcome with grief and rage, Hua Jiuqing furiously ordered Yuan Kai to leave. Meanwhile, Wen Gou, upon discovering a substantial sum, including a 20,000 British Pound check, in the recovered box, suggested keeping it.

Chong Liming firmly refused, stating that their only objective was the pharmacological report and that all other items, including the money and military orders, must be returned to the Qingbang. He emphasized that these items would only draw them deeper into danger. He instructed Si San to photograph all the documents as evidence before returning them. As Si San completed photographing the documents, Hua Jiuqing, accompanied by Yuan Kai and Qingbang men, stormed their room, disarming Chong Liming's group.

Yuan Kai insisted Hua Jiuqing execute Mr. Jin's order to kill them, but she defied him, asserting that she understood Mr. Jin's wishes. She pulled Chong Liming aside, demanding the box in exchange for their lives. When Chong Liming expressed concern about her potential repercussions from Mr. Jin, Hua Jiuqing dismissed him, hinting at a complex and deep-rooted relationship with Mr. Jin.

She explained that Chong Liming had saved her life twice in the past and that this act repaid her debt, making them even. Yuan Kai then forced Chong Liming to open the safe and retrieve the box. Hua Jiuqing inspected the contents to confirm they were intact before leaving with her men. Chong Liming later explained to his group that Hua Jiuqing had, in fact, been helping them. Mr. Jin meticulously checked the documents and money in the recovered box.

Hua Jiuqing tearfully confessed to defying his order and letting Chong Liming live. She recounted how Chong Liming had saved her life twice—once during a past ordeal in the capital and again by compelling her to overcome a drug addiction. She explained that Qingbang rules forbade vengeance against benefactors and that she could not bring herself to harm him. She offered to accept any punishment and even pulled out her hairpin, preparing to take her own life as atonement.

Mr. Jin intervened, stopping her. He declared that since the items were recovered, there was no need to pursue the matter further and forbade anyone from speaking of it again. He then gently helped her up and put her hairpin back, telling her not to harm herself. Chong Liming recognized that despite Hua Jiuqing's leniency, Mr. Jin would still seek retribution, so they had to leave the Ritz Hotel.

He suggested moving to a church, employing a "black under the lamp" strategy, reasoning that its status as a Qingbang property would make it an unexpected hiding spot. Yang Zhen initially hesitated, concerned about Ruowan, but Chong Liming insisted. Yang Zhen then revealed he had already "dealt with" Peter Hong, removing a potential obstacle. As the others packed, Chong Liming confronted Yang Zhen, demanding to know the reason for Peter Hong's death.

Yang Zhen falsely claimed Peter Hong had discovered his return to the Yan Shi Fan and threatened Chong Liming and the group's safety, leaving him no choice but to kill him. Yang Zhen then reflected on his own transformation, stating that even though he was no longer officially part of the Yan Shi Fan, he would not tolerate anyone harming his brothers. Yang Zhen led Chong Liming and Yu Chu to the church.

Yu Chu expressed their dire situation, but Chong Liming countered by highlighting their achievements: his victory at the International Boxing Championship, which had inspired the Chinese people, and their discovery of keliline's true nature, saving many lives. He acknowledged that the North-South peace talks were at a stalemate but insisted on completing the keliline mission.

Chong Liming instructed Yu Chu to deliver the pharmacological report to A Yi so that he could inform the newspapers and expose the truth of keliline to the world, deeming it a meaningful action regardless of the country's future. Yu Chu contacted A Yi by phone, explaining that the report proved keliline, containing heroin, was a banned substance and could be driven out of China. A Yi agreed to facilitate its publication with Zhou Jue and Mr. Su.

Yu Chu informed A Yi they were hiding in Peter Hong's church, following Chong Liming's "black under the lamp" logic for safety, but A Yi remained concerned, offering his protection. Yu Chu explained that their differing political stances made it inconvenient to seek refuge with him. Inside the church, Wen Gou complained about the meager food, wanting to buy meat, but Wagner prevented him, fearing they could be spotted by Qingbang.

The group lamented their current circumstances and discussed the uncertain future of the imperial court and the Yan Shi Fan. Late that night, Chong Liming secretly entered Hua Jiuqing's room, attempting to persuade her to escape with him to the capital, fearing Mr. Jin's retribution for her defiance. Hua Jiuqing, however, refused to leave.

She revealed a past incident where Mr. Jin saved her life from Qingbang enemies when she was sixteen, a rescue that tragically led to the death of his seven-year-old daughter during a retaliatory attack on their headquarters. Hua Jiuqing explained that Mr. Jin never blamed her and instead raised her as his heir, making her feel an immense, unpayable debt.

She declared that she was born into and would die within the Qingbang, and was willing to face any consequence from Mr. Jin. Despite Chong Liming's persistence, Hua Jiuqing's decision was resolute, and he eventually departed alone. Mr. Jin, having observed Chong Liming's attempt to persuade Hua Jiuqing, was touched by her unwavering loyalty. He summoned her, telling her he had always regarded her as a son and had high hopes for her.

He declared his intention to entrust the Qingbang and his position as leader to her, recognizing the need for new leadership in the changing political landscape with the establishment of the interim government in Nanjing. Despite Hua Jiuqing's modesty, Mr. Jin insisted that she was capable and must accept this responsibility. A Yi promptly published the keliline report in newspapers like the Shanghai Xin Bao, Ta Kung Pao, Shi Bao, and others, causing an immediate public sensation.

News hawkers loudly proclaimed "Taihe Foreign Trade, get out of China!" Yu Chu informed Chong Liming that the truth about keliline was now widely known, with street speeches being planned to further expose its true nature, thereby crippling Taihe Foreign Trade's and the Far East Company's operations in Shanghai. Chong Liming expressed satisfaction that their efforts were not in vain. Mary was enraged upon seeing the news.

Episode 47 Recap

Episode 49 Recap