Love in Flames of War Episode 42 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Mu Zizheng's mother, held captive by the Japanese, was forced into opium addiction. She eventually took her own life, feeling she was a burden, and urged Mu Zizheng never to work for the Japanese again. This tragic event fueled Mu Zizheng's determination. He had secretly replaced the detonator on the explosives, intending to use himself as bait not to trap Xiao Beichen, but to finally kill Sato.
When confronted by Sato, Mu Zizheng accused him of causing his mother's death by giving her the opium paste that led to her addiction. Sato recognized this as Mu Zizheng's plan to use himself to lure and kill him. Mu Zizheng declared that he already felt like a dead man, his current miserable state entirely Sato’s fault, and that Sato deserved to die more.
Sato reminded him of their "cooperation," suggesting Mu Zizheng used the Japanese for his own revenge, and taunted him about Xiao Beichen's impending doom with the North China Garrison Army nearby. Mu Zizheng, having no more to say, shot at Sato. A Japanese officer intervened, shooting Mu Zizheng, but Mu Zizheng retaliated, killing the officer. As Xiao Beichen and his men arrived, Sato managed to escape, with Xu Zijun and Mo Weiyi in pursuit but unable to catch him.
Xiao Beichen found Mu Zizheng, who admitted he had intentionally cut the bomb's fuse. Mu Zizheng, knowing he was beyond redemption, asked Xiao Beichen to promise to take good care of Lin Hangjing. Lin Hangjing soon arrived, distraught to see Mu Zizheng barely clinging to life.
He confessed to her that he had been collaborating with the Japanese for a long time and was responsible for the deaths of Shen Yanqing and Mr. Ding, and even indirectly for his own mother’s demise. Lin Hangjing, heartbroken, questioned how he could have strayed so far from their shared dreams of an independent, powerful nation and a new world of freedom and equality.
Mu Zizheng could only apologize, reaching out to touch her face before he took his last breath. Information arrived that Sato had been promoted to captain of the Fourth Wing and was moving his forces towards Feng City, continually instigating trouble. Mo Weiyi warned Xiao Beichen that Feng City was strategically vital as the gateway to South Zhibei, and its capture would spell disaster for the entire region. Nanjing continued to respond with mere "negotiations."
Recognizing the urgency, Xiao Beichen ordered the Feng City defenders to immediately march towards the Japanese, establishing a defensive line 500 meters from their position. He declared that if the Japanese dared to cross, the Ying Army would fight to the death. Xiao Beichen explained his resolve, stating that personally, as a son and elder brother, he harbored an irreconcilable hatred for the Japanese, and professionally, as a soldier, he was duty-bound to defend every inch of their homeland.
Later, in the Xiao family residence, Xiao Beichen informed Lin Hangjing that he had followed Aunt Qi's instructions to dismiss most of the servants. He told her that her mission in Beixin was complete, Shen Yanqing's revenge was accomplished, and the YMCA members had largely dispersed. He then told her she was free to go wherever she wished and he would not stop her. Lin Hangjing, understanding, asked if he truly wanted her to leave the Xiao Family.
Xiao Beichen replied that perhaps it was time for them to end things, reminding her of her past words that their acquaintance was a mistake. He stated that now, being alone and unattached, there was no need for them to remain entangled. He concluded by telling her that from that day forward, she would no longer be Mrs. Xiao and would not bear the Xiao surname. Lin Hangjing was devastated by his words.
The situation escalated after the September 18th Incident in 1931, where the Japanese Kwantung Army bombed the South-Manchurian Railway and blamed the Chinese, using it as a pretext to bombard Shenyang. Japan's aggression against China accelerated, with the North China Garrison Army strengthening its presence, pushing the Zhibei border to a critical point. Despite Xiao Beichen's harsh words, Lin Hangjing remained in Beixin, understanding that his pronouncements were a desperate attempt to ensure her safety.
A few years later, several Japanese planes appeared over Beixin. Initially, people watched with curiosity, but then bombs began to rain down, turning the city into chaos. Lin Hangjing rushed back to the Xiao Family residence, which was then directly hit. Xiao Beichen immediately covered and protected her from the blasts. Standing amidst the smoking ruins of their home, both Lin Hangjing and Xiao Beichen were overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, realizing they now only had each other.
With Japanese air raids causing mass casualties in Beixin, Xiao Beichen rallied the Ying Army, vowing to defend the city at all costs. He informed his officers that the combined forces of the Japanese Kwantung Army and Sato's Wing were aiming to turn Beixin into hell, with Sato's Wing positioned in Linhe Town and Kwantung Army numbers growing.
Xiao Beichen immediately deployed Xu Zijun and Commander Kong to lead the independent brigade in defending the city in coordination with Division 2 outside. Mo Weiyi was dispatched to Linhe Town to oversee the garrison. Xiao Beichen's orders were clear: "Once the war begins, only advance, never retreat. Pledge your lives to protect the people and guard Beixin."
Meanwhile, with the Ying Army's defenses proving impregnable, Sato instructed Zheng Fengqi to activate her infiltrator within the Ying Army, a moment she had eagerly anticipated. Zheng Fengqi, accompanied by her father's loyal subordinates, stormed into the medical aid station where Lin Hangjing was working. Confronting Lin Hangjing, Zheng Fengqi accused her of being responsible for the destruction of her family and the deaths of her father and mother.
She even cruelly taunted Lin Hangjing about her miscarriage, declaring that the child she lost with Xiao Beichen deserved to die. Lin Hangjing retorted that Zheng Fengqi misunderstood love, which is about empathy and mutual support, not coercion or hysteria. Enraged, Zheng Fengqi shot Lin Hangjing in the shoulder and demanded she kneel and beg for mercy. Lin Hangjing defiantly refused to kneel to such an "insane" person. One of Zheng Fengqi's soldiers then shot Lin Hangjing in the leg.
Just as Zheng Fengqi prepared to deliver a fatal blow, Liang, a Communist Party member, arrived and shot Zheng Fengqi. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Hangjing, despite her wounds, bravely stood up and shot Zheng Fengqi in the head, finally avenging her unborn child. Overwhelmed and relieved, Lin Hangjing fainted but not before instructing Liang to inform Du Heng to warn Commander Xiao about the rebels in the city.
Soon after, Xiao Beichen found himself ambushed by rebels but managed to escape just in time. Sato, furious at Xiao Beichen's evasion, ordered a city-wide manhunt, vowing to find him "dead or alive." When initial searches yielded no results, Sato, recalling Xiao Beichen's past connections, led his troops to Luminous Jade, the opera house. There, Boss Zhao feigned ignorance, claiming Xiao Beichen hadn't visited for a long time.
Despite Sato's skepticism and a thorough search of the premises, including the performers rehearsing on stage where Xiao Beichen was cleverly disguised, Sato found nothing and reluctantly departed. However, a moment of doubt struck him outside—one of the actors had seemed strange. Rushing back, Sato confronted Boss Zhao, noticing one less person from the ensemble, specifically the "Sleeping God" character from "The Peony Pavilion" opera.
Boss Zhao, maintaining his composure, then began to sing lines from a newly rehearsed play called "Ping Wo Ling" ("Order to Pacify the Japanese Pirates"), a patriotic opera about General Qi Jiguang fighting Japanese pirates, boldly dedicating the performance to Sato and his men. This defiant act revealed Boss Zhao's unwavering stance. He and the entire opera troupe had explosives strapped to their bodies.
Without hesitation, they pulled the pins and charged at the Japanese soldiers, sacrificing themselves to inflict maximum damage and die with their invaders. Meanwhile, traitors caught up with Xiao Beichen, claiming to avenge Mr. Zheng. Luckily, Du Heng arrived with his men, having received Lin Hangjing's message, and rescued Xiao Beichen, revealing his long-standing membership in the Communist Party.
Recognizing the danger, Du Heng urged Xiao Beichen to head to the wartime command post to reunite with Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun, while he remained to eliminate the remaining rebels in the city. At the command post, Mo Weiyi delivered the grim news that while Du Heng's forces had successfully cleared out all the rebels, Luminous Jade had been tragically bombed flat. Xiao Beichen, Mo Weiyi, and Xu Zijun were deeply saddened by the devastating loss.
