Operation: Special Warfare Episode 10 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
Lin Yi found himself in a difficult situation after receiving a punishment that his father, who comes from a prestigious military family, viewed as a great disgrace. Lin Yi, who had always striven to meet his family's high expectations, felt immense pressure to succeed and avoid bringing shame upon them.
His father had angrily reprimanded him, questioning if he still looked like a soldier and lamenting that if Lin Yi were his own soldier, he wouldn't have been let off so easily. Xu Dongdong, feeling responsible, tried to comfort Lin Yi, telling him that the current setback was just a hurdle and a form of training.
She encouraged him to regain his resolve, assuring him that with his strong sniper skills and renewed effort, his father would eventually approve of him again. Ning Meng sought out Qin Guan, hoping to discuss Lin Yi and Xu Dongdong's situation. However, Qin Guan was resolute, stating that their fight was a fact, and disciplinary action was unavoidable.
He teasingly offered to consider revoking the punishment if Ning Meng was willing to take it herself, but quickly dismissed the topic, instructing her to focus on preparing for the upcoming Blue Lightning Commando badge awarding ceremony. The Blue Lightning Commando's badge awarding ceremony commenced with the commander emphasizing the importance of building a loyal, capable, and disciplined army and highlighting their crucial role in cracking down on terrorism and ensuring the success of the Global Energy Conference.
As the badges were presented, Qin Guan quietly told Ning Meng to "hold back your tears" and "not embarrass your brother." The team then solemnly swore an oath, pledging to obey the Party, serve the people, uphold discipline, and defend the country. After the oath, they posed for their first official group photo.
During the photo, Qin Guan, in a moment of reflection, expressed his commitment to Ning Lei, Ning Meng's late brother, acknowledging her aggressive spirit and promising to train her into the best soldier. Having overheard this, Ning Meng playfully warned Qin Guan to uphold his promise, or her brother would "have a meeting with him tonight."
Showing a softer side, Qin Guan then inquired about Ning Meng's foot injury, though he quickly clarified his concern was for "Blue Lightning's soldiers," not just her personally. Ning Meng assured him her foot was fully healed and wouldn't hinder her training. Later that evening, the Blue Lightning Commando members gathered for a celebration dinner. Qin Guan surprised them by serving a specially brewed herbal concoction, not wine, explaining it was a potent supplement.
Wen Jing, leading the female soldiers, playfully challenged the male soldiers, suggesting they might be too intimidated to drink it. The female soldiers eagerly accepted the challenge, declaring they feared nothing. Qin Guan explained that his strictness was to prevent them from suffering more severe injuries on future battlefields. Wen Jing then initiated a competition, challenging the male soldiers to sing. Chen Haozhe and Guo Xiaowei performed a powerful military song, but Ning Meng dismissed it as mere shouting.
Ning Meng then urged the female soldiers to showcase their talent with a dance, encouraging a reluctant Li Sisi to perform "The Girl from Dabancheng." After the female soldiers' lively performance, Wen Jing dared Qin Guan to sing. Despite his initial protests of being tone-deaf, Ning Meng and the others persuaded him, and he eventually sang a heartfelt song about soldiers, with everyone joining in. That night, everyone was abruptly awoken by an emergency assembly call.
Confused and cold, the soldiers boarded a vehicle, unaware of their destination. Some wondered if it was a terrorist attack, but Chen Haozhe reasoned they'd be in an explosion-proof car if that were the case. During the long, cold journey, Xu Dongdong covertly tried to give Lin Yi a chocolate bar, but a sudden jolt caused it to fall into another soldier's hands, who, thinking it was for her, quickly ate it.
Xu Dongdong could only offer Lin Yi a bitter smile. Upon arrival, the male soldiers immediately recognized their location as "The Furnace," a notorious comprehensive special warfare training base where they had trained before. They explained it was like the Grand Elder's pill furnace; those who could endure would emerge stronger. Qin Guan announced that from this moment, they would be reshaped into true Blue Lightning Commando members, and their first lesson was anti-strike training.
He demanded that each soldier endure sudden blows from ten bricks and twenty boards in twenty minutes, without making a sound. He paired them up, but the male soldiers hesitated, unwilling to strike the female soldiers. Qin Guan, enraged, yelled at them, calling them "fragile" and "cowardly" and threatening to dismiss anyone who showed weakness. Ning Meng, amidst the relentless blows, began to feel dizzy, triggering flashbacks to a past accident.
Overwhelmed by stomach cramps, she knelt down and requested to use the toilet. Qin Guan granted permission but urged her to return quickly, as only fifteen minutes were left. Wen Jing brought Ning Meng some stomach medicine and water. Ning Meng, though clearly unwell, insisted she could continue training. Back on the training ground, Chen Haozhe expressed concern over Ning Meng's pale face, but Qin Guan sternly forbade any pauses. Soon, many female soldiers were bruised and bleeding.
Xu Dongdong, with only three bricks left to complete, was visibly struggling. Yet, with unwavering determination, she handed a brick to Guo Xiaowei, signaling him to continue. Her fellow female soldiers cheered her on, but before Guo Xiaowei could strike, Xu Dongdong fainted. Witnessing this, Qin Guan denounced them as "paper tigers," "fragile" and unfit for special warfare, asserting they wouldn't last twenty-four hours in "The Furnace."
Wen Jing attempted to intercede, but Qin Guan cut her off, stating they would continue training the next day. Later, Wen Jing confronted Qin Guan, arguing that his methods were too extreme and that male and female soldiers had significant psychological and physiological differences. Qin Guan countered that the enemy would not distinguish between them and would be far more brutal; in his eyes, they were all simply members of the Blue Lightning Commando.
Wen Jing acknowledged his reasoning but felt the training, which included outdated techniques, was overly harsh and challenged whether he could endure it himself. Angered, Qin Guan decided to prove his point. He summoned Guo Xiaowei and, in front of the entire team, had him rapidly strike him with bricks and boards. Qin Guan unflinchingly endured every blow.
He then addressed the team, declaring that as the last line of defense, they had no right to retreat or lose, and his "kindness" would be the cruelest thing to them. Wen Jing, feeling a complex mix of emotions, later sought out Qin Guan to apologize. Qin Guan clarified that his demonstration was not aimed at her and then revealed his underlying care for the soldiers.
He had discreetly obtained a secret traditional Chinese medicine, a special liniment for traumatic injuries, by enduring ridicule and making a humble phone call to Commander Zhao. Commander Zhao had teased Qin Guan for asking for the medicine after treating his female soldiers so harshly but eventually agreed, surprised that Qin Guan would ask for their sake. Qin Guan then handed the medicine to Wen Jing to distribute among the injured.
