Operation: Special Warfare Episode 16 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
Upon emerging from the tear gas-filled room with their supplies, Qin Guan questioned who allowed the soldiers to come out and if everyone had retrieved their provisions. Ning Meng worried about Du Xinyu, who was still inside. Yang Shu bravely re-entered to save Du Xinyu, who had been trapped. After Du Xinyu thanked her, Yang Shu, in a tough manner, stated she acted to preserve their ranking and warned Du Xinyu not to be "such a loser" again.
The male soldiers also appeared with their instant noodles. Guo Xiaowei, tears streaming, claimed he was simply moved by the food. As the soldiers ravenously consumed their meager instant noodles, Qin Guan immediately announced the start of a 10-kilometer cross-country march. Li Sisi lamented their lack of sleep, hunger, and not having a sip of water since the previous night, remarking that the intensity of Devil's Week made "life feel like a year."
Despite their exhaustion, Blue Lightning completed the march. At the finish line, a famished Li Sisi pleaded with Qin Guan for food, even noting Yang Shu was without sustenance. Qin Guan, however, told them they needed to find food themselves but hinted at potential supplies the next day, depending on their performance.
The second day concluded with everyone hungry and tired, and Qin Guan sternly reminded them it was "just the beginning" of Devil's Week, which was designed to push their potential. The following day brought a raw beef eating challenge against the Special Training Team. The female soldiers were appalled, with Li Sisi exclaiming she wouldn't even eat raw salmon.
Members of the Special Training Team openly mocked them, calling them "fancy boys and girls" who were too delicate, confident they would easily win. When male soldiers offered to take on more beef to protect their female counterparts, Ning Meng firmly refused, saying, "You don't have to treat us like female soldiers. We're all soldiers." The team then passionately chanted their motto: "The harder it is, the more forward we go!
Use me for the first battle, use me to win!" Under the starting command, both teams struggled to swallow the raw beef, but Blue Lightning ultimately secured another victory. Afterward, the thought of the raw beef still sickened Li Sisi, who felt nauseous. Qin Guan appeared again, ironically asking if they enjoyed their "big meal," even listing various delicious beef dishes to rub it in.
When Ning Meng pointed out that Li Sisi and a pale Yang Shu were physically exhausted, Qin Guan coldly stated that enduring such hardships was their duty during Devil's Week. Ning Meng attempted to soften him by mentioning it was Lin Yi's father's birthday, but Qin Guan dismissed it as irrelevant. He warned them that the remaining four days would be even more brutal, and they had no choice but to mentally prepare.
That night, as the camp slept, smoke bombs were deployed, followed by an attack from a group of assailants. Lin Yi was captured, prompting Chen Haozhe, Ning Meng, and Li Sisi to give chase. They confronted the Storm Team captain, who stated their mission was only to capture one person and offered the three a chance to retreat. Chen Haozhe challenged the captain, asking if there was a rule against rescuing a comrade.
Ning Meng declared that no Blue Lightning soldier was a "wimp" and vowed to fight to the death if the Storm Team wouldn't release their comrade. Unaware of the capture, the rest of Blue Lightning searched frantically for the four missing members. They worried about the upcoming two-person sniper competition, knowing that without Lin Yi, their chances of winning were slim. Meanwhile, Lin Yi, Ning Meng, Chen Haozhe, and Li Sisi were confined in a cold water dungeon.
Lin Yi apologized for burdening his comrades, but Chen Haozhe quickly reassured him. Li Sisi was visibly unwell from the cold, and Chen Haozhe encouraged her to hold on so they could escape. The Storm Team captain announced a new challenge: find a hacksaw blade within the water dungeon and escape within six minutes, or their team would lose all points.
Simultaneously, Yang Shu and Tong Mengyao prepared for the sniper competition, with Guo Xiaowei volunteering, stating he had practiced with Lin Yi. However, other teammates expressed concern, noting that their opponent, Qu Bo, was as skilled as Lin Yi. Lin Yi managed to untie their ropes by using his teeth underwater, which concerned Chen Haozhe. The water level continued to rise, making it difficult to find the hacksaw blade in the murky water.
The Storm Team captain added pressure by announcing a four-minute countdown, threatening disqualification from future events if they failed. Ning Meng, recalling how the Storm Team captain threw the hacksaw into the water, deduced it must be directly beneath the iron fence. Lin Yi quickly located it and began sawing the lock.
The Storm Team tried to interfere, but Chen Haozhe, Ning Meng, and Li Sisi protected Lin Yi's hands, urging him to keep them safe for the upcoming shooting competition. With seconds to spare, Lin Yi successfully sawed through the lock, and they escaped. Just as the two-person sniper competition was about to begin, Ning Meng, Chen Haozhe, Lin Yi, and Li Sisi returned to the firing range.
Lin Yi, taking his position, was immediately overwhelmed by the memory of his father's harsh criticisms and expectations, causing sweat to bead on his forehead. Qu Bo, observing Lin Yi's troubled state, confidently predicted he would miss the target again. However, Lin Yi's teammates rallied, encouraging him to "believe in himself" and "go for it." Their support bolstered his confidence.
Lin Yi adjusted his stance and, with a precise shot, hit the additional target with a perfect ten rings, securing victory for Blue Lightning. A defeated Qu Bo acknowledged Lin Yi's skill with a thumbs-up. Qin Guan praised Blue Lightning's performance and offered them one wish as a reward. The team's immediate desire was for supplies, which Qin Guan had prepared as bread.
However, Ning Meng, observing Lin Yi, proposed using their collective wish for Lin Yi to call his father, whose birthday it was, as Lin Yi had earned this opportunity. All teammates enthusiastically agreed, returning their bread and urging Lin Yi to use the call to reconcile with his father. Even Li Sisi, who "takes food as her life," readily gave up her bread, earning a playful jab from Chen Haozhe.
However, Lin Yi declined the offer, stating his belief in earning his father's approval through his own merits and wishing for everyone to enjoy the food and get through Devil's Week together. This episode, though a small diversion, deepened the camaraderie and shared memories within the Blue Lightning team. Qin Guan then joined the team, informing them that these days represented the peak of their physical endurance and the remaining time would test their willpower.
He affirmed he would be with them until the end of Devil's Week, urging them to surpass the Special Training Team and be the first to complete the tasks. Meanwhile, Wu Mei discussed with Wu Jie that new, prohibited materials couldn't be imported due to stringent border and customs checks. She revealed her plan to transport them through an unnoticed "no-man's land" route, cautioning Wu Jie that "wealth comes from danger" when he expressed concerns about the risk.
That evening, as the soldiers fantasized about hot pot, Qin Guan abruptly brought them back to reality. He announced their next confrontation would again be against the Special Training Team. The mission was two-fold: protect Qin Guan's badge and capture the Special Training Team's badge. He explained that their wrist monitors had alarm devices, signifying elimination if triggered, and warned of indiscriminate interference from Storm Team members.
Qin Guan then laid out a map, asking Ning Meng, Yang Shu, and Chen Haozhe for their tactical input. Chen Haozhe suggested they leave a few members behind, given the Special Training Team's camp was less than ten kilometers away.
