Operation: Special Warfare Episode 26 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
Wu Mei instructed Wu Jie to recruit reliable individuals to retrieve a light-sensitive remote-controlled bomb from a freezer truck. The bomb was to be transported from the border crossing to the woods in the western suburbs of Yanzhou. From there, it would be transferred to a vehicle disguised as carrying lighting materials to enter the convention center, as the freezer truck itself could not gain access.
Chen Zihan was assigned to stay by Wu Jie's side, with Wu Mei explicitly stating her intolerance for any mistakes, especially at such a critical juncture, and reminding Wu Jie of his past close calls. Wu Jie then contacted Wang Shasha to secure the necessary personnel. Wang Shasha expressed hesitation, citing rumors of Guangde Energy being shut down and the inherent risks of the job.
She rejected Wu Jie's initial offers and leveraged these concerns to demand a much higher payment, including a substantial deposit to recruit her team. Wu Jie, though annoyed, agreed and issued a stern warning, holding her accountable for the safe delivery of the goods and threatening severe repercussions if anything went awry. Meanwhile, Qin Zhiwei introduced his son, Qin Guan, to his colleagues at the company, including a staff member referred to as Uncle Li.
Qin Zhiwei proudly highlighted the extensive effort that went into the convention center's lighting project, which he considered a significant achievement. He then departed to welcome city leaders for a surprise inspection. Uncle Li later discreetly informed Qin Guan that Liu Yuxi, his father's new girlfriend, was the one who undertook the entire lighting project.
This revelation sparked concern in Qin Guan, who confronted his father, suggesting that Liu Yuxi's motives might be financial, driven by the project's benefits rather than genuine affection. Qin Zhiwei vehemently defended Liu Yuxi, asserting her company's qualifications and the project's adherence to legal procedures. He expressed disappointment in Qin Guan's lack of understanding and support. Their argument quickly escalated, with Qin Zhiwei becoming agitated and pushing Qin Guan away, nearly suffering a medical incident.
A colleague intervened, urging Qin Zhiwei to calm down and leave, while also instructing Qin Guan to return home. Wen Jing later approached Qin Guan, observing his worry. She informed him that Ning Meng's condition was dire and "not optimistic" despite continuous treatment. Her doctor concluded that short-term recovery was "almost impossible," leaving the only option to prepare Ning Meng for transfer back to her original unit. Concurrently, Zhuang Qian was performing cupping therapy on Ning Meng.
Ning Meng reported feeling some physical relief, but Zhuang Qian noted her lack of cheerfulness, playfully threatening to use acupuncture to make her smile. This lighthearted jest eventually made Ning Meng laugh, but she soon broke into tears, admitting she missed everyone and longed to return to the dorm. Zhuang Qian offered comfort, assuring her that her condition would improve.
Later, Qin Guan took Ning Meng to a multimedia room and played footage from the bus incident two years prior, the source of her trauma. Ning Meng instinctively tried to stop the video, but Qin Guan gently prevented her, explaining that "if you don't face the pain directly, you'll never get rid of it." As the video showed images of her brother, Ning Lei, covered in blood, Ning Meng experienced stomach cramps and rapid breathing.
Overwhelmed, she asked if she could watch the rest of the video alone. Qin Guan refused, insisting, "I want to be with you and watch this video together because Ning Lei also wants me to accompany you and finish watching this video." He added that Ning Lei was metaphorically present, urging them to face the past together, believing "only by overcoming sorrow, there will be tomorrow." Ning Meng continued to weep silently.
Wang Shasha gathered her team, reiterating the critical importance of safely delivering the goods. She distributed an advance of 200,000, promising another 500,000 upon successful completion. Her subordinates complained about their "pigsty" living conditions and requested firearms, but Wang Shasha refused, stating the operation required discretion and that she would carry her own weapon. She assured them that their living conditions would improve once they received their payment.
Meanwhile, the Blue Lightning team, having prepared gifts for Ning Meng, were disheartened when Wen Jing informed them that Ning Meng had already departed. Li Sisi, visibly upset, questioned why they weren't informed. Wen Jing explained that Ning Meng had chosen to leave early to avoid a painful farewell, as she wanted to believe she would always remain a part of Blue Lightning.
Li Sisi wept inconsolably, expressing her deep sorrow, and other team members also struggled to contain their emotions. After a montage of Ning Meng's joyful moments within Blue Lightning, Qin Guan accompanied Ning Meng back to her dorm, instructing her to pack her bags for her final departure as he knew seeing her teammates would be too difficult for them.
While driving Ning Meng to her new destination, Qin Guan presented her with a handmade necklace featuring the Blue Lightning emblem as a souvenir. Ning Meng, moved, began to cry. Qin Guan gently urged her to compose herself, reminding her that as a Blue Lightning soldier, she shouldn't shed tears easily. He shared his own experience of over a decade in the Special Forces, witnessing "parting, retirement, and sacrifice," admitting that each instance still caused him pain.
However, he emphasized the importance of personal growth and using reason, not tears, to heal emotional wounds. He informed her that he had made arrangements with her original unit and would first take her to see her mother before returning her to duty. Ning Meng expressed her gratitude.
Qin Guan then feigned forgetting "Xiao Hua," a plant, and Ning Meng asked him to care for it in her absence, requesting regular photos, which he agreed to provide when not on duty. Suddenly, Qin Guan spotted a passing car and recognized the female driver as Wang Shasha, the terrorist who had escaped from the hospital. Following her to a remote cave, they covertly observed Wang Shasha and her subordinates discussing the escort of a mysterious cargo.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Qin Guan instructed Ning Meng to call the police and report to the command center for backup. However, they were discovered. One of Wang Shasha's men recognized Qin Guan as an armed police officer, prompting Wang Shasha to immediately order his elimination. Ning Meng bravely stepped forward to shield Qin Guan and was shot in the chest by Wang Shasha. Qin Guan was then knocked unconscious by another terrorist wielding a wooden stick.
In a moment of sheer determination, Ning Meng seized a dropped gun, and despite momentarily seeing a hallucination of her deceased brother, she fired, eliminating the terrorist who was about to attack Qin Guan. Wang Shasha and the remaining terrorists fled the scene. Returning to Ning Meng, Qin Guan's heart sank as he initially believed she had died, overwhelmed by the broken promises he made to Ning Lei and his mother to protect her.
However, he quickly discovered she was still breathing and immediately began performing CPR, repeatedly calling her name. Ning Meng eventually regained consciousness, much to Qin Guan's profound relief. She asked about the terrorists, and Qin Guan confirmed they had fled and that he had reported the incident to the command center. He revealed that the necklace he had given her, crafted from tungsten steel with a carbon fiber exterior, had miraculously blocked the bullet, saving her life.
At the hospital, a doctor confirmed Ning Meng sustained only a superficial wound and would be discharged in two days. Her teammates, who had come to visit, expressed their immense relief and playfully admonished her for leaving without a proper goodbye, asserting that her injury could have been avoided if they had been present. Ning Meng apologized, promising not to disappear again.
The mood lightened as they jokingly suggested changing the farewell party to a celebration, with Li Sisi offering to buy more food to replace what she had consumed out of grief earlier. A team member inquired if Ning Meng's heroic act of saving Qin Guan and overcoming her fear of shooting terrorists meant she could stay in Blue Lightning. Ning Meng acknowledged it was still uncertain and awaited a decision from higher command.
The detachment leader confirmed that the police were actively investigating the terrorists' cargo and had sealed off key transportation points, expecting a swift resolution. He praised Ning Meng and Qin Guan's combat experience, noting that the consequences would have been unimaginable otherwise. Qin Guan, seizing the opportunity, advocated for Ning Meng's reinstatement, emphasizing that her actions proved she had "completely overcome the psychological barrier" and was fit to return. Other officers, including the commissar and Wen Jing, echoed his sentiments.
Wen Jing provided a psychological assessment, confirming Ning Meng's autonomous overcoming of her trauma. The detachment leader and commissar approved her return to the team immediately. Back with Blue Lightning, Ning Meng quickly re-integrated into training, expressing her joy at firing live rounds and participating. Qin Guan urged her to catch up on missed sessions, and Ning Meng enthusiastically embraced the new equipment courses, viewing it as a "new revolution" and a "rebirth" for herself and the unit.
Later, Old Li, Qin Guan's former classmate, praised Ning Meng's "leaps and bounds" progress, which Qin Guan proudly attributed to her being his soldier. However, Old Li then shifted his concern from Ning Meng to Qin Guan, teasing him about his initial reluctance to accept Ning Meng into the team.
