Glory of Special Forces Episode 25 Recap
> Glory of Special Forces Recap
The team finally understood why Qin Feng had confined them, and it was then that Bai Long began to speak. He recounted that his father died when he was six, having worked away for many years, leaving Bai Long with no memory of his face, only an urn. Later, his mother told him his father was a hero who sacrificed his life to save a drowning passerby.
In their village, the Bai family was prominent, with his second uncle serving as the village chief. However, this brought them no advantage. After his father’s death, his relatives constantly pushed his mother to remarry and leave, hoping to claim their land. While his mother (Zhao Qiaoling) appeared gentle, she possessed an unyielding spirit. His second aunt even tried to arrange a marriage with a lazy man named Wang Liu from a neighboring village, but his mother refused.
His second aunt and uncle also attempted to adopt Bai Long, but his mother saw through their intentions to seize their land. Despite their obvious hardship, their family was excluded from the special poverty aid list. When his mother confronted his second uncle at the village committee, he feigned difficulty, claiming a complex formula for eligibility, and suggested they give up part of their land to qualify.
His mother, however, firmly instructed Bai Long to protect their house and land, as it was his father’s (Yong Qiang's) sole legacy. She expressed a desire to be buried beside his father when her time came. Bai Long promised her he would build a beautiful three-story house where she could live comfortably, keeping his second uncle and aunt out. His mother’s only wish was for him to grow tall and strong, like his father, and never be bullied.
One day after school, unable to bear the villagers' insults towards his mother, who was called names because his father was dead, Bai Long fought back, even using a beer bottle. His mother, distraught and angry, disciplined him severely. Yet, all Bai Long wanted was to protect her. He began training, eating, and running relentlessly, determined to grow strong. Feeling there was no longer a place for them in the village, he decided to enlist in the army.
On the day he joined, he met his squad leader, Xiang Fei, whom he instantly recognized as a true hero. Though military training was arduous, it was insignificant compared to the humiliation he suffered back home. Under Xiang Fei’s leadership, their squad was unmatched. Xiang Fei was later promoted to Platoon Leader. Bai Long himself excelled since joining Cheetah, earning a Second-Class Merit in an anti-terrorism operation even after being severely wounded.
He always attributed his achievements to Xiang Fei, believing he would be nothing without him. One night, Bai Long received a phone call from his mother, distraught that his second uncle, now the village director, was collaborating with the demolition office to forcibly tear down their home. Bai Long insisted on returning immediately, but Xiang Fei cautioned against desertion and offered to submit a report to their superiors for an official leave.
Xiang Fei, along with Cao Ben, accompanied Bai Long back to the village. Upon arrival, they found his house already a demolition site, his mother sitting motionless amidst the rubble, clutching his father’s portrait. His second uncle, feigning friendliness, claimed she had signed the demolition agreement and received compensation, which she vehemently denied. Xiang Fei questioned the paltry 50,000 yuan offered, asserting that it was insufficient.
His second uncle tried to justify it by claiming the house belonged to his grandfather and the compensation should be split into three shares, but Bai Long’s mother stated it was explicitly left to her husband, Yong Qiang. When Bai Zhu, his cousin, aggressively challenged them, Xiang Fei, declaring Bai Long his soldier, demonstrated "the Chinese military’s bloodthirst." A scuffle ensued, with the villagers supporting the military personnel.
The incident prompted an investigation by the township, which revealed his mother’s signature on the demolition agreement was forged. Several villagers testified that Bai Long's grandfather had indeed bequeathed the house solely to his father. As a result, his second uncle was dismissed from his post, and Bai Zhu was temporarily detained. The village government allocated a new plot of land to his mother for rebuilding and provided additional compensation, bringing a measure of justice.
However, both Xiang Fei and Cao Ben received disciplinary action due to the altercation. Xiang Fei, despite the penalty, proudly declared it was "worth it." Bai Long, feeling responsible and unable to leave his mother's worsening health and vulnerability, decided to discharge from the military. He intended to rebuild their house, ensure his mother received medical care, and then re-enlist, hoping the Cheetah Special Forces would accept him back.
Xiang Fei, though deeply reluctant, respected Bai Long's decision, promising they would wait for his return. Back in the village, Bai Long's mother's health rapidly deteriorated. He desperately rushed the construction of their three-story dream house, but tragically, she passed away on the very night it was completed. Bai Long cried all night, believing he had endured the greatest pain of his life.
But then, he received another devastating call: Xiang Fei was gone, killed by a landmine while saving Cao Ben during Operation Cobra. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Bai Long lashed out at Cao Ben, accusing him of carelessness for stepping on the landmine and letting others save him.
Cao Ben, his own life saved by Xiang Fei, bore the accusation silently, stating that Xiang Fei’s sacrifice was the deepest scar for all "old Cheetahs," and he would live to fulfill Xiang Fei's unfinished mission. Bai Long later erected a tomb for Xiang Fei beside his parents' graves, uniting his closest loved ones in one place. In the somber silence that followed, Yan Poyue was the first to applaud, expressing his honor to be part of Bai Long's team.
Bai Long rose, vowing that he, like Xiang Fei, would protect any member of Squad Nine who faced danger. Qin Feng, observing this, felt a sense of relief, hoping they would forge an unbreakable bond as comrades. As the others began eating, Guo Xiaoxiao distributed oranges. Xiao Yun Jie, however, reacted with sudden agitation, refusing to eat them, declaring he would rather starve. He then revealed that oranges were the last meal he shared with his family.
He recounted a memory of being in the car with his parents, bickering for a game console while eating oranges his mother had given him, right before a car accident made him an orphan. His neighbor, Granny Li, brought his house deed and bankbook to his aunt's house. His aunt and uncle, who preferred a quiet life, made him feel unwelcome.
One day, while walking in the neighborhood, he accidentally stepped on an orange belonging to Yan Poyue, who was training. This led to their first fight, which resulted in Yan Poyue being punished with a 5,000-meter weighted run. The two later became classmates and deskmates. After their first class, they again got into a fight, accidentally injuring Xia Li, the class's study committee member. Xia Li urged Yan Poyue to participate in the upcoming Sports Day.
Yan Poyue initially refused but, upon seeing Xiao Yun Jie sign up for the 800-meter race, decided to join the same event, defiantly challenging him to a showdown on the track.
