Glory of Special Forces Episode 32 Recap
> Glory of Special Forces Recap
The Blue Team's power system was destroyed, leaving them reliant on water hand-pumped from a well. However, this well water suddenly turned bitter. A soldier reported the water was more bitter than porridge, leading Sun Ning to quickly identify denatonium benzoate, or bitters, as the cause. He noted that such a low concentration would evade normal detection.
Realizing the enemy had exploited their weak defenses, Sun Ning recalled Yan Poyue’s past in the kitchen squad after leaving recruit company, deducing that Yan Poyue understood their routines and had executed a precise, morale-damaging attack. Sun Ning ordered the kitchen squad to use wartime reserve water for breakfast and sent men to retrieve a slow-release container from the well.
The container was found, bearing the inscription, “Recalling past sufferings and thinking about the good times ahead is the glorious tradition of our military,” clearly indicating Yan Poyue's handiwork. Soon after, a mortar attack, initiated by Yan Poyue using ammunition stolen from the Blue Team’s armory, eliminated ten kitchen squad leaders and twenty-seven soldiers, devastating the unit.
With only Guo Xiaoxiao and Yan Poyue remaining from the Cheetah team, Guo Xiaoxiao faced Zhang Tian Yang and his sniper squad, while Yan Poyue was being pursued by Gao Zhun. Zhang Tian Yang engaged in psychological warfare, displaying eleven water bottles, each representing a Blue Team sniper. He challenged Guo Xiaoxiao to hit them, explaining that for every hit, one of his men would be eliminated.
He tried to provoke her by saying that the drill rules were holding her back and that he would eliminate Yan Poyue within an hour if she didn't act. Guo Xiaoxiao, however, employed methods Zhang Tian Yang had never encountered. She used cut grass as a visual distraction, timing her shots with strong winds. Zhang Tian Yang, reflecting on his own habits, realized she had discerned his subtle relaxation pattern – a brief eye-closure every eighteen minutes.
During his seventh such break, Guo Xiaoxiao struck, leaving him metaphorically "blind even with his eyes open." Zhang Tian Yang admitted defeat, conceding that snipers must never have predictable habits, or they would have long been eliminated by an enemy like Guo Xiaoxiao on a real battlefield. Despite her victory, Guo Xiaoxiao's position was exposed and would be subjected to a fifteen-minute carpet bombing. Surrounded by explosions and fire, Guo Xiaoxiao was honorably "eliminated."
Meanwhile, Yan Poyue intercepted a Blue Team relief convoy from headquarters, posing as a Blue Team soldier and demanding identification and cargo inspection. He claimed to be escorting the truck for safety. The drivers joked that he just wanted to "quench his thirst" with the fresh produce. Indeed, Yan Poyue ate some cucumbers and radishes in the back of the truck, but he also injected the remaining vegetables with an unknown substance before disembarking a kilometer from the base.
Among the relief personnel was reporter Gu Meng, specially assigned to cover the exercise. Previously dejected eliminated soldiers brightened at her arrival, eager to be interviewed. Guo Kui, eating a cucumber, suddenly began to "bleed" from his mouth, as did others. The cucumbers were bleeding. Panic ensued, and the vegetables were sent for analysis. The drivers recalled Yan Poyue escorting them. Yan Poyue's plan succeeded.
Gu Meng, intrigued by the "Soldier King" everyone was discussing, snuck into the exercise area with her photographer, determined to get an interview. Yan Poyue discovered them and immediately tied Gu Meng up, initially suspecting her of being a Blue Team spy.
After a pat-down revealed no suspicious equipment, he realized she was indeed a reporter, but chastised her for her reckless self-importance, explaining that her "playing games" on a battlefield could cost lives and asking if she had any discipline. Gu Meng cried for help. Sun Ning, alerted by Gu Meng's photographer, quickly dispatched rescue teams to "Zone D" where she was, while also sending other units to "Zone C" for a flanking maneuver, anticipating a feint.
The Blue Team soldiers rushed to rescue Gu Meng, but Yan Poyue systematically eliminated them. Rescued, Gu Meng was furious, screaming her hatred for Yan Poyue. Fighting alone, Yan Poyue felt an profound silence, like being submerged underwater. He realized the most challenging part wasn't disguise, lurking, or finding food, but the isolation and absence of anyone to communicate with.
He reflected on his past belief that he alone was sufficient, now understanding the terrifying reality of being isolated and helpless in real combat, with only himself to depend on, and hoping he would never encounter such a situation again. After seven days and nights, the exercise finally concluded. The Red Team was declared victorious, having achieved their target of inflicting a casualty rate of over fifty percent on the Blue Team.
Qin Feng expressed his pride in Yan Poyue's solo effort. Liu Commander reluctantly accepted the defeat, acknowledging the Cheetahs, especially Yan Poyue, had performed outstandingly by exploiting the drill's loopholes with "clever schemes." However, he pondered what Yan Poyue might become in a true war, where he would witness the blood of his comrades and resort to any means necessary to make the enemy bleed more. Liu Commander questioned what those "clever schemes" would evolve into.
The broadcast announced the end of the Red vs. Blue exercise, ordering all units to assemble at the Blue Team's base. Despite the announcement, Yan Poyue remained hidden in the forest, continuing to attack Blue Team soldiers. Qin Feng, hearing reports of ongoing attacks, used the loudspeaker to command Yan Poyue to immediately return to the base, informing him that the exercise sensor system was deactivated. However, Yan Poyue remained unresponsive.
On the seventeenth day of the exercise, Yan Poyue still had not returned to base. All available personnel were dispatched to search for him, but he remained unfound, prompting Qin Feng to consider going personally to retrieve him, suspecting the boy was simply "addicted to fighting."
