Glory of Special Forces Episode 34 Recap
> Glory of Special Forces Recap
Xiao Fei, on a mission for Xing Tian, transported a package when he encountered a police checkpoint. He sensed something was off, asking his companion, a drug dealer, what was truly inside the box and threatening to turn back if not told the real mission. During the routine inspection, he was nervous, but the police found nothing suspicious in his bag or the car, allowing them to pass.
Yan Poyue had dinner with Lu Xiao Tian, who was excitedly planning his post-military life. Lu Xiao Tian revealed he'd successfully cultivated saffron and intended to build a business empire, even boasting that he'd soon be on Forbes and would take care of Yan Poyue once he became "Boss Lu." Yan Poyue good-naturedly played along, jokingly asking for future employment.
Lu Xiao Tian then joked about Yan Poyue's familiar force when he playfully hit him, noting he wouldn't be hit anymore once he was discharged. Meanwhile, Xiao Fei, still on his mission, was given a timed explosive by a drug dealer and ordered to plant it in a crowded area to "pay back" Chinese soldiers. Xiao Fei vehemently refused, stating he prioritized his life over money and wouldn't be a scapegoat, especially since he hadn't received any payment.
As Yan Poyue walked Lu Xiao Tian to the bus station, a broadcast announced the presence of explosives in a public area. The drug dealer left the bomb in a trash can at the station. Yan Poyue quickly identified himself to the station police, ordering them to evacuate the public while he handled the bomb. The device was located in a trash can, and Yan Poyue, with Lu Xiao Tian's help, began to disarm it.
Yan Poyue, drawing on his training, asked Lu Xiao Tian for tools. Lu Xiao Tian found a pair of scissors, to which Yan Poyue declared, "It has to." After a tense period, Yan Poyue successfully stopped the countdown, bringing a brief moment of relief to both of them. Lu Xiao Tian even joked about nearly running away if it hadn't stopped. However, the bomb unexpectedly reactivated, resuming its countdown.
Time was again pressing second by second, and Yan Poyue frantically tried to find another solution, repeating to himself, "Complete the mission. Go back alive." Realizing the dire situation, he urged Lu Xiao Tian to leave, but Lu Xiao Tian refused, declaring, "Yan, you've always got my back, today, I got yours!" When the bomb counted down to a few seconds, Lu Xiao Tian resolutely grabbed the bomb and rushed into a nearby stairwell.
As Yan Poyue hastily chased after him, the bomb exploded, killing Lu Xiao Tian instantly and knocking Yan Poyue to the ground. Lu Xiao Tian died at the scene. An officer later confirmed that Lu Xiao Tian suffered severe internal organ damage and abdominal trauma, dying instantly. Lv Tu arrived to find Yan Poyue in shock, sitting in a corner, his face bloodied and his eyes vacant, clutching Lu Xiao Tian's saffron seeds.
Lv Tu tried to engage Yan Poyue, explaining that the public security department needed his statement to help apprehend the suspect, but Yan Poyue remained unresponsive. That night, Yan Poyue dreamed of Lu Xiao Tian. In the dream, he searched a misty forest for his friend, eventually finding Lu Xiao Tian near his saffron, where he said he was visiting them for the last time before leaving them to Yan Poyue's care.
When Yan Poyue asked where he was going, Lu Xiao Tian cryptically mentioned seeing his name on the Forbes list, then left without further explanation. Yan Poyue awoke, finding Xiao Yun Jie also awake and silently weeping, both grappling with the profound grief of losing their comrade and friend. Lu Xiao Tian's mother arrived at the base. Qin Feng, knowing Lu Xiao Tian often mentioned Yan Poyue on the phone, arranged for Yan Poyue to meet her.
Yan Poyue immediately knelt before her, expressing his profound guilt, confessing that Lu Xiao Tian not only protected the public but also saved his life, and that defusing the bomb should have been his responsibility. Lu Xiao Tian's mother gently helped him up, assuring him she didn't blame him. She tearfully asked if Lu Xiao Tian had left any last words. Yan Poyue recounted Lu Xiao Tian's final brave declaration: "You've always got my back, today, I got yours!"
Overcome with grief, she revealed a secret she had kept from her son: his father had been diagnosed with liver cancer a year ago and was being sustained by chemotherapy, his only hope being to see Lu Xiao Tian one last time. She pleaded with the unit to help forge a letter from Lu Xiao Tian to his father, stating his discharge was delayed due to an important mission, fearing the devastating impact of presenting only a cold medal.
Yan Poyue took Lu Xiao Tian's notebook, signifying his understanding and acceptance of the task. Qin Feng granted Yan Poyue an extended leave, instructing him to focus on writing the letter in Lu Xiao Tian's handwriting, and then to take a trip and do whatever he needed to process his emotions. Yan Poyue began reading Lu Xiao Tian's personal notebook, titled "Lu's Legend: My Diary of Success as a Soldier, to My Descendants and Admirers."
He found an entry from September 1st, where Lu Xiao Tian described his joy upon receiving his enlistment letter, his father's proud celebration, and his own ambition to earn more honors, believing that "people must have a dream." Yan Poyue smiled, recognizing Lu Xiao Tian's characteristic optimism. Another entry from September 5th recounted his first day in the army, meeting "Super Psycho King" and "two wild donkeys" – Yan Poyue and Xiao Yun Jie – who enthusiastically ran extra kilometers.
Lu Xiao Tian also humorously described his delight at being assigned to the kitchen squad, where he could avoid grueling training and enjoy good food, despite some unpleasant tasks like dumping swill and cutting onions. Later entries detailed his first experience with life and death during a dangerous incident, expressing his admiration for Yan Poyue and Xiao Yun Jie's bravery. He also wrote about learning slingshot with Yan Poyue and their joint victory in a kitchen squad cooking competition.
Reading these entries, full of Lu Xiao Tian's vibrant and mischievous personality, overwhelmed Yan Poyue with grief, making it difficult for him to breathe. The public security bureau sent a letter commending Yan Poyue's courageous actions and awarding him a Second-Class Merit. Qin Feng decided to withhold this information for a few days, viewing it as a psychological consolation that could wait.
Lv Tu confronted Qin Feng about giving Yan Poyue Lu Xiao Tian's diary and tasking him with writing the letter, arguing it was inappropriate and akin to "ripping his wounds open over and over again," fearing Yan Poyue would have a breakdown and needed counseling. Qin Feng firmly believed that if Yan Poyue couldn't overcome this emotional hurdle, he would never become a true Cheetah.
He asserted that Yan Poyue needed to internalize the preciousness of comrades and the pain of loss for his growth, making Lu Xiao Tian's sacrifice more meaningful. Qin Feng also mentioned his plan to grant Yan Poyue a long break after the letter was written, allowing him to process his emotions. Leng Jing also voiced her concern, agreeing with Lv Tu that Qin Feng's method was too harsh, especially since this was Yan Poyue's first experience with losing a comrade.
However, Qin Feng remained unswayed, stating that everyone has a "first time" and implying they need to grow up. Overwhelmed by grief and memories, Yan Poyue rushed out and ran furiously. Guo Xiaoxiao followed him, observing his frantic pace and irregular breathing. She caught up and ran alongside him, despite having sprained her knee ligament earlier, eventually persuading him to stop. She offered him her water bottle, which contained flat cola, explaining that it was Leng Bing's favorite drink.
Guo Xiaoxiao shared her own experience after Leng Bing's death, describing the suffocating pain and her struggle to express it. She told Yan Poyue that there was no need to "get over it," because fallen comrades are never truly gone; they remain present, their habits becoming one's own, their presence always felt on the battlefield or training ground. This conversation provided Yan Poyue with a new perspective, making him feel enlightened.
Inspired by Guo Xiaoxiao's words, Yan Poyue meticulously wrote the letter to Lu Xiao Tian's father, perfectly mimicking his friend's handwriting and cheerful, ambitious tone. The letter explained that Lu Xiao Tian had received a sudden order for a mission just before his discharge, delaying his return, and expressed his continued desire to become a hero and make his family proud.
Qin Feng had already granted Yan Poyue an extended leave, and after his conversation with Cao Ben, Yan Poyue decided to go home. Cao Ben approached Yan Poyue, encouraging him to go home and visit his parents, reminding him that he too was still grappling with loss and hadn't fully recovered, and that living on was crucial, not just for himself but for his loved ones. Thanking Cao Ben, Yan Poyue packed his bags and headed home.
Upon his arrival, a delighted Aunt Pei, a neighbor, welcomed him warmly. However, his father was initially stern, questioning the unusual timing of his leave and suspecting he might have caused trouble. Aunt Pei quickly intervened, ushering his father into the kitchen. After dinner, Yan Poyue, still visibly distressed, retreated to his room.
Later, his father revealed to Aunt Pei that he had already called the unit and learned the truth: Yan Poyue had earned a Second-Class Merit for his bravery in defusing a bomb, but tragically, a comrade, a boy a year younger who had just been discharged, had died due to the bomb's improper handling. Realizing the depth of Yan Poyue's pain, his father later found him and quietly invited him to drink together.
