Stealth Walker Episode 17 Recap
> Stealth Walker Recap
Lin Qiang faced reproaches from Cheng Jingsong for not immediately informing the police about Zhang Xianhe's whereabouts. Cheng Jingsong accused her of having personal feelings for Zhang Xianhe, sternly telling her, "It's no longer your job to find him." He questioned why she failed to report when she spotted traces of him, asking, "Why did you go after him yourself?" and suggesting she intended to meet him alone before the police could intervene.
Lin Qiang countered that she had to act quickly, or Zhang Xianhe would flee. She emphasized that Zhang Xianhe's sudden disappearance after Coco's injury meant something significant must have transpired, but Cheng Jingsong insisted, "Whatever it is, it's none of your business. You aren't Wang Qian anymore and Zhang Xianhe is no longer part of your life." Meanwhile, Cao Yongming reported new findings. Tests confirmed that the meth confiscated from Zhang Xianhe's residence was ephedrine-free, indicating pure chemical synthesis.
Such a process, though difficult for most drug manufacturers, seemed to be part of Zhang Xianhe's "experiments," as suggested by the simple testing tools found at his temporary shelter. Cao Yongming believed Zhang Xianhe was a valuable asset in tracing Ma Hongtao's movements.
He revealed that this type of meth production required a catalyst extracted from a plant in the bladderwort family, known as ephedra sinily stapit, a common herb used in weight loss and blood pressure medication, which was not a controlled substance. During an interrogation, one of Hong's subordinates revealed that Hong was purchasing ephedra sinily stapit for a businessman named Luo, a detail Cao Yongming found too coincidental to ignore.
Cheng Jingsong’s investigation found that ephedra sinily stapit, typically supplied by Miao Villages in Mengchen, had become scarce and expensive, with its source monopolized by an unknown pharmaceutical company. Cheng Jingsong reported that no markets in Lingnan had the herb. Cao Yongming concluded that a trip to Mengchen was necessary and instructed Cheng Jingsong to keep him updated. Seeking Hong, Lin Qiang enlisted De's help.
When conventional methods failed to locate Hong, Lin Qiang, using her alias Wang Qian, orchestrated a rumor among local gangs, claiming Hong had betrayed her to the police. As expected, Hong's men apprehended Wang Qian. Hong was initially suspicious of Wang Qian being a police informant, but Wang Qian cleverly diverted suspicion, blaming Qiu Hu and Hei Pi for the earlier police raid.
She pointed out that Hei Pi, Qiu Hu's usual shadow, was conspicuously absent during the raid, suggesting a setup. Wang Qian asserted that Qiu Hu and Fang Lin had likely fled to start a new business elsewhere. Convinced by Wang Qian's explanation, Hong remarked that only someone "clean" would dare to confront her openly, unlike those who hid, revealing their guilt. Hong then offered Wang Qian a place in her operation, asking, "Would you like to join me?"
Wang Qian readily accepted, declaring, "From this moment on, I'm all yours." Hong led Wang Qian to a secluded, abandoned skating rink that served as their hideout. Wang Qian probed Hong about her current activities, learning that Hong was temporarily buying herbs for a client to earn money. When asked about the specific herb, Hong couldn't recall its exact name, vaguely referring to it as 'Xun. . .'
and then mistakenly calling it 'Xunmazhen' (Urticaria), though the herb was actually 'ephedra sinily stapit'. Wang Qian also inquired about Zhang Xianhe's whereabouts, but Hong, surprised, retorted, "You're his chick. If you don't know where he is, how could I?" Hong further stated that after the police raid, she avoided contact with anyone in their circle, especially Zhang Xianhe. Lin Qiang then contacted Cao Yongming via phone to report her progress.
Cao Yongming, having already learned from Cheng Jingsong's investigation that Hong's activities likely involved a new type of meth, instructed Lin Qiang to continue surveillance on Hong, specifically to identify the pharmaceutical company involved before making any arrests. Lin Qiang expressed frustration at Cao Yongming's inconsistent directives, feeling confused by being put on and taken off cases. Cheng Jingsong arrived in Mengchen and met with local Narcotics Control detective Wu Feng.
Wu Feng, emphasizing the need to blend in, immediately transformed Cheng Jingsong into a "vendor" and laid out his "rules" for operating in Mengchen, which included avoiding the word "investigation" and following his lead. Wu Feng informed Cheng Jingsong that a man named Ruan Shan had bought up all the ephedra sinily stapit in the Miao Village. Wu Feng, whose distant grandpa was the Village head, offered to broker a deal to secure the herb supply.
Cheng Jingsong clarified that his mission was to identify the pharmaceutical company behind Ruan Shan, not to monopolize the supply. Wu Feng, confident that Ruan Shan's gambling habit could be exploited, took Cheng Jingsong to a gambling house, assuring him they would find Ruan Shan there if the budget allowed. At the gambling house, Ruan Shan appeared, and Cheng Jingsong discreetly followed him, only to encounter Wu Yufei, an old acquaintance, who seemed to know Ruan Shan.
Cheng Jingsong, maintaining his cover, told Wu Yufei he was no longer a police officer and was now in the herb business. Wu Yufei gave him her number and asked him to call her. The next day, Cheng Jingsong met Wu Yufei, who seemed to be flirting with him.
When Cheng Jingsong asked her to introduce him to Ruan Shan for herb business, Wu Yufei deflected by asking if he was married or had a girlfriend, which Cheng Jingsong seemed to misunderstand. During their walk, Wu Yufei's shoe heel broke. Cheng Jingsong, ever the practical police officer, immediately sat down to repair it. From a distance, Wu Feng, observing their interaction, called Cheng Jingsong, advising him to "forget about the shoe" and "carry her or hold her!"
Cheng Jingsong, though bewildered, complied when Wu Yufei playfully asked him to carry her. Pleased by his gallantry, Wu Yufei arranged for him to meet Ruan Shan at Yuxian Teahouse the following day, reminding him not to reveal his past as a SWAT member. Cheng Jingsong met Ruan Shan as planned and expressed interest in buying ephedra sinily stapit. Ruan Shan explained that the Village head had stopped supplying him, likely because someone else had offered a better price.
Ruan Shan vaguely stated he worked for multiple companies when Cheng Jingsong tried to ascertain his primary pharmaceutical company. Unknown to Cheng Jingsong, Lin Qiang, still undercover with Hong, had already met Luo Kun, the owner of Chenhua Pharmaceutical, the main buyer of ephedra sinily stapit. Lin Qiang reported this breakthrough to Cao Yongming. Lin Qiang then informed Cao Yongming that she had already seen Luo Kun of Chenhua Pharmaceutical.
Cao Yongming, confirming Lin Qiang's rapid progress, told Cheng Jingsong that Lin Qiang was the best fit for undercover work on this line and instructed him to cooperate with her in Mengchen. Cheng Jingsong was disgruntled, feeling that his efforts with Ruan Shan were now redundant. Hong, acting on Luo Kun's behalf, then dispatched Lin Qiang, along with De, to Mengchen to resolve the supply issue.
Upon arriving in Mengchen, Lin Qiang and De encountered Ruan Shan, who informed them that the supply problem had already been "taken care of" by a "young man" — none other than Cheng Jingsong. De was astonished to see Cheng Jingsong, but Lin Qiang quickly silenced him. Lin Qiang and Cheng Jingsong found a moment to speak privately. Both were frustrated, each accusing the other of disrupting their carefully laid plans.
However, with their cover potentially blown and their objectives intertwined, they agreed that all three of them—Lin Qiang (as Wang Qian), De, and Cheng Jingsong—would proceed to the Miao Village together. At the Miao Village, the Village head unexpectedly informed them that he could no longer provide the ephedra sinily stapit, having already granted exclusive agency rights to someone else. He explained that his daughter, Xina, was getting married and her fiancé also required the herbs.
Just then, Xina arrived with her fiancé, revealing him to be Zhang Xianhe, much to the shock of Lin Qiang, Cheng Jingsong, and De. Zhang Xianhe, addressing the group, acknowledged that he and some of them were "old friends" from past business dealings. He welcomed them but firmly stated, "We can't wait for another year," indicating his immediate need for the herbs. The Village head suggested they enjoy the village scenery while he arranged matters for the evening. Xina then introduced herself to Lin Qiang as "Xian's fiancée," prompting Lin Qiang to introduce herself as "Wang Qian."
