Episode Summary
Two separate police teams, led by Lin Qiangfeng and Li An, arrive in Wanbei to capture drug maker Lu Shaohua, who is working for the powerful Zhou Shaoxiong. While Li An is stalled by suspiciously friendly local police, Lin seeks help and uncovers the dangerous local power dynamics. A sabotage plot in the drug lab is violently resolved by Zhou, who then places a spy, Ma Yingzi, next to Lu Shaohua. Meanwhile, past connections and personal histories involving Lin Qiangfeng, an old acquaintance named Mindan, and a dying crime figure named Mo Kang come to light.
Spoiler Alert
The Narcotic Operation: Episode 24 Spoilers
Lin Qiangfeng and his team, "The Three Musketeers," face the sweltering heat in a long queue at a border checkpoint. To speed things up, Lin presents his credentials to the staff, allowing them to pass through ahead of the crowd.
Meanwhile, Li An and his officers arrive in Wanbei, where they are greeted warmly by Dunupa, the police chief of Kilo City. On prior instructions from Minister Wu Juetun, Dunupa assures them of his full cooperation in their mission to capture the drug manufacturer Lu Shaohua. Despite the welcome, Li An is eager to begin planning the operation, but Dunupa advises him to be patient. Unbeknownst to them, their target's associate, Zhou Shaoxiong, has already learned of their arrival and is studying Li An's background.
At a hidden drug lab, Lu Shaohua is struggling with the production process, failing multiple times to resolve a technical issue. An impatient Zhou Shaoxiong, who has just supplied a fresh truckload of chemical materials, berates him. Lu is forced to continue his work without rest.
Seeking local assistance, Lin Qiangfeng's team approaches Gu Feng, a wealthy Wanbei businessman who was once saved by Chen Qingquan. Gu Feng reveals that Lu Shaohua is now a key figure working for Zhou Shaoxiong. Zhou is the son-in-law of Yun Ding'en, the formidable commander of Wanbei's armed drug trafficking syndicate. A year prior, Yun Ding'en's daughter, Yun Anna, was killed in a public shooting by a rival dealer, Yang Libing. In a swift act of revenge, Yun Ding'en annihilated Yang Libing's entire clan before retiring from the trade. Gu Feng considers capturing Lu Shaohua an impossible mission and declines to help.
Later, Dunupa insists on treating Li An's team to drinks at a nightclub. A woman named Mindan persistently tries to get Li An drunk. Feeling overwhelmed, Li An steps outside to call Lin Qiangfeng and complains about Mindan's unreliability. As Lin's team eats at a street stall, they are spotted by a woman named Wang Juhua, who recognizes Lin immediately.
Back at the lab, Lu Shaohua finally solves the production problem. Growing suspicious that the issue was deliberate sabotage, he instructs his men, Wang Lin and Qiu Laibao, to investigate quietly. Their stakeout pays off when they spot a man known as Lao Gui tampering with the chemical solution. Just as Wang Lin is about to intervene, Zhou Shaoxiong appears and shoots Lao Gui dead on the spot. Zhou then placates Lu Shaohua with a large sum of money and sends a woman, Ma Yingzi, to keep him company.
In a parallel storyline, Mo Kang reveals to his daughter, Wang Juhua, that he has terminal lung cancer and only six months to live. He expresses regret for allowing her to marry Li Baichuan, who he didn't know was an undercover narcotics officer. Wang Juhua, however, has no regrets, stating she still loves her late husband and criticizes her father's life of crime. She vows to stay by his side.
Lin Qiangfeng seeks out Mindan, asking for help investigating the true circumstances of Yun Anna's death. Mindan refuses, afraid of the danger. A flashback reveals their history: Mindan saved Lin's life years ago when they were both caught in a purge. Lin and Li Baichuan had been undercover in a cartel. After they brought down their boss, "Brother Hu," a suspicious Yun Ding'en ordered Mo Kang to eliminate everyone else involved. Lin was the sole survivor, pulled from a pile of bodies by Mindan.
The episode concludes with a new layer of intrigue. Ma Yingzi, who is seemingly caring for Lu Shaohua, is revealed to be acting under duress. Zhou Shaoxiong is holding her daughter hostage, forcing her to spy on Lu and report his every move.
