Episode Summary
The group is ambushed just before the river crossing, suffering heavy losses, including Xiao Baima and Da Lüzi. Lu Changshan leads a small group of survivors across the river into Soviet territory. Lanhua'er, after watching Xiao Baima die, sacrifices herself to save their baby by pushing the infant onto a block of ice in the river. Tang Deyuan is brutally tortured in prison, only to be manipulated by the man who betrayed him, Xiao Tielin.
Spoiler Alert
The Ambush at the River
So, the group is this close to the river crossing. They can almost taste it. But of course, the Japanese ambush them. It's a complete mess. The attack comes out of nowhere and they are totally unprepared.
Lu Changshan yells for everyone to scatter. Cannon fire is everywhere. People are dropping left and right. It's brutal. Xiao Baima does his best to shield Lanhua'er and their baby. In the middle of all this, Tian Xiaogui goes to scout ahead but gets knocked out cold by a blast.
The survivors, led by Lu Changshan, fight back hard. They push back a few waves of attacks. But they lose people. Da Lüzi is killed in an explosion. His brother, Er Lüzi, loses it and wants to charge the enemy. Lu Changshan has to physically stop him and tells him to get his younger brother, Xiao Lüzi, out of there.
A Desperate Crossing
Lu Changshan and the few who are left make it to the river. Bad news. The water isn't frozen solid yet. There's no walking across. Lu Changshan doesn't hesitate. He orders them to strip off their cotton clothes and swim for it. They can use makeshift rafts to float their gear.
But he's not leaving everyone behind. He decides to go back for Tian Xiaogui, Xiao Baima, and Lanhua'er. Wan Fuqing and the others follow his orders. They take off their clothes, slap their skin to get the blood flowing, and start pushing the rafts across the freezing water.
Lu Changshan and Er Lüzi head back into the woods. They wait. And they wait. But there's no sign of the others. Eventually, they have no choice. They have to cross the river themselves.
Goodbyes and Heartbreak
Back in the forest, Tian Xiaogui wakes up. He's dazed and limping, but he starts heading for the river. He gets there only to see the Japanese have completely sealed off the riverbank. He's trapped.
Lanhua'er and the baby somehow survived the initial blast. She frantically searches and finds Xiao Baima. He's badly wounded. He's bleeding out fast. Lanhua'er rips off her own cotton coat to try and stop the bleeding. It's no use.
Xiao Baima is fading. He looks at his child one last time. He tells Lanhua'er he'll find her in the next life. Then he's gone. Lanhua'er is completely shattered.
Two Different Fates
This episode splits its time, and the contrast is rough.
A Cold Welcome in Soviet Territory
Lu Changshan's group makes it across the river into the Soviet Union. They are exhausted and starving. They literally eat snow off the ground to survive. They keep moving until they finally stumble upon a Soviet army camp.
Lu Changshan identifies himself, and the soldiers let them in. The survivors get medical checks, haircuts, and hot showers. It's a small bit of relief after pure hell.
A Fake Friend in Prison
Meanwhile, Tang Deyuan is in a bad way. He got caught helping a resistance fighter and now he's in Xin'an Prison. The man he asked for help, Xiao Tielin, left him to rot. A guard named Xu Laosi tortures him relentlessly. Tang Deyuan insists he's not with the resistance.
Xu Laosi is a real piece of work. He casually tells Tang Deyuan that the resistance is finished anyway. He says he doesn't even care if Tang is a member or not. He's just beating him for fun.
Then, Xiao Tielin shows up at the prison. He brings a quilt and acts all concerned. He chews out Xu Laosi and promises to get a doctor for Tang Deyuan. He tells Tang he'll be home as soon as he's better. Tang Deyuan actually thanks him. It's sickening to watch.
Lanhua'er's Final Sacrifice
Lanhua'er is now alone with her baby. She makes a run for the river. She doesn't get far before Japanese soldiers spot her and open fire.
She's hit. Knowing it's over, she wades into the freezing river. She places her baby on a large piece of floating ice. With the last of her strength, she pushes the ice floe away from the shore and out into the current. Then, she sinks beneath the water.
