Episode Summary
Lu Changshan's group plans to assassinate the Japanese officer Morita Saburo to get to Tang Deyuan. They form an alliance with Liu Wanchun, an undercover resistance fighter posing as an opera singer. As Morita moves in to arrest Liu Wanchun, a sniper kills him, triggering a firefight. Liu Wanchun is wounded during the escape and sacrifices himself to allow Lu Changshan to get away.
Spoiler Alert
A New Alliance and a Dangerous Plan
The Opera Singer's True Identity
The episode kicks off with some family drama. Caifeng takes her son, Gaya, to her sister Da Kuo Zhi's place to hide out. Her husband, Tang Deyuan, is in some serious trouble, so they need to lay low for a while.
Meanwhile, Lu Changshan's crew is focused on that same trouble. They know Tang Deyuan is being watched by the Japanese officer Morita Saburo. Lu Changshan decides they need to take Morita out. The goal is to get to Tang Deyuan, then use him to squeeze intel out of Xiao Tielin about Japanese troops at Datuziling. It's a risky, multi-step plan. To get it done, Lu Changshan asks a contact, Liu Jianbin, for a sniper.
Things get interesting when the opera singer, Liu Banhu, spots Gao Yunhu on the street. He pretends he needs the bathroom and quietly follows him. Of course, Gao Yunhu isn't easy to sneak up on. He catches his tail, and Liu Banhu is forced to come clean.
He reveals his real name is Liu Wanchun. He's not just an opera singer. He's a resistance fighter sent by a commander named Han Guang. His mission is to find lost comrades and get them back in touch with headquarters. He even gives Gao Yunhu the secret code phrase. Gao Yunhu is suspicious but agrees to a meeting.
A Test of Loyalty
Gao Yunhu tells Lu Changshan what happened. Lu is just as skeptical. He has his team radio their superiors to verify Liu Wanchun's story. While they wait, we see Tang Deyuan show a little bit of his old self. He checks on Tian Xiaogui, who is suffering from nightmares and leg cramps.
Later, Tian Xiaogui tries to convince Tang Deyuan to rejoin the resistance. Tang Deyuan brushes him off. He says he can't give up his current life. He even warns Tian to keep his distance from Lu Changshan's group. Tian doesn't buy it, though. He can tell Tang isn't the kind of guy to betray his friends for money.
The message comes back from HQ. Liu Wanchun is legit. Lu Changshan calls a meeting and puts him through one final test. Liu Wanchun answers every question perfectly. The alliance is finally sealed.
The Trap Springs
The Sniper's Shot
The timing couldn't be worse. Morita Saburo already suspects Liu Banhu is a resistance member. His men spot Liu meeting with Lu Changshan's group and report it. Morita gets the order from his superior, Kawano, to make the arrest.
At the same time, Lu Changshan's sniper gets into position. He's been watching the police station and follows Morita as soon as he leaves.
Just as this is all going down, Xiao Tielin gets a tip that Morita is on his way to arrest a communist. He frantically calls Tang Deyuan. He tells him to sell the restaurant immediately so they can skip town.
Morita and his soldiers arrive to grab Liu Wanchun. Fuqing, acting as a lookout, yells a warning. Inside, Lu Changshan tells Gao Yunhu and Liu Wanchun to split up. On a nearby rooftop, the sniper takes aim. Just as Morita moves in to make the arrest, the sniper fires. Morita is killed instantly.
A Hero's Sacrifice
The scene erupts into chaos. Lu Changshan, Gao Yunhu, Fuqing, and Liu Wanchun fight their way out. During the escape, Liu Wanchun is shot. Gao Yunhu and Fuqing lead the Japanese soldiers away, giving Lu Changshan a chance to get the wounded Liu Wanchun to safety.
They end up trapped in a dead-end alley. Lu Changshan breaks a lock and gets them into a hiding spot. But the soldiers follow the trail of blood. Liu Wanchun knows he's finished. He gives Lu Changshan his pocket watch. Then, he uses his own body to block the door, buying Lu the time he needs to escape. Liu Wanchun is gunned down by the soldiers.
Later, the Japanese hang his head in the public square as a warning. Xiao Hong Zao sees it. She is completely devastated as she finally learns the man she knew as an opera singer was a resistance hero.
