Episode Summary
The Cheetah Commando Unit, led by acting captain Ling Zhengrong, encounters a chemical spill in a tunnel during an escort mission. A civilian, Chen Hansheng, risks his life to save two drivers trapped inside. Ling and Chen team up to get everyone out just before explosives seal the tunnel. It's later revealed that Chen is the son of the Cheetah unit's heroic first captain and is now a new recruit under Ling's command, where his intense dedication immediately stands out.
Spoiler Alert
A "Simple" Escort Mission
The show kicks off with the Cheetah Commando Unit. Their acting captain is a guy named Ling Zhengrong. He looks like he knows what he’s doing.
Their mission seems straightforward. They're escorting the national college entrance exam papers. It’s a high-stakes delivery, but Ling is not worried. He says they’ve run this route a million times. You can almost feel the confidence rolling off him.
But there’s a new voice on the comms. Her name is Qiu Tian. She’s the new political instructor, and she is way more cautious. She keeps pointing out potential problems. Ling clearly thinks she’s being overly careful. He’s not a fan.
Then, the Chief of Staff patches in. He talks directly to Ling. He tells him to get his head in the game and cooperate with Qiu Tian. That pretty much shuts Ling up. It’s clear who’s really in charge here.
The Tunnel Goes Sideways
The Crash
The convoy's route takes them through a long tunnel. Of course, this is where things go wrong. A truck carrying hazardous chemicals has overturned inside. It’s a total mess.
Ling gets new orders from command. He has to split his team. One group stays behind to guard the exam papers. You can't mess with those. Ling takes the other group into the tunnel to secure the scene until emergency services arrive.
A Civilian Plays Hero
While they wait, the chemicals start to leak. We're talking toxic gas. It’s spreading fast. Ling makes a tough call. He grabs a protective mask and heads into the danger zone. The problem is, his gear isn't rated for this kind of chemical leak. He's taking a huge risk.
Inside the tunnel, we meet Chen Hansheng. He’s just a passenger in a taxi that’s stuck in the traffic jam. The driver has already passed out from the fumes. Chen manages to wake the driver and pull him from the car. Just as they’re about to make a run for it, Chen hears a cry for help.
It's the driver of the crashed chemical truck. He's still alive and trapped in his cab. Chen looks at the taxi driver, who can now escape on his own. Then he turns around and runs back into the toxic gas to save the truck driver. This guy has zero survival instinct, but you have to respect the guts.
An Explosive Introduction
Ticking Clock Rescue
Qiu Tian is on the comms from the command center. She’s guiding Ling through the next steps. He needs to deploy a neutralizing agent to slow the gas leak. He also has to plant explosives. The plan is to trigger a controlled collapse and seal the toxic gas inside the tunnel.
There’s a timer on the bomb. As Ling finishes setting the charges, he’s about to get out. That’s when he finally sees Chen Hansheng trying to free the truck driver. The countdown is already dangerously low.
There's no time to argue. Ling and Chen team up. They work together to pull the injured driver from the wreckage. All three of them sprint for the tunnel entrance. The explosion goes off right as they clear the blast zone. It was close. Too close.
A Lesson in Disobedience
Now that the crisis is over, Ling and Chen have their first real conversation. Ling finds out Chen is his junior from the same military academy. His reaction is to immediately take Chen down and pin him to the ground. He says he's teaching him a lesson for disobeying orders and acting recklessly.
Chen doesn't back down. He argues that he saved a life. Ling then does something interesting. He takes off his own earpiece, cutting himself off from command. He admits that he also disobeyed orders by going into the tunnel without proper equipment. It’s a small moment, but it shows a bit of grudging respect between them.
Welcome to the Grind
A Hero's Son
We get some important backstory on our new guy. Chen Hansheng is the son of Chen Weiguo. Chen Weiguo was the very first captain of the Cheetah unit. He was a legend who died in a border conflict. He served alongside the man who is now the Chief of Staff.
The Chief sees Chen Hansheng's name on the list of new recruits. He realizes the son is following in the father's footsteps. You can tell it hits him hard. This kid isn't just any recruit. He has a legacy to live up to.
Special Treatment
Chen Hansheng is now officially a trainee. His one goal is to join the Cheetahs. We learn he scored over 700 on his college entrance exams, which is genius-level. But he turned down a top university to enroll in the special police academy. He is completely committed.
His new training officer is none other than Ling Zhengrong. Ling decides to give his "junior" some special attention. After a brutal training session, he makes Chen run several extra laps. But Chen just takes it. He's so driven that he keeps running on his own, long after lights out.
Ling decides to spring a surprise drill on the trainees. He orders an emergency assembly late at night. He even has his men throw smoke grenades into the dorms to simulate an attack. He’s surprised to find that Chen Hansheng isn't in his bunk. He's still outside, running in the dark.
