Episode Summary
In this episode, the team executes a dangerous decoy operation to protect Old Song, resulting in Zhang Lan getting shot and Ling Zhengrong killing the sniper, who is Jack's son. This makes Jack swear revenge. Meanwhile, Dr. Shen's research proves successful, and Zhang Lan refuses to be sent home, choosing to recover and stay with his team.
Spoiler Alert
A Ticking Clock for Dr. Shen
So, Dr. Shen and Cheng Yong finally make it to Eriniya. They link up with Captain Wei and Ling Zhengrong’s crew. The mission is simple. Dr. Shen needs to get to a lab and analyze his samples. The problem is, the team is stretched thin on manpower.
Ling Zhengrong can only spare Chen Hansheng to act as a bodyguard. It’s a good thing Cheng Yong is there to help. Ling is clearly nervous about this whole thing. He gives Dr. Shen a hard deadline. He has exactly 24 hours to do his work. After that, he has to be back at the base, no exceptions. While this is happening, the Gaia Group gets intel on Dr. Shen’s location. Andre decides to handle this personally. He knows the local contact, Cazorla, and wants to redeem himself by bringing the doctor back.
A New Target
The bad guys are shifting their focus. They've decided on a new, high-value target, and their plan is brutal.
Cazorla's Deadly Plan
Cazorla comes up with a wild idea. He wants to assassinate Old Song. He tries to get Jack to do the job. But Jack isn't having it. He tells Cazorla that they are partners, not master and servant. He has the right to refuse, and he does.
Cazorla can't force Jack. So he goes for the weak link. He targets Jack’s son, Jimmy. Cazorla showers Jimmy with expensive gifts. Unlike his father, Jimmy is easily bought. He agrees to do whatever Cazorla asks.
The Decoy Convoy
Old Song has a critical meeting to attend. Ling Zhengrong’s team is running security. They come up with a classic three-car decoy plan. The first car will be empty. Xiao Ran will drive it to scout the route ahead. The second car will carry a decoy posing as Old Song. Zhang Lan volunteers for this job. He knows Old Song’s mannerisms and has a similar body type. With a disguise, he should be convincing from a sniper's distance. The real Old Song will be safe in the third car.
Nobody likes the idea of Zhang Lan taking this risk alone. The team steps up to join him. Ling Zhengrong makes the final call. He puts Chen Hansheng, Old Ji, and Zheng Yunxiao in the third car with the real Old Song. He and the rest of the squad will ride with Zhang Lan in the decoy car.
The Ambush Goes Down
The convoy rolls out. Xiao Ran’s lead car makes it to the destination without any trouble. Cazorla isn't an idiot, though. He assumes the first car is just bait.
This is where Ling Zhengrong shows how smart he is. He knows Old Song has a smoking habit. He tells Zhang Lan to light a cigarette and crack the window open just a bit. The bait works perfectly. Cazorla sees the smoke and thinks Old Song is in the second car. He gives Jimmy the green light to prepare the shot.
As Zhang Lan steps out of the car, Jimmy fires. The shot hits him square in the chest. Ling Zhengrong instantly pinpoints the sniper’s location. He takes aim and kills Jimmy with a single, precise shot.
The plan worked. The real Old Song arrives at his meeting safely, and it's a success. Zhang Lan gets immediate medical attention and pulls through. We learn that a cigarette case in his pocket and his bulletproof vest saved his life. The bullet stopped just one centimeter from his heart.
The Fallout
An attack like this always has consequences. This time, they're personal.
A Father's Vengeance
Jack gets the news that his son is dead. He is completely broken. This plants a seed of pure hatred for Ling Zhengrong. Jack now has one mission. He wants revenge for his son.
Good News and a Tough Decision
While all this chaos unfolds, there's a breakthrough. Captain Wei sends Dr. Shen’s findings back to headquarters. The analysis confirms his work is effective. A drug will be developed and put into mass production immediately.
The Chief of Staff hears about Zhang Lan's injury. He plans to send him back home to recover. But Zhang Lan flatly refuses. He says he won't be a deserter. He knows how dangerous the situation is in Eriniya. He can't just leave his team behind. He gets Chen Hansheng to help him type up a formal request to stay and continue fighting. The organization values his skills and agrees to his request.
Settling In
Life at the base finds a new rhythm. Zhang Lan pushes himself through physical therapy every day. He's determined to rejoin the team as soon as possible. The rest of the squad keeps up their intense training, staying sharp for the next fight. Dr. Shen and Cheng Yong are also fitting in well. Cheng Yong is in the kitchen helping Chen Hansheng with the cooking. Dr. Shen has started teaching chemistry to the local kids, Saji and Seli.
