Episode Summary
Li Heng gives Lu Shufen his watch for her birthday, which she misinterprets as a romantic promise. He then helps Jia Yunwu out of a tight spot, putting Jia further in his debt. Li Heng finally makes contact with his new handler, Yu Tong, and learns about the legacy of a fallen agent named Nanshan. At the Deqing Society, Li Heng diffuses a conflict with a new challenger, Zhang Yunhu, winning his loyalty and a new sworn brother through a shooting contest.
Spoiler Alert
A Birthday Gift and a Close Call
The Watch
The episode kicks off with a bit of a fumble from Li Heng. He completely forgets Lu Shufen's birthday. Lu Shufen’s maid reminds him. He doesn't have a gift ready. So, he improvises and gives her the watch right off his wrist.
She takes this as a huge romantic gesture. To her, he's giving her his time for the rest of his life. It’s basically a proposal in her eyes. She is thrilled, but I get the feeling Li Heng didn't mean it that way at all.
The Set-Up
Jia Yunwu needs a favor. His identity prevents him from showing up at an event for Jia Zhong. He asks Li Heng for help. But Li Heng can't go either. It would raise too many questions with his superiors.
Instead, Li Heng sends Qingtian. Qingtian goes on behalf of the Deqing Society to present a gift. Later, Tang Meng and his men burst into the room. They find nothing suspicious. It's just Jia Zhong, his daughter, and Qingtian having a quiet chat. Tang Meng has to leave empty-handed.
Jia Yunwu watched the whole thing from a tea shop across the street. He is seriously impressed with Li Heng's plan. It solved the immediate crisis. It also puts Jia Yunwu even further in Li Heng's debt.
Later that night, Jia Zhong gets home with his daughter, Jia Yunying. He warns her not to tell Jia Yunwu what happened. Of course, Jia Yunwu walks in right at that moment. He is furious. He demands to know who they met. He tells them they almost made a huge mistake and it can't happen again.
Li Heng Reconnects with His Past
The Signal
Li Heng spots a wind chime hanging outside Yu Tong's wonton shop. This is the signal he's been waiting for. It means the organization has cleared him. They arrange to meet in the woods on a back hill.
Yu Tong officially confirms Li Heng's codename is "Wildfire." He is now Li Heng's new contact. It's been years since Li Heng heard someone call him "comrade." The moment is heavy for him. Yu Tong warns him that the Military-Statistics Bureau is watching everyone closely. They need to reduce how often they meet for safety.
A Dangerous Legacy
Yu Tong points to two trees. One represents Zhou Sihai. The other represents a comrade with the codename "Nanshan."
We learn Nanshan was a deep-cover agent inside the enemy's ranks. He died without anyone ever knowing his real name. Yu Tong tells Li Heng he is just like Nanshan. He is a knife pointed at the heart of the enemy. This is a war fought in the shadows. There are no medals for winning. If you fail, you don't even get a name on a tombstone.
Li Heng understands completely. He's always been prepared to sacrifice himself. Yu Tong also gives him a new objective. The Deqing Society is a powerful force. If Li Heng can guide them onto the right path, it will be a huge help for the cause of a peaceful liberation.
Trouble at the Deqing Society
Li Heng Draws a Line
Shen Yihe and Wang Xiaofei are secretly planning to smuggle opium. They plan to hide it in a regular cargo shipment. Lu Kaide senses something is off. He pulls Wang Xiaofei aside for a talk. He warns him, telling him he thinks of him as a son and expects better.
Meanwhile, Lu Shufen is still hung up on Li Heng. She fakes a hunger strike just to make her father call him over. Lu Kaide tries to play matchmaker between them. Li Heng shuts it down immediately. He states clearly that he has no plans to get married. He says he has always seen Lu Shufen as a little sister. That had to sting.
A New Challenger Appears
Just then, a man named Zhang Yunhu shows up with his crew. They are outside the Deqing Society headquarters, shouting and causing a scene. Qingtian explains the situation to Li Heng. Zhang Yunhu and his men were down on their luck. They came to join the society. But Zhang Yunhu was disrespectful to Wang Xiaofei, and a fight broke out.
Wang Xiaofei challenges Zhang Yunhu to a fistfight, following gang rules. It's a bad idea. Wang Xiaofei is clearly outmatched. Before he gets seriously hurt, Li Heng steps in to mediate. He changes the challenge from a fistfight to a shooting contest. Li Heng wins easily. Zhang Yunhu is humbled and now respects Li Heng's skill.
A New Ally and an Old Grudge
Li Heng introduces Zhang Yunhu to Lu Kaide. He vouches for the man's character, calling him upright and honest. With Li Heng's recommendation, Lu Kaide agrees to let Zhang Yunhu and his men join the society. After this, Zhang Yunhu and Li Heng become sworn brothers.
Zhang Yunhu finds out Li Heng works for the Central-Statistics Bureau. This brings up a painful memory. He tells Li Heng about his past. He once angered a powerful local family. That family had a relative in the Central-Statistics Bureau. They used their influence to get the Sichuan army to hunt down and kill Zhang Yunhu's brothers. Li Heng promises that if he ever gets the chance, he will bring the man responsible, Zhao Jun, to justice.
The episode closes with Lu Kaide giving Wang Xiaofei some fatherly advice. He tells him to be less confrontational. Trying to prove how tough you are all the time will only end badly.
