The wartime Chinese drama A Lonely Hero’s Journey, starring Joseph Zeng, Zang Songwen, and Chen Duling, released its first set of episodes on August 6, 2024. The drama tells the story of Gu Yizhong (Joseph Zeng), who becomes the face of protest against Japanese oppression in his hometown, Suzhou. Episode one focuses on him getting investigated.
In this episode, the narrator acquaints viewers with the ongoing situation in Suzhou in the year 1941. Not only is the occupied city infiltrated by the Japanese invaders, but it also has to deal with the puppet regime of Wang Jingwei, the Chongqing spies, and also the CPC, as all of them want to gain power. After the Japanese failed to pacify and the CPC actively resisted their invasion, a new army base was formed. Gu Yizhong, the young master of the Gu family, finds himself being pulled into this whirlwind.
He is a talented architect and also an anti-Japanese activist. He has an extremely busy schedule as he has to meet important officials and also has been given the responsibility to design the new bank. But he puts all his plans on hold to meet Xiao Ruoteng (Wang Yuwen). She is a secret agent of the CPC. Then, the viewers see the duo share a boat ride. It appears they are quite fond of each other and are in a romantic relationship.
A Lonely Hero’s Journey episode 1 spoilers
The next scene shows Xiao Junxia, the director of CPC’s Iron Blood Action Group. He discusses the plan to rescue a senior intelligence officer with his group. Meanwhile, Yizhong and Ruoteng arrive at the secret base. Ruoteng has brought them weapons, while Yizhong presents a map of the park where the rescue operation will take place. But his map is criticized for being messy. He wants to tag along during the operation, but Junxia turns down his request as he is not a part of the group. But he eventually comes around after Ruoteng convinces him to give Yizhong a chance.
The operation takes place at night. Six members of the group arrive at the park and sneak inside, and Ruoteng is put in charge of keeping an eye on the road. Meanwhile, Zhou Zhifei, the director of the Suzhou agent station, and Lian Jinhai, the chief of operations, keep a close watch on them.
Why does Joseph Zeng get investigated?
After a vicious fight breaks out between the two parties, all the members, except Yizhong and Junxia, are taken down. Although Yizhong manages to find a removable window to escape, Junxia sacrifices himself so he can escape. Before being caught, Junxia asks him to meet someone named Eagle. Despite being shot in the leg, Yizhong makes a run for Ruoteng’s car. But he is caught at the last moment and is taken into custody by the military police. Ruoteng somehow makes a narrow escape.
Yizhong faces ruthless interrogation and torture in custody, but he refuses to open his mouth. His father, Gu Xixing, also refused to join the peace movement. The police ask him about Eagle, but he remains quiet. The torture doubles when Yizhong manages to figure out that someone from their team has tipped off the police.
What happens in A Lonely Hero’s Journey episode 1’s ending?
They threaten to harm Ruoteng, but he still won’t budge. Before the session could go on any further, General Advisor Kondo sent his man to take Yizhong into his own custody. Yuzhong’s father was a respectable army general who defied the emperor back in the day. It appears that Kondo wants to use his son to get through to him.
Meanwhile, Gu Huizhong, Yizhong’s sister and an underground liaison of the CPC, is pregnant. After her secret base is vandalized by the military, she returns to her father’s house. But he refuses to give her shelter.
A Lonely Hero’s Journey is available to watch on iQIYI.
