Da Shun, Shi Bi, Deng Ligang, and Song Hongyu are arrested simultaneously. Zhen Zhen personally apprehends Song Hongyu, leaving her emotionally unsettled. The group is escorted to Xuecheng. Before leaving, Shi Bi tells Feng Shuanghuan that he’s committed crimes deserving death and urges her to take good care of their child. He also expresses gratitude for her care over the years, with a look of deep regret. Meanwhile, Da Shun, sitting in the car, laughs foolishly, showing neither fear nor remorse. Song Hongyu’s primary concern is the whereabouts of her child, and upon learning the child has been taken in by her grandfather, she finally lets go of her worries. Peng Zhaolin shares a vehicle with Deng Ligang. After all these years, Peng Zhaolin often dreamed of him. Deng Ligang stares back silently, leaving Peng to wonder what he’s thinking. For Peng, however, this encounter marks the end of his long-running nightmare.
As Song Hongyu glances at Deng Ligang being led away by the police, she realizes there’s no turning back. The group soon arrives in Xuecheng, where they are detained separately, awaiting trial. Before they reach Xuecheng, Da Shun falls ill and is taken to the hospital. Families of the victims, who have been waiting for justice for years, are informed by Peng Zhaolin that the criminals have been captured, finally finding closure for their long-standing grievances.
During interrogation, Song Hongyu denies all accusations against her. Shi Bi confesses to being the one who committed the murders, claiming the others only helped him dispose of the bodies. Shi Bi had left his driver’s license at the crime scene, which became the first lead for the police. When asked why he left it behind, he explains that he treasured it because earning it was hard, and he hoped to one day return to a normal life, delivering cigarettes and alcohol as he used to. Deng Ligang, on the other hand, tries to mislead the investigators, claiming he never killed anyone and that he released the women after receiving the money. The police decide to focus on Shi Bi, who was the first to admit to murder. Shi Bi requests the police to give his valuables to Feng Shuanghuan, but as they are evidence, the request is denied.
Shi Bi confesses everything. He reveals that one of his victims was his wife, whom he killed after discovering her infidelity. Unsure of what to do, he called his only friend, Deng Ligang, for help. Deng Ligang, disturbingly calm in the face of bloodshed, not only assisted him but also convinced him to set up a meat processing plant. Despite their collaboration, Shi Bi admits to being deeply fearful of Deng Ligang, harboring a visceral dread of him.
Peng Zhaolin arranges for Da Shun’s wife and child to visit him in the hospital. However, after years of estrangement, they harbor nothing but hatred for him. Shortly afterward, Da Shun passes away due to illness before he can stand trial.
Unable to sleep, Song Hongyu stays awake at night, gazing at the moon. Her thoughts are consumed by her son, who has never been apart from her since birth. She clings to the belief that she will soon be released and reunited with him, determined to watch him grow up.
Peng Zhaolin interrogates Deng Ligang again. Deng recounts his childhood trauma: his father, a boiler worker, would beat his mother, younger brother, and him whenever drunk. Deng took up martial arts to protect himself, but his father eventually died of cancer, leaving Deng unable to exact revenge. Instead, he turned his anger toward society. His first murder was in 1993 when he worked as a taxi driver. He encountered an unreasonable female passenger who accused him of taking a longer route. Enraged, he threw her out of the car. When she shouted at him from behind, he drove back and hit her. She died shortly after. Although Deng was initially terrified, he didn’t want to go to jail. He decided to take her body home, dismember it, and hide the evidence. What started as an accident became a pattern, and as the number of victims increased, he became desensitized.
