After subduing the attackers, Yang Guangyao arrests them and brings them to the police station. Chen Kaiqing thanks him for saving her and asks him to be lenient with the assailants.
Meanwhile, Ye Cheng discusses with his accomplice their near capture by the police. They express frustration over Mang Biao’s reckless behavior. Ye Cheng’s accomplice notices a missing photo from a set of police pictures and questions him, but Ye Cheng remains evasive. Later, haunted by his actions, Ye Cheng wakes up from a nightmare.
The next day, Yang Guangyao goes to work and checks on the injured Chen Kaiqing. He learns that Officer Ye has forbidden them from investigating Mang Biao. Furious, he confronts his superior, even disrespecting Liu Weitao in the process. Officer Ye warns Yang Guangyao to be mindful of his actions and avoid dangerous situations, but Yang Guangyao remains defiant.
Yang Guangyao, Zhang Tianming, and Chen Kaiqing stake out a dilapidated building frequented by Mai Zhihong. They discover clues about his whereabouts inside. Unbeknownst to them, Ye Cheng overhears their conversation and decides to find Mai Zhihong first. He calls for an emergency meeting, forcing Zhang Tianming to turn back. However, Yang Guangyao insists on going to Mai Zhihong’s former elementary school, taking full responsibility for any consequences.
At the school, they encounter unidentified individuals who are also searching for Mai Zhihong. Yang Guangyao chases after Mai Zhihong, who taunts him and dares him to shoot. Mai Zhihong shows no remorse for his victims, claiming they deserved their fate. Before escaping, he warns Yang Guangyao about a mole within the police force.
The trio reports back to Liu Weitao and admits their unauthorized actions. Liu Weitao, aware that Yang Guangyao initiated the plan, doesn’t reprimand them further, but notices Yang Guangyao’s growing unease.
News of their operation reaches Ye Cheng’s superior, who threatens to take action against the police. Ye Cheng tries to defend his subordinates, but his superior remains unmoved and orders him to eliminate Mai Zhihong to save himself.
Yang Guangyao, suspecting something is amiss, lures Ye Cheng out and confronts him about his past deeds. Ye Cheng, seeing that Yang Guangyao is alone, attempts to bribe him, but Yang Guangyao refuses. He reveals his knowledge of Ye Cheng’s past crimes. Cornered, Ye Cheng confesses that he was threatened and forced to become a corrupt officer. Yang Guangyao, shocked and disappointed, urges Ye Cheng to turn himself in. However, Ye Cheng believes they are no match for the powerful forces behind the crimes and refuses to surrender. He points a gun to his own head, demonstrating his desperation.
Later, Ye Cheng receives a call from Yang Guangyao, who offers to face the situation together and reminds him of their duty as police officers. However, when Yang Guangyao arrives, he finds Ye Cheng lying dead in a pool of blood.
