The movie begins with a tense encounter between Zhou Zenong and Liu Aiai at a train station, where Zhou, anticipating a reunion with his wife Yang Shujun, is met instead by Liu, who has been sent by Zhou's associate, Huahua. Zhou, the leader of a small gang involved in motorbike thefts, shares a gripping tale of conflict; one of his gang members, known as Red Hair, had shot a rival during a territorial dispute. This act sets off a deadly chain of events, culminating in a trap laid by the rival gang that leads to Red Hair's brutal death and Zhou sustaining serious injuries.
As Zhou attempts to elude capture in the stormy aftermath, an unintentional encounter results in the tragic death of a police officer, further complicating his already perilous situation. The police, led by Captain Liu, quickly conclude that Zhou will seek refuge in Wild Goose Lake, a dangerous part of Wuhan, and set up an extensive operation to catch him. To add to the tension, Shujun is being monitored as part of their investigation.
Desperate to reunite with his wife and escape his dire circumstances, Zhou reaches out to Huahua, who operates within the underbelly of Wild Goose Lake. Liu Aiai, being one of Huahua's associates, is utilized in a risky plan to connect Zhou with Shujun. As the police announce a generous bounty of 300,000 yuan for Zhou's capture—dead or alive—Zhou devises a plan to have Liu orchestrate an arrangement for Shujun to turn him in, ensuring she could claim the reward. However, Huahua also has his own motivations tied to this financial incentive, complicating the dynamics.
Meanwhile, the rival gang, eager for vengeance, also aims to collect the bounty on Zhou, which adds another layer of danger. A critical moment arises when Zhou is cornered and viciously attacked by the rival gang, but in a desperate bid for survival, he manages to fight back, killing his assailants. The chaos triggers a police response as they respond to the gunfire, searching fervently for Zhou. During the cat-and-mouse chase, Liu, feeling the weight of suspicion from Zhou, attempts to distance herself from him. In a harrowing encounter, she is assaulted by a man named Yan, whom Zhou ultimately saves by killing.
In a quieter moment, Zhou and Liu Aiai share a meal at a noodle shop. However, their meal is interrupted when the police, hot on Zhou's trail, converge upon the shop, forcing him into a desperate shootout. Though he manages to escape, Zhou is ultimately outgunned at the lake and succumbs to his grievous injuries.
In a chilling closing scene, Liu collects the bounty and is driven by Captain Liu to the bank to cash the reward. As she exits the bank, the Captain observes her meeting with Shujun, leaving viewers with a haunting sense of betrayal and the bitter consequences of their intertwined fates.
