In 2004, on the vast Gobi wasteland of northwest China, the violent gang led by Xu Sihai robs a mine escort vehicle, committing a series of bloody crimes before fleeing for their lives. During the escape, the gang falls apart, turning against each other over stolen loot. Criminal police captain Yang Zhigang traverses the desert to hunt them down based on trace clues, leading to a slew of hardcore gunfights and car chases. Moral gray areas complicate this showdown between good and evil.