Episode 18

***Urban Warfare*** (Chinese: 巷战 *Xiàngzhàn*) is the seventh episode of the second season of Link Click.

## Plot

The episode starts with a scene that takes place some time earlier, before "Li Tianxi"'s arrival at the police station. In his van Qian Jin is discussing with his his accomplice about the high-level security at the police station. He explains that his actions in the police station will quickly attract attention, leading to an immediate manhunt that would make escape impossible. Qian Jin points out that their only viable exit route is through the abandoned district located behind the station. He further explains that arranging a car for pickup is not feasible due to the intense surveillance on the streets surrounding the police station, and they will have to rely on alternative means in order to avoid detection.

In the present, Li Tianxi, Cheng Xiaoshi, and Wang Juan are seen exiting the police station together, with Li Tianxi holding hands with both of them. The security guard at the gate, recognizing Wang Juan, casually inquires if the case has been resolved. Noticing Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi, he questions where Wang Juan is taking them. Somewhat awkwardly, Wang Juan replies that the case isn't closed yet, and she's simply taking them outside for a bit of fresh air and some food, promising to bring something back for Xiao Li as well. As they walk away, the security guard comments to himself on the rarity of seeing Wang Juan with a smile. Executing the strategy laid out by Qian Jin, Li Tianxi heads straight for the neighborhood opposite the police station, an area lacking surveillance due to ongoing demolitions post the relocation of its residents.

After the opening, the episode then cuts to an earlier moment at the hospital. Three officers are stationed outside Lu Guang's room, discussing the case, when they are startled by the sound of breaking glass from inside the room. They find the door locked and are forced to break it down, only to discover an empty bed and a broken window. One officer instructs the others to investigate the ground floor while he calls Xiao Li to report the situation. At this juncture, Xiao Li and Qiao Ling also become aware of the escape of Li Tianxi, Cheng Xiaoshi, and Wang Juan.

Xiao Li, springing into action, speaks with the security guard who points them in the direction Wang Juan took. He instructs the guard to alert the team to call for reinforcements and ensure the surrounding area is sealed, ensuring no vehicles can leave. Rushing into the abandoned district, Xiao Li calls out the names of Wang Juan and Cheng Xiaoshi, and soon hears a voice responding to him. He follows the voice and discovers Wang Juan handcuffed to a pipe. She claims to have no memory of taking Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi away, only recalling being at the restroom entrance before everything went blank. When she regained consciousness, she found herself handcuffed, unable to do anything as Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi ran off. Xiao Li hands her the key to the handcuffs, instructing her to coordinate with the reinforcements to encircle the escapees in the old district. When asked about their escape direction, Wang Juan offers her phone, which can track Cheng Xiaoshi's location through the listening device he carries.

Meanwhile, Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi run through the alleys, with Cheng Xiaoshi taking the lead, his eyes notably glowing red. Wang Juan, having traded phones with Xiao Li, receives a call from Qiao Ling on Xiao Li's phone. She informs Qiao Ling that Xiao Li has taken her phone to pursue Cheng Xiaoshi and warns her against coming to the area, citing the high level of danger. After the call, Qiao Ling scans the surrounding area, spots a bike, and quickly sets off on her own. Back in the dark alley, Wang Juan finds herself surrounded by a group of armed thugs, one of them being a masked Ma.

In the midst of their escape, Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi momentarily halt at a designated spot, as a masked thug reveals himself, metal detector in hand. He scans Cheng Xiaoshi and locates the listening device hidden underneath his collar. Li Tianxi chides Cheng Xiaoshi "cheating" once again. Cheng Xiaoshi, responding in a robotic voice, apologizes and swears that it won't happen again, crushing the device with his fingers. Xiao Li, who following their trail, suddenly finds himself without a signal. Nonetheless, he manages to spot Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi turning a corner. As he hastens to pursue them, the thug intercepts him, grabbing him by the collar and forcefully throwing him to the ground, blocking his path.

In separate locations, both officers find themselves embroiled in intense physical confrontations. Wang Juan, though vastly outnumbered, skillfully maneuvers around her opponents, holding her ground. She adeptly dodges and counterattacks, executing swift and precise movements. Ma, observing the scene, is taken aback by her prowess, having underestimated Wang Juan with the assumption that a female officer would be an easy target. In his growing fear of the consequences of another failure, he quietly moves to the side as his men regroup for another assault.

Simultaneously, Xiao Li is locked in a fierce fistfight with his assailant. The exchange raw and brutal, with both parties constantly trading heavy blows. Eventually, their struggle results in both crashing to the ground. As they rise, Xiao Li discards his coat, and his adversary removes his mask, before beginning another intense round of combat.

While Wang Juan skillfully fends off another round of attacks, Ma sneakily picks up a handful of dirt and stealthily approaches her. As she turns, Ma flings the dirt at her face, and capitalizes on the opening by launching a knife attack straight at her face. Wang Juan manages to parry the knife with her handcuff, but is thrown off by Ma's rapid follow-ups, suffering a kick to the stomach that sends her to the ground. As Ma lunges for another attack, Wang Juan grabs a pipe lying nearby, dodges and disarms Ma with a sharp blow to his wrist. With Ma clutches his wrist in pain, Wang Juan comes in for a decisive blow, striking Ma squarely in the face, knocking off his mask in the process.

Xiao Li's fight continues with both parties bruised and bloodied. With a spinning kick, he sends his opponent staggering backwards and pins him against a wall while delivering repeated punches. With the opponent busy guarding his head, Xiao Li destabilizes him with a kick to the leg, then lands a solid blow to the stomach and finishes with an uppercut, finally securing his victory. Though defeated, the thug speaks up, telling Xiao Li that he won't be able to catch up to the escapees at this point, and instead suggests that he should be more concerned about Wang Juan's safety.

On Wang Juan's side, Ma pleads for mercy and extends his hands to be cuffed, offering to confess everything. However, this soon turns out to be a mere distraction, as Wang Juan is struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat, knocking her unconscious. Wielding the bat is none other than Qian Jin. Ma bursts into laughter and seeks approval from his boss for his acting skills, but Qian Jin only orders him to put his mask back on. He questions the group about their actions, as all he had asked them to do was to buy some time. Ma explains that he underestimated Wang Juan's fighting abilities. Xiao Li then reveals that he used to work with Wang Juan and that she was renowned for her combat skills. He then points out that now that Wang Juan has seen Ma's face, they can no longer leave her alive, as he raises the baseball bat for another swing at Wang Juan's skull.

When Xiao Li arrives on the scene, he is met with a grim sight. Wang Juan lies unconscious on the ground, her head surrounded by a pool of blood. The sight triggers the haunting memory of Chen Bin's death, and Xiao Li is overcome with grief and anguish. He falls to his knees in front of Wang Juan, unable to contain his emotions, and lets out a heart-wrenching scream of despair.

At the same time, Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi have arrived at the banks of a river. Li Tianxi, hearing Xiao Li's agonizing scream, remarks that everything appears to have gone smoothly. However, she is interrupted by the voice of Qiao Ling calling out to Cheng Xiaoshi, who has managed to catch up to them on her bike. Li Tianxi expresses surprise that Qiao Ling has found them so quickly but dismisses her pursuit as futile since they have a boat ready. As Qiao Ling rushes towards them, Li Tianxi and Cheng Xiaoshi head toward the boat they had arranged. However, circumstances take an unexpected turn as they spot a speedboat rapidly approaching them. The speedboat performs a drift and collides with their boat, knocking it sideways. Leaping ashore from the speedboat is Lu Guang, who immediately pushes Cheng Xiaoshi to the ground and rolls away. As Cheng Xiaoshi regains consciousness, Lu Guang expresses his relief for making it in time, bringing the episode to an end.