This chapter opens with a soliloquy by the young master of the martial hall, Lin. He tells his master that he is being lenient with him by only breaking his hand and leg as punishment for killing his nephew. He says that if Lin reappears in front of him again, he will kill him. The young master says that he never imagined that he would meet someone so talented as Lin in his lifetime. He adds that he has come to the hall as a student, not as a teacher. He invites Lin to become a guest instructor at the hall. Lin says that his failure as a father has led to his son's death. He also says that the rat named Lin, who killed his nephew, bears no respect to the ge family. He wants to find out everything about the rat. He plans to use the herbs he has collected from the hall to refine an elixir that will rejuvenate the body. The ge family has been defeated by a terrifying foe, but they aren't pushedovers either. They plan to host an elixir assembly in central capital in a month's time. They believe that they will be able to defeat the foe on their own territory, but that they must treat the easterners with respect.