The chapter opens with a soliloquy by the lead artist of the tavern. He tells the audience that he is actually a man. He says that he was once in love with a beautiful woman named xiangling'er, but that she acted so innocently that he couldn't bear to part with her. He then tells the story of how he ran into the woman and how he was enchanted by her beauty and how she acted like a pure and innocent being. He explains that he has only seen the woman twice, and that she is a demon. The lead artist says that the next day, the two of them will go to the location of the demon to slay it. The protagonist asks the artist why the demon has to drink water from the river, and the artist replies that he doesn't know.