In this chapter, the protagonist, binglan, explains that the demon clan is being held prisoner in the valley by the tu shans, and that they are being tortured by the hard labor of the peasants. Worried that the guards are the problem, he decides to move to another part of the valley. He notices that one of the guards, who he thinks is the leader of the clan, is not on the list of guards, and he wonders if he is the one behind him. Unsure of who is behind him, he leaves to find out.