This chapter opens with a soliloquy by the swordsman . The swordsman tells the audience that he defeated Rensuke by beating him with his sword. Rensuke's sword is the most famous sword in the world, and he says that he will rip out the throats of anyone who tries to kill him. He says that no one can defeat him because he is the only one who has ever been defeated by a swordman. He adds that he was defeated by only one man: "a one-eyed swordsman" . This is a reference to the fact that Rensuke has one eye, a sword in his hand, and no one else can see him. The swordman says that the sword he used to beat Rensuke was the "most famous swordsman in the whole world" , and that he cut off the head of Rensuke. He also says that his master, the sword master, taught him that swordsmen should not be defeated by women, priests, or anyone else. He explains that he is not defeated by men, but by a man. He tells the story of how he was beaten by a woman, a priest, and a swordsman, and