In this chapter, the seventeen-year-old boy tells his master that he has been studying his master's poison-making techniques in secret ever since he was taken in. He tells him that over the past few years, the master has never made him a single dish with meat. He says that he thought the master was a vegetarian, but later found out that he likes meat more than anyone else. He also says that the master does not like gay people and that he was afraid that he might break his legs. He adds that he is already seventeen years old and will not accept his feelings until he dies. He asks the master not to come back to him, and he says that his little brother will be getting married soon. He wishes he could be home now so that he can teach his brother a lesson