This chapter opens with the arrival of Little Em'ly, who tells his mother that he has arrived at the school. He tells her that he would rather not be at school, but that he will be at home from now on. He says that if he were so amazing, why did he pretend that he was a demon to catch him. He also says that he can beat his senior if he says the wrong thing. He explains that the first rule of the school is to respect elders. If a name needs to be called greatness, the being will be called greatness. He adds that he taught his senior all the rules he needed to remember. The senior tells him that his mom will not hurt him, and that it is almost time for a martial contest called seven meridians. He asks if the great bamboo peak will hold another martial contest, and the senior says that since he is so strong, they have been winning. He then tells his senior that he and the other students live on the other side of the room. The room is theirs, he says, and he will do his best to chop bamboos the next morning. He promises to take the responsibility of chopping the bamboos in his last year. He gives his mother the shirt she made for him, but he says that the temple village has been abandoned and that he wants to go back. He doesn't know where his parents are buried, and his dog dahei is back at home.