The chapter opens with a soliloquy by de Guiguzi. He tells his brother that he has found a way to make his death less painful. He asks if the taoists are going to break their rules and kill him. The taoist replies that he killed a fellow who was trying to protect him. He says that his real identity is that of a human who is trying to kill him, and that the farther away he is from his brother, the safer he will be. The brother tells him to get out of the way and wait for a better time.