This chapter's epigraph comes from a conversation between Ching-Liang and the skylark, in which Ching says that he was not expecting Ching-Ling to be so sad after seeing the beast. He says that the beast reminded him of his father, and that he will take care of the beast's body to protect him. He also says that Ching-Lin will risk everything to save him, just like his father did. He promises to take the body of the bird, and says he will be back soon. He explains that he needs to use the bird's egg to refine a substance that will allow him to enter the lightning canyon.