This chapter's epigraph comes from a conversation between Naamyong and Yonhap. Yonhap tells the story of how Yonhap's master hid the poison from Yonhap and how he pretended not to know about it. He tells Yonhap that Yonhap is his master and that he taught him everything about medicine before he ever asked Yonhap for it. But Yonhap doesn't know about the poison, and he immediately feels bad about it, because it's impossible for Yonhap to ask his master directly about his assumptions about medicine. He decides to ask Yonhap directly about the matter. He wants to know the truth, but he can't tell Yonhap because he's afraid of what Yonhap will say. He's also afraid of the consequences of his sins, which Yonhap has committed. So Yonhap must face his destiny.