The group is surrounded by the emperor's army, and the emperor has ordered the arrest of all of them, including the schoolmaster. The schoolmaster tries to comfort the others, but they are too tired to do so. He tells them that he will go to the city of Lin'an to find the others and bring them back. He says that he is afraid that the emperor arranged another ambush, and that they have gone. He asks why they are there alone, and they tell him that they are afraid of the emperor. He then asks why he is thinking so much about his schoolmate, and he tells him that he owes him everything. He urges the others to stop caring about him and to leave the city.