This chapter opens with a flashback to the beginning of the previous chapter, where the narrator explains that he has seen the ghost cry for the first time in his life. He asks the ghost if he still plans to kill himself. The ghost replies that he does not have a good chance of surviving the test. The narrator then asks if he can leave the room if he doesn't take the test, and the ghost says that he can do so as long as he is not scared of the outside world. The man then asks whether the ghost is really serious about his plan, and when the narrator says yes, the ghost asks if the man is trying to stop him. He replies that it would be a different matter if something happened to his bing-er. Besides, his body is already "fused with life of gold" , so the herb is not lethal. He then tells the ghost that if he were next to the ghost, he would be able to keep the scent of the herb away from him. If he were beside her, he could breathe in the scent and prevent the poison from getting to him. When the ghost tells him that he is brave, the man says that it seems like he is a courageous one, and that he should be patient. He tells the man to be patient, as he has lived for a long time, and has bad memory. He gives the ghost the herb, which he says is good stuff. He says that if the ghost dies, he will destroy everything in his path