This chapter's epigraph comes from a famous poem by a famous English poet, Henry James. In the poem, the poet explains that he is a direct descendant of the Oyang family, and that he has forged the "eternal golden lock" . The lock, he says, has been with the family ever since his eldest brother and his mother were born. He explains that the lock is not a destructive weapon, but only used to ensure "mutual destruction" between the two hosts. He wonders if there is a way to use the lock to create a paradox. He also wonders if two locks could attack each other, creating an "infinite loop of doom" , and he wonders if this is the "pollen of ecstasy herb" from the hundred flowers of the valley. He tells the poet that he was willing to save the family even if he did everything in his power to do so, but that he will not be able to repay him for his efforts. The poet replies that there is no contradiction in the world and that contradictions are nothing more than self-deception. He says that his master has said that contradictions can never be solved. He adds that he cannot let his family risk their lives in order to solve the problem.