The chapter opens with a description of the mysterious death of a young woman in the house of the taoist master. The woman's body has been found in a nearby pond, and the master is certain that it is the result of an accidental drowning. The young man, li chen, tries to explain the circumstances of the death, but the master's explanation fails to satisfy him. He explains that the pond is connected to a wealth bowl, which he has dug in the southwest corner of the house. The wealth bowl is associated with sickness, but it is not associated with the dead woman. When the young man tries to rip off a talisman that the master has given him, the master points out that the talisman has been sold at a high price in the past, and that no one could have bought it for the purpose of collecting it. He asks the young master why he has taken special care of the room, and he answers that he has been looking for the young woman.