This chapter opens with the abbot of the Ming dynasty's Temple of the Great Hall of the People in Shanghai, who is waiting for the master of the temple, the "taoist master." The abbot asks the master to wait for him in the temple's drawing room, but the master refuses, saying that the abbot is too young to be a disciple of the master. The abbot then tells the master that he is a friend, and that the master is an imposter. The master then asks the imperial physician to come and take care of him.