After running away from home, Rendi has spent several days hiding in a merchant wagon. Every night, he hears moans from above, and one night, he finally notices that the moon has gone missing and has not returned as it usually does. Outside an inn, a merchant haggles with the innkeeper, finally convincing the man to buy some wine. As the men unload the wagon, the merchant is livid to find Rendi hiding and leaves him with the innkeeper, saying “he’s included with the wine” (6).

Because the innkeeper’s son has run away, he needs help to run the inn. Since Rendi has nowhere else to go, he stays and takes up the missing boy’s duties. Inside, he meets Peiyi, the innkeeper’s daughter, and watches as the innkeeper paints a rune on her forehead to protect her from the Day of Five Poisons (the day between spring and summer when poisonous animals are a particular threat). Peiyi takes an instant dislike to Rendi and argues that he doesn’t have to stay because her brother will come back. However, the innkeeper asserts his belief that the boy will not return.