The Ryanban, attentively watching Syaoran's actions, is pleased to see that his group has found his "secret art" in the corridor. We learn that the Ryanban was able to enthrall Kiishimu (the being which Syaoran confronted at the end of the last chapitre) with the use of Sakura's feather. Not even Chunyan's mother, a powerful shinban, was able to defeat Kiishimu.

Kiishimu compares people to insects in response to Kurogane's malice. Then, taking her long claw-like fingers against Syaoran's face, declares he has very bright eyes. Unsure of Kiishimu's intentions, Syaoran asks if she can inform them of the Ryanban whereabouts. Kiishimu declares she cannot and says that they are not going to pass easily.

Moments later, the corridor unexpectedly disappears. Syaoran and the others are now standing on tall wooden pillars, shooting up from a bubbling sea below. Kiishimu informs them that this is no illusion, but the workings of her "secret arts". She then shoots a gigantic bubble at Syaoran, which melts part of his shirt. Dodging her bubble assault, Syaoran falls from his pillar and his foot submerges in the waters below. In pain, he quickly lifts his foot from the water and returns to a pedestal. The liquid has qualities of moxibustion.

Fay, in a stroke of brilliance, tells Kurogane to "snap off" one of the wooden pillars so he can break the bubbles mid-air, while Syaoran makes a break for it. Kurogane launches Syaoran into the air using the same pillar, and he successfully escapes Kiishimu. As the same melting liquid pours from the ceiling, Fay and Kurogane are now left to battle Kiishimu while Syaoran goes after the Ryanban.