After acquiring a new spouse, the protagonist feels dramatically stronger and more energetic, confident he could easily defeat previous attackers. His wife affectionately cares for him and shares an herb believed to extend life, which she plans to brew into stew and wine. The couple shares a playful moment in public, then discuss a troubling event where the wife appeared to stop breathing during the night. Worried, the husband secretly checks her pulse and breath, suspecting something extraordinary like the Still Breath Technique. Tensions rise as the wife catches him, ending with her threat, leaving their next move uncertain.