Zhang Xiaojing goes to Liu’s Bookshop with the pass that Ge Lao gave him to see the acting Fire Master. Ge Lao has absolute authority over the paramilitaries since he is their sole source of intelligence. Zhang Xiaojing follows the lead provided by the acting Fire Master to retrieve the deed, only to find that it has been destroyed. He demands an answer and eventually learns that Yu Chang burned the deed. Li Bi asks Guo Lishi to try to locate Mao Shun to find out who owns a mansion with a self-cooling room.
张小敬拿着葛老的信物到刘记书肆找代理火师，因为守捉郎的情报都是葛老提供的，他们对葛老言听计从，根据代理火师给的线索，张小敬去取契约却发现已经被损毁，逼问守捉郎后才知道鱼肠先他一步烧毁了契约。李必拜托郭利仕设法找到毛顺，查出有自雨亭的宅子的主人，郭利仕劝他不要再追查下去，称幕后主使是他最信任的人。甘守诚和郭利仕起了冲突，甘守诚想要带走何执正时，棋急匆匆赶来见李必，还带来了以宁王孙为首的翰林院的学子们。张小敬走出望楼就碰上不良人，不良人对他穷追不舍，张小敬情急之下躲进了许鹤子的马车里。
