A user in the Lightning Network doesn't need to set up a direct payment channel with every user to perform a transaction. A user can find several connected payment channels to connect to the other user in order to set up a routed payment network. Consider an example where Alice wants to set up a micro-payment channel with Carol. Alice has earlier set up a channel with Bob. She also finds out that Bob has an active channel with Carol. So, instead of setting up a new payment channel, Alice decides to create a routing payment channel with Carol via Bob, as shown in Figure 9.3:
Figure 9.3: Routed payment network between ...
