Luo opened the entrance under supervision and assigned the candidates to marked pairs. The black gate stood between them and the ruin. Gu, Qinghe, and Bai remained by the control panel, with the injury roster and a clear route back to the threshold. Wei entered with the first group.
Yan checked that the chalk cord was still tied outside. Its free end ran across the stone, pale against the dark marks. He followed after the first pair, keeping his injured hand close to his side.
“Stay within sight,” Luo said.
“We will,” Wei replied.
The black seals brightened under each person’s step. At first the lines lit in order, one after another. But when the candidates crossed the threshold, the pattern changed. One mark shone under Wei’s boots, then split toward Yan’s and joined again near the wall.
Gu leaned toward the control panel. “It is adjusting to movement.”
“Testing or recording?” Yan called back.
“I can’t tell.”
