Yan had gathered qi at the center. He let the forced current reach the lower channel, as Gu had told him. The restraint bands still held his wrists and knees. The pressure at his left wrist pinched the skin, and the current scraped along his channels.
At the turning breath, he took control. He did not use the pressure as permission. He chose the next step after hearing the full sequence, understanding the cost, and deciding where to send the force. The array still held his body; the method was his.
The method unfolded cleanly. Yan directed its force outward toward the nearest restraint node. The intended burst remained sharp and powerful, but the ordinary internal damage never came. Warmth moved through his channels before anything could burn. His meridians strengthened, and fresh qi filled his dantian.
He followed the flow with his attention. The first path opened, then the next, and each carried more qi than it had a breath earlier. The widening was smooth, as if a tight knot had loosened from the inside. He could feel his foundation take the new force without shaking.
The change felt immediate. His foundation stayed steady under the new force. He could feel each route carrying the qi without catching or tearing. The sensation was so good that a laugh escaped him.
