The elders recessed to review the testimony. Yan stayed in the courtyard with Ning and Qinghe. His shoulder bandage needed another adjustment, and his ribs ached whenever he shifted on the bench. He could feel the strengthening current from the chosen art, steady in his channels, while the external injuries kept their sting.
Ning read the copy of her clinic preference again. “They wrote the part about stopping an examination.”
“Yes,” Yan said.
“And the part about asking me directly.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll keep this copy somewhere Zhao can’t reach.” She folded it into the inner pocket of her coat.
Qinghe said the clinic would review the note, but there would be a wait. Ning nodded. “I can wait if the first examination is honest.”
“I’ll coordinate with the physician,” Qinghe said. “You’ll see the plan before you agree to treatment.”
