The storm passed overnight. Mei Qiao checked the hull and replaced the broken rail board while the others worked below. Qinghe rechecked Bai’s shoulder. The bruise remained tender, but he could move his arm. She told him not to lift the heaviest cargo until it healed.
The delay gave Yan a calm deck and clear night sky. He set prepared lanterns around the inlet, one at the channel entrance, one near the tide marker, and one by the cargo boat. Han watched the lamps with Mei while Qinghe prepared her notes.
Yan formed three Soul-Lantern projections. One watched the channel entrance. Another read the tide marker. The third remained by the cargo boat. He held each view in turn and sent a simple signal between the boats.
The first branch showed the mouth of the inlet, the rock shelf, and a dark patch where the current turned. The second read the tide mark on the post. The third saw the tied cases and the lantern by the second boat. Yan kept the images separate in his mind, each attached to its own place.
Mei asked him to send the channel signal to Han. He did so, then confirmed the tide mark when Qinghe asked. None of the branches blurred or crossed into the others.
