Qinghe sat with Qiu Ren and the court scribe in the dispensary. The challenge scroll lay open between them, its red seal beside the clause that described the arena’s safety procedure.
She read the line twice. “This says the court may use three voluntary practitioner arts, then a substitute formation if the examiner believes the test is out of control.”
“The formation is standard arena practice,” Qiu said.
“It binds the participant and seizes his qi. That is an external attack, not a cost produced by his own method.”
The scribe said the formation had been included to prevent an accident. Qinghe asked whether it contained a line that could injure the practitioner if the court judged him unstable.
“I don’t know,” the clerk replied. “The appendix is sealed.”
Han stood at the doorway. One of Qiu’s guards tried to look past her into the dispensary. She asked him to wait outside while medical details were discussed. Qiu hesitated, then directed the guard to step back. The room grew quieter.
Qinghe turned to Yan. “The distinction matters. Your gift reverses the harmful feedback of a method you choose and perform. It doesn’t turn someone else’s strike into your benefit.”
