The first spar drew students, soldiers and clinic workers to the rail around White Orchard’s training yard. Wei laid down a narrow defensive pattern meant to absorb one attack and redirect a second.
“The ward protects the dummies,” he told the crowd. “It does not protect every person standing nearby. Stay behind the chalk.”
Yan checked each marker and asked a clinic worker to stand at the well lane, where she could confirm the route stayed clear. Qinghe stood by with the soldiers’ medical notes in case the exercise revealed an injury.
Mao Lin placed the practice dummies behind Wei’s formation. Huo checked the retreat route and noticed the final dummy sat close to an unguarded edge.
“We should move it,” Huo said.
Yan considered the space. “Or leave one target there and see whether the formation catches a fast attack.”
Wei agreed only if the students held the stop bell and the outer lane stayed empty. The clinic worker checked the route and said she could still reach the well without crossing the target line.
Two students took observation posts. One watched the floor and the second watched the audience path. The boy who had suggested the bell carried it in both hands, ready to sound it if anyone crossed the boundary.
