Before dawn, Yan returned to the observatory records room with Qinghe. Wuchen had brought the ledger of previous anchors and asked them to review three entries where the practitioners had required medical care.
“These injuries came from the role’s costs,” he said. “Not from outside attacks.”
Qinghe examined the dates and recovery notes. The ledger listed burns to the channels, spiritual fatigue, and longer recovery after each cycle. One anchor died after repeated service, but the record did not say the furnace caused the final illness.
“The entries show the cost was real,” Yan said. “They don’t explain the final illness.”
Wuchen nodded. “That is accurate.”
Qinghe asked whether the former anchors had access to the complete technique. Wuchen said the sequence had been restricted to senior officials. Yan requested the full manual and operating schedule. Wuchen agreed to show them after the morning council but kept the original locked in the secure room.
Dalan found a redacted note in the maintenance file. It directed officials to transfer residents into registered zones if no anchor was available. The note bore the same date as the emergency plan.
Wei read it twice. “If Yan accepts, would you still use this order?”
