Qinghe set up an observation room with independent spirit sensors at Yan’s channels, the room boundary, and the neighboring test ward. Gu checked each sensor against a standard crystal. Wei walked through the adjacent room to confirm it held no connected devices.
“The boundary sensor reads clean,” Gu said.
“The ward is empty,” Wei replied. “No one else is drawing from this line.”
Yan agreed to practice a minor version of the Meridian-Rot Draught under observation. He had used the art before, but not in this room with a sensor crew watching every reading.
Qinghe placed a marker at his wrist and asked him to sit comfortably. “Tell me if the sensation changes.”
He began the sequence. The harmful pathway entered his own channels and turned before it could damage them. The same tissue received the method’s reinforcing effect. His pulse stayed steady.
“Any pain?” Qinghe asked.
“No. The sequence is straightforward.”
