The first reading held inside Qinghe’s marked range. She waited for the second and watched the western node’s status on the map. Its keeper had not reconnected it; the neighboring barrier remained at reduced load.
Qiao sent a test pulse through the attuned relay. Wei answered from the wall with the flag pattern confirming the damaged outer line was clear of people. The pulse carried only the message. It did not strengthen the barrier or change the gauge.
Qinghe read the reply, then pointed at the western section. “The neighbor is stable. The isolated section stays out.”
Yan asked whether the inner ring could take its first circulation. “It is stable enough to prepare,” she said. “The outer feed is still vulnerable. We need the third reading and a report from the west crew.”
He checked the stop card and folded it into his sleeve. Then he placed the undamaged grounding rods along the marked channel. He left the bent rod on the side bench, its red mark visible.
A second burst of rain entered through a crack in the upper joint. Water fell onto the stone outside the ring and ran toward a shallow drain. Qiao moved the instrument case to a dry shelf. Yan held a canvas cover over the gauge while a bolt shook loose from the joint and struck it. The cover dented, but the device remained readable.
