Qinghe called for coordinated status reports from five prepared relays. Yan formed limited Soul-Lantern projections at the capital wall, eastern shelter, river crossing, north station, and central furnace. Each carried a narrow pulse of qi and a view of its local marker. The crews at each point remained responsible for their own ground and equipment.
The eastern projection relayed the valve temperature. Ning’s shelter report confirmed that clean water had arrived. Bai’s supply team said the second cart was still held at the bridge. Yan sent the route update through the prepared marker, and Bai shifted the crew to unload the first cart before the next surge.
The projection moved information, not barrels. The workers still had to lift the cases, and the bridge still allowed only one wagon at a time.
At the north wall, Wei’s crew reported that the node remained isolated and nearby families were in shelter. One projection lost its relay when a signal lamp broke. Yan recalled that branch and kept the other routes active. Its disappearance tugged briefly at his attention, but his whole soul remained coherent.
The lamp’s break did not injure him. He had divided his perception; he had not sent five full bodies into danger. He could see less through the missing branch, and the other stations remained legible.
