Morning of day forty inside the jade-lit Mu marriage-cave; the formal treaty inspection is about to begin.

Ruoshuang hears the inspection announcement and tries to steady herself before Mu Yan joins her.

Mu Yan explains the inspection in plain terms, making the stakes clear for Ruoshuang and the reader.

Mu Hai enters the marriage-cave for the formal inspection.

Mu Hai greets Ruoshuang with politeness that feels like a blade hidden in a sleeve.

Yuelan senses danger and retreats inside Ruoshuang's mind before the test begins.

The pulse test begins, establishing the visible rule and consequence of the inspection.

Mu Hai probes Ruoshuang's meridians while Yuelan tries to hide her presence.

Mu Hai tests Ruoshuang verbally while reading her qi response.

Mu Hai remembers the feel of Yuelan's Heart-Sword qi from the battlefield without explaining the full past.

Mu Hai nearly names what he has found, while Ruoshuang and Yuelan freeze.

Mu Hai publicly declares the Twin-Cultivation cycle stable, preserving the appearance of peace.

Mu Yan reacts with relief, but Mu Hai's hidden knowledge hangs over Ruoshuang.

Mu Hai engineers a moment to speak with Ruoshuang away from Mu Yan.

Ruoshuang follows Mu Hai into the corridor outside the main cave chamber.

Mu Hai reveals that he recognized Yuelan's presence in Ruoshuang's qi.

Mu Hai offers his bargain: seven days of silence in exchange for an answer.

Mu Hai asks the question Ruoshuang cannot answer: why Yuelan has not killed Mu Yan.

Ruoshuang turns inward to ask Yuelan, but Yuelan refuses to answer.

Ruoshuang has no answer, and Mu Hai sets the seven-day deadline.

Ruoshuang returns to Mu Yan with the secret still hidden and a new deadline in place.