Mirror Pool Sect's front gate in morning mist as a rival delegation arrives with ledgers instead of weapons.

The Black Tally delegation crosses the sect courtyard toward the oath hall.

The public oath hall receives the Black Tally delegation.

Madam Xue itemizes the ancient loan before the sect.

First Seat Mu summons Yan as verifier.

Elder Luo hands Yan the original tablet and explains the danger under his breath.

Yan prepares his grandfather's ink to read the hidden fallback line.

The hidden fallback line appears beneath the loan oath.

Yan hides his discovery while Madam Xue notices too much.

Both powerful sides press Yan to verify the debt in a way that would bind or destroy him.

The oath accepts Yan's intent, proving the guarantor clause is real.

Yan demands a seasonal true-answer clause in exchange for carrying the debt risk.

Madam Xue signs the exchange and the public collection is delayed.

After the hearing, Lin Aoxue and Shen Liang confront Yan about his decision.

Day one: Yan searches the records pavilion for the public history of the forgotten coin.

Yan spends Shen Liang's owed truthful answer to gain another fragment.

Day two: Yan and Elder Luo find evidence that the exile was false.

Yan shapes his first seasonal question so Madam Xue cannot evade the answer.

Madam Xue gives the first component of the answer: the seal.

Madam Xue gives the office and nature of the order.

Madam Xue completes the answer: the order points to Mu Qingyuan.

Yan returns to Mirror Pool's inner path knowing the answer leads back to the First Seat.