Morning in the outer courtyard after the first minor intake exam. The sect remains beautiful above, but the servant level is dusty and tense.

Old Ma begins forbidden cleanup around the fresh cracks while Yu watches.

Yu tests Old Ma with a harmless offer and learns the cracks are handled under strict routine.

Old Ma’s cleaning procedure hints at repeated, official cleanup.

Yu follows Old Ma from the courtyard toward the servant corridors.

The servant storehouse is introduced as a low-security but rule-bound place.

Yu uses the copied supply slip to enter the storehouse.

Yu enters the cleaning storehouse, a mundane room full of tools that now feels dangerous.

Yu waits for Old Ma to leave and begins searching the storehouse.

Yu discovers the wrapped notebook behind broken broom handles.

Yu opens the logbook and sees the first cleanup entries.

Yu checks more years and realizes the numbers repeat.

Yu compares the logbook to the steward columns he copied from memory after Chapter 1.

The meaning of “absorbed” becomes physical through weights, carts, and pebble counts.

Yu finds labeled spirit-fertilizer supplies, connecting the pebbles to processed remains.

The logbook explains that engraved pebbles are inventory, not memorials.

Old Ma returns unexpectedly, forcing Yu to hide with the logbook open.

Old Ma nearly discovers Yu but leaves without checking the hidden notebook spot.

Yu resumes reading and reaches the debt-bond quota margins.

Yu finds Lin Qiao’s bond-name in the future quota margin and remembers what that name means.

Yu understands the practical consequence: running would not save his mother.

Yu forces himself to return the logbook exactly as found.

Yu exits with supplies and lies to Old Ma, who suspects too much but says little.

Yu returns to the courtyard while intake disciples laugh above him; the pebbles now read as a roster of processed lives.