The caravan reaches the mountain waystation at mid-peak saddle under cold grey light.

The courtyard transitions from movement to controlled rest as guild procedure takes over.

Yan signs the transit log and maintains the appearance of ordinary work.

Yan moves to the courtyard well with a water skin, trying not to look toward the kitchen wagon.

Lady Wei calls Yan's name and appears without her public grief-mask.

Lady Wei positions the conversation in a quiet acoustic pocket near the well.

Lady Wei tells Yan she knows he re-read the sin-memory.

Yan understands she recognizes carrier behavior and does not deny it.

Lady Wei names the part of the memory Yan found: the argument before the murder.

Lady Wei offers a legal escape route.

Yan asks her to explain the legal offer plainly.

Lady Wei names Pei as the target and identifies his connection to her dead husband.

Yan connects Pei to Qiu's extra food and protection.

Yan states the true meaning of Lady Wei's request.

Lady Wei explains why Pei's survival matters to her, without emotional display.

Lady Wei frames the murder as the cleanest solution for Yan's survival.

Yan challenges whether Lady Wei is using his desperation; she does not deny it.

Yan refuses to let her confuse consideration with decision.

Yan looks toward the kitchen wagon and sees Qiu and Pei by the fire.

Pei helps Qiu with the kitchen fire and water, showing the ordinary kindness that makes him impossible to treat as a clean target.

Yan feels the murder-token's strength as useless certainty rather than guidance.

Yan finishes filling the water skin and agrees to Lady Wei's offer.

Lady Wei starts to add conditions, but Yan cuts her off by repeating his agreement.

Yan returns toward the wagons and fully sees Qiu and Pei together, understanding there is no clean answer.