Mid-peak waystation courtyard after the noon rest; cold blue-grey stone, wagons, south gate in the distance, north well in shadow.

Yan reviews the permit irregularity and prepares the conditions for the confrontation without directly accusing Pei.

Transit log table near the guard post, earlier in the setup. Yan gives Guard Chen just enough information.

Yan deliberately establishes his alibi at the north well during the rest stage.

Guard Chen finds Pei near the south gate and begins the permit review.

The permit review becomes a confrontation. Pei's confusion is genuine; Chen's voice hardens.

Yan hears the confrontation from the north well and begins counting the physical timing of violence.

Chen physically escalates, exactly as Yan had calculated.

Guard Chen strikes Pei down but has not yet crossed into killing force.

Yan expects the killing blow. The murder-token anticipates the dodge.

Chen hesitates because the rules do not allow killing force for this violation.

The rule is stated plainly and the setup fails in front of Pei.

At the north well, the murder-weight rejects the proxy attempt and begins to settle into Yan's body.

Yan understands why the dodge failed: proxy killing does not satisfy the murder-token's demand.

Yan remains frozen at the well while time becomes the next threat.

Yan repairs his outward composure and records the failed incident in the transit log.

Yan crosses the courtyard toward Lady Wei's tent, the weight visibly changing him.

Yan knocks. Lady Wei opens the tent herself, already prepared for him.

Inside Lady Wei's tent, Yan states the remaining time and the failed proxy consequence.

Yan explains why every other possible target would push the consequence onto someone he has already tried to protect.

Yan states that Lady Wei designed the contract to bring him here. She refuses to deny it.

Yan accepts that the accusation does not change the required action and prepares to make the choice himself.

Lady Wei reveals no fear. Yan recognizes that she anticipated this possibility too.

Yan commits the direct same-category act himself. The scene stays intimate and brutal without gore.

After Lady Wei dies, the murder-token accepts the act. Yan is left alone with the body and the ledger.