Lin Tian did not speak after the needle test, and the silence felt heavy, not peaceful. He kept his face steady, and he kept his hands open at his sides, and he tried not to show how tight his chest felt.
Elder Shen watched him as if she expected him to crack.
"You are quiet," she said, her voice calm, and it carried across the field. "If you were a foolish man, you would try to explain yourself, and if you were a clever liar, you would tell me a story you practiced, but you are doing neither."
Lin Tian lifted his gaze. "If I say the wrong thing, you will turn it into something else," he answered, then he added, "I would rather let you test what you want to test, and I will accept the result."
Elder Shen's mouth curved slightly. "That is a safer choice," she replied, then she took a step back and raised her hand toward the center of the field. "Very well, if you will not explain, then we test what matters."
