diff --git a/src/flowx/sources/airflow/audit.py b/src/flowx/sources/airflow/audit.py
index ffe9ac43..98771d08 100644
--- a/src/flowx/sources/airflow/audit.py
+++ b/src/flowx/sources/airflow/audit.py
@@ -11,6 +11,29 @@
 _EDGE_MODIFIER_CONSTRUCTS = frozenset({"Label"})
 
 
+def _is_literal_string_statement(statement: ast.stmt) -> bool:
+    """Returns whether *statement* is a literal string expression, such as a docstring."""
+    return (
+        isinstance(statement, ast.Expr)
+        and isinstance(statement.value, ast.Constant)
+        and isinstance(statement.value.value, str)
+    )
+
+
+def _is_wiring_statement(statement: ast.stmt) -> bool:
+    """Returns whether *statement* only expresses task dependency wiring."""
+    if not isinstance(statement, ast.Expr):
+        return False
+    value = statement.value
+    if isinstance(value, ast.BinOp) and isinstance(value.op, (ast.RShift, ast.LShift)):
+        return True
+    if not isinstance(value, ast.Call):
+        return False
+    if isinstance(value.func, ast.Name) and value.func.id in ("chain", "cross_downstream"):
+        return True
+    return isinstance(value.func, ast.Attribute) and value.func.attr in ("set_upstream", "set_downstream")
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True, kw_only=True)
 class AuditCandidate:
     """One source construct that must be accounted for by capture and translation."""
@@ -110,6 +133,11 @@ def __init__(self, module: ast.Module, *, target_dag_variable: str | None) -> No
             for node in module.body
             if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef) and _single_operator_return(node, self.aliases)
         }
+        self.called_names = {
+            node.func.id
+            for node in ast.walk(module)
+            if isinstance(node, ast.Call) and isinstance(node.func, ast.Name)
+        }
 
     def _candidate(self, kind: str, code: str, node: ast.AST, **details: Any) -> AuditCandidate:
         key = (kind, getattr(node, "lineno", 0), getattr(node, "col_offset", 0))
@@ -136,6 +164,34 @@ def visit_FunctionDef(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> None:
             for statement in node.body:
                 if not isinstance(statement, ast.FunctionDef):
                     self.visit(statement)
+        elif self._is_static_wiring_helper(node):
+            # A statically invoked wiring helper applies its edges when Airflow runs it, so the
+            # audit follows the same rule as the capture pass and both report the same edges.
+            for statement in node.body:
+                self.visit(statement)
+
+    def _is_static_wiring_helper(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> bool:
+        """Returns whether *node* is a statically invoked, wiring-only helper (the visitor's rule).
+
+        The guards here must match ``_DagVisitor._is_static_wiring_helper`` so that reconciliation
+        compares identical edge sets on both sides and fails closed on any shape one side skips.
+        """
+        if node.name not in self.called_names:
+            return False
+        if node.decorator_list:
+            return False
+        if (
+            node.args.args
+            or node.args.posonlyargs
+            or node.args.kwonlyargs
+            or node.args.vararg
+            or node.args.kwarg
+        ):
+            return False
+        body = list(node.body)
+        if body and _is_literal_string_statement(body[0]):
+            body = body[1:]
+        return all(_is_wiring_statement(statement) for statement in body)
 
     def visit_AsyncFunctionDef(self, node: ast.AsyncFunctionDef) -> None:
         """Treats decorated async callables as TaskFlow definitions, not DAG-body statements."""
diff --git a/src/flowx/sources/airflow/loader/visitor.py b/src/flowx/sources/airflow/loader/visitor.py
index 1f0828c0..a8c0530d 100644
--- a/src/flowx/sources/airflow/loader/visitor.py
+++ b/src/flowx/sources/airflow/loader/visitor.py
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@
 _EDGE_MODIFIER_CONSTRUCTS = frozenset({"Label"})
 
 
+def _is_literal_string_statement(statement: ast.stmt) -> bool:
+    """Returns whether *statement* is a literal string expression, such as a docstring."""
+    return (
+        isinstance(statement, ast.Expr)
+        and isinstance(statement.value, ast.Constant)
+        and isinstance(statement.value.value, str)
+    )
+
+
 class _DagVisitor(ast.NodeVisitor):
     """Collects operator calls, dependency edges, and the DAG's schedule."""
 
@@ -110,6 +119,13 @@ def __init__(self, module: ast.Module, *, target_dag_variable: str | None = None
         # TaskFlow: function name -> (definition, decorator dotted-name) for @task-decorated defs.
         # Pre-scanned so a @task def defined after the @dag body that uses it is still resolved.
         self.taskflow_defs: dict[str, tuple[ast.FunctionDef | ast.AsyncFunctionDef, str]] = {}
+        # Bare static invocations anywhere in the module (`helper()`), so a wiring-only helper
+        # that Airflow executes once can be followed by both the capture pass and the audit.
+        self._statically_called_names = {
+            node.func.id
+            for node in ast.walk(module)
+            if isinstance(node, ast.Call) and isinstance(node.func, ast.Name)
+        }
         # @task_group def names -- a group is a sub-pipeline, not a single renderable task, so an
         # invocation routes to a placeholder + gap rather than being expanded here.
         self.taskgroup_defs: set[str] = set()
@@ -170,6 +186,9 @@ def visit_FunctionDef(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> None:
         if not is_dag_definition:
             if self._dag_scope_depth:
                 self._claimed_statement_ids.add(id(node))
+                return
+            if self._is_static_wiring_helper(node):
+                self._descend_wiring_helper(node)
             return
         if is_dag_definition:
             self.is_taskflow_dag = True
@@ -194,6 +213,70 @@ def visit_FunctionDef(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> None:
                 self._dag_scope_depth -= 1
             self._scope_stack.pop()
 
+    def _is_static_wiring_helper(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> bool:
+        """Returns whether *node* is a statically invoked helper whose body only wires tasks.
+
+        Airflow applies the helper's statements only when it runs. Both this capture pass and the
+        independent source audit follow the same rule -- module-level definition, no decorators, no
+        parameters, wiring-only statements (shift chains, ``chain``/``cross_downstream``, and
+        ``set_upstream``/``set_downstream``), and at least one static invocation -- so reconciliation
+        compares the same edges on both sides. A helper that cannot be followed this way stays under
+        the existing rules instead of being silently reduced to a claimless body.
+        """
+        if node.name not in self._statically_called_names:
+            return False
+        if node.decorator_list:
+            return False
+        if (
+            node.args.args
+            or node.args.posonlyargs
+            or node.args.kwonlyargs
+            or node.args.vararg
+            or node.args.kwarg
+        ):
+            return False
+        body = list(node.body)
+        if body and _is_literal_string_statement(body[0]):
+            body = body[1:]
+        return all(self._is_wiring_statement(statement) for statement in body)
+
+    def _is_wiring_statement(self, statement: ast.stmt) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(statement, ast.Expr):
+            return False
+        value = statement.value
+        if isinstance(value, ast.BinOp) and isinstance(value.op, (ast.RShift, ast.LShift)):
+            return True
+        if not isinstance(value, ast.Call):
+            return False
+        if isinstance(value.func, ast.Name) and value.func.id in ("chain", "cross_downstream"):
+            return True
+        return isinstance(value.func, ast.Attribute) and value.func.attr in ("set_upstream", "set_downstream")
+
+    def _descend_wiring_helper(self, node: ast.FunctionDef) -> None:
+        """Follows a wiring helper the way Airflow runs it: the captured edges all apply.
+
+        Each statement must resolve to a capture; anything else lands in ``unclaimed_statements``
+        so reconciliation fails closed instead of verifying with a missing dependency.
+        """
+        self._scope_stack.append(node)
+        try:
+            for statement in node.body:
+                unclaimed_calls_before = len(self.unclaimed_task_calls)
+                unresolved_before = len(self.unresolved_constructs)
+                self.visit(statement)
+                if id(statement) in self._claimed_statement_ids:
+                    continue
+                if (
+                    len(self.unclaimed_task_calls) > unclaimed_calls_before
+                    or len(self.unresolved_constructs) > unresolved_before
+                ):
+                    continue
+                if _is_literal_string_statement(statement):
+                    continue
+                self.unclaimed_statements.append(statement)
+        finally:
+            self._scope_stack.pop()
+
     def visit_AsyncFunctionDef(self, node: ast.AsyncFunctionDef) -> None:
         """Claims native async TaskFlow definitions without treating their bodies as DAG structure."""
         if self._dag_scope_depth:
@@ -266,6 +349,8 @@ def _register_operator_call(self, node: ast.Call, var: str, *, binding: str | No
         construct = _construct_name(call.func, self._aliases)
         kwargs = {kw.arg: _bind_constants(kw.value, self._constants) for kw in call.keywords if kw.arg}
         dag_node = kwargs.get("dag")
+        if not self._dag_scope_depth and not isinstance(dag_node, ast.Name):
+            return False
         if self._target_dag_variable is not None and not (
             isinstance(dag_node, ast.Name) and dag_node.id == self._target_dag_variable
         ):
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_airflow_reconciliation.py b/tests/unit/test_airflow_reconciliation.py
index 74476487..58b6d0c9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_airflow_reconciliation.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_airflow_reconciliation.py
@@ -569,6 +569,90 @@ def test_static_classic_dag_factory_preserves_dag_identity_and_tasks(tmp_path: P
     assert "echo hello" in (pipeline.tasks[0].generated_source or "")
 
 
+def test_classic_dag_default_args_do_not_leak_to_unwired_operators(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    dag_path = tmp_path / "dag_context.py"
+    dag_path.write_text(
+        "from airflow import DAG\n"
+        "from airflow.operators.bash import BashOperator\n"
+        "with DAG(dag_id='context', schedule=None, default_args={'retries': 4}) as dag:\n"
+        "    BashOperator(task_id='inside', bash_command='echo inside')\n"
+        "outside = BashOperator(task_id='outside', bash_command='echo outside')\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    pipeline = airflow_loader.load_pipelines(dag_path)[0]
+
+    assert [(task.task_key, task.max_retries) for task in pipeline.tasks] == [("inside", 4)]
+
+
+def test_wiring_helper_edges_are_followed(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    dag_path = tmp_path / "wiring_helper.py"
+    dag_path.write_text(
+        "from airflow import DAG\n"
+        "from airflow.operators.bash import BashOperator\n"
+        "dag = DAG('helper_edges', schedule=None)\n"
+        "start = BashOperator(task_id='start', bash_command='x', dag=dag)\n"
+        "t = BashOperator(task_id='t', bash_command='x', dag=dag)\n"
+        "def wire():\n"
+        "    start >> t\n"
+        "wire()\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    pipeline = airflow_loader.load_pipelines(dag_path)[0]
+    tasks = {task.task_key: task for task in pipeline.tasks}
+
+    assert pipeline.reconciliation_status == "verified"
+    assert [dependency.task_key for dependency in tasks["t"].depends_on or []] == ["start"]
+    assert pipeline.audit["audited_edge_count"] == 1
+    assert pipeline.audit["captured_edge_count"] == 1
+
+
+def test_dag_context_wiring_helper_edges_are_followed(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    dag_path = tmp_path / "context_wiring_helper.py"
+    dag_path.write_text(
+        "from airflow import DAG\n"
+        "from airflow.operators.bash import BashOperator\n"
+        "with DAG('context_helper_edges', schedule=None) as dag:\n"
+        "    start = BashOperator(task_id='start', bash_command='x')\n"
+        "    t = BashOperator(task_id='t', bash_command='x')\n"
+        "def wire():\n"
+        "    start >> t\n"
+        "wire()\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    pipeline = airflow_loader.load_airflow_dag(dag_path)
+    tasks = {task.task_key: task for task in pipeline.tasks}
+
+    assert pipeline.reconciliation_status == "verified"
+    assert [dependency.task_key for dependency in tasks["t"].depends_on or []] == ["start"]
+
+
+def test_uncalled_wiring_helper_adds_no_edges(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    # Airflow only applies the helper's wiring when it runs, so an uncalled helper
+    # must leave the DAG exactly as Airflow sees it (no dependency).
+    dag_path = tmp_path / "uncalled_wiring_helper.py"
+    dag_path.write_text(
+        "from airflow import DAG\n"
+        "from airflow.operators.bash import BashOperator\n"
+        "dag = DAG('uncalled_helper', schedule=None)\n"
+        "start = BashOperator(task_id='start', bash_command='x', dag=dag)\n"
+        "t = BashOperator(task_id='t', bash_command='x', dag=dag)\n"
+        "def wire():\n"
+        "    start >> t\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    pipeline = airflow_loader.load_pipelines(dag_path)[0]
+    tasks = {task.task_key: task for task in pipeline.tasks}
+
+    assert pipeline.reconciliation_status == "verified"
+    assert tasks["t"].depends_on in (None, [])
+    assert pipeline.audit["audited_edge_count"] == 0
+    assert pipeline.audit["captured_edge_count"] == 0
+
+
 def test_decorated_dag_factory_override_emits_each_invocation(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     dag_path = tmp_path / "decorated_factory.py"
     dag_path.write_text(