The infirmary of the Beggars' Sect bore little resemblance to the clean, orderly medical facilities Lin Feng had glimpsed in wealthier districts. Instead, it occupied a cramped room near the kitchen, filled with mismatched containers of dried herbs, mysterious powders, and suspicious-looking liquids. The air hung heavy with the competing aromas of medicinal plants, making Lin Feng's eyes water as he stepped through the doorway.

"Hello?" he called, squinting through the herbal fog. "Elder...um, Infirmary Person?"

"Nobody here by that name," croaked a voice from behind a towering stack of bamboo containers. "Try again with less idiocy."

Lin Feng peered around the containers to discover a tiny, ancient woman sorting through a collection of roots with gnarled but surprisingly nimble fingers. Her face resembled a dried apple that had been left in the sun for several additional decades, and her eyes were so deeply set in wrinkles that Lin Feng couldn't immediately determine their color.

"My apologies," he offered. "I was sent by Senior Disciple Mei to consult about these herbs." He held out the bundle he'd acquired in the market. "I'm told they might be useful for my cultivation."

The old woman snatched the bundle from his hand with startling speed and pressed it to her nose, inhaling deeply. "Mountain frost herb," she declared. "High altitude growth, unusual potency. Where did you get this?"

"Market acquisition exercise," Lin Feng explained.

"Ah, one of Mei's clever little thieves," the woman nodded, seemingly approving.

"I prefer 'strategic opportunity facilitator,'" Lin Feng corrected. "Theft implies taking without permission. The merchant gave these quite voluntarily."

"After you manipulated him into a corner, no doubt," the old woman cackled. "I'm Elder Zhang. You're the new boy everyone's whispering about. Lin something."

"Lin Feng," he confirmed. "And people are whispering about me? How flattering and mildly terrifying."

"Defeating Stone Fist, special training with Lao Wei, now running market exercises with Mei..." Elder Zhang raised what might have once been an eyebrow. "Either you're remarkable or you have powerful friends. Perhaps both."

"Or perhaps I'm remarkably lucky," Lin Feng suggested. "So, these herbs—can they help with cultivation?"

"Mountain frost herb enhances energy circulation when prepared correctly," Elder Zhang explained, turning back to her workbench. "Combined with other ingredients, it can temporarily accelerate qi movement through stubborn meridians. Useful for breaking through plateaus."

"And on their own?"

"Still valuable. Brew as tea before meditation to improve focus and qi sensitivity." She began separating the bundle into smaller portions. "I'll keep half as payment for my expertise. The rest you can have, properly prepared."

"That seems..." Lin Feng began.

"Entirely fair," Elder Zhang finished for him, fixing him with a stare that discouraged negotiation. "Unless you'd prefer to experiment with dosages yourself? I understand hallucinations and temporary paralysis can be quite educational."

"Your expertise is definitely worth half the herbs," Lin Feng conceded quickly. "I'm a great believer in fair compensation for specialized knowledge."

"Wise boy." Elder Zhang set about crushing, measuring, and packaging the precious herbs with practiced efficiency. "Lao Wei chose well."

"Chose me for what, exactly?" Lin Feng asked, seizing the opening. "Everyone keeps hinting at some greater purpose behind my training, but no one will speak plainly."

Elder Zhang's hands never paused in their work. "Not my place to explain Lao Wei's plans. Though I will say your qi pathways are unusually adaptable for one so young. Most initiates have rigid energy channels that require months to reshape. Yours seem naturally... fluid."

"Is that significant?"

"For certain paths, yes." She tied a small packet of processed herbs and handed it to him. "Three portions here. Use before evening meditation on days when you feel particularly stuck. Don't exceed one packet per week—your system needs time to adjust between doses."

Lin Feng accepted the packet with appropriate reverence. "Thank you, Elder Zhang. Any other wisdom you're willing to share with a curious initiate?"

The old woman studied him for a moment, her eyes finally visible as sharp points of obsidian within their wrinkled surroundings. "Trust your instincts, but question your assumptions. The Vagrant Cloud Path rewards those who can hold contradictory truths simultaneously."

"That's both helpful and completely cryptic," Lin Feng observed. "You've truly mastered the elder's art of ambiguous advice-giving."

To his surprise, Elder Zhang laughed—a sound like dry leaves skittering across stone. "You remind me of Lao Wei when he was young. Too clever for your own good, but clever enough to recognize it as a liability."

"Lao Wei was young once? I assumed he emerged from the womb fully formed as a cryptically wise elderly beggar."

"We were all young, foolish, and full of certainties," Elder Zhang said, suddenly serious. "Life burned away our illusions, leaving only what truly matters. Your path will do the same."

"Another cheery prediction from the Beggars' Sect oracle," Lin Feng sighed. "At this rate, I'll have enough doom-laden prophecies to start my own fortune-telling stall."

Elder Zhang shooed him toward the door. "Off with you now. Mei expects you in the east courtyard for your manipulation training. Don't be late—she detests tardiness even more than impertinence."

As Lin Feng hurried away, he realized the old woman had neatly sidestepped his questions about Lao Wei's intentions while seeming to engage with them. It was a conversational technique he resolved to study more closely—appearing forthcoming while revealing nothing of substance could prove useful in navigating sect politics.

---

The east courtyard was smaller than the main training area, enclosed by high walls and ancient trees that filtered the morning sunlight into dappled patterns. Mei waited in the center, seated cross-legged on a worn meditation mat, her eyes closed in apparent concentration.

Lin Feng approached quietly, not wishing to disturb her focus. Before he could announce himself, however, Mei spoke without opening her eyes.

"You're three minutes late. Punctuality reflects respect."

"My apologies," Lin Feng replied. "Elder Zhang was sharing her wisdom, and I didn't want to appear rude by rushing away mid-prophecy."

Mei's eyes opened, studying him with that same penetrating gaze she'd used at the market. "Elder Zhang rarely shares anything with newcomers. You continue to attract unusual attention."

"It's my natural charm," Lin Feng suggested. "That, or everyone enjoys watching my confused reactions to cryptic statements and vague warnings."

"Sit," Mei commanded, indicating a second mat opposite her own. "Today we begin basic qi manipulation—extending your energy beyond your body to influence objects and people."

Lin Feng settled into the cross-legged position he'd been practicing all week. "Influence how, exactly? Will I be moving objects with my mind? Planting suggestions in people's thoughts? Making merchants suddenly feel generous with their wares?"

"Your expectations are both grandiose and misguided," Mei observed. "External qi manipulation begins with the smallest of effects—warming or cooling an object, creating minor pressure on surfaces, slightly influencing emotional states through proximity."

"So less 'magical powers' and more 'subtle temperature adjustments,'" Lin Feng summarized, trying not to sound disappointed.

"All great techniques begin with humble foundations," Mei said. "The difference between a master and a novice is not the technique itself but the scale, precision, and efficiency of its application."

She placed a small cup of water between them. "Your first exercise is simple: extend your qi to the water and attempt to raise its temperature."

"How exactly do I extend my qi?" Lin Feng asked. "Lao Wei taught me to sense energy, but not to project it."

"The process is similar but reversed," Mei explained. "When sensing, you open yourself to receive impressions. When manipulating, you direct your intention outward through focused will."

"That explanation is both perfect and completely unhelpful," Lin Feng noted.

"Show me how you sense the water's qi," Mei instructed, ignoring his comment.

Lin Feng focused on the cup, extending his perception as he'd practiced all week. "I can feel its energy—cool, fluid, receptive."

"Good. Now, instead of passively observing those qualities, actively engage with them. Imagine your own qi reaching out like a tendril of smoke, touching the water's surface."

Lin Feng tried to visualize the process, picturing his energy extending beyond his fingertips toward the cup. To his surprise, he felt a faint connection forming—as if an invisible thread now linked him to the water.

"I feel something," he said, concentrating harder. "Like a thin connection."

"Excellent," Mei nodded. "Now, through that connection, introduce the quality of warmth. Not by forcing or commanding, but by suggesting. Qi responds to intention, not demand."

Lin Feng focused on the concept of warmth, imagining heat flowing through the tenuous connection. For several minutes, nothing seemed to happen. Then, just as his concentration was beginning to waver, he noticed a tiny wisp of steam rising from the cup's surface.

"It's working!" he exclaimed, breaking his concentration and immediately losing the connection.

"Was working," Mei corrected. "But yes, a successful first attempt. Few achieve measurable results on their initial try."

Lin Feng couldn't help feeling a surge of pride, quickly followed by suspicion. "Is this another area where I'm supposedly demonstrating unusual talent? Because I'm beginning to think everyone's using very low standards to make me feel special."

"On the contrary," Mei said seriously. "External manipulation typically requires weeks of practice before producing visible effects. Your qi channels seem naturally suited to projection."

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"So I've been told," Lin Feng murmured. "Though no one will explain why that's significant or how Lao Wei knew to recruit me specifically."

"Perhaps you should focus on developing your gifts rather than questioning their origin," Mei suggested, though something in her tone suggested she understood his frustration.

"Fair enough," Lin Feng conceded. "So, heating water—practical for tea preparation, less useful for self-defense. What other basic manipulations will I learn?"

"Cooling, pressure, minor influence on plant growth, basic emotional projection," Mei listed. "With sufficient practice, these fundamentals combine into more practical applications."

"Such as?"

"The Sleep Touch that renders a target briefly unconscious. The Warming Palm that eases pain. The Subtle Push that creates distance without visible contact." Mei demonstrated the last by extending her hand toward a leaf on the ground, which skittered away as if caught by a small breeze.

"Now those sound useful," Lin Feng observed, watching the leaf's movement with genuine interest. "How long before I can learn such techniques?"

"Master the basics first," Mei advised. "But given your apparent affinity, perhaps only a month or two rather than the usual six."

They spent the next two hours practicing basic temperature manipulation, with Lin Feng gradually gaining more control over the process. By midday, he could reliably warm the water to near-boiling and cool it back down to almost freezing, though each effort left him surprisingly drained.

"Qi expenditure is why we begin with small objects," Mei explained as Lin Feng wiped sweat from his brow after a particularly intense cooling exercise. "The larger or more resistant the target, the more energy required to affect it."

"So manipulating people would be particularly difficult," Lin Feng reasoned. "Since they have their own qi that might resist influence."

"Precisely," Mei confirmed. "Which is why emotional projection is so subtle—it suggests rather than imposes, offering an energetic template that others may unconsciously adopt."

"Like creating a sense of urgency that makes merchants more willing to sell cheaply? Or projecting trustworthiness to encourage confidences?"

Mei's expression revealed nothing, but Lin Feng sensed approval in her qi. "You begin to understand our market operations more completely. Yes, such techniques facilitate many of our information-gathering activities."

"And this is all part of the Vagrant Cloud Path?" Lin Feng asked. "These manipulation techniques?"

"They are tools within the Path, not the Path itself," Mei clarified. "The Vagrant Cloud Path is fundamentally about adaptation—learning to work with whatever circumstances provide, finding strength in emptiness, value in the discarded."

"Very poetic," Lin Feng nodded. "Though I'm beginning to suspect the 'Path' is deliberately vague to allow senior disciples to define it however suits their purposes."

A flicker of amusement crossed Mei's normally impassive face. "There may be some truth to that observation. Though I assure you, at the higher levels, the Path's principles become both clearer and more profound."

Their session concluded with a final exercise—attempting to influence a small flame on a candle Mei had lit. Lin Feng found this significantly more challenging than affecting water, managing only the slightest wavering in the flame despite concentrated effort.

"Fire has its own strong will," Mei explained. "It resists external influence more naturally than water, which is inherently receptive. Different elements respond differently to manipulation attempts."

"I assume air and earth have their own temperaments as well?" Lin Feng asked, wiping away more sweat. Manipulation training was proving more physically taxing than he'd anticipated.

"Indeed. Air is capricious but responsive, earth stubborn but reliable once persuaded. You'll work with all four elements as your training progresses."

As they gathered their materials to leave, Mei fixed Lin Feng with an evaluative stare. "You did well today. Tomorrow, we'll continue with pressure manipulation. In the meantime, practice your warming and cooling with small cups of water in your dormitory. Ten repetitions of each before sleep."

"Yes, Senior Disciple Mei," Lin Feng replied with exaggerated formality. "Should I also stand on one leg while reciting the sect principles backward, or is that reserved for next week's torture?"

"Your humor masks genuine enthusiasm," Mei observed with unsettling accuracy. "You needn't pretend disinterest. Finding joy in cultivation is not a weakness."

Before Lin Feng could formulate a suitably deflective response, they were interrupted by the arrival of Lao Wei, who appeared at the courtyard entrance with his usual knack for perfectly timed interventions.

"Ah, I see the manipulation training progresses well," he observed, glancing at the cup of now-steaming water. "First day success? Impressive but not unexpected."

"Initiate Lin Feng shows natural aptitude for projection," Mei reported formally. "Temperature manipulation achieved within the first hour. Multiple repetitions successfully completed."

"Excellent," Lao Wei nodded. "I hope you don't mind if I borrow him for the afternoon? There's a matter requiring his specific talents."

Mei bowed slightly. "Of course, Elder. We had concluded the essential training regardless."

Lin Feng glanced between them, suspicion immediately prickling at their clearly rehearsed exchange. "What matter requires my 'specific talents'? If it's theft—sorry, strategic resource acquisition—I should point out that I've had exactly one day of market training."

"Nothing so mundane," Lao Wei assured him. "A visitor to the sect has requested to meet our newest initiate with unusual qi sensitivity."

"A visitor?" Lin Feng's suspicion deepened. "Who exactly finds newly recruited street orphans so fascinating?"

"An associate with interest in rare cultivation aptitudes," Lao Wei explained vaguely. "It would be impolite to refuse such a minor request, especially from someone who has been... generous to our sect."

The implication was clear—this was not truly a request but an obligation, and Lin Feng's cooperation was expected regardless of his personal feelings on the matter.

"Of course," he sighed. "Who wouldn't want to be examined like a curious specimen by some mysterious benefactor? Lead on to my exhibition."

Mei shot him a warning look that clearly advised more respectful language, but Lao Wei merely chuckled. "Your unique perspective is precisely what makes you interesting, little philosopher. Though perhaps moderate your more colorful observations during the actual meeting."

They left Mei in the courtyard and made their way toward the main building—a two-story structure that housed the sect's administrative functions and senior living quarters. Lin Feng had never been inside before, initiates generally being confined to the dormitories, training areas, and common facilities.

"So who is this mysterious visitor?" Lin Feng asked as they walked. "Another sect leader? Imperial agent? Wandering immortal in disguise?"

"A knowledge-seeker with particular interest in unusual cultivation manifestations," Lao Wei replied, which answered precisely nothing. "Someone who has studied the Vagrant Cloud Path's history and variations extensively."

"That narrows it down to approximately everyone who's ever had an interest in cultivation," Lin Feng observed dryly. "Your talent for non-answers remains unmatched, Elder Lao Wei."

"Some information is best discovered firsthand rather than provided in advance," Lao Wei countered. "Preconceptions can cloud perception. I'd prefer you form your own impressions without my influence."

They entered the main building, climbing a narrow staircase to the second floor. The interior was surprisingly austere, with minimal decoration save for a few calligraphy scrolls bearing what Lin Feng assumed were important sect principles or perhaps inspiring platitudes about begging with dignity.

Lao Wei stopped before a sliding door at the end of a short hallway. "Remember, respectful honesty is appropriate, but unnecessary elaboration is not. Answer what is asked, nothing more."

"I'll try to restrain my naturally effusive personality," Lin Feng promised solemnly. "Though I make no guarantees if asked particularly absurd questions."

With a resigned sigh that suggested Lao Wei was already regretting this arrangement, he slid the door open and gestured for Lin Feng to enter.

The room beyond was simply furnished with a low table, cushions for seating, and a single ornate chair currently occupied by the most elegantly disheveled person Lin Feng had ever seen.

At first glance, the visitor appeared to be a beggar of unusual refinement—his robes were patched and worn but of obviously fine original quality, his hair was artfully tousled rather than genuinely unkempt, and his posture spoke of aristocratic upbringing despite his deliberately humble surroundings. He might have been anywhere from thirty to fifty years old, his age difficult to determine due to the peculiar agelessness that advanced cultivation often granted.

Most striking, however, were his eyes—pale gray and unnervingly penetrating, as if capable of dissecting Lin Feng's thoughts without permission. Those eyes fixed on him immediately, widening slightly with what appeared to be delighted recognition.

"Ah!" the stranger exclaimed. "The resonant vessel arrives. How fascinating to finally meet you, young Lin Feng."

Lin Feng glanced at Lao Wei, who had entered behind him and was now performing a respectful bow that stopped just short of obsequiousness.

"Master Zhu, may I present Initiate Lin Feng, recently joined to our humble sect," Lao Wei said formally. "Lin Feng, this is Master Zhu of the Floating Reed Society, a distinguished scholar of cultivation methodologies and longtime friend of the Beggars' Sect."

"Floating Reed Society?" Lin Feng repeated, searching his memory. "I don't believe I've heard of it."

"Few have," Master Zhu replied with a smile that didn't quite reach those unnerving eyes. "We maintain a deliberately low profile, focusing on research rather than martial prowess or political influence."

Lin Feng bowed with appropriate respect, though not as deeply as Lao Wei had. "It's an honor to meet someone who finds newly recruited street orphans so fascinating. I wasn't aware my existence warranted scholarly attention."

Master Zhu laughed—a sound both genuinely amused and slightly calculating. "Direct and perceptive! Excellent qualities. Please, sit. I have a few simple questions that will satisfy my academic curiosity."

Lin Feng took a cushion opposite the visitor, while Lao Wei seated himself slightly to the side, positioned to observe both parties.

"I understand you've demonstrated unusual aptitude for qi perception and manipulation," Master Zhu began without preamble. "Achieving in days what typically requires weeks or months. Would you describe your experience of energy work for me? How does it feel when you connect with external qi?"

The question seemed innocuous enough, though Lin Feng remained wary. "It varies by object," he answered carefully. "Some energies feel naturally compatible with my own, while others require more effort to engage with."

"Fascinating," Master Zhu leaned forward slightly. "And when you encountered the scroll in the market yesterday—the one with the resonant qi—how precisely did that interaction differ from your other experiences?"

Lin Feng's suspicion immediately sharpened. How did this stranger know about the scroll already? He glanced at Lao Wei, whose expression revealed nothing.

"The scroll seemed... familiar somehow," Lin Feng said cautiously. "As if it recognized me rather than the other way around. Almost like encountering an old acquaintance unexpectedly."

Master Zhu nodded as if this confirmed something important. "And in your previous life, before joining the sect, did you ever experience similar moments of recognition or unusual energy sensitivity?"

"Previous life meaning...my time on the streets?" Lin Feng clarified. "Not that I recall. I was more focused on not starving than on sensing mystical energies."

"Yet you survived three years alone, did you not? Quite unusual for one so young."

"Desperation is a powerful motivator," Lin Feng replied, increasingly uncomfortable with the stranger's apparent knowledge of his background. "And I was lucky."

"Luck," Master Zhu repeated thoughtfully. "A curious concept. Some might call it destiny masquerading as coincidence." He reached into his robes and withdrew a small object wrapped in silk. "Tell me, what do you sense from this?"

He placed the wrapped object on the table between them. Without touching it, Lin Feng extended his perception as he'd been trained, attempting to read the qi signature through the silk covering.

Immediately, he felt an overwhelming resonance—similar to but much stronger than what he'd experienced with the scroll. The object's energy seemed to reach out to him, calling with an almost audible voice, though no actual sound occurred. The sensation was simultaneously welcoming and disorienting, like finding a piece of himself that he hadn't known was missing.

"It's... connected to me somehow," Lin Feng managed, finding it difficult to articulate the strange experience. "Like it belongs with my energy. I can't explain it better than that."

Master Zhu's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "You need not explain. Your reaction confirms our theories." He carefully rewrapped the object without ever revealing what it was. "Most interesting indeed."

"What theories?" Lin Feng asked, unable to contain his curiosity despite Lao Wei's earlier warning about unnecessary questions. "What is that object, and why does it feel connected to me?"

"All in good time," Master Zhu assured him, tucking the mysterious item back into his robes. "Cultivation is a journey of gradual revelation. Too much knowledge too quickly can be as harmful as too little."

"Another convenient explanation for keeping me in the dark," Lin Feng observed, frustration overriding caution. "Is there a secret sect manual of cryptic deflections that everyone studies except initiates?"

To his surprise, Master Zhu laughed again, this time with seemingly genuine amusement. "I like this one, Lao Wei. The resonant vessel with a skeptic's mind—a perfect combination."

"Vessel?" Lin Feng pounced on the term. "That's the second time you've used that word to describe me. What exactly am I supposedly a vessel for?"

Master Zhu and Lao Wei exchanged meaningful glances, conducting some silent negotiation that concluded with Lao Wei giving a slight nod.

"You possess a rare constitution," Master Zhu explained, suddenly more forthcoming. "Your meridians and dantian are unusually... adaptive. Most cultivators are limited to specific energy types compatible with their inborn nature. You, however, appear capable of resonating with and potentially channeling multiple qi variants that would normally be incompatible."

"And that's significant because...?"

"Because certain advanced techniques require precisely such adaptability," Master Zhu continued. "Particularly those involving artifact resonance and energy transference. Your natural constitution makes you ideally suited to cultivation paths that would be dangerous or impossible for others to attempt."

Lin Feng absorbed this information with mixed feelings. On one hand, it explained the special attention and accelerated training he'd been receiving. On the other hand, it raised disturbing questions about exactly why the sect was so interested in his supposedly rare abilities.

"So I'm not being trained as a beggar but as some kind of specialized energy conduit?" he asked bluntly.

"You misunderstand," Lao Wei interjected. "All initiates receive training appropriate to their natural aptitudes. The Beggars' Sect has always specialized in recognizing and developing unique talents that other sects might overlook or misapply."

"Then why all the secrecy? Why not simply explain this from the beginning?"

"Because untested potential can be easily damaged by premature expectations," Master Zhu replied. "Better to allow natural development under careful guidance than to impose external pressures too early."

"Besides," Lao Wei added, "would you have believed such claims when you first arrived? Or would you have assumed we were mad or attempting some form of manipulation?"

Lin Feng had to admit the logic was sound. His street-honed skepticism would indeed have dismissed such explanations as elaborate deceptions designed to secure his cooperation for some unknown scheme.

"Fair point," he conceded. "Though I'm still not entirely convinced this isn't some elaborate recruitment technique. 'Congratulations, you're special' is a time-honored method for securing loyalty."

Master Zhu smiled enigmatically. "Healthy skepticism will serve you well on the cultivation path. Question everything—including your own assumptions. The truth often lies in unexpected directions."

With that cryptic pronouncement, he rose smoothly to his feet, signaling the end of their meeting. "I've seen what I needed to see. Lao Wei, you have my congratulations on finding such a promising initiate. I look forward to observing his progress."

"You honor us with your interest, Master Zhu," Lao Wei replied, bowing once more. "We will continue his training as discussed."

Lin Feng stood as well, offering a respectful but restrained bow. "Thank you for the partial illumination, Master Zhu. I look forward to eventually receiving the complete picture, preferably before I reach your venerable age."

Instead of taking offense, Master Zhu laughed that peculiar laugh again. "Impertinence in service of truth is a virtue, young Lin Feng. Cultivate it alongside your other talents, but remember that timing matters as much as content."

With that parting advice, the visitor departed, leaving Lin Feng alone with Lao Wei, who released a long breath that suggested he'd been more tense during the meeting than his calm demeanor had indicated.

"Well," Lin Feng said into the ensuing silence. "That was informative while simultaneously explaining almost nothing. A true masterclass in the art of revelatory obfuscation."

"Master Zhu shared more than I expected," Lao Wei admitted. "His confirmation of your resonant constitution is significant. It validates our training approach thus far."

"Wonderful," Lin Feng replied dryly. "I'm so pleased my mysterious constitution has been validated by a strange man with creepy eyes who carries silk-wrapped objects that magically connect to my qi. This is all perfectly normal and not at all concerning."

Lao Wei sighed. "Your sarcasm masks legitimate questions, I know. I promise you will receive more complete explanations as your training progresses. For now, trust that our intentions are aligned with your best interests."

"Trust is earned through transparency, not vague assurances," Lin Feng pointed out. "But I understand the game being played. Knowledge is power, and power is carefully measured out to initiates based on some calculus I'm not privy to."

"Not a game," Lao Wei corrected seriously. "A protection—for you as much as for the sect. Certain knowledge carries responsibilities and risks that require preparation."

Lin Feng studied his mentor carefully, sensing genuine concern beneath the evasiveness. Whatever was happening involved more than simple sect politics or training methodologies.

"Very well," he conceded. "I'll continue playing the diligent, only moderately sarcastic initiate for now. But I expect real answers eventually, Lao Wei. Before I'm too deeply invested to walk away."

"Fair enough," Lao Wei nodded. "And for what it's worth, that's more honesty than most initiates would demand. Your instincts serve you well—keep following them."

As they left the meeting room, Lin Feng couldn't shake the feeling that he had just participated in some significant test whose parameters and stakes remained largely hidden from him. The mysterious object, the talk of "resonant vessels," Master Zhu's obvious interest in his qi sensitivity—all pointed to purposes beyond standard beggar training.

The question was whether those purposes aligned with his own interests, or whether he was being shaped into a tool for someone else's agenda. And if the latter, did it matter as long as the training benefited him in the process?

Three years on the streets had taught Lin Feng to be pragmatic about such arrangements. People used each other constantly—the trick was ensuring mutual benefit rather than one-sided exploitation. If the Beggars' Sect and this Floating Reed Society wanted to invest in developing his unusual talents, he would accept their training while maintaining his own agency.

After all, knowledge flowed both ways. While they studied his "resonant constitution," he would study them—their motivations, their methods, their ultimate goals. Information was indeed power, and Lin Feng intended to gather as much as possible before fully committing to whatever path they were steering him toward.

As Lao Wei had inadvertently advised: trust your instincts, but question your assumptions. And Lin Feng's instincts were increasingly suggesting that his recruitment into the Beggars' Sect was merely the opening move in a much larger game.