"Master, does any kind of qi work?"
Lin Ke rubbed his chin, mimicking Wang Lin. "For example, would steam work? Let me tell you, I discovered the power of steam..."
Smack!
"Those won't work," Wang Lin interrupted Lin Ke. "Not tangible qi. It has to be intangible qi."
"The force of the martial path, the ink intent of the calligraphy and painting path, the Medical School's vital qi, the imagination of novelists, and so on-all of those are intangible qi."
"You must draw qi into your body and use it to nourish your body and soul, making yourself increasingly suited to this path."
"When you study the Sages' classics, it becomes easier and easier to grasp their deeper meaning."
"When you pore over true scriptures and Daoist canons, it becomes easier and easier to grasp their mysteries."
"When you read Buddhist scriptures and Zen sayings, it becomes easier and easier to grasp their Zen wisdom."
"So your best choice is still the Confucian path. At the very least, it can accommodate paths other than the Daoist and Buddhist ones."
Wang Lin looked at him solemnly. "Originally, we all thought you could take the Child Scholar Examination after your contest with Qi Ye, then decide on your path."
"But now, the tallest tree catches the wind. With your two poems and two Rare Treasures, you need the power to protect yourself."
She pointed outside. "Think about it. There are so many people out there. Who knows which of them harbors ill intentions? You can't recite a poem every single time, can you? How many verses do you have stored in your belly, anyway? Probably not many, right?"
Well, if we're talking about the number of poems, lyrics, songs, and rhapsodies, I'm doing pretty well... Lin Ke nodded. "I understand, Master. So