It normally took about a month's time to get to Sermil Town when one travelled by foot.
But that was not the case with Yenma and Yepong as the two travelled on sturdy mountain horses. These horses were reared in the back of the village and were pitiful in number. They were usually used by messengers.
Since they were supposed to attend a grand feast, Yepong had ensured that Yenma had changed into a set of clean white robes, they perfectly outlined his lean muscular body and gave the onlookers an ethereal-feel.
It was estimated that the it would take about 1-2 weeks time to reach Sermil Town and hence it was only natural that Yenma got bored on the journey and tried to pry out as much information as possible from Yepong about the Situ Family.
Since Yepong really didn't like the Situ's arrogant demeanor, his words pictured out an arrogant and evil family that needs to be eradicated at all costs in the young Yenma's mind.
And hence before even meeting the Situ Family, Yenma had a bad impression about them.
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After ten days of arduous travel on the staunch back of the horse, Yenma could finally see the distant Sermil Town and almost teared up with joy.
These past few days were very sluggish for Yenma as he had nothing to do. He knew no martial techniques or any weapon skills. He was practically only eating, sleeping and travelling all this time.
But this didn't mean that his cultivation progress was completely halted. He had gained new insights into his cultivation. All living beings had Zu Qi within them, albeit in weak amounts. By sensing the Zu Qi in them, Yenma could glimpse a certain flow pattern of the Zu Qi as it travelled inside their bodies.
This observational detail came when Yenma had 'accidentally' seen two pale-yellow birbs making out on a tree-branch. He noticed the flow of Zu Qi was rather different and hence Yenma soon found himself staring at the scene.
Unbeknownst to him, Yepong was nearby and looking at how intently Yenma was staring at the birbs, Yepong made a mental note to get the lad engaged soon.
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After various rounds of observations regarding various animals, Yenma had finally concluded something!
The Zu Qi had a general flow pattern when it flowed through living bodies. Its pattern would turn haphazard or disorderly in case one had injuries or lost vitality.
Although the flow pattern was general, there were slight differences for different individuals. This made Yenma believe that each individual had their own unique flow pattern of Zu Qi within their bodies albeit with minor differences.
Yenma was intrigued in this regard and felt that there was something more to it but he didn't get to test it out as he had already arrived at Sermil Town
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Situ Family was a colossal power in Sermil Town, their family residence was situated right in the center of the town and was a sight to behold. It was said that the current family head of Situ family was a man of culture.
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At the residence gate, there were elegant words carved onto a stone plaque by the entrance:
"Situ will rise, As the Sun rises."
Looking at this, Yenma didn't know what to say.
'Situ rises as the sun rises? Then what about when the sun sets? ' , Yenma was amused.
By the entrance there was an old man in grey robes, he was responsible in checking the invitation letters and allowing entry inside to the Situ Residence.
After Yepong had his letter verified by the old man, he along with Yenma were guided towards a guest-courtyard inside the residence.
There was still about a day or so before the celebratory feast began, so it was obvious that the invited people were showing up at the entrance the day before and some even had shown up much earlier to showcase their 'profound respect' for the Situ's.
Yenma was bored sitting inside a tranquil yet neat courtyard. He ventured out and decided to check out the Situ Family residence.
As he went around, he noticed how clean and systematic everything around looked. Then he remembered about how the Situ Family Head was a man of culture, so all this could be as 'expected'.
As Yenma wanted to check out the martial grounds of the Situ family, he saw a kid about 12 years old or so practicing sword swings by himself under the shade of a sakura tree.
The latter who was focused in his swings suddenly stopped as he noticed a stranger staring at him.
'Another one of those village bumpkins?', Situ Wang harrumphed as he walked out and decided to go back and practice in his own courtyard.
Before going he didn't forget to 'accidentally' bump into the village bumpkin and push him away with his cultivation strength.
Yenma saw how the small kid who was half his size tried to bump into him. He felt it was too funny but he soon realized something wrong and became solemn.
The moment the latter bumped into him, Yenma could feel a strong pure energy force burst out from the kid's body as it entered into his body and tried to push him away.
Yenma's eyes constricted because he knew that this energy was surely Zu Qi! At Unblocking Meridians Stage, the Zu Qi stored inside the body only served to make one sturdier and improve one's physical strengths greatly. Unless one reached the Qi Formation stage, they would not be able to control their Zu Qi for attacking or defending.
That was to say that the 12 year old, harmless looking kid was actually already at Qi Formation Stage! This shook Yenma and before the latter could react and do something about the Zu Qi that was trying to rampage through his body and push him away, golden threads of energy suddenly flowed through his body out of nowhere and the external Zu Qi was completely repelled back.
This all happened in an instant, and before the kid who had bumped into Yenma could even feel the glee of bullying a village bumpkin, he felt a strong force of repulsion.
"Argggh-", The little kid shouted out as his rear bruised down the ground.
Situ Wang's eyes teared up as he looked hatefully at Yenma, "Why did you push me? what did I ever do to you?"
Yenma: ...(Are you for real?)