A Snail's Wisdom 6 Back To The Flowing River Sec

"Go kowtow to Babsan first. You might not be coming back here for a while."

Realizing the meaning behind his words, the sisters nodded and hurried to the old woman who was back on her rocking chair. They kowtowed with watery eyes.

"Shizuka is leaving, Babsan. Please be well till I return."

"Yoshie is leaving too, Babsan. Thank you for taking care of us all this time."

Their eyes were filling to the brim, but they held onto their tears. The old woman stopped rocking and got up from her chair. She walked in front of them and kneeled onto the ground before placing her arms around them.

"Look at you girls crying before stepping out the front door. How do you think I will feel seeing you leave in such a manner."

At this point, the girls pushed their face against the old woman's clothes trying to hide their tears. The old woman's eyes watered a little as well before she pushed them away and stood up. She walked over to one of the cabinets and pulled out two small red chests, the kind that usually holds small jewelry or valuables. She gave one to each of them.

"I hope that when you wear these, you will remember your old Babsan."

Yoshie opened her box first and teared up at the sight instantly. Inside, a pair of pink pearl earrings were shining. Seeing this, Shizuka opened up her box and found her own pair of identical pearl earrings except they were purple. The next moment, they placed their boxes on the table and hugged Baba while crying again.

"Babsan," choked Yoshie.

"We will miss you, Babsan," wailed Shizuka.

Frowning at this, Kenja couldn't help but interrupt the touching moment. "Babsan, I might not be returning either. Do I get anything?"

"Of course, Kenja. I wouldn't forget about you. Today, I am cooking your favorite, Camel-hump Stew."

Kenja sweatdropped when he heard this.

'First off, Camel-hump Stew is not my favorite. Second, you are expecting me to fail again?'

The girls understood the meaning behind Babsan's words and stopped crying to respond.

"Babsan, Kenjniisan will definitely pa.s.s today."

"Yes! With us there, he will be able to perform to the best of his abilities as well."

They reasoned with her. They believed that if Kenja's scent can help with their exercise, then their proximity should also help Kenja out in the same manner.

"Fine, fine. If Kenja pa.s.ses, I'll personally deliver the Camel-hump Stew to him tomorrow."

"Don't trouble yourself Babsan. I will come back later and cook for you myself." Kenja gave her a rea.s.suring smile. He knew better than anyone that travelling up to the sect took a huge toll on a normal person, let alone someone as old as Baba.

Having said their farewells, they left and made the trip to the Flowing River Sect. In front of the Sect's entrance, a little less than a dozen people were lined up. Kenja entered the line from the back and began his Qi-breathing exercise. The twins emulated him and began breathing in sync with Kenja.

When the people ahead saw this, they shook their heads and snickered. Qi-breathing was the simplest form of Qi-manipulation. Even most normal mortals could do it to some extent. Practicing so seriously at this time usually meant one thing: you have no talent for cultivating and are wasting your time.

Two hours later, there were about eighty more people lining up behind Yoshie. Finally, the sect's gates opened, and everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the man that exited the gates.

"Come forward one at a time. State your name and age, and then perform three cycles of Qi-breathing."

The old man didn't yell, and yet, everyone heard him clearly. He was using the Wind Whispering technique. You had to reach a minimum of the Qi Flourishing stage to utilize such a technique. And the stronger you become, the further the distance and the greater number of people to whom you can whisper. Supposedly, the Emperor had reached a level where he could whisper to everyone within one kilometer of his throne at once. Wise Man Satoshi once talked about a cook who was working two kilometers away from the castle gate when he received a whisper from the Emperor requesting a popular gourmet dish. He was quite a fearsome figure.

Everyone in the line immediately nodded their head in recognition and respect for the person in front of them. As if satisfied from their acknowledgement, the sect spokesperson closed his eyes.

"Approach."

The first in line nodded his head and approached the spokesperson before bowing his head. He gave his number and age before proceeding to mimic the same Qi-breathing exercise Kenja and his sisters were doing a moment before.

"Enter."

The person smiled and bowed in grat.i.tude before entering the sect's gates.

"Next."

This continued for some time till Kenja was near the front of the line. Kenja remained calm but his sisters behind were becoming nervous. He looked behind him and gave them a rea.s.suring smile. They relaxed and smiled after receiving their brother's intentions.

Not a single person had failed the exercise yet, so the sisters felt more rea.s.sured as they approached the gate. Kenja reached the front of the line waiting for his turn when he heard the command for him to approach.

"Next."