14 The Opening of the Blood Bond (1/2)
”Come,” her master beckoned, leading XieRong to a corner of the large cave.
The Old lady sat XieRong down.
”Do you see the hole in that corner of the wall?”
XieRong nodded, spotting the hole few feet away.
”Good,” Her master said, going near the hole and throwing some berries inside it.
”I want you to feel with your mind if there is a snake inside it or not. If there isn't then go fetch the berries I threw in, if there is, then come tell me, but let me warn you, if there is a snake in that hole and you get bitten by it, then you will have to remain here for another week, so sense for the presence carefully.”
XieRong couldn't let herself get bit, otherwise all her plans would get delayed and she couldn't let that happen. She admitted, it was tempting to remain with her master and forget about the Fa family, but XieRong knew that she would be running away from her problems, letting those people get away with walking all over her.
She had promised her mother she would be happy, and the only way she would truly be happy was to get justice for her mother, her sister and herself.
”But how will I know whether what I'm sensing is a snake? And how will I know what I'm sensing is a presence?”
”You will know eventually.”
XieRong started to concentrate trying to feel any presence in the hole. She tried for half a Shi Chen but saw and felt nothing. She couldn't be sure as to whether it was because she was unsuccessful or whether because there was actually nothing in the hole.
Then, XieRong had an idea.
She got up and went to sit near the entrance of the cave.
She closed her eyes and concentrated. She roughly thought of where FeiHong was laying down and felt to see if she sensed anything there.
For another half a Shi Chen she sensed nothing, then she slowly started to.
XieRong opened her eyes and tried the feeling Hui Nuo, Hui Zhen's and her master's presences as well.
She was somehow able to differentiate and recognise each one because of the big glowing spot in their abdomens.
When XieRong was completely sure that what she felt was indeed their presences, she tried again on the hole.
She did feel something, but it wasn't the presence of a snake. It had the shape of a rodent.
After another Shi Chen had passed she went and told her findings to master.
”Master's berries are long gone. The rodent ate them.”
”Well done. Now tell me what exactly do you mean by a 'presence'.”
”To feel a person's dantian.”
”Yes,” her master explained,”every humans dantian is its unique identity just like how every other creatures core is its unique identity.”
XieRong nodded her head in understanding.
”Master, now that I can sense presences, how do I open the blood bond?”
”It is just the hour of the sheep (13.00 – 15.00), you impatient child. Opening the blood bond isn't hard once you've mastered feeling presences. Now, if you can, try and expand your range to the entire forest and tell me where the intruders are.”
”Master, if I'm able to find them this way, then why haven't they found us?”
”Because I'm able to hide my presence and because of the barrier I've set up around the cave. Anybody outside the barrier won't be able to sense us. Now search for the intruders until I teach FeiHong about feeling presence. Then I'll teach you and FeiHong how to hide your presence.”
XieRong once again went to the entrance and sat down. She first focused on FeiHong, then she slowly expanded her range to the cave and then to the forest nearby. XieRong felt the strain on her mind as she tried to expand her senses to the Shen Mountain range. She'd only made it half way there when she began sweat profusely.