Lin Feng snuck back into the orphanage at dusk, avoiding human company, for the past two years, humans had only caused him pains and sorrows.
Lin Feng paused, hiding in a dark alley somewhere in the orphanage when he saw a small crowd of people. The Matron was there, and Scar was among them too.
"Crap...maybe I should learn a few fight moves too..." Lin Feng had made the old man promise to meet him in the forest every evening. He had to start working on unblocking his spirit vein already, he couldn't give into forbidden arts.
The image of the cultivator bursting into ash was still very clear in his mind, serving at a constant reminder of what forbidden arts could do to it's user.
Feng exhales as he drags his hoodie up, covering his face entirely. He bent his head and started to walk out.
Scar didn't see him, but Grit, the other enforcer was quick to spot him, he immediately tapped the Matron and pointed at Lin Feng.
"Hey, Feng! Get back here!" The Matron shouted.
Lin Feng paused. They couldn't be so sure that it was him, should he run?
"Don't even think of running again, you freak!" Scar shouted.
"Lock the gates!" The Matron yelled again.
"Shit..." Feng muttered.
The small crowd had started to turn around, the small show going on dragging their attention.
Lin Feng slowly turned around, head still bent. He was busted, no need to stress it, he would just take the beating in good spirits.
The Matron walked towards him, she used her hand to raise his face, making him look her in the eye. "Where have you been?"
Feng was taken aback. This wasn't the normal, she was supposed to hit him, slap him, the shameless self-proclaimed enforcers behind her joining in, so what was this?
Lin Feng looked behind her, seeing the crowd of people behind her, he quickly understood what was happening. She couldn't just beat him randomly, she couldn't make herself look bad.
"I fell behind while fetching water."
The Matron's brows furrowed. She clearly didn't buy it and was visibly irritated by the lie, but she had to comport herself.
"Go back to your room." She said, using her head to point towards the orphanage shelter.
Lin Feng suddenly had an urge to push this, to make her reveal her true self, bit he decided against it. There would be plenty of time for that later.
***
The next morning, Scar barged into Lin Feng's room, kicking the door open. "Hey, Rat! Where are you?"
Lin Feng raised a brow, looking a bit surprised. Scar was getting even more daring. "I'm right here" he said, standing behind Scar.
Feng had woken up early to wash up, as he knew they wouldn't allow him to do that. But coming back to his room, he saw Scar walking briskly towards his room, and kicking the door with such ferocity.
Scar turns around, seeing Lin Feng staring at him with a curious expression, his face flushed as he realised how dumb he must have looked, talking to an empty room.
He grabbed Lin Feng by the collar, "Get over here!"
Lin Feng was quiet as he let Scar drag him across the corridor and out into the courtyard, where the Matron was already waiting.
Seeing the Matron and Grit standing, supervising the kids who were working, Lin Feng sighed inwardly. The Matron clearly had a lot of time to be so much interested in his matter, investing her time and efforts in bullying a kid.
The Matron stares at him, there was a clear difference. She was sure he hadn't been feeding adequately, but why did he look so clean...?
She wanted to ask about his whereabouts the previous day, but decided against it.
Instead, she pointed to the heap of rocks there. He already knew what to do.
Lin Feng walked towards them and bent, about to start rolling the stones, they were huge, but he was supposed to be able to handle it.
The Matron looked the other children over, then she started to walk away, however, she stopped, staring at Lin Feng one last time.
He just seemed different these days.
"Scar, watch over him, make sure he doesn't escape again." The Matron spoke before walking away.
Lin Feng furrowed his brows, with Scar watching him, that meant he had to be very careful, he would have to use his left hand so he wouldn't expose himself. He couldn't really control his powers yet.
He had tied his hand with a clean black cloth, completely hiding out the jade tattoo. He should be alright...for now.
Scar was overjoyed to be granted this task, he had always despised Lin Feng.
Lin Feng had been everything he had never been. As a kid, Lin Feng had been very much talented, and even very smart. Everyone had expected him to awaken nothing less than the crimson color, but what...he had no spirit vein?
Scar felt like laughing out loud as he thought about it. But his sides ached a bit and he remembered the push Lin Feng had given him, crashing him into a wall.
Scar's face turned sour immediately. "He dared to..."
Scar suddenly kicked Lin Feng and Lin Feng stumbled forward, he lost control for a moment and the tattoo on his hand glowed, pushing the stone even farther back.
It had only been for a moment, but Scar saw it.
"What's that on your hand?" Scar asked. Before Lin Feng could answer, he grabbed Feng's hand, and quickly started untying the cloth.
He stared at the tattoo, surprise all over his face. "W-what's that?"