Awakaned

'It burns, It burns so much,'

Lin Fan felt as if his body was about to melt, his throat was dry enough to make him unable to scream.

'What is happening to me!'.

All that he could remember was that finally in his non-ending dream, he had finally clasped that floating flame tightly in his hand, and all he recalls after that....is intense pain.

Lin Fan could be seen curled up on his bed, drowning in his own sweat.

he even had thoughts of suicide, the pain was unbearable.

If anyone was to witness Lin Fan currently, they would undoubtedly be scarred witless.

his skin was scarlet red, his fastened breath had a fiery air to it, even his pillow was showing signs of being burnt.

Finally, after a while, Lin Fan's breathing pace started returning to normal, and his skin regained it's normal pale white color.

even though the pain had subdued , his body felt incredibly heavy and additionally, he felt a slight itchiness on his back.

he couldn't help but journey into a deep sleep after this pain.

a few hours later.

"Lin Fan!"

"Hmm"

"Lin Fan! wake up!"

Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes to see his mother looking at him weirdly,

"What is it mum?"

"Say, are you taking the day off?"

"What day of-, Oh my god, what time is it!"

"It's already 12:30,"

As soon as Lin Fan heard this sentence, he jumped out of his bed scrambling for clothes,

"I am late for work!"

"Just calm down,"

"How can I calm down, surely the boss would be mad,"

As Lin Fan took off his shirt, Jasmine was shocked.

Looking at his back, she saw an exquisitely drawn tattoo, It was a tattoo of a flame, It was bewitching, domineering and real enough that If you focused on it, you can feel it flickering.

"Lin Fan.....where did you get this beautiful tattoo from? It looks incredibly expensive,"

"Tattoo? what tattoo?"

"What do you mean what tattoo, the one on your back of course,"

Even though Lin Fan was perplexed he still went to check out his back in the mirror.

"I don't know what you're talking ab-....Jesus Christ, what is this?!"

"Huh, what do you mean 'what is this'? don't tell me you sleep walked to a tattoo artist now did you,"

'Oh my god, Isn't this the flame from my dream, why is it on my back?,'

'I would be an idiot if I didn't figure this had something to do with that guy called Shi Song,'

'I need to think this through, but first, I need to bullsh*t my way through with mum'

"Uhm, remember three days ago when I went out with Chaun Wang?"

"Yes?"

"Well that day, he introduced me to one of his friends, turns out he is a tattoo artist, he offered to draw me one for free,"

"Oh, how generous of him, not only that, but he is also really skilled, I don't remember seeing a tattoo this realistic before,"

"Yeah, I was surprised as well,"

"Mum, I need to go now, If I am late any further, I don't know what the boss might do,"

"Mhm, take care of yourself," nodded Jasmine in understanding.

----------------------------------------------

At work.

Old Wang looked at Lin Fan with slight anger in his eyes.

"It's only your third day here and you already starting to be late,"

"Sorry boss, I was quite ill yesterday and tired that I didn't wake up when the alarm rang, "

"Whatever, just don't do it again, and If you are ill, call me the night before tell me you aren't coming,"

"Alright boss, I will,"

"Now go do your job,"

A bit later after starting work, Lin Fan saw a face that drained blood from his face, he saw him walking over to the stall.

"Boss, do you have a moment?"

"Yes?"

Lin Fan dragged old Wang into the bathroom.

"Aurgh, kid, what's with you?! listen, I am straight, I am not into these type of things,"

"Boss, what are you thinking!"

"Then explain why would you suddenly drag an old man to the bathroom,"

"There is someone outside that I have some beef with, if he sees me, I am dead" said Lin Fan with a hushed voice.

"So you are basically running away like a little girl,"

"Listen Boss, I am still too young to die,"

"Why so serious, I can help you if you want,"

'....You better enjoy what's left for you in life,' thought Lin Fan

"Why so quiet anyway, he won't be able to hear us in here,"

'He is a cultivator okay! he might have superhuman hearing or something'

"It's better to be careful than to regret it later,"

"Fine, I will go, I have costumers to serve, you can st-"

Suddenly old Wang stopped talking,

"What's wrong boss?" Lin Fan asked in puzzlement, he can see looks of shock and fear in old Wang's eyes.

he saw him lift his shaking hand and pointed behind Lin Fan.

Lin Fan looked behind him and saw a face looking at him with a creepy smile that sent chills down his spine, he felt his legs turn into noodles

"Yes Kid, It's not like I can hear you from outside,"

"..."