Fu Feng

It was the begining of summer, in a classroom of average size, in an average town. The students are getting ready to start class. Kids are looking around for familiar faces, few people know each other from middleschool, some even from elementary school. At this time, a 14 year old boy sat at the back of the class looking bored. The teacher started talking, everyone understood and was paying close attention, except for Fu Feng.

"Fu feng! sit down correctly and raise your head! Class started 5 minutes ago."

Fu feng got up and said, "Teacher, I don't think I'm in the right class. Everybody chuckled and thought it was funny.

"Come here let me see your schedule."

Fu feng walked up to the teacher and handed him the schedule.

"Hmm it looks like you are in the right place."

Fu feng walked back lowering his head.

"Damn, it looks like the school made a mistake. I haven't learned a cultivation technique and can't feel my qi yet, but they put me in intermediate class. What do I do now?"

Fu feng sat down and started feeling nervous. He started thinking about how to fix the situation. If he wasn't in the right place maybe he should say he didn't belong in the class and they made a mistake so he wouldn't waste the time, he thought.

Fu feng made up his mind stood up again and said, "Teacher I don't think I belong in the class. I haven't learned the basics of cultivation and the class is too advanced. The school must have made a mistake."

The teacher looked at Fu Feng with disdain.

"Come with me we need to talk to the principal."

They walked together out of the classroom and towards the offices. The teacher was walking fast, he didnt want to waste his class time. Fu feng was happy the teacher was helping him but was feeling guilt even tho it wasn't his fault. After a few minutes they arrive at the door and went inside. People glanced at them but continued with their work. It wasn't out of the ordinary. They arrived in front of the principal's office and the teacher knocked on the door. The principal opened it and looked at him.

"Mr Jang," the principal nodded.

"Principal Yen," said teacher Jang and nodded. "I have a situation. My student Fu Feng doesn't have the basic requirements for my class."

The principal frowned and started thinking.

Mr Jang looked at the principal and said, "I'll leave him to you, gotta go back to my class."

"Ok, come in Mr. Feng."

The principal walked towards his desk and sat down on his leather chair. "Sit down please." Fu feng sat in front of principal Yen. He looked worried now.

"Give me some time to try to find someone willing to teach you a cultivation technique. You need to talk to your parents and ask them to buy you one. If you aren't able to, come back in 5 days and by then I'll have one. You might get lucky. We want you to attend our school. It would be a shame if you didn't."

"Thank you principal Yen," he felt relieved and bowed to the principal.

"Ok see you soon."

Fu feng walked back to the classroom to go get his things. On the way there he was feeling depressed for not knowing highschool would have those requirements. He blamed himself. He had always felt like he was average, almost poor but he realized now that his parents financial situation wasn't as good as his classmates.

Actually his family came from another country they had moved that year. His father had alot of debt and he needed a better job and better conditions for the family. Fu feng lived all his life in the country Zhao. They were currently living in Shu. The living conditions in Shu were ahead of Shao and the pay was immensly better.

Fu feng arrived at the classroom, went to his chair and gathered his things. Then he bowed to the teacher and left without saying anything.

After walking for a few ours he arrived at his rented living house. The house has two rooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, basement and a small bathroom. It is the basic life for anyone who's not studied cultivation or specialized in school. He opened the door with his spare key and went to look for his mom.

Mei noticed Fu Feng and came to greet him with a worried look on her face.

"Fu Feng why are you back so early? Did something happen?"

"Mom, the highschool requires me to have a cultivation technique and have learned how to sense qi."

"They don't teach that at school here?

No, but dont worry the principal will help me and i think we dont need to buy one. He said my parents should buy one for me do we have money to buy one from the market.

We gotta wait for your dad he's got some savings, don't worry little Feng we'll figure something out even if we have to borrow money or sell something. Im so sorry, i didn't know you needed to learn cultivation in highschool. Foregive me Fu your mom and dad will get you one no problem.

Fu fengs eyes fogged wanting to say something but he hugged her and didn't think about it anymore.

He went to his room and layed down on his bed without changing clothes.

He made up his mind. His dad Jian chen had only been working for two months it's been only four months since they arrived at Shu and settled. My dad probably doesn't have enough he thought. Ill have to do it myself.

"Mom im going out ill be back in the afternoon"

Where are you going little Fu?

Im going to the game center. He lied, actaully he was going to the market.

Ok, be safe.

Two hours later Fu feng arrived at the market people were walking all around him and stores were set up in many different ways. There were tables, Unbrellas, Store rooms, tents, walking vendors, Food carts. It was a colorful crowd with thousands of people walking in and out of stores and in the street.