Tang Jun.
These two words were engraved upon the jade necklace he wore, meticulously carved with care with perfect attention to detail. This was the same, cold stone he had felt when he had first woken up, clearly something valuable and significant, but how? Tang Jun had been extremely surprised when he first realized it, (why was his name there damn it!) but he didn't know what to make of it. Was it there on some amused god's whim? Or was it a remanent of the voice, a last parting gift?
Who knows? He had nothing to base any answers upon!
It was been a year since Tang Jun started training in The Mysterious Heaven Technique, and the effects of it have already shown. His Spirit Energy reserves have massively increased in size, and the energy drawn from his Dantian felt like tree trunks compared to his first attempt! He overall felt considerably stronger and healthier (though it may just be attributed to growing up). Tang Jun was very satisfied with his current progress, and though he was still far from reaching first stage completion of The Mysterious Heaven Technique, he would certainly attain it within 3-4 years!
As of now, he reached the grand age of one year old, and now free from the hell that was the crib and the humiliation he suffered there. But as he moved out of there and into small beds in dormitories, Tang Jun realized something else. The cribs in the room, the adults moving around, the clustered infants there - It all made sense now, and he should have seen this coming.
He was in an orphanage.
Tang Jun inwardly sighed, knowing that some deep part of him lamented to experience the true feeling of having parents. He was rather disappointed with this, not to the point of tears, but not where it was ignorable. But perhaps it is actually a blessing in disguise; fewer people to pay attention to him and anonymity, especially at this vulnerable stage, was key.
Another revelation at this point was something he would have never, ever seen as a problem; walking. Walking was a lot harder than he had originally thought. A lot, god damn harder. He had thought it came naturally to toddlers, or maybe they just could do it by some strange witchcraft.
Nope.
It felt like trying to stand on sticks of butter, both being obnoxiously hard and brutally painful when hitting the ground. Even with The Mysterious Heaven Techniques strengthening of his muscles, the process was still incredibly hard, and even standing up is a challenge. Tan Jun's most effective mode of transport was, most unfortunately, crawling, however humiliating it may be, but hopefully replaced as soon as he perfected walking! Thank the heavens the beds were so very low and easy to climb onto; he had enough of these damned adults!
Adults aside, the orphanage was not a pleasant place to be. Though the environment outside was indeed very pretty, inside it was unfurnished, dark and empty. Things were collapsing, breaking down, while he realized the rooms were very cramped (15 infants and cribs in one room!) and badly maintained. Clearly, it was not very well sustained, while its budget and sustenance got lower and lower. The dormitories were also subject to the cramping within the facility. It was 10 children to a room, each given the bare minimum; a single, creaking bed, miscellaneous utilities, and some clothes.
The place was indeed heavily depressing. Tang Jun was already grateful that his necklace was not taken from him, and he made a great effort to hide it. Whatever it may be, he would rather have it than not. The food here... he would rather not comment about it (*vomit sounds*). There was nothing he could, right now deal with his situation. Tang Jun was locked here until he was fully mobile and reached a high enough level of power. He had already started planning his escape from here, but it heavily relied on him being able to awaken his Spirit at age 6 and get to Level 10 as fast as possible.
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He could only wait.
-
Tang Jun weaved his Spirit Energy through his Meridians, rapidly cycling through then - hopping through each and every single one.
Pop! Pop!
He heard the sounds of his Meridians expanding, widening - the sound of achievement! Although it seemed hectic, it was only on the inside. On the outside, you could only see a calm, young child mediating on his bed - His eyes intensely shut and his luscious sapphire hair soaked with sweat. This was Tang Jun, now two years old!
Pop! Pop!
He passed through more Meridians, as he began the last series of Meridians he had yet to pass through. After half an hour of strenuous training, he had finished and collapsed onto his back, huffing and puffing.
"Ahh!" He moaned in relief as he fell back. "Hours of training really gets you, huh?"
Tang Jun relaxed in his bed, giving himself around a minute of rest, then sprung up. He opened his eyes, revealing two mesmerizing, brilliant eyes, golden like Yellow Sapphires! Anyone who looks at them could be trapped within; they were simply just amazing! When he had first seen his current reflection, he too was stunned.
Compared to his previous younger self, who had dark blue hair and coal black eyes, this body was very different. In terms of physical attractiveness and potential strength, his body was far superior in both! This fundamental difference in body worried him, however, because he didn't know what Spirit he would have during his awakening. If he had the same features as his previous younger self, then he would likely also be the same body, and so have the same Spirit - the Clear Sky Hammer! Tang Jun was worried that he might get a useless Spirit, and so severely mess up his future plans! But one's Spirit mostly came down to luck, and there was nothing he could do to change it. His prospects could only be changed by hard work and dedication.
Tang Jun looked around the room. There was no one there, all the beds empty, no one seeing him practice - the children were playing outside in the afternoon heat. He (and the other children), after countless arduous practicing, had finally nailed walking! Tang Jun felt so incredibly thirsty after the session, and so went for some desperate water. He went to the door, and while barely reaching the handle, twisted it and opened it. He carefully closed the door behind him and went down the narrow corridor that split the girls from the boys. Tang Jun walked steadily upon the creaky wooden floor and turned left in the middle, which leads to the kitchen and outside field. He walked down into the kitchen and saw a middle-aged woman, sporting a brown apron, cleaning.
Tang Jun gave a small, slightly forced smile, a smile that a child would have, and asked.
"Miss? Can I have some water?"
The woman turned around, seeing him and broadly smiled. The lady was a kind and loving one and so was also loved by many in the orphanage.
"Of course dear!" She sweetly replied. The lady dropped whatever she was doing, then grabbed a glass and filled it with water. She gave it Tang Jun, then smiled again at him.Tang Jun greedily drank it all, quickly satisfying his thirst.
"After you're finished darling, you can go play outside." She said affectionately to him, then went back to work. Tang Jun greedily drank it all, quickly satisfying his thirst and let out a delighted groan.
Tang Jun then walked out of the kitchen, leading outside into the field. The field was an exceptionally beautiful view - the grass swaying in the gentle breeze, the sun giving off its warm light, and flowers blooming in all its graceful beauty in total contrast to the gloomy interior. The older children were playing something - a couple of them running around, a few picking flowers, and the younger ones just sitting there, watching. He watched on, too. It was a genuinely pleasing sight, the children laughing, the gentle breeze lofting, and Tang Jun gave a real smile in response.
"Peaceful times, huh..." The old Tang Jun had spent his last days embroiled in warfare against the Sun-Moon continent, and this change of tone was greatly comforting to his previously tense mind. He continued to watch and they continued to play until the sun finally set, the world shrouded in darkness once more.