Chapter One

THE PENDANT

I had always been a peculiar child to the eyes of the people around me and even to myself. As a child, I preferred reading books in my family’s huge library than to play outside under the heat of the sun with other children my age.

I was one of those children branded as weird and troublesome at school.

All of those were probably because I remembered my past life. Perfect details of it, even my death.

It was a life where I had the power to heal, a life where I had friends and comrades whom I fight with side by side. It was a life where I found the love of my life that I sacrificed myself just to protect.

I didn’t regret sacrificing my life though. Especially when I gave it up for the people I love. What I regretted was not being able to fulfil my promise to the girl I loved.

I never told anyone about it, because I knew nobody would believe me and people would think I was crazy. I grew up hiding it and I got used to it. I missed my powers though.

My current life wasn’t bad. Or so I thought.

When I was seven, my twin brother, Chen, and I were told of our ancestry and our family’s underground job, quite literally.

My family – the Zhang Family – was a family of grave-robbers since ancient times. We were basically thieves, except we steal from tombs and graves. That family business served as our foundation and gave us what we enjoy in the present.

At first, I thought it was pretty cool and did everything my father asked me to, to be a great grave-robber just like him and our ancestors. It was a great experience.

I was taught how to dodge and create traps, identify antiques and artefacts, read and understand different languages both modern and ancient, etc. I was even taught how to fight, but as I grew up, I realized it was wrong.

‘Stealing from a dead man’s grave is just so wrong.’ was what I realized.

Back in my past life, the ancestor that established our family also descended from grave-robbers, but the great house of the Archduke Zhang flourished not by those means, but by becoming a loyal subject to the emperor of our country. We were a family of generals and healers back then.

I immediately stopped my training. I was fifteen that time. I spent my time and attention on other things; studies for one, as well as music.

I began to teach myself how to play various musical instruments, as well as how to dance and sing. I worked hard, harder and harder to divert my attention from our family business, but everything I learned from way back then became a habit and I couldn’t help myself.

There was this one time, when I was sixteen, I found myself in front of an antique store. It was located in the middle of a pharmacy and a general merchandise store. The area was in a busy street and people pass all the time, but nobody seemed to mind the old antique store.

It had the name of Xiao Fen’s Antique Store in cursive golden letters. The store lived up to its name as an antique store. It looked old and rundown. Its windows and sill were caked with dust and the plants in front seemed to be the only clue that somebody was taking care of the place. Feeling the pull in my gut, I went inside.

As I was looking around, an old man suddenly approached me.

“Are you perhaps interested in antiques young man?” he asked.

I guessed he was the owner. He had thinning grey hair, but he was still standing firmly and his wrinkly face was still full of vigor. He was lean, not thin and he had the characteristics of a Chinese, small eyes and milky white skin.

“Err… not really. I was just marvelling at your collection.” I answered. “I should probably go, have a nice day.”

I bowed and was about to leave, but he stopped me.

“I see a complicated past behind you and a difficult future ahead.”

“Pardon?”

“Why don’t you take this?”

He suddenly took the white-jade pendant I noticed a while ago. He slipped it on a silver chain and gave it to me.

“Uh, I don’t think I deserve such a thing.” I said and tried to give him back the pendant.

“No. No. This piece of antique has been here for quite some time, and I think it finally found its owner.” I stared at him with a confused look. “This pendant was created in the early days of the Han Dynasty era, the old one. It is believed to belong to Emperor Yue, Liu Qing, himself. Legend says he gave it to his brother, Liu Fen when he died and somehow found its way here.”

I began inspecting the pendant. My father had taught me that all antiques and artefacts have a distinct feature which could determine the era it belonged to.

‘Well generally emperors were symbolized by dragons, but the phoenix was also Emperor Yue’s symbol later on his reign. The phoenix in this pendant is also carrying a scroll which means this is the phoenix of wisdom, his other symbol, which came to be two years before his death.’ I thought.

I traced the jewellery with my hand.

‘Jewelleries from the Western Han Dynasty are usually smooth, thin and sharp at the edges, and a bit rough in the center. This one is definitely from that era.'

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“I guess you’re right, grandpa.” I said.

“Oh? You can tell?” he asked sceptically.

I then launched to an explanation of how I was interested in history and artefacts, but before I finished, I stopped myself and shied away.

The old man laughed heartily. “I see you know a lot about antiques then.”

“I just happened to study them.”

“Is that so? Then you must definitely have the pendant.”

“But, I don’t think I deserve such an important thing.”

“Nonsense. I already said a while ago, didn’t I? That pendant finally found its owner. So it’s yours.” he gave me a warm smile.

For a moment, I was amazed by his white even teeth. ‘How can a grandpa have such teeth?’ I thought. But I immediately brushed it aside since it was inappropriate.

“It is believed,” he continued. “That that pendant brings good luck to its owner. Why don’t you give it a try?”

I eyed the pendant. I felt really guilty receiving such a thing. I was clumsy and careless (unlike the me in my past life), I might lose it.

“Just always wear it and never take it off, it shouldn’t go anywhere.” he suddenly said, as if he read my thoughts. “I didn’t, I can see it in your face.”

“Oh. Really?” he nodded. “Fine, I’ll accept it, but if I lose it, you can’t blame me.”

“Of course. Although remember, even luck has its consequences.”

“Everything has consequences. Even I know that much.”

He stared at me for quite some time, and then said; “You’re unlike children your age who only care about having fun and doing what they want without second thoughts or worrying what the consequences would be.”

“Sometimes, but I know enough.” I gave him a knowing smile.

“Is that so. By the way, I see you’re carrying a guitar. Do you like music?”

“Very much. And dancing and singing.”

“Hmm… Tell you what, why don’t you give the pendant a try by taking part in an audition in three days?”

“What audition?” I asked eagerly.

“An entertainment company from South Korea is holding an audition at the covered court in the business district. Why don’t you go and give it a try?”

“An entertainment company from South Korea?” I could imagine my eyes sparkling when I said this.

“Yes. If you pass, then you’ll become a trainee and if you do well, you might become a famous celebrity.”

“I don’t care about being a celebrity or being famous, what I want is to change the future set by my family for me.”

After my talk with the old man, who later introduced himself as Xue Fe Yin, I immediately went home and practiced.

The next day, during breakfast, my younger twin brother asked me;

“Lei, you were practicing last night, are you performing on the music festival at school next week?”

Chen and I were the only ones having breakfast that morning. Our father was out on a business trip and our mother was already gone. She died ten years ago because of cancer.

“Even better, I’m auditioning for MM Entertainment in two days.” I answered proudly.

Chen and I were what you’d call fraternal twins.  We were born in the same day, had the same mom and dad (err… let’s talk about this one later), but we do not look alike at all.

Chen had light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes which he inherited from our mother. He also had olive white skin, pointy nose, a small forehead and thin lips which he got from our father.

I on the other hand, had black hair, hazel eyes and a pale skin, which I was told was a trait from mom’s side, my grandfather’s to be exact. Like Chen, I inherited my father’s pointy nose, small forehead and thin lips.

Both of us were tall, smart and a bit more mature than our age, I was more mature of course, being mentally older.

Chen was my only brother, and he was younger too. He would remind me of my past life’s younger brother at times, especially when he was being childish.

“MM Entertainment? That company from South Korea?” he asked, wide-eyed.

“Yep. Wait, your favourite girl group is from MM Entertainment right?” I asked in a teasing manner. “If I get accepted, I could introduce you to them later.”

“Shut up and stop dreaming. If father hears you, he won’t let you go there.”

It made me stop.

‘I forgot about dad!’

My father, Wu Fen Zhang, wanted me to focus on my training and inherit the family business, both legally and not, in which I had never dreamt of nor wish to.

“I don’t care. I will go to the audition, and no one’s going to stop me.”

On the day of the audition, I was about to leave the house when bodyguards stopped me at our doorstep.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I questioned.

“We were ordered to keep you inside the house, first young master.” answered one of them.

“On whose orders?”

“Your father’s.”

My mind immediately drifted to Chen. He was the only person I told about the audition.

“What the hell’s your problem? Why did you do that?” I shoved my younger brother by the shoulders.

“What is wrong with you? What did you say I did?” he asked with a very confused look.

“You told father about the audition!” I answered angrily.

“What? No I didn’t!” I gave him a look of disbelief. “I’m telling the truth! I neither told dad nor anyone for that matter! I swear!”

“Chen Zhang!”

“I’m telling the truth!”

“That is enough! Both of you!” a new voice interrupted.

Our grandmother, Rin Yue Zhang, entered the room we were in. Grandmother had greying hair and wrinkled skin, but she held a regal posture and the aura of the leader.

If my father was only a bit strict, my grandmother was way worse.

“I was the one who told your father.” She announced.

“What?! Grandmother!”

“Lei Zhang! You are the successor of the Zhang Family! The Zhang Clan! I will not have you tarnish our name by becoming an inferior person such as a celebrity!”

I was speechless. How could she say such a thing?

“Becoming a celebrity is neither shameful nor inferior grandmother.” I said in a controlled tone. “And you can’t stop me.”

I was about to walk away, but I was stopped once again.

“Is that your final decision?” she asked.

“In the past, the only decision I made for my sake was choosing Artemis and dying for her, the majority were for the sake citizens of the empire. In this life, I will make my own decisions, for myself.”

The room was silent for a moment.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Chen asked.

“None of your concern.” I faced my grandmother. “I will go to that audition and pursue my dreams.”

“Lei!” she called. “Once you step out of those gates, I will consider it as you turning back from the Zhang Clan and that you are no longer part of this family. You are no longer the family’s future head and you will get no support from us.”

I looked at her in the eyes.

“Then so be it. I’d rather be a stranger who pursues his own dreams, than to be a thief that raids dead people’s graves.”

I started walking away.

“Lei!” Chen called, but he was interrupted by our grandmother.

“Let him be. It’s his foolish decision. From now on, you are the successor of your father.”

“But-“

I didn’t hear the rest of their conversation. I ran out of the manor and headed to the covered court.

There were many people who wanted to join the audition. I sat in a corner and just stared at nothing.

‘Was my decision too hasty? What if I don’t succeed? I’ll be a beggar in the streets! Will I even be deported?’ such thoughts were running in my mind.

At first, I thought I was hallucinating, but I swore I saw the jade pendant glint even with the absence of light. I just didn’t mind it and started thinking about my performance.

I didn’t know which god heard my prayers, but I passed the audition. For the second time, I saw the pendant glint and I became sure that the pendant was indeed lucky.

***end***