To Hainan We Go

When I was nine years old, I often sneak inside the restricted section of our family's archives. There were more interesting books in that area and maps of the tombs my ancestors had explored were also found there.

One day, I found a scroll at the bottom of one of the shelves. It looked very old and dusty, like nobody had touched it for a very long time.

I opened the scroll and it became even more interesting because a familiar language was written on it. The written language of my previous life's country, the scroll was written in Rexon Language.

Every day, I would read it.

The scroll was a map. A map of a tomb of someone called 'The Red Dragon Emperor'.

Since I had a great memory and analytic skills, I mastered and remembered the map immediately. I even planned to find the tomb and explore it with Chen and Bai, our closest cousin.

When I finished studying the map, I looked for another document to study. I found an interesting book at the shelf opposite to where I found the map. Its title was 'The Codex of Souls'.

Before I could even read it, fire suddenly engulfed the archives room. I felt something hit my head and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up two days later everyone was frantic and some members of the Zhang family looked at me with worry. A week after that incident, we moved to the Philippines.

It turned out, the restricted section was set on fire and somebody stole some valuable documents. A few scrolls and books also burned during the incident including the map of the tomb of the Red Dragon Emperor.

***

I was pulled out from my own thoughts and was brought back to reality. I averted my gaze from my father's.

"A fire started in the restricted section of our family's archives in our main residence in Xi'an. The map to Emperor Yue's tomb was one of the unfortunate documents that got burned."

Fa Xiao Min's expression turned to despair in an instant. "You're saying… it got burned?"

"Yes." my father answered while both Chen and I nodded.

"Wu Fen," his expression then turned murderous. "It seems like you don't care about your children at all."

"Fa Xiao Min! The elders will hear about this!"

"Who cares about the elders? They can take my status in the triad for all I care!"

Mister Fa suddenly grabbed Chen. He held my brother tight and pointed a gun on his head.

"But in return, your sons and their friends will die."

"""CHEN!!!""" we all yelled.

I met my brother's gaze and saw fear in his eyes. I was his older brother; I was supposed to protect him. Then I also noticed Artemis. She was ready to kill anyone inside the room.

And then… I did something really stupid I knew I would always contemplate whether it was a good idea or not for all my life.

"I know it!" I yelled. All eyes then turned on me. "I've seen it before! I remember it! So please... get your thin fingers off my brother!"

My father's expression couldn't be explained, my brother and my friends' held confusion, while Fa Xiao Min turned to glee.

"Are you telling the truth?" he inquired.

"Yes."

"Lei." my father called. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I can't let him harm them dad, especially not my brother."

We stared at each other for a few seconds, before replying; "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"Me too. And besides, I'm also curious about Emperor Yue's tomb. Why was he called the Red Dragon Emperor anyway? The name doesn't sound even a bit creative."

Father looked at Mister Fa.

"I will make sure you will pay for this Fa Xiao Min. I will start with convincing the elders to strip you of your rank."

"I don't care. After this, I will be the most powerful man in the world. Now Wu fen, I bid you adieu."

"Xiao Min!" my father's voice rose, but he was looking at me. "A Zhang may be able to navigate the tomb, but only a Liu can find his way. Remember that."

Mister Fa scoffed and cut off the video. He turned to me.

"You will show it to me. The map."

A minute later, I was given a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Fa Xiao Min then told me to draw the map of the tomb from memory.

I tried to recall the map and drew it to the best of my ability, and I don't have that ability. After an hour, I finished it and showed it to him, but he gave me a sour look.

"What is this supposed to be?"

"The map." I replied.

"Do not joke with me Zhang! What is this scribble supposed to be, huh?"

"Don't tell me, you can't read a map?" I asked sarcastically.

"Are you insulting me?"

I scoffed at his question, but he suddenly grabbed my collar.

"I will kill you."

It all happened so fast. After he said that, I felt nothing but pain afterwards. The bastard shot me on my right shoulder!

"""LEI!"""

My friends' worried expressions enclosed me while Chen was trying to stop the bleeding. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Artemis was flinging all of Mister Fa's men around and then she threw him on the wall.

"Are you out of your mind?!" she yelled in English.

"K-Kyle, stop her." I said between breaths.

"But-"

"Please. She could kill him." I pleaded.

Even in my painful situation, I saw Kyle walk up to Artemis. He tapped her on the shoulder, but she suddenly threw a punch which he caught with his bare hands.

"If this was six years ago, I would've been hit by that punch." Kyle commented.

"What in heaven's name do you think you're doing?" Artemis asked with gritted teeth.

"Stopping you, obviously." Kyle replied in English and in a very cool manner. "You'll end up killing him."

"He shot Lei! I will kill him!" she sneered. "And what are you afraid of? I'm used to killing people."

"You're no longer an assassin sis! Damn it!" for the first time in the years I knew him, Kyle rose his voice.

Among our group, Kyle was one of the most level headed members. Together with Seven, Leo, Xander and I. With the time we were together as trainees, I had never seen or heard him get really angry.

"You're no longer Sceptre's reaper! You are now Doctor Artemis Hunter!"

I watched Artemis slowly calm down.

'The power of being an older brother, huh?' I thought.

"Now go help Lei."

Everyone went out of the way and I saw Artemis inspect my wound.

"Damn that creepy thin man." she shot said creepy thin man a glare. "I'll have to take out the bullet. Hey Fa Xiao Min!"

Said man only replied with a glare.

"Do you have tools for an instant operation? I need it."

"And why should I lend it to you? You're all useless to me."

"Don't make me-" she showed a fist on him which made him flinch, but he did not yield.

"Fine! I'll do it!" I said out of nowhere.

I was probably being delirious because of blood loss or I was just being plain stupid, but I really said that. Everybody voiced out their opposition, but I held my stance.

"I also want to find Emperor Yue's tomb and know its secrets. The map is in my head, so I'll lead you inside."

Fa Xiao Min's expression turned to glee in an instant.

"But," he turned serious. "You're going to let my friends go."

I heard my friends' protests. Artemis even pinched my wounded shoulder which made me yelp in pain.

"Are you an idiot?" she asked with gritted teeth.

"As far as I'm aware, no I'm not."

"You sure about that?" she grimaced.

Mister Fa suddenly walked into our direction and stopped in front of me. "Okay. I'll let them go, only after we're done. Only once I've taken what I want."

"What?! But-"

"Insurance Xiao Lei I have to make sure you will not double cross me once we're inside the tomb."

I pursed my lips at his response.

"Fine, but you can't hurt them, got that? Or she'll have your head." I pointed to Artemis who was slowly cracking her fingers.

"Sure. Sure." Mister Fa said smugly. "They will have to stay in this hotel, well at least some of them."

I raised an eyebrow at his statement.

"What do you mean?" I inquired.

"Maybe half of your friends can stay at the hotel while the rest… can come with us."

"What?! No! You can't do that! I already agreed to it, didn't I?"

"As I said it's insurance little Zhang. That's the way of the triad and maybe even the mafia too, right? Miss Hunter?"

"It's Doctor Hunter, Mister Fa. Get your titles straight."

"Fine. Now choose Mister Zhang. Choose five of your friends to accompany us."

I gazed at my friends with a look of sorrow and apology.

"I am very sorry guys. This is much better than us being killed." I stated.

"It's okay Lei." replied Seven. "I know you're just trying to protect us. That's why, I volunteer."

"What?! But Seven-"

"I'm the leader of our group. I should take responsibility. And besides, I can fight."

Seven gave me a wink and a knowing smile. Like he was giving me a hint and thankfully, I understood what he meant.

'I should bring the ones who know how to fight, but I probably shouldn't bring everyone. I have to leave someone with the rest.'

I looked at my friends again and said, "I'm really sorry guys."

"It's okay Lei." Leo replied.

"I'm really sorry, especially to Blake, Kyle, Xander and Calvin."

The ones I mentioned gulped but stepped forward anyway. More than half of us in our group actually had some background in martial arts, especially the four I had chosen.

Blake was a black belt in aikido, Kyle had some background in jujitsu, Xander was a gold medalist in taekwondo and Calvin was also a black belt in judo. Seven also used to do judo before switching to swimming then becoming a trainee. The ones I chose to remain who had martial arts background were Chen, Tim, Coby and Leo. Chen trained with me since we were kids, Time had done wushu ever since he was a child, Coby also trained in kendo and karate and lastly, Leo used to practice shadow boxing. Oh right, they had Artemis too. She used to be an assassin with a skill set in fighting.

"But Lei, I want to-"

"Chen, I need you to look after everyone else, okay? Help Leo in managing everyone."

He pouted but agreed anyway. Tim also assured us that he would support Chen and Leo, and if someone considered Tim's personality, I was actually more worried.

When I thought everyone was already okay and everything was already set, Artemis decided to interrupt it and drop a bomb.

"I want to come as well!" she yelled.

"Please… I don't want a ticking time bomb in my team." sneered Fa Xiao Min.

"But Lei needs a doctor." she insisted.

"I already have a doctor in my team. I don't think we'll need another." Fa Xiao Min turned to his secretary. "Jessa bring in Doctor Valdez."

A middle aged man entered the room. He didn't look like Chinese, more like South American. He was short, shorter than me at least, with curly black hair and big brown eyes. His skin was darker than Jessa's with broad shoulders and a sharp jaw.

"This man will be our doctor for the journey."

All of a sudden, Artemis was at Doctor Valdez' side and toppled him to the ground. She punched him in the face, probably with a very strong force, and got knocked out.

"Now, you don't have a doctor." she said.

"Why you-"

"If you still insist in not bringing me along, the entire force of Sceptre will be after you, and I'm not kidding." Artemis glared at our kidnapper. "My father and brothers love me too much, stepmother? Probably not. Anyway, what do you think will happen to you, your family and the Triad if I tell them to attack?"

I could feel that Artemis' words weren't just empty threats. I was already aware of her involvement in the mafia, being an assassin and all, plus she was also Sceptre's heiress. An all-out war between Sceptre and the Chinese Triad could ensue.

"Also, even if you keep bringing doctors or people that give medical assistance, I will keep knocking them out until you allow me to go with you." she smirked. "Take it or leave it Mister Fa."

Fa Xiao Min's expression turned to anger in a second and with gritted teeth he agreed to her proposal.

"Thank you, now let me treat my patient."

***

Blake, Kyle, Seven, Xander, Calvin, Artemis and I were at Gimhae International Airport, located in Daejeo-2-dong of Busan City's Gangseo-gu District. Together with us were Fa Xiao Min, his secretary Jessa and some of his best men. We were waiting for our flight to Hainan to be called.

According to them, Emperor Yue, Liu Qing Fen's tomb was found somewhere in the center of Hainan. Mister Fa said that the entrance was in the middle of the mountains, which was discovered last year. He never really got into more detail and said he would brief us once we were on our way there.

The rest of our friends were stuck in house arrest, or maybe hotel arrest to be more accurate, in Busan City.

'I guess they should try to amuse themselves.'

My train of thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Artemis elbowed me. I was really surprised because she wasn't there a while ago. She said something about heading to the restroom or something.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

"Just wondering what the others are doing right now."

"Hmm… They're probably being a headache to their babysitters." I gave her a confused look. "Well, I mean… Leo will probably be a pseudo-mom while Chen will be the dad and try to coax them into behaving or something like that, and considering their personalities those boys won't listen. Tim and Coby will probably coax Seth into doing something mischievous in any way they can. Dean will probably glare at anyone he sees unless you give him a book and let him stay in a quiet place. And Kai will probably find an open space to practice dancing and afterwards be coaxed by the Tim-Coby-Seth trio to do something fun."

"Wow. You can even tell that?"

"I'm rather good at observing people. It's a given. Maybe I should've been a psychologist…"

"Isn't it because you're an assassin?"

"Used to be," she corrected. "But I don't think it's the reason. I guess I got better when I became one, but being observant is probably something I was born with."

I smiled at her response. No, not just her response.

"Thank you for coming with us. You being here actually feels very reassuring." she only gave me a reassuring smile as her response.

Yeah. I was very glad that she was with us. Truthfully, I was scared witless at the whole situation. Unlike my previous life where we I had superpowers to aid me, I had no special skills in my current life. But being with my friends and being with her made me calm down.

"Hey love birds!" Jessa called which interrupted us. "It's time to board the plane."

"And to Hainan we go." I heard Artemis mumble.