The Chen Family

***LEI***

**Flashback**

Liu Fen rushed inside the room with a panicked look on his face.

"We have to hurry. I just remembered something."

"What is it?"

"I just remembered that if the trapped souls does not come back to their bodies by the time the full moon is at its peak, they'll really lose their life!"

***

I kept thinking about Liu Fen's words as we made our way to Changsha. It was my entire fault. Actually, all the trouble we had been involved with was because of me.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Seven asked as he approached me. He was visiting me in my hotel room which I was sharing with Chen.

"Hyung." I called. "This is all my fault."

"Huh? How is this your fault?" he asked.

"Two years ago, that incident with Fa Xiao Min and now this. I-"

"Don't say that." he replied. "If there's one thing I do believe, even if we don't do anything, fate already sets its own course. What's bound to happen will happen. Maybe… Just maybe, we're fated to go through this."

"I can't believe how calm you are with all this." I said.

"Between dealing with you all as your leader? And the fact that we have superpowers? This is a walk in the park." he grinned.

His statement made me laugh because it made total sense, in an usual kind of way.

Our group had a variety of personalities; to the easily angered bunch, to the cool-headed ones, even the troublemakers and the noisy ones were a lot to count. Sometimes, it even mashes up into one.

"Although it happens during our vacations." he inserted. "Let's never have long vacations after this. I think we're cursed if we take long breaks."

My thoughts shifted to the rest of my friends. Liu Fen and Bai stayed behind to look after Dean and Tim back in Zhang Manor. Artemis, Kyle, Blake, Seth, Kai and Xander went to the Philippines to deal with the auction. Meanwhile, the rest of us headed to Changsha to deal with the Chen Family, which luckily happened to be Leo's family.

"I'm from a branch family though, plus I'm only half-Chinese. I don't think I can help you much." was his answer when we presented him the idea. "And besides, I had stopped communicating with them ever since I started living in South Korea."

According to what we found, the Chen Family was a prominent family in Changsha way back in ancient times. Liu Fen also mentioned that their ancestors used to be a family of scholars and court officials way back in the Western Han Dynasty.

'How come every time we get into trouble, it seems to always have something to do with that era.' I thought. 'Why?'

"Why would Shadow Garden protect them?" I asked Liu Fen just before we left.

"Because Lee Hyun wasn't a Han. He was an exiled prince of the Gojoseon Era Royal Family. When Qing-ge and Riya-jie took him in, the Chen Family adopted him so he can be considered a Han. Well, he could pass off as one and he needed a background story, so that's what happened."

"And Hauria entrusted Shadow Garden and the other half of the Codex of Soul to him?"

"Yes. He's a trustworthy kid. We first met him when he was eight. His Han name was Chen Qi. 'Qi' as in the number seven. But he reverted back to Lee Hyun when he took over Shadow Garden."

"Lucky kid."

"Anyway, in addition to the Liu's, the Chen's were also regarded as important to him. So I suppose they are protected even until now."

"How will we find Shadow Garden there? They're a secret organization right?"

"Hmm… I'm not sure. Figure it out yourselves." he said then left me alone.

I just shook my head as I remembered his words.

We gathered in mine and Chen's room. For the duration of the mission, there was only minimal communication with the others, so only the six of us would be the ones to come up with a plan.

"So… now what?" asked my younger brother who was playing on his phone. "Ah don't worry. I am listening."

"Leo, any ideas?" I asked.

"Well, the Chen's are sociable people. They are businessmen after all, but, I've never noticed or heard about Shadow Garden while living with them." he answered. "So you're asking a very hard question. And even if they did protect the Chen Family in the shadows, I don't think they would be very obvious at doing it."

"So, what should we do then?" asked Calvin. "How do we find them?"

"How about we try drawing them out?" suggested Coby.

'Draw them out?' I thought. I gave Coby a glance but he just gave me a grin in return. 'Now that I think about it, we separated him and Blake. The two spell trouble together.'

"That's a good idea." voiced out Seven.

"What do you mean 'it's a good idea'?" I asked skeptically. "You're agreeing with him?"

"I mean, guys… We're looking for Shadow Garden and our only clue is the Chen Family in Changsha. We could go ask the Liu's but I'm pretty sure they haven't heard of Calvin before so our best bet is the Chen's. So… If Shadow Garden 'is' protecting the Chen Family, why not cause trouble to draw them out?" Coby explained.

"And… you're not joking. Seriously?" I questioned.

"Yep!" he answered, popping the 'p' at the end, and grinned.

"Seven-hyung!" I called our leader who was actually writing what Coby just said in his small notebook. But he looked at me…

"Well Lei, it's not like we have any other choice at the moment. And besides, we have a time limit. Drawing them out is our best course of action." he said and continued writing on his notebook.

"And how do we do that exactly?" asked Calvin.

Coby leaned closer and motioned for us to lean towards him as well. "So, here's the plan…"

***

We successfully entered the Chen manor when they recognized Leo who was with us. His Chinese full name was Chen Rong Yi, and his English name was Leo Chen.

Just like my home, the Chen manor was big and very traditional, with a spacious courtyard and traditional Chinese structuress. I noticed that some of the people inside whom we passed by, were giving us weird looks, especially towards Leo.

A middle-aged man, who seemed to be some sort of butler in the manor, greeted us when we reached the front hall.

"Hello Sir Rong Yi. You have finally decided to visit us?" he asked. "What can I do for you then?"

"Where are my father and First Uncle?" Leo asked in return.

"Oh, they're in Shanghai for a business trip. I'm afraid you cannot see them at the moment."

"When will they be back then?"

"I am not sure myself."

As they had their conversation, I noticed that the butler was answering Leo in a mocking way. I thought that maybe it had something to do with Leo's relationship with his family.

"Very well. How about my grandmother? Is she around?" Leo inquired.

"The old mistress should be at the pavilion."

"We will see her then."

"Will you and your friends be staying over for dinner, Sir Rong Yi?"

"No need. I don't want another poisoning incident." Leo stated and left.

We all followed him in a hurry as he went inside the manor. I was worried about what happened, so I approached him immediately.

"So that's what you meant. Now I know why you don't talk about them often." I said. Guardians' second oldest member just nodded. "Wait, what's up with the 'poisoning incident'?"

"That. It was years ago, you don't have to worry. Come on, I'd like you to meet my grandmother."

We headed deeper inside the manor and a few minutes later, we ended up in an open-pavilion that was surrounded by a pond. In the center of the pavilion was a table where an elderly woman sat. She was drinking tea, and was admiring the pond and water lily flowers that littered it.

"Grandma!" Leo called.

The elderly woman turned around and I could see the delight on her face as her gaze landed on her grandson.

"Xiao Yi'er!" she called out happily and hugged Leo.

We watched as the two happily talked with each other. Although, it was getting a little awkward the longer it took since the rest of us just stood at the sides without saying or doing anything.

"Uhm, Leo-ge?" called Chen, interrupting the reunion of the grandmother-grandson duo.

"Right." Leo said when he remembered our existence. "Grandma, these are my friends; Seven, Lei, Calvin, Coby and Chen."

"I've seen and listened to your songs. I can recognize them." she smiled at us, but then she pointed at Chen. "Although, this young man is unfamiliar."

"Ah, he's not part of our group. He's Lei's younger brother." Leo explained.

"Oh, I see." she greeted us. "Thank you for looking after my grandson."

"He's a good friend, ma'am and he also looks after us." answered Seven.

"You can call me grandma as well."

I froze at her statement. 'Grandma, huh.'