Terms and Information for Chapter 1

　　Tai-yi: Is a medicinal healer that only served the royalty.

　　Regent - A person who is appointed to act as a head of state (ruling or not) because the rightful ruler is a minor, not present or debilitated. The Regent exists in this story because the current crown prince is not of age.

　　Ming Dynasty           1368-1644 A.D.

　　The Ming Dynasty was a great productive era; China was in a very stable economy. Armies and navies were well established, allowing China to venture out into the world to explore and liaison trade with the Europeans.

　　Tang Dynasty            618-907 A.D.

　　The Tang Dynasty was the most prosperous era for the Ancient Chinese empire; flouris.h.i.+ng culture in the form of Arts. It was a period of progress and stability.

　　Reincarnation

　　In Chinese belief, once a ‘normal’ person pa.s.ses away their soul goes towards the heavens and waits in line to have its memory erased. Some will be destined for reincarnation, but some, accordingly to their sins during their lifetime will be sent to h.e.l.l for punishment. It is believed, that the most purist beings such as priests and heroes would be offered a place in the heavens. Chinese emperors are believed to be G.o.dly beings which will rise to the sky upon death and reclaim their place in the heavens.

　　Sacrificial Death Burials in China it was customary to bury servants, concubines and empress when an emperor or king becomes deceased. In belief, that they shall serve him when his highness reaches the “place of heavenly” beings. Usually, they were hung and buried, or even buried alive. However, this tradition dissolved around the third century B.C. 

　　Feng Yu Jiu Tian

　　Chapter One.

　　Feng-ming died.

　　He never expected that his life would be so short.

　　Usually at 19 years old, one would prospect at building a life rather than having it end so prematurely. However, in his case he was fated to see a truck hurtling towards a small boy who crossed the road whilst completely oblivious to the incoming danger.

　　Without hesitation Feng-ming secured the child in his embrace.

　　The force of the truck’s impact immediately sent him up in the air, like an angel falling from grace. As the moment of his surreal air suspension pa.s.sed, all he could hear was the noise of pa.s.ser-bys running towards the pair.

　　At that moment, he knew he was dead.

　　Where do dead people go?

　　Once Feng-ming was separated from his physical body, he reached a void, a completely empty s.p.a.ce between the living and the dead world. 

　　No-one could see or hear him scream. It was like he was trapped in a cold detached nightmare.

　　Alone and isolated, he’s morale dropped to the point of despair, but suddenly, his ears perked at what he thought was a noise.

　　“You should still be here? Am I right?” The voice was unfamiliar, Feng-ming couldn’t a.s.sociate it with anyone he might have known when he was alive, but this voice was clearly addressing him.

　　“Me?” Feng-ming answered a bit frightened. “Are you talking to me? Who are you? Are you G.o.d? Or are you also a ghost?”

　　The voice chuckled: “No, I’m not G.o.d nor am I a ghost. I’m standing at the door of the void.”

　　Feng-ming’s wisped his head around to check; out towards the far distance of his emptiness, he spotted a middle-aged man and in that man’s arms was the young boy he had risked his life to save.

　　The mysterious man’s mouth ever so slightly, “I’m actually a

　　Sorcerer, I possess supernatural abilities. To repay your kindness of saving my child’s life, I can help you gain a life again.”

　　“Are you for real?” Feng-ming was genuinely surprised.