Chains and chances...
Zhao's life have always been a bittersweet one, at the age of five she lost her dad, he was a worker who helped hu bein in buying things he needed, her father was called pan jun. He was a tall man, who married the most pretty woman in hu. Pan jun and his wife had always been poor, no matter how much he work. This is because pan jun father borrowed money from the hu palace to help him start up a business and help his son jun, however he was robbed and killed before he could get home, since then pan jun and his family have been paying the money, even at an early age, he had to cut through rock to feed himself and his mother but yet it's a duty to pay the hu palace everyday. When he asked how much his father owed the palace Mr hu would rather chase him out than give him a response. Pan jun had to do something he didn't want his generation to keep paying for the rest of their lives. When Mr hu died, his son bein took over,hu bein was not different from his father, although along the line he and pan jun became friends and had him work in the palace, but pan jun still had to pay. He worked double. Pan jun had always had this scare, he was scared because his mother had magic this was something forbidden in most clans only a few clan allows magic but they were far away and he couldn't afford to go there. Hu clan was one of the clans that hated magic. The first time pan jun knew about his mother's magic was when he was sick and she healed him because she couldn't afford to get drugs.
Ma, I don't want to have magic when I grow up. Pan jun said when he finally opened his eyes
Magic is not something we choose, it choose us. She told him
It was almost two decades and pan jun could still remember those words. His mother was his strength.
Indeed she was right, magic did choose pan jun.
Hu Bien and pan jun were Soo close hu bein would take him everywhere but despite the closeness pan jun still had to pay. Pan jun mother has always been against the friendship, she was scared that her son's meekness can be used against him and that the hu were not to be trusted, that they're heartless. Pan jun often defended hu bein that he's a good person and treats him well and that if he could,he would have helped them revoke the payment.
Hu bein has one of the best martial arts in all the clan and offered to teach pan jun but pan jun had greatly refused because he was scared his magic might come out and won't be saved. On Their way back from hunting they saw a young lady with the most beautiful face and smile. Her face was thin but her eyes beautiful. She was being chased by her master's men, immediately hu bein saw her, he fell in love. Pan jun was however not interested as his only focus was on paying the money. Hu bein quickly saved her and offered to buy her freedom, surprisingly she's from hu land, her father owed someone money and she was taken in as a replacement till the money was paid, her master wanted to sleep with her before she ran away and was chased that's how she met hu bein and pan jun.
Pan jun felt for her, like they were in similar situation. After hu bein paid for her freedom he saw her home.
They went back to the palace.
Hu bein could not stop thinking about her.
He was shy of talking to women and didn't seem like he had it but pan jun was good
He asked pan jun to help him talk to her and asked for her name but he hesitated until he heard he would get paid.
He went to her house, she was on her way to get something from the market.
You are one of the men that saved me and bought my freedom. She said as if recognizing him.
I didn't save you nor buy your freedom, I can't even buy mine. My friend did. He is the ruler of the hu clan
Sooo that was hu bein? She asked
Yes! And he likes you, please be close to him. Pan jun said
Why?
Visit him and you will know why, he is harmless. Pan jun said
Okay. She said
Really? He asked
Yes, on one condition, if you want to win my heart for your friend
What's that? He asked
Be my friend
Is that all?pan jun asked
Unknown to pan jun that one request could cost him alot, to him he was after the money to win her heart for bein and get alot of money but to her she was trying to win his heart. Sun li was her name. Born into the li family, she was the most beautiful girl in all of hu clan but pan jun didn't seem interested. She might be poor but can get what ever man she wants with her beauty. Her father Mr li often gamble and borrow money, he hardly have time for her or her mum. After her mum was killed by one of her father's debtor because she was struggling with him, he wanted to take her as the collateral but she refused and he pushed her and she fell. Sun li life had been hell after that. One would think that mr li would stop gambling but it only got worse. He went gambling and never came back. He already used her as a collateral. When they asked him what else could you have to gamble with. He said my daughter.she is the most prettiest of all the girls.that how she became a slave.
Sun li didn't see why was falling In love with pan jun. Soon pan jun fell too, he tried to hide it, he didn't want to betray hu bein.
They were already helplessly Inlove. They were getting married too. Pan jun mother was a bit sick and couldn't attend the wedding. When hu bein got the message he couldn't believe it, the only girl he loved was getting married to his friend, the friend he trusted, he wanted to see it for himself Soo he desgnise and saw them on their way, he was heart broken.
When pan jun got home he met his mother in a pool of blood she had been murdered with a blood written word happy marriage,
He was alone. He cried
After his mother was buried he felt lonely but felt his magic stronger
Soon after hu bein visited him
I learnt you lost your ma,I'm sorry he said
You don't have to be. Pan jun said smiling at him
Immediately, sun li came out of the house, immediately hu bein saw her it seemed like there was a hole in his heart that can't be cured, he faked a smile, turned to pan jun
I heard you are married too, isn't she beautiful, you are lucky
Sun li sensed the tension and then left to get something
You don't have to fake it bein, I know I hurt your feelings and I'm sorry.
I'm happy it was you she got married to and not someone else. Hu bein said, come work at the palace I have missed you.
Okay. Pan jun said as they hugged.
Months later sun li took in and gave birth to Zhao min, although pan jun kept working at the hu palace.
Five years have past and pan jun keeps paying the money. One day hu bein came back from his journey with a bleeding nose, he had lines. It seemed like he had been poisoned slowly, he was dying. The type of poison was rare and the antidote too.
Hu bein had asked pan jun to come see him in his champer
Save me jun, I know you can. Hu bein pleded
How can I save you? I'm not a physician. Pan jun said
Magic. Hu bein replied
Magic is forbidden in hu clan. Pan jun responded and I'm not a magician. He continued.
You don't have to lie jun, I saw your mother healed you once with magic. Hu bein said.
She healed me but I have nothing to do with magic. Pan jun said.
Jun, you don't have to lie to me, what are you afraid of? I'm the clan ruler, you are saving me, no one else will know, besides you are my friend. Bein said
I have a request.pan jun said
If I save you can you stop the payment, we have been paying for far too long. He begged
Bein coughed, looks at him weakly, we are friends that's the least I can do, I should have done it a long time ago. I'm sorry he said.
Pan jun eyes turned grey he touched hu fore head, brought water and gave it to him.
Water? Hu bein asked, I need antidote and not water.
Drink it first. Pan jun said
Immediately he drank it hu bein fell asleep.
Pan jun returned home excitedly that he was going to be free
He told sun li what had happened but sun li felt a bit uneasy. They ate, at night hu bein men came to pan jun house and dragged him out
What is going on? Pan jun asked
Magic, you used magic. One of the men said
When have I used magic? Pan jun asked, someone saw you using magic
They dragged him to the palace, sun li tried to pull his hand but one of the men pushed her and tried to touch her indecently just then pan jun used his hand to push him away and magic gave in swinging him across and he died, pan jun looked at his hand. What was happening to him?
They took him to the hu palace.
Sun li and Zhao min followed but they weren't allowed in. They slept outside, at dawn
Everyone was gathered sun li and Zhao min were there too, hu bein came out
Pan jun was tied, why are you doing this to me? Pan jun asked, have you forgotten I saved your life?
Hu bein replied, you took her away from me, I can't forgive that.
He turned to the crowd: dearest hu clan, magic is forbidden, just yesterday I was at the peak of loosing my life when my physician finally came up with a cure, an antidote for me, he saved my life. I was going to reward him before I learned about his passing. Appearantly pan jun had killed him because he saved me, pan jun was the one that poison me because of the money he owed the hu palace. I sent my men to get him, he killed one of them too. How can magic be practice in broad day light? Bein said
Do you have proof? Sun li asked
Yes I do, body of the man and physician was bought, aren't these a magician mark? Bein asked
They all mumble yes it truly is
Who saw him murdered them? Sun li asked
My husband is not a murderer. Sun li said
Then what was he doing in the palace last at night after work
A man came forward, pan jun had come by my shop, when he saw the physician he suddenly didn't buy what he came to buy but rather followed him
Another man said, he is a killer, I could see his eyes turn grey with hate when he saw the physician too.
One of hu bein men said, today I witnessed him kill one of our own without sword of magic .
Pan jun raised his head, although I had killed the man out of anger he was trying to touch my wife indecently but I didn't kill the physician.
Please believe me, he cried
Hu bein drew his sword just then sun li came forward please spear him.
Hu bein could see the tears in her eyes, why can't she love him, wasn't he handsome enough, why does it have to be pan jun all the time?
He pushed her aside and stabbed pan jun with no regrets. Zhao had to watch the cruelty of the world. No one defended her father except her mum because they were poor, her father saved with magic but couldn't save himself at that instant she hated magic, hated hu clan.
Soon after hu bein took them as slaves claiming he bought her mother's freedom and now they are his slave. He once wanted to sleep with sun li but she refused
Even in chains, what has pan jun ever done for you? My only mistake was asking him to
Win your heart for me
You can't force someone to love you, even if you had come I won't still love you. Sun li said
What can I do to win your heart? Hu bein asked
You can't win my heart, sun li said tearfully, she drew out a knife and slit her throat, she looked at Zhao, Im sorry, look at hu bein and breathe her last.
Zhao min kept crying. Hu bein lean over her with tearful eyes. He made her grave beautiful and it was like that of a queen, he kept her in the hu palace
Despite this, he treated Zhao badly
Years had past and that five year old Zhao min grew up to be nineteen years in chains. He ordered them to kill her, he was scared she might take revenge especially with magic. That was when she met li wei....
..... They arrived at Yan ti