Seekers of the Crypt; the Lost Artifact

Young Master Zhang

It was a busy day in a private hospital in Suzhou. There was a nonstop admission because of a food poisoning incident in a local high school. The emergency department has its entire staff running around like headless chickens. But as soon as a particular doctor came in and started checking the patients, the whole place seemed to quiet down and all attention was on him.

Dr. James Zhang has been the eye candy of the whole hospital. He’s the youngest general surgeon and resident in the said hospital, and he always presents himself well. So no wonder every female nurse around fancies him, as well as the female doctors.

But Dr. Zhang is a bit cold on the exterior; he never smiles at his colleagues even towards his patients but it doesn’t mean that he is not polite. And it didn’t stop the women from admiring his charms. His stern personality is something he inherited from his grandfather.

Today, he may seem to be doing his job like how he always did but deep inside he was buzzing with excitement. So after he did all he have to do in the emergency department, he went back immediately to his office. He hangs his doctor’s coat on the coat rack and then he rushed back towards the door and he looked at the corridor before he closes it, and locked it as well.

Then he leaned his back against the door and let out a sigh of relief. Now that he just finished his shift, it’s finally his month-long vacation. And he has great plans for that vacation.

He pulled away from the door and he opened his locker and pulled out a suitcase that he had just hidden inside for days. The next thing he pulled from his locker is a backpack. And then he started rummaging through his drawer and started packing stuff into his backpack. The last thing that he pulled from his drawer was his passport and plane ticket.

“I’ll see you soon London,” James mumbled and then he places his passport in the front pocket of his backpack.

Then he slipped the strap of his bag into his shoulder and pulled the handle of his luggage before walking toward the door. When he opened the door, he was startled to see a handful of female nurses standing right outside his office.

They all looked down at his luggage.

“Dr. Zhang, you’re leaving?”

“Are you leaving us, Dr. Zhang?”

“Will we see you again?”

The nurses bombarded his questions, and James cannot help but just smile at them. Showing his cute boyish smile for the first time came out as a shock to his admirers.

“I would like to inform you that I’ll be going on a vacation. So see you whenever.” James told them and then he excused himself out of their way.

With his luggage in tow, James whistled as he walked towards the hospital exit, ignoring the looks he is receiving from the onlookers. When he was out of the hospital, a black Jeep parked right in front of him and the driver’s side opened its door. A tall man wearing black sunglasses came out and approached James, bowing his head.

“I’ll take your luggage boss.” The man said and James nodded.

The man is Hua Feng Hu, he is the Zhang family’s trusted bodyguard. He is assigned to James as he is the young master of the family. He follows James wherever he goes, like a shadow. He is good at fighting and very resourceful.

James climbed into the passenger’s side of the jeep as Feng Hu loads his luggage at the back of the vehicle. And once it was loaded, Feng Hu climbed back on the driver’s side and drove off towards the airport.

“We aren’t going to be late for our flight right?” James asked.

“No, boss. We won’t miss the flight and you’ll be seeing her in just a couple of hours.” Feng Hu said and then James looked away and cleared his throat.

*************************.

The plane ride from Suzhou to London took them eleven long hours. And once they landed, a car was waiting for them outside the airport that drove them towards the Beauford estate in Stadhampton.

It was late in the afternoon when they finally arrived at their destination. The staff of the estate opened the car door for them as well as unloading their luggage. The butler then led them inside the huge manor and was told to wait in the huge receiving area.

As James and Feng Hu sat on the wine-colored velvet couch, they were served with cold refreshments. While they were drinking, the master of the Beauford estate came into the receiving area.

“Young master Zhang, welcome.”

Michael Beauford is the current head of the Beauford family. He is the eldest of the Beauford twins, and he is in charge of their family businesses.

James and Feng Hu stood up and shook Michael’s hand.

“I trust you had a good flight,” Michael said and James smiled.

“It was long but good,” James said.

“Your rooms are now ready now; you can freshen up first before dinner,” Michael told them.

“Uhm...” James trailed and Feng Hu gave him a nudge, making James blurt out what he wanted to know.

“Is Garie here?”

Hearing James asks, Michael cannot help but smile. Since they were kids, he knew that the young master Zhang have a crush on his niece. And now seeing that the young master is still flustered by asking about her, he knew that crush didn’t disappear at all.

“Garie is living in Kensington now,” Michael said and he immediately saw the disappointment in James’ eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’ll call her and tell her to come home tomorrow. She is after all going to be your boss for the time being.” Michael said and then he patted James’ shoulder and excused himself.

James and Feng Hu on the other hand were approached by servants and they led them to their rooms. In James’ room, he immediately saw his bags at the foot of the bed. He sighed and decided to take a few minutes of rest on the bed, adjusting the setting so his phone to London time. He also sent an email to his grandfather that he arrived safely.

After resting for a few minutes, he got off the bed and opened his bags, and started unpacking. And once he was done hanging his clothes in the closet, he decided to take a shower; it was just a short one, just to freshen up. Once he was done, he dried himself with a towel and tied it around his waist. He then grabbed a fresh pair of boxers from the closet and wore them. He discarded the towel into the laundry bin before he took his jeans and wore them.

When he stood in front of the full-body mirror, his eyes fell on the massive tattoo on his left chest and arm. A scorpion was inked on his left pec and just above it was a massive head of a dragon with its body coiled around his arm. The tattoo symbolizes something in their family. Having the tattoo means you have inherited the poison blood of the Zhangs.

Aside from their family tattoo, he also has a huge tiger tattoo on the right side of his back, and his name in Chinese characters on his right forearm.

James let out a sigh and then he heard a knock on the door. He then went to open it and it was Feng Hu who like him took a shower and changed into fresh clothes.

“What is it?” James asked and then Feng Hu came in and closed the door.

“Dinner is served, boss.” Feng Hu answered.

“Okay.”

Then James grabbed a black hoodie and wore it. He was about to walk towards the door when Feng Hu spoke.

“Miss Margareth just arrived, by the way.”

James halted his steps and then he looked at his bodyguard.

“She’s here?” James asked and Feng Hu nodded.

“She just arrived and she’s talking to Master Beauford in the study.”

James hissed when he heard what Feng Hu just said. He turned towards the mirror and started finger-combing his hair. Once he thinks he look presentable he rushed out of his room with Feng Hu right behind him.