Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
The Zhang clan were an honorable and well-respected clan, making her very proud to serve them. When Jiang Chong arrived to turn all the disciples of the Sword of the Heavenly Garden Sect, she begged to be changed with them so she could continue to look after the clan.
Under the leadership of Zhang Xiao Dan, Ming Yu never felt like a servant, but part of a large family. Xiao Dan respected her opinion and asked her thoughts about many things over the years. After being a vampire for a century, she accepted Xiao Dan’s offer to learn some of the clan’s martial arts.
As a natural caretaker, she was soon regarded as Shijie or Jiejie (older sister) by all of the clan members.
Li Xiang (Western-style name: Sean) – Li Xiang is the first son of a man who would one day become an important minister and chief advisor to Emperor Wu. Since Zhang Shi Lei was viewed as a critical and powerful friend of the emperor as well as a skilled fighter, Li Xiang’s father sent his son to study under the man with the idea that Li Xiang would one day become a general or protector of the emperor.
Li Xiang spent the first decade of his life living in luxury in the royal capital of Chang’An. He enjoys the finer things in life and places a high importance on comfort. However, he is quite adept at living rough and lean when necessary without complaint.
Li Xiang and Zhang Junjie joined the Sword of the Heavenly Garden Sect at the same time and are the same age. Regardless of their different backgrounds, Xiang saw Junjie as an instant friend.
Zhang Junjie (nickname: Jun-Jun) – Zhang Junjie is the illegitimate son of Zhang Yuxi, younger brother of Zhang Shi Lei. Yuxi left the sect in his late teens to travel and seek adventure. Along the way, he ended up with a son, who was dumped off on his older brother shortly after Yuxi’s untimely death.
Junjie was barely ten when he found himself handed off to an uncle he knew nothing of. He has no memories of his father and what little he remembers of his mother is of a small, withdrawn woman who was afraid of the world.
When Junjie arrived at the Sword of the Heavenly Garden Sect, he expected to be hated for his low birth and treated poorly.
But all he found with his uncle Shi Lei was love, compassion, and understanding.
Shi Lei loved Junjie as if he were his son. During all the years of study under the grandmaster, Junjie found support, love, patience, and understanding. From the other disciples around him, he found that plus brotherhood.
In particular, he formed a close bond with Li Xiang. Even though Li Xiang came from a prestigious family with an illustrious background, the boy never treated him differently. In fact, Li Xiang took one look at Junjie and declared to all who were within hearing that this was his brother and he’d fight anyone who dared to hurt him.
While Junjie is a blood relative of Zhang Shi Lei, he has never once shown a bit of interest in taking over the clan after the death of the grandmaster. He fully supports Xiao Dan and believes he is the best person to lead their sect forward. Xiao Dan was trained and selected by Shi Lei, and Junjie respects that choice without question.
Gao Mei Lian (nickname: Meimei) – Gao Mei Lian was the third and youngest daughter of a Luoyang merchant. Her father brokered a marriage arrangement with the father of Cao Zimo, who was a member of the Sword of the Heavenly Garden Sect.
When she arrived at the sect for her wedding, she discovered that Cao Zimo had been one of the men killed when Jiang Chong took over the clan. While not heartbroken—since she barely knew the man she was to marry—she was afraid to return home to an angry father and possibly another marriage she didn’t want.
She found herself swept up in the chaos and turned into a vampire by mistake. Not that she was complaining. It gave her an excuse to never return home, and she could now study martial arts with this sect.
Mei Lian has always had an adventurous, outspoken nature. She loves learning new things and adores her life as part of the sect. She gained so many new older brothers who spoiled her while she became everyone’s Meimei (younger sister).
Common Mandarin Terms and Pronunciations
Zh – sounds like j so Zhang sounds like Jang
Xi – sounds like sh so Xiong sounds like shong
Shifu – teacher/master. Sounds like shee-foo
Shixiong – older martial brother within sect. Sounds like she-shong.
Shijie – older martial sister within sect. Sounds like she-jeeay.
Shidi – younger martial brother within sect. Sounds like she-dee.
Gege/ge – older brother. Sounds like guh-guh. (hard g sound)