Death Flute
Attempts to Find Cheng Sam Traces

“What did you find?” mister Chang exclaimed as soon as he saw Fei Yu come out of that burrow.

Fei Yu swore as he arrived outside the burrow and saw himself under the bright lanterns brought by his men. His body was dirty with mud. His white clothes looked dirty and filled with brown and green patches of soil and mud.

“The road inside is very dark and the ground is slippery and muddy. I almost slipped a few times. I continued walking while fumbling, it turned out that in the middle of the road I collided with the barrier. Apparently Cheng Sam realized he was going to be chased, so he piled up rocks and earth to block my path. I didn't dismantle it because I was worried that the road was piled to the end,” Fei Yu's story while trying to brush off the dirt stuck on her face.

Chien Wan looked at the burrow. “Actually this burrow is translucent where?”

“Hutan north.”

“If by normal road, how long will it take?”

Fei Yu clicked his tongue. “Two times more than through here,” he said as he pointed his finger towards the burrow. “When we get there, they'll be long gone.”

A Mr. Chang's men ran. “Big Master, messy library!”

Everyone was shocked and rushed to the library.

The room is a mess. The books in the closet were all scattered. But nothing broke. Disguised storage cabinets are also open, but in them there are no more items. Ever since the looting, Mr. Chang and Fei Yu have been careful not to keep valuables in the library.

Mr. Chang immediately ran to his room to check.

Fei Yu also headed to her room.

“There is missing?” chien Wan asked after the two of them returned to the library.

Fei Yu shook his head. “All the heirlooms I kept were intact. What about Dad?”

Mr. Chang sighed in relief. “Luckily he didn't make it into my room. The books I keep are safe.”

“We should look for secret loopholes that allow people to enter Bukit Peacock without our knowledge, Father. Let's just close that gap and tighten the guard!” fei Yu said firmly.

Mr. Chang nodded. “You set everything up.”

Bending his day, Fei Yu ordered his men to close all the gaps and secret roads in the Peacock Hill. He also arranged the division of guard duty and increased the number of men guarding each entrance. He was so busy that for a while he forgot his intention to leave.

Before that, he himself led his men to go to the forest to the north to look for traces of Cheng Sam.

They found traces of people staying there. There were tents and campfire marks, there were also the remains of animal bones that seemed to be their food. But other than that, they found nothing else. There was no hint of Cheng Sam's whereabouts.

They were very upset and came back to a dead end.

Chien Wan decided to leave without Fei Yu.

“The Peacock Hill is in need of tight security, Fei Yu. If you leave, maybe Cheng Sam will attack again. You better be here first.”

Fei Yu nodded grimly. “I think it should be so too.”

Chien Wan looked at Lo Hian and Hauw Lam. “Sister Lo and Big Brother Hauw should help Fei Yu alone here. Once everything is in order, maybe you should go back to the Valley of Nada. I am a bit worried about the state of Nada Valley after the death of the two brothers,” he said.

Lo Hian and Hauw Lam understood. Although not spoken in the tone of command, the word is still an indisputable command from a prospective heir of the Valley of Nada. They obey the order with respect.

“I will soon follow once the business here is done,” Fei Yu said. “How do we meet later?”

“We make an agreement. Next month on the same date, we meet in Kotaraja.”

“Kotaraja?”

“True. I hope by then each of us has found another clue. Or better yet, find the real culprit.”

“Good. We set it up!” fei Yu's nod.

So Chien Wan and Kui Fang said goodbye to Mr. Chang and all of them. They left Bukit Merak three days after their arrival.

Chien Wan and Kui Fang go to Lok Yang City to meet Swordsman Sung as originally planned.

***

Pendekar Sung welcomed their arrival with surprise as well as pleasure. For a long time he had not met Chien Wan. How relieved his heart was to see Chien Wan was in a fine condition not lacking anything.

“Chien Wan, it's great to see you back!” exclaim Pendekar Sung.

Chien Wan saluted. “I want to thank Uncle for Uncle's efforts to clear my good name. Somehow I can return Uncle.”

“Don't fuss about it. Clearing the good name of someone who is defamed is one of my obligations.”

They were sitting in Pendekar Sung's living room.

“O yes, Chien Wan. Some time ago my daughter went to Nada Valley to tell your parents about your innocence. Did you meet him?” ask Pendekar Sung.

Chien Wan nodded. “Yes. Until I left, she was still there.”

Swordsman Sung's forehead wrinkled. “So far he hasn't come home.”

“Maybe my grandfather prevented it,” Chien Wan's smile calms down.

“Calm down, Uncle,” says Chien Wan. “It seems my grandfather likes Siu Hung. He rarely likes someone who is not a member of his family. Presumably my grandfather intended to raise Siu Hung to be his disciple.”

Swordsman Sung's face was radiant. “Really?”

“My grandfather hasn't said it blatantly. But as long as Siu Hung was there, my grandfather always trained him on the basis of the Nada Valley kung fu.”

Swordsman Sung sighed in concern. “My son is very naughty. His mother died when he was born. I myself have always been busy with the affairs of the martial world. Be great surrounded by my all-male bodyguards. No female tenderness can soften her nature. That's why he's so stubborn. He constantly troubles his teachers. Don't-don't let him trouble your grandfather too,” he said anxiously.

Chien Wan smiled. “Don't worry, Uncle. My grandfather's nature is strange. And in some ways, it is very similar to the nature of Siu Hung himself. They often fight, but actually like each other.”

Pendekar Sung's smile heard it. “My son is naughty, but he is very cute and adorable. He's easy to like,” he praised. Then blushed. “Gosh! I'm proud of my own son.”

Chien Wan and Kui Fang exchanged glances, stalling smiles.

Then Pendekar Sung became serious. “Your good name has been cleared. Hopefully now there will be no one to threaten the safety of your soul, Chien Wan.”

Chien Wan shook her head. “Do not worry. Instead I came here to present the instructions we have. I've already met Uncle Chang and Fei Yu for an opinion. Actually Fei Yu wanted to come here, but they were having a disaster.”

“What other holidays?”

“Three days ago Cheng Sam sneaked into Bukit Peacock and tried to steal again,” Chien Wan said. Then he told everything that happened three days ago to Pendekar Sung.

Swordsman Sung listened to him carefully. His face looks so riled up.

“Exploitation!” he screamed while pounding the table.

“Fortunately he did not have time to take anything because all valuable objects have been secured.”

Swordsman Sung snorted. “Basic lowlife criminals!” Then he again focused on the first words of Chien Wan. “You said you found a clue. What clue do you mean?”

Chien Wan pointed out the murderous sword and shredded the cloth and repeated the same explanation as he had told Master Chang and Fei Yu. Coupled with the conclusion they managed to draw from their discussion three days ago.

Swordsman Sung rubbed his chin and thought.

“Commate Cheng Sam? And his lover who seized the rich youth?” muttered.

“We all think there is a possibility that his best friend is also his lover,” said Chien Wan.

“But I think it's a bit strange,” interrupted Kui Fang. “Cheng Sam wants to be friends with women who have betrayed him?”

“What if it wasn't her lover who betrayed her?” ask Pendekar Sung. “Didn't Cheng Sam say his lover was taken by a rich young man, instead of having an affair with a rich young man. It could be that his lover actually still loves Cheng Sam, but due to circumstances forced to marry the young man?”

“Can be so!” Kui Fang was only aware of that possibility.

“The most important thing now is to look for Cheng Sam. It is like being lost to the earth. No one knows where he is,” furious Pendekar Sung upset.

“We also lost track of it,” comments Chien Wan flat.

Kui Fang exhaled. “It will actually be easier when we have found Cheng Sam. He can leak everything if we threaten him.”

“Quickly!” the Swordsman Sung.

Kui Fang looked at Chien Wan. “What will we do, Sister Wan?”

“Finding Cheng Sam.”

Swordsman Sung was stunned to hear that answer. “Didn't you wish to go to Wisma Bambu?” ask carefully.

Chien Wan was silent.

“Now they've all dispelled their suspicions, Chien Wan. Even Miss Luo herself already knew that you were not the perpetrator of atrocities against her. It's time for you to meet them.”

“Betul, Sister Wan!” welcome to Kui Fang.

Chien Wan took a breath.

“There's a burden on your mind?” urge Swordsman Sung.

Chien Wan nodded. “I can't just waltz in there because my name's clean again, Uncle. I want to at least have a clue as to who the perpetrator of the murder was before meeting all of them.”

“Until when?”

That question left Chien Wan stunned. Yep. Till when? What if he doesn't find the real culprit for years? Will he never come to the Bamboo Guesthouse?

“At least until I get another clue again about this event,” Chien Wan finally said.

Swordsman Sung said nothing more. He understood there was no point in trying to persuade Chien Wan.

Kui Fang secretly glanced at Chien Wan.

Swordsman Sung realized that both of his guests were certainly tired. So he immediately told his servant to prepare a room for both of them.

***