Death Flute
Wu Kui Fang's

Ting Ting was lying on his bed. He's not sleeping. His eyes stare at the top of his bed covered in a fine mosquito net. His raging mind mingled with the nausea and dizziness that had been tormenting him for several weeks.

Tok tok!

Ting Ting had no intention of waking up. Maybe it was just Ping-er or Aunt Sui She, he thought. “Case,” the answer is weak.

The door opened and Chien Wan entered, followed by Kui Fang.

Ting Ting was a bit shocked, yet he tried not to show his feelings. “Kakak Wan, Kui Fang..,” he said. He sighed, trying to get out of his sleep.

Kui Fang immediately approached and helped her.

“Already, don't get up first. You're still very weak, Ting Ting,” prevent Chien Wan.

Ting Ting did not argue. Chien Wan was right, he was still very dizzy and nauseous.

“How do you feel, Ting Ting?” ask Kui Fang gently. She was very sorry for Ting Ting's fate. The girl was almost the same age as him—just older a year, but why do misfortune after misfortune keep on afflicting her?

“I'm fine. Just a little dizzy,” Ting replied.

Chien Wan took a deep breath. Her hands stretched out to touch Ting Ting's forehead, checking her body temperature.

Ting Ting was slightly trembling. In the past, this kind of touch could make his heart sing cheerfully. He loved the young man so much that he would do anything to be around him. But all of that is the past. All he felt towards Chien Wan right now was a feeling of shame and guilt.

“You have a little fever,” said Chien Wan. “I'd better call a healer.”

“Do not!” Ting Ting blocked Chien Wan's hand. Wet eyes. “I'm fine. I. I just... Anyway don't call a healer!”

Chien Wan gave up. “Alright, Ting Ting. I'm not calling a healer.”

Ting Ting sobbed slowly. Face pale. “Thank you for visiting me, Sister Wan.

“What are you talking about?” Chien Wan patted Ting Ting's shoulder with her left hand as the right one was still held by the girl.

“I have caused you trouble. Not just now. It was so long ago, too. I always trouble you. It always makes you feel bad for my family. I... I really made it very difficult for you that time...”.

“No, Ting Ting.”

“That's the reality!” Ting Ting shook his head strongly. “Now I am so embarrassed. I don't deserve to be around you anymore. Forgive me, Sister Wan...”

“Ting Ting.” Chien Wan felt wrong. She was confused over Ting Ting's attitude.

“Thank you for not hating me, Sister Wan..,” sobs Ting Ting wails.

Chien Wan shook her head. “Where can I possibly hate you, Ting Ting? You're innocent.”

The conversation was listened to by Kui Fang with a bad feeling. What really happened in the past? Is it possible that Chien Wan and Ting Ting have been in contact with more than just cousins? Do they really love each other?

Everything he had seen lately made him even more curious. There was something that everyone seemed to know, except her. This further excommunicates him. It made him feel like an outsider.

And Kui Fang was agitated. He doesn't like being an outsider.

***

Sen Khang and Ouwyang Ping listened to Chien Wan's description with wide eyes.

“So so,” murmured Ouwyang Ping.

“Cheng Sam masterminded all of this. All the events that happened in the martial World, all this chaos, were masterminded by Cheng Sam?” geram Sen Khang.

“The mastermind is Cheng Sam,” nods Chien Wan. “But I did not manage to find a clue about the executor of the murder.”

Sen Khang frowned. “Could be actually not just one person who committed a massacre of 23 members of Wisma Bambu. There may be a number of people involved. Or Cheng Sam's group carried out a raid on the Bamboo Guesthouse simultaneously.”

“True!” the Ouwyang Ping. “Didn't Brother Wan say Cheng Sam is always surrounded by a group of his men who amounted to about 20 people. Surely they are the ones who surrounded Wisma Bambu.”

“But Uncle and Aunt Luo's killer is the same person as Uncle Sung's killer. Remember, they have the same type of wound.”

“And who has been disguised as Sister Wan?” tukas Ouwyang Ping's. “Ting Ting and Brother Chi saw for themselves the man. Brother Chi did not mention how many people had attacked him. He only mentioned Sister Wan.”

“At least we can tell, the killers of Uncle and Aunt Luo as well as Uncle Sung were the same people as the one who injured Meng Huan and who attacked Ting Ting,” Chien Wan said softly.

“If what Chairman Kam said is true, Cheng Sam might have a child!” sen Khang.

“We think so too,” nods Chien Wan.

“And his son who did all the vile deeds in Wisma Bambu!” Ouwyang Ping nodded in understanding. “Applying to be Sister Wan and doing all those abominations.”

“Now the problem is we do not know the identity of Cheng Sam's son,” Sen Khang said.

“Can be one of his men,” said Chien Wan. “But none of his men I met whose characteristics were in accordance with the instructions I got. Their age alone averages over 30 years.”

“While Cheng Sam's child must be his age is not much different from ours!” sambar Sen Khang's.

“True.”

“So how?” ask Ouwyang Ping.

“I want to investigate it further. Fei Yu was currently trying to find a clue. Me and him have an agreement to meet in Kotaraja in about two weeks,” replied Chien Wan.

“If only I could leave the Bamboo Guesthouse, I would come with you,” Sen Khang complained. “Unfortunately I can't just leave the Bamboo Guesthouse. There's still a lot of business to be done here.”

“I understand,” nod Chien Wan.

“I can't go with you either, Brother. I have to take care of Ting Ting.”

Chien Wan nodded again. “I know. You should take good care of Ting Ting. She desperately needs your support.”

Sen Khang looked at Chien Wan with gratitude.

Instantly Ouwyang Ping was fretful. She recalled her mother's intention to match Ting Ting with Chien Wan. Should he reveal it now? But this intention had not even been briefly discussed with Sen Khang and Ting Ting himself. After all, he did not want to be presumptuous by taking over the obligations of his parents. Let her parents tell Chien Wan.

***