Death Flute
The Treaty in Kotaraja

Kotaraja was the capital of the Song Empire, a large city with many large buildings where nobles and court officials lived. The center of the great city was a magnificent and vast palace surrounded by high walls so that no ordinary people could see the inside of the palace. The palace has one main gate that is heavily guarded by dozens of high-scientific palace guards.

The Song Empire was ruled by the Thai Emperor Cung, a mighty emperor who was already middle-aged. He was the younger brother of Emperor Tai Cu, the founder of the Song Dynasty.

Before the Song Dynasty was founded by Emperor Tai Cu, China was in a difficult period after the end of the Tang Dynasty. For 54 years, there were five successive kingdoms that ruled the country, called the Five Kingdoms Period. The last kingdom to rule was the Fu Chou Kingdom (Houw Chiu). In the ninth year of the kingdom, the people were saturated with alternating leadership and finally they held a revolution led by a dashing named Cu Khung Yen (Tio Khong Ien). The revolution was successful and a new dynasty called the Song Dynasty was established, crowning Cu Khung Yen as emperor with the title of Emperor Tai Cu.

After Emperor Tai Cu retired, he was succeeded by his younger brother Thai Cung. It happened because Emperor Tai Cu did not have any descendants that could be relied upon to lead the fledgling country. So the Thai Emperor Cung ascended the throne and succeeded in bringing the Tionggoan Plain to prosperity.

The Thai Emperor Cung has ruled the country for about fifteen years. And to this day, his standing as emperor was unshakable. He was a wise emperor and loved by the people. Everyone respected him, including from the martial world.

Chien Wan and Kui Fang arrived at the gate of Kotaraja and allowed themselves to be inspected by the palace troops before making their way inside Kotaraja.

“Why to enter the city alone we must be checked?” Kui Fang turned his head towards the guards after leaving the gate to enter the inner part of the city.

“This Kotaraja. They need to tighten security. The position of most of the city's residents is very vulnerable. They are an easy target for the troublemakers,” explained Chien Wan briefly.

Kui Fang nodded. “Where will we meet Brother Chang?”

Chien Wan shook her head. “Entah.” He and Fei Yu did not have time to confirm their meeting place. But at that time he did not know that Kotaraja this big.

“What do they think have arrived?”

Chien Wan frowned. “Should've been. Our agreement at that time was the 3rd of nine months, exactly a month after our last separation. It's now 3.”

“How about we start from the inn? Brother Chang must be staying somewhere. We just went around the city looking for an inn that was roughly occupied by Brother Chang. We can ask the innkeeper if Brother Chang is registered there,” suggested Kui Fang.

“You're right.” Chien Wan nodded. “Come we go.”

They started walking along the streets of Kotaraja. Stop at every inn they passed by and enter to inquire about the whereabouts of a young man named Chang Fei Yu. The work was quite time-consuming because the number of lodging in Kotaraja quite a lot and on average large and well managed.

Finally they arrived at an inn called Wisma Pendekar. It is said that the inn was founded by a retired Persilatan World swordsman and married to a Kotaraja girl. Therefore it is called Wisma Pendekar. And it has become a habit, all Persilatan World warriors who happen to have needs in Kotaraja will definitely stay there.

They were greeted by a well-dressed servant. The waiter kindly asked if they needed a room.

“We do need a room. But we also want to ask someone if you don't mind,” said Kui Fang.

“Please, Miss.” The servant was apparently used to the behavior of the martial members.

“Is someone named Chang Fei Yu listed here?”

The waiter frowned. “Oh, if what Miss means is Pendekar Chang from Bukit Merak, it is true. He's been staying since yesterday.”

“Where is he?” chien Wan asked calmly.

“Now he is out with his girlfriend.”

Chien Wan and Kui Fang looked at. “Female friends..?” mummified Kui Fang.

“Maybe A Nan,” says Chien Wan.

Kui Fang nodded in understanding.

After putting the items down, they went to the dining room to rest and fill the stomach.

***

It was only a while that Chien Wan and Kui Fang sat down while enjoying their dinner meal that Fei Yu and A Nan came from the doorway. They looked relieved as soon as they saw Chien Wan.

“Chien Wan, Kui Fang.”

Chien Wan turned her head and smiled slightly.

“Sister Chang, we are looking for you everywhere,” said Kui Fang.

Fei Yu laughed and stunned herself beside Chien Wan wearily. “I should have said that!” said. “Aku and A Nan arrived yesterday afternoon, heading straight to this inn. I stayed here with my dad a few years ago. Suddenly I realized, we never said where to meet. So since this morning I and A Nan have been traveling around town looking for you guys.”

“Sama!” kui Fang. “That's also what we did upon our arrival here this afternoon!”

Fei Yu and A Nan looked at him and laughed. “Rupanya since we have been at loggerheads continue. Never mind. Where have you been?”

“We'd better have dinner now too, Young Master. Let me order it.” A Nan called out to the waiter and ordered some of Fei Yu's favorite types of dishes.

Fei Yu waited impatiently until the servant left. Then he asked the same question again.

Chien Wan let Kui Fang tell her all of their experiences during this month. About the help they gave to the Red Eagle College until they finally found out about Cheng Sam's past. About Cheng Sam who they could barely catch if no one came to save him. Then about their departure to Wisma Bambu and the discussion they had with Sen Khang.

Fei Yu's hands clenched hearing Kui Fang's story.

“So apparently!” Fei Yu's clenched fist was smashed onto the table and made a loud noise which caused some people to turn their heads towards them.

At the same time, the waiter came to bring their order.

“You yourself how?” ask Kui Fang after the story is over. He deliberately did not recount Ting Ting's engagement to Meng Huan. Somehow he got a hunch that Fei Yu harbored other feelings towards Ting Ting rather than just pity.

Fei Yu smirked. “I'm busy fixing Bukit Merak and tightening security. Among the new members I received, there were some people who had good potential and could be trusted. I gave them a tough job, of course. Then I left the Peacock Hill ten days ago.

“There is hardly time for me to find information. But a few days ago I and A Nan were attacked by six highly-scientific people.”

Chien Wan was immediately on guard. “Six people?”

“True!” fei Yu's nod. “We were attacked in an uninhabited deserted valley we passed to reach Kotaraja.”

“Do they dress like Khitans?”

Fei Yu shook his head. “No. Their appearance is no different from ours. Like ordinary Tionggoan warriors. But if I remember again, the look on their faces is a bit foreign. It could be that they are indeed Khitans you often mention, Chien Wan!”

“How did it happen?” ask Chien Wan.

“Begini. Three days ago...” Fei Yu started his story.

***