Death Flute
The First Love Dilemma

Since the events of that night, Ouwyang Ping has become often daydreaming. He also stayed away from Chien Wan. He thought, if Chien Wan likes another girl there is no point in her being near Chien Wan. The more near Chien Wan, he will not be able to release Chien Wan. So it's best that he stay away from her from now on.

Chien Wan was very sad because the girl was avoiding him. He thought Ouwyang Ping was fed up with him. He did not dare to approach the girl. He didn't expect too far anyway. The girl was the daughter of the ruler of the Nada Valley, whereas she was only a young man with no origins. How could it be so presumptuous?

Away from Ouyang Ping made Chien Wan not eager to practice. This did not escape the supervision of Mr. Ouwyang Cu.

“Huh!” grunts. “This is what pisses me off when I have a teenage student. His training was always interrupted by romance issues!”

Chien Wan stared in shock. “Teacher, I don't..” He tried to argue, but was made by his teacher, “You think you can lie to me, ha? You are lazy to exercise, your concentration is always disturbed, and you become dreamy often. The same thing happened with Ping-er. Ayyah...! You guys are already too much!” tuan Ouwyang Cu's tirade.

Chien Wan's face flushed. “Teacher...”.

“Already! Already!” cut Mr. Ouwyang Cu. “As long as your problem with Ping-er is not finished, you don't come here!”

Chien Wan was silent while holding her flute. He was confused at the words of his teacher, not knowing what to do. He stood up like a fool.

Mr. Ouwyang Cu clicked irritatedly. “Wait for what else? Go there!” banish him.

Chien Wan was shocked, then quickly left.

“Troubt it...” grumbled Mr. Ouwyang Cu.

Chien Wan left his teacher. He was very troubled to think about how to solve this problem. How best to approach Ouwyang Ping without offending him?

And actually, it is not just Ouwyang Ping's problem that makes him dizzy. It had been over a year that he had lived in the Valley of Tones, yet he had not managed to obtain any information about the incident that had befallen Luo Sui She. He never managed to tell that story. The senior servants were very secretive and the other servants had only been working for a few years. Plus he is not a smart person to pry evidence.

Taking a breath, Chien Wan sat on the park bench. He's pensive.

“Chien Wan, why daydream?”

Chien Wan flinched and stared at the origin of the voice. It turns out to be one of the Four Silver Ponds, Kam Sien. During this time he rarely chatted with the Four Silver Ponds. They were in charge of guarding the gate, so rarely went to the mother house.

“Kakak Kam.” Chien Wan stood up.

“Sit again. I also want to sit here for a while,” says Kam Sien. He shook his fat ass on a park bench near Chien Wan. Among the Four Silver Tambur, Kam Sien has the heaviest body weight and the most jovial nature. He also likes to babble.

“Kakak Kam not on duty?” ask Chien Wan.

“Hoahh!” Kam Sien yawned. “While resting, A Kim I told you to guard the gate for a while. But you don't tell me Big Master, do you?” He winks ignorant.

Chien Wan smiled.

“How was your training?” ask Kam Sien.

“Lumayan,” sahut Chien Wan reluctantly.

“Don't be surprised if the Big Master is angry. He always has been. Usually, it is only in the mouth. His heart is very good,” said Kam Sien casually. “Reverse from Big Mistress.”

“Money is Big?”

“Mendiang Mr Ouwyang Cu's Wife. He is still a noble descendant, so it's a bit stiff. Her speech was sweet, but her heart.... Holy hooch! I shouldn't have said it. It is not good to talk about the ugliness of the dead.” Kam Sien glanced up and around him. Thankfully, there are no people.

Chien Wan was astonished. “So, Brother Kam doesn't like the Big Lady?”

Kam Sien drowned looking around, then bowed to Chien Wan's ears. “This is just between us, huh? During her life, the Great Mistress always made her husband and son eat heart with her arrogance. Eighteen years ago, the Great Mistress forced her son to be engaged to a noble daughter.”

Chien Wan was immediately on guard. Eighteen years ago.

“Padahat Mr. Ouwyang Kuan has been in a relationship with a girl.”

“Who?”

Kam Sien looked at Chien Wan. “Your former teacher's sister, Luo Sui She.”

Chien Wan was glued. “Then how...” His words were interrupted as suddenly a movement was heard from the direction of the house.

Kam Sien jumped to his feet. “I go first, Chien Wan.”

Chien Wan looked at Kam Sien's departure. He feels so stupid. Why would it be unthinkable for him to ask the Four Silver Plumes about the incident? Never mind, comfort his heart. There's still a chance.

He turned around about to step towards his room, but suddenly his steps came to a halt. Ouwyang Ping stood before him. The girl's face was a bit pale and sad. Chien Wan swallowed his saliva.

Ouwyang Ping was silent, just looking at him. Actually, he wanted to say hello to Chien Wan, but could not. His heart longs for Chien Wan, but the prestige forbids him to say hello first.

They looked at each other for a long time, but no one started talking. No one wants to say hello first, one because of prestige and the other for fear of offending. Finally, Chien Wan could not bear to keep quiet like that. He realized, as long as he did not say hello first, they would continue to silence each other.

“Ping-er..

Ouwyang Ping's lips opened slightly. He wanted to greet the young man's speech but was arrested.

“Ping-er, why are you avoiding me? Did I do anything wrong?” ask Chien Wan slowly.

Hearing that tone of voice, Ouwyang Ping's defense of his pride collapsed. His eyes glazed over, and he hugged Chien Wan. His face was buried in the young man's chest. Chien Wan's face flushed.

“Kakak Wan, sorry.. sorry.. I was wrong,” isak Ouwyang Ping. “I shouldn't be mad at you. But I'm pissed off, out.. out..” Ouwyang Ping said faltering, “after you only noticed Luo Ting Ting..”.

Instantly Chien Wan was aware of what was happening. Ouwyang Ping was jealous! Yep. The girl was jealous of Luo Ting Ting as well as the white silk rope that was gifted to her. He sighed, then raised his hand to the girl's fine hair. And her hair was so soft and fragrant.

“Ping-er, you misunderstood..” said Chien Wan slowly. “I never thought about Miss Luo once. As for the white silk rope, it was just a parting gift from her. I just thought of him as a sister, and he also only thought of me as a big brother.”

Ouwyang Ping raised his wet face. “Really?”

How relieved Ouwyang Ping's heart was to see such a steady nod of Chien Wan. He put his head back on Chien Wan's chest. For the fourteen-year-old girl, Chien Wan was her first love. He was not willing to lose this happy feeling.

Chien Wan sighed. Now the matter with Ouwyang Ping was over. He could no longer escape his feelings. He must admit that he also has deep feelings for the teenage girl. That feeling was completely different from his feelings for others, indescribable.

Ouwyang Ping took off his embrace. His face looked red, yet it looked extremely glittering. He took the Chien Wan iron flute tucked in a belt, then with a heart-touching gesture hugged the flute. He pressed that thing on his chest. He expresses his heart through his actions because he does not know what to say.

Chien Wan looked at him. Now he would never be able to look at his iron flute without remembering this incident. He will always remember this day when he blew the iron flute.

***

When Chien Wan was training the next day, she looked at her flute fixedly and closed her eyes. What was imagined in his eyes was the figure of Ouwyang Ping who was clutching his flute. There was warmth in Chien Wan's heart. In the midst of that feeling, he blew his flute and blew out simple tones.

Mr. Ouwyang Cu gasped. Unsuspectedly. Finally came out also simple tones that were so clear and clean. Though the flute is not at all a good flute. The quality is very low because it is deliberately made to train blowing techniques. Mr. Ouwyang Cu's hand gripped his own robe.

Any minute...! Soon the music of the gods will reverberate throughout the universe! Music is second to none in the world, born of an extraordinary talent combined with almost senseless perseverance. Music that will reverberate the name of the Valley of Nada!

Chien Wan opened her eyes. Fortunately, at that time, Mr. Ouwyang Cu had managed to control himself. It didn't seem so cool at all. His face remained cynical and indifferent as usual.

“Lumayan,” comments are cold. “Now, start blowing with deep exertion!”

Chien Wan nodded obediently and started practicing again.

Since then, the training has been going well. The longer Chien Wan gets smarter. Mr. Ouwyang Cu is getting tougher on training him. Various techniques were taught by Chien Wan. High-level techniques in blowing the flute such as remote voice transfer and auditory hallucinations, until the distilled sound with deep energy to produce a deafening sound. All of that made Chien Wan even more expert.

Mr. Ouwyang Cu also taught the secret of tones that can affect the human mind thus giving rise to illusions. This secret is a dangerous science because it can mess with the minds of even the most formidable opponents. Only those who study this science can deny it.

Ouwyang Ping did not want to lose. He continued to train his ability to pick harps. His father kept a close eye on his training. He has a perfect talent for harps. His perseverance is also amazing. His father was very good to him.

The progress of the two of them became the subject of conversation in the Nada Valley. The two youngsters were extremely talented, also extremely excited. The two of them would definitely appreciate the success of the Nada Valley. With the two of them, the reputation of Nada Valley as a place to live for the magic people with amazing musical abilities will be lifted.

Chien Wan was not affected with a look of admiration towards her. It was filled with bad feelings. Now his whole body belongs to the Valley of Nada, and so does his loyalty. However he also owed Mr. Luo a debt of gratitude and had to help him pry for information. He's confused.

To whom should he give his loyalty if the matter is too much? If the events that befell Luo Sui She were extremely terrifying and involved the people of Nada Valley, especially the Ouwyang family, it would definitely result in hostility between them. What about Chien Wan? Who will he take side with?

***

“Why are you moody lately?”

The demanding question was raised by Mr. Ouwyang Cu one day after a fairly strenuous exercise, and Chien Wan was less concentrated.

Chien Wan was flabbergasted at the question. “Means Master?”

“You must have a problem again!” accuse the teacher of snoring.

“I...”

“And not with Ping-er,” said Mr. Ouwyang impatiently. “You're a kid with a million problems! What does it have to do with your family of helpers?”

Chien Wan was shocked. What does Mr Ouwyang already know?

“Luo Siu Man is protective of his family members. There is no way he would willingly hand you over to become a member of the Nada Valley if there were no shrimp behind the rock!”

Instantly, Chien Wan's face turned pale. “Teacher, i...”.

“Do not get it wrong!” Back Mr. Ouwyang menukas. “You have entered the Valley of Tones. It means you're a member of the Nada Valley. Here your status is a legitimate student and member! There you're just a waitress. I won't let you go back there as a waiter!”

“Teacher, I owe them. They saved me and gave me a place to live. They also gave me friendship. I don't know how to explain it,” complained Chien Wan.

Mr. Ouwyang Cu ruffled his waist. “Tell me. What did they ask you to do?”

Chien Wan sighed. There is no point in keeping all of this a secret from Mr. Ouwyang Cu. So he recounts Luo Sui She's circumstances and Mr. Luo's request that she investigate the cause of Sui She's mental disorder.

Mr. Ouwyang's face turned grim. “Sui She crazy?” muttered.

“Teacher don't know? She said, Miss Sui She started getting sick since coming home from Nada.” Valley

“I know he's sick!” grunts Mr. Ouwyang. “What kind of teacher am I if I don't know that his student is experiencing emotional shock? But I didn't know it would be that bad. He came home without saying goodbye to me, only to my wife.”

“So, Miss Sui She used to be Master's student too?”

“Yes. Besides flute, I am also an expert at picking lutes. He is talented to play that one musical instrument.”

“Teacher knows why he is sick?” ask Chien Wan carefully.

“Of course. He loves my son!” furious Mr. Ouwyang Cu. “But my stupid son even agreed to marry the girl of my late wife's choice!”

“So, the pain of Miss Sui She due to a broken heart?”

“Ya!”

Chien Wan exhaled. It turns out it's just because of that! But why go crazy? Is that the heart of the woman named Luo Sui She, who lost her mind because of a breakup? Or would all women be like that if they were heartbroken?

“I don't know what the details are like. I always don't care about the affairs of young people!” gerutu Mr. Ouwyang Cu. “Already! Later you will report to Luo Siu Man the information you got from me. If he's still not satisfied, tell me to face me!”

“Ya, Master,” replied Chien Wan obediently. His heart became somewhat relieved.

Seriate.