Death Flute
Black Bats

Ouwyang Ping blinked his eyes as he began to wake up from his stupor. He rose up in shock. He looked around. It was in a cave, lying on a bed of rock with thick bear fur. In a panic, he searched for his harp. His heart was relieved to find the harp in the corner of the stone bed. Quickly he grabbed and checked. The harp is fine, thank God. He was so relieved.

He lowered his feet to the floor, trying to concentrate his body there. But he felt very weak and almost fell if only he did not quickly hold on to the edge of the bed.

Someone entered the cave with a very quick movement and immediately wiped it out.

Ouwyang Ping was very shocked. That guy's movements are incredible. Apparently this person has a very great body science. The girl sat back on the bed. He watched the man anxiously.

That man was a man dressed in all black. He was about 40 years old, the same age as Ouwyang Ping's father. His wrinkled and thin face, a sign of how thin he was. It is not so bad if the nose and cheekbones are normal. A crooked nose indicates that the nose was ever broken. His right cheekbones are higher than the left, as a result of which his lips are drawn to the side. Even so, her eyes were beautiful and clear. Overall he looked very innocent and fragile.

Ouwyang Ping thought and remembered something. He looked at the man dumbfoundedly and was also a little scared. “You... are you the Black Bat?”

The man smiled widely and nodded happily. “You know me,” are proud. His voice was strange, small and tall resembling that of a mouse great-grandson. To be honest when viewed from the looks of it, the nickname of the bat is actually less fitting. It is more fitting to be called the Black Rat, not the Black Bat.

Ouwyang Ping's fear instantly disappeared. He looked at the Black Bat in wonder. At the meeting of the warriors, he gets the impression that the Black Bat is a mysterious thief who is cruel and always unsettling to society. But once he faced the person directly, he was no longer sure of the impression.

The Black Bat was wrongly looked at like that by Ouwyang Ping. He retreated away from Ouwyang Ping. “Eng... Are you afraid to see my face?” tanyanya. “Alright, I won't be anywhere near.”

“Not so. I'm not afraid to see your face,” exclaimed Ouwyang Ping. “Close.”

The Black Bat looked doubtfully.

“Really!”

The Black Bat exhaled a sigh of relief, then it drew closer to the bed. “Thank God. People have always been afraid to see me. That's why I only go out at night or early in the morning. I need to eat.”

Ouwyang Ping smiled. “Then, how can you help me?” tanyanya. “Dan... why are my friends not with us?”

“Temans-your friends?” muttered Black Bats in doubt. “I don't know. I just saw you. What happened?”

“I remember me and my friends were hosted by the Bukit Merak people, then we were taken to meet our friends who were taken captive, then we were all limp because it turned out we were given drugs. I don't remember anything else.” Ouwyang Ping scowled his forehead miserably.

“For you to be separated from the others. At that time I just saw you about to be taken to Cheng Sam's room. When the person who brought you off guard, I immediately took you and your treasure. I don't know where your friends are.” The Black Bat looked regretful. “Sorry, yes?”

Ouwyang Ping quickly shook his head. She felt ashamed to sound so ungrateful. “No, don't apologize. I'm so grateful that you helped me. But, what are you doing in Bukit Merak?”

Black Bat Face blushing. “I want to take food from their kitchen. Their cooking is very good. I have often gone there secretly. And today I was so happy that they cooked so many party dishes. I ate a few bowls of food. Then I hid until they let their guard down and then sneaked out. That's when I saw you.”

“So you said, I want.. brought to...”.

“Cheng Sam Room,” Black Bat Nod. “She's eyes basket. I'm afraid he's rude to you, let alone you being unconscious. So I brought you.”

Ouwyang Ping's body shivered considering how close he was to becoming a victim of indecent deeds. He is still young, but has understood the behavior of men thanks to the education given by his grandfather. If it wasn't for the Black Bats, it would have been him....

“Why you? You cold?” black Bats are worried.

Ouwyang Ping shook his head. He forced a smile. “I only think of my friends.”

“Later I'll find them,” promise Black Bats. “I have often explored Bukit Merak. I know the ins and outs. Maybe I can find where they're being held.”

“The first time I went there was about five years ago. Of course I was lost because the road there was so complicated. Then I met the boy. He wanted to study silat in addition to his family. When he saw me, he whined to ask me to teach him. In return, he invited me to explore Bukit Merak and tell me places that could be passed without anyone else knowing. He also said, I can come anytime to eat,” the story of the Black Bats is happy.

“That boy...?”

“Chang Fei Yu, son of the God of a Thousand Faces,” says Black Bat. “He's a spoiled and haughty kid, but actually his heart is good. He is very unhappy with his father's advisor, Cheng Sam. I often see them quarrel.”

Ouwyang Ping pondered. It was fitting that the science of lightening Fei Yu's body that he showed at the meeting of the warriors of that time was so great. Apparently he learned on the Black Bats. And, if indeed the words of the Black Bats were true, it meant that they had all misjudged Fei Yu.

The Black Bat watched him happily. “You know? You look a lot like the girl I knew when I was young,” he said.

“O yes?”

“Betul,” nod Black Bats. “When I saw you for the first time, I was shocked. I thought he came back to life and kidnapped Cheng Sam. I finally realized you were much younger than him.”

“Who is your friend?” Ouwyang Ping was interested to hear it.

“She's a very beautiful girl, daughter of a noble. She was married to the young master of the Nada Valley. Reportedly he has died. Her name is Sie Hui Lun.”

Ouwyang Ping gasped in shock. “Hei! That's my mom's name!”

The Black Bat widened its eyes. “So you're this..?”

“My name is Ouwyang Ping, I am from Nada Valley.”

“Gosh! I feel like I know you!” The Black Bat looked at the girl in astonishment. His teary eyes looked happy. With hesitation, he reached out to gently stroke Ouwyang Ping arm.

That elusan made Ouwyang Ping's heart warm. “You're my mom's friend.”

Black Bats blushed. “Yah... actually said friends are also not. Your mother doesn't like me very much. He doesn't like being around me. My face was not like this. This bad face of mine from fighting desperately with an enemy, my voice also changed due to being hit by some kind of poison ten years ago. But your mother used to love your father so much and didn't care about me. Though I.. really like it.” Her face flushed.

Ouwyang Ping looked on pity. She never knew her mother because she died giving birth to her. But he often heard things about his mother, especially from his grandfather. Mr. Ouwyang Cu often recounts the youth of his mother and father. His late mother was touted as a haughty and gluttonous girl. It was fortunate that it did not decline on Ouwyang Ping.

“I want to be your friend, Black Bat. I like you,” said Ouwyang Ping softly.

Black Bat Smile widened. Eyes sparkling. “Really?”

Ouwyang Ping nodded.

“Oh, I'm so happy!” the Black Bat.

“Everyone calls me Ping-er. You can call me that.”

The Black Bat runs downstream. “Ping... Ping-er...,” murmured. Then he turned around and looked at the girl with beaming eyes. “You're so good!”

But Ouwyang Ping's face looked clouded. He thought of his friends who somehow fate in Bukit Merak. What if Cheng Sam—which according to the story Black Bats do not please—damned them. He was really worried thinking about them. Especially Chien Wan.