Death Flute
Uncle Khung

Mr. Luo turned out to be very serious with his intention of teaching silat to Chien Wan. He trained Chien Wan in the same way as when he trained his two children. So began Chien Wan to practice horses and the basics of silat with Ting Ting and Sen Khang.

Among the three of them, Sen Khang was the most proficient. He was the first to study silat and he was very intelligent. He then advanced ahead of the other two children. He has begun to train more complicated styles.

Chien Wan practiced diligently although he honestly did not like to study silat. Actually he was less enthusiastic about Mr. Luo's offer, but he had to accept it so as not to be considered ungrateful. However, it turns out that he is very smart and talented. Master Luo's eyes were truly not wrong when judging him.

One afternoon, Chien Wan was looking for a twig for firewood. He still does his job as usual—help the kitchen waiter. Although he had been made a disciple, he still considered himself a servant in the Bamboo House. He even kept calling ‘tuan and madam’ to Mr and Mrs Luo, not ‘guru and aunty’ as he should.

It was already dark because in addition to the afternoon, the weather that day was also a bit cloudy. Chien Wan quickly gathered the twigs into one and tied them. At first glance he looked around. The name is indeed the Bamboo Forest, but the trees here are not only bamboo. There were large, lush trees, making the situation inside this forest dark.

The wind is blowing very hard. Chien Wan quickly picked up the branches that had been tied up and shouldered them. He turned around and headed towards the Bamboo House.

That's when he heard a beautiful voice.

Chien Wan stopped the move. The branches of wood fell down and he was stunned on the spot. How sweet that sound is. High screeching, alternating tones. The rhythm is beautiful. Chien Wan recognized it as a folk song that used to be sung by girls in her village. It was just that this song sounded much more beautiful than when the girls were singing.

Without realizing it, he set foot looking for the origin of the voice. Not far from where he was looking for firewood, someone was sitting under a tree. It turns out that guy was Uncle Khung.

Chien Wan was stunned. It was Uncle Khung who made such a sound that aroused his feelings. Uncle Khung blew a long slender bamboo stick that was about the same thickness as an adult's thumb. It turned out that it was that thing that gave off such a touching rhythm.

Uncle Khung doesn't ignore it. He played another song. If the song rhymed cheerfully, this time the song he played was so heartbreaking.

Chien Wan was flabbergasted to hear that strand of slashing tone. The tone is sometimes soft, sometimes hard, sometimes just like *******. The song voiced the cry of the blower's heart, voicing sadness, anger, hatred, and also loneliness. How moving!

Chien Wan's feet seemed to move on their own, stepping closer to Uncle Khung. He had no intention of harassing Uncle Khung in the slightest. He just wanted to look at Uncle Khung who kept blowing his flute, staring at Uncle Khung's fingers twitching around the small holes on the flute shaft.

Uncle Khung finished the game, then lowered his flute and took a deep breath. He turned his head and only realized Chien Wan's presence. Eyes squinting. “What are you doing here? Soon there will be a storm, there home!” expel ferociously. He slipped his flute into the belt.

Chien Wan's face flushed. He stammered, “Sorry, Uncle... I just want to listen to music...”.

Just then, a beam of light struck in the distance followed by a thunderous booming sound. And before Chien Wan and Uncle Khung could do anything, it was raining very hard and suddenly.

As fast as lightning Uncle Khung pulled Chien Wan's arm and dragged her away. Chien Wan was unable to rebel despite his arm pain, because Uncle Khung's check was so strong—hal which was rather surprising to people his age. Due to heavy rain, Chien Wan's vision was blurred so he did not know where to take it.

Uncle Khung knew for sure the direction he wanted to go, namely his own hut which was located not far from the main residence of Wisma Bambu. His right hand still blocked Chien Wan's arm while his free hand pushed the door of the hut. Then he led Chien Wan in.

Chien Wan was standing in the middle of that small room with her body shaking restraining the cold. Without saying a word Uncle Khung entered into the small room that seemed to be his bedroom, and soon came out again with a thick blanket.

“Open your shirt! You'll get sick later.”

Uncle Khung's eyes widened looking at him. He quickly blocked Chien Wan's two shoulders and turned the boy's body around.

“Pa... Uncle Khung...!”

Chien Wan's panicked voice resuscitated Uncle Khung. Instantly, he removed his hand from Chien Wan's shoulder. His eyes were shining strangely. Then he took the thick blanket he had brought earlier and wrapped Chien Wan's body with it.

“Uncle?”

“You like music, Chien Wan?” sela Uncle Khung.

Chien Wan was shocked. This time Uncle Khung spoke in a friendly tone. The usually stiff face was soft and full of affection.

“If you like,” continued Uncle Khung without feeling the need to listen to Chien Wan's answer, “I can teach you to blow the flute.”

Flute! The pair of gloomy Chien Wan eyes turned luminous. Blowing flutes! Play the song like Uncle Khung did!

“How?”

“Mau, Uncle! I like music a lot! Back when in the village, there were people who were good at playing the harp, I like to come to listen to it,” Chien Wan's story is full of enthusiasm. This was the first time he had spoken all along and was as excited as that.

Uncle Khung's eyes were glazed. “Destiny... this is indeed destiny..”.

Chien Wan was confused to hear that. “What destiny, Uncle?”

Uncle Khung shook his head strongly to drive away the tears in his eyes. His attitude changed, returning to the way it was. “If you really want to learn to blow the flute, you have to train hard. Are you up to it?”

The firmness of Uncle Khung's voice made Chien Wan straighten the body. “Couple, Uncle!”

“Good!” nod Uncle Khung satisfied. “From tomorrow, at sunset, you come to this hut. We'll start your lessons as soon as possible. You have to catch up with you.”

Chien Wan listened to him half confused. Missed how did Uncle Khung mean it? But he did not ask further. He nodded obediently.

“And there is one more thing, Chien Wan,” added Uncle Khung. His voice was so resolute that it made Chien Wan wary. “You cannot tell anyone about your training. Later when the time comes, I'll tell you when you can be honest. Understand?”

This was not at all difficult for Chien Wan. He never talks much. What was rather difficult was to prevent Sen Khang and Ting Ting from following her. But all of that can be arranged. Chien Wan really wanted to learn to blow the flute. “Alright, Uncle.”

Seriate.