Death Flute
Kemball to the Valley of Tones

Ouwyang Ping had already been calmed down, but Chien Wan's heart was still agitated. How can he convince Uncle Khung? The old man was very stubborn. Uncle Khung never even wanted to see him again. His attitude is very clear. He did not want to approve Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping!

Chien Wan, who was never good at speech, did not know how to convince Uncle Khung.

This matter somehow spread to Master and Madam Luo's ears. They are very concerned about all this. Actually they were more inclined to side with Uncle Khung. However they also harbored the same dislike towards the Nada Valley. But seeing the depression of Chien Wan, they did not have the heart.

Mr. Luo called Chien Wan to his study. Besides wanting to ask about Chien Wan's dispute with Uncle Khung, he also wanted to ask about the information Chien Wan got about his sister.

Chien Wan explained the information he got from Mr. Ouwyang Cu and Kam Sien calmly. When he was called Mister Luo, he already knew the direction of their conversation later on.

“My sister is crazy for a broken heart?” muttered Mister Luo disappointed. He was expecting something more dramatic. Just because a broken heart can go crazy and lose memory, there's no way her sister's that weak! After all, he had also suspected that between Sui She and Ouwyang Kuan must have been a relationship.

“That's the information I got, Big Lord.”

“Who did you get that information from?”

“Part of Brother Kam Sien, one of the Four Silver Ponds. More from Guru.”

“Teacher? You mean, Mr Ouwyang Cu?”

“Yes. It turned out that from the beginning Master had suspected that the Great Lord had brought me to the Valley of Tones to seek information about Miss Sui She.”

Mr. Luo was aghast. He had heard that Ouwyang Cu was the great grandfather of the Persilatan World who was famous for his kung fu skills and sharpness of mind. Unexpectedly their hidden intent could be easily guessed by him. Yet....

“He can tell, did you say something to him?” asked Mr. Luo suspiciously.

“No, Mr.”

Chien Wan was honest. It was the trait that Master Luo of Chien Wan liked the most. If he says no, it means no. If Chien Wan says that his sister is crazy because of a broken heart, that's exactly what happens, unless the Nada Valley people lie to him. For that Master Luo could not say anything more.

“Yes already then,” muttered Mr. Luo gave up.

“How is Miss Sui She, Mr?”

Mr. Luo smiled, pleased that Chien Wan still had attention for Sui She despite not knowing her. “Two years ago he was very calm. Mercifully. I'm glad he never went berserk and raved again.”

Chien Wan nodded in relief.

Mr. Luo frowned, pondering. “Chien Wan, I heard you had a disagreement with Uncle Khung. Is that right?”

Chien Wan was not surprised at all. He suspected Sen Khang had told his father. He nodded.

“Don't take heart every utterance of Uncle Khung. You yourself know that he is indeed very stiff.” Mr. Luo calmed down.

“Ya, Mr.”

“Since he was so weird. He has been serving at Wisma Bambu since I was a young man. He was quiet, but very diligent and loyal. As I remember it, he looked old. Surprisingly until now his face has not changed much.” Master Luo laughed while shaking her head. “She had said goodbye to retirement about a year before the birth of Sen Khang. I allowed him and gave him the old cottage where he lived until now—before he lived in Wisma Bambu, just like other servants. But about two years later, about ten months after Sen Khang was born, he came back and said he wanted to go back to work. And since then he's just been getting weird. He did not want to return to live in the Bamboo House, but went back from his cottage here. He doesn't want to talk at length. Never even talk if you don't need to.”

Chien Wan just silently heard it. He never heard of this.

“What I mean is, every action of Uncle Khung is all unexpected. It may be that when you guys quarrel, he is in condition ‘takpangat’ it. Later also he will be back to consciousness.”

In a way, Mr. Luo's words calmed Chien Wan's heart. She also smiled a little.

***

It turned out that what Master Luo said was indeed true. About a week after the dispute, Uncle Khung returned to his normal state. He no longer dodged when Chien Wan visited him. He no longer showed a strict attitude towards Ouwyang Ping. Not friendly, but not too dirty. Unremarkable. But it is like that. No one was surprised to see it.

Chien Wan was very pleased. He no longer thought about the dispute. Uncle Khung is no longer his mind. It was precisely Ting Ting now that worried her. The girl was no longer openly showing her feelings, but the hope remained. Especially when he got the news that Uncle Khung did not like Ouwyang Ping. The hope of the girl grew bigger and bigger.

This situation made Chien Wan worried. Very worried.

Fortunately, a few days later, the Bamboo Guesthouse arrived. Fu Ming and Lo Hian came to pick up Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping on Ouwyang Kuan's orders. It had been nearly four months since the two young men left from the Nada Valley. Never before had Ouwyang Kuan parted with his daughter during that time. He's very homesick.

The arrival of Fu Ming and Lo Hian was welcomed by Master Luo. Their purpose and purpose can also be understood by him. So even though his heart was heavy to let Chien Wan go, he had to let her go.

Sen Khang, Ting Ting, and Meng Huan could not do much either. They knew there was no point holding Chien Wan back at the Bamboo Guesthouse.

Before leaving, Chien Wan visits Uncle Khung at his cottage. Uncle Khung was sitting on the front porch.

“Uncle...”.

“Four Silver Tambur came to pick you up, right?” tukas Uncle khung without looking at Chien Wan.

In Chien Wan's heart was somewhat astonished because Uncle Khung knew about it. “Ya.”

“Ya. You better leave now.”

“I'd like to apologize, Uncle. I'm sorry for that time,” said Chien Wan slowly.

“No one can change your mind, right? Not even me!” grunts Uncle Khung.

“Sorry, Uncle.”

Chien Wan was flabbergasted. “Uncle...”.

“Please promise!”

“Yes. I promise,” said Chien Wan weakly.

Uncle Khung took off the check. “Good. We split up here. I'm not taking you. Soon we will meet again.”

Uncle Khung's voice was so certain that Chien Wan could not refute it.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping went with Fu Ming and Lo Hian. Sen Khang, Ting Ting, and Meng Huan drove them all the way outside the Bamboo Forest. They continued to wave their hands sadly.

Ouwyang Ping turned his head to look at Chien Wan. “Kak, have you said goodbye to Uncle Khung?”

Chien Wan nodded.

“Why not invite me? I want to say goodbye to him too!” Ouwyang Ping pouted.

Chien Wan's forehead wrinkled. “It is better not.”

Ouwyang Ping would have argued again if he had not remembered that Uncle Khung did not like him and did not approve of him with Chien Wan. All this really confused him. This time, he found that someone did not like him. He had never had any such trouble before. Everybody likes it. Even Ting Ting who had been jealous of her was now friends with her. Then how could Uncle Khung possibly hate him so much without knowing him?

Seeing Ouwyang ping's worried face, Chien Wan patted his shoulder at a glance. “I told you not to take care of Uncle Khung's actions. He is so.”

Fu Ming approached. “Nona Ping-er, have you been all right?” tanyakanya. All the members of the Four Silver Tamburs adored Ouwyang Ping and treated him as their darling. They often felt worried thinking about that young girl without experience in the martial World. Even though they knew that Chien Wan was protecting him, they were still unable to remove the anxiety from their hearts.

Ouwyang Ping laughed sweetly. “Sure I'm fine, Uncle Fu!”

“Your father is very worried,” added Lo Hian.

“Are Dad and Grandpa okay?”

“In addition to worrying Miss, they are not lacking anything,” replied Lo Hian laughing.

“I can't wait to see Dad!” Ouwyang Ping said happily. All this time he didn't realize how much he missed his father. He was very happy because soon he would be able to see his father back, as well as the Valley of Tone that he loved.

Chien Wan said nothing more. He was also happy to return to the Nada Valley. For some reason, even though he first lived in Wisma Bambu, he always felt the Valley of Tone is his real home. Then he glanced at Ouwyang Ping. Maybe because of him....

***

Ouwyang Kuan stared at the shabby piece of paper in his hand. His forehead is wrinkled and trying to understand the implied meaning behind the short message ‘note the life center of Chien Wan!’

The paper fell into his hands as he was going to the Eternal Temple, a Buddhist temple located a few hours away from the Nada Valley. Not many know that since young, at the end of each year, he likes to visit the Eternal Temple led by a monk named Monk Hung Chi. He loved to be there to pray and calm his troubled heart.

When he was young he came to the temple accompanied by his brothers, one of his father's disciples who was very close to him. But after his brother died a dozen years ago, he always went alone.

Monk Hung Chi knew him well. The monk is less than 60 years old. It was the monk who founded the Eternal Temple about 40 years ago. At that time he was young, but already had impressive wisdom. He left the monastery where he had been raised as a monk from birth to establish a temple in a secluded place to appease the souls of the wanderers.

He saw Ouwyang Kuan for the first time when the young man was twelve years old. It had a profound effect on the young man. He saw Ouwyang Kuan as a very gentle and kind-hearted young man with a rather weak character. As the only son of the illustrious heir to the realm, his parents expected too much from him.

When Ouwyang Kuan was twenty years old, the Hung Chi Monk saw the burden and deep sorrow in the young man. For the first time, he came alone.

Soon enough, the Hung Chi Monk heard that Ouwyang Kuan was married and had a child. But never once did Ouwyang Kuan take his wife and son to the Eternal Temple. He still comes alone.

The monk Hung Chi never bullied him and never wanted to. He was very happy if the existence of this temple gives peace to Ouwyang Kuan.

Ouwyang Kuan indeed felt peace in that place. That's why he keeps coming. No one in the Nada Valley knew this habit, and it calmed him down because he did not want anyone to follow him. Including his daughter. He simply said that he had a job to do and then disappeared for a day at the end of each year. After that he returned to the Valley of Tones with a more peaceful soul.

That day he returned to the Eternal Temple and prayed there. He was so sharp that he didn't realize someone was watching him. When he finished, he met the Hung Chi Monk to greet him. Then he pondered for a moment in the garden of the Eternal Temple. When he finished, he made a donation and left the place.

Usually nothing happens. But that day he felt followed by someone. He was alert and turned around. And the assumption is right. A man dressed in all black attacked him with a shrewd kung fu movement.

Ouwyang Kuan dodged and repelled calmly. He himself is not a weak man. His silat science is very extraordinary because as the heir of the Nada Valley he is obliged to train the magic sciences typical of the Nada Valley.

For a while they fought. The fight was exciting and their standing was balanced for a few moments. But soon it was seen that Ouwyang Kuan's kungfu was far superior that the person in black was pressed. Ouwyang Kuan continued to urge without any intention of harming. He just wanted to know the identity of his attacker.

“Who are you? Why attack me?” snarled Ouwyang Kuan sharply.

The man did not answer. However, he threw something beside Ouwyang Kuan. Almost hit the side of Ouwyang Kuan's head if only he didn't dodge. When Ouwyang Kuan dodged it was used by the man in black clothes to describe the escape.

Ouwyang Iuan did not pursue. He feels confused. Where did that guy come from? The kungfu is pretty good and looks foreign. He turned around, intending to research the secret weapon that person was using. He approached that thing which was now stuck on a tree. It was a secret weapon in the form of a purple feathered arrow.

This is the secret weapon of the Peacock Hill! Ouwyang Kuan was shocked.

He was more astonished to see a small piece of paper folded into a very small and stuck on the secret weapon. Curiously he pulled out the secret weapon and unfolded the paper.

There's writing in it. It sounds short: pay attention to the center of Chien Wan's life!

Ouwyang Kuan brought the paper along with the secret weapon to the Nada Valley. He did not tell anyone about this incident. However, it prompted him to immediately send the members of the Four Silver Tamburs to call home Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping.