Death Flute
The Secrets of the Past

That cynical and sharp voice made everyone turn their heads and stare in astonishment, especially those who had never seen it. The moustached old man and the white beard were wearing gold colored clothes. Dashing and fierce with a cynical face and sharp eyes.

“Dad!” ouwyang Kuan was surprised. “Why is Dad here?”

Mr. Ouwyang Cu snorted sharply. “You and your daughter just left without saying goodbye to me! I was so shocked when Fu Ming told me you went to the Bamboo Guesthouse. I followed you right then and there. I know something's wrong!”

Ouwyang Ping approached. His face looked worried.

“Grandpa!”

“Teacher!”

This ‘guru’ call is spoken simultaneously by three people at once. Chien Wan, Sui She, and... Uncle Khung!

The presence of Uncle Khung there surprised them even more. Especially his greeting to Mr. Ouwyang Cu. How could Uncle Khung call a teacher to Mr. Ouwyang Cu?

“Uncle Khung?” exclaimed Mister Luo as he approached. “What are you doing? What are you saying?”

Uncle Khung did not answer. He approached Mr. Ouwyang and knelt before him. He prostrated and banged his forehead on the floor.

“I have become a very unfilial student! I have neglected my duty to serve Master for twenty years! Please Master punish me!”

Mr. Ouwyang Cu ruffled his waist. “Your punishment will follow, Sung Cen! Now tell me what really happened?”

“Sung Cen?” the Ouwyang Kuan. He immediately approached Uncle Khung and grabbed him and raised him. “You really Sung Cen?”

Uncle Khung did a deed that greatly shocked everyone present there. He held his own jaw, pulled the skin on the jaw and tore it apart in a jerking motion. Looks like a handsome face and is still young—about the age of Mr. Luo. Very different from Uncle Khung's already wrinkled face.

“You...! You trickster! You're not Uncle Khung!” Master Luo was shocked and furious. His face was red. “It turns out you're the Valley of Tones who infiltrated our residence! It's worth it that you desperately asked me to send Chien Wan there!”

Uncle Khung aka Sung Cen sighed. “I have indeed infiltrated. But not with bad intent.”

“What happened exactly, Sung Cen?” asked Mr. Ouwyang Cu upset. “Thank you for doing something beyond my knowledge! I even thought you were dead!”

“Before I explain everything, let me introduce someone to you, Guru.” Sung Cen pulled Chien Wan who could only be glued and unable to say anything. He was still in shock because the person he loved for ten years was not what he thought.

“What the fuck? He's Chien Wan! I already know him!”

“Teacher,” reload Sung Cen respectfully, “introduce, this young man is Ouwyang Chien Wan. Your granddaughter.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere there was instantly silent. The Luo Family was fixated in disbelief. This surprise was too incredible to be believed. Ouwyang Ping was devastated, but still could not believe it. Meng Huan just shut up. Mr. Ouwyang Cu looked on with narrowed eyes. While Chien Wan himself sculpts can not say anything.

Only Ouwyang Kuan and Sui She looked unsurprised. They looked at each other with wet eyes.

Mr. Luo looked at Sung Cen, then his gaze turned towards Ouwyang Kuan and his sister who looked at each other longingly. Instantly understanding hit his head, making his face pias.

“It looks like we all need an explanation.”

***

They sit in the sitting room. Master and Madam Luo sat at the head of the room with Ting Ting sitting by their side. Meng Huan sat down beside Ting Ting. Mr. Ouwyang Cu sat next to Ouwyang Kuan and Sung Cen. Luo Sui She did not want to go all the way from Chien Wan, then she sat down by Chien Wan's side while Sen Khang was on the other side. Ouwyang Ping sat before them with a battered face.

Ouwyang Kuan started his story.

“More than twenty years ago, Sui She came to Nada Valley to study music. Her beauty and agility captivated my heart. Unable to prevent, I fell in love. I am so happy because he loves me too. Long story short, we were in a relationship in secret. But long ago finally everyone in the Nada Valley knew as well. Including mother.

“Ibuku—may his spirit be calm in the afterlife—is a very hard-hearted and grumpy person. She disapproved of my relationship with Sui She because she wanted me to marry Sie Hui Lun. She liked Hui Lun for a long time because Hui Lun was the daughter of a high court official. After all Hui Lun's mother was still closely related to my mother.

“Finally I was frank with my mother and Hui Lun. That I only wanted Sui She and. To be honest we've gone too far and resulted in Sui She conceiving. My mom's really mad. So did Hui Lun. It turned out that Hui Lun loved me and always wanted to marry me. His love scared me. She is a hard and cruel girl. He did not hesitate to justify all means to get his wish. He had high-scientific friends who could easily influence him to harm Sui She.

“The threat of Hui Lun and my mother rendered me helpless. So when they asked me to choose between cutting ties with Sui She and letting her go safely, or continuing our relationship with the risk of losing her life. I chose the former, but asked for time to take care of Sui She until our son was born safely. After that I promised to return Sui She to Wisma Bambu and immediately marry Hui Lun.

“I didn't say anything about this matter to Sui She. Sui She thought the problem was sorted out and our relationship was fine. He asked me to marry him and I. was forced to lie and say that we would get married once our son was born—“.

“But I lost my baby!” sui She is angry. Anxious as if afraid of losing, he grabbed Chien Wan's hand and clasped it tightly. “When I gave birth, I had a hard time and she wouldn't ask anyone for help except Sung Cen. I ran out of energy and only had time to look at my baby and check it for a while before I faintedI'm lucky I had a chance to see his birthmark, otherwise I wouldn't have recognized him! Once I realized, my son was gone. I was so angry and hit once!”

Ouwyang Kuan looked at the woman with poignant eyes. “I'm sorry! I have no other choice.”

“What do you mean: have no other choice?” tukas Tuan Ouwyang. “You can always meet me! But these? You even sent Sui She home without my permission! I was shocked when your mother told me that Sui She had gone home. I couldn't prevent it because Sui She had already left. Now I just found out!”

Ouwyang Kuan let out a long breath. “I know that now. But at that time, my late mother always told me that Dad did not appreciate me and was disappointed in me. I... I don't want Dad to know what I did to Sui She.”

Ouwyang Kuan's face reddened in embarrassment. “Dad was never there for me. I was always left with my mother. We were never close. I don't want Dad to be more disappointed with me.”

“You're really stupid! It is your mother who caused us to not be close! You should have known! If you want to talk, my room is always open!”

Ouwyang Kuan closed his eyes. He never realized that it was his mother who created the gap between him and his father. After his mother died, he realized it.

Sung Cen stood up and approached his teacher. “Teacher, calm yourself. We'll all open today. Don't blame A Kuan.”

“And you!” hardik Mr. Ouwyang. “What is your business in this? You're no better than my son! You left your wife pregnant, making the relationship between Nada Valley and Peacock Hill deteriorate. The envoy from Bukit Merak came and begged to meet you because your wife Cin Mei has given birth to a daughter. But you don't exist! I even thought you were on Merak Hill! Now think, what do you think of your brother-in-law the Thousand Faces God's view of the Valley of Tones!”

Mr. Ouwyang's shout surprised the young people there.

“God of a Thousand Faces sister-in-law Uncle Khung—eh, Uncle Sung Cen?” exclaimed Sen Khang without being able to hold back.

“You know him?” Sung Cen was shocked.

“Ya, we—“

“Wait a minute!” sela Mr. Luo. “That problem will be later. I want to know how the story continues Mr. Ouwyang Kuan.” He turned his head and looked closely at Ouwyang Kuan. “Mr Ouwyang, please continue!”

Ouwyang Kuan continued, “That night, I panicked to see Sui She who seemed difficult to give birth. I ran to find my mother to ask for help. But apparently, I found out my mother was with Hui Lun. They're working on a plan to kill my baby so that later, there's no barrier in our family.

“I'm scared. I don't want them to hurt my son. Finally I decided that they absolutely must not know that night Sui She gave birth. So I begged Sung Cen, who happened to be visiting, to take my son to the Bamboo House to his grandfather's protection. I want my son to be in a safe place, and for me the safest place is to be with his grandfather and his mother who will follow soon, because I intend to send Sui She home a few days later. I also gave a leontin with a picture of a hong bird as a reminder that he still has a father who will always wait for him.” Ouwyang Kuan looked at Chien Wan sadly.

“I came that day about to visit Master because it has been a long time since I did not return to Nada Valley,” Sung Cen said later. “After marriage I stayed at Bukit Merak with my wife. I didn't know that my brother was going through a lot of trouble. After I found out, I couldn't stay silent. Me and A Kuan are very close, we love each other like siblings— even more. My devotion to A Kuan and the Valley of Tones exceeds everything. Even my own family I am not.

“Then when A Kuan pleaded for me to bring the baby to the Bamboo Guesthouse and asked me to explain everything to Mr Luo Senior—father Sui She, I immediately responded.

“That night I took the baby away. I didn't expect my departure to be overshadowed by someone with very high knowledge. That guy was always trying to hurt me. I had to hide often and find another way to outwit the guy. It took almost a month to reach the Bamboo Forest.

“I hadn't gotten into the forest when that person suddenly appeared and attacked me. The intelligence of that person was extraordinary, especially the light science of his body. I tried to fight and protect the baby. But I lost to him. He hurt me so badly. I finally fell with injuries all over my body. He thought I was dead at that moment.

“He was going to kill the baby, but the baby was crying. He hesitated and finally left. Maybe he thought for a long time the baby would die alone. But I'm not dead. I couldn't stand up, so I continued on my way on all fours.

“When I was in the Bamboo Forest, I couldn't take it anymore. That's when I saw a woman searching for firewood. He approached me. I then handed the baby along with the Leontin A Kuan, and asked him to deliver the baby to the Bamboo House. I fainted myself.”

Sung Cen ended the story.

“Reacted so!” Ouwyang Kuan stood up and embraced his brother with a full day. “I'm so worried because you vanished without a trace. I don't know how you're doing. I asked Hua Liu to drive Sui She home. When Hua Liu came back, I asked her if she saw you and found out about you. Hua Liu knew nothing.

“Hui Lun heard I was worried about you. He secretly laughed at me. On the night of our bride, she got drunk and told me that she had people follow you and kill you! Turns out he knew everything we were doing that night. I was so angry with him! I hate him even more!”

Sounded a gasp. All turned their heads towards Ouwyang Ping who looked so pale and struck. Ouwyang Kuan was stunned. He's too rash. He forgot there was Ouwyang Ping, the daughter of Hui Lun.

“But I'm not dead,” said Sung Cen calmly. “I fainted with a body full of wounds. When I came to, I was taken care of inside the cottage by an old man named Uncle Khung. He had just retired from his job as a senior servant at the Bamboo House. He was old and sick, but apparently he understood the treatment. I slowly recovered.

“After almost a year of severe injuries, I recovered. I'm trying to find out about the baby. I finally knew the woman had never delivered the baby to Wisma Bambu. I also knew that Sui She had returned and I was shocked to find out that she was suffering from a mental disorder and memory loss. I tried to find the baby as hard as I could, but I didn't find it either.

“I have no face to meet A Kuan for having lost his son, so I do not return to the Valley of Nada. I went to Bukit Merak to see my wife. He died and took my daughter with him. I was devastated and had no more hope.

“When I went back to Uncle Khung's cottage, it turned out that he had died of an illness. I was really desperate and came up with this crazy idea. I mastered the science of disguise and was able to make a skin mask that resembles the face of others very well. The Thousand Faces God himself taught me. So I decided to go undercover to become Uncle Khung and begged to work at the Bamboo House. I buried the body of Uncle Khung myself near an old tree not far from the cottage. Since the place was secluded, no one would have guessed that there was a grave there. Anyway I didn't make a headstone for him.

“That's the only thing I can do. At least, I can take care of Sui She secretly. I always try my best to work, not only so that Mr. Luo does not suspect, but also because I really respect this family.”

Mr. Luo was stunned to look at Sung Cen whom he had thought was Uncle Khung. During these twenty years, Sung Cen has never done anything wrong to his family, and vice versa. His devotion is truly amazing.

“What about Chien Wan? How did Uncle get to know about him? Doesn't he himself not know who he is?” sela Sen Khang's.

Sung Cen looked at Chien Wan who was sculpting. His heart was saddened to see how shocked and devastated the young man was. Then he looked at Ouwyang Ping who was also silent with a pale face. He sighed long.

“I don't know. I don't care about it either. But one day I got a chance to see her necklace and birthmark. I was so surprised at that time. Especially when I found out that he loved music. That's when I learned the power of destiny. It was fate that made her adoptive mother sick and told her that she was not her biological child. Destiny also moved her foster mother's mouth to tell her to come to the Bamboo House. And above all, it was fate that made Chien Wan have extraordinary musical abilities that indeed decreased in the people of Nada Valley. And I.. by all means try to get Chien Wan to go to Nada Valley,” Sung Cen explained.

“Why didn't you tell us from the beginning about Chien Wan's origins?” asked Madam Luo who had been silent since.

“If from the beginning I say, will things get better? What if Master Luo refuses his presence? Don't you all know the real problem? You guys will assume I made it up. Moreover, Sui She herself lost her memory and could not be questioned.” Sung Cen shook his head sadly.

Master and Madam Luo looked at her, realizing that what Sung Cen said was reasoned.

“I tried to nurture his love of music and from the beginning tried to instill a love of Nada Valley. That's where his destiny is. He's bleeding Ouwyang. He should be there. That's where the roots are!”