Death Flute
He's my little brother

The atmosphere of the room became quiet. Everyone was silent, trying to digest this new knowledge in their minds. Many surprises are happening today, many past events are just being revealed today. Sadness and happiness blend into one. Some of them experienced an unspeakable shock.

Mr. Ouwyang Cu cleared his throat. “It's over. My wife is dead. Hui Lun is dead. The obstacle is over. What are you doing now?”

Sui She looked up. His face was covered in tears. “Hui Lun is dead?” whispered. He looked at Ouwyang Kuan, asking for an explanation.

Ouwyang Kuan nodded. “He died giving birth to Ping-er sixteen years ago. That time...” He swallowed and looked doubtfully. “... I want to come to you, Sui She. There is no barrier between us. However. Ping-er's presence makes me doubtful. What if you hate me because I'm not loyal to our love? I betrayed you and Ping-er is proof of my betrayal! I don't want you to hate my innocent daughter.”

“I'm not that kind of person at all!” sergeant Sui She trembled. “I am angry and hurt at Hui Lun and you! But I'm not that bad that I hate innocent children!”

Ouwyang Ping was glued. He's so embarrassed. So actually, he's an unwanted child! Her birth mother has sinned against Chien Wan and her mother, as well as her father! The great sin of separating mother and child for almost twenty years!

Mr. Ouwyang Cu stood up. “I'm the Master of Nada Valley, but an event of this magnitude occurs in my own territory I don't know!”

“Teacher, we make a very big mess.” Sui She stood up and approached Mr. Ouwyang Cu. “Please Master will forgive us.”

Mr. Ouwyang Cu narrowed his eyes. “Your relationship with A Kuan has tarnished the good name of Nada Valley and Wisma Bambu at once. If your father is still alive, he will be disappointed!”

Sui She's tears fell. “I know! I'm so embarrassed!”

“Dad, don't blame Sui She. I am the one at fault in this,” interrupted Ouwyang Kuan quickly.

“Of course!” mister Ouwyang Cu gusar.

“Guru—“

“You don't talk!” tuan Ouwyang's accusation to Sung Cen made the student speechless. “And it's not in your place to apologize to me! You should apologize to your son! The person you have made suffer for so many years!”

Sui She's face was shedding tears that were getting louder and heavier. He approached Chien Wan who seemed frozen in his chair, looking down motionless. She leaned over in front of her son and stroked his hair affectionately.

“My son..,” said Sui She lirih. “You want to forgive your mother? You want to admit me as your real mother?” the door is full of requests.

Slowly Chien Wan raised her head until Sui She could see her face. Chien Wan's eyes were filled with tears. For years she missed a mother, longed for a full family. But why would something that should be happy even make him suffer so much? He did crave a father, but not Ouwyang Kuan! Ouwyang Kuan was the father of the girl he loved so much. The father of Ouwyang Ping! And that meant, Ouwyang Ping was his sister!

“My boy...” Sui She was very surprised to see the look on Chien Wan's face that looked full of suffering.

“So that's why Uncle Sung Cen forbade you..” murmured Sen Khang addressed to Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping.

These words were spoken very slowly, but it was enough for everyone in this room to hear.

Ouwyang Kuan shook his head painfully. He knew that Chien Wan and Ouwyang Ping loved each other. They are almost inseparable. And now find out the fact that they are really brothers. Their love relationship is a forbidden one! He looked at Ouwyang Ping who was sitting silently. The girl's head lowered and her hands were so tightly grasping her harp that her veins poked all over.

“Once you know Chien Wan's relationship with Ping-er, I act straight away.” Sung Cen again gave an explanation. “I go to the Eternal Temple where A Kuan used to pray at the end of each year. I lured him to get my message. Of course the message was very short. I hope that once she receives the message, she will act immediately. I was happy because a few days later Chien Wan and Ping-er were called home. I think the secret is already open and they will soon come to the Bamboo Guesthouse to meet with Sui She. But wait have a wait, six months pass and I can't wait any longer. I also made myself sick and tried to get Chien Wan to see me. Succeeds. Chien Wan is coming. But I never got a chance to tell you this secret. I finally accepted Mr. Luo's offer to move into the mother house. I chose a room in the back garden so I could bring Chien Wan together with Sui She. And it worked!”

“You should have persuaded me to let Sui She consider Chien Wan her son! You already know that Chien Wan is indeed Sui She's real son!” mister Luo, just understood everything.

“Your message is unclear, Sung Cen. It says: pay attention to the center of Chien Wan's life! I knew right away you were referring to his heart thump. I've noticed it, but I can't find any weirdness,” said Ouwyang Kuan.

“You should have seen that locket!”

Ouwyang Kuan smiled bitterly. “Then it's free. Chien Wan asks Ping-er to keep it. He doesn't wear that shirt anymore. And I'm stupid because I never noticed!”

“Clearly, she wore it under the clothes.” Sung Cen nodded.

The atmosphere was back silent. No one said anything. They were too fascinated by that reality. How did all this just happen! And it turns out that everything is not a coincidence. Sung Cen is the brain behind all this. Everything went according to his plan. Perhaps the arrival of Chien Wan to Wisma Bambu is not expected. But Sung Cen had predicted the arrival of a child wearing a pendant and had a birthmark on his back. Since then he has been making plans.

The silence was broken by the sweet twang of the harp.

All were shocked and looked at Ouwyang Ping.

***

“Ping-er Ouwyang Kuan looked at his daughter who was looking down with immense pain.

Ouwyang Ping raised the face that he had been hiding from earlier with his head down. The face was pale as paper. His eyes seem empty. His hand moved slowly over the strings of his harp. Slowly, his lips lifted a smile.

Everyone was surprised to see him, especially his father. He was ready if his daughter cried, even screamed hysterically. But he did not expect to receive his daughter's smile. A smile that made the hearts of everyone who saw it sliced. A smile that contained incredible heartache and shame!

“Ping-er Ouwyang Kuan was extremely afraid. He was afraid that Ouwyang Ping would not be able to accept this fact.

Chien Wan also noticed the girl's smile. Heart's broken. He did not know what to do or what to say to ease the suffering of the girl's heart. And also the suffering of his heart. It itself is broken. His feelings are raging within him. His suffering was endless and increasingly baseless witnessing the destruction of the girl he loved.

“Ping-er, why are you? Speak!” said Mr. Ouwyang Cu firmly.

Ouwyang Ping looked at his grandfather sadly. Then he looked at his father gently. “Dad, you're innocent,” he said. Then he turned his head and looked at Sui She who looked surprised. “Auntie, this is not your fault either. You are victims. Victim of my mother's heartache.”

“Don't say that, Son,” Ouwyang Kuan said sadly. “However she is your mother!”

Ouwyang Ping shook his head. “Daddy is very kind. Even though my mother is guilty of you and Aunt Sui She, Dad still defends her. He looked at his father, then Sui She, and the last one was Chien Wan. The young man was stared at for a long time. Love and suffering were clearly visible in his eyes.

Sui She who originally knew nothing, suddenly understood. Looking at Chien Wan who could not help but look at Ouwyang Ping, and the girl's sorrowful gaze, he understood. It turns out they love each other! How sad Sui She was to see this situation.

“Actually you are a true family. It was my mother's fault that you split up. My mother's sin was too great, causing Sister Wan to have to part with her parents, making Bibi suffer from pain for twenty years, and making Father languish all this time. You have to suffer for so long because of my mother. So great is my mother's sin on you guys.” Ouwyang Ping said in a soft and choked voice.

“Ping-er!” exclaim Ouwyang Kuan could not bear it. Every word her daughter spoke was spoken with pain in mind. Which father would see it?

“Because of that,” continued Ouwyang Ping regardless of his father's appeal, “now Father and Aunt should unite. You have to be a family because that's how it should be!”

The words left everyone in the room aghast. Everyone looked at the girl as if afraid of hearing wrong. Only Chien Wan did not look at him. Only Chien Wan who understood how ill the girl had to say all this.

“Ha ha ha!” Mr. Ouwyang Cu laughed loudly. “My granddaughter is indeed a true swordsman! It really deserves to be a member of the Nada Valley! This kind of soul greatness not everyone has!”

Ouwyang Kuan closed his eyes. Then opened it again and turned to look at the awkward-looking Sui She. The woman's face looked sad and glued.

Ouwyang Ping looked at it and approached. He knelt before Sui She.

“Ping-er!” ouwyang Kuan cried increasingly poignant.

“Do not do this, Son!” Sui She tried to wake the girl.

“Mother's sins fall on her child. If Bibi doesn't want to marry my father, I will live forever to take away my mother's sins. Auntie said she didn't hate me. Therefore, surely Auntie would not mind having me as a stepson. Please, or I won't rise!” Ouwyang Ping's voice was hoarse and faltered.

Sui She looked very misguided. He glanced at his son who was shocked.

“Ping-er correct, Sui She.” Master Luo approached his sister. He secretly preferred this. She was embarrassed by the fact that her sister had children out of wedlock. Married to Ouwyang Kuan will at least help improve Sui She's self-image. At the moment things can still be hidden, but soon everyone will know. Before this problem spreads everywhere, it is better for them to get married.

“Kakak?”

“If you want to marry Ouwyang Kuan, of course I approve of you.” Mr. Luo smiled.

Sung Cen also chimed, “Betul. You guys actually still love each other. Your separation is not due to the loss of love, but due to circumstances. Don't waste the chance to be happy, Sui She, A Kuan.”

However Sui She and Ouwyang Kuan hesitated. They saw the pain getting real on Chien Wan's face. They don't want to make a mistake a second time. Would if they were married, Chien Wan would be happy? What does this have to do with Ping-er?

“You're too much consideration!” sergeant Mr. Ouwyang Cu is irritated.

Ouwyang Kuan sighed. “Sui She, if you really hate me and don't want to see me again. But if you have forgiven me, please listen to Ping-er's plea. Since birth, she has never felt the love of a mother. So...” He was silent, unable to continue his words.

Sui She looked very sad. He is eager to say ‘ya’, but part of his heart is still troubled because painful memories of the past are still imprinted. He looked at the silent Chien Wan with a pale and mute face.

“Chien Wan, say something..”.

Taking a deep breath, Chien Wan looked at her mother. “As for Mom only,” she said slowly.

“Chien Wan...,” said Ouwyang Kuan slowly, “I understand your feelings, Son. Right now you must be devastated. It was all my fault. Your father was a cowardly, weak-hearted man. You all suffer because of me. It must have been hard for you to forgive me and assume all the trouble was over. I don't even dare hope you'll acknowledge me as your father.”.

But Chien Wan shook her head. “All this is destiny,” he said.

“My boy...” Sui She grabbed her son's hand and held it.

Chien Wan's hand squeezed her mother's hand back. “Do your best according to Mother.”

“You don't mind?”

“Of course not.”

“And you want to acknowledge your father? Because if we get married, you have not only your mother but your father. You call me mom, and what do you call her?” Sui She looked at her son expectantly.

Chien Wan sighed. He looked at the man he had always respected as the father of the girl he loved. His view must be changed. This man is his father!

“Sure I'll call Dad.”

Ouwyang Kuan's face was beaming. Her happiness is that her son admits it can't be hidden.

Ouwyang Ping was still kneeling. Hearts languish. Of course he is happy for Chien Wan who has found his family. But that happiness must be redeemed by the fact that Chien Wan is now her brother. It's not worth it! Heart's broken!

“Ping-er, rise. I surrender! I will marry your father and be your mother.” Sui She raised the girl and looked at her warmly.

A tear slid down the girl's cheek. “Can I call you Mom?” her question is heartwarming.

Sui She's eyes were wet. The hand of Ouwyang Ping was held tightly. He was very compassionate to the girl, as well as amazed at her fortitude. When his heart was broken because he had to separate from his lover, the girl had time to think of the happiness of others.

“Of course, My son.”

No one is not moved to see all this. All eyes in the room were wet watching this heartwarming event. How tough is Ouwyang Ping! He who loves and adores Chien Wan must now accept this harsh reality. And he took it with determination, making everyone admire him.

“Well, now you should all immediately prepare for the wedding party! We're just in the Nada Valley!” said Mr. Ouwyang Cu arrogantly.

This statement cannot be disputed by all. They could only smile resignedly at the old man's decision.