Death Flute
The Past of Sung Cen III

Chang Cin Te entered accompanied by his son and a young girl dressed in bhiksuni. They saluted Pendekar Sung politely. Fei Yu seemed misbehaved at the thought that a few months ago he had once challenged Swordsman Sung to a fight, in a way that if remembered now, was so embarrassing!

Chien Wan and Sen Khang were surprised to see the young man present. Fei Yu himself smiled and saluted which the two of them immediately replied. But they had no chance to speak.

“Greetings, Mr. Chang. What an honor to be visited by you all.” Swordsman Sung greeted them kindly.

“We have a need with you,” Chang Cin Te said. His eyes turned to look at Sung Cen who was standing behind Pendekar Sung. He stared with burning anger.

Sung Cen did not see it. His gaze was fixed on the young girl. His face gradually turned pale and his body trembled. The girl's face was not unfamiliar, very reminiscent of someone. Someone he loved in the past. His wife!

So the girl is....

“A Ming, greet your father!” mr. Chang's orders were stiff.

A Ming did not do his uncle's orders. He just kept silent with a hard expression staring at Sung Cen. His body was stiff and challenging. Highlight his eyes were full of hatred so that made Sung Cen shudder to look at him.

“A Ming!”

Hardikan Mr. Chang resuscitated A Ming. The girl immediately clenched her hands together in front of her chest, saluting in the manner she used to do at the monastery. Not a word was said in his mouth.

“A Ming's... Your name is A Ming?” Sung Cen approached the girl with a trembling body. Although his knees were limp, he forced them to approach the girl. Her voice is raucous. “You....my daughter?”

“True!” Mr. Chang sharply replied. “She's your daughter who you wasted twenty years ago!”

Sung Cen looked over. The pain was clearly visible on his face. “You said they already...”.

“When you came, my sister just died a few months ago. I'm very angry and don't want you to know that your son is still alive. I want to make you suffer like you did to my sister! The fact is your son is still alive and I took him to the Monastery of Compassion. Cin Mei asked me!”

Sung Cen was hit hard. He staggered and almost fell if only Sen Khang— who happened to be near— did not break it. “Cin... Cin Mei hates me so much...?”

“Do not kotori memories of my mother by saying her name!”

A Ming's words sounded sharp and hateful.

Sung Cen swallowed his saliva, looking at his daughter. The girl's face was as beautiful as her mother's, but her radiance was different from her mother's. Cin Mei used to be a cheerful and spoiled girl. Her appearance was luxurious and graceful. Their daughter was completely opposite. This girl is full of hate. The rigidity and hardness of her face obscured the beauty she possessed.

“You have no right to mention his name! Right now I'm coming here because you owe me and Uncle Te an explanation anyway. I demand an explanation as to why you would prefer to leave your family and let my mother die miserable!”

“A Ming, be patient first!” denounce Mr. Chang.

A Ming immediately came to his senses. His anger froze and his attitude returned cold. He closed his mouth and spoke no more.

Sung Cen looked at him painfully. “You all do need an explanation.”

Swordsman Sung interceded by allowing them all to sit down. They all sat in their own places. All eyes were focused on Sung Cen, except A Ming. The girl silently remained silent with a straight forward look.

Sung Cen begins his story. The same story he revealed in the guest room of Wisma Bambu some time ago. Of course he did not reveal in detail the journey of love Ouwyang Kuan and Sui She. What he reveals more is the story of himself trying desperately to protect the baby, as well as the story of how he was seriously injured.

With the injuries he had sustained, it was impossible for him to go anywhere. He is not even able to take care of himself. If there was no real Uncle Khung, there was no way he could survive. He would have died if the old man had not helped him.

“But upon arrival, I was told that my wife and son were dead. I was devastated and my spirit was gone. Since I have lost my family, I decided to disappear for a while until my brother's son can find.” Sung Cen looked at his silent daughter with a grim face. “Really I don't mean to waste my responsibility on you and your mother. If only I knew you were still around, I would take you with me and take care of you.

A Ming did not look at Sung Cen. He kept looking straight ahead.

“Aiya!” Mr. Chang sighed loudly. His stiff heart weakened hearing the unexpected information. He understands Sung Cen's desperation and his decision to disappear. It must have been Sung Cen's world was destroyed. Failed in the task, lost his wife and child at once. Failed as a student, failed as a husband, failed as a father.

“Why are you back? Why don't you keep disappearing?” A Ming finally spoke. He finally looked at Sung Cen. His eyes showed trembling.

Sung Cen felt his throat choked. “Because I finally managed to fulfill my duties as a member of Nada Valley. I managed to unite my brother with his son. That's why I came back.”

“Not because you want to look for me?”

“Nona.” Sen Khang felt he could not bear to not comment. His steady and authoritative voice made all eyes turn towards him. A Ming was stunned looking at him. “Uncle Sung didn't look for you because he thought you were gone. Did you forget, Mr Chang said that you and your mother are dead? Uncle Sung trusted him because he felt that there was no way Mr. Chang would lie to him. Hope you want to understand the situation.”

Mr. Chang could not take it anymore. “Sung Cen,” said weakly, “I have indeed lied to you. I did it because I was mad at you. You made my dear sister languish to death. At that time I did not know what happened to you.”

“I'm wrong, Cin Te.” Sung Cen nodded. “I should have urged you and told you what really happened.”

“Shortly,” Fei Yu said without being able to hold back. “The child has been found? Where is he now?”

“I am the boy,” said Chien Wan calmly.

Fei Yu gaped. “Then you and Miss Ouwyang are brothers apparently. I thought a couple of lovers! You guys are so friendly!”

Chien Wan's face paled.

Sen Khang interrupted immediately, “So, how about this problem?” He turned his head and approached A Ming who looked stunned. “Nona Sung. I hope you will be big-spirited and forgive your father. Anyway none of this is entirely your father's fault.”

A Ming looked up at Sen Khang's handsome and charismatic face. He's stunned. “I...”

“A Ming.” Mr. Chang took a breath. “All your hatred for your father was a little bit due to my influence as well. You know, your father isn't as bad as you thought. I was wrong for not having the time to tell you what your father's personality was. Your father was a good man, otherwise how could I have agreed to his marriage with my sister?”

A Ming lowered his head, like he was at war with himself. Finally he lifted his face. “Since childhood I was educated not to hold hatred and grudges in my heart. This education is always imprinted in my memory. But not so with my heart. Although from the outside I looked like a good nun candidate, my heart was full of grudges. The abbot understands me. He asked me to resolve all this hatred before I was ordained a nun.”

Sung Cen was stunned. His daughter will be a nun?

“I left the monastery with the intention of revenge. I intend to torment my real father and make him suffer. But hearing all this made me cancel my intentions. It turns out that he also suffered all this time, just like me.” A Ming looked at Sung Cen. “I can't forget all this. Let time define everything.”

“A Ming...”.

“My name is Sung Lien Ming. I hope you don't forget it.” After saying all that, A Ming turned around and left all of them. Not saying goodbye to anyone, not even to his uncle.

Sung Cen was stunned. He was about to chase, but his legs felt stiff.

Mr. Chang looked sad. “My brother never stopped loving you, Sung Cen. He used your margin for his daughter. And A Ming still uses that name until now. As proof that even if she's mad at you, she's still your daughter.”

Sung Cen closed his eyes and dropped himself on the chair.