Death Flute
The Beginning of the Disaster

Chien Wan closed her eyes and leaned her body against the tree trunk. He felt very tired. His strength was drained after the fight earlier. He did not understand the intent of the Six Brothers attack from the Khitan. They said they were ordered to finish him off, and he was sure the order was coming from Cheng Sam.

But he did not understand, why could they know that he had come to the Bamboo Guesthouse? And what was their purpose in finishing him off? What is Cheng Sam's goal?

He knew Cheng Sam hated him because he had blown the flute and caused Cheng Sam's ears to be in pain for a long time. He and his friends also managed to escape from Cheng Sam captivity with the help of Fei Yu.

It was only natural that then Cheng Sam took a grudge against Fei Yu and himself. But why should he be in the Bamboo House?

Instantly he was alert.

Cheng Sam was actually at the Bamboo Guesthouse. The six brothers of Khitan are proof of this!

What is he looking for this time?

Chien Wan started running to the Bamboo Guesthouse. The more thought out, the more unpleasant the feeling became. He also ran faster.

***

Meng Huan had just returned from the market carrying out her monthly duties. It has been a year that the task of shopping for the household needs of Wisma Bambu was bestowed on him. The task was indeed a trivial task, but Meng Huan liked it.

Usually he shopped accompanied by several servants. But this time he was only accompanied by a servant named A Hui and A Ming.

A Ming said goodbye to his father to follow Meng Huan to the market. He wants to buy some kind of special needs girl stuff. His father did not understand, actually the special needs of the girl anything, did not prevent it. Sung Cen never urged his daughter to say everything she did.

Since coming to the Bamboo House, A Ming had indeed talked more with Meng Huan than the others. His father did not like to see him, but could not do anything about it.

They are not long in the market, only for a few hours.

Meng Huan stepped towards the back garden. She had already bought some small gifts for Ting Ting. He bought a dried sweetmeat that the girl really liked. He also bought small purple plums that taste very sweet when they are old. At that time it was not the season of plums, but it turned out that in the market there were also those who sold them. He was overjoyed and bought some fruit for Ting Ting.

Ting Ting has always loved sweet foods, Meng Huan thought amusedly. Perhaps that was why the girl herself was so sweet!

The girl was in the Back Garden Pavilion, reading a book containing a collection of Tang Dynasty poetry she had taken from her father's library. He loved the poems so much, he read them seriously.

Meng Huan smiled amusedly looking at him. It means to surprise him.

With a saggy walk, he stepped behind Ting Ting. The girl was so swept away by her reading that she did not hear Meng Huan coming. Thus when Meng Huan patted her shoulder, she gasped in shock and stood up.

“Jeez, Brother Huan!” Ting Ting rubbed his chest.

Meng Huan laughed mischievously. “Shock, yes?”

Anxiously, Ting Ting hit Meng Huan's arm. “Basic bully! Watch out, yeah! I'll report to Sister Wan!”

For a moment, Meng Huan's face hardened. But he quickly changed his face. There is no point in feeling jealous anymore. Until at any time, Ting Ting's feelings couldn't possibly change.

“Sorry, yes. After you read a serious book. I want to surprise you.”

Ting Ting sneered, then smiled back. “When did you come back from the market?”

“A few hours ago. I went to the kitchen first to watch the waiters tidy things up. Then I went to Master's to hand over the financial records. After that I came straight here.”

Ting Ting sat back down. He looked at the package Meng Huan had brought. Face beaming. “That's for me, huh? What is it?”

Meng Huan sat down beside Ting Ting. “This is your favorite sweet. And guess what, there were people selling purple plums. I bought some.”

“Purple fruit purple!” exclaimed Ting Ting happily. “Can not be season!”

“I know. That's why I bought some for you. I don't buy much because not all the fruit is ripe. There are also those who are still sour because they are not too old. I don't know if what I bought was all cooked or not. I didn't get to choose too long.”

Ting Ting opened the plum pack. He looked at the fruits with pleasure. He took one whose color was already very purple and bitten. The fruit is fresh and sweet. Many water. When bitten, fruit water dripped on his lips made him extend his tongue to pick up the grain and swallow it.

Meng Huan gulped and was forced to look the other way. Ting Ting is so beautiful. He did not know until when he had to endure his feelings like this.

***

“Dad, I want to go home to Bukit Merak.”

A Ming's request shocked Sung Cen's heart. He thought his daughter was already hardened at Wisma Bambu. It turned out that now he wanted to return to Bukit Merak. Though he preferred if A Ming did not live in Peacock Hill anymore. He wanted A Ming to return to the Valley of Tones and stay there with him. Thank goodness he was able to match A Ming with Chien Wan!

“Why, A Ming?” ask Sung Cen.

“I want to meet Uncle Te. I left it a long time ago.”

Sung Cen looked at his daughter with a probing look.

A Ming turned his face away. He felt bad for his father's eyes.

“Dad thought you finally liked being near Dad,” Sung Cen said sadly.

“Of course, Dad!” A Ming looked back at his father. “Only...”.

“No!”

Sung Cen was shocked. “Why?”

“Because of that place, because the members of Nadalah Valley Dad used to leave Mom!” A Ming looked away.

Sung Cen glued. He thought his daughter could already forget her anger in the past. But apparently not at all.

“A Ming...”.

“I'm no longer angry with Dad. I forgive Dad. But it's only you I forgive. While them? I still cannot forget the deeds of those who have forced Dad to be loyal to them!” A Ming stood up and turned his back to his father. His shoulders were up and down holding his hunting breath.

“They never forced me, A Ming.” Sung Cen stood up.

“ Anyway I don't like it there!”

“Alright, A Ming.” Sung Cen approached A Ming and grabbed his shoulder. “Dad won't force you anymore. You can continue to stay in Bukit Merak.”

“And I want to go home now!”

“Ya, okay. Father will talk about it with Master Luo. Then we go home together, huh?”

“How about I go home first?”

Sung Cen frowned. “So you finished shopping with Meng Huan. What happened in the market so you thought about going home?” tanyanya.

A Ming looked in annoyance. “Why has Dad always suspected me?” sergeant. “I want to go home first! I'm leaving now!”

Sung Cen helplessly watched his daughter's departure at that very instant. And the most unexpected, it turned out that A Ming had prepared his clothes in a bundle.

Helplessly, he faced Mister and Madam Luo. He said goodbye and could no longer be prevented.

The departure of Sung Cen and his daughter certainly astonished the hearts of Master and Lady Luo. But they didn't prevent it. Sung Cen left alone as A Ming had already left first.

***

The departure of Sung Cen and his daughter did not concern Ting Ting's heart. He only felt annoyed for a moment because he lost another interlocutor. But then he got used to it again and entertained himself with a book of poetry.

The next day after Sung Cen's departure, Ting Ting was again about to resume his reading which yesterday was delayed by Meng Huan's interference. He returned to the Back Garden Pavilion.

The purple plum that Meng Huan bought for her yesterday was still four. He took her there, intending to spend it while reading a book. He also brought the leftover dried sweets yesterday.

He sat in a soft chair that had a backrest and began to read.

For some time he read with great interest. Suddenly a shadow appeared in front of him. The shadow blocked the incoming light. Ting Ting felt somewhat disturbed and looked up to tell whoever had come that to leave.

Instantly his eyes were wide. For a moment he felt still influenced by his delusion because while reading the poem he imagined Chien Wan. But a moment later he realized that it was not a fantasy. His book fell out of his trembling hands. Slowly his lips formed a smile.

“Kak Wan!” happy shouting.

He immediately ran up to the young man and held his hand. “Ow, Sister Wan! You finally came too!” he said full of miss. “Come in!”

Chien Wan nodded. He did not say a word as he entered following Ting Ting.

“Sister has met Mom and Dad? What say they saw your sudden arrival?” leaning Ting Ting was carefree as he pulled Chien Wan's hand onto the chair he had been sitting on.

Chien Wan nodded. “Already,” he said slowly.

Ting Ting was already used to seeing this non-talking attitude of Chien Wan. He didn't ask anything more. He saw a plum that he had not eaten. He mistook a plum without looking, and presented it to Chien Wan.

“Yesterday Brother Huan bought me this plum. It's so delicious! This fruit is not yet in season, but there is already something like this. Eat!”

Chien Wan took it and bit him. Meanwhile, her eyes looked at Ting Ting with a strange glint of eyes. The eyes of Chien Wan contain intimacy. What a strange affection. Suddenly, Chien Wan put down the fruit she had just eaten a bit and grimaced.

Ting Ting was astonished. “What's up, Sister Wan?”

“Sam once.”

Ting Ting looked at her and found that the fruit he had given Chien Wan earlier was still a greenish-light purple—mark was still raw. He exclaimed, “Gosh, I was so careless! What I got was not too old. Of course it feels sour. Try me to get another one. Well this is ranum...”.

The girl stopped her movements choosing fruit because Chien Wan was already standing so close to her. Ting Ting blushed in embarrassment. But he was also a bit scared because he saw a savage beam that had never been in Chien Wan's eyes before.

Chien Wan is getting closer.

Ting Ting's eyes widened.

“Kakak Wan...?”