Death Flute
The Suffering of Luo Ting Ting

Because they felt bad, one by one the warriors said goodbye and left the Bamboo House. They do not care even though it is late afternoon and soon it will be dark. They do not feel good at Wisma Bambu and face the Ouwyang family and Sen Khang themselves. Clearly, this news will be spread. All Persilatan World people will know that the Death Flute is innocent! That all these events were not the Death Flute that did it. The Death Flute was not responsible for anything either. He was framed and slandered by people who tried to destroy his good name.

They resolved to find out who the real culprits were to make amends for their mistake towards the Deathly Suling.

The last person to say goodbye was Pendekar Fu. Indeed, he was reluctant to come home because he still wanted to discuss something with Pendekar Sung. However, he felt bad as an outsider. There must still be a lot they had to talk about without involving outsiders. Then he left too.

Meng Huan glanced at Sen Khang who was still silent. He took over and invited all the remaining people to enter the living room.

Not much remains: Ouwyang Kuan and his wife, Ouwyang Ping, Kui Fang, Mr Chang and Fei Yu, Swordsman Sung, Sam Hui, Wen Chiang, and A Nan. They sat in the living room while silently silent. Each with his own thoughts.

Ouwyang Kuan and his wife were saddened to be mixed with relief. They are sad because of the events that happened to Wisma Bambu, but relieved because it turns out that now their son is clean from the accusations. Almost at least. Sen Khang had not said a word since. They are worried that Sen Khang has not been able to accept the fact that the beliefs he has maintained so far are wrong.

No one said anything. They all kept quiet.

Secretly, Mr. Chang and Swordsman Sung looked at. They were worried that everything they did today would be in vain. O yes, the warriors were indeed convinced. But the person they most wanted to reassure was Sen Khang. What if Sen Khang persisted in his original belief that Chien Wan was guilty?

Kui Fang continued to stare at Sen Khang. Why hasn't he said anything yet? Why does he keep quiet? Does he still not believe when they have all tried to explain everything to foam?

Meng Huan left the room worried about Ting Ting. Since then no one had remembered to look at Ting Ting because their attention had been too focused on the incident just now. Ting Ting was only accompanied by a servant who was certainly helpless if Ting Ting intended to do something.

Sen Khang gulped. He stood up and stepped before Ouwyang Kuan.

“Uncle, i...”.

“Celaka!” Meng Huan appeared while panting.

“What's up?” Sen Khang looked sharply.

“Ting Ting fainted!”

“What?”

Simultaneously they all ran following Meng Huan towards Ting Ting's room.

***Ting Ting was lying on his bed. Her pretty face was pale. He looked so skinny and pathetic. The light disappears with the passage of time. He hardly ever smiles again. Whatever effort Meng Huan made to make her cheerful seemed useless.

Sen Khang stormed into the room and immediately approached his sister's bed. He grabbed and squeezed the skinny Ting Ting's fingers.

Everyone was surprised to see it. Especially Fei Yu.

Impossible! Fei Yu staggered to the point of having to hold on to the door. Is this the Ting Ting she loves? Is this the Ting Ting that used to be so beautiful and radiant? The Ting Ting she always loved and missed! He stared fixedly at the pale face and felt something developing in his soul. It's Ting Ting! No matter how she was, this remained Ting Ting. And he still loves her.

They kept silent for a long while waiting for Ting Ting to come to his senses. Ting Ting passed out for quite a while before he finally came to his senses.

Slowly, Ting Ting's eyes opened. “Kakak.

Sen Khang quickly held back as Ting Ting tried to get up. “Don't wake up first, you just fainted,” prevent it.

Ting Ting grimaced as he scowled his forehead.

Discreetly Swordsman Sung asked everyone to leave from there before Ting Ting realized their presence. He did not want Ting Ting to look at them and was getting hit hard. Everyone else, except Fei Yu. The young man was a bit reluctant, but inevitably he followed the others.

“You all right?” ask Sen Khang gently.

Ting Ting closed his eyes. “I'm dizzy, Brother.”

Sen Khang was glued. “Do you often get dizzy?”

Ting Ting nodded. “And my stomach is also nauseous,” he said limp.

Sen Khang gulped. His heart hit me too hard. She was very afraid that something might happen that would embarrass her sister again. Cold sweat started flowing down his neck.

Swordsman Sung happens to understand a little of the science of medicine. He offered to check on Ting Ting. Sen Khang said with gratitude.

Swordsman Sung sat in a chair near the bed. Checked her pulse on Ting Ting's wrist. She felt the girl's pulse slightly strengthening. Then she looked at Ting Ting's pale face with great anxiety.

“Lately, have you been nauseous and dizzy?”

Ting Ting nodded.

“Dan... You are also late..,” murmured Pendekar Sung. It's a little awkward asking that.

Ting Ting was wide-eyed. He looked at Pendekar Sung in surprise. His face was red. But he didn't stop, too.

Swordsman Sung exhaled. He glanced at Sen Khang and shook his head grimly.

Meng Huan instantly understood. “You mean, Ting Ting is pregnant?” he asked without thinking anymore so surprised.

Brang!

Ting Ting's face was like it was slapped. He can't talk about anything.

Sen Khang clenched his fists. His anxiety has come true. He had just learned of the incident that made him have to rethink his accusations to his best friend. His grief has not yet been lost due to the death of his parents. Now the trial is getting heavy because his sister is pregnant with an illegitimate child!

Swordsman Sung sighed. He patted Sen Khang on the shoulder. Then he stepped out.

Ting Ting couldn't help but cry anymore. He was devastated. He cried so hard that his whole body was shaken. While crying he wailed, “I want to die! I don't want this kid! No!”

This scream awakened Sen Khang from his captivity. He blinked his eyes seeing Ting Ting crying, screaming, and beating his own stomach!

“Ting Ting, don't!” Sen Khang approached and held his sister's hand.

“Liar! Let me kill this kid!” ting Ting shouted as he thrashed, trying to escape from his brother's check.

Ting Ting was silent for a moment. His face was puffy and teary. His eyes contained a sense of disbelief. All this time his brother never snapped at him. Why did he just snap at her when she was suffering this kind of inner torment? How beautiful his brother is!

He cried again so heartbreakingly.

Sen Khang regretted the clash earlier. He gently hugged his sister.

“Ting Ting, don't despair,” entertain him. “We will solve all problems.”

“Solve how?” ting Ting's tears were upset. “The person who haunts me is the killer of our parents!”

Sen Khang was glued.

“I hate Sister Wan!” jerit Ting Ting.

Meng Huan approached. He had been silent since then, but now he looked like a determined man. “Ting Ting, I.. I will marry you,” she said in a trembling voice.

Ting Ting and Sen Khang were stunned.

“Meng Huan..,” mumbled Sen Khang.

“I want to make Ting Ting happy. I will be the father of the baby Ting Ting Ting conceived. You all know how I feel. I promise I won't waste Ting Ting!” said Meng Huan full of earnestness.

“Kakak Huan..,” isak Ting Ting poof. “You are very kind. but I am pregnant with an illegitimate child. Don't sacrifice for me..”.

Meng Huan shook her head. “This is not a sacrifice!” quickly objected. “I always want you to be happy. Regarding the boy, I don't mind at all. He's your son, he'll be my son too!”

Sen Khang felt very moved. He appreciated Meng Huan's sincerity, but he also did not want Meng Huan to sacrifice that much for the sake of her sister and her family. Meng Huan's request would be well thought out, but not now. Right now he still has to investigate something.

“Ting Ting, I know this is heavy for you. I am also heavy to hear. But I want you to try to remember,” Sen Khang said seriously.

Ting Ting looked at his sister with a pity. “What, Brother?”

“How did it happen? I mean, before Chien Wan..

Ting Ting looked down sad. “I don't understand why all this happened. The last thing I remember was how happy I was. Next thing happened..”.

“Can you tell me how it started?” insist Sen Khang soft.

Ting Ting sighed filled with sobbing. He started telling stories. “I... I was reading in the Back Garden Pavilion. He suddenly came after a long time away. I was eating plum fruit. I offered him and he wanted to. He tasted. Then...” He did not continue his words because his heart was very sad.

Ting Ting's words made Sen Khang aghast. He remembered all the events he had with Chien Wan.

“Ting Ting, tell me the event in full!” tell her in a suddenly firm voice. “What did he say after he tasted the fruit? Did he say anything?”

Ting Ting was astonished yet dared not argue. “He tasted the fruit I gave him. But apparently I picked up the ones that were still not cooked. He grimaced and I asked him why. He said it felt sour. Then I offer you a new one. That's when he.. attacked me.”.

Sen Khang's face turned tense.

“Kakak?” Ting Ting was astonished to see the change in the face of Sen Khang.

Meng Huan did not understand. “What's up, Sen Khang?”

“Oh!” Sen Khang closed his eyes painfully. “If only you had told it from the beginning..”.

“Why, Brother? What happened?” Ting Ting exclaimed, feeling a bad premonition.

Sen Khang opened his eyes. He looked at his sister with regret. “Ting Ting, did you forget? The first time Chien Wan came here, he was sick and had to take very bitter medicine. But he did not feel the bitterness of the medicine at all. Then Dad checked his tongue and told all of us that Chien Wan's taste buds don't work..” He stopped his words to see Ting Ting's reaction.

Ting Ting gaped. His pale face looked increasingly pale.

Meng Huan looked shocked as well. He did not know the peculiarity of Chien Wan's sense of taste because no one had ever discussed it.

“Then you remember when Uncle A Sam brought us sweets and Chien Wan gave up his share for you. He said it was useless if he ate it because for him all the food tasted tasteless?” sen Khang.

Ting Ting swallowed his saliva with a chaotic feeling.

“So where could he possibly feel the sourness of the fruit?”

“So...so... not Sister Wan who........” Ting Ting stuttered. His body shivered violently. A new blow struck his soul. She was already devastated when she found out she was carrying an illegitimate baby. But he can still survive because however the child is part of Chien Wan— who used to fill his heart. But now that he had heard his brother's words, he did not accept it!

Meng Huan instantly stood by the look of Ting Ting's expression.

Sen Khang looked away, not wanting to see his sister. The agony painted on Ting Ting Ting's face added to the burden in his heart.

“Tidaaaaakkk!!!” Ting Ting jumped out of bed.

“Ting Ting!” yelled Meng Huan.

Sen Khang first acted and swiftly caught his sister's body passing through it. As fast as lightning he shot out at the path of Ting Ting's blood until his sister collapsed unconscious. He lifted the girl's body onto the bed.

“Dragon him!” his orders were with Meng Huan. Then he left the room.

Sen Khang walked towards the front room. The pain of his heart was immeasurable, yet he also had to act knightly and admit his mistake. Now there was no reason for him to continue suspecting and hating Chien Wan. It was not appropriate for him to hate the Ouwyang family. Regret struck his chest realizing how rude his attitude towards his uncle and aunt was.

In fact he could have closed his eyes and continued to blame Chien Wan. Even secretly his heart was tempted to continue believing that it was Chien Wan who had desecrated Ting Ting, so that he could sue Chien Wan to marry his sister.

But in any case, he could not deny his conscience. Chien Wan is innocent! He has been suffering by vilification and misplaced hatred. Sen Khang could not deny the fact that he was wrong. He cannot close his eyes to his best friend for the sake of his brother's honor. That's not fair!

***