Simultaneously three people crashed. Siang-mou Sin-ni managed to snatch Khim's musical instrument, while It-gan Kai-ong and Hek-giam-lo, who intended to take the little book that grandfather was reading earlier, each got half of it because the little book had been torn in two the part when they are fighting each other.
While laughing they looked at the old man's body and their eyes widened, the hairs on their necks bristled. The old man didn't look injured at all, even the head that was hit by the sharp scythe didn't bleed at all, wasn't hurt at all. But it was clear that the old man was no longer breathing, and when It-gan Kai-ong checked his pulse, his blood had also stopped, his pulse was no longer beating.
"Ha-ha-ha, Bukek Siansu, who is popularly known as a demigod, is only a weak person," said It-gan Kai-ong.
"A fraud!" continued Siang-mou Sin-ni.
Hek-giam-lo shuddered, repeatedly looking at the old man's head and at his scythe. "I hate this sorcery of hers, let's throw her down a cliff," he muttered, then used his foot to kick.
The grandfather's body was thrown towards the ravine and rolled down, followed by the laughter of It-gan Kai-ong and Siang-mou Sin-ni. But suddenly the sound of their laughter stopped and at that moment, the three of them staggered and almost collapsed. There was a wind of tremendous force coming to attack them from the ravine.
"Woe..., his spirit is raging...!" It-gan Kai-ong shouted with a pale face and he immediately jumped away and ran away. Two of his friends were also shocked and scared, quickly running away from the top of Thai-san.
Not long after, it was seen that Bukek Siansu had floated out of the abyss, stood where he had been, pensive and took many deep breaths. "God willed it that way. There will be a commotion in the martial world… my hope is in the Golden Flute.” Then he walked slowly away from the peak.
********************
At that time the situation throughout the country was still in turmoil. This usually happens whenever there is a transfer of power. The Sung dynasty was only a year old, founded by Cao Kuang Yin who was the commander-in-chief of the fifth dynasty. Prior to that, China was ruled by the Five Houses which divided the country after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty (907), until the birth of the House of Sung for the services of Cao Kuang Yin who later became the first emperor nicknamed Sung Thai Cu.
Areas that had previously been separated from themselves during the Tang Empire and were independent could be re-subdued and included in the territory of the Sung Kingdom. However, this didn't mean that the glorious days of the Tang Empire had returned, not at all. The new Sung kingdom was unable to subdue the small kingdoms that still existed in various regions. The largest of them was the area northeast to South Manchuria which was under the rule of the Khitan people. In the southeastern area along the coast was the Wu-yue Kingdom, and in the Yu-nan area was the Nan-cao Kingdom. There were many other areas which were small kingdoms and did not recognize the sovereignty of the Sung Kingdom.
Of course there were often small clashes, but they were not widespread. The Sung Kingdom was already quite content with its lands and territories, and needed to build a nation after unity could be fostered. On the other hand, the small kingdoms didn't want to mess with this new kingdom that was strong enough.
One fine morning, a boat sailed slowly and steadily along the eastward course of the Han River, from the Shan-si region all the way east until it reached the Yellow Sea. This river water seems to know no discrimination, unlike humans. The proof is that it continues to flow to the three regions ruled by the three kingdoms, flowing calmly and normally, without distinction!
Silence along the river. There were four passengers on the boat. One of them was evidently a boatman, a chattering middle-aged man with a long, plain-clothed mustache and patched patches. His arms holding the oars were strong and muscular from his daily duties. His skin is dark brown sunburnt.
The three people on the boat were young. The first was a young man, about twenty-three years of age. His face is handsome and cool, his eyes are sharp and earnest, his mouth imagines hardness of heart, his forehead is wide, his clothes are simple but clean, on his back hangs a sword.
The second person was a twenty-year-old girl, also dressed in simple succinct, with most of her hair in two ponytails on either side. This girl was quite beautiful, her eyes shone brightly, her fair-skinned face imagined gentleness, her lips always smiled to imagine friendliness. Also this girl carries a sword held in the left hand.
The third person was also a girl, still a teenager, seventeen years old at most. If the first girl is just as real as the boy, this girl is quite different. Her face was beautiful, her thick black hair was tied in buns on both sides of her head. He also has a sword hanging from his right waist.
Who are they? They were brothers and sisters, not just random people, but the sons and daughters of a great figure who was very famous in the Five Dynastys era. Kam-goanswe (General Kam) was a prominent figure famous for daring to oppose the rule of Li Ko Yung, the Governor of Shan-si Province who previously rebelled against the Emperor of the Tang dynasty.
Kam-goanswe whose name is Kam Si Ek, one hundred percent has a hero's soul and has inner and outer loyalty. Because of this, he was despised by Li Ko Yung who made himself a little king. Completely forgotten the merits of Kam-goanswe, even though when this area was attacked by the Khitan tribe, General Kam was the one who contributed most to saving the Shan-si region. Since that clash, Kam-goanswe left his post and retired to the village of Ting-chun, a village at the foot of Mount Cin-ling-san, in the valley of the Han River which has its springs on the mountain. He lives farming with his wife and children.
The three young people are the sons and daughters of Kam Si Ek. The first was that handsome young man named Kam Bun Sin. The second child is Kam Sian Eng, a beautiful and dashing girl. There is also the youngest girl, an agile and playful girl, named Kam Lin, or usually called Lin Lin. This girl is actually not Kam Si Ek's daughter, but an adopted child.
Dozens of years ago, in a war against the Khitan tribe, General Kam found a two-three-year-old girl in the arms of a woman who had died in battle. This Khitan woman died with a sword in her hand, her attitude was extraordinary. General Kam was amazed to see this and he then took the girl home, adopted her as his own and named her Kam Lin. This name was the child's own name, because when asked, he could only point at his own chest while saying “Lin Lin”.
Lin Lin knows that he is an adopted son, but he doesn't feel like an adopted son. For nearly fifteen years living in the Kam family building, he was treated the same as other children. His adoptive parents loved him very much, as did Bun Sin and Sian Eng. It was because of this that Lin Lin felt that she was one hundred percent a member of the Kam family, no longer wanting to remember her origins when her adoptive father said that her own parents had died as victims of war. His adoptive father didn't know who his mother and father were, nor could he tell them where they lived because according to the general, he was found among the refugees!
As a war general who has high martial arts skills, of course Kam Si Ek trains his three children with the martial arts of the Kam family. It turned out that the three children had good talents and had outstanding features. Bu Sin is advanced in the use of lweekang (internal energy), Sian Eng is adept at playing the sword, while Lin Lin is amazed at the lightness of his body and because of this he is very advanced in the ginkang art.
The Kam family lived peacefully and happily in Ting-chun village for more than ten years. They live simply as farmers. The simplicity of the village and the work in the fields keeps them healthy and happy.
However, as has become the nature of the world and everything in it, nothing lasts forever. Nature and its contents are always changing, so is human life. As long as man is still bound by life, he will always experience changes like the ocean which always experiences ups and downs, always waves. There are times when the tide is low, there are times when it is calm, there are times when the storm is raging. It is only an imbecile who does not want to remember this and becomes intoxicated and arrogant in times of glory but despairing and dark-eyed in times of adversity.
If one always remembers that winning and losing, suffering and triumphing, hardships and joys, these are cousins who alternately dominate life, one will always be alert, not intoxicated by victory, not discouraged by defeat, alert of one's actions. personal so as not to deviate from the truth. Always remember that God is in control of all that, that humans are no different from the drops of water in the ocean, they cannot escape the waves if they have not come out of the ocean.
The day was approaching dusk. Kam Si Ek and his three children were practicing martial arts in the back yard of the house which was closed by a wall. Bu Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin's level of intelligence was quite high, in fact, it could be said that they were almost at the level of their own father. The three of them were now playing with their swords in their own way, watched by Kam Si Ek who stood akimbo and nodded in satisfaction. When he saw how Lin Lin's body, dressed in red, turned into a red shadow rolled by the white light from the sword he was playing with, Kam Si Ek was secretly amazed.
"This boy is great... I hope he will be the most prominent one day. I wonder really, were his parents descended from the Khitan people? so he said alone.
Suddenly there was a sound of laughter that was very loud. Kam Si Ek and his three children who heard this sound immediately stopped playing silat and turned towards the sound. Presumably on the top of the wall on the right there was a tall, big man with a black face. Seeing this person, Kam Si Ek was very surprised and his face changed.
“Giam Sui Lok, what did you come here for?”
The tall, black-faced man laughed again, still crouched on the wall. His big eyes glanced at Siang Eng and Lin Lin with insolent eyes. “Kam-goanswe...”
"I'm not a general anymore, you don't have to pretend you don't know."
“Ha-ha-ha, people she Kam. You also pretend you don't know why I came here?”
Kam Si Ek looked at his three children and his face grew even more agitated. “People she Giam, I'm busy training my children. We can discuss matters between us parents later.”
"When?"
"Tonight I'm waiting for your visit."
The tall, black-faced man laughed giddily. "Okay, okay..., I'm not worried you'll be able to run, ha-ha!" His body flashed and disappeared behind the wall.
"Father, who is he?" asked Bu Sin uncomfortably.
"He's so impudent," reproached Sian Eng.
However, with a movement like a flying swallow, suddenly Lin Lin had flown over the wall with a drawn sword in his right hand. The beautiful girl's face now looks angry.
“Lin Lin, come back you...!” Kam Si Ek cried out in dismay.
Lin Lin stood on top of the wall, looked around, then jumped back down and ran to her father. "Wonder, where is he hiding? His mouth is dirty, his attitude is rough, why don't people like that just get beaten up, Father?"
Kam Si Ek smiled, happy to see that his children had big guts, but also very worried because he understood that their level of intelligence was still far away when compared to the intelligence of the powerful people in kang-ouw's world. Meanwhile, in this world there are lots of bad and dangerous people, one of which is Giam Sui Lok who came earlier. He understood that between him and Giam Sui Lok had to end in a death battle and he did not want his children to be involved in this old feud.
"He's an old friend. There is important business between us that you don't need to know about. Bu Sin, you take your two younger siblings to go to the Kwan-im-bio temple on the top of Cin-ling-san right now. You pay my respects to the Holy Kui Lan (Kui Lan's elder brother), and say that tomorrow he and the three of you I hope will come down from the peak here carrying the black casket that I entrusted to him ten years ago."
"But, Father, that person...," Bu Sin, who cleverly argued, was worried that this person would come and make a scene. Wanting him to be beside his father to help if at any time his father was in danger.
Kam Si Ek laughed. “He does have business with me, but this is old people business, you know what? Come on, hurry up and leave before dark, and tomorrow you will be back with your Sukouw (Aunt Teacher)."
Even though their hearts were not willing, the three young people did not dare to contradict their father's will, what more could they suspect that their father had deliberately ordered them to leave the house that night. After saying goodbye to their mother, the three young people then rushed up to the high peak of Cin-ling-san mountain, carrying a torch to be lit when night fell and they had not yet reached the top.
What Kwan-im-bio meant at the top of Cin-ling-san was a temple of female priests who worshiped Dewi Kwan Im. The leader or chief of the nikouw (female priests) in the temple is Kui Lan Nikouw who is also Kam Si Ek's elder sister. The three sisters had often played to the top, in fact the priestess really loved them and was also willing to give instructions in matters of martial arts.
The trip to the top took three hours, even though the three young people had already used the science of sprinting. Despite their dexterous movements, the journey was rather slow, being lit only by the torch in hand.
Kui Lan Nikouw, who is over sixty years old. His face is still fresh and his movements are still agile. The woman was surprised to see the arrival of three of her nephew's students in that dark night.
“Uh, what happened? Why are the nights coming?” he reprimanded, but his heart was relieved to see the faces of the three pupils the nephew did not imagine anything great.
After they knelt down to salute, Bu Sin said, “Father ordered the three teecu (students), Sukouw. First of all Father told us to pay our respects. The second time, Father begged Sukouw to come with us to go down the mountain to our hut while carrying the black chest that Father left for Sukouw ten years ago.”
“Hmmm, hemmm... Your father is indeed strange. This kind of business only makes you toil here at night. Why not this afternoon, or tomorrow when it's already light? Come on in, you must be tired and haven't eaten yet, right? Fortunately, there are lots of fresh vegetables, you just have to cook them. Sian Eng, Lin Lin, you guys help your Sukouw, let's go to the kitchen!” Indeed, the priest's grandmother was a very friendly person and was very much loved by the nephew's three students.
But the nikouw was stunned to see his three nephews remaining silent, and it was clear they had something to say. He was starting to feel uneasy again.
"Eh, what business do you guys have? If you have any interest, please tell me, don't hesitate!”
"Sukouw, actually... we ourselves felt bad and only because our father forced us to come here, so the three of us asked Sukouw for guidance and advice."
"What is it? Let's talk quickly." The more uncomfortable Kui Lan Nikouw.
Bu Sin then told her teacher's aunt about the visit of the tall, big, suspicious black-faced man earlier, also recounting the conversation between the guest and his father.
"Hmmm, tall man with big black face? Do you know what his name is?"
“Father said his name. Giam Sui Lok's name is Sukouw," said Lin Lin. "That person is impudent, his face is ugly, I want to slash his nose with my sword!"
Usually, Lin Lin's agility and antics cheered the nikouw's heart, but this time he looked pensive. “Giam Sui Lok...? Ah, he finally came too…”
"Sukouw know him? Who is he and why did he come looking for Father in such impudent manner?” Bu Sin urged.
"It's dangerous, of course there will be bloodshed... Wow, kids, let's go down to the top right now. Prepare the torch, let me fetch your father's black chest. Later on the way I will tell you who the She Giam person is.”
The hearts of the three young people were relieved. Quickly they prepared four torches, and when the nikouw came out carrying a black casket that was three feet wide and one foot high, they immediately wanted to help. However, the nikouw did not allow them.
"The way down is rather difficult, let me carry this crate and you guys will light the way. Come on let's go!”
On the way, the nikouw didn't say much, but it was enough to make the three young people pensive and their hearts pounding.
“The She Giam man is indeed your father's old enemy, and indeed your father was right to order you to leave so as not to interfere in this matter. That matter is a private matter that can only be resolved between your father, that she Giam person, and your mother.”
“What hostility, Sukouw?” Bu Sin asked curiously.
“Business... er, business... romance. Before your mother married your father, the she Giam person was... uh, he and your mother seemed to love each other, then your father came and there was a competition. Your father won and the She Giam man left with a broken heart and full of revenge. Over the past dozen years, I don't know how many times he has come to challenge your father, but he has always been defeated by your father. Now that he came again, of course there would be a fight to the death. Guys are weird and stupid... uh, why am I talking like this? Hemmm, this business really makes pinni (me)'s heart and mind messed up...”
It was clear enough for the three of them. Also, the story made them feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, so they remained silent, not daring to ask again. Even their hatred for the she Giam man was somewhat reduced after they heard that he used to love each other with their mother. Even in Lin Lin's little heart a feeling of pity arose. A strange feeling she had never felt for a man.
Feeling tense and worried after hearing Kui Lan Nikouw's statement, the trip was made very quickly and only took two hours. After all, it was almost midnight when they entered the large courtyard of the Kam family's building. One can imagine how agitated the hearts of the young people were when they saw that their house was completely dark. After jumping off they ran toward the front door with torches in hand.
"Father...!" Bu Sin shouted loudly and was immediately joined by Sian Eng and Lin Lin who shouted for their parents and mothers.
"Calm down, children. Suspicious for once, why is it so quiet? Let me go in first," said Kui Lan Nikouw, who is always careful and has a lot of experience.
Nikouw, holding the black casket in his left hand and his right hand ready in front of his chest, walked into the house lit from behind by his three nephews. The front room was quiet and empty. The moment they entered the large living room, the three youths screamed and ran forward. Their father was lying in a bath of blood in a corner, not far away their mother was also lying in a pool of blood, and in another corner they saw a tall man with a large, black face lying on his back with bulging eyes, also bathed in blood!
The three young children cried, briefly hugging their father, briefly bumping into their mother, shaking and calling. Lin Lin suddenly stood up, his eyes flashed with fire.
“Sratt!” he had drawn his sword and in one jump he had approached the corpse of the She Giam man.
"You killed Father Mother!" His sword moved to snatch to decapitate the corpse.
His movements were halted as the pressure on his right shoulder made the hand holding the sword go limp. Presumably his teacher's aunt was already standing behind him. When Lin Lin turned her head and saw her aunt teacher, she cried and protested, "He killed your father and mother, Sukouw, I have to chop him to pieces!"
“Ssshh, stupid child. Save your sword. If he killed your parents, how did he himself die here?”
"He managed to kill Mother, then managed to kill Father, but of course Father could also injure him so that he died too!" Lin Lin refuted again curiously.
"Calm down, and look. Bu Sin, Sian Eng, you guys also check carefully. Gather those torches over here. Well, look. The three of them died with wounds to their stomachs and chests, wounds from sharp weapons. And you see, that sword must have been your father's sword, bounced in there and not a hint of blood. And the She Giam man was of course armed with a machete, well, where's the machete? Also bounced off and there was no sign of blood. He's been a machete since ancient times. It is clear that neither your father's sword nor his machete was the cause of their death. Uh... later! Your mother is not dead... let me help her...”
Nikouw then put the black casket on the table and quickly knelt down to examine Mrs. Kam. Sure enough, this mistress was heavily injured, but still not dead. After being punched and massaged several times by Kui Lan Nikouw's expert fingers, he complained softly.
“Who killed you? Say, pinni Kui Lan Nikouw here, know me? Now, tell me, who did all this?” Nikouw's loud words, filled with urgency, made the three young people's hearts squeeze. This impatient insistence was clear enough to them that their mother was beyond help, only to be expected to provide information about the murder.
“Iihhh... scared... scared... devil...!” The lady screamed in fear.
Bu. Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin, who had been trained in martial arts and valor since childhood, couldn't help but feel horrified and bristled at the back of their necks when they heard their mother's scream.
“Relax, little brother, pinni is here. What demon are you afraid of?” nikouw's return persuaded and urged.
The lady was crying, panting, then said, softly but still frightened, “Satan... in a coffin...
his voice... flute... death flute...”
Nicouw stood up. The frightened mistress was motionless. The three young people bumped into each other and cried for their mother. Kui Lan Nikouw was whispering, reciting spells and prayers, praying for the spirits of the three people. He did not know what had happened, but could surmise that the three men had fallen victim to some extraordinary villain. Maybe the last words from Mrs. Sin and Sian Eng were just delirious words that had no meaning. However, there is no doubt that the killer was powerful, because Kam Si Ek's level of intelligence was not low, moreover the She Giam man was also a victim, killed horribly.
After finishing the funeral arrangements for the three bodies, Kui Lan Nikouw opened the cover of the letter he found in his junior brother's room. The cover letter was addressed to him. He read the contents of the letter, shook his head calling Bu Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin to gather. In front of them he read the letter again aloud. The letter was brief, as follows: