The noble holy Kui Lan.
I wrote this letter first, in case I died in the face of Giam Sui Lok. You know my business with him, no one can interfere, he has the right to demand that one of us must die to let the other live beside Bwee Hwa. I deliberately sent the children to go pick up Suci.
If I die, I think Bwee Hwa will surely kill himself as he has stated many times in our dealings with the She Giam people. If this happens we both die, please Suci arrange the children.
The black casket, apart from containing the heirlooms that I deliberately kept, also contained a gold bracelet with the letters Bu Song. You know, it's Bu Song's gold bracelet. The inheritance was given to four children, divided equally, don't make the slightest difference between Bu Song and Lin Lin and the two. However, told the three children to go look for Bu Song until they found one. I don't know where he is, my knowledge of him is the same as yours, Suci, so you tell them.
If I die at the hands of Giam Sui Lok, order all the children not to seek revenge on him. Too many She Giam people have suffered because of me.
Sincerely your Sute,
KAM SI EK
While sobbing listening to the sound of the last message from their father, the three children were astonished and there were many things they did not understand.
“Of course you don't know who Mrs. Song is. Well pinni tell briefly. In the past, before your father married your mother after winning a fight with Giam Sui Lok, your father was a widower who had an only son named Bu Song, Kam Bu Song. At that time Bu Song was about nine years old. Your father became a widower not because of the death of his wife, but because of a divorce. Mrs. Song's mother is a silat expert whose intelligence far exceeds your father's, unfortunately... hemmm, I have to tell you this, she was once a girl from the black group. He has a violent temper, and perhaps because of this he separated from your father and then remarried your mother.”
“And where did he... uh, Bu Song's brother, Sukouw? Doesn't he count as my brother, because he's also your father's son?” asked Mrs. Sin, her heart fluttering to hear that she was not the eldest, but the second and there was still her brother who was almost ten years older than her.
"That's what always bothered your late father. When he heard that your father was going to marry your mother, Mrs. Song, a daughter who was as stubborn as her mother, secretly ran away at night and until now it is not known where she lives.”
A moment of silence. The three children were touched. "Are you not looking for him, Sukouw?" asked Sian Eng.
"Of course. In fact, seven years later your father heard that his son was in the city of kings as a student taking exams. The name she uses is still Bu Song, but shenya she Liu, I think she used her mother's she."
"Liu Bu Song..." Lin Lin said, apparently wanting to memorize that name in her heart. For some reason, he felt attracted and there was a feeling of sympathy in his heart for Liu Bu Song. Perhaps this is because he is reminded of his own fate as an adopted child who has no fathers anymore.
“However, when your father looked for him there, Bu Song had disappeared again and until now your father doesn't know where he is. Now, your father wants you to go look for him. What is your stand on this?”
"Sukouw, teecu feels more need to go looking for the devil in the coffin that carries the flute. Teecu won't want to go home before he can avenge Father and Mother's death!
“Teecu too!” Sian Eng said.
"Of course teecu too," continued Lin Lin. "But Teecu will also look for him until he finds him... uh, Bu Song's sister."
Kui Lan Nikouw nodded. “Pinni can't blame you for this grudge, what's more you are just hot-blooded young people. But don't be too reckless and think that it will be easy to find a person known only as a devil in a case carrying a flute. Hmmm, what's more to see the intelligence of that person, if you can find it, it seems not certain that you will be able to win. Therefore, pinni allow you to go wander looking for your brother and also looking for that big enemy. However, if you can meet this big enemy, you shouldn't act recklessly, it's better if you tell Pinni. If pinni is capable, of course pinni will help you. If you can't, you can still ask for help from smart people you know. Promise me that you won't act recklessly, then pinni will let you go.”
The three young people promised to obey this message. A month later, the three brothers departed and, as described in the previous section, they boarded a boat following the flow of the Han River which flows eastward listening to the stories of the boatman who likes to chatter.
--- ---
For days the three young people of She Kam traveled by boat, enjoying the very beautiful scenery on either side of the river. The boatman told me a lot about the condition of the big cities and their changes since the Sung dynasty was founded.
“We are close to the city of Wu-han,” the boatman said and his face now became agitated. "As I stated when Sam-wi (You Three) rented this boat, I could only take it to Wu-han and then to go to the king's city, Sam-wi could travel by land."
Hearing this, Lin Lin clapped and pranced in joy. "Very good! I'm tired of sitting and sleeping on the boat for days, my legs are sore from not walking. Empek boatman, how long until we reach Wu-han?”
"It won't be long, miss, this afternoon will arrive. But I'm very sorry, I won't be able to take you to the city, I have to stop outside the city."
"Eh, why is that, Lopek?" frills Sin rebuked. "Didn't we promise to get off at Wu-han and pay the rent to you there?"
“Sorry, Young Master. Of course I would love to drive Sam-wi into town, but I don't have the guts to do it."
"Not dare? Why?" Sian Eng joined in.
“Because it means that the rent that I will receive from Sam-wi, I will not be able to take home with me, only half of which I will be able to own at most. Wow, those rotten rags really make life for us fishermen uncomfortable anymore, miss.”
"What do you mean? Who is that rotten frills? Please tell us,” Bu Sin urged curiously.
“They're running rampant now, Young Master, those stinking rags. Since the Sung Kingdom was founded, they now have enormous influence. Everywhere, especially in big cities, the beggars flocked and joined forces. They use illegal tax collection practices. What else in Wu-han. I heard that Wu-han was the center, so there were lots of beggars around there and everyone had to bow down to them. The fishermen have to pay tax to them every time they land, either in the form of fish caught or the result of renting a boat.” The boatman looked both sad and curious.
"Aiiihhh, where are there rules like that?" Lin Lin slammed his feet angrily.
"Lopek, did the authorities not prohibit them from carrying out arbitrary acts?" Bu Sin asked curiously.
The boatman shook his head. “They are helpless. The beggars are shrewd, all are good at martial arts. On top of that, they claimed to be former warriors who helped establish the Sung Kingdom. Therefore, Young Master, if Sam-wi feels sorry for me, I hope Sam-wi will just go outside the city, because if we continue to Wu-han, they will ask for some of the rent or if I'm unlucky, maybe they'll take them all.”
The faces of Bu Sin and her two younger siblings turned red. "No Lopek! We continue to Wu-han and we will bear the responsibility that those nasty, rotten rags won't bother you!"
"But...."
"If we need swords, we will talk!" Lin Lin exclaimed while fingering the hilt of her sword.
The boatman didn't dare to argue anymore. With a wrinkled face full of worry the boatman continued his boat. True to what he said earlier, late in the afternoon, the boat had arrived outside the walls of Wu-han city. It is in the city of Wu-han that the Han River dumps its waters into the Huang-ho River and is a busy river port here. Approaching this place, the boatman turned pale and his body trembled with fear.
"Too bad young master, look there, they are really ready to rob me..." whispered the boatman.
Bu Sin and her two younger siblings looked, but there was nothing strange in the harbour. Because it was late afternoon, the harbor looked rather quiet, only a few busy fishermen, some mending boats, some drying nets and mending sails. Four beggars sat on the ground lazily. Was it those emaciated beggars that the boatmen were afraid of? Lin Lin almost chuckled at the thought of this, but he couldn't hold back his heart asking.
"Lopek, you mean those four earthworms that will bother you?"
"Sssttttt, Miss don't talk too loudly..." the boatman was getting paler.
"And Young Master, please give me the rent right now, not in front of them..."
"No, Lopek. We'd rather see what they do to you. Don't worry, if they dare to rob you, we will give them a beating,” said Bu Sin.
The boatman was forced to move his boat aside. The four beggars turned towards the boat. One of them whose nose was aquiline, yawned and then spoke loudly without getting up from his seat on the ground.
"Heee, boatman, where are you from?"
It was astonishing to see a beggar reprimanded in this way and the boatman replied respectfully, "We come from Shan-si Province, La-kee-bun hamlet near the Han River."
The four beggars now stood stretching and yawning. The Crooked Nose took a big step toward him, ignoring Mrs. Sin and her two younger sisters who had already jumped down and stood looking at them with sharp eyes. “Ho-ho-ho-ho, what a long way. Of course it costs a lot. How much did you receive?"
"... only... only twenty tails... I haven't received even that...," replied the boatman in fear.
“Absolutely stupid! It's only twenty tails so far? You're conned! Or are you lying? It should be at least fifty tails!”
The boatman was getting scared. "That's right, friend. Only twenty tails, but Young Master and these two Misses are sharing a meal with me and...”
Lin Lin can't wait to listen to this conversation. He stepped forward and pointed his right index finger at the beggar's face. "Huh, are you a beggar beggar or a robber? What does it have to do with you about our dealings with the boatman?"
The beggar looked surprised, then laughed. “Ha-ha-ha, Loheng (Brother), you see this chick. Beautiful lady, you don't know us yet, do you? If you knew who I was, hmmm, you'd run to your piss!” The four beggars laughed at this last remark.
“Rotten jumble! Who wants to know your kind? I only know that you're a crooked-nosed filthy bum. Get out of here if you don't want me to crush that disgusting aquiline nose of yours!” Lin Lin snapped and stepped forward. Bu Sin and Sian Eng, who already knew Lin Lin's character, didn't want to stop them, moreover they were really annoyed at witnessing the beggars' behavior. They are ready to face the battle and help Lin Lin.
The hook-nosed beggar was furious. With an attitude of looking down on him he approached Lin Lin. “Wild brat, you need to get beat up!” His long arms extended forward with open fingers, seeming to want to catch Lin Lin.
This girl certainly did not want to let the beggar touch her. His body flashed fast once, his left leg flew up and....
“Prakkk!” the tip of his shoe kissed the beggar's face hard.
The beggar staggered backwards, groaning in pain while covering his face. Blood was pouring out of his nose, which was now tilted and crooked to the left! His right eye turned black and could no longer be opened.
"Little devil, you dare to find trouble with us people from Pek-ho-kai-pang (White Crane Beggar Association)?" The other three beggars then rushed at Lin Lin.
This girl laughed mockingly and faced them without the slightest bit of flinch. Bu Sin and Sian Eng naturally didn't want to hug each other when they saw Lin Lin about to be ganged up on.
"Evil rags, don't be impudent!" Sian Eng shouted and his body flashed facing a beggar.
Bu Sin without making a sound also lunged forward to face the second beggar. There was also the beggar who was cursing just now and had already competed against Lin Lin. These three young men did not want to use swords when they saw that their opponents were just ordinary people who relied on traditional martial arts and were only good at bluffing. Lin Lin faced his opponent while laughing, toying with him with his body agility so that all of his opponent's attacks only knew empty wind.
The once quiet place was now full of people because they wanted to watch the battle. An incident that really surprised them, but secretly they were worried about the safety of the three young people. For almost a year the Pek-ho-kai-pang beggars were running rampant, no one dared to oppose them. Now there are three foreign young people who come to fight against the beggars, of course they are very interested and come in droves to watch. Even the people within Wu-han city who heard this news rushed over to watch. However, many of them were late because when they came to the river bank, the battle was over.
Bu Sin, who is quiet and doesn't want to play games, is immediately able to knock down her opponent with a lightning kick. The beggar was thrown, rolled and could not be restrained anymore his body rolled into the river! Sian Eng also knocked down his opponent a minute later. His punch with an angled hand that 'entered' the opponent's stomach made his opponent's beggar collapse pressing on his stomach and wincing in pain, sitting crouched without any movement, but unable to get up again.
“Stoppp!” Lin Lin snapped by extending her arm forward, stopping the beggar who was her opponent.
The beggar was shocked, thinking the girl really just stopped him. He stood up with his horses and looked surprised.
"Stop for a moment, okay?" Lin Lin stepped closer to the beggar, who was her former rival, who was now languishing on the ground. His legs moved and... the beggar's body was thrown into the river following his friend! After doing this, Lin Lin approached his opponent who was still standing in a stance, then said sweetly, "Well, now you can continue!"
The attitude of this lively and playful girl provoked bursts of laughter from the audience. Indeed, they have been oppressed by beggars for too long, feeling curious and suppressed anger. Now there are three young people giving the beating, their hearts are relieved and satisfied. Even though they were usually afraid of the Pek-ho-kai-pang beggars, now seeing the attitude of this beautiful and witty teenage girl, they couldn't contain their joy.
Lin Lin's opponent was unbelievably angry, while the hook-nosed beggar who was the first to get hit, had already left that place during the afternoon clutching his crushed nose. Lin Lin's opponent's anger made Lin Lin even more excited. He didn't care how much the beggar had taken out a stick and attacked with stick in hand.
"Wow, the smell can not stand!" Lin Lin used his left hand to massage his nose and now only faced the beggar's stick with his right hand.
Lin Lin's movements are indeed very agile. Even though the stick was rotated and beaten repeatedly, it could never touch the hem of his clothes. In fact several times, with lightning movements, this girl has managed to spin behind her opponent and send kicks towards his buttocks until he makes a clapping sound and dust rises from the dirty pants. The audience chuckled and some held their stomachs to hold back their laughter.
“Lin-moi, quickly take care of him!” Bu Sin frowned, snapping at her sister.
"It's done, Sin-ko!" replied LinLin.
And without the beggar being able to understand, all of a sudden his staff had been snatched from the girl's right hand and now he was forced to stagger backwards and tilt from side to side because he was pounded with his own stick. Lin Lin kept pounding his shoulders, pushing his chest and finally the beggar who was retreating back and forth fell into the river!
For fear of being toyed with by Lin Lin, the three beggars let their bodies be washed away by the river water and only swam ashore after some distance from that place. Meanwhile, Bu Sin immediately paid the frightened boatman and told him to get out of there quickly. Without being ordered twice, the boatman then rowed his boat along the riverbank against the current which was not so strong.
Bu Sin understood that they had caused a commotion in this place, so she immediately invited her two younger siblings to enter the city of Wu-han, ignoring the people who had been watching and now looking at them full of admiration and worry while talking about the incident earlier.
Because night had fallen and they felt tired so that it was impossible to continue their journey at night, Bu Sin invited her two younger siblings to spend the night at a guest house which is east of the city center. A simple lodging house, but quite clean. Along the way to the inn, they never saw any beggars. Bu Sin's heart was relieved, because she was already worried that the matter would drag on and they would encounter difficulties from the four beggars friends earlier.
“Wow, the boatman's empek-empek story was exaggerated,” said Lin Lin. “It is said that there are many evil beggars around here, where is the proof? Just the four earthworms just now are of no use at all.”
“Eh, Lin-moi, why do you seem so eager to see beggars again? What do you want?" said Sian Eng, half teasing.
"Want to give another beating if they are really bad, let me give up!" replied LinLin.
“Lin-moi, don't be reckless. Do you think that after seeing the four evil beggars, you then think that all beggars are bad? One who is not evil is to be pitied, like him, isn't it to be pitied?” Bu Sin pointed at an old beggar who sat coldly under a tree in front of the inn.
Lin Lin and Sian Eng looked over. It's worth pitying this old beggar. He sat cross-legged leaning against his battered cane, his clothes were full of patches, his body was shivering with cold, his hair was messy like the hair of a madman. This grandfather was very old, his eyes were dark and from the edges of his eyes heaped dirt was coming out. His lips were slightly parted and drool dripped out. Disgusting, but also embarrassing.
The Lin Lin has a strange character and changes easily. This girl has been strange since her childhood. Easy to anger, easy to cry, easy to laugh. If you're angry, it's only for a moment, if you cry, it's only for a while, and most of the time, of course, it's filled with laughter and jokes. Now seeing the condition of this grandfather, suddenly his anger towards the beggars disappeared. He reached into his pocket, took out a silver coin and threw it into the old man's lap. But the beggar grandfather was still sleeping.
Mrs. Sin and Sian Eng were shocked, but because they already knew about Lin Lin's strange character, they didn't say anything, only complaining inside that if Lin Lin was this generous towards all the beggars, they would soon run out of provisions. on the road! How about giving alms to a beggar up to a piece of silver? However, because that had happened, they didn't stop them and the three of them immediately entered the inn, asking to rent two rooms. One for Lin Lin and Sian Eng, one for Bu Sin.
Feeling tired, the three young people did not go out to eat, but ordered an inn house maid to order food. While they were eating, there was a lot of commotion outside. The three came out and what happened outside? It turned out that the old beggar was the one causing the commotion.
Previously, the people in the front room of the inn, namely the guests who happened to be sitting in the front room heard the sound of people shouting angrily. A maid brought a lamp out of the room to see what was going on. I hope it's the old beggar who screams, “Damn mosquito! Crazy mosquito!”
The beggar grandfather was still sitting, but now his sitting body was bouncing up and down in a cross-legged state. Dust billowed beneath him as his body was slammed, his right hand shooing away the mosquitoes that swarmed him, his left holding a stick. The maidservant was very surprised. Who wouldn't be surprised and amazed to see a person sitting cross-legged able to jump like that? Some of the guests ran outside and soon many people saw the old man.
Bu Sin and her two younger siblings also rushed out, leaving the dining table. They were stunned and shocked. That's a great ginkang show. The longer the grandfather's body jumped higher and higher as if flying, while his situation was still sitting cross-legged. What's even more amazing, the silver money that was in the old man's lap is now under him, also this money is also jumping under the old man's ass!
"Damn mosquito!" The old man was still grumbling, but his words that no one else could understand shocked Bu Sin and her younger siblings, "Damn it, silver money cancels my plan to kill three mosquitoes!"
After saying that, the grandfather glanced at Bu Sin and her younger siblings. Now they saw that the grandfather was blind in one eye. The old man got up, spat once, then walked away crouching with his cane.
The people laugh. “Grandfather is crazy, apparently…”
However, Bu Sin and her younger siblings understood better. Not a crazy grandfather at all, but an extraordinary magician. What's more when they looked more clearly, presumably the silver coins that were still left there and it was the money that the grandfather had spat on. When Bu Sin bent down to take a closer look, the money was crushed and warped with spit.
Bu Sin's face turned pale. “Woe...!” he thought. "Of course what is meant by three mosquitoes earlier is the three of us!" Without saying much more, he then invited his two younger siblings into the room, packed up their clothes and that same night he took his younger siblings to leave the city of Wu-han!
"Eh, why do you look like a scared person?" asked LinLin.
"Lin-moi, because of your act of giving alms earlier, our lives are still safe to this day," replied Bu Sin while taking her two younger siblings for a quick walk.
“Eh, what do you mean, Koko?” Sian Eng was shocked, and Lin Lin looked at his brother with wide eyes.
“You are very reckless children. Didn't you see how the beggar grandfather showed extraordinary ginkang skills? And the silver money, just spit it crooked and corrupted! There was no mistake, he must be a saint and judging by his clothes, he seems to be one of the leaders of the beggar association. Have you forgotten what he said earlier that silver broke his intention to kill three mosquitoes? Of course what he meant by three mosquitoes is the three of us. Presumably he had intended to kill the three of us, but because Lin Lin gave him a piece of silver, he abandoned his intention. How dangerous!”
Lin Lin slammed his feet. “Grandpa bastard! We pity and give alms, he insults us, calls us mosquitoes and looks down on us. Sin-ko, why didn't you tell me earlier? I can at least test his cleverness, how tall is he that he's so arrogant?”
“Lin-moi, don't talk carelessly. He's a saint!” Bu Sin snapped.
"I am not afraid!" Lin Lin shook his head puffed out his chest.
Bu Sin was about to get angry, but immediately suppressed her feelings. He couldn't be angry with Lin Lin. Firstly, because he really loves his foster sister, secondly, because he feels bad if he has to be angry with his adopted sister, worried that Lin Lin will feel discriminated against. Indeed, even though she is still young, Bu Sin has a very good character.
“Lin-moi, next time you must obey Koko's words and don't argue too much. You just made Sin-ko confused and angry!” Sian Eng reprimanded Lin Lin.
After being reprimanded, only then did Lin Lin realize. While laughing he grabbed Mrs. Sin's hand. “Sin-ko, are you mad at me? Am I fussy a lot? Just spare me, good brother?”
Bu. Sin couldn't help but laugh too. "You're naughty."
"Indeed I am naughty, but not as fierce as Enci Sian Eng!" Lin Lin glanced at her little sister. Now Sian Eng was sullen and his hand was about to pinch his sister's arm. Lin Lin jumped up, ran around Mrs. Sin's body and screamed, "Sin-ko, please... Enci is fierce to kill me...!"
“Hushhh, you're crazy, Lin-moi! Time to kill, who killed? If you are an ant, it's easy to kill." Sian Eng was forced to stop his pursuit. Helpless he against this naughty sister.
Because along the way they were joking around, these three young people had left the city of Wu-han through the eastern city gate without realizing it. It was late at night and very dark because the sky was only lit by stars. It is very difficult to travel on a dark night, especially if one does not know the way. The three youths had never traveled that road before.
"Sin-ko, we don't know which way to the king's city, and I'm very tired," Sian Eng grumbled. "We'd better postpone tonight's journey and continue tomorrow morning."
“We're out of Wu-han now, it's fine to stop. But where to rest? There was not a single house, since earlier there had not been a fire in a resident's house. Presumably this area is far from the hamlet.” Bu Sin said.