That night Suling Emas was forced to stop her horse. The night was so dark that it was impossible to continue the journey. They stopped on a hillside, by the road. The black and white striped horse was not tied up, just let loose. Suling Emas then gathered dry twigs and leaves, made a bonfire under a big tree.
Then he took dry bread and a drinker from the pouch that hung from the horse's back, and sat down by the fire. He didn't say anything, just looked at Sian Eng and the light in his eyes invited the girl to sit near the fire. Sian Eng approached, then sat down on the dry grass near the bonfire. Without saying a word, the Golden Flute handed him dry bread and a drinker.
Sian Eng sighed, but accepted the bread and ate the bread because his stomach felt very hungry. All day long they rode horses, never stopping for a moment, neither eating nor drinking. It had been a long time since Sian Eng had ridden a horse and now, one full day on a horse. Her back felt stiff and her whole body ached!
They ate dry bread and drank fresh water in silence. After eating, Sian Eng saw how Suling Emas just sat pensively staring at the blazing fire, sitting motionless and her eyes shining, her sadness was gone. That handsome and strange face was no longer somber, but rather radiant. Was it the beauty of fire that brought all of this? Or was it because in the flames he saw or remembered something? Sian Eng secretly looked at that face from the side. A handsome face, with strokes that imagine the suffering of life, strokes of maturity of the soul. Not too young anymore though one couldn't say he was old. It's hard to estimate his age. Finally Sian Eng could no longer contain his anxiety.
"Where are you taking me?"
The golden flute seemed to be surprised to hear this sound. At first he was daydreaming and seemed to have forgotten that there was another human nearby. Sian Eng's voice seemed to drag him down from the world of reverie and he turned his head while stuttering to ask, "What...?"
Sian Eng's heart is also irritated. This person was looking down on him too much, he thought. With a curt he asked. "With what purpose are you helping me, and where are you planning to take me?"
"With what purpose?" Presumably this question made Suling Emas daydream for a while, remembering after repeating the question, then she replied, "Of course so that you are free from danger, and of course take you away from the area controlled by the Khitan people."
Sian Eng was speechless. What a stupid question that was. Of course that was the purpose of the Gold Flute helping him, without even asking he should have understood. However, this Gold Flute was no ordinary person, but his archenemy! His heart pounded again and he looked up at the face that had turned and back at the bonfire.
"I don't think that's what you mean," he said in a firm, curt voice. “Golden flute, you have killed my mother and father! Now you're pretending to help me, of course with some kind of… bad intention!”
The golden flute nodded, still looking at the fire, his eyes were shining, his face was radiant, he seemed very happy to hear this. “Hmmm... is that why the three of you are looking for the Golden Flute? No wonder you guys rained shurikens on me in that forest...”
Sian Eng was shocked. So this person already knew that he and his two brothers were looking for him, and even knew about the attack in the forest! Truly a strange and shrewd person. But he was not afraid.
"It is true. Even if you are of high intelligence, because you killed our parents, we want revenge. Even now I challenge you to battle. You must avenge the death of my parents with your life, or I will sacrifice my life in seeking revenge!” Sian Eng jumped up and got up, deciding to risk his life with his great enemy even though he was quite aware that his intelligence was completely meaningless when compared to this strange character.
The golden flute still didn't turn around, instead using a branch to pry the bonfire so that the flames grew bigger, illuminating his handsome face which was now wrinkled on his forehead.
"Hmmm, you fools. I didn't kill your parents, I don't even know who they are and who you three are. How can I kill someone I don't know who or where they live?”
Sian Eng hesitated and hesitated. The tension that had filled his body earlier relaxed, “But…
but... before she died, Mother said... about the killer... mentioned the flute...”
"Do not be stupid. Sit down and tell the obvious. If I kill someone, whoever it is, I won't deny it. The golden flute is not used to denying its actions, it is not normal to be cowardly, when you dare to act, you must dare to be responsible.”
Even though Suling Emas didn't turn around and was still looking at the fire, Sian Eng felt that his words came from the bottom of his heart. His anger softened and he sat down again by the fire, glancing at the man in bewilderment.
"If not you, who...?" this question left his lips without him noticing, as if the voice of his heart was heard through his lips.
"Not me!" Answer Flute Gold for sure. "If you want, tell me about the murder."
Sian Eng believes. If it is said that this person killed his parents, I don't think there is a need to deny it. His intelligence was high and what would he himself be able to do with the Gold Flute? And his heart became somewhat relieved. Thank goodness it's not a gold flute. First, because if he really is the killer, of course it's very difficult to get revenge. Second, he had helped him escape the danger of death at the hands of the Khitans. Third, he remembers now, and knows that he and his two brothers were saved from the danger of death at the hands of It-gan Kai-ong by a golden flute. If the Golden Flute killed their parents and also their helper, wouldn't that cause a lot of confusion?
“Ah, then forgive us. We always thought you were our mortal enemy. Ah, then Lin-moi's guess is correct...”
“Lin-moi? Who?"
“My sister...”
“Ahh, is that so? If you don't mind, tell me about the murder."
Sian Eng thought for a moment. What's wrong with telling that to the Golden Flute who is now no longer an enemy, instead a helper? Who knows from this character he will be able to find out who killed his mother and father.
“We are the Kam family, living in Ting-chun hamlet at the foot of Cin-ling-san Mountain. Our father...”
“General Kam.”
Sian Eng was surprised and again he became suspicious. "How do you know?"
Still contemplating and looking at the flames, Gold Flute replied nonchalantly. "I know a lot of characters. General Kam is not an unknown person. carry on.”
Sian Eng continued his narrative, since the emergence of Giam Sui Lok until the killing of Kam Si Ek, husband and wife, and also Giam Sui Lok, they were in a terrible state. He told everything, even the business of his older brother, Kam Bu Song, which they had to find, he told Suling Emas. Long story, takes a quarter of an hour to tell everything clearly. And during that time, the Gold Flute sat facing the fire without moving. Never turning to look at him, never interrupting his story so that sometimes Sian Eng doubted whether people had heard him. It felt like he was telling a story to a tree or to a statue!
“That's it, the three of us left our hometown, headed to the king's city to look for our big enemy and also our brother Kam Bu Song. However, our goal has not been achieved and our task has not been completed, the enemy has not been found, brother has not met, we have been scattered by disaster."
Sian Eng briefly told how his younger brother, Lin Lin, disappeared on the building of the Suma aristocratic family in An-sui. Then how he and his sister, Bu Sin, who came to the Suma family to ask about their sister, were attacked and arrested by Suma Boan.
"I don't know what will happen to Sin-ko." He ended his story in a voice full of anxiety.
"No need to be nervous. He's safe."
"How do you know?" Sian Eng asked, his tone was incredibly happy and relieved. He had thought that his brother might very well have died at the hands of that evil and shrewd prince's son. "Ah, of course you have helped him anyway, right?"
The golden flute lowered its head, then said slowly, “Help me no, only I saw him tied up, wounded by Suma Boan's arrows. I couldn't let him die like that, I took him and now he is out of danger. You three are really clueless...”
Sian Eng frowned. If he didn't remember that this person had helped him, and had also saved Mrs. Sin, he would surely be furious. Words that are not only reproachful, but also condescending, even contemptuous.
"You've helped us, I should thank you. However, why are you doing all this? Why are you helping us? What did you mean when you said we were three ignorant people?”
The golden flute rose to its feet to gather the twigs around the place, then it slammed the dry branches near the bonfire and said, its voice like an angry man, “You three of you with insignificant intelligence are so brave to die wandering in search of a great enemy that has not yet been discovered. known who! What a waste of youth. What can you do if you meet bad people? How about meeting the person who killed your mother and father?”
Sian Eng understands the meaning of the words Suling Emas, knowing that the intelligence of the three of them is still far away when compared to the intelligence of several big figures in the world of Kang-ouw. However, when they traveled abroad, they did not think about this at all, never thought that in this world there are so many smart people, weird people and bad people. After all, he still did not become embarrassed.
"If we meet, let his intelligence be as high as the sky, I will fight him and invite him to compete tooth and nail!" Sian Eng answered in a loud voice.
The golden flute snorted. “Huh, easy talk. You little kid...”
Sian Eng wants to be angry, but can't. After all, he did feel like a child in front of this strange young man, who was so pious, quiet and serious.
"Indeed I am a child, so be it, I am not as old as you," these words to vent his frustration.
The gold flute turned its head, slightly smiling. And it was very strange, suddenly Sian Eng's anger disappeared and he felt as if he had known this person for a long time, had met him many times. Impossible thing. Maybe meet in dreamland!
"And why are you helping me, helping Sin-ko?"
"Who helps whom? I'm not helping anyone, just doing my duty as a human being. The recklessness of the three of you has taken its toll. Your youngest brother is missing. You said earlier that he left a letter stating that he was taken away by Kim-lun Seng-jin?
Lucky to meet Kim-lun Seng-jin. If the one carrying it is one of the Thian-te Liok-koai (Six Devils), won't it be too bad?”
Sian Eng looked surprised. This person does not want to be called helpful, his attitude is indifferent, does not care, but sometimes he can get angry. It's so weird, it's confusing. Ah, if only Lin Lin were here, he thought, surely you would know the taste. Lin Lin's character was no less strange, and his younger brother was very articulate, good at arguing, and if Lin Lin was there, it seems that things would change. This golden flute would naturally stutter and stutter nervously in the face of Lin Lin's speech attack.
"You don't need to be mad at me," he finally said. "You want to help or not, it's up to you. You also want to tell me, if you know, who killed my father and mother and where is my sister Bu Song, it's up to you."
The golden flute looked away again at the bonfire. His face, which had been a bit radiant and looked very handsome, now returned to being gloomy like the face of a dead statue. After taking a few breaths and adding twigs to the fire, he said. "Who killed your mother and father, I do not know. Light is not me. But since you and your brothers are accusing me, I will try to find out who the killer is. About that student named Bu Song, as far as I know he is dead!”
Sian Eng was shocked to hear this latest news. What's more, Suling Emas didn't seem happy when she talked about her older sister, Bu Song. “How do you know? Do you know my sister Bu Song? How did it die? Hope you enjoy talking to me."
The golden flute shook its head. "There is nothing to be said about that foolish young man. The fact that he left his father and never came back or gave news proved that he was not worth thinking about anymore. Why are you and your brothers arguing about looking for him?”
Sian Eng did not answer and hearing that the eldest brother he was looking for had died, he could no longer hold it in sobbing.
The golden flute let him cry for a long time. Only then was he heard to say. “Never mind, crying over tears of blood is useless. You better think about the condition of your brothers who are still around. Your sister Bu Sin is safe and certainly is in a place not far from the king's city. Tomorrow we go there and I will take you to the king's city. Then, if I can meet the weirdo Kim-lun Seng-jin, I will order him to bring back that little sister of yours named Lin Lin. Then you three better go back to Ting-chun at the foot of Cin-ling-san Mountain. Now you sleep." After saying that, Suling Emas sat away from Sian Eng, again contemplating by the campfire.
Sian Eng understood that it was useless to talk to this strange person, so he lay down. Until far into the night he still heard several times he sobbed. But fatigue and grief lulled him to sleep.
The next day, Sian Eng woke up early in the morning and how surprised he was when he saw the clothes lying nearby. He quickly sat up. The golden flute was rubbing against the horse's body and not far from there was a bonfire. Sian Eng looked stunned. The strange person who had helped him was humming. I don't know what he was singing because it was too slow for his hearing to catch, but Sian Eng heard a voice that vibrated full of feeling in the sad song he was humming. The smell of burning made him quickly look at the bonfire and presumably on it roasted a large piece of meat.
“Scorched flesh...!” Automatically Sian Eng jumped up, covered the black robe that was open at the chest, ran over to the meat and turned it over.
The humming sound disappeared. “Wow, I forgot...! Did the flesh spoil?” The golden flute is approaching.
"No, just a little burnt. Those clothes… whose?”
"You wear it. Last night I got it from the hamlet over there.”
After saying that, Suling Emas left Sian Eng, returned to her horse and continued to rub her horse's body, standing with her back to the girl. Sian Eng looked at his slightly red face, his chest thumped strangely. The person he thought was his archenemy who killed his mother and father, perhaps a helper and a very kind person, someone who caught his heart.
Impossible! Sian Eng denied in his heart, he is much older than me, he is a freak. This girl dispelled the attraction in her heart, hiding behind a big tree to change clothes. A few minutes later he had changed clothes. He folded the gold flute's black robe carefully, then he approached the cooked roast meat.
"The meat is done!" he shouted at the broad back.
The golden flute turned its body, looked and smiled slightly seeing Sian Eng had changed clothes. Sian Eng who expected words of praise from the mouth of Suling Emas was disappointed because the person didn't say anything.
"Here is your robe, thank you." Sian Eng returned the folds of the black robe. The golden flute accepted it without saying anything, then put the robe on.
"We have breakfast of grilled meat and then go to the king's city," he said briefly. Sian Eng only nodded and the two of them then ate the grilled meat and pastries that were the provision for the golden flute.
After they finished eating, Gold Flute said, his voice serious, “Don't take such nonsense. You have to hitchhike the horse in front of me so that the journey can be made faster. Hopefully when you arrive at the king's city, you will be able to meet your sister Bu Sin. Please!"
If only the words were not said so seriously and the handsome face of the golden Flute looked haunted, surely Sian Eng would be embarrassed and might not want him to ride a horse with this person. However, because he wanted to see his brother again soon, he did not want to argue. He lightly moved, his body jumped onto the horse's back. Suddenly the horse soared and ran very fast like flying.
Sian Eng was shocked. Where's Flute Gold? Had he been carried away by the horse and the Golden Flute left behind? In his nervousness he looked and... he almost bumped his nose with the person sitting behind him! Presumably the Golden Flute was already sitting behind him, slightly behind him so that their bodies didn't touch. Presumably this person's movement was so light that he did not even know that he was behind him earlier.
Quickly, Sian Eng turned his face, which was very red, and secretly he was very amazed at the greatness of this person's intelligence, also amazed at his decency. Even though he was sitting like that, he didn't feel awkward because the Golden Flute was really polite, sitting a little far back.
It is true what the Golden Flute said. The horse was amazing at running, as fast as flying and if they had traveled without horses, it would have been more tiring, but also slower. The gold flute traveled fast and continuously, only stopping twice a day. Sometimes even at night they go on their way.
Over time, Sian Eng believed in this strange man more and more. Near the Golden Flute, he felt safe, his suspicions disappeared completely and he saw this person as a great warrior who was very impressive. What he cares about, Suling Emas is a quiet person, never wanting to talk if not asked. Answering questions was only as brief as necessary. This disappointed Sian Eng because this girl really wanted to hear the biography of this strange person who amazed her heart.
When they entered the gates of the king's city that morning, many people looked at them in awe and wonder. Amazed to see a big beautiful horse being ridden by a pair of young people who are beautiful and dashing. Presumably the Golden Flute was about to hide himself as he had used a handkerchief to cover the flute image on his chest. However, Sian Eng's ears could still catch several people on the roadside whispering, "He... The golden flute..."
The golden flute stopped the horse in the wide yard of a temple, inviting Sian Eng to get off. In the front room they were greeted by several hwesio (Buddhist priests) who immediately paid their respects to the Golden Flute.
"Hope the Lo-suhu (reverend sir) will accept Miss Kam as an honored guest and help her in her efforts to meet her brother in the king's city."
“Omitohud... of course, Taihiap (Great Warrior)! Please come in, Miss, and... think of it as your own home,” said the old hwesio amiably. "Would Taihiap not mind stopping and drinking tea first?"
The golden flute shook its head. “Thank you Lo-temperature. I still have a lot of business to do.” Then he turned to San Eng and said. “In this temple, you are in a safe place. With the help of the Lo-suhu here, if your brother is in the king's city, of course you can meet him. Remember, once the three of you have met each other and got together, the only best thing for you is to return to Ting-chun. Well, goodbye." The golden flute saluted the head priest, then hopped onto his horse which galloped away from the scene.
Sian Eng stood dumbfounded, unable to say anything. What can he say? Hanging out with that person, traveling together for a few days, had proven the nobleness of the Golden Flute, its decency, but also its strangeness. There seemed to be something suppressing that man's feelings, something he was suffering from inside, which made him appear quiet, indifferent, and his handsome face was always gloomy like the sun that was always covered by clouds in the rainy season. Suddenly he turned to the head priest, the fat, genial hwesio.
"Lo-temperature, he is... That golden flute... what kind of person is he?" This strange question just came out of Sian Eng's mouth, immediately as an overflow of his heart. Luckily it was an old hwesio who was spoken to, if it was someone else it would be very embarrassing.
The Hwesio just laughed, then replied, “You're not the only one asking questions like this, Miss. Lots of people, among them (me) limping myself! But, who can answer? If the pinceng only answered like this, he was a great warrior with a strange character. When helping people, he is wise like a god, when facing an opponent, he is fierce like a demon. That was Flute Gold, and no one could ever tell who it was. But for us, it is enough to know that he is a good person, always on the right side even though sometimes it is very difficult to understand. Miss, we received the order, we must do it carefully. Please come in, Miss, there is a clean room for you. About your brother, we will talk about it later and of course the students here are ready to help you look for him, if it is true that he is in the city of the king."
Sian Eng's heart is relieved, even though the information about the Golden Flute himself makes his heart even more curious and inquisitive. He entered the temple and indeed, the priests served him with such respect and courtesy that Sian Eng did not hesitate to invite them to discuss the two brothers who had separated from him. He gave a description of Mrs. Sin and Lin Lin and ordered that the priests who saw these two people in the king's city immediately inform him.
The hwesio seemed very eager to help Sian Eng, and this girl understands that this enthusiasm arose because of the belief that helping Sian Eng means helping Suling Emas by carrying out her orders! His heart was even more amazed at the secret person who was able to make pious people like these clerics so submissive and loyal. Of course he didn't know that those hwesios, as well as countless people in the king's city, were indebted to Gold Flute.
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