Suddenly, the staff in the old man's hand flew, wriggling like a snake in the air and striking at them. Bu Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin quickly raised their swords and slashed.
"Tranggggg"
The three swords in their hands flew loose, collapsing onto the ground before them, while the staff bounced back, flying into the hand of the hunchbacked old man who burst into loud laughter.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-hah"
Bu Sin and the two girls were too shocked and astonished by the opponent's power that they stood motionless, like statues, seemingly only awaiting the arrival of the fatal blow.
At that moment, the sound of a flute was heard, sharp and piercing, echoing throughout the forest, growing closer and closer. Bu Sin and the two girls could not bear to listen any longer; their hearts trembled and their bodies shivered. They were forced to use both hands to cover their ears. Even so, the high-pitched shriek still penetrated, causing intense pain in their ears. The old man also looked startled, then shuffled away, leaving the spot, not glancing back at the three youths at all, as if he had forgotten their existence. The sound of the flute stopped, and the three youths lowered their hands. A voice full of authority was heard.
"It-gan Kai-ong, you, along with Hek-giam-lo and Siang-mou Sin-ni, cowardly attacked Bu Kek Siansu and stole his manual (kitab) and khim instrument. Although Bu Kek Siansu did not care and forgave you, I cannot simply let this pass. Hand over the manual and your life."
Not long after, the three of them—Bu Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin—saw the person who had spoken, but only his back. He was a tall, large man, carrying a flute, walking slowly.
"He carries a flute..."
Bu Sin remembered his great enemy, his father's killer. In the next moment, Bu Sin and Sian Eng attacked the man with piauw and needles (jaarum). The man walked casually, as if unaware that secret weapons were flying at him from behind. And the three youths clearly saw how the three piauw and seven needles struck his back precisely, yet the man continued walking comfortably without heeding anything, as if all those secret weapons were merely falling leaves. A moment later, he vanished behind the trees.
"Let's chase him..."
Bu Sin said.
"It's useless, Sin-ko. It's impossible to catch him,"
Objected Lin Lin, who had been standing like a statue. Bu Sin understood this, but seeing Lin Lin's attitude, he frowned.
"Lin-moi, why didn't you join the attack just now? He is Father's killer."
"Not necessarily, Sin-ko. What is the proof? Furthermore, I refuse to attack someone stealthily without giving a warning. Our late Father would not be pleased to see that."
Bu Sin's face flushed red, and Sian Eng snapped,
"Lin-moi, what kind of talk is this? You didn't help, and instead, you criticize. If he truly is Father's great enemy, why must we adhere to so many rules? It is clear that he possesses high martial arts (ilmu tinggi), higher than our level. Why should we bother with formalities? What matters is that we must achieve revenge!"
Lin Lin took a deep breath.
"You know that I would not hesitate to risk my life to avenge Father's suffering. However, I do not believe he is Father's killer. Just listen to his words directed at that demonic old man earlier. It is clear he is a good person, thus making an enemy of that demonic beggar elder named It-gan Kai-ong. If we act recklessly and mistakenly, slandering a good person, wouldn't that be even more disastrous?"
"He carries a flute, he is formidable (lihai). There is no mistake."
Said Sian Eng.
"If he is truly our enemy, we will surely meet again later. For now, it is better that we quickly leave this place,"
Said Bu Sin, who still felt dread when recalling his experience with the demonic old man earlier.
Swiftly, the three youths continued their journey, heading toward the direction where the morning sun rises. Six simple men surrounded a bonfire in the forest. They were animal hunters who apparently had not yet achieved success and were spending the dark night in the great forest, making a bonfire and sitting around it chatting. Suddenly, they stopped talking, and their hands reached for their respective weapons—long spears—and their eyes stared in the direction from which they had heard suspicious sounds. Two men immediately extinguished the bonfire. Then they crouched down and slipped behind the trees, cautiously approaching the spot.
Who knew, perhaps tonight they would be lucky enough to find game that had been caught out late there. But they were mistaken. The sound they thought was caused by game was actually made by three youths who seemed to have just arrived and were trying to build a bonfire. One handsome young man and two beautiful girls. One of the hunters, who had a short beard, the leader of this group of six hunters, laughed, followed by his companions. Bu Sin, Sian Eng, and Lin Lin were startled, quickly turning to face the six men who emerged from the darkness, their hands reaching for their sword hilts.
"Ha-ha-ha, please, Sam-wi youths, do not worry. We are merely ordinary animal hunters, not bandits,"
He said.
"Cu-wi startled us, appearing so suddenly from the dark,"
Said Bu Sin, half-reproachfully.
"Ha-ha, forgive us. We were just chatting over there, and heard Sam-wi's sounds, which we mistook for a wild animal. It is quite strange, how youths like Sam-wi are in this wild forest?"
"We are wanderers who were caught by nightfall on the road,"
Replied Bu Sin curtly.
"Forgive us if we disturbed Cu-wi."
"Ha-ha, no matter... no matter... this forest does not belong to us. I was initially surprised to see Sam-wi, so young, daring to enter this wild forest in the dark night, but seeing Sam-wi's swords, my surprise vanished. Come, friends, let us make a bonfire right here."
They made a large bonfire and sat surrounding it.
"Tan-twako, continue your tale about the Golden Flute (Suling Emas),"
Said one man, and this sentiment was affirmed by the others. The short-bearded man spoke earnestly,
"It is not a tale, but reality. I myself was once helped by him. Although I still cannot confirm whether he is a man or a deity, I was extremely fortunate to receive his aid."
"Tell us... tell us..."
His companions urged him. Bu Sin exchanged glances with his two younger sisters. They had initially been suspicious of the six men who claimed to be hunters, but upon hearing the name Golden Flute (Suling Emas) mentioned, they became extremely interested. It seemed the word 'flute' was what captured their attention. Was not their great enemy a person who carried a flute? Therefore, the