The Golden Flute Chapter 22

He said slowly, full of admiration. Lu Sian laughed. A girl in the morning hasn't even dressed up,

"how can she be beautiful? Hmph, you're drunk again, Koko, but this time not drunk on wine, but drunk on love!"

Lu Sian laughed teasingly, then squatted down by the edge of the boat, her hand scooping up the clear water, and she began washing her face, scrubbing it until her entire complexion became flushed and fresh like a red rose sprinkled with morning dew.

Teased so openly, Kwee Seng felt weak and subsequently did not want to speak much more, for every one of the girl's taunts was a stab to his heart. Why had he suddenly become so weak? Why didn't he just leave this girl? Where had the arrogance he had always prided himself on gone? Ah, he was still hoping. He was still waiting. Lu Sian had heard his confession of love, and this girl's heart was extremely difficult to gauge. Sometimes she was so affectionate, as if she truly loved him even while trying to show the opposite, but why was she sometimes so cruel, attacking him with sarcastic remarks? After crossing the river, Lu Sian again spurred her horse forward. Kwee Seng followed from behind, and soon they entered a forest.

Just as the boatman had said, as the morning progressed, crowds of people were seen fleeing south. Because the main road was becoming busy with groups of refugees, Lu Sian and Kwee Seng took a small but quiet forest path.

"Why do they have to flee in such large groups? They're just clogging up the road."

Lu Sian grumbled because the forest path they were taking was narrow and often obstructed by small thorny trees.

"The common people have suffered too much oppression and violence, Sian-moi. They know that even fleeing doesn't free them from the danger of wicked people or wild beasts, so they feel safer fleeing in large groups. During a chaotic war like this, wicked people usually take the opportunity to rob."

"Hah, you're right, Koko, and it seems we might be the victims. Do you hear that?"

Kwee Seng nodded.

"The sound of many horses' hooves from behind! But they aren't necessarily robbers chasing us, Moi-moi."

Both of them stopped and looked back.

Soon after, the sound of hooves became clearer, and three riders appeared, spurring their horses very quickly. Their three mounts were large and clearly choice horses, even bigger and better than the horses ridden by Kwee Seng and Lu Sian. The three riders were young, beautiful women dressed in luxurious yet simple attire. Finely engraved swords hung on their backs; their left hands held the reins, and their right hands held whips. Seeing their skill in riding, it was easy to guess that these were women proficient in *ilmu silat*, especially since their swords suggested fine heirloom blades.

The one in front was the oldest, around twenty-five years old, dressed entirely in red; the second was twenty years old, dressed entirely in yellow; and the third was only eighteen, dressed entirely in green. Seeing their features, it could be guessed that they were sisters, and it was hard to say which of them was the most beautiful. All were lovely, and their gazes were sharp. However, their smooth complexions were further enhanced with powder and *yanci* (lip/cheek rouge), giving Kwee Seng the impression that these three women were vain girls, like Ang-siauw-hwa. This was unlike Liu Lu Sian, whom he had never seen wear powder or *yanci*, although this was unnecessary as Lu Sian's skin was already too white and smooth, her lips always moist and red, and her cheeks flushed like ripe apples.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

The three girls shouted loudly without slowing the speed of their horses. Yet the path was extremely narrow. Kwee Seng was forced to pull his reins, moving his horse to the side.

Seeing Lu Sian still letting her horse face the path, Kwee Seng did not want trouble to erupt; he grabbed the reins of Lu Sian's mount and pulled the animal aside as well. The first and second horses passed very quickly, and the scent of perfume wafted by. The third horse, ridden by the youngest girl, slowed down, and this girl glanced toward Kwee Seng, then threw him a smile! Only after giving a meaningful look did the third girl spur her horse forward again. Kwee Seng quickly moved his hand to catch Lu Sian's wrist. The girl was gripping needles, which were her secret weapons, and which she had been about to throw at the three girls!

"Moi-moi, why look for trouble with people we don't know at all and have no enmity with?"

Lu Sian pouted her lips, a habit that always tugged at Kwee Seng's heart, then put away her secret needles.

"Annoying! Koko, are you always soft-hearted and ready to help every beautiful woman?"

Both of Kwee Seng's cheeks flushed red.

"That's not it, Moi-moi. I only like to help those who need help, regardless of whether they are women or men. But those people just now did nothing wrong, why did you want to attack them?"

"Did nothing wrong? Hmph, why were her eyes darting around like a pickpocket?"

Kwee Seng laughed in amusement upon hearing this.

"A pickpocket? Ha-ha, your analogy is truly inaccurate. How could a beautiful girl be a pickpocket? And besides, what does this poor man have that's worth stealing?"

Lu Sian smiled too.

"What else but your heart that will be stolen?"

Kwee Seng widened his eyes, staring, but the girl only laughed at him without covering her mouth, revealing a row of white teeth and a reddish mouth cavity. Kwee Seng felt mocked; his heart was annoyed and hurt.

"Let's continue the journey!"

Finally, he said somewhat angrily, but Lu Sian continued laughing as she spurred her horse behind the young man.

"Ah, you're in such a hurry. Are you going to chase the pickpocket and hand over your heart? She was very sweet, Kwee-koko! Her glance was sharp and inviting!"

Lu Sian teased him repeatedly, but Kwee Seng did not reply and kept spurring his horse. However, it seemed the three girls had also ridden very fast; the proof was that for three days, the two of them still hadn't managed to catch up to the three girls. On the fourth day, after spending the night in the cold forest, Kwee Seng and Lu Sian continued their journey.

At a crossroads, they saw many refugees again, but strangely, they were not walking south; instead, they were heading north! Not only Lu Sian felt surprised, but Kwee Seng was also astonished, so the young man asked an elderly male refugee.

"Lopek, where are all of you fleeing to?"

"Where else but to the Golden Dragon Fortress? Only there is a safe place for us, because Kam-goan-swe (General Kam) is there."

"Why is it unsafe elsewhere, Lopek? What threatens your safety?"

Kwee Seng began to be interested, while Lu Sian also listened attentively. Hearing this question, the old man looked surprised.

"Kongcu, where do you come from that you don't know the situation here? Everywhere there are wolf-like men; the governor's army is running rampant, disturbing the populace, robbing property, and raping women under the pretext of eliminating rebels! Everyone is afraid to oppose Governor Li; only Kam-goan-swe dares to protect us. Kongcu and Nona, as outsiders, should not travel in this area; it is dangerous."

After saying that, the old man continued his journey with the group of over thirty refugees.

"Lopek, is the fortress still far from here?"

Lu Sian suddenly asked, urging her horse forward.

The old man turned and looked, but his brow furrowed, refusing to answer, and instead walked on, which sparked her anger, and she snapped,

"Hmph, Old Man! Are you deaf and mute?"

The old man scowled, turned again, and grumbled.

"There are no good women in this crazy era!"

Of course, Lu Sian grew angrier. Seeing this, Kwee Seng worried that Liu Sian might take action, so he quickly spurred his horse, moved in front of Lu Sian, and said to the old man.

"Lopek, my friend asked politely, why won't you answer? Please don't misjudge her; my friend is a noble-hearted female *pendekar*."

Lu Sian's anger vanished, and she smiled upon hearing this praise. The old man then turned his body, looked doubtfully at Lu Sian, and bowed.

"Please forgive me, Nona. Just this morning, three girls like you passed through here, but they were incredibly rude; they even struck five of our people with their whips because we weren't quick enough to move aside for their large horses to pass. If Nona wishes to know, the fortress is not far now, about three *li* from here."

After the group moved on and Kwee Seng began to move his reins to continue the journey, Lu Sian touched his arm and said,

"Kwee-koko, let's stop here, find a place to rest until tonight."

"Ah, why is that? It's still daytime, and the journey is still long. What necessity is there to stop here?"

"The situation at that fortress, that General Kam, and the three girls who seem to be heading there too, interest me enough to investigate. Tonight I intend to sneak over there, see the situation, and find out what is really happening."