The Golden Flute Chapter 27

"Ha-ha-ha, fool! Crazy for women!!"

Kwee Seng then took his wine jar and drank from the jar and drank from the jar without measure anymore. The wine gurgled down his throat. Suddenly he stopped drinking and turned to look towards the cluster of small flowering trees that had not yet received the morning sun, still dark. Although his feelings were disturbed and his spirit greatly wounded, the young man's ears were still extremely sharp, his senses still highly sensitive to danger. He heard movement there, so he challenged,

"Who is spying there?"

A white shadow flashed out from behind the trees and a girl stood before Kwee Seng with a flushed face and eyes reflecting shame. This girl quickly bowed respectfully while saying.

"I hope *Taihiap* will forgive me. Truly, it was not my intention to spy, but the situation just now made me afraid to come out and introduce myself."

Kwee Seng quickly returned the greeting of this girl who wore all white. A girl with clear eyes, a bright face, and a gallant demeanor, whom he had never met before. However, he immediately recalled that this girl was likely the White Shadow who fought against Lu Sian on the fortress roof earlier.

"Hmph, if Miss has been spying for a long time, there is probably no need for introductions; surely Miss already knows everything!"

Kwee Seng said with a bitter heart because of Lu Sian's extremely embarrassing scene, which had degraded him.

"Once again, my apologies, *Taihiap*. Truly, I saw and heard everything, and now I know that the formidable girl who strangely came to my martial junior brother's fortress is none other than Miss Liu Lu Sian, the highly renowned daughter of the *Beng-kauwcu*. This is truly something we never expected, and had she come to introduce herself normally, we surely would have welcomed her with all honors. However, the rice has already become porridge (what is done is done), and I feel guilty towards Kwee-*taihiap*, whom I greatly admire for his prowess. Therefore, I invite Kwee-*taihiap* to stop by our fortress to strengthen our friendship and to add to our shallow knowledge."

Kwee Seng was secretly impressed. Even though she was just a woman, a young girl, this Miss was truly vastly different from the women he usually met. This Miss reflected a sharp mind, broad perspective, courtesy, and caution, like someone with much experience. He then remembered that he had not yet asked her name, and for someone with such a broad perspective as this Miss, it would naturally be impossible for her to introduce her name if not asked.

"Thank you, Miss, you are very kind. Since Miss knows my name, perhaps I may also know your honorable name?"

"I, the foolish one, am named Lai Kui Lan, assisting the struggle of *Kam-sute* (Junior Martial Brother Kam). I am the sole disciple of the late father of *Kam-sute*, but I, the foolish one, have not been able to inherit even a tenth of the Kam family's martial arts."

Again, the answer greatly impressed Kwee Seng. Ah, if only Liu Lu Sian had the character and demeanor of this white-clad Miss, he thought.

"Thank you once again for the invitation, Miss Liu, who is so sweet-natured. However, I truly do not wish to disturb the tranquility of Miss and *Kam-goanswe*. Earlier, my only intention was to prevent things that would cause chaos, so forgive me if I made a mistake by intervening against Miss, as my intention was only to stop the fight."

Kui Lan lowered her face, and her cheeks were very red. However, she replied with a simple, humble demeanor,

"Kwee-*taihiap*'s skill has opened my eyes. I repeat, on behalf of *Kam-sute* as well, we invite Kwee-*taihiap* to stop by and receive our respects."

"I cannot, Miss Lai. Thank you. I must leave right now."

After saying this, Kwee Seng raised both hands in a salute, then leaped onto his horse and left his empty wine jar behind. His heart, full of sorrow, seemed to make him careless, so he did not even take the empty wine jar. After the young man left, Lai Kui Lan stood lost in thought in that spot. She sighed deeply several times, then her gaze met the wine jar. She stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the wine jar.

Unconsciously, she pressed the empty wine jar against her chest, and closed her eyes as if the wine jar, which she had seen Kwee Seng drink from, represented the powerful young hero who had made her heart tremble. If Lu Sian looked down upon and insulted Kwee Seng, Lai Kui Lan, conversely, immediately fell in love, so impressed was she by seeing Kwee Seng defeat her in one move! Indeed, the world is full of strange things, especially when it concerns the raging passion in the hearts of young people. Lai Kui Lan, who had a gallant and innocent character, fell in love with Kwee Seng upon first meeting, but the one she loved did not know this because Kwee Seng was infatuated with Liu Lu Sian. Conversely, Lu Sian refused to return Kwee Seng's love, and this wild girl admired Kam Si Ek!

When Lai Kui Lan regained awareness of her situation, her face grew even redder, and several tears escaped from her eyelids. Remembering Kwee Seng's situation, she shuddered. Poor hero. Falling in love with the daughter of the *Beng-kauwcu*. She had heard of Liu Lu Sian, the daughter of the *Beng-kauwcu*, a beautiful and formidable girl who had captured the hearts of countless young men. She also heard about the youths who became victims at *Beng-kauw*. And now, it seemed the powerful hero Kwee Seng was also becoming a victim. Then she remembered her *sute*, Kam Si Ek. There was a similarity between Liu Lu Sian and Kam Si Ek. Her *sute* was also sought after by girls, driving many girls crazy, but her *sute* still refused to accept the love of any of them. Many also became victims of romance, among them the three sisters of *See-liong-sam-ci-moi*! She also remembered Kwee Seng's promise to impart martial arts tomorrow midnight on the peak of the eastern hill, and she felt dread.

That hill was known as *Liong-kui-san* (Dragon Demon Mountain). Although not one of the great mountains, it was highly renowned in that area as a hill difficult for people to approach, eerie, and rumored to be haunted by many ghosts. Kam Si Ek himself forbade his subordinates from climbing that mountain, because its condition was indeed very dangerous, and it must be admitted that there was something that made the peak of the hill look strange. There were many ravines of immeasurable depth, and a swift river flowed there, a river whose source was inside the mountain and which later merged with the *Wu-kiang* river. This river was also named *Liong-hiat-kiang* (Dragon Blood River) by the locals, because at certain times the sunlight made the river look reddish like blood! Then Lai Kui Lan sighed and walked with weary steps while clutching the wine jar. Her spirit seemed to fly away, following the shadow of Kwee Seng, the powerful and handsome Young Hero!