The Golden Flute Chapter 28

Kwee Seng, whose heart was grieving over Liu Lu Sian's confession that she did not return his love, galloped his horse away from General Kam Si Ek's fortress. Remembering his promise to Liu Lu Sian, he then turned his horse eastward and felt relieved when he entered a village not far from the foot of the mountain, a village that was quite lively, even containing a simple inn that also operated a restaurant. Fortunately for him, the inn was empty of guests, so the situation was quiet and he did not have to wait long. Kwee Seng sold his horse through the hotel manager, then drank himself into a stupor while singing to drive away the longing and sadness in his heart. In a short time, the hotel servants gave him the name The Drunken Scholar! In his drunkenness, Kwee Seng sang romantic poems created by the famous poet Li Tai Po.

That evening, Kwee Seng stood in the back room of the inn, watching the sunlight begin to fade, only a reddish-yellow glow illuminating the western sky. His right hand held a wine container made of dried gourd skin. He leaned against the railing, gazing at the beautifully colored western sky while occasionally taking a sip of wine from the container. Remembering a poem by Li Tai Po, Kwee Seng raised his face and shook the wine container before him, then sang the poem:

I enjoy wine until unaware of the coming dusk

Falling flower petals cover the folds of my robe

Drunk, I approach the stream reflecting the moon

Ohhh, the birds fly away, silent and desolate

Kwee Seng stopped singing and took a gulp of his wine. Although the fumes of the wine had filled his head, making his head feel light and ready to float, as a powerful martial arts expert, his ears caught the sound of footsteps. While continuing to drink, with wine dripping from his lips, Kwee Seng glanced to the right. He was still standing leaning against the railing.

"Heh-heh-heh, the sun departs, surely replaced by the rising moon..."

He spoke to himself but secretly observed the newcomers. Why were people coming from behind the inn? When he saw that the arrivals were a youth and a girl, he did not dare look directly, but instead squinted and watched from the corner of his eye. How surprised he was when he recognized the woman. It was none other than the girl in white, Lai Kui Lan, the *suci* (senior martial sister) of General Kam Si Ek! Her clothes were still white silk like this morning, her face was still bright and sweet like before, but there was something strange about this girl.

If this morning Lai Kui Lan had been very friendly and her eyes clear and bright, now the girl did not look in his direction at all, as if she did not know him or did not see him, although it was impossible not to see him because there was no one else in that spot. And the girl's gaze, as if lacking spirit, was unnatural! Moreover, the girl's left arm was tightly held by the Youth, who looked at him with full suspicion. Kwee Seng turned his body, shook his head like a drunkard, and raised the wine container toward the youth with a gesture of offering. But secretly, he observed the Youth. A young man about his age, with a handsome enough face but reflecting strangeness and cruelty; his pair of thick black eyebrows connected from above the left eye to above the right eye. His small head was covered by a head covering shaped differently than usual.

Upon that face was reflected something foreign, similar to what is found on the faces of foreigners. His body was not very large but suggested tremendous hidden strength, while his gaze also reflected powerful internal energy. Kwee Seng was secretly startled and wondered who this youth was, and why Lai Kui Lan was accompanying him with the attitude of a lamb being led to slaughter. A lamb being led to slaughter! This phrase seemed to buzz in Kwee Seng's ears, making him fall into thought, forgetting his wine, when the two people had already entered the middle room, hearing the Youth's heavy, hoarse voice asking for a room, answered by the inn manager. Then, still forgetting his wine, Kwee Seng walked slowly toward his own room, the phrase still ringing in his ears.

Perhaps, his heart whispered. Perhaps Lai Kui Lan had become the lamb, and the youth was indeed fit to be a sheep slaughterer, a *jai-hwa-cat* (lecherous villain). If not, why was Lai Kui Lan's attitude so strange, like someone under a spell? Like someone who is awake but unaware? The darker the weather outside the hotel became, the darker Kwee Seng's thoughts became in the face of this riddle. His heart grew restless; although several times he assured himself that Lai Kui Lan's presence with a youth was none of his business and that it was improper to spy on a young couple who might be in the sea of romantic honey, his suspicion pressed him until, not long after, in the darkness of the night, Kwee Seng had flown up onto the inn's roof and began spying.

He did this with the wine jar still in hand, because to perform this act contrary to propriety, he had to strengthen his resolve by drinking wine. But when he peered into the couple's room, he nearly stumbled backward from sheer anger and shock. His heart's worry was confirmed! He saw Lai Kui Lan lying supine on the bed, weak and unable to move, her pale face wet with tears. It was clear that the girl's *hiat-to* (vital points) had been sealed in the *thian-hu hiat* area, and perhaps also the points that rendered the girl mute! But the tears told everything! They told that the girl's condition was not of her own will, but forced and due to helplessness. As for the youth, he sat on the edge of the bed, speaking softly, coaxing her.

"Good Miss, why are you crying?"

With a gentle and intimate movement, the youth wiped the two cheeks full of tears.

"I am attracted by your beauty, and if I did not know that you are the *suci* of General Kam Si Ek, I certainly would not act this patiently! I want you to surrender yourself to me, including your heart. I want you to return my love and I will take you to Khitan, to be my wife, the wife of a general! With this bond, surely your martial brother will be willing to ally with us. Miss, you only have to choose: surrender to me willingly, or do you want to be disgraced because I use force? You don't want to be defiled like that, do you? I am Bayisan, a famous general in Khitan, you will not be disappointed to be my lover..."

The youth lowered his face, intending to kiss the helpless girl's face. Suddenly, the youth named Bayisan leaped up, canceling his intention to kiss her because the back of his neck felt hot and painful. His eyes darted everywhere, his nostrils flared because he smelled wine. He touched the back of his neck, which turned out to be wet, and when he brought his hand to his nose, he cried out in shock.

"Damn it, who dares play games with me?"

"Vile lecherous villain! You dare commit barbaric acts in a public place, now that you've met me, it's impossible for you to unleash your devilish lust!"

Kwee Seng's voice was heard from the roof. Bayisan moved very quickly; suddenly his body had flown out of the room window and a few moments later he had leaped onto the roof. But he did not see anyone on the quiet roof! Bayisan looked around nervously, his breath ragged from suppressed anger, a sword already in his right hand.

"Heeeei! Vile lecher, I am here. Let's go outside the village if you are truly brave!"

Suddenly Kwee Seng was already some distance away, waving his wine jar toward Bayisan. Naturally, this Khitan man became even angrier, and shouting loudly, he chased after him. Kwee Seng ran fast, and a chase ensued in the dark night, heading out of the village. It was outside the village that Kwee Seng waited for his opponent. They faced each other. Kwee Seng was calm and was taking a gulp of his wine when his opponent arrived. Bayisan was furious, his face red, his eyes wild, the sword in his hand trembling. When he recognized the drunken scholar youth, he grew even angrier.

"Eh, so it's you, beggar student, drunkard! Who are you and why do you dare interfere in other people's private affairs?"

Bayisan snapped, restraining his anger because he realized that the person standing before him was not ordinary, so he had to be cautious and assess his opponent first. Bayisan was known as a youth who, besides having high martial skill, was also extremely cunning and cruel. In Khitan, he was famous as a tough and clever young general. Kwee Seng laughed.

"I am just an ordinary person, not like you, a Khitan General moonlighting as a lecherous villain! I heard your name was Bauw I San? I have never heard that name! I have heard the name Kalisani praised as a Khitan figure, but the name Bouw I San (Bayisan), the flower picker (*penjahat cabul*), I have never heard!"

"Hmph, arrogant man! My name is indeed Bayisan, Khitan General, whether you've heard it or not is none of my business. I like that girl and intend to take her as my lover, what do you want? Are you jealous? If you are jealous, can't you find another woman? You are shameless, trying to steal a woman who is already my captive!"

"Heh-heh-heh, Bayisan the lecher! Don't compare me to you! You like to harass women, I do not! You are a lecherous villain, I am precisely here to eradicate lecherous villains! I, Kwee Seng, never force a woman who does not love me!"

This last sentence slipped out of his mouth unconsciously, and Kwee Seng secretly grimaced because he remembered Liu Lu Sian, who did not love him. On the other hand, Bayisan looked surprised and angry upon hearing this name mentioned.

"Akhh, damn it! So you are Kwee Seng, that shameless beggar student? You escaped the deadly grasp of my Master Ban-pi Lo-cia, now you won't escape my hands!"

Having said that, Bayisan attacked fiercely with his sword. The sword was moved upward but then swept down with a chop toward the head, followed by a thrust to the chest. This attack was formidable, as it delivered two strikes—chopping the head and thrusting the chest—in a single movement! But Kwee Seng moved both his feet and his body shot backward two meters while he took a gulp of his wine. Both attacks failed completely!

"Aih... aihhh... so you are a disciple of Ban-pi Lo-cia? No wonder... no wonder.... His master is a lecher, his disciple is a womanizer!"