Around the same time, Wie Kie-hong heard the guards patrolling the garden making a commotion.
It seemed something had happened.
Wie Kie-hong also leaped outside.
Thiat-yan was still standing near the window; he hadn't moved. He merely said slowly, "It seems something has happened.
Quickly, go take a look." Before Wie Kie-hong finished listening to his words, he had already run off.
By this time, all the guards had surrounded Leng Souw-hiang’s room.
It was as if a great enemy had arrived.
Wie Kie-hong immediately asked what had actually happened.
It turned out someone had attempted to pry open the window.
Fortunately, one of the guards had seen it.
But the person's movements were very swift; in no time, they had disappeared.
Wie Kie-hong immediately inspected his master's window.
Indeed, there were marks of a sharp sword used to pry it open.
Luckily, he had nailed the window from the inside so it couldn't be opened easily.
Otherwise, this uninvited guest might have gone unnoticed, and there was a possibility Leng Souw-hiang could have been harmed by that person.
Thinking this far, Wie Kie-hong suddenly shivered.
Who wanted to kill Leng Souw-hiang? Clearly, this person wasn't Thiat-yan... but...
Did Thiat-yan deliberately create an alibi? Had he ordered Boh Tan-ping to kill his master? That seemed unlikely.
If Thiat-yan really intended to kill his master, why didn't he do it from the start when he had the chance? Perhaps Thiat-yan suddenly thought of a question he wanted to ask Leng Souw-hiang, so... But this possibility seemed too slim. Very unlikely.
Someone came and informed Wie Kie-hong that all this noise had startled Leng Souw-hiang, and now he was asking about the situation, and they didn't know how to answer him.
Wie Kie-hong immediately entered his master's room, intending to calm his heart. Unexpectedly, Leng Souw-hiang already knew everything.
"Kie-hong, why are you trying to hide the truth from me?"
"I'm not trying to hide it. The night guards must have been mistaken."
"Kie-hong," Leng Souw-hiang's gaze fell on the window leaf that had been pried open, "I saw a sword piercing through that window."
"No... no... no... no...!" Wie Kie-hong also didn't understand why he was trying to hide this matter from Leng Souw-hiang.
Perhaps he feared that Leng Souw-hiang, who was already old, would suffer another shock, worsening his condition.
Therefore, he insisted on not telling the true situation that had just occurred.
"Father! You must have seen it wrong. It didn't happen like that."
"Why are you still trying to cover this up?"
"It really didn't happen like that."
"HUH! I even recognized the sword that pierced through earlier."
Wie Kie-hong's body suddenly shook violently as if struck by lightning.
After that, he asked with a tone that sounded a bit regretful...
"Sir, did you just say you recognized that sword?"
"Of course I recognized it."
"Whose sword? Quickly tell me, whose sword was it?"
"HUH! Now you're the one questioning me. I won't tell you."
"I tried to hide this incident for fear you would feel shocked again. But it seems you saw clearly, so what more can I say? Indeed, someone tried to pry the window open, but before succeeding, a guard saw him. Once discovered, he immediately fled... who was he?"
"He was..." Leng Souw-hiang paused for a moment.
Then he swallowed his words again.
"Just forget it. What’s the use of discussing that person anymore."
"Sir!" Wie Kie-hong continued to insist.
"You must tell me, whose sword was it?" If not for the guard catching him and me nailing the window beforehand, who knows what that person might have done to you now?"
"Kie-hong, let's just say I saw it wrong... let's just say..."
"You still have to tell me! You recognized the sword, it must be someone you know well, right?"
Leng Souw-hiang looked at Wie Kie-hong with a worried expression.
"Adoptive father... that person must be Cu Siau-thian, right?"
"Kie-hong! How can you think that person was Cu Siau-thian?"
"If it wasn't someone you knew well, how could you recognize his sword?"
"Indeed, I know Cu Siau-thian well, but I know someone even closer."
"Who?"
"Stop pursuing me with questions. I... I really don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm even willing to admit that I saw it wrong. I'm willing..."
"You have to tell me, you recognized the sword, whose sword was it?"
"No mistake, I really recognized that sword. But I'm not sure if the one wielding it was the original owner."
"I only want to know whose sword it is?"
Leng Souw-hiang's lips trembled violently.
But he didn't make a sound.
"Quickly say it!" Wie Kie-hong knew he was making progress. He continued to press further.
"After nursing my wound, my emotions became unstable. That's why I was shocked before, whereas under normal circumstances, I would have just kept this matter in my heart and not talked about it."
Leng Souw-hiang paused for a moment.
"Please don't ask again. For now, I can't tell you."
"Why?"
Leng Souw-hiang was silent again.
"Sir!" Suddenly Wie Kie-hong knelt on the ground, continuously pleading with Leng Souw-hiang.
"This matter is no small affair, you must tell me. Don't worry, I won't act rashly."
"You don't understand..."
"Indeed, I don't understand! But if you don't tell me, I'll never understand. Once you tell me, I can try to understand..."
"Can you remain calm after hearing my words?"
"I promise I won't get emotional."
"If you won't get emotional, I'll tell you. I'm very familiar with that sword. It was the heirloom sword I personally gave to your father."
Once again, it was like lightning striking in broad daylight.
Although it truly shocked him, this news also filled his heart with joy.
"Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
"Sure I didn't see wrong."
"Is it possible my father is still alive?"
"Your words make it really difficult for me to answer. If your father were still alive, how could he come here to pry open windows?"
"Of course not." Wie Kie-hong began to feel slightly emotional, "Adoptive father, regarding my father, you’ve told me so much. He was a very loyal person and remembered gratitude; he wouldn't do anything against you."
"I know... but, that sword..."
"You said you recognized that sword."
"Correct."
"What distinguishes my father's heirloom sword from others?"
"The sword is actually the same kind of short sword, but your father's sword is different from others. Your father's sword has two edges (sharp on both sides) with a blood-red hue, but under the lamp's light, it shines blue. I personally handed it to him."
"Oh...!"
"Kie-hong, this famous heirloom sword has changed owners. Who is the new owner of this sword, and what is their purpose in coming here? You must find out, can you do it?"
"Of course I can," Wie Kie-hong replied confidently.
"Don't think of me as an old and useless piece of junk. If a problem arises before me, I can't just ignore it... well, now go and rest."
"There is still one matter I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"Today, many friends came here asking about your condition. I turned them all away. More will surely come tomorrow, Sir..."
"For those who aren't too close, offer them tea. For those who are really close, invite them in... well, it's up to you."
"Sir, you enjoy chatting. But I ask, tomorrow please don't talk about what happened earlier to anyone else."
Leng Souw-hiang stared blankly at Wie Kie-hong's face.
It seemed he didn't understand the meaning of his words.
After a moment, suddenly a smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
"Why do you think the new owner of that sword is one of our close friends?"
"In this world, there are many complicated affairs."
"I understand... I understand."
Wie Kie-hong left his adoptive father, then chatted briefly with the guards waiting at the door.
After that, he returned to his own room.
The door to his room was barred from the inside, but the window was still wide open.
He was forced to jump into the room through the window.
Just as his feet touched the floor of the room, suddenly a cold object touched his neck.
It was a sword.
This sword did not seem to be held by an ordinary person.
The sword seemed to float in mid-air.
As if the sword moved on its own accord.
It seemed the sword's movement wasn't controlled by someone else.
Wie Kie-hong didn't sense anyone else's presence in his room.
But indeed, there was someone else in that room...
Glossary:
1. Thiat-yan: A character mentioned in the story, possibly with a special role or background in the martial world.
2. Boh Tan-ping: Another character possibly involved in the incident, potentially an accomplice.
3. Cu Siau-thian: A character known to Leng Souw-hiang, presumably with a notable background or connection.
4. Leng Souw-hiang: A character in the story, possibly a leader or elder figure.
5. Wie Kie-hong: A primary character in the story, likely a martial artist or protector.
6. Pedang Pusaka: Heirloom sword, a special sword with significance in the martial world.