Chapter Translation:
"Adik Yan! Your actions seem a bit excessive.
Adik Kie-hong is merely inquiring about the whereabouts of his biological father.
Now you suddenly appear and attempt to stop him.
After that, you even tell us both to leave.
Do you think we would just agree like that?" These words were spoken firmly.
Thiat-yan must have thought, unsure of how to answer the question.
But unexpectedly, Thiat-yan laughed loudly.
"As for the whereabouts of Wie Kie-hong's biological father, leave it to me.
Wie Siauya! Do you trust me?" "Miss Tiat! I have trusted you before, please give me a timeframe so I can ask you questions." "Alright! Before the lamps are lit today." "Alright! Toako, let's go." Seeing the expression on his face, Wie Kie-hong knew Tu Liong didn't agree to leave just like that.
But he had already said that Wie Kie-hong was in charge of this matter.
How could he refuse his request? Therefore, he merely informed Wie Kie-hong of a concern.
"Shouldn't Thiat-yan decide the place where you meet?" "Meet me at my residence." "Alright! At the right time, I will accompany Wie Kie-hong to your house." These words clearly had an implied meaning.
Even though this was Wie Kie-hong's matter, he still felt the need to intervene with suggestions.
The two of them then walked out of the forest.
0-0-0
After walking some distance out of the forest, Wie Kie-hong suddenly stopped.
He asked earnestly: "Tu toako! Can you guess why he told us to leave?" "Perhaps he has a secret he cannot share with us." "It doesn't seem that way." "Oh... What do you think...?" "If we stayed there, maybe he wanted to do something rather harsh to Cu Siau-thian; we might not be able to help much.
Three against one, if this news spreads, it might not sound good, and if we help him, it would be difficult to explain to others.
Maybe he wanted to avoid an awkward situation with us.
That's why he thought of just telling us both to leave." "Kie-hong, it seems you really like Thiat-yan." "Don't you have good feelings towards her?" "It's hard to say." Tu Liong then set aside the matter with a new question.
"Regarding your biological father, whom do you trust?" "I can trust anyone's words, except Cu Siau-thian's." "Why?" "It's quite simple; he said my father is Leng Souw-hiang's warrior.
If his words were reliable, my father would surely be secretly watching Cu Siau-thian's movements.
Earlier when he appeared, I had already made an assumption; my biological father should show himself too.
In this world, there is no father who doesn't care about his child." "Ugh..." "That's why I conclude that the rumor saying my father is under Cu Siau-thian's pressure is the most believable." "If your guess is correct, how do you think Thiat-yan will answer you later this afternoon?" "We don't need to waste energy thinking about this." "Kie-hong! I suddenly had a thought." "What thought?" "What do you think if we go back into the forest to take a look?" "Do you have a specific intention for doing this?" "I just feel that now, after things have turned out like this, we shouldn't easily trust others." "Are you suspicious of Thiat-yan?" "I'm suspicious of everyone." "We should be manly men." "A man indeed gains admiration from others, but is often played by others too." "If you want to insist on going back to see, I'll accompany you." "I dare to bet.
Now Miss Thiat-yan and Cu Siau-thian are definitely no longer in the forest." "Is that true?" "We'll soon find out whether it's true or not." The two of them turned around and walked back into the forest.
Tu Liong was truly skilled at guessing situations.
It turned out to be true that in the middle of the forest, no one was seen; only the sound of leaves rustling in the gentle breeze could be heard.
At that moment, suddenly a smile appeared on Tu Liong's face.
"Tu toako," Wie Kie-hong asked, "why are you smiling?" "I'm smiling because the fox's tail hasn't disappeared yet, hasn't shown itself, but eventually, it will be exposed." "What do you mean by your words?" Wie Kie-hong was indeed more naive compared to Tu Liong.
He didn't understand the implied meaning of Tu Liong's words.
"Kie-hong!" Tu Liong still didn't explain the basis of this mystery, "now go home, meet Leng Taiya, and ask him if he's willing to follow Hui Taiya's footsteps. Ask if he's already prepared to meet his end or if he's more willing to reveal the big secret he's been keeping for years." "Why is that? Your question is very unreasonable; can't you explain it more clearly?" "I can't." Tu Liong shook his head.
"Why? Don't you trust me?" "Kie-hong, we both have the same feelings, we are very close.
Why would you think like that? On the contrary, I want you to trust.
Now don't ask why, follow my words and do it." "Alright! Then where will we meet again?" Tu Liong thought for a moment, then said: "We'll meet at the 'Kie Cui' tea house in Ong Oey Pho.
We'll meet before sunset.
As usual, don't leave before we meet." "Alright, I'll definitely come as soon as possible." Wie Kie-hong quickly stepped out of the forest.
It was quite difficult to find a horse carriage to return to the city.
After much effort, he instructed the coachman to immediately go to the ten small alleys.
After returning to Leng's place, Wie Kie-hong immediately went to his adoptive father's bedroom.
He opened the bedroom door.
Leng Souw-hiang was seen lying on his bed, turned away from Wie Kie-hong.
He seemed to be in a deep sleep.
Wie Kie-hong didn't want to wake him.
He stood in front of his bed for a long time, hoping his adoptive father would notice his presence.
After becoming impatient, he said, "Gihu, wake up."
There was no answer.
Wie Kie-hong kept calling him three times.
Each time he called, he raised his voice.
Suddenly, he felt that something was not right.
He immediately reached out to shake his father's body.
When he saw Leng Souw-hiang's face, which had turned green, he unwittingly took a deep breath.
It turned out Leng Souw-hiang was already dead.
His eyes were wide open.
Blood flowed from the side of his mouth.
His face had turned green.
Without a doubt, he died from poisoning.
On the table was a pot of hot water.
The glass was half-filled with water.
The pot's lid was slightly tilted.
It seemed that Leng Souw-hiang himself poured the water to drink...
Was there poison in the water?
This is not right.
Leng Souw-hiang's hand was missing.
How could he have poured the drinking water?"
"Servant!" Wie Kie-hong called in a low voice.
The gatekeepers immediately pushed open the bedroom door and entered inside.
"After I left, who came into this room?"
"Besides the person in charge of taking care of Leng Taiya, no one else entered here."
"Listen.
From now on, don't let anyone enter this room.
Tell some people to detain the servant who takes care of Leng Taiya.
Don't let them leave.
Do you understand?"
"Siauya, what happened to the master?"
"Nothing!" Wie Kie-hong tried to cover Leng Souw-hiang's body with his own.
"Hurry and carry out my orders... remember, besides the trusted people I've chosen, no one should know about this..."
"Alright!"
"I'm going to leave for a while, all matters must wait for my decision when I return later."
"Alright"
The guards left.
Wie Kie-hong's head felt very heavy.
Who killed Leng Souw-hiang?
How could his actions be so swift?
A series of big question marks emerged in Wie Kie-hong's heart.
He was very eager to meet Tu Liong soon and ask for clarification, but...
Slowly, he opened the door and walked out.
0-0-0
The 'Kie-cui' tea house in Ong-huangpo district was a small tea house located on a winding road.
This tea house was a gathering place for people.
If there were three or five friends who had agreed to meet a girl, they always gathered here.
After meeting, they would leave together.
Therefore, people who came here only sat briefly before leaving.
Although Wie Kie-hong wasn't someone who liked to waste time visiting this tea house, he had lived in the city for a long time.
Of course, he knew about this place before coming to visit.
There was only one thing he didn't understand.
Why did Tu Liong ask to meet him in a place like this? Did he consider their usual meeting place no longer safe?
He had no other expectations.
He only hoped that before the lamps were lit, he could meet Tu Liong soon.
When he entered the tea house, the servant in charge of serving tea immediately approached him and greeted him in a low voice.
"Are you Wie Taiya?"
"Yes."
"Please come this way."
The tea house servant led him into a drinking room; unexpectedly, Tu Liong had arrived first and was waiting inside.
"Tu toako... you...." Tu Liong waved his hand, and the tea house servant immediately left.
In addition, he lowered the bamboo curtain.
It seemed he was already acquainted with Tu Liong.
Glossary:
1. Adik – Younger brother or sister, used here as a form of address.
2. Toako – Elder brother, a term of respect for an older male.
3. Nona – Miss, a term of respect for a young woman.
4. Siauya – Young master.
5. Taiya – Master, a title of respect.
6. Gihu – Adoptive father.
7. Ong Oey Pho – A location name.
8. Leng Souw-hiang – A character's name.
9. Wie Kie-hong – A character's name.
10. Thiat-yan – A character's name.
11. Cu Siau-thian – A character's name.
12. Tu Liong – A character's name.
13. Hui Taiya – A character reference, possibly a previously mentioned master.