Who delivered this letter?" "The letter was left at the door." The envelope was sealed using a paste made of rice starch.
The paste was not yet dry.
It was evident that the letter was written in haste and sent hurriedly.
The letter only contained the words: "Our meeting at Sie-san is canceled because your friend is by your side. I don't know whether this is a coincidence, or if you arranged it deliberately. Previously, we agreed that only one person should come, but you did not keep your promise. The one who broke the promise is you, not me. Let me clarify once more, this matter concerns your own well-being... If you have time tonight, around eight o'clock, I'll be waiting at the edge of the field." The letter was written in ancient literary language, and the handwriting was exceptionally refined.
It was clear the writer was an educated person.
From the letter, Wie Kie-hong thought again about Hiong-ki.
Was it really a coincidence that Hiong-ki met him? Was the meeting at Sie-san actually a trap? Hiong-ki didn't tell him, but from his actions, Wie Kie-hong could draw his own conclusions.
Was it really so? If so, Hiong-ki was a good person, and the one who arranged the meeting was the villain.
Was the meeting at the field tonight also a trap? Wie Kie-hong found himself overthinking.
He reflexively laughed.
A person living an intense life would definitely have their thoughts all over the place.
He sat back on the bench, closed his eyes for a moment to rest.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Thiat-yan was suddenly standing before him.
He felt uneasy, and he didn’t know why he suddenly appeared before him...
0-0-0
The frightening path Tu Liong visited Wie Kie-hong for one reason.
In his heart, he had a plan, hoping Wie Kie-hong could help clarify it.
"Kie-hong," Tu Liong greeted as soon as he saw his friend, "what do you think if we take a walk outside for a bit?" "I just got home." After that, Wie Kie-hong recounted all the events that happened the night before.
He also recounted everything that had happened that day, including his meeting with Hiong-ki.
"Tu toako, if I try to remind you not to be burdened by the debt of gratitude to Cu Taiya, is that possible?" Tu Liong showed no response.
Wie Kie-hong did not expect he could say such things.
Tu Liong should have opposed and become emotional hearing those words, but now he remained silent.
Although he did not oppose it, that did not mean he agreed.
At least he was considering it.
What caused the change in Tu Liong's attitude that made his stance waver?
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Kie-hong!" Tu Liong said, "What do you want me to say?"
"Regarding the warning I gave you earlier..."
"I thought about this last night. It seems our elders are covering something up and trying to deceive the younger generation."
"Is that why you're disappointed?"
"HUH..! I'm very disappointed. Besides that, I feel deceived."
"Deceived?" For Wie Kie-hong, that word was very hard to accept. Anyone who came to him and said that Leng Taiya was a deceiver and had been playing him, he would certainly knock out all of the person’s teeth.
"This is very hard to believe, but it is the truth. Yesterday, Cu Taiya lied to me several times."
"Really?"
"Could I be lying to you?"
"Not necessarily, you could be lying to me. But your thoughts might not be reliable. If Cu Taiya wanted you dead, you would do it. Why would he still want to lie to you?"
"This matter doesn't need further debate. I just want to ask you one thing. If Thiat-yan became your enemy, what kind of attitude would you show him?"
Wie Kie-hong spontaneously replied: "I would do my best to turn our enmity into friendship... Tu toako, maybe my words aren't right, but my heart feels that way. That's why I answered spontaneously."
"I'm very happy to hear your answer!" Tu Liong patted Wie Kie-hong on the shoulder. "My heart also thinks like this. Why should we be hostile to Thiat-yan? Is avenging his father's death a wrong act?"
"It's wrong if we think like this."
"Wrong?"
"Of course. Because of our elders, the victims have already been hurt."
"Wrong!" Tu Liong said loudly. "This was our thought yesterday, now we must open our eyes and see the actual situation clearly... Kie-hong, our elders are risking their lives just to protect a secret from the past. We can call it a 'secret.' Kie-hong, do we still want to risk ourselves to help them keep this secret?"
"Of course we must."
"I don't think we have to."
"Oh...?" Wie Kie-hong felt confused.
Tu Liong spoke slowly, word by word. "We must uncover this secret so that we can understand the real situation."
The change in Tu Liong truly surprised Wie Kie-hong. But he could not think of what had caused such a change.
"Tu toako, are you saying all this because you've heard...?"
"Do you think because I listened to some gossip, I changed my stance? You're wrong. I saw it with my own eyes. Heard it with my own ears, then thought about it with my own head... do you understand? Yesterday Hiong-ki already informed me about the real truth that everyone respects."
"This is a big change."
"Rest assured. No matter how I change, I can't turn my back on Cu Siauthian. Actually, he is using me, deceiving me. I also can't retaliate by doing something I'll regret later."
"Tu toako, there are many things I don't understand. But, there is one thing I do understand. Gratitude is gratitude. That is the truth. How Cu Taiya has treated you, how Leng Taiya has treated me, it is all great kindness as high as a mountain, and as deep as the sea, we must not forget their services."
"Your words are true, as long as we remember them, I think that's more than enough... Your words made me think... if... if..."
"How? Quickly say it!"
"If it turns out your father is still alive..."
"How could that happen?"
"Why not? Leng Taiya saw his sword with his own eyes, how could the sword fall into someone else's hands?"
"This is impossible, the love of a biological father is greater than that of an adoptive father. If he were still alive, why wouldn't he come to see me immediately? Why would he avoid me? It's totally unreasonable."
"A person trying to solve a mystery will often feel suspicious. I feel your father's sword appearing is not a coincidence. Moreover, the person who pried open Leng Taiya's window, did he find other swords uncomfortable to use so he had to use your father's sword? I think there must be a logical reason."
"What reason?"
"Maybe he is trying to test Leng Taiya's memory."
"Of course, I would be happy if my biological father were still alive. But I can't believe he's alive yet avoiding me."
"Why he avoids you is also one of the answers I want to find."
"Tu toako... you mean...?"
"At that time, Leng Taiya sent your father to help him solve a problem. Is it because your father couldn't complete the task entrusted to him that he dared not return? Kiehong... this is a problem whose answer is very crucial, most decisive."
"Who can know this?" Wie Kie-hong murmured as if speaking to himself.
"Leng Taiya must know," Tu Long said.
"You want me to ask him?"
Tu Liong nodded.
"He... he won't tell me."
"You have to use tactics when asking him..."
"Tu toako! Leng Taiya has suffered a misfortune, moreover, he is our elder, his age is very old. I can't force him."
"Of course, the younger generation cannot force the older generation. But if you can steer it a bit, as long as you can still achieve results, isn't this called a compromise?"
Wie Kie-hong simply pondered. He understood Tu Liong's words... the answer to this question indeed determines everything... if he could solve this mystery, could he know the situation that will occur?"
"Settle your heart!" Tu Liong encouraged.
"Alright! I'll try."
"Hurry, I'll be waiting here."
"I'll leave now." Wie Kie-hong not only praised Tu Liong but deeply respected him. Without Tu Liong's moral support and encouragement, he wouldn't dare ask this in front of Leng Souw-hiang.
---
Glossary:
- Sie-san: A location, possibly a mountain or a place of meeting.
- Hiong-ki: A character in the story, potentially an antagonist or a person with ambiguous intentions.
- Thiat-yan: Another character, possibly with a mysterious or antagonistic role.
- Tu Liong: A character who seems to be a friend or ally of Wie Kie-hong.
- Wie Kie-hong: The protagonist or main character of the story.
- Cu Taiya: A character who seems to be an elder or someone with authority, possibly involved in deception.
- Leng Taiya: Another elder, respected figure who holds significant influence over Wie Kie-hong.
- Cu Siauthian: A character mentioned in the context of loyalty and betrayal.
- Leng Souw-hiang: An elder figure whom Wie Kie-hong respects and fears to confront.
Note: The terms "toako" refer to elder brother or a term of respect among male friends.