The atmosphere inside the food stall suddenly fell silent.
Brajamusti was still holding the old flute Grandpa Paijo had given him. His gaze fixed on the woman who had just spoken the name of the object.
“The Dragon Flute?” Brajamusti repeated.
The woman did not answer right away.
Instead, her eyes remained fixed on the flute in Brajamusti’s hand, as if it reminded her of something she had lost long ago.
Jaka Wulung chuckled.
“So my guess was right.”
Brajamusti turned to him.
“You know it too?”
Jaka Wulung raised his sword.
“Hand over the flute, and maybe I’ll let you leave this village alive.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t like being threatened.”
Brajamusti tucked the flute back into his waistband.
Jaka Wulung’s face twisted with anger.
“Attack!”
More than a dozen of his men immediately charged forward.
Brajamusti prepared to face them, but the woman in white suddenly leaped into the middle of the crowd.
Her sword flashed free.
With several swift moves, three men fell to the ground.
Brajamusti was stunned.
Her movements were incredibly fast.
The woman said little. She simply moved calmly, taking down her opponents one by one without killing them.
Brajamusti finally joined the fight.
The two of them fought side by side without ever planning to do so.
Strangely enough, their movements complemented each other perfectly.
When an opponent tried to attack the woman from behind, Brajamusti stopped him.
When two men attacked Brajamusti from the side, the woman immediately blocked them.
In no time, all of Jaka Wulung’s men had fallen.
Jaka Wulung backed away several steps.
He glared at the woman with undisguised hatred.
“Why do you always interfere in my affairs?”
The woman sheathed her sword.
“Because you’re always causing trouble.”
Jaka Wulung ground his teeth.
“One day, I’ll make you regret this.”
He signaled to his men.
They quickly left the food stall.
Before going, Jaka Wulung looked back at Brajamusti.
“Take good care of your flute.”
After they disappeared, the village slowly returned to normal.
The food-stall owner let out a long sigh.
Brajamusti then turned to the woman standing before him.
“Thank you.”
The woman merely nodded.
“You shouldn’t use that flute carelessly.”
Brajamusti furrowed his brow.
“Why not?”
“It isn’t an ordinary object.”
“I’ve already realized that.”
The woman looked at him.
“Who gave it to you?”
“Grandpa Paijo.”
The woman’s eyes immediately changed.
“Grandpa Paijo?”
“You know him?”
The woman fell silent for quite some time.
“I’ve heard his name before.”
Brajamusti grew even more curious.
“Who is he, really?”
“I don’t know much.”
Her answer sounded like a lie.
But Brajamusti did not press her.
Instead, he asked, “Then what’s your name?”
The woman studied him for several seconds before answering.
“Sinta.”
The name sounded simple.
Yet for some reason, Brajamusti felt that it would remain in his thoughts for a long time.
“I’m Brajamusti.”
“I know.”
Brajamusti smiled.
“Even though I just introduced myself.”
Sinta gave a slight smile.
“They called you by name earlier.”
For the first time, Brajamusti saw a smile on Sinta’s face.
Something about it made it difficult for him to look away.
But Sinta soon walked out of the food stall.
“If you want to stay alive, don’t remain in this village too long.”
Brajamusti followed her.
“Why?”
“Jaka Wulung isn’t the biggest problem.”
Sinta stopped.
She stared at the road ahead.
“The person who sent Jaka Wulung is far more dangerous.”
Brajamusti fell silent.
“Who?”
Sinta did not answer.
She simply walked away from the village.
Brajamusti watched her back.
He had actually intended to continue his journey alone.
But something made his feet follow Sinta instead.
“Hey!”
Sinta stopped.
“What?”
“Where are you going?”
“North.”
Brajamusti smiled.
“What a coincidence. So am I.”
Sinta looked at him in surprise.
“Don’t follow me.”
“I’m not following you. I’m headed north too.”
“Then don’t walk so close.”
Brajamusti chuckled.
“Fine.”
In the end, they walked together with several steps between them.
It was late afternoon when they left Karangjati Village.
Brajamusti glanced at Sinta from time to time.
Sinta noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep looking at me.”
“I’m just curious.”
“Curious about what?”
Brajamusti smiled.
“Why does someone like you know about the Dragon Flute?”
Sinta fell silent.
Her steps came to a halt.
A few seconds later, she said quietly,
“Because my family used to be its guardians.”
Brajamusti froze.
“Guardians of the Dragon Flute?”
Sinta nodded.
“And now…”
She looked at the flute hanging from Brajamusti’s waist.
“…the people who want it have started hunting you.”
The evening wind suddenly swept through with considerable force.
Brajamusti gripped his flute.
In the distance, from beyond the trees, a long whistle rang out.
Sinta immediately drew her sword.
Her expression turned serious.
“They’ve found us.”
Brajamusti stared at the road ahead.
Several shadows began to emerge between the trees.
And this time, there were far more of them than Jaka Wulung’s men.