Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter 5: The Lesson

Cio San continued to train diligently. The feeling of weakness and fatigue that he used to feel every time he practiced silat, has now disappeared entirely. His body always feels fresh. Especially when he finished training, he was getting more and more

feeling fit. It has been almost a month he was on this mountain, did not feel his silat science advanced rapidly like a person who has been practicing silat for 5 years.

***

The khim quote from the top of the mountain sounded more and more beautiful by the day. Cio San seems to have a great talent in playing khim. Tired of playing the song that A Liang taught, he even created his own song. There are 2 songs he has written. It's exquisite. Although the tone is not so complicated, but it is precisely because of the simplicity that the songs sound more beautiful.

‘Victim’ means giving up something that is considered important for other things. Yet ‘loving’ means assuming nothing is more important than being loved.

Love does not require sacrifice, because love only requires sincerity.

In anything in life, it seems like that is what people often forget. ‘Sincerity’.

That is the uniqueness of silat science. Sometimes you have to learn all the moves and theories. But sometimes even by violating the theory and formula, you can find a greater science. Cio San at the age of just a dozen years can even create variations of the science of Bu Tong-pay. Can even

also said, he has created a new silat science. Events like this are indeed not rare items in the world of Kang Ouw, but also not events that often occur.

A few days later, A Liang came again. As promised, he taught Cio San a new song. This time the song was cheerful. They play music while singing and laughing. That day was bright. Makes the mood happy and happy.

“Eh, Cio San, I brought something for you..,” said A Liang.

“Wah, what else, Lopek? If calculated, with Lopek's gift items, it is enough for the capital to open a store. Hihihi...,” joking Cio San.

“Ah, could have been you. I brought this.” While saying so, he took out something from inside the package. An urn of porcelain material. He opened the lid of the jar and breathed in the air coming out of it.

“Hmmm, isn't that Kim Lin wine from Nanking area?” cio San said.

“Hey, you know also about wine, Cio San?”

“If wine matters, since childhood teecu already understand. Teecu's father was a lover of wine. But he drank not to get drunk, but to enjoy the taste. He introduced teecu to a wide variety of wine. Up to the smell alone, teecu already know what wine is.”

“Heh? Wow, great also you,” A Liang said while shaking his head. In his heart he was amazed as well by Cio San's talent and intelligence. But it's not surprising. Cio San's father was a prominent writer. This intelligence must have declined to his son. Moreover, Cio San's mother is one of the warriors

go Bi-pay's.

“If Dad, even better, Lopek. He could tell how old the wine was just by the smell. He also taught the teecu the efficacy of the arak-arak. He also reminded, that too much wine is even dangerous if we do not have high chi (deep energy).”

“You memorized the efficacy of all wine?” ask A Liang.

“Hafal, Lopek. Even Dad also taught, that each wine must be drunk in a different way. Each arak if drunk according to the dose and the way, will bring the perfect efficacy.”

“How is it how to drink wine? Isn't it just to open your mouth and swallow? Hahahaha.”.

“Masing each arak has a match with the storage material. There is a wine that tastes better if stored in porcelain jars. Some are better if stored in jars than clay. There is also a better if stored in a stone jar or also copper and gold,” explained Cio San.

“Hah, long ago I called you Lopek. This way of speaking makes you feel much older than me. Hahaha..,” Laughter A Liang.

“It just so happens, teecu does have a Dad who has such fun. Otherwise, where possible teecu can, Lopek.”

“So, would you like to accompany me for a drink?” ask A Liang.

“Teecu actually does not like wine, Lopek. But it is an honor to

accompany Lopek drinking wine.”

It seems strange that a teenage boy is already drinking wine. But indeed in that era, especially in the world of Kang Ouw, arak is not seen as something taboo. Moreover, the Tionggoan culture in that era was not ‘forbid’ arak for small children to drink. Usually after meals, or at night, arak is served in very small portions for children. Usually to warm the body and also for health.

Strangely, the way the two men spoke. Tionggoan manners are very strict. And in Kang Ouw's world, it's even tighter. If Cio San treats himself as ‘teecu’ (student), then he should call A Liang as ‘Temu’ (Teacher). But he instead called him as ‘Lopek’ (Old Man). This could be considered a great lack of knowledge. But A Liang himself did not want to be called as ‘Tuhu’.

The two men drank the wine solemnly and quietly. The air though bright, but still feels cold because they are at the highest peak of Mount Bu Tong-san. With warm wine and true friendship, what more is a man looking for in this world?

Actually people are only looking for ‘warmth’ in this life. The child seeks warmth from both parents. The lover seeks warmth from his partner. So all the problems in this world, is not caused by the loss of ‘keharmas’ it?

A big child in a house full of anger, full of quarrels parents, will most likely grow up to be a child full of anger as well. This anger will spread to anyone.

So is a heart broken by losing the warmth of love. He will be quiet and sad. Even those filled with hate. On this earth that can make love turn drastically into hate is nothing but love.

Love is there to warm. So when he leaves, very often the heart becomes fragile, slow, and even die. The one whose body is still alive but whose heart is dead, is it still worth mentioning as human?

Love is alive. But very rarely does love live for a long time. It's like rain. Coming after marked overcast. But often, it comes suddenly. Stop and go suddenly.

Love, like rain, is something that only God can understand.

Man only fumbles in uncertainty. Is that love? What is love? Humans are actually blind. And in his blindness, he sought something that he did not understand at all. Finally there are wounds and sorrows because of love.

So can't you say that all kinds of things on earth happen because of love?

But those who have found and understood it, will continue to be happy. Love does not have to be for lovers. Love can be for anyone, for anything.

The love of A Liang and Cio San is not only the love of parents to children, and children to parents. But love between friends. If your best friend can be like your parents, and your parents can be your best friend, then you are arguably the luckiest person in the world.

And Cio San who was overwhelmed with grief after being left to die his entire family in a tragic way, was hostile to his fellow students, and punished by his teacher, could not be a little happy? Because indeed on this earth, if there are friends who accompany you in joy and sorrow, then you are

ought happy.

Companions.

Sounds simple. But isn't it much heavier than mountains and deeper than oceans?

After they finished drinking wine, they talked about Kang Ouw's world. A Liang who although never dabbled in the world of Kang Ouw and studied silat, apparently has many interesting stories. This was natural, since he had lived for decades in Bu Tong-pay. Everything that happens in Kang Ouw's world is certainly

being the talk of Bu Tong-pay.

“Lopek, according to Lopek, who is the greatest in the world Kang Ouw?”

“Actually nothing is arguably the greatest, because each person has his own greatness. The elders of the past were great people. Each one was great in his time. Yoo-tayhiap, Yo-tayhiap. In my old days, the greatest was Thio Sam Hong-thaytemuhu. Silat science and its inner energy,

and his vast knowledge is incomparable. The grandson of his disciple, whose name was ..., ah. we must not mention his name, was the most gifted. At such a young age, he was the greatest fighter. But he went into exile with his wife. As of now, no one knows where he is.”

“Why are we forbidden to mention his name, Lopek?” ask Cio San.

“Thio-thaytemuhu used to forbid us to mention his name, because he was always sad when he remembered the grandson of his most beloved disciple. Now, even though he has died, we still respect him by not mentioning the things that make him sad.”

“Her majesty, subtlety of mind, behavior, and authority is indeed no one can match. Teecu although he had never met, heard the stories of the people alone, had bowed respectfully. Especially if you meet in person...,” said Cio San. His eyes glared at trying to imagine what Thio Sam Hong was like.

“Thay Kek Kun's science has reached the perfect level. Even with the height of silatnya science, can extend his age,” continued A Liang.

“In the world of Kang Ouw, a lot of great science. Because every science actually has the same core. That's what the old silat experts said. What makes science great is who uses it. But in the past, there was a very great science such as ‘18 Naga’ Tread belonging to the late Kwee-tayhiap and ‘Tapak Duka Nestapa’ belonging to the late Yo-tayhiap. Unfortunately, both sciences have never been pitted so we do not know which is stronger. But as I said earlier, it is not his strong knowledge, but his user.”

He continued, “After Kwee-Tayhiap and Yo-Tayhiap died, the two great sciences also disappeared from the world of Kang Ouw. About a hundred years later, there was an apostate disciple Bu Tong-pay who controlled the ‘18 Tread of Naga’, but he was killed in the fight. After that, no one mastered the science

the.”

“Nah, a few years later after the traitor died, Thio-thaytemuhu just managed to perfect his Thay Kek Kun science. So that the two sciences, ‘18 Tread Naga’ and ‘Thay Kek Kun’ did not have time ‘meet’.”

“The world of Kang Ouw began to feel lonely since then, because we managed to expel the invaders of Goan from the homeland. Back then, Kang Ouw's world was almost entirely united.”

“Then a few years later, suddenly, a new young figure appeared whose knowledge was very high. He challenged many top-class silat experts and defeated them all. Even crazier, he climbed to the top of Bu Tong-san, and challenged Thio-thaytemuhu.”

“What? Then how then?” Cio San was shocked.

“In the beginning, Thio-thaytemuhu did not serve. But the young figure was able to defeat the first class students. Seeing his great knowledge, as well as his dangerous actions, Thio-thaytemuhu finally accepts his challenge.”

“Then, Thio-thaytemuhu definitely won right?”

“He did win, but the fight itself was unclear. Because the fight was conducted in Thio-thaytemuhu's own private training room. And can not be witnessed by others.”

“Why is that so, Lopek?”

“According to the news, it turns out that Thio-thaytemuhu is creating a new science that is more powerful than Thay Kek Kun. And because it is not perfect, he does not want to show it in front of others.”

“Then why did Lopek say the result of the fight was unclear?”

“Because even though Thio Sam Hong-thaytemuhu himself did win, reportedly he was very impressed with the silat science of the young figure. That said, if Thio-thaytemuhu does not have the perfect science of Thay Kek Kun and combined with the new science of his creation, not necessarily Thio-thaytemuhu can defeat him. And he

I am so sorry that I had to kill that young man. Though for decades he has never killed people.”

Furthermore, “Saking amazed him, he made a special grave for the young man in the cemetery Bu Tong-pay. The grave of the young boy was even almost adjacent to the burial ground that Thio-thaytemuh prepared for himself.”

“Hmmm, how amazed Thio-thaytemuhu was towards the young man, to the point of paying such high respect to him. Then who exactly was the name of that high-scientific young man, Lopek?” ask Cio San.

“I still remember the name of the young man, Kam Ki Hiang.” There was a light of admiration in A Liang's eyes when he mentioned that name.

“Has Lopek been in Bu Tong-pay when the incident took place?” ask Cio San

any more.

“No. I came a few days when Kam Ki Hiang's body was buried.”

“Actually where did Kam Ki Hiang come from? Where did he learn that great science?”

“According to the news circulating, and it was recognized Thio-thaytemuhu himself, it turns out Kam Ki Hiang has found an ancient cave. And in that cave he found various ancient books that are very thick. The books contain a very powerful silat. Because reportedly the book was written by the creator of silat, the monk Tat

Mo,” replied A Liang.

Then he continued,

“The book is also now unknown whereabouts after Kam Ki Hiang died. Kang Ouw's world since a few years ago is fussed with the search for the book, but no one knows its true existence.”

“Aaaahhh.., so apparently.” Cio San became reminded of the words of Tan Hoat, gihu as well as his temperature, who was assigned to look for the book of Tat Mo's writings. Apparently the book was the one that made Kam Ki Hiang invincible.

“You've heard that book, Cio San?” ask A Liang.

“Teecu had heard a glimpse of Temperature, that there was indeed such a book. Teecu thought it was just legend news in the world of Kang Ouw, it turns out there really is.”

“In this world a lot of books that became the world title Kang Ouw. Starting from the book ‘9 Matahari’ and ‘9 Bulan’ which he said was once stored in the stomach of apes and in machetes, machete, or also the book of ‘Skakti’ Sword that makes the wearer change from male to female, and many more. My message to you, you do not have to go along looking for such books. It will only make Kang Ouw's world chaotic. Live ordinary. Use your magic for good. Helping others,” said A Liang.

“Teecu will remember carefully Lopek's message. Indeed, teecu itself is also not too interested in silat science. It's just that when teecu practiced silat lately, teecu felt the teecu body was getting healthier. The tiredness and weakness that used to be used to teecu feel, the more it disappears.”

“How can that be?” asked A Liang in surprise. He already knows that Cio San has a deficiency in the function of internal organs.

“Teecu learned a bit of organ science in the book Lopek lent. Here is how to drain chi. It turns out that after teecu tried to combine with college silat science, fatigue and weakness teecu all lost. Though usually only a few moves, teecu has been limp,” explained Cio San.

“Hey, it's great that you can combine like that. You have to be careful, because it should not arbitrarily combine knowledge. Can be dangerous.”

“Teecu understand, Lopek. Thanks for the warning. After teecu read and think, it turns out the science in the book is in line with the science of Bu Tong-pay so it does not collide.”

“You turned out to be very talented and intelligent, Cio San. People in college misunderstand you,” praise A Liang while stroking Cio San's head.

“Teecu dare not, Lopek...,” Cio San bowed.

“Hey, I want to see you sparkle. Although I do not understand silat, but my lay eyes are also able to distinguish the silat Bu Tong-pay who is proficient with those who do not.”

“Ah, embarrassing teecu silat science, Lopek..”.

“Already, don't be too much custom. Let's show...,” A Liang's orders.

“Good, Liang-lopek..”.

After saying so, Cio San began to flash. The movements were not so beautiful, it was even too simple for the size of the silat Bu Tong-pay. But A Liang looked at it with eyes of admiration and astonishment. Maybe because of his maturity, he already considers the moves exhibited by Cio San as a great science.

“You.. Where did you learn those moves?” ask with a sense of wonder mixed with admiration.” Is it from the book I gave you?”

“If from the book, there are no silatnya moves, Lopek. Just a little bit of medicine, a little knowledge of the human body, and chi. These silat moves are just Bu Tong-pay moves that teecu simplify according to teecu needs and knowledge only,” replied Cio San.

“Excellent..., outstanding... You are really talented...” he said so while shedding tears.

Seeing A Liang shed tears, Cio San also followed by shedding tears. His heart is smooth. He understood that in the incomprehension of silat, A Liang considered that the simple moves of Cio San had been very great. Whereas for Cio San, the science is very simple, maybe even nothing compared to the beginner moves of Bu Tong-pay. Cio San felt moved to also see A Liang's sincerity.

“Thank you, Lopek. Teecu will study harder to make Lopek proud and happy,” he said with a smile.

A Liang stared at Cio San for a long time.

Then then he smiled and said, “If anyone can make Bu Tong-pay

make it back, you must be the one, Cio San:”

After that, they talked for a while. A Liang said he was going down Mount Bu Tong-pay. Because in a few weeks there will be a celebration of several years of the death of Thio Sam Hong, so the college will receive a visit of guests from the Kang Ouw group. So maybe inside

these few days, he would not visit Cio San.