Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter 52: Battle at the City Gate

The day arrived.

Right at noon, Cio San was already at the city gate. He just has to wait a minute. Ji Hau Leng had also come on horseback.

By riding a horse, he saves his energy. If he saves his strength, then he is getting ready for battle. If he has prepared to fight, it means indirectly he has admitted his mistake.

This understanding came to Cio San's mind in just a flash.

“I came,” said Ji Hau Leng with a smile.

“Thank you,” reply Cio San while yelling and smiling anyway.

“Youwcu have any clue what?” ji Hau Leng said as he got off his horse.

“It is precisely cayhe who wants to ask for instructions from Pangcu,” replied Cio San. His hand plays the end of his hair.

“About?”

“About four cayhe friends who disappeared.”

“Why did Kauwcu ask me?”

“Cayhe doesn't know who else to ask”

“Good. I'll help Kauwcu find Kauwcu's missing friends,” he said.

“You lied.”

“Eh?”

“I have the ability to read body language. As he said so, there was a slight pull of your lips to the side. Almost like a smile, but not yet a smile. That means you underestimate the person you're talking to. Like a smile of victory for seeing me believe in you.”

Proceeds,

“You move a little. Humans are completely honest creatures. Words can lie, but human gestures will tell, if he lies. Your shoulder movement is like the movement of people saying ‘not’. That shoulder movement will often appear, as a sign that your own body does not agree with your words.”

Ji Hau Leng was silent for a long time.

Then he said, “Kauwcu is like a worm in my stomach, who understands my thoughts. But your words prove nothing. Just to impress the kids.”

“Can you prove that I have something to do with the loss of your friends?” ask Ji Hau Leng.

“If I want to investigate, of course I can. But I don't have time.”

“You think you're smart, don't you? Surely you know absolutely nothing,” said Ji Hau Leng.

“I don't feel smart or smart. But I'm not a senile person either.”

Ji Hau Leng clenched his hands. A sound came out of his fingers.

Cio San just stood up and looked at him.

“Why are you sad?” ask Cio San. He saw streaks of sadness on Ji Hau Leng's face.

“No need to ask much. View attack.”

It's like a whirlwind. Like thousands of catties of rock thrown. Even if anyone dared to fend it off, naturally his hand would be destroyed.

Cio San received the blow with a Thay Kek Kun move. Face hard gently. If Ji Hau Leng's movements are fast and heavy, Cio San's movements are slow and limp.

But even though Cio San was able to pull that arm off, he was unable to catch it. Ji Hau Leng turned out to be just as fast as Cio San!

“Great attack!” praise Cio San.

Ji Hau Leng remained silent. He focused his mind on his own attacks. Horses low. The lower the horses, the more powerful the energy he gathered. Cio San had never met an opponent like this. It uses hard power, but has very high speed

marvellously. He had once faced a Hwesio on the hill where Bwee Hua was resting. But his speed was not half the speed of Ji Hau Leng.

When fighting Hwesio, Cio deliberately slowed down his movement, because he wanted to learn the movement of the ‘Kakar Macan’ style of Siau Lim-pay. But now when facing Ji Hau Leng, Cio San is no longer able to ‘play-main’ anymore.

Ji Hau Leng's second move is coming!

This time the punch is launched with a lot so that it looks like 20 blows at once!

The speed is hard to imagine. Cio San received the twenty attacks with twenty spikes that were just as fast. Each of Ji Hau Leng's fists seemed lost in Cio San's palm.

The moment those twenty fists disappeared, somehow, Ji Hau Leng had been above Cio San's head. From above, he launched two punches at once with both hands. Cio San repelled that devastating blow with his palm again.

But the blow was so devastating, that Cio San's feet sank into the ground to the knees!

Cio San had indeed deliberately channeled the power of Ji Hau Leng's punch to the ground, so that his hand would not be crushed to receive the blow.

Ji Hau Leng was already on balance and was now behind Cio San. Seeing Cio San's feet trapped in the ground, he was sure that Cio San would not be able to dodge again from his attack. If you want to dodge, Cio San must use his legs to move. He might be able to destroy the ground that was trapping his legs, but that would make him lose a split second step. A mere split second count, would result in a fatal mistake!

Two punches were launched by Ji Hau Leng towards the back of the head and roll Cio San's back. Two very deadly attacks, very terrible, and difficult to describe words. No one can escape an attack like this.

With a strange movement, suddenly the upper part of Cio San's body had turned 90 degrees backward. The flexibility of the body like this, he used to get thanks to practicing silat with the Serpent Sakti, while living in the cave. Ji Hau Leng could hardly believe what he saw.

Due to that shock, Ji Hau Leng's movements slowed down a bit. The opportunity was not wasted Cio San. He caught both of Ji Hau Leng's fists and threw them up.

When Ji Hau Leng's body was on top, immediately Cio San's body bounced upwards. Out of his hand came twenty punches that targeted all the dangerous places in Ji Hau Leng's body.

When Ji Hau Leng was thrown up, with a strange movement, he was able to turn around in the face of Cio San's attack. The twenty palms of Cio San were greeted with twenty stalks as well. Even while deflecting it, his legs also attacked repeatedly.

Cio San whose two hands were busy attacking Ji Hau Leng, already had nothing left to dispel the dozens of kicks.

Then just received dozens of kicks with his chest.

There was no land where he could channel the opponent's attack power, just like he had done earlier.

Then Cio San was thrown several spears backwards!

It was fortunate that the powerful energy from the strange mushrooms he had eaten, was able to protect him from severe internal injuries. But inevitably, a hint of blood seeped out of his mouth.

Their knowledge, abilities, and speed might both be about the same. But Ji Hau Leng had more fighting experience!

As soon as Ji Hau Leng stomped on the ground, his body immediately bounced again. This time the attack was more devastating. Even the wind from his hand turned like a dragon.

Then from his mouth came a voice,

“Dragon Snarling Sorry!”

Cio San was choked to see this move!

This is the first step of the most feared silat in the martial world!

18 DRAGON SITES!!

Cio San could not think anymore. With one simple move, he received the punch with both of his palms. So powerful was the movement, that Cio San's body was thrown behind a dozen spears. He was indeed deliberately unwilling to channel that energy into the ground, and actually received the power of Ji Hau Leng's punch.

He was thrown but not hurt! This made Ji Hau Leng shocked. Usually, the person who dared to take the blow, would instantly shatter his internal organs and die horribly.

But Cio San got up and smiled instead!

“Why are you smiling?”

“Your punch is great. Darling not perfect yet,” said Cio San.

“What?” With overflowing anger, Ji Hau Leng attacked again. This time the nurse came even more horribly.

This great movement was accompanied by a shout,

“Flying Dragon in the Sky!”

The second of the 18 Dragon Sites.

Ji Hau Leng was like he was actually flying. The distance with Cio San that dozens of spears was like nothing, because know-how, Ji Hau Leng's punch had drifted towards Cio San.

This time Cio San received it with Thay Kek Kun. The movement was as simple as Ji Hau Leng's. The sciences of silat are almighty, usually simple. Because there are no more ornaments of the beauty of the movement. All that was left behind was a deadly attack.

Cio San's movement, although simple, but no student of Bu Tong-pay or other fighters can do it. Because that movement was the one used to resist the attacks of the 18 Dragon Sites. Which fighter on the face of this earth, who is able to fend off the 18 Dragon Sites while standing upright?

But Cio San can.

Because he has understood the secret of channeling the power of the powerful. The first time he received it, he intentionally did not channel it to the ground for this reason. He wanted to understand how people could bring out such a huge and powerful energy.

Once you know the secret, then with ‘mus’ Cio San now face it. The core of this 18-Tread Dragon style uses hard energy, which is centered on outward exertion of energy. Cio San actually has a shortage in terms of hard power, and also the use of outside power. This type is a type of power that is trained with very heavy physical forging. If people practice to the peak, then their awesomeness can be much higher than using deep energy.

Since childhood Cio San never faced physical forging like this. Body weak. Therefore, Cio San focuses more on his training to the inner power that refers to the soft energy. Coincidentally Bu Tong-pay is a silat college that uses soft energy.

The only time he forged his physique, was when he lived inside the cave for 3 years. That heavy life, coupled with the efficacy of the magic mushroom, makes its external energy reach multiple stages. But of course it is still under Ji Hau Leng who since childhood has indeed trained him.

Ji Hau Leng now took out his low horses again. Cio San faced him by standing upright while folding his left hand back. His right hand was playing with his hair. This kind of position was the fighting position he liked the most.

Now Ji Hau Leng's fist was like it was emitting light. Power distribution is powerful, it can indeed make a person's body look more radiant and shining. His body now bounces again towards Cio San.

“Fight in the Wild!”

His cry blurted out like a raging dragon.

This long-range blow is in the form of strong winds that can knock down coral. The wind is also a hot wind, which is able to melt the skin.

Cio San welcomed this long-range attack calmly. The wind came really faster than Ji Hau Leng's own movement. Cio San raised his left hand, the sound of a rattlesnake sounded from his fingers. With a single blow, he came forward to greet the mighty wind.

Blarrrrrrrrr……..……!!!!!!!!

A rumbling sound rang out, as his hands clashed against that fierce wind. So great, until the left arm of Cio San's shirt was torn. His hands were shaking great. But the vibration did not hurt him, instead making the sound of the rattling vibrations sound clearer.

This is where Cio San is. He combined his rattlesnake style using external forces, with Thay Kek Kun based on gentle inner energy. In this world, it was probably only Cio San who had managed to combine the two different energies simultaneously.

The style of the Rattlesnake is to withstand the enormity of the energy, while Thay Kek Kun aims to cultivate the energy so as not to injure his body.

Now with his right hand, he pulled out a move. The same moves Ji Hau Leng had taken out!

“Dragon Fighting in the Wild,” is just that whisper coming out of Ji Hau Leng's mouth.

That fierce wind was even more powerful than Ji Hau Leng's attack. Because Cio San channeled the power of the punch he had received from Ji Hau Leng, to be used against Pangcu Kay Pang itself. It was also coupled with Cio San's own energy. Mushroom magic power in the cave, plus the power of the results of Thay Kek Kun training.

It was inconceivable, how shocked Ji Hau Leng was when the move hit his body. All this time, he had only practiced those moves in secret. How could there be anyone who could use it with far more devastating power?

He was thrown for a spear. His mouth spewed fresh blood. But Cio Santidak gave mercy. His body floated high, then slid swiftly while spinning like a top. This was the death gesture he created when he saw Cukat Tong feeding his pet birds. This time he used his legs to attack.

Ji Hau Leng could do nothing more. His spirit has been lost. The desire to fight is no more. He faced this vicious attack of Cio San with a blank look. There are no horses. His hand slumped to the side.

I………...!!!!!!!

The ground next to Ji Hau Leng was shattered. The hole is very deep, like being hit by a meteor rock. In the final moments, Cio San diverted his attack. It was impossible to kill an already defenseless opponent.

“Why don't you fight?”

Ji Hau Leng did not reply. Only a blank look was on his face.

Soul shaken.

Cio San astonished. He knew that his punch was impossible to kill Ji Hau Leng, because it was connected again with a gasing attack. Ji Hau Leng did not fight at all.

Inwardly, Ji Hau Leng was completely shaken. The 18 Treads of the Dragon is Kay Pang's secret skill. How can outsiders use it? Moreover, that person even ‘perfected it’ by combining it with several other sciences at once?

For those who learn from the books, their silat will be limited to what the books explain. Rarely does a broad and deep understanding arise, other than what is written in the book. Therefore, Ji Hau Leng's science became limited. His power is terrible. It's even really terrible. But very narrow and limited.

Cio San whose understanding is very broad, just once to see the style of others or learn the channeling of his strength, then has been able to use that style. That was because he was trying to dive into the basics of science. Moreover, coupled with his understanding of Thay Kek Kun.

The essence of Cio San's prowess is that he is able to understand the basis of the Thay Kek Kun. So that he could easily use that knowledge freely. Without rules and without being limited by rules. He is free to mix that knowledge with any science. Free to use that knowledge with moves from other sciences.

Precisely herein lies the greatness of Thay Kek Kun.

This science focuses on the natural distribution of energy. All silat movements, power distribution, and the movements of the manager, will certainly not be contrary to nature. Therefore, someone who understands Thay Kek Kun, should be able to understand the other moves.

Unfortunately, most of Bu Tong-pay's students view Thay Kek Kun as the raw martial arts and silat created by Thio Sam Hong. They do not view science as a basic foothold of thinking in silat. That is why, their silat science is not developed.

That is also what happens to most silat experts who are in the martial arts. They have great sciences, as a result of many years of practice. But the basis of understanding their own foothold of thinking is the same

there is no. They are riveted by style and style. Dare not to tinker with their own science.

Mostly, because they consider their science the greatest.

Most, too, because they feel their science is perfect.

But the most is, because they themselves do not understand, why and how the sciences were created.

If they are able to realize that in the void, a silat will be able to turn into any style. Being various forms, and various changes, then really they will be able to become invincible fighters.

Unfortunately, only Cio San was able to.

Fortunately, only Cio San was able to.

Ji Hau Leng just stared at Cio San.

“How can you use 18 Dragon Sites?”

“I saw you use it earlier.”

“You once saw can directly?”

“No. I have to take your punches first new, I understand how it works.”

“You said my science wasn't perfect,” said Ji Hau Leng.

“Indeed. That's because you're putting the 18 Dragon Palms on an enormous outside force. In fact, if combined with a soft inner energy, it will produce more powerful strength,” explained Cio San.

“I..., I've heard that ancestor Kwee Ceng has been able to combine it with other softer sciences. Ta.. but I don't know how.”

“That's because you think too much. Supposedly, you just let the science flow naturally. In the end, you'll find a way.”

“But I'm late, aren't I? You're not gonna give me time, are you?”

“If you say where my friends are, I will forgive you.”

At first he wanted to kill Ji Hau Leng. But seeing his condition, the heart of Cio San also melted.

“I really don't know where they are,” replied Ji Hau Leng.

“Who ordered you to pick me up and distract me?” ask Cio San.

“Bwee Hua Sian.”

“Why do you obey him? Aren't you the leader of the biggest party under this sky?”

“Ia...”.

The love!

All this because of love.

People do anything for love.

Is it true that people do it for love?

Doesn't anyone do anything for themselves? He is afraid of losing, he is afraid of being left behind. He was afraid of loneliness. He was afraid that no one would love him anymore. He was afraid that his heart was sad.

People do nothing because of love. Except for himself.

"Please save him, don't kill him,” said Ji Hau Leng.

“You don't...,” greeting Cio San stalled.

Ji Hau Leng's body had fallen and collapsed. He took his own life.

In this world, who would dare to bear this much shame? Being an admired swordsman, supervising tens of thousands of members of the biggest party in Bu Lim, but doing low things for the sake of love?

But Cio San never thought it was low.

Those who die for love are happy people. Whatever people say. As low as any insults. Love must be fought for. And if you die in the middle of the road, you are still a lucky person. Because at least in your heart, there's still a little bit of loyalty and compassion.

Cio San raised Ji Hau Leng's body respectfully. This fighter has been responsible for all his actions. So Cio San was determined to bring Ji Hau Leng's body back to his base.

Her love for Bwee Hua Sian is very sacred and deep. But he knew his actions were wrong.He knew Bwee Hua Sian was just using it. She knew Bwee Hua Sian would not be hers.

That's why he was willing to leave. Go all the way before this gets any worse. It's even scarier.

He still loves that woman.

But he still has pride and honor.

At the end of his life, he chose honor.

Was it because he knew he would not be able to have her?

Until late afternoon, Cio San arrived at the base. His arrival brought shock and tears.

All the beggars who were there cried, and scrambled to kiss their chief's body. After that, they took good care of the body.

Cio San was astonished, why was he not being asked any questions. The death of a big man like this, of course, caused a stir. Moreover, he is the largest party Pangcu. Cio San was a little disappointed, why did not a single member of Kay Pang ask him so much.

When he asked himself to go home, everyone knelt before him.

“Greetings to Pangcu!”

Cio San could say nothing more.