Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter 66: The Heart of the Sword

“I have to practice soon,” said Suma Sun.

“Trained?”

“Ya.” He left with a smile. He took up his sword and was lost behind the darkness of the night.

Wonder. When his position used to be ‘kalah’than Kam-tayhiap, he was drunk. Now when his position is more ‘unggul’, he even trains.

Not knowing what to do, Cio San went to bed.

When the ground is bright, he wakes up. His ears had heard the sounds of battle. He knew it was just ordinary training. Luk Ping Hoo, Ang Lin Hua, and Kao Ceng Lung were training together. Indeed, if silat experts were to gather, the most interesting thing for them would be the jotos.

Seeing this exercise, Cio San was amazed as well. The old Luk Ping Hoo, did not lose his strength and agility. Ang Lin Hua had made a lot of progress. Kao Ceng Lun also has a very big talent. The three of them attacked each other, so this battle felt funny. Sometimes Ang Lin Hua shoulder to shoulder with Kao Ceng Lun attacked Luk Ping Hoo. Sometimes even helping Luk Ping Hoo forging Kao Ceng Lun. Sometimes, it was Kao Ceng Lun and Luk Ping Hoo who attacked Ang Lin Hua.

This exercise even though it looks strange, certainly difficult to do. Because you won't know who your friends and opponents are. This second he helped you, the next second he attacked you. It takes a high concentration of mind, as well as the ability to read situations. Must also master all changes in style.

“Lie-ko, let's join,” said Kao Ceng Lun. The speech was only 4 or 5 words, but he took it out while hitting 10 to 15 of his fists. The speed of the Kao family's empty-handed punch was indeed not nonsense.

“Thank you, but no,” said Cio San with a smile. “Let me refer Suma-tayhiap first.”

Immediately he rushed towards Suma Sun leaving last night. Using his hink, he soon found Suma Sun. The swordsman was sitting on a large rock. His right hand held out a chest-high sword. His legs were cross-legged, and his eyes were closed.

Due to the annoying hesitation, Cio San sat in a corner of the cliff, a little far from Suma Sun. Somewhat long, only Suma Sun lowered her sword, and opened her eyes.

“Since when did you train like that?” ask Cio San.

“Since last night.”

“So, since starting training until now, you just like that?”

Suma Sun nodded.

Cio San long thought. Then said, “You want to feel the movement of the wind, yes?”

“You are smart,” Suma Sun said with a smile.

Every gust of wind that came at him, he would face it with movement. But he didn't make that move. He just imagined the movement in his mind. Because making movements and making moves, will limit changes. And also spend energy. So save him to his strength, even for training alone, he does not use that energy!

“Will you train with me?” ask Suma Sun.

“Of course.”

“Let's sit in front of me.”

Cio San sat cross-legged in front of Suma Sun.

“You memorized the sword style of the young mistress of the Kam family that I grabbed a few days ago?”

“I don't memorize. But I can play the manager,” said Cio San.

“Hahaha.. You are indeed a scary human being.”.

“Well, let's bartarung. You know what kind of fight I want instead?”

Cio San was silent for a while, then smiled and said, “Sure.”

And they fight.

Anyone who looked at their fight would gawk.

Anyone who watches the game may not believe his own eyes.

Because they are not fighting.

They just look at each other.

The fight was done only through the eyes.

Look at each other and imagine what the opponent is doing.

In each mind, the opponent in front of him is launching the greatest martial skill that must be faced also with the highest ability of himself.

They read each other from the eye, from a little shoulder motion, from the look of the face, and even read the style through the breath. Your sword's here, I dodged it here. Your footsteps here, I kicked in there. I parried your punch, then I advanced forward.

In this world, there is no such battle. Even though Suma Sun was blind, Cio San could still read her eyes. Because his eyeballs were moving following his attack. A very invisible movement, but able to catch it.

And Suma Sun herself, though blind, was also able to capture the direction of Cio San's movements through her breath.

A terrible battle that occurred in each other's minds. Attacking without taking out a stance. You can imagine, how high the knowledge of these two people is. Each of them entered the opponent's mind realm, and fought there!

It's like playing chess without chess boards and pieces. It's like playing music without a musical instrument. Everything happens in each other's minds.

The world is filled with amazing stories, like deaf musicians who can create amazing music. Or a blind painter who is able to paint with beautiful colors.

And now, the world presents the battle of the high-class silatists, who are pounding without moving!

This fight also lasted a long time. Each side was sweating profusely. A fight like this seems to be more draining than any battle anywhere.

“Wah, what style is it?” ask Suma Sun. There was not a single move they made.

Cio San said nothing. He is focusing his mind. From this it could be seen, that in swordsmanship, Suma Sun was still a level higher.

“Great,” Suma Sun murmured.

Cio San was still silent. He was deeply troubled by the words of Suma Sun. Then he closed his hearing. The world is quiet for him. Precisely that way, he was able to manage his attacks again.

I don't know what Suma Sun said. But this swordsman was apparently aware that Cio San had locked his way of hearing, so Suma Sun finally chose silence.

Indeed, the style that Cio San uses is the sword style of the Swordsman Kelana Can Liu Hoa who was learned in the bamboo forest. Very terrible moves if demonstrated. But it becomes more powerful when imagined only.

Suma Sun was starting to have trouble. This sword move was strange and absurd to him.

Although it has the same core as its own sword style, but the one launched by its opponent is completely reversed with the existing style pack. If the movement is supposed to be stabbing, then the movement is instead pulling the sword. If the movement has to go backwards, it goes forward. If he had to deflect, he attacked.

Precisely with the style of this ‘turn’ style, able to destroy all the rules of the existing sword styles. Suma Sun's highly effective stance and relying solely on a major attack, without trickery and decorative moves, met a balanced opponent in this sword-science launched by Cio San.

Up to this stage, the level of these two people became the same!

Series!

This battle of minds is still ongoing.

Cio San's sword had locked up Suma Sun. If another Sword God has a sword style like heavy rain or a powerful waterfall that hits and splashes the earth, the sword style launched by Cio San is the opposite. Light, and feels without burden. It comes one-on-one. But this one-on-one actually locked up Suma Sun so that she no longer had a place to avoid.

Suma Sun was only able to move, so that Cio San's sword did not take his life. That strange sword stance had made so many wounds on his body.

This time Cio San's sword was already very close to his throat.

Instead of retreating, he went forward.

Shocked by Suma Sun's movements, Cio San's sword slightly missed. Of course he didn't want to kill his friend. Although this was only a battle that occurred in each other's minds, of course he did not want to kill his opponent.

Therefore, Cio San's sword move came to a halt for a moment. That moment was enough for Suma Sun. Immediately his sword flashed, and Cio San's forehead was pierced by the sword.

Then they woke up!

Sweat was flowing, and the energy was drained.

This is the biggest fight these two people have ever had.

Cio San laughed.

Finally he understood the words of Swordsman Kelana, that he would not win against Suma Sun. Because Suma Sun always had a way to kill people, even though her swordsmanship was inferior to her opponent's.

Inevitably, he was finally heartened to look at Suma Sun's fight with Kam-tayhiap later. There is still hope, there is still a possibility to win!

“Thank you, that was a really great swordsmanship,” Suma Sun said. “Much better than swordsmanship Kam-tayhiap.”

“Of course. It is a science belonging to Swordsman Kelana,” said Cio San.

Suma Sun's eyes widened. Then he prostrated. Of course Cio San immediately prevented it, but it was too late.

“Thank you for showing it to me. My life is now satisfied. Looking at that swordsmanship, it has made me feel enlightened.” He said so while glazed.

The Sword God that was once so cold, was now so warmed by human feelings.

“The Swordsman Kelana left this sword to me. If there is a proper student, I can pass this knowledge down to him.”

Suma Sun was silent. Cio San was silent.

Then Cio San said, “But I know, I cannot possibly pass this knowledge down to you, for it will surely make your own swordsmanship disturbed.”

Suma Sun smiled. If in a shadow fight they already understand each other, especially about things that involve feelings and self-esteem for each other.

“Mari break.”

While enjoying the fruits around, they chatted and talked about many things.

“I until now have not understood the reason you were drunk the other day,” said Cio San.

“You certainly understand if I have lost experience and lost knowledge from Kam-tayhiap,” explained Suma Sun, then continue, “If I think about things to fight my shortcomings, then, it will even make me lose more.”

“Therefore, I choose to be happy with those closest to me. I choose to live in the present, and remove the fears of the future.”

“By being happy, the mind becomes bright. Hearts become airy. That way, my soul becomes better prepared in the face of battle. Whatever the outcome, I will face it. Losing, losing, dying, and dying. But the results were only determined in a few days. Today then? Today I want to be happy. Want to live a more lively life.”

“So I sacrificed energy by drinking wine. But as a result, I got happiness. This happiness becomes a capital for my soul to face the fight later.”

A happy person, his eyes become bright and his soul glows. His mind was sharp and his understanding clear.

Hearing that Cio San mangosteen.

“I've always believed in you, in whatever you do. I'm sure you'll be able to defeat Kam-Tayhiap. You always find a way to defeat an opponent who is much stronger and superior to you.”

“Aha..! You forgot one thing. Kam-Tayhiap is the Sword God. Of course, he also has that advantage.”

Cio San is stuck. Right too.

Somehow his mind could rarely be clear when it came to the safety of those closest to him. Though he has a great ability to read situations and digest meanings. Unfortunately, when it comes to people close to him, he always fails to involve feelings. Sometimes feelings can control the intellect.

“Already. Don't think about that match. Let this be my business. What I want to ask, do you already have a plan to beat the ‘big box’?”

“Already.”

“What is it?”

“Don't until Bu Lim Bengcu's post falls into his hands. Therefore, we must try to make the position really fall into the hands of a clean and trusted person.”

“To know, a clean and reliable person is just you,” Suma Sun said with a smile.

“I do not have the ability and authority in leading. But I know one guy who has.”

“Who?”

“Beng Liong.”

“You mean, we should support him?”

“True. All we have to do is get him to be Bu Lim Bengcu. That way, we have won one step from the big ‘ot’.”

“Why aren't you the only one who became Bengcu?”

“You forgot? I'm ‘kan already fugitive all over Kang Ouw. Once caught, my head must be beheaded immediately. In addition, Beng Liong silat science has also reached a very high level. He also comes from a straight party. Although Ciangbunjin was involved with the big ‘brain’, I believe Bu Tong-pay's party is still a straight party.”

“Good. How do we support it?”

“We have to follow the match Bu Lim Bengcu's seizure. To stop anyone who tries to fight over it. The point is to smooth the steps of Beng Liong into Bengcu.”

“I agree. But the night before that scramble match, I ‘kan still had to fight against Kam-tayhiap. I still can't be sure if I can get out safely or not.”

Cio San could not say anything.

Suma Sun kept smiling lightly. “Come home,” he said as he patted Cio San's shoulder.

They also left.

Not far away, in the darkness of the dense forest trees, someone smiled. What a scary smile.