Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter 73: Happy

I don't know how long it's been going through.

A blood-filled incident in Kotaraja.

But it is also an event where courage, solidarity, and strength are shown.

They were sitting quietly on top of the tower. The tower of the place where Cio San stood all day stared at that fierce battle. Back then, at the top of the tower, he had made up his mind. No more blood was shed by his hands.

When this was all over, he wanted to disappear for a moment. Where not. I don't know what to do. Enjoy the peace of the world.

In this tower, is the banquet before the farewell.

Arak has flowed, various foods have been lined up. There is true friendship. If you happen to experience this kind of situation, you should be grateful all the time.

Cio San, Cukat Tong, Suma Sun, Luk Ping Hoo, and Kao Ceng Lun.

“You better tell me all this from the beginning,” said Cukat Tong.

Cio San looked at the sky.

“Initially myself I don't know. Just maybe I can tell you, that I was actually suspicious of Beng Liong's involvement from the very beginning. It's just that I don't dare to talk, because I don't have any proof.”

“Since when?” ask Cukat Tong.

“Since the Ma Kauw ship burning incident. That was the first time we met, wasn't it?”

Cukat Tong nodded.

“At that time Beng Liong was slandered as the culprit, right?”

“Iya.”

“At that time, Beng Liong and I were surrounded by many people. They assumed we were really the culprit.”

Cio San, continue,

“But at that time, it happened that Hong Sam-hwesio came to break up and explained his case.”

“What did Hong Sam-hwesio say at the time?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“He said, when the fire broke out, Beng Liong was also with him,” explained Cio San.

“And the people who ganged you two believe?” this time it was Kao Ceng Lun who asked.

“Of course. Everyone Bu Lim knows, the words of Bhiksu Siau Lim-pay are gold. Let alone the words that came out of Hong Sam-hwesio.”'s mouth

Cio San, continue,

“After that I met Cukat Tong. He said he knew 3 people from the Ma Kauw boat arsonist. The arsonist was among those who surrounded us and accused us of being the culprit. One of them is named Sih Hek Tiauw, who has the nickname Rajawali Hitam.”

“Maling yell,” Luk Ping Hoo.

“True once,” Cio San.

Next, “Once I know that, I directly report to Hong Sam-hwesio.”

“What is his action?” Cukat Tong asked.

“Ya said, we should hurry to Sih Hek Tiauw's house. Coincidentally he knew. What happened then, instead became the opening key to this whole secret.”

“What?” almost all asked.

“He said he would take the stick first in the room. Once inside, it turns out he was attacked by someone who was hiding in his closet.”

“Then?”

”As soon as I heard the noise, I darted as fast as I could inside. Once inside the room, the attacker had already disappeared. Hong Sam-hwesio said, he ran out the window. As soon as I see, no one is seen.”

“Then its surprising in which part?” ask Cukat Tong.

“What is surprising is, the attacker can move very fast. The courtyard of the temple was vast, and the temple itself was very small. It took me just a few seconds to get out of that vast page.”

Cio San doubted many things. The only thing he believed to be true was his own ginkang. In this world, only one thing was what he believed and trusted the most.

“I mean Pangcu, there are people whose ginkangnya higher than Pangcu?” ask Luk Ping Hoo.

“Of course not,” Suma Sun said. “Cio San means, this attacker actually does not exist.”

Is there anyone who can disappear in front of Cio San? If such a person does not exist, of course the attacker does not exist. If the assailant did not exist, then did not Hong Sam-hwesio just make up a mere story?

Slowly everyone who was there understood.

“At that moment in my mind was, only people who could fly, could escape back then.”

Cio San, continue,

“Dan true. Back then, there was actually something that could fly.”

“Birds?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“True. Hong Sam-hwesio keeping birds. When’terpuk’, he was so angry, because the commotion caused his bird to escape from the cage. At that time I had not thought anything. A long time later, I realized. After arriving at the place of Sih Hek Tiauw the Black Rajawali, he turned out to be dead. Someone preceded us, and already killed him.”

Proceeds,

“Means that someone knows that we are going to meet Sih Hek Tiauw. Back then the only person who knew besides us, was Cukat Tong himself. So I recorded his name in my mind as one of the suspects.”

Obviously Cio San again,

“But then I realized that the bird in Hong Sam-Hwesio's room had a very important role. The bird acts as the sender of the letter! Hong Sam-hwesio sends word to someone, informing him that the guise of Sih Hek Tiauw has been caught.”

”You came to such a conclusion, being convinced that Hong Sam-hwesio only fabricated his assault story?” ask Cukat Tong

“True. I've never seen anyone move that fast. Until I came to the conclusion, such a person never existed! The attack never existed! Hong Sam-Hwesio only makes up stories with two purposes. First, to trap me into thinking he was a victim. And secondly, to slow us down to Sih Hek Tiauw's house. On the way, he walked weakly and very slowly. So as to give time for someone to kill Sih Hek Tiauw.”

“If no one attacks Hong Sam-hwesio, are his injuries fake?” ask Kao Ceng Lun.

“Original wounds. He hurt himself. As well as when Beng Liong was injured at the top of Thay San. Same ways.”

Everyone shut up for a moment and thought.

“Then what does this have to do with Beng Liong involvement?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“Simple. If Hong Sam-hwesio was involved in all this, why would he defend Beng Liong and me while being ganged up and surrounded?”

Everyone nodded.

“They killed all the inhabitants of the ship, and burned the ship with two purposes. One was to exterminate Chairman Ma Kauw and his men. And second is, to ‘remove’ name Beng Liong from suspicion.”

“Wah, remove suspicion? Didn't the killer write Beng Liong's name on the wall of the ship as the culprit? That ‘kan even made him the accused?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“Just there smart. They were sure that someone would be an eyewitness. In that case, somehow, they knew that there was a Cukat Tong there who would be an eyewitness. If they write Beng Liong's name there, then Cukat Tong as an eyewitness said that the culprit is not Beng Liong, of course Beng Liong's name will be clean because it is only considered a victim of slander! Moreover, there is also Hong Sam-Hwesio whose words are gold for the Bu Lim people. Everyone will believe that it is not Beng Liong the culprit.”

It didn't feel like they were shuddering at how neat the plan was.

“With the killings of several prominent figures among Kang Ouw, it also adds ‘cleansing’ name Beng Liong from the list of perpetrators,” explained Cio San.

“How can it?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“They poisoned many prominent figures, then after the figures died, the culprit pierced their foreheads as if the death was caused by the Suma Sun's sword stance. Purpose multilayered. First, to get rid of the people who get in their way. Second, to slander Suma Sun. Third, if the slander against Suma Sun is successfully broken, it means that the slander for Beng Liong that burned Ma Kauw's ship, must also be broken. Because everyone will be sure, that the deed is just slander,” explained Cio San.

“Hamba confused, actually which one used to happen? The murder of Bu Lim's characters first? Or the first burning of Ma Kauw's ship?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“They have planned very carefully. Actually it all started with poisoning at Ma Kauw headquarters,” explained Cio San.

“At that time there was a traitor who infiltrated the main headquarters, then poisoned everyone with that odorless and tasteless magic poison. It just so happened that I was there, and for a while was able to help the brothers. Seeing that the plan failed, the ‘big box’ already has a backup plan. He planned an attack on the docks that would be visited by Ma Kauw.”

Cio San, continue,

“In addition to killing Chairman Ma Kauw and his closest people, the ‘big box’ also killed prominent figures Kang Ouw. Their bodies wound their forehead to look like victims from Suma Sun. After that, they threw it into the river for the people to find it. Incidentally, it was Ma Kauw's ship that found the bodies.”

“On board, I studied the condition of the bodies, then came to a conclusion. My conclusion is, this is all slander to Suma Sun,” explained Cio San.

“Wah, because the ‘big brain’ understands that you have revealed the secret of slander, then he prepares another new trick, which is to slander Beng Liong. If the slander is successfully broken, then Beng Liong name will be erased from suspicion?” ask Cukat Tong.

Cio San nodded in confirming.

“Crazy!”

“Why does Beng Liong want to remove himself from suspicion? Isn't it without doing that, nobody would be suspicious of him?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“He's a very careful person. He wants everything to be as perfect as possible. In addition, he does want to destroy his enemies,” explained Cio San.

“Because you want to be perfect, even fully dismantled,” said Kao Ceng Lun.“Continue, Cio San.”

“Well, after I was able to find the secret key, I initially thought Beng Liong was just an ordinary man. Maybe he got involved because he had to. I thought hard what is the background to all this? Their movements are too neat, very planned, and unpredictable. If it is just a fight over the holy book, I feel this is too excessive. Then I came to a conclusion, maybe all this is related to the seizure of Bu Lim Bengcu on the summit of Thay San.”

He continued,

"But then I doubt it. If it was only fighting for Bu Lim Bengcu, why would people who were not interested in the Bengcu position be killed as well? For example, the old Ma Kauw-kauwcu. Wasn't he interested in that position? Then why was he killed too?”

Cio San was silent for a moment, he knew just then that Ang Lin Hua's body trembled withstanding anger and sadness. He touched the tip of the girl's hand and looked at her gently.

There's no word to say. Because there are no words that can be said at such times.

When you touch the tip of a woman's hand.

After Ang Lin Hua calmed down, then Cio San continued,

“Means there's an evil plan more sinister than just the seizure of Bu Lim Bengcu. I only realized when it turned out that the winner of the fight could meet the Emperor.”

“Yes. You asked about that, when we were on our way to Thay San,” Cukat Tong confirmed.

“True. At that time I began to fully read this creepy story. Rebellion, imperial conquest, and invasion of Goan (Mongol). The possibility of this Goan attack was suspected, when I heard that Kay Pang received the greatest members from anywhere. It turned out that Goan's soldiers had infiltrated Kay Pang, and began to fill the city. After understanding all that, I then wrote a letter to Khu-hujin and asked Cukat Tong to send it to him.”

“What exactly is the content of the letter? I didn't read it myself,” asked Cukat Tong.

“I explained all the circumstances that happened. And ask him to prepare everything in dealing with it,” replied Cio San.

“Why to Khu-hujin?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“Because he is actually ‘orang kingdom’ too. His son is the Main General. From the beginning, he was interested and followed all these events. Moreover, he is actually the strongest ‘’ person and the most influential among Bu Lim.”

“I used to be suspicious of him,” said Ang Lin Hua.

“The most suspicious person is usually not the culprit. The most unlikely person as the perpetrator, usually even he who did it.”

Luk Ping Hoo then asked, “Actually, what is the position of the old Pangcu Kay Pang, Ji Hau Leng, in all these rotten plans?”

“Her mistake, just because he fell in love,” replied Cio San. But quickly he added, “Indeed he was not wrong for falling in love, he just fell in love with the wrong person.”

“Bwee Hua Sian?”

“Which one? Old or young?” ask Kao Ceng Lun.

Cio San was choked. He knew Cukat Tong was equally choked as well. But Cukat Tong instead said, “Forward your story.”

“Bwee young Hua Sian. He captivated Ji Hau Leng, and took advantage of the gallant person's position as Chairman Kay Pang. Since then, Kay Pang has opened up to anyone, tens of thousands of members growing in a year. Bright, they are the soldiers Goan (Mongol) infiltrated to attack kotaraja.”

Connect Cio San, please,

“At the end of his life, Ji Hau Leng understood that Bwee Hua Sian did not really love him. To kill that woman, he could not bear. While he has already done things that shame his pride in the world of Kang Ouw. Finally he chose suicide.”

“Suffering once,” says Ang Lin Hua.

Cukat Tong stared far ahead. I don't know what's on this guy's mind. Could it be that he thought that his fate would be the same as Ji Hau Leng's?

“Then who is Bwee Hua Sian? Is there a young one, is there an old one? I don't understand,” asked Kao Ceng Lun.

Cio San turned to Suma Sun. The Sword God then said,

“Bwee Hua Sian the real one is that old one. He is almost 80 years old. He is my family's enemy. He killed both my parents. All this time, my goal has only been to look for it.”

Cukat Tong then added,

“Young is his men. This young one was indeed his name deliberately equated to Bwee Hua Sian as well. The goal, to maintain the legend that Bwee Hua Sian is the most beautiful woman in the world whose beauty is eternal.”

Everyone nodded in understanding.

“Who exactly is that old Bwee Hua Sian? How was its origin?” This question was thrown by Ang Lin Hua to Suma Sun.

“Nobody knows. You know, 40 to 50 years ago, he just appeared to rule the north. Until then reach the center of Tionggoan,” replied Suma Sun.

“And Beng Liong is his grandson?” ask Ang Lin Hua again.

“True,” Cio San.

They all sat there. Think about all the complexity of that red thread. But one by one they can break down. Although there are some secrets that have not been explained, at least all the complications have been answered.

“There's more I'm still wondering, why did Kauwcu kidnap us and send us down Mount Thay San. Couldn't Kauwcu have ordered us?” ang Lin Hua asked.

“Haha.... For that I have to apologize for doing this to both of you. At that time I was just watching. At that time I was not sure who Kao Ceng Lun was. Enemies or friends. By kidnapping you, at least it will confuse the enemy's movements. That way I can move more freely.”

“Ah, it turns out that San-ko is suspicious of me? Pardon. Because of the State duty, cayhe can not be frank,” said Kao Ceng Lun while menjura. “At that time cayhe was ordered by Khu-goanswe to investigate the situation in Thay San. During this time, the kingdom has begun to suspect strange events in the world of Kang Ouw.”

“Since before the fight, I've been planning to pretend to be dead. My letter to Khu-hujin also explained all my plans. That Beng Liong's movement, can only be stopped when caught red-handed. Therefore, I asked Khu-hujin to prepare everything. Including reporting all these things directly to the Emperor. The Emperor also complied, because he himself was interested to see how all this went.”

In welcome,

"Well, after Cukat Tong left to send a letter, I thought of the best way to pretend to be dead. It fell into the abyss. Earlier, I had already checked the ravine area. Which part is soft, which part is full of coral, and others. I also intend to invite the jump of the three heads of the big college.”

“Because what?”

“Because I've been convinced of their involvement in all of this. By jumping with them into the abyss, I used the science of Sucking the Sun to absorb all their energy. Absorption power that I use to float and bouncy so that my fall is not dangerous.”

Hearing this, everyone shook their heads in wonder.

“What if your plan falls apart?” ask Cukat Tong.

“I must be dead,” replied Cio San with a laugh.

“You don't know how scared my heart is to hear that you're plunging into a ravine. When I got to the bottom, I saw that you were sitting quietly waiting for me. Hahaha..

“At that time I was sure, you would definitely look for me. As soon as you come, we go straight to Kotaraja to execute the plan.”

Other people have a plan, and they have a plan. Aren't we what we planned?

Night approaching. The star shines bright. The moon is dim in its light full of tenderness.

There was a meeting, there was a farewell.

The wise man understands this in his deepest wisdom.

Meeting is not a trivial thing. So did farewell.

When you're goodbye, it can't be denied. As well as during meetings.

All happens in the description of the thread of destiny. Spun into the pages of memories and history of mankind.

“So you have to go?” ask Cukat Tong.

“I will definitely be back. You don't have to go anyway?” cio San said.

“True,” Strict Cukat Tong.

“How about Suma-tayhiap?” ask Cio San.

“My business is done. I will probably find arak and drink it until *****.” The answer was cold, but everyone laughed.

Although they laughed, their tears flowed.

Farewell.

Is there anything in this world more painful than separation?

But in separation, there is a glimmer of hope.

Wouldn't it be that if we split up, we might still be able to meet again?

Might as well.

‘Maybe’, is not a vain word.

‘Maybe’, is a hopeful word.

If not here. If not in this world.

Maybe we'll meet there. In nature there.

During any journey. As far as the distance is. As long as anything awaits. As far as the difference is.

Still no word ‘Maybe’.

As long as there is still that word in the world, so long as people still have a great and beautiful hope.

‘Maybe’.

FINISHED

AFTERWORD

Cio San has finished 3 times in front of the graves of his parents. He cleaned the tomb. As hard as he could to hold back his tears. Not felt, all the events that passed in his life is remembered again. All the suffering, fear, loneliness, and pain of his heart seemed to be poured out before the graves of his parents. For a long time, this time he visited here.

The afternoon has come. The color of the sky began to decorate the sky.

When he finished cleaning the tomb and turned his body, how shocked he was when in front of him was already surrounded by a grandfather and a grandmother. The grandfather even though it looks reaped, but his good looks are still very clear. His body is still strong. Her hair still looked black, even though there was gray hair here and there. Although there were wrinkles on his face, his light rays were poking bright like a youngster.

And so does my grandmother, she looks so beautiful. The look on his face was sharp and pierced into the human soul. His smile was like the smile of a pingitan girl.

Cio San didn't know them. But he knew they were both certainly husband and wife. And he understood, in this world a man who could sneak this close without a voice behind him, probably had never been born.

Turns out he was wrong.

“Salam, Tayhiap and Liehiap,” says Cio San menjura.

“You named Cio San?” ask the grandfather.

“True, Tayhiap.” Actually Cio San wanted to ask who they were, but he also understood. In the presence of people like this, you'd better shut up and let them ask.

“Strike me!” grandfather's orders.

What a strange order.

“Eh, but..”

He did not continue his words. The look of the grandfather's eyes poked at his soul. Inevitably, he attacked. A slow and simple Thay Kek Kun movement.

“No need to be generous. Attack in earnest!” grandpa's orders again. Once again, those eyes hit Cio San's soul. It was as if his body no longer belonged to his mind. His movements turned violent. A wind roared out from his palm.

Movement fast. Real quick.

Grandpa did not move. He received the palm tip of Cio San with the palm as well. The roaring rumble sounded like the wind******pile that blew up the mountain. But in that instant, the voice disappeared without a trace!

Like nothing happened!

Where was the loss of that powerful energy?

No one knows.

Not even Cio San knew.

The afternoon is getting darker. He stood still trying to understand what had just happened.

“Good! Cio San is Cio San! Let's find a place to rest and listen to me tell you a story,” said the grandfather.

They then moved to a small pavilion near there. Sitting in it in the afternoon brings a peace of its own.

“You don't need to know what my name is. But I was once a friend of your grandfather, Cio Hong Lim,” said the grandfather started the story.

“I live on a remote island on the east coast of Tionggoan. No one knows where the island is. A few months ago, I found someone stranded on our island. That guy is pretty old too. But the spirit and sense of responsibility that he carries, makes him able to survive until he reached our island.”

“I took care of him for a while, until then I realized that I had known this man. His name is Tin Seng. He is your grandfather's confidant.”

Cio San was slightly stunned.

“It turns out Tin Seng has been ordered by your father since a dozen years ago to look for me. Because according to your grandfather, I'm the only one who can solve all these problems. You know what that problem is?” ask the Grandpa.

“Slightly-many, boanpwe can already read it, Tayhiap.”

“Good. Explain!”

“The problems that have to do with the plan to attack the people of Goan to Kotaraja a month ago,” replied Cio San.

“Absolutely. It turned out that the planning was done carefully and really neat. The brain of the plan was a Consort Emperor Goan (Mongol) who survived the first expulsion. After running, he builds his strength. It turned out that even before they were expelled, the Goans had put in some of their confidants to become spies in major colleges, such as Bu Tong-pay, Siau Lim-pay, and GoBi-pay. Because these three big colleges are very troublesome for them.”

“When the Goans managed to be expelled, these spies remained in the big colleges. Even then occupy an important position there. The Goan concubine then contacted them and prepared their evil plan,” explained the grandfather. Then he asked, “You certainly know who they are?”

“Hong Sam-hwesio in Siau Lim-pay, Lau-ciangbunjin in Bu Tong-pay, and Bi Goat-nikow in Go Bi-pay,” replied Cio San.

“True. Your late mother who was a prominent swordsman Go Bi-pay then accidentally learned of the evil plan. He sent a letter to your grandfather. Then hurry to escape to this village with you and your father.”

Until here, Cio San has understood everything. When receiving a letter from Cio San's mother, Cio San's grandfather immediately ordered his confidant to look for the grandfather in front of him. It was fortunate that the envoy managed to leave before the Cio San family was slaughtered.

“You understand everything, don't you?” ask the grandfather.

“Already, Tayhiap.”

“Well, that's it. For a dozen years, Tin Seng searched for the whereabouts of both of us. Every corner of the Tionggoan has been covered. Tiredless he was looking for us. One day, he meets Tan Hoat. Swordsman Bu Tong-pay. I heard you raised father and teacher to this Tan Hoat?”

Cio San nodded.

“Tin Seng fully trust Tan Hoat. Then he told me everything. Tan Hoat decides to return to Bu Tong-pay to save you, and kills Lau-ciangbunjin secretly. Unfortunately, what I heard later, Tan Hoat passed away horribly.”

“Betul, Tayhiap.” Cio San remembered this event once.

“For dozens of years, Tin Seng kept looking for us, because it was the only responsibility he carried all this time.”

“Where is he now, Tayhiap?” ask Cio San.

“Have died because of his suffering. We buried him on our island.”

“Aih...” Doesn't feel Cio San crying anyway. How great is this Tin Seng service.

“Once we knew this story, soon we rushed off to Tionggoan. Apparently we're late, and you've done all the business.”

Grandpa was silent for a long time.

“For that, we say thank you.” Then he prostrated.

How amazing Cio San is. He tried to drive away.

“Aih, dare not... dare not, Siansing.”

Be late. The two husbands prostrated themselves before him.

Inevitably, Cio San prostrated himself.

“Thank you for cleaning Bu Tong-pay. Thank you for guarding the Beng Empire.” There were tears in my eyes of this grandfather.

“Aih, don't dare.., Siansing, don't dare…. These are not boanpwe services. The service of so many people. Really, boanpwe do not dare to accept this honor,” said Cio San really really.

The grandfather smiled, then said, “At this moment, we have to go back to our island. If there's a soul mate, you should stop by there. I haven't tested all your cleverness.”

Then he turned to his wife, “Let's go home, darling.”

The grandmother smiled and said, “Darling, when do we go home without giving any gifts to this young swordsman?”

“Ah, right too. Cio San, you take a look at this.”

Grandpa is moving. Exquisite. Very slow and sure.

Like the sun, like the moon, like the universe. Move according to the time, according to the rate, according to the portion.

All his life, Cio San had never seen such a beauty. It was as if the beauty of the universe radiated from its simple movements.

Then finished.

Finished like there is no beginning and no end. Just like that.

“You can catch the meaning?” ask the grandfather.

“No, Siansing,” replied Cio San honestly.

“Good!” said the grandfather while patting his shoulder. “In the next few years, you will experience many things. If you do not immediately get away from the crowd, you will experience various kinds of business. Prepare yourself. We beg ourselves. If a soul mate, will meet again.”

The two men then left. I hold hands and enjoy the beauty of the world. Joking laughs like a couple smelling fast. Cio San is deeply entrenched.

Age may be old, but the soul of the lover will always be young.

The true soul of the lover, it will be like this. Share affection, share love, share hardship, and share suffering. Cio San knew that grandparents would not have achieved such pure love if they had not experienced such a terrible test and ordeal before.

That's love.

He soon realized that he had not asked what their names were. But he knows. Deep down, he knew who they were.

Then he smiled.

Remembering the last words that grandfather said.

“If a soul mate, will meet again.”

-------------- FINISHED------------------------------------

Look forward to the adventures of Cio San and his friends, in the next episode: "The Secret of the Red Cloak" in print. Please contact the author via chat.