Suddenly, Ban-tok Sian-li knelt next to the man and pushed him.
"Lie on your back!" she commanded.
"Eh, what's wrong.....? What do you want ? "
"Stop complaining! Shut up and lie down!" She ordered again. Thio Cin Kang collapsed onto his back. Those tiny fingers skillfully unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his broad and muscular chest.
Ban-tok Sian-li then pressed her index finger around the wound on his chest to stop the bleeding, then without hesitation, she pressed her lips onto the wounded chest, sucking out the needle that had embedded into his flesh.
Thio Cin Kang closed his eyes. Not from the pain. He could withstand the pain, even more than that. However, that smooth face, the fragrant hair, and especially the warm lips that clung to and sucked on his chest. He couldn't bear to open his eyes because of all that. He felt like he was in a beautiful dream. That woman was sucking his wound! The poisoned wound on his naked chest. Can such a thing really happen? The suction stopped and the sweet scent distanced. He opened his eyes. The woman looked at him.
"The needle is out, but without the antidote, you will still die."
"I entrust my life in your hands, miss... eh, madam... forgive me..." The woman, who was undoubtedly older than she appeared, must already be married. How foolish he was to imagine otherwise. Shameless!
"Plaakkk _!" Suddenly his cheek was slapped! He was shocked and surprised! She had just sucked the poison from his wound and now she had given him a hard slap! What a strange woman this is.
"Ehh, why. ?" he stuttered in confusion. "I have never been married and you dare to call me madam?"
"Ah, forgive me, miss. Eh, I ..... I really didn't know, and it seems I can now guess who you are. Aren't you the one nicknamed Ban-tok Sian-li ?"
"Hmm, you already know my name. Good, you will die knowing who your killer is. I am indeed Ban-tok Sian-li, Souw Hian Li, the master of Death Valley....." Her voice faded as the thought of the desolation of that place made her melancholic.
"I will die with my eyes closed, miss."
"No, you won't die. Do you think I sucked out the needle for nothing?" She took out the antidote powder and applied it to the wound on his chest, pressing it in, then she took out a small bottle of wine and instructed him to drink the medicinal wine. After being treated and drinking the medicinal wine, Thio Cin Kang no longer felt pain in his chest.He buttoned up his shirt again, then stood up like Ban-tok Sian-li.
"Miss Souw, I, Thio Cin Kang, am very grateful to you for sparing me and saving me from death. I have long heard of your great name as a fighter and I greatly admire you, miss."
"Hmm, earlier you thanked me because I was going to kill you, now thanking me because I saved you. What do you really want? You wanted to die earlier, now you want to live."
"!"
Thio Cin Kang took a deep breath. "Miss Souw, half a year ago, my wife had a miscarriage and died. I was desperate, having no wife, no children, and even though everyone was persuading me to remarry, I couldn't find a suitable person. I was tired of living and wanted to die. However, after meeting you, Miss. I'm just so amazed! I am willing to die at your hands, and I am truly very happy that you did not kill me but even saved me. You give me new hope. If only you would give me the opportunity to assist you, help with anything, I am willing to sacrifice my life to help and protect you, Miss Souw."
Souw Hian Li's face turned red. She was not a child, she knew what was hidden behind that broad chest, what was contained in the heart of this man. However, she pretended not to understand and asked, "Thio-pangcu, why do you so fervently believe in me and entrust your life to me? Why are you willing to sacrifice to help me, willing to sacrifice your life to protect me? Why? I like straightforwardness, no hiding and beating around the bush!"
Thio Cin Kang swallowed his saliva to gather courage. "Perhaps hearing my words, Miss will become so angry and decide to kill me. If that's the case, I am ready to accept death at your hands. To be frank, Miss. The moment I met you, saw you and witnessed your demeanor; heard your voice, I immediately fell in love with you, Miss Souw. If there is a woman in this world that I want to take as my wife, you are that woman and there is no other woman!"
Hearing such an honest and brave confession, Souw Hian Li was stunned and taken aback, even though she had suspected that this man was in love with her. She asked herself and had to admit that this man was different from other men. So masculine, so brave, so honest. Her softness as a woman was touched in a way she had never felt before and she bowed her blushing face in embarrassment, like a young girl receiving a love confession from a young man!
Thio Cin Kang was also not a young man. He was forty years old and although he was not the type to ogle women, he could read the heart of the woman who stood before him with her head down and blushing.
"Li-moi!" He whispered.
Souw Hian Li was startled. That call felt so foreign to her, but so melodious and sweet. She lifted her face to look at him. Two pairs of eyes met, staring at each other for a long time, then Hian Li looked down again.
"Pang-cu, don't be so rash."
"Why, Li-moi? Don't you want straightforwardness? And I have already opened the door to my heart, revealing all the secrets of my heart to you. I am in love with you, Li-moi, and if you are willing, I would love to live with you, as husband and wife, to create a new life full of peace and tranquility. Will you, Li-moi?"
"Wait a moment, Thio-pangcu "
"Please don't call me pang-cu, Li-moi. It feels so foreign. Would you be willing to call me toako?"
"Alright, Thio-twako. But I must tell you that you don't need to be in a hurry. If we are indeed meant for each other, nothing can stand in our way. I live alone and you also live alone, so what is the obstacle? You love me and I... I admire and like you. However, we have just met and I still have a task that I must complete."
"What task is that, Li-moi? I will help you!" "The task of killing Prime Minister Jin Kui!"
Thio Cin Kang was shocked and stared wide-eyed at the woman. "Are you serious, Li-moi? Killing Prime Minister Jin Kui?"
"Yes! Why? Are you scared?"
"Not a hair on my head is scared to help and protect you, Li-moi. I'm just surprised because that task is certainly not easy and very difficult. Prime Minister Jin Kui, who is evil and cunning, is protected by experts with high skills. But first I want to know, why do you want to kill him?"
"Why? He sent his troops and his experts to wipe out our home. Death Valley at the Yang-ce River. Because of that many of my subordinates died and my home was plundered and burned. I must kill that bootlicker and traitor!"
"Almost all fighters have the same desire. However, how difficult it is. Nevertheless, I will help you, Li-moi. Even if I have to sacrifice my life for it, I am ready to assist you. But in order for our efforts not to fail like those of the other fighters, we must use strategy and arrange it carefully. Come, Li-moi. Come and stay at our place so we can discuss the strategic plan more thoroughly."
"Alright, twako. With your help, I hope to be able to take my revenge on that traitor!"
"There's one more thing I want to ask you, Li-moi. I will always be curious until I get your explanation."
"What is it? Ask, and I will answer." "About your weapon. If I'm not mistaken,
isn't that what's called Mestika Golok Naga, the palace's sword
that someone stole? How did it end up with you? I don't believe that you. "
"Why stop talking? Just say that you suspect me of being the thief of that heirloom sword, right? You're wrong, I'm not the thief of that heirloom sword. The thief was a henchman of Commander Wu Chu from the Kin Kingdom named Hak Bu Cu and I killed him. The sword was handed over to Commander Wu Chu and ..... and eventually fell into my hands." Of course, Ban-tok Sian-Li Souw Hian Li didn't want to talk about how she snatched the sword from Tan Tiong LI's hands, in a cunning way, by injuring the daughter of Sung Hiang Bwee then exchanging the girl's safety for the heirloom sword.
"That heirloom sword must be returned to the Emperor, Li-moi."
"Only after I achieve my goal of killing Prime Minister Jin Kui "
"True. I have found a good way, a suitable strategy to confront Jin Kui and kill him. That is with this sword. We request to meet Prime Minister Jin Kui. If we use the excuse to return the Mestika Golok Naga, I think he will agree to meet us."
"Great! That's a really good strategy, Thio-twako!" exclaimed Souw Hian Li excitedly.
"Let's discuss it at home!"
Glossary:
- Ban-tok Sian-li: A title or nickname used in the story, referring to a character named Souw Hian Li.
- Thio Cin Kang: The name of a major character in the story.
- Li-moi: An affectionate term used by Thio Cin Kang for Souw Hian Li.
- Mestika Golok Naga: The name of a prized weapon, possibly a sword or dagger, translated as "Jeweled Dragon Sword".
- Prime Minister Jin Kui: A high-ranking character, presumably an antagonist.