"Lies! Find someone else if you want to tell tales."
"I am not lying, Toako. The valiant man's name is Bu Siong, and he hails from the Yang-Ku-Sian region. He is the younger brother of someone living in this city who used to work on the plantation of the wealthy landlord Cai in Hong-Hai-Kun. After recovering from an illness, he went looking for his older sibling and on his journey, he passed through King-Yan-San Mountain. There he encountered a savage tiger. He was attacked by the beast, but he fought back with his bare hands, raining down deadly blows and kicks that left the tiger lifeless at his feet. He used a slanted hand strike like this, and a side kick that shattered the tiger's bones,"
Ying Po Kui elaborated, moving his arms and legs as if he had witnessed the fight himself or even as if he had killed the tiger.
"And at this very moment, he's heading to this city with his kill, on his way to the District Chief's office." Ying continued his tale, looking proud of his news as people usually do when they bring important news.
"Ah, then we must see this!" Shi Men was intrigued and quickly invited Ying Po Kui to leave with him, heading towards the eastern city gate where the warrior, Bu Siong, would enter the city. On their way, they ran into Cia Si Ta.
"Ha, I bet you two are going to watch the tiger."
"Yes, come and watch with us." The trio hurried to the main road and found a good spot — the loft of a roadside tavern from where they could clearly see the road. They didn't have to wait long. Soon, they heard the sound of drums and the gong being beaten rhythmically, accompanying a group of people marching into the eastern city gate, watched by a crowd that filled the roadside. Two lines of hunters with bronze-tipped spears walked on the right and left sides of the road, escorting four men carrying the carcass of a massive tiger. Behind the four men carrying the tiger's corpse was the awaited person, besides the tiger itself, the mighty warrior Bu Siong who had killed the savage beast with his bare hands!
A young and strong man! He was tall and robust, a head taller than any average person. He had a broad face with a firm chin, his eyes were sharp and bright as stars, and his right hand held the hilt of a sword hanging at his waist. He hadn't used the sword when he fought the tiger, so the beast died with its skin intact, only its head bruised and its bones broken. His head was covered with a kerchief adorned with two silver flowers. His clothes, simple hunter's or warrior's attire, were stained with blood, and his coat was of red cloth. This valiant warrior was riding a tall white horse that walked slowly behind the four men carrying the tiger's carcass.
"Wow, he's so brave and strong!" Shi Men whispered to his friends, looking at him in awe. His friends too looked on in admiration.
"So this is the warrior Bu Siong from Yang-Ku-Sian!"
The procession entered the courtyard of the District Chief's office, and Bu Siong dismounted from his horse. He then strode towards the District Chief and the other local officials who were ready to greet him in the front hall. When Bu Siong paid his respects to the District Chief, the official looked at him in awe. A tiger so large and ferocious killed bare-handed, how powerful this warrior must be - he thought. He then welcomed him warmly, asked him to sit at the table facing him, and invited him to dine with other officials. He even congratulated and honored him with three cups of wine, then ordered the release of the promised fifty tails of silver to be given to Bu Siong. Bu Siong bowed respectfully then politely said,
"The success I had in killing this peace disrupter and killer wasn't solely due to my modest skills, but also thanks to your magnanimity and my good luck. I don't deserve this reward, and because my heart grieves seeing how many hunters have suffered because of this savage beast, I ask your permission to distribute this reward among the hunters, so your magnanimity will shine even brighter." The District Chief nodded in agreement.
"Please do as you wish, Bu-Taihiap." Bu Siong promptly divided the silver among the hunters who had accompanied him earlier, and of course, they were overjoyed. The District Chief admired Bu Siong's bravery and wanted to harness his important strength for the benefit of his district.
"Bu-Taihiap, we would very much like to offer you a position and appoint you as the Captain of this district's security force. Your main duty would be to lead the forces in eradicating the bandits along the Cin River. We hope you won't refuse, conforming to your heroic nature to relieve the people from oppression and threat." Bu Siong expressed his gratitude while kneeling before the official.
"I promise I will do my utmost to comply with your command." Of course, the official was very pleased, and Bu Siong was immediately appointed as the head of security and introduced to all the local officials present. Bu Siong received their congratulations. After the feast ended, Bu Siong excused himself to the District Chief to find his brother. The biological brother that Bu Siong was looking for was named Bu Toa. People wouldn't believe that these two men were blood brothers if they saw them.
If Bu Siong was a handsome and robust man, tall, and strongly built, Bu Toa, on the other hand, had a small body, and an unattractive face that made him look like a fool. Unlike Bu Siong who was strongly built, Bu Toa was frail and sickly. Because of his strong body, Bu Siong left his hometown at a young age to look for work. From a very young age, he loved to practice martial arts, so it was easy for him to find work as a security officer in cities. In contrast, Bu Toa lived as a farmer and married a village woman. When their daughter Ying was still a child, Bu Toa's wife passed away, leaving him a widower with his daughter, living in solitude.
At one time, a long dry season made life in the village unbearable. Bu Toa took his daughter and fled the village, finally settling in the city of Ceng-Ho-Sian. In this city, he sold pastries, carrying his wares around the city. Because of this, he was known to many people and was nicknamed 'Si Cebol' throughout the city. His high-pitched voice when offering his pastries often became the subject of children's taunts. Upon arriving in Ceng-Ho-Sian, Bu Toa found a boarding room in the small houses owned by the wealthy Thio. Because Bu Toa was good at adapting, always willing to help the landlord, Thio took a liking to him and even exempted him from rent. Instead, Bu Toa was tasked with taking care of Thio's houses. Thio-Wangwe was extremely wealthy, but he had no children. Moreover, his wife was very strict, never allowing him to have a concubine. This made Thio-Wangwe feel lonely and he often complained to his wife.
"What's the point of having wealth as abundant as mine? My life is empty and lonely, there's no freshness, no joy."
"Alright, alright, I'll send a go-between to find two young and beautiful slaves. They can serve and entertain you with their dance and songs from morning till night until you're bored!" Of course, old Thio was very happy and accepted this suggestion. A few days later, Mrs. Thio had bought two young and pretty slaves. Their names were Pek Yu Lian and Pang Kim Lian. And when these two girls were in the Thio family home, the house seemed to gain a new radiance, and the atmosphere became fresh and joyful. Often, their flute music and songs could be heard entertaining Thio-Wangwe and his wife.
Glossary
- Toako: It is an honorific term used in Indonesian community, equivalent of 'Boss' or 'Master'.
- Bu Siong: A character in the story who is a brave and strong warrior from Yang-Ku-Sian region.
- Yang-Ku-Sian: It is a fictional place used in the context of this novel.
- Hong-Hai-Kun: A region mentioned in this novel as the place where Bu Siong's brother used to work.
- King-Yan-San Mountain: A mountain mentioned in the novel where Bu Siong fought a tiger.
- Ying Po Kui: A character in the story who narrates Bu Siong's heroics.
- Shi Men: A character in the story who becomes interested in Bu Siong's exploits.
- Cia Si Ta: Another character in the story who is part of the group going to watch Bu Siong.
- Cin River: A river mentioned in the novel where bandits are known to lurk.
- Bu Toa: Bu Siong's biological brother.
- Si Cebol: A nickname for Bu Toa, which means 'shorty' in Indonesian
- Ceng-Ho-Sian: A city where Bu Toa and his daughter settle.
- Thio-Wangwe: A wealthy landlord in the city of Ceng-Ho-Sian.
- Pek Yu Lian and Pang Kim Lian: The names of two slaves bought by Mrs. Thio to entertain her husband.