"If we wish to find that ancestral saber again, we must search in the northern territories under Cin's control."
"Omitohud, those words from to-yu are true. Let's send our disciples separately to search there. If we can't find the saber, the Emperor will surely treat us with suspicion."
What these two party leaders were discussing was indeed a fact. At that time, there existed a loyal general to the Sung Kingdom, General Gak Hui. If only the emperor had agreed to this general's intent of dealing with the Yucen clan with force, the Sung Kingdom would not have fallen. However, the Emperor was swayed by a minister named Jin Kui, a traitorous individual, hence the Emperor prohibited Gak Hui from confronting the Cin army and preferred to exhaust the kingdom's wealth to pay tribute to the Yucen Nation.
General Gak Hui was deeply frustrated. He proposed to the emperor to construct a large civilian army to retake the northern territories. However, Prime Minister Jin Kui persuaded the Emperor that if General Gak Hui's proposal was implemented, the Sung Kingdom would be utterly destroyed. Tragically, the Emperor trusted Prime Minister Jin Kui more, therefore forbidding General Gak Hui from launching an attack on the north. General Gak Hui, an extremely loyal commander, obeyed the emperor's order and kept his troops at the border, not advancing any further. Nevertheless, wherever General Gak Hui's troops were stationed, the area would be secure, and no Cin troops dared to disturb the common people.
Therefore, General Gak Hui's name was praised and revered by the people as a protector and defender of the common people.
Such was the state of the Sung Kingdom at that time. It appeared peaceful with no wars, but in reality, the kingdom was always conceding to the Cin Kingdom and sending tributes. Moreover, numerous violations were committed by the Cin troops at the border. This situation infuriated the martial artists and made them feel humiliated as their sovereignty was trampled upon by the Yucen Nation, which they regarded as a barbaric nation from the north.
Time moved swiftly, and ten years had elapsed since Tiong Li became a disciple of the old man, who he only knew as Pek Hong San-jin. He had grown into a teenager of fifteen years old with a body like a grown man. Tall and robust with a broad chest. His simple face was handsome and brave, and at such a young age, he had learned many skills.
Not only high-level martial arts but also reading, writing, and religious knowledge, which gave him a broad and deep perspective on life. One afternoon, as usual, after completing his work duties, Tiong Li practiced martial arts alone in the front yard. At first, he was practicing unarmed combat, his movements slow and steady, but each movement of his hands brought a wind that caused the leaves and flowers in the yard to sway. His movements became faster over time, to the point that his body became blurry, and only his shadow could be seen darting here and there. After practicing unarmed combat for a quarter of an hour, he stopped his movements. There was a little sweat on his forehead, but his breathing was normal, not panting. Then he picked up a long dry stick the length of a sword or saber and started practicing again, playing with the stick as if it was a saber. He was slashing here and there, parrying and stabbing.
His movements, like before, started slow and steady, and became faster over time, until his body disappeared surrounded by a green glow from the stick he was playing with. A quarter of an hour later, he stopped again.
"Well done, Tiong Li. I see you've made progress!" came a voice, and Tiong Li turned around, then knelt down in front of his master, who had just returned after a day's journey.
"All this is thanks to suhu's (master's) guidance to teecu (disciple)," Tiong Li said with a voice full of gratitude,
"No, it's due to your diligence and hard work, and also because you have excellent talent. Be grateful to God, Tiong Li. Know that humans are merely tools used by God to enact His authority. Therefore, the wise are God, the powerful are God. The wise human will always surrender to God's authority and always strive to be a good tool that can be used by God."
"But, suhu. Isn't all effort human effort? To learn something, doesn't a human have to use their mind?"
"Omitohud, don't you realize that what is called the mind is also a gift from God? We are born perfect, with all the complete tools, definitely meant for us to use them in the best way. It is an empty arrogance if someone boasts themselves as smart and powerful. Humans without the power of God can't do anything. They can't even control the growth of their own hair! Even the growth of their hair is controlled by the power of God. All of this is arranged by the power of God, therefore, it's only appropriate if we completely surrender ourselves to His authority. If God's authority already intends for us to die, at any time we can die without anything being able to prevent it."
Tiong Li bowed his head, and at that moment he felt as if all the hairs on his body were standing up. He felt deeply that his life, inside and out, was controlled by the power of God, and that he actually didn't have any power at all. This conviction strengthened his faith that everything is determined by God, and the duty of humans is only to try their best. If faced with danger, try to avoid it. If sick, try to get treatment until recovered. For life's necessities like food, clothing, and shelter, strive to get them by working.
That's the only duty of humans. Try your best. The result, however, is up to God's power that controls it.
"Suhu, please don't talk about death, because no matter what, teecu still wants to see teecu and suhu in a healthy and safe condition."
"Omitohud...., anyone who fears death has not been able to fully surrender to God's authority. Well, get up, Tiong Li, and sit here. I want to tell you about things that cause unease in my heart. Sit down."
They sat on a bench in the yard. After they sat down, Tiong Li asked, "Suhu left since morning, what news do you bring, suhu?"
"Very bad news, Tiong Li. Omitohud, is this a sign that the Sung Kingdom will disappear from the face of the earth? Know this, General Gak Hui, who was the people's ray of hope to free them from the threat of the Yucen Nation, was not only ordered to halt his movements but was also summoned to return to the royal city by the Emperor! However, if General Gak Hui's troops are withdrawn, the border defense will be significantly weakened, and the Cin troops will easily invade the Sung territory."
"But as a commander, surely General Gak Hui cannot refuse the Emperor's order."
"Yes, General Gak Hui is a commander who is loyal in every aspect, he will obey all the Emperor's orders, even willing to sacrifice his life for the country. But the Emperor's orders are strange indeed. General Gak Hui is greatly needed at the front lines, why is he being called back? And the rumors I heard are worrying that all this is the work of Prime Minister Jin Kui influencing the Emperor. Although it's no secret that Prime Minister Jin Kui is a cunning and suspicious person, there's a suspicion that he's collaborating with the Yucen Nation!"
"But if that's true, why does the Emperor trust him, suhu?"
"That's the point! The Emperor doesn't believe that Prime Minister Jin Kui is actually a corrupt minister. He trusts the treacherous minister more than a loyal great commander like General Gak Hui. That's why I said that perhaps all of this is a sign that the Sung Kingdom's time has come to be destroyed and disappear from the face of the earth."
"Suhu, why worry so much?"
"There are many signs, Tiong Li. And always remember, as a true man, it's forbidden to be a traitor. A man must show loyalty three times in his life. Loyalty to God, loyalty to the country, and loyalty to parents. If one of them is violated, he is not a true man. Remember all of this, Tiong Li."
"Teecu will always remember and abide by all suhu's advice."
Suddenly, a loud and boisterous laughter was heard.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha, if you're a true man, prepare to settle accounts with me, old geezer!"
The master and disciple looked around. Standing there were two people, one of them was the black giant they had seen ten years ago, who used the name Si Golok Naga, and the other was a small, short old man, and so thin that he looked like a skeleton wrapped in skin, and his face resembled a skull!.
"Omitohud....! You've come again, friend. What do you want now?" asked Pek Hong San-jin in his usual calm demeanor.
"Ha-ha-ha, what else do I want? This must be the kid you saved back then! I've come to kill both of you!"
"Omitohud, haven't you realized your misguidedness yet, Friend?"
Glossary
- Omitohud: An expression of surprise or exclamation, likely derived from the Buddhist chant "Amituofo".
- To-yu: A term of address likely referring to a respected elder or leader.
- Suhu: A term used by martial arts disciples to refer to their master.
- Teecu: A term used by martial arts disciples to refer to themselves when speaking to their master.
- Si Golok Naga: The name of a character in the story, translates directly to "Dragon Saber".
- Pek Hong San-jin: The name of a character in the story, possibly bearing specific cultural or story-based significance.
- Cin: Likely referring to a kingdom or territory within the story's world.
- Sung: Likely referring to a kingdom or territory within the story's world.
- Yucen: Likely referring to a clan or group within the story's world.
- Gak Hui: The name of a character in the story, referred to as a General.
- Jin Kui: The name of a character in the story, referred to as a Prime Minister.