"I apologize, Gak-twako. I wholeheartedly agree with the struggle of the people against the Kin Dynasty from the North and the efforts to expel them from their homeland. However, I am loyal to the Sung Dynasty and therefore I am reluctant to oppose the Emperor whom I must defend. I totally agree with the policy and actions of the late General Gak, your own father."
"Aaahh, that's a weakness! It was because of his stern heart in defending this weakness that he was poisoned and met with such a tragic death. No, Tan-te, that attitude is wrong. Our main enemy is indeed the Kin Nation that we must expel from our homeland, however, there are many corrupt officials and oppressors of the people, officials who are loyal to the emperor by birth but basically only seek their own benefits, such officials weaken the kingdom and need to be eradicated. The kingdom needs to be cleansed of such officials!"
"But that itself is rebellion because they are government officials. Except for personal matters, it won't involve the government. If it becomes an open enmity with their troops, it is rebellion. No wonder you are considered rebels."
Gak Liu laughed. "Ha-ha-ha, you are still naive in terms of struggle, Tan-te. You would understand what I mean by eradicating corrupt and evil officials, only when you experience it yourself, especially if you clash with Prime Minister Jin Kui."
"I apologize, Gak-twako. Although I sympathize with the fighters, I don't want to get involved yet. I just want to walk as a warrior who defends truth and justice, protects the oppressed, and opposes those who use violence to impose their will."
"Alright, Tan-te. I'm sure you will eventually join the fighters."
They then parted ways and Tiong Li watched the brave man leave with his men thoughtfully. He had heard a lot from his teachers about General Gak Hui, and he saw how Gak Liu also possessed an astonishing valor. If fighters like Gak Liu hold such a stance, it seems the Kin Nation could be expelled from their homeland.
Unfortunately, the Emperor is indeed weak with the existence of many officials like Jin Kui who influence him.
0oo-dw-oo0
Si Muka Tengkorak (Skull Face) fled back to the residence of Prime Minister Jin Kui, carrying severe injuries and bringing bad news. He had managed to spy when Jin Kiat was killed by Gak Liu, and he hurried back to inform Jin Kui.
The pair of slit eyes, which usually moved quickly with shrewdness, were now wide open, his face alternating between pale and red as he heard the report of his son's death. "What ....... ? Gak Liu killed my son, Jin Kiat?
Damn......! This is disastrous! Ahhhhh ... "
Almost driven mad by rage and sorrow, Jin Kui paced back and forth in the room, sometimes clenching his fist, sometimes crying like a madman. He immediately gathered all his trusted men for a meeting.
Ciang Sun Hok, the trusted expert, Kui To Cin-jin, Jin Kiat's teacher, Ma Kiu It, the commander of Jin Kui's guards, and Tang Boa Lu, Si Muka Tengkorak, attended, bowing their heads as they knew their master was angry and mourning.
"Damn....! They killed my son! What shall we do now?" Jin Kui shouted repeatedly until finally Kui To Cin-jin dared to speak.
"Tai-jin, as it's clear that the killer is Gak Liu, we should mobilize our troops to search and arrest the rebel."
"But all this is because of that concubine's daughter! If Jin Kiat hadn't chased after that young man named Tan Tiong Li, he wouldn't have died at the hands of Gak Liu. That concubine's daughter must still be captured, and especially Tan Tiong Li must be killed!"
Kui To Cin-jin said,
"I apologize, Tai-jin. Dealing with Tan Tiong Li is not easy. I have personally experienced the greatness of his martial arts skills. He's a supernatural youth. Therefore, if Tai-jin agrees, I will call several high-ranking friends from the north to jointly confront him." "Good, you can go now to call them!" said Jin Kui, who was extremely angry and eager to avenge the cause of his son's death.
After discussing, he then made his decision. First, Princess Sung Hiang Bwee must still be captured and handed over to Commander Wu Chen of the Kin Dynasty. Second, spread rumors that the rebels led by Gak Liu are the ones who kidnapped the princess. Third, deploy troops to cleanse the rebels. Fourth, search for Tan Tiong Li and Gak Liu until they can be killed. And fifth, it is now known from the investigators that the two women who helped the rebels are Ban-tok Sian-li and her student from Death Valley and must be attacked.
And for the execution of all this, Kui To Cin-jin will call his two disciples from the north. These two disciples are hermits from Kui-san and possess martial arts skills no less than Kui To Cin-jin himself.
They are brothers, the elder is fifty-seven years old and named Ouw Yang Kian, nicknamed Toat-beng-jiauw (Death Claw), and the younger Ouw Yang Sian, fifty years old, nicknamed Hek-bin-kwi (Black Face Demon).
As disciples of Kui To Cin-jin, their skills are not as high as Kui To Cin-jin's, but when they work together, Kui To Cin-jin himself wouldn't be able to withstand them. It was a quiet night. Again at the palace, a shadow darted quickly and suddenly it was on the roof of Sung Hiang Bwee's chamber. Ever since the kidnapping of this concubine's daughter happened, the Emperor ordered the guards to take turns guarding in front of her chamber every night.
Thus, at that moment, four guards were seen standing in front of the princess's chamber. But the shadow wearing a mask did not feel intimidated; instead, it descended in front of them. Before the four of them could shout, just as they moved their weapons, they all fell to the ground, stunned by the incredible speed of the attacks.
Then the masked figure broke down the door. The two maids accompanying Hiang Bwee were startled and screamed, but before their voices could ring out loudly, they too fell unconscious.
Only the princess was left, staring wide-eyed, forgetting to scream out of shock and fear. The extremely skilled masked person quickly grabbed her, stunned her, and carried her away after stuffing her into a silk bag. Just like what Ciang Sun Hok did before, now he too escaped through the secret passage, reaching outside the palace without anyone else's knowledge.
Now, unlike the previous kidnapper, a carriage was waiting outside the palace, which was boarded by Prime Minister Jin Kui himself! The masked figure then brought the princess in the black silk bag inside. After signaling, he disappeared. This exceptionally skillful kidnapper was none other than Si Muka Tengkorak (Skull Face) himself. The carriage was then driven by the coachman towards Minister Jin Kui's residence.
If anyone were to see the carriage, surely no one would dare to question or investigate because who would dare to confront Prime Minister Jin Kui? The carriage entered the courtyard of the residence right to the back, towards the palace, and here, unseen by anyone else, the princess was taken down and placed in a room.
Hiang Bwee was removed from the black sack and laid down on a bed while still stunned, then her hands and feet were tied with white cloth so that even if the stun wore off, she wouldn't be able to move.
Hiang Bwee just watched the two masked men who took her out of the black sack and tied her hands and feet. When she was released from the stun, she struggled but her effort was in vain because her hands and feet were tightly tied with cloth so she didn't feel pain, only incapable of moving. She opened her mouth wanting to shout for help, but a masked man entered the room and said,
"Miss, you better not make a sound if you don't want me to stun you again so you can't move."
Hiang Bwee certainly wouldn't feel good if she was stunned, so she nodded. "If you promise to stay quiet and obey, we will not disturb you and will not blindfold you again."
"I will obey. Untie my hands and feet," said the princess.
The masked man was none other than Tang Boa Lu, Si Muka Tengkorak. He was confident that this girl couldn't do anything. Even if she screamed, no one outside the mansion would hear her.
So, in accordance with Prime Minister Jin Kui's order— that the lady to be presented to Commander Wu Chu shouldn't suffer, he untied her hands and feet. Hiang Bwee then sat up, rubbing her hands and feet from the former bindings. She looked around. The room was large and beautiful, not an ordinary person's room. Surely a wealthy person's room, she thought. She stood up and wanted to approach the door. But Si Muka Tengkorak said,
"It's better if you don't leave this room. This room is heavily guarded and you won't be able to escape."
Glossary
- Gak-twako: An honorific used in the dialogue, referring to a respected person.
- Kerajaan Kin: The Kin Dynasty, a historical dynasty in the story's context.
- Kerajaan Sung: The Sung Dynasty, another historical dynasty in the story's context.
- Tan-te: A character's name in the story.
- Kaisar: Emperor, the ruler of the dynasty.
- Bangsa Kin: Kin Nation, referring to the people of the Kin Dynasty.
- Tiong Li: A character's name in the story.
- Jin Kui: A character's name in the story.
- Si Muka Tengkorak: Skull Face, a character's name in the story.
- Toat-beng-jiauw (Death Claw): A nickname for a character in the story, indicating their lethal combat skills.
- Hek-bin-kwi (Black Face Demon): A nickname for a character in the story.
- Si Muka Tengkorak (Skull Face): A character's name in the story, indicating his fearsome appearance.