....... " she said shyly.
"No worries, Hwi-moi. Now tell me, what happened to you and how did you get captured by Prime Minister Ji n Kui's men?"
"Our place... was attacked earlier, koko. All the followers have been... killed...." She can't bear to recount how all the followers were humiliated and violated before being killed.
"Ah, and where's your subo?"
"Subo managed to escape, but I was captured. Our place was looted and burned down. I... ah,
I don't know what would've happened to me if it weren't for you who saved me, koko. I thank you."
"Hush, no need to talk about gratitude. It's only right that we help each other. Even before, if it wasn't you who saved me, I would've been long dead at the hands of your subo. Now, what will you do, Hwi-moi? What are you going to do?"
Siang Hwi sighed heavily and looked at the young man with a pitiful gaze. "I don't know, koko. I have no one left. The place has been burned down, subo is also missing. I don't know where to go and what to do," she said, confused.
"If you want to search for your subo, let me accompany and help you find him."
"Where should we search for him?
He ran away and we both are surely now being hunted by the government. Wherever we go, we will certainly be pursued and if discovered, we will be arrested. Ah koko, I never imagined my fate would turn out like this."
"Don't fret, moi-moi. How about you return to your family? I will escort you there."
The girl closed her eyes and a few tears streamed down, quickly erased by her.
"Li koko, I no longer have a family, I don't have parents. I live alone in this world, I used to only have subo, but now ... " The girl looked very sad.
Tiong Li held the girl's arms. "Be brave, Hwi-moi, know that I too am an orphan who doesn't have anyone else, we are both alone but... don't we have each other now? I will help you in all matters, and I will protect you, even if it means risking my life, Hwi-moi."
"Li-koko ..... you are so kind. You've always been kind to me. Why are you so good to me, koko? Even subo who used to be kind to me left me when I was captured. But why are you so good to me?"
"Why? From the first time we met, I was already very attracted to you, Hwi-moi, attracted by your kindness when you stopped your subo from killing me. I really like you and I
.... ah, I love you, Hwi-moi. Don't you feel it?"
All of a sudden, Siang Hwi lowered her face which turned very red. "I.. I feel it..koko."
"And how about your feelings, Hwi-moi?
How do you feel about me?"
For a long time, Siang Hwi couldn't answer. How can a girl reveal her heart's secrets just like that? She felt shy and very embarrassed.
"Koko, I.... I just yield to you. I....
If you don't mind, I will follow you wherever you go. I will help you as best as I can and I... I will
be loyal to you."
Tiong Li was very happy and proud. "But what if we meet your subo again? Will you leave me and follow your subo?"
"No! Subo left me when I was captured. I don't want to follow subo anymore. I want to follow you, koko!"
"Just follow? As what?"
"Up to you, I just obey. As your disciple, or as your servant, I will not refuse."
Tiong Li was deeply moved and suddenly embraced the girl again, kissed her delicate forehead, and whispered,
"What if you follow me as...
my fiancee, as my lover, as my future wife? I love you, Hwi-moi."
With shyness, Siang Hwi hid her face on the young man's chest. "I've said I yield and merely obey all your wishes, koko."
"But, do you love me?" Tiong Li stroked the head resting against his chest.
Siang Hwi didn't answer, but Tiong Li felt with his chest how the head nodded! And that was enough for him. His heart felt so big and happy. He picked her up, then tossed her in the air, caught and threw her again.
Siang Hwi chuckled and screamed lightly, but Tiong Li kept tossing her up and catching her like a ball. Siang Hwi then exerted her body to make it heavy. But Tiong Li could catch her and when he tossed her again, the girl used her ginkang to leap and somersault so that when she descended her head was first. She extended both hands to ward off her lover's catch while chuckling. Tiong Li received her and embraced her, cradling her like a little child and kissing both her cheeks.
"Ah, you're naughty, Li-ko!" Siang Hwi said, but she wrapped her arms around the young man's neck.
Thus, the two young people played and showed affection to each other with hearts full of love.
0o-dw-o0
After all the turmoil of love subsided. Siang Hwi asked, "Where are we going now, koko?"
Tiong Li then told about the disappearance of Princess Sung Hiang Bwee.
"The princess, according to the information I got from Prime Minister Jin Kui's conversation, has been taken to the north and handed over to Commander Wu Chu, the great commander of the Kin Nation. However, the Prime Minister framed me so that the Emperor issued an arrest for me on charges of kidnapping the princess."
"Oh, how evil the Prime Minister is!" said Siang Hwi.
"Indeed, wicked and very cunning, Hwi-moi. Therefore, I have to follow north to find the princess and return her to the Emperor. Only then will my name be cleared and the Prime Minister Jin Kui's true face will be exposed. And you will accompany me in searching for the princess."
"To the Kin territory?" "Yes, to the north."
"Alright, koko, wherever you go, I'll follow."
So, this pair of lovers continued their journey to the north, crossing the border or no man's land, and entering the territory of the Kin Kingdom.
0o-dw-o0
One morning Tiong Li and Siang Hwi entered the city of Lok-yang. This city became the second capital after Kai Feng which was still made a royal city by the Kin Nation. The Kin Nation ruled with an iron fist so that the Han people felt oppressed but they did not dare to do anything.
The Kin Nation's army was a strong and cruel force, especially to the common Han people. However, the Kin Kingdom allowed people to trade as usual so that the cities were quite crowded with commerce. What burdened the people was the tax collected arbitrarily and randomly. The officials had authority so those who could give large bribes were the ones who escaped from the burden of taxes.
Among the Han people who were smart were many who served the Kin Kingdom and those who were truly loyal received rewards and held high ranks. But there were also many smart people who even hid themselves, did not want to help the Kin government even though they also did not rebel, although secretly they still hoped for the return of the Sung Kingdom government.
Tiong Li and Siang Hwi entered the city of Lok-yang because they heard that Great Commander Wu Chu was stationed in Lok-yang even though his great fortress was outside Lok-yang city. Here they were not known so they felt safe to carry out investigations. In the Sung Kingdom, Tiong Li was already a government fugitive whose picture was posted everywhere so of course he could not travel safely.
After getting two rooms in an inn, Tiong Li invited his lover to go out and they entered a restaurant not far from Commander Wu Chu's residence. They had been walking around the building and saw how the building was heavily guarded by soldiers.
While ordering food, they waited for the food to arrive while whispering. "Could the princess be in that building?" Siang Hwi whispered. "And what will you do next, koko?"
Glossary
- Hwi-moi: An affectionate term used by a male character to address a younger female character. It is not a formal title but more of a nickname.
- Koko: This is an Indonesian term, borrowed from Chinese Hokkien dialect, which is used to address one's older brother or a young male person. The female equivalent is "cece".
- Subo: A term in the story used to refer to a higher-ranking or master-like figure in the context of a martial arts sect or similar group.
- Siang Hwi: A character's name in the story. It does not have a specific meaning as a term.
- Ginkang: A Chinese martial arts term referring to a form of qinggong, the ability of lightness and agility, often depicted in wuxia novels as the ability to move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speed, or perform gravity-defying moves such as gliding on water surfaces, scaling high walls and mounting trees.
- Sung Hiang Bwee: A character's name in the story. It does not have a specific meaning as a term.
- Prime Minister Jin Kui: A character's name in the story. It does not have a specific meaning as a term.
- Commander Wu Chu: A character's name in the story. It does not have a specific meaning as a term.
- Kin Nation: A fictional country in the novel.
- Lok-yang: A fictional city in the novel.
- Kai Feng: A fictional city in the novel.
- Li-koko: Li is the character's name and koko is an affectionate term for an older brother or a young male person.