For most people, the reason given by Tio ng Li is certainly unacceptable. A person who makes contributions should receive rewards, it is only natural and fitting, such is our common understanding. Precisely because of this opinion, we all fall into the trap of always expecting rewards for our actions. All our deeds are calculated for profit and loss, just like trading. What’s the meaning of help if it is given with the hope of receiving a reward? What is the value of a good deed if it is tainted with the expectation of a return?! The deed is no longer good, no longer help, but an excuse to gain something. If there will be no reward, the perpetrator might back down. A truly selfless act is one that is done without expecting anything in return, without expecting something as the fruit of that deed. Even expecting a reward from God for his "good" deeds is selfish and therefore tarnishes the deed itself. Good deeds come from the heart, driven by compassion for the suffering of others, curiosity about unfair treatment, and so on. Not by selfishness for personal pleasure that will reap the fruit of his deeds. This reward instead gives birth to hypocrites on the face of the earth. "Good" people who are actually just pursuing benefits for themselves.
Tiong Li and Siang Hwi left the palace with a bag of gold given by the Emperor. Hia ng Bwee escorted them to the front door where Hiang Bwee hugged Siang Hwi and whispered, "Enc! Hwi, take good care of Tan-taihiap".
Siang Hwi was deeply moved, she knew how much the princess truly loved Tio ng Li! But she just nodded and smiled. Of course, Tiong Li, with his sharp hearing, could hear this whisper, but he pretended not to hear and bowed to the girl whom he called the princess when in front of the Emperor.
"Sung-siocia (Miss Sung), goodbye." he bowed respectfully.
"Tan-taihiap, farewell and goodbye. Hopefully, we can meet again and Enci Siang Hwi, take care and take good care of yourselves." said the princess who also felt sad to be left by two people who had been so kind to her. She wished she could leave her princess duties to join them in their free-world adventures! .
0o—dw—o0
Tiong Li's advice to the Emperor not to oppose the fighters made the Emperor think and he immediately called one of his sons. This son is Prince Kian Cu, one who admires the loyalty of Gak Hui.
"Go contact the fighters and investigate whether it is true that these fighters do not have the desire to rebel, but only hate the Kin people." said the emperor.
Prince Kian Cu, a twenty-five-year-old Prince from a concubine and a long-time admirer of the fighters who are followers of Gak Hui. Hearing his father's command, Prince Kian Cu was glad and he immediately left the palace and contacted the fighters. With ease, he was able to connect with the leader of the fighters, even the fighters could bring him to meet Gak Li u. that is, the famous son of the late warlord Gak Hui.
Gak Liu received the prince well and held a meeting with other fighter leaders. "Actually, I came to connect with you on the command of my father the Emperor," the prince said. "Until now he thought that you were rebels who wanted to seize the Emperor's position. But according to a report from a young swordsman named Tan Tiong Li, you are patriots, fighters who only hate the Kin occupiers and do not at all oppose the Sung government. Is this true?"
Gak Liu paid his respects to the prince and spoke in a loud voice. "Actually, His Majesty should have known this long ago. My late father, a true patriot who was loyal to His Majesty, was even accused of being a rebel and was executed! In fact, we have no intention of rebelling, but instead want to restore the glory of the Sung kingdom and reclaim the northern territories controlled by the Kin people. But if we are considered rebels and attacked, of course, we will retaliate."
"So, there has been nothing but misunderstanding, and I will report to the Emperor." said Prince Kian Cu and after the meeting, he donated a large sum of money for the struggle, and hoped that all the strength of the fighters would unite.
The efforts of Prince Kian Cu to contact the fighters on behalf of the Emperor were known to Ji n Kui through the spies he had spread among the palace's domestic servants. He was very worried. If the Emperor has put trust in the fighters, this is very dangerous. It means the relationship between Sung and Kin can become strained, and he himself will certainly incur the wrath of the King of Kin. Also, maybe the Emperor will be influenced and even oppose him, who from the beginning has opposed the fighters. He quickly summoned Skull Face Tang Boa Lu, Ciang Sun Hok, Ma Kiu It, Kui To Cinjin and two new disciples who were just summoned to help them, namely Ouw Yang Kian and Ouw Yang Sian. They then held a meeting and finally Prime Minister Jin Kui said angrily.
"This cannot be left alone! The Emperor, through Prince Kian Cu, had a meeting with the rebels! This is very dangerous and I know what path should be taken to thwart it!"
"What path does taijin mean? Please let us know so that we can carry it out immediately." said Kui To Cinjin as he stroked his long thin beard.
"The Prince must be murdered and we will frame the rebels as his killers. In this way, besides failing the meeting, the Emperor will also be angry and hurt by the rebels!"
The followers of Prime Minister Jin Kui nodded in agreement and considered the plan to be excellent.
"But how can the murder be carried out without arousing suspicion?" Kui To Cin jin asked again. "It must be carried out now. If the prince returns from the rebel's place, that's a great opportunity. That's why I command Ouw Yang Kian and Ouw Yang Sian, assisted by Tang Boa Lu, to carry out the murder."
The three of them expressed their willingness and immediately departed after knowing the path the prince took to meet the rebels.
For weak people who become slaves to their desires like Jin Kui. indeed always apply the principle that the most important thing is the goal, and the goal justifies all means. We ourselves often forget about this. We glorify goals with lofty names, which we pursue. However, in this goal pursuit lies the danger, that is in its way. The way or path to pursue this goal is sometimes very dangerous. We are intoxicated by the allure of the goal so that to achieve it, we forget that the way we use is not right. In fact, it is the way, not the goal, that determines the good or bad of an action. If the way used is bad, how could it achieve a good goal? The allure of the goal indeed tends to make us forget the way we use. For example, in order to provide a luxurious life for children and wives, we commit corruption or steal. In order for the goal of becoming a scholar, we bribe or buy diplomas. The goal is certainly pleasing and that pleasure drives the desire to achieve it. All desires are natural, but if we are enslaved by them, we are doomed. The desire to profit is natural, but if we are enslaved, we can cheat or steal. Sexual desire is natural, but if we are enslaved, we can prostitute or rape and so on. Thus, the pursuit of positions, wealth, names, and any pursuit that becomes a goal can lead us astray. No matter how good and noble the goal we want to achieve, it can give birth to a deviant pursuit method.
The same is with Jin Kui. In order to achieve all his goals, to fulfill his aims, he justifies all means. The deceitful way he considers clever and right. The cruel way he considers brave! .
After finishing the meeting and discussion with Gak Liu and other fighters, the prince then left on horseback escorted by five members of the fighters. The six horsemen galloped towards Hang-couw. But when they were descending a slope and arrived in a quiet area, three people appeared blocking their path. The prince held his horse, as did his five guards. And at the moment they held their horses, Tang Boa Lu Skull Face, Toat- beng-jia uw (Life-Reaping Claw) Ouw Yang Kian and Hek-bin-kui (Black Face Demon) Ouw Yang Sian attacked!! The Skull Face himself attacked Prince Kian Cu without warning. The prince jumped down from his horse, but how could he evade the attack of Skull Face that was so skillful? He could only dodge twice, but the third hit his head. Prince Kian Cu didn't even have time to scream, he was thrown with a cracked skull and died instantly. His five guards couldn't protect him because they were also attacked by the two very skillful brothers. The fighters who escorted were just ordinary martial artists, how could they compete with the Ouw Yang brothers. In just a dozen moves, they all fell and died!
On that day, the Emperor received a report that Prince Kian Cu had been killed by five rebels who were also killed by two brother disciples of Kui To Cin-jin.
The Emperor was shocked and saddened to hear this and he immediately summoned the two Ouw Yang brothers to tell what had happened.
"We were on a trip out of the city when from a distance we saw the prince's horse surrounded by five people and they were attacking Prince Kian Cu. We immediately ran up but we were late and saw the prince had fallen and had been hit by a ruyung. Seeing this, we then went berserk, attacked those five people and finally we were able to kill them. That's all we know, Your Majesty," said Ouw Yang Kian.
Tio ng Li: Name of a character in the story. -
Tan-taihiap: Honorific or title used in the story, its meaning may vary based on context. -
Sung-siocia: Honorific or title, literally translates to 'Miss Sung'. -
Gak Hui: Name of a character in the story. -
Kian Cu: Name of a character, the prince, in the story. -
Gak Li u: Name of a character in the story. -
Ji n Kui: Name of a character, the Prime Minister, in the story. -
Tang Boa Lu: Name of a character in the story, also known as Skull Face. -
Ciang Sun Hok: Name of a character in the story. -
Ma Kiu It: Name of a character in the story. -
Kui To Cinjin: Name of a character in the story. -
Ouw Yang Kian: Name of a character in the story. -
Ouw Yang Sian: Name of a character in the story. -
Toat- beng-jia uw: Martial arts move used in the story, also known as Life-Reaping Claw. -
Hek-bin-kui: Martial arts move used in the story, also known as Black Face Demon. -
Ruyung: A weapon mentioned in the story. -
Sung: Name of a kingdom in the story. -
Kin: Name of a kingdom in the story. -
Hang-couw: Name of a place in the story.