The peak of Mount Thai-san that towered high in the sky was covered in thick white clouds that swirled around the peak. Almost always Thai-san's peak is covered with clouds, except in summer, once there are times when Thai-san's tapering peak can be seen from below. This situation gave rise to a fairy tale among residents around the foot and slopes of the mountain, that Thai-san's peak is a stairway to heaven! And that only gods and demigods can come to the top of Thai-san.
Tales or beliefs about these two matters are not too exaggerated when it is remembered that the inhabitants of the mountains have a very strong belief in the gods who rule the entire surface of the earth. One must also remember the peak state itself. Too high, too difficult to climb to the top, too cold for ordinary people to be able to climb to the top. Too much danger. Wild beasts, very slippery roads, steep ravines, areas that emit gas, and cold that freezes the blood in the body.
It's not possible for ordinary people, but it's possible for extraordinary people, that is, people who have high intelligence and have a trained body, who are strong against all pressures, also strong enough to overcome all obstacles. After all, the peak of Thai-san is still rarely visited by intelligent people, because besides the trip is very dangerous, also without very important needs, what are you looking for in that lonely place?
It was a very bright morning. The white clouds that clustered around the summit glistened like polished silver, the sun broke through the thicket of damp mist, melted all the frost and adorned the tips of the leaves with sparkling dew pearls like the earrings on a virgin's ear. The birds were chirping to welcome that very beautiful day, and everything on the surface of the earth seemed to rejoice. What is it that causes this happy and beautiful atmosphere?
No wonder. Spring came, that morning was the beginning of a new year. What a perfect season to start things off with completely new beginnings! Discard the old and the bad, start with the new and the beautiful. At least, that's the hope and reflection of every human being in every new year.
Since the morning the residents around the foot and slopes of the mountain have been busy partying, having fun celebrating New Year's Day. Stored clothes are taken out of the wardrobe, 'once a year' adorns the body, the young respect the old, the young apologize, the old forgive. Forgive each other, laugh happily, lose envy, hate disappear. What a beautiful world, what a joy to live.
A group of people moved quickly up the peak of Thai-san, their movements were very fast, their footsteps were very light. If only the residents were not having fun and had witnessed the movements of five people who were like a group of great apes jumping to and fro, sneaking between large rocks and trees climbing to the top, their belief would have become even thicker that this was a group of monkeys. a god or demigod who climbed that peak for many years there!
The group were tosu from Kun-lun-pai, including the second and third level figures in Kun-lun-pai, so it's not surprising if the five of them were so smart to climb the peak of Thai-san. Suddenly the leader of the group, Ang Kun Tojin raised his hand to signal and immediately the five people stopped, motionless like statues of gods decorating the mountain. They had all heard that ethereal voice.
The sound of singing is smooth like a whisper of the wind, mixed and slipped between the rustling of the wind playing with the leaves and the singing of the tributary at the bottom of the ravine. But his words clearly caught those trained ears.
Everything that befalls one's self is the result of one's own thoughts.
The dirty mind that drives speech and action is always accompanied by pain and suffering like the wheels of a cart follow the tracks of the oxen that are towing it.
Clean thoughts that encourage speech and action are always followed by contentment and happiness like a shadow that never departs from them.
Ang Tojin waved and the five tosu continued on their way. On those old faces a new spirit emerged, hope and joy emerged.
“Twa-suheng (Eldest Martial Brother), is that his voice…?” asked the youngest tosu, not yet fifty years old, a mole on the tip of his nose.
“...ssssttttt...!” Ang Kun Tojin told the youngest martial sister to be quiet.
They continued climbing and no one dared to ask any more questions. While using ginkang (the science of lightening the body) which is unique to Kun-lun-pai, namely the science of sprinting Teng-peng-touw-sui (Step on Grass Like Water). Their footsteps while running were short but quick and their jingling was so great that it seemed as if the grass their feet had stepped on had not had time to fall because of how fast their feet were moving! Meanwhile the sound of singing continued, soft and gentle piercing the ears of children.
He tortured me, he beat me, he beat me, he robbed me!
Such thoughts give rise to endless hatred.
Indeed this thought means the eradication of hatred,
because hate will not be erased by hate anyway,
but destroyed by love!
Ang Kun Tojin frowned. He is a tosu (Priest of the Religion of To) who in his knowledge of Religion of To, as well as being the second in command of Kun-lun-pai and a person who is diligent in studying religious philosophy, he knows the words in the chant. That is the lesson of Buddhism, is the first verses of the teachings in the Dhammapada. He had heard that 'he' was a person who adhered to the To Religion, why was he singing Buddhist verses now? Wasn't he the one singing it? A hwesio (Buddhist priest) at the top? Hopefully that's the case because for Ang Kun Tojin, it would be much better and what hope would it be if he was a To-religious person.
Midway through the peak they stopped again. In awe they looked down. White clouds billowed like a sea of milk beneath their feet. Other mountain peaks stick out like spiky islands or like small mountains. It is unbelievably beautiful, makes them feel as if they are already in heaven, where the gods and spirits live, not where humans live, giving rise to the belief that they are getting closer to God. Indeed, who can feel calm and serene, will always feel close to God!
The journey continues to climb the peak. It wasn't as hard as before, even the earth they stepped on was covered in fresh green grass as fine as velvet. However, when they arrived at the top which was surrounded by white stones lined up like towers, on the smooth flat ground they found that two groups of people had been there ahead of them!
“Ha-ha-ha, you are late, friends of Kun-lun-pai! Who's late won't get it, isn't that what the saying goes, Ang Kun Toyu?" said a short fat man in his sixties, dressed as a simple peasant with a broad hat on his head. Behind the fat man stood six other peasants, all past fifty in age, their demeanor as simple as their clothes, but a look of gallantry in their eyes.
"Siancai... siancai...," Ang Kun Tojin uttered a puja-puja while clasping his hands together in front of his chest in salute, followed by his four younger brothers and sisters. "Unexpectedly, Kok Bin Cu's best friend from Hoa-san-pai is here. Happy Spring, Sicu (Strong Person).”
“Ha-ha-ha, congratulations... congratulations, Toyu. May you live long, be full of happiness and be more fertile, prosperous and strong." The fatty, whose name was Kok Bin Cu and who was Hoa-san-pai's head disciple, saluted in return, followed by his six younger siblings.
"Also the pinto (my) brothers congratulate Leng Lo Suhu and the temperature of Bu-tong-pai," said Ang Kun Tojin while saluting the second group on the left.
This troupe consisted of four shaven-headed hwesio men who were reserved and cold. They were led by an old hwesio, about seventy years old, tall and well built and still looking strong, his robes were yellow, a sign that he was a hwesio who had reached a high level. It was true that Leng Lo Hwesio was the head disciple and Bu-tong-pai's second-in-command. In addition to his martial arts knowledge, he also has very deep knowledge of Buddhism.
“Omitohud...,” Leng Lo Hwesio quickly returned the salute of the Kun-lun-pai group, followed by three of his younger siblings. "The Toyu brothers of Kun-lun-pai are very gracious, may the Buddha's blessings be bestowed..."
The short, plump head disciple Hoa-san-pai was an old man who was cheerful in manner, liked to joke around and he looked at the world from a happy angle. It was different from the Kun-lun and Buttong groups, who were serious and quiet so that the situation there became stiff and cold. Maybe this is because these two groups have become priests so they also have to adjust their attitude as befits priests, namely pious and holy! Hoa-san-pai's students are followers of the To religion as well, but they are not tosu, not priests of this religion, but ordinary followers and their daily lives are as farmers.
Seeing the stiff and cold state, Kok Bin Cu laughed loudly and said. “Wow, three groups of representatives of the largest martial arts party in the world have accidentally gathered here. Presumably with the same intention, namely wanting to meet and asking for guidance from Siansu (Master of Magic), isn't that what Ang Kun Toyu and Leng Lo Suhu did?"
"The pinceng (my) brothers really want to meet Mrs. Kek Siansu, the noble one, and ask for mercy," answered the head disciple Bu-tong-pai in a low voice, as a hwesio is not shy about begging.
"Because he is a priest To, it is appropriate if we come to ask for an explanation," said Ang Kun Tojin arrogantly.
"It's not certain that he's a tosu, just now he was limping when he heard him sing the verses of the Dhammapada book, doesn't that prove that Mrs. Kek Siansu is a Buddhist priest in our group?" objected Leng Lo Hwesio in a slow, deep voice.
Hearing this, the Kun-lun-pai students were secretly shocked, amazed and also worried. The singing was heard by those on the slopes, still very far from here, but apparently those on the top also heard it. Unbelieveable! The use of the khikang miraculous energy that is channeled into the singing voice has truly reached a perfect level. They were worried because if Mrs. Kek Siansu really was a Buddhist, then of course there was little hope for them to compete with the hwesio.
“Ha-ha-ha, ji-wi Locianpwe (Two Old Warriors) please don't get me wrong and attract Siansu to their respective factions. Even though I myself, like all my friends, have never met Mrs. Kek Siansu face to face in my life, but I have heard a lot about this magical old man. He acknowledges all religions, as is the nature of the gods who protect all human beings without favoritism. Of course he is a very fair. And considering that we came first, the first in this place, we should be the first to receive attention. Who's fast he got, right?"
Ang Kun Tojin stepped forward and argued, “Sicu and Hoa-san's brothers are not people who seek inner perfection, but physically, living as happy farmers. Hoa-san-pai martial art is also famous under heaven. Why do you ask Siansu for directions? Certainly not for spiritual matters. However, if you want to ask for guidance on martial arts, what is it for? Farmers' work does not require too much martial arts."
"Toyu's words are true," continued Leng Lo Hwesio. “For priests like us and the Kun-lun tosu, of course they really need guidance on kebatinan from Siansu. However, the Sicu (Stylish People) of Hoa-san are unlikely to ask for spiritual guidance. If they want to ask for guidance on martial arts, pinceng (I) think Siansu will also give instructions if he sees that Hoa-san-pai's martial arts skills are still very low.”
Even though these words sounded defensive, they contained satire that looked down on Hoa-san-pai's level of Silat. It was true that this hwesio, the head disciple of Bu-tong-pai, was tough and rigid in character, and was also not used to hiding what he was thinking.
“Leng Lo Temper really looks down on us from Hoa-san-pai!” suddenly the fifth person from Hoa-san-pai shouted while leaping forward. He was Kok Ceng Cu, a tall, well-built man with a handsome face with a pair of sharp, shining eyes, about thirty years old.
“Absolutely not looking down on it,” argued Leng Lo Hwesio. “Only limping often hears that Hoa-san-pai prioritizes external strength and the use of accomplices in martial arts, not so much concerned with inner strength. Even though Mrs. Kek Siansu is a spiritual expert and of course her instructions will be closely related to kebatinan, so it won't suit all of Sicu."
"Not looking down but not at all respecting the intelligence of other people. Just the same! Leng Lo Temper, we from Hoa-san-pai are still low in knowledge, there is nothing to be proud of or anything else to be proud of. However, I will be humbled if one of the Losuhu from Bu-tong-pai can exceed what I will show!”
How come Ceng Cu, who was still hot-blooded and couldn't bear to hear his party being looked down on lightly, immediately stepped wide to approach a white mountain rock. This stone is as big as a buffalo's belly, weighing no less than five hundred catties. A quarter of this stone is buried in the ground, solid and to pull it out would require at least a thousand catties of force.
How come Ceng Cu set his stance near the rock, his hands embraced from right to left, then with a loud shout he exerted his strength to break through and... the rock was lifted up and then lifted above his head. The muscles of his arms bulged out, his neck suddenly became big, but his handsome face didn't change, remained calm and smiling.
The Bu-tong-pai and Kun-lun-pai parties looked on in admiration. As high-level martial arts experts, they understand that it is not an easy thing to do to lift such a heavy rock just by relying on external force. Apart from requiring long and diligent training, one must also have natural talent, namely great energy and this can only be possessed by a man who has remained single throughout his life. Looking at the state of Kok Ceng Cu's face, it was clear that even though this Hoa-san-pai was over thirty years old, he was still single, a real boy!
"Sicu's Gwakang (external force) is terrific, I'm limping in awe!" said Leng Lo Temp honestly.
However, this heated Leng Hi Hwesio's stomach, the fourth disciple of Bu-tong-pai. Even though he is sixty years old, this fourth hwesio from Bu-tong-pai is tough in character and does not want to lose. He immediately jumped forward to approach Kok Ceng Cu and said loudly. "What's so strange about playing with this dead rock? Sicu, when you're tired and bored, you can pass the stone to the pincin!"
Previously, Kok Ceng Cu felt proud of the eldest disciple Bu-tong-pai's praise, but seeing and hearing the attitude and words of this fourth hwesio, he was secretly curious as well as surprised. Would this emaciated hwesio be able to wield such strength? He shouted loudly and his arms moved up and down, hurling the boulder at Leng Hi Hwesio while screaming. “Lo-temperature accept it!”
The heavy stone slid towards hwesio Bu-tong-pai, if it hit the head it would certainly be crushed. But the monk calmly moved his hands, receiving the stone in a graceful motion. Presumably he had used the Deity Welcoming Mustika move. As soon as his palms touched the rock, he borrowed the force from the throw earlier, and continued to swing the rock down, up again, and then threw it up, received it again, swung it up and threw it up again five times. When for the fifth time the rock crashed down, he used a slashing motion with both hands obliquely. The rock veered sideways, slamming into the ground nearly in half. This is the punching action of Peng Teroboh Gunung Hitam, a shrewd Bu-tong-pai Silat technique.
There was applause from the Kun-lun-pai tosu.
“Siancai, siancai, Bu-tong-pai's punching skills are really great!” cried Ang Kun Tojin.
However, Pek Sin Tojin, the fifth student of Kun-lun-pai who has a mole on the tip of his nose, became curious to see how two people from Hoa-san-pai and Bu-tong-pai's entourage seemed to be demonstrating intelligence. If the Kun-lun-pai side didn't make a move, they might be looked down upon.
He stepped forward to approach the rock, then said, "Siancai, the rock is slammed hard lest many worms will be crushed." His right foot went out and... the rock rolled out of the ground, up to five feet away. This move alone proved how skilled the Kun-lun-pai tosu were.
The hottest one among everyone was Kok Ceng Cu. He let out a mocking voice from his nose, “Hmmm, everyone shows off internal strength that relies on borrowed energy, not real strength from muscles and tendons. Even though we from Hoa-san-pai only train muscles to strengthen the body, playing lweekang (inner strength) like that is not uncommon either.” He did not challenge, but his words clearly elevated his own group and did not look highly on the other two groups. Also he stood with his chest lifted, his legs in a stance as if he was ready to face anyone who dared to oppose him!
Of course this attitude warmed the hearts of the Kun-lun-pai and Bu-tong-pai, let alone the Bu-tong-pai. If only Ang Kun Tojin and Leng Lo Hwesio had not made a sign with their eyes, Tosu Kun-lun and hwesio Bu-tong would have jumped forward to face Kok Ceng Cu.
At that moment a loud and melodious laugh was heard. Everyone was shocked, looked left and right, but there was no human being. Even though earlier it was clear that a woman's laughter was heard, it sounded very close, they could even hear the sound of breathing between the laughter.
“Omitohud!” Leng Lo Hwesio let out a sound as he clasped his palms together in front of his chest. “Sicu gives off a defiant attitude, angering the mountain guardian goddess!”
"We came to ask Mrs. Kek Siansu for spiritual lessons, while the brothers from Hoa-san-pai showed violence, it was really funny so that all the spirits laughed at it," said Ang Kun Tojin, but secretly he felt uneasy because he You can guess that the person who made the sound of laughter was definitely someone who had extraordinary powers. It's clear that it's not Mrs. Kek Siansu, nor is it the one who was singing earlier, because the sound of this laughter is a woman's voice.
“We Hoa-san-pai people are not afraid of any demons!” How come Ceng Cu said loudly while glancing to the right and left.
"Sute, don't talk like that...," Why did Bin Cu criticize the hot-tempered martial arts sister.
However, his voice stopped when suddenly at that moment there was another sound of laughter and now suddenly in front of them stood a very beautiful woman. He just came as if he had appeared from the earth, did not appear to be coming, suddenly he was standing in front of Kok Ceng Cu, chuckling, his red and soft lips were open, two rows of white pearl-like teeth were seen lined up.
The fourteen people looked on with wide eyes. She was truly a very beautiful woman, judging by her fresh and radiant face, it seemed that she was not yet twenty-five years old, but her attitude and movements imagined a strong and dignified personality, calm and steadfast, the mature demeanor of a great character.
Her dress was made of white light silk which made her pink undergarment visible. Her feet were covered in shiny black leather shoes. What's both heart-catching and terrifying is her hair. Fat black hair, long until it almost touched the ground behind it, partly flowing forward from either side of his neck. His body is densely packed, the skin of his neck, hands and face is smooth and white as snow. A beautiful woman, shining devilish eyes, with a mouth that always seemed to be taunting and veiled with something strange and hideous. As soon as it appeared, it smelled sweet like a flower garden.
"Hi-hi-hik, presumably a handsome boy who issues a challenge. Wow, lucky me today! Young man full of energy and pure air, which class are you from?”