The Musafir
Satya, The Ant Nest Hunter
The mantan heaved a sigh of relief as his wand was finished being made. Actually Mantingan still does not need a stick, because he has no trouble climbing until he needs a cane. He did this solely to relieve his anxiety.
But in fact, the anxiety did not go away. Mantingan thought that it was better for him to leave this place immediately. The further it gets the better. Maybe it will take away his anxiety, and his fear.
***
The mantan does not know very well where he is at this time since he decided to immediately leave the Sagandu Earth area. But if not wrong, then now he is on the banks of the Cimanuk River. Seen in front of him a fairly wide and swift river that flow. Large stones that were hit by quite heavy water. And if true, then he is now near the north coast which only takes half a day of walking to reach the beach.
Currently Mantingan was in confusion about how to cross the river. Because he wants to go west. He is not good at swimming, especially the flow of the Cimanuk river is quite swift and many sharp stones in it. It was so terrifying to imagine his body sinking before it was finally torn apart by the rocks.
Mantingan decided to go along the riverbank to the north in hopes of finding a bridge or raft to cross.
As Mantingan walked long enough and far away, he met a young man who seemed to be an ant nest hunter. The young man carried a net with a long staff to reach the nest of ants in a tall tree. There was a bamboo woven tube on his back, with a lid on it.
The young man was surprised to see Mantingan, and Mantingan himself was quite surprised to see him. One question is the same of the two: how can there be a person in the middle of the wilderness like this? Mantingan greet first the ant nest hunter, then reply with the same greeting.
Mantingan then asked about how to cross the river after making small talk for quite a while.
“If you want to cross, then go a little north. There are crossing services using rafts, and also paid for of course. However, you can also join me to cross with my boat which is not far from here.”
Mantingan initially wanted to reject the offer. Better pay that security is guaranteed. There is still a sense of worry that the incident will repeat itself, Mantingan as if he could not forget the backup by the robber that resulted in two people being killed. However, he currently does not have the money to hire a crossing service. After much deliberation, Mantingan finally accepted the ant nest hunter's offer. Whatever the risk, he'll take it, hopefully not die.
“I'm very happy if you accept it. However, it seems like you should come with me to find a nest of rangrang ants before we go across.”
The mantle shows no sign of objection. And even welcomed him well.
“It was an honor, Brother. I can learn a lot from Brother.”
The ant nest hunter smiled. “My name is Satya, what is your name?”
“Call me Mantingan only.”
“Alright, Mantingan, when walking later make sure you are directly behind me. This forest can mislead anyone in it.” Satya turned around and walked into the line of trees. “And one more, don't get tired of hearing my babble.”
Mantingan continued to follow Satya right behind him. It is true that Satya likes to talk a lot, long and wide. But from that conversation, Mantingan can know many things, such as how to get into a thorny bush, climb a tree quickly, find water under a banyan tree, picking ant nests with nets or with hands directly, even about the current state of government.
“Maharaja Punawarman does organize the ethics of his people well. If likened, Sri Maharaja Punawarman has arranged the ethics he should improve the flow of the river. If the water from the upstream is clean, then the downstream must be clean as well. Science that from the beginning clean, must also be clean until the last to receive that knowledge.
“With it, Tarumanagara became an advanced nation until Salakanagara was replaced with him. But now, this country is haunted by the shadow of robbers and the seeds of rebellion that are becoming more and more real. This year, robbery is rife and even considered a job. Sri Maharaja always responds to battle with peace, in the sense that there is no battle.” Satya breathed deeply.
“You must be careful, Mantingan. Your clothes are good and your luggage is plenty, you will be a prey to melt in the eyes of robbers.” Satya put one of her newly acquired ant nests into the bamboo webbing. “Well, enough for today. Now we can cross the river.”
Mantian nodded. While walking, he asked, “Is your house across there, Satya?”
“Yes, I built a sweet house on a hill that is not too high. Not many know the whereabouts of my home and whereabouts.”
“One more honor for me to have known this." Smiling coat.
“Cause. And also if you don't mind, maybe you can spend the night at my house?”
Mantingan thought for a moment, while Satya laughed long.
“Look down, my house is safe from robbers. And not that I'm arrogant, but I can play silat using the power in.”
The mantel smiled awkwardly then scratched his back neck.
“If I'm allowed to ask, is that the difference of inner silat with ordinary silat?”
“Let me just explain the outline. Ordinary silat is a set of silat movements that require energy from the muscles and mind, this silat is most common and does not require much cost to learn it, even do not need talent and hard work to master it.
“But silat energy in different. This silat uses core energy located around your belly button. There the energy in the processed. Users of internal power for silat purposes are usually called warriors. This inner power exceeded the strength of the muscles with incredible crumbling power, there were even those who could break a huge rock with just one punch.
“But to master it, you more than need to practice movement, you also need to practice breathing because the key of the inner power silat is breath and inner processing. In the black stream, internal energy science is sold expensively. While in the white stream, the science of inner energy is only handed down by the teacher to his students for good deeds. Merdeka flow group even deepened silat science as a way of life. Deep power silat science is also referred to as ‘silat true’.”
“Which stream did you take, Satya?”
”I use white flow silat, because my teacher is a white flow swordsman.”
“Where is your teacher now?”
Satya laughed again. “Your question is too deep, Mantingan. I can't answer this one question.”
The mantle nodded slowly.
