The Musafir

A Cup of Tea Before Starting the Journey

MANTINGAN AND Kana only found a big way when the sun had reached the central horizon, which if passed will direct them to the east or west side of Mount Kubang. Approximately, this is the road passed by the North River Angel and the empress to go to the White Wind College.

The mantle immediately turned towards the east of the road, which was immediately followed by Kana behind him. If they continue on foot, without flashing or without mounts, they will arrive in three to six days.

Instead of having to flicker while holding Kana, which would immediately make the child unable to take too many lessons, Mantingan chose to walk only. Although only carrying a few pieces of gold and without supplies of food and drinks.

Regarding money, Mantingan immediately remembered Dara's generosity when he said he wanted to return the 20 Stones worth 20,000 pieces of gold.

At that time Dara immediately rejected him without a second thought. “That's for you. I have many stones that will not be able to change your presence here. Just tell me if you want a Stone like that again, whatever I will give.”

Dara also paid for all the groceries that should have been paid using Mantingan money. Especially when knowing that Mantingan did not get some medicinal plants due to lack of money, he said, the girl immediately ordered her men to go as quickly as possible to the next town where there was a place that sold all medical needs.

Recalling that, Mantingan smiled bitterly. He received too much from Dara, and he almost never gave her anything. Initially, Mantingan wanted to give him a book of penjilatan as a sign of gratitude, but then he remembered that taking the book in his bundle was not without large dependents. Because the bundle was in a horse-drawn carriage carried by the Angel of the North River.

Until now, Mantingan is not sure whether he is currently free from stalkers or not. But if it turns out he was followed by a stalker, Mantingan felt there was no problem. After all, he only walked with Cana, just as he revealed out loud when the auction event was taking place in the border city that became the stopover of the empress' entourage.

Currently Mantingan and Cana walk without carrying supplies of both food and drinking water, not one bit they worry about the problem. For no matter how much, as two swordsmen, hunger from lack of food is not a scourge worth fearing. What they should and should fear is a fight or a surprise attack that can appear unexpectedly.

Both increase alertness in the form of vision, hearing, touch, even reasoning to be on guard from sudden attacks as feared.

Mantingan always installs the Science of Hearing Dew Drops even with reduced sharpness to trim the inner energy used. At least within five spears, Mantingan could hear everything if he wanted to.

***

MANTINGAN AND Kana visited a stopover shop, which when viewed eastward then the shop was on the left side of the road. Mantingan directly directed Kana to choose a table in the corner of the room adjacent to the big window, while she went to the booking table to of course order dishes for them to eat tonight.

Mantingan choose three types of food; rice, meat along with broth, and vegetables boiled also with broth of mountain goat. After ordering the dish as well as paying for it in advance, Mantingan moved towards the table that Kana had chosen.

The young man sat down and took off his caping, and for a moment relaxed his back and legs. While Kana just took off the sword tied to her back to be placed on the table.

They talk straightforwardly. The mantan did not feel stiff, although the one he was talking to was a thirteen-year-old child, but the thought of Kana can be said to be much more mature than children his age.

After a while the two talked to each other, the dishes were delivered according to the order. Mantingan and Kana without further pleasantries immediately ate the entire dish greedily, because the stomach had not been filled since last night and they both had traveled a short distance.

“Spend it, Kana,” says Mantingan on the sidelines of his meal, “if less, we just order again.”

That mantra does not mean arrogance. Not a waste. Mantingan thought that he was too hard in training Kana, but the boy was not his student and should not be like him.

Giving the child a little bit of good food as a form of appreciation is a good thing. After all, didn't Kana often ask him to visit the tavern while still walking with the North River Angel but he never granted it?

“No, no, suffice this way.” Cana pushed her bowl which had no food in it. “If I eat again, this leg will not be able to step and the heart is very painful later.”

Mantingan nodded his head, what Kana said was a lot of truth as well. For a swordsman, eating too much is not recommended.

Not only will it torture during the trip, but also will bring deadly consequences when facing a fight.

Therefore, usually after finishing a meal, a swordsman will drink a cup or two of tea. Although it can be said that the habit has become a necessity, it is still not allowed to rush in drinking tea.

When a swordsman drinks tea after a meal, his mouth and throat will feel fresh and free from the taste of stuck food that can sometimes disperse the vigilance of enjoying it too much.

Drinking tea can also increase awareness and calmness. And after the tea was spent unhurriedly, then the food they had eaten had completely descended into the stomach so that it would not interfere with his journey nor his fight.

Accordingly, Mantingan ordered two cups of unsweetened hot tea for both of them to enjoy before embarking on the journey after the tea had run out.