The Musafir

The Mantang Against the Swordsman of a Thousand Books

UNEDITED VERSION

***

The old man only replied with a horrible smile before stepping back on his feet. Go deeper into the shop. That way, the Mantingan can't hold it anymore.

Not long after, the old man came back with a large palm in his hand. That terrible smile still did not disappear from his face.

The old man jumped over his shop table. Sparky and very dexterous movement, like his body was not old and bent. Seeing from his movements alone, Mantingan was already able to judge that the old man had abilities that were not arbitrary. If he had to fight with her, it would be a troublesome thing.

The mantel immediately took a step back. Keep distance. In a row ready to pull the Sword Kiai Kedai which is highlighted on his waist.

“Didn't you want this book, my son? Why now seem to reject it?”

“Bapak still hasn't answered my question.” Mantingan's voice sounded smooth and friendly, but the look in his eyes actually said the opposite.

With a big smile, the old man said, “I am known as the Swordsman of a Thousand Books, which until this old age is still not perfect because he has not found a match opponent. Maybe only by you can I be perfected.”

“Bapak wants a fight?” The mantel asked sharply.

“Not wrong again.” The old man who called himself the Swordsman of the Thousand Books nodded his head.

“Really what you said that?” Again the Mantingan made sure, for however no guarantee at all that he could defeat the Swordsman of the Thousand Books and come out alive.

He had heard a little about the Swordsman of a Thousand Books from his teacher. Not much indeed, but if enough to express the identity of the old man.

“Pendekar Seribu Kitab always steals books select match in the martial lake to then sell it on secret networks. Sometimes he copies his stolen books and sells them at a much cheaper price, even though the results are not as good as the true books. The martial world knows that his work is completely unjustified, but still there are many warriors who buy books from him,” explained his teacher once.

So, it is most likely that the book that Mantingan wants from the Swordsman of a Thousand Books is in fact the stolen product, because it has not spread the news that the Swordsman of a Thousand Books took the book well or even created his own book.

“I am indeed a black swordsman, but do not you consider myself happy to play with the words,” replied the Thousand Books Swordsman slightly offended.

Mantingan exhaled a long breath before saying, “Why do you really want the perfection of death?”

“That is the only way to stop myself from committing an abomination. A swordsman must kill me because it is impossible for me to lift my own life.”

So is that why the Thousand Books Swordsman asks for perfection? If the reason is indeed true, then Mantingan felt an obligation to kill him.

It makes sense that the Swordsman of the Thousand Books has done much evil, because stealing books of choice does not mean not against the warriors who protect the book.

Coupled with spreading the select books to the underground network of the martial world that has certainly been vile indiscriminately, then it may be considered that the Swordsman of the Thousand Books took part in their abomination.

Thus, the Sword of Kiai Kedai was drawn from its cage. Likewise with the Sword of Savrinadeya, which only by flowing a little energy in the blade will split the winding fabric that wraps it.

So that is how Mantingan now holds a sword in each hand.

“I guessed it, heroes are heroes. Although he claimed not worthy to be a hero, but he still acted like a hero behaved.” Pendekar Seribu Lontar chuckles slowly sambi keep the petals of the Mantingan target into his clothes. “You master two swords apparently, Son? But I saw something strange on your right arm, why wrapped so?”

Mantingan glanced at his wooden arm which was indeed wrapped in white weights to cover his original appearance. Even Rashid who had been close to Mantingan though felt that there was nothing strange about his right arm. It is worth admitting that the eyes of the Thousand Books Swordsman are very careful.

“When will you attack? Or do I have to attack first?” The mantan did not mince words, instantly spreading his murderous lust to all directions.

“Alright if the child is not happy to talk stale, let me attack first. But I don't think this place is too suitable for fighting. There's no reason to move out, right?” The old swordsman's eyes glanced at the open window that was not too far away from them.

The mantel nodded back. What reason did he disagree with? Fighting on the fifth floor of this Kotaraja Library would only cause unnecessary chaos.

So that was no less than a blink of an eye then, Mantang flashed out through that open window, while the Swordsman of a Thousand Books quickly caught up with him!

After the two were outside the library building, the Thousand Books Swordsman opened the attack by sending a tread attack!

A blackish wind scroll shot towards the Mantingan's chest, which was easily fended off using the Kiai Kedai Sword by the young man. However, the impulse from the wind still made him push quite far back.

While taking a breath to launch a counterattack, Mantingan bought his eyes wide. How in the air he breathed was the poison of powder!

Kiai Guru Kedai once said, “There can also be toxins spread through the air, namely by making it into powders that are very small and light. Call the powder when inhaled enough to transport people to the afterlife in a matter of blink of an eye.”

Doesn't that mean the Mantan will die in just a blink of an eye after inhaling the poison powders? So why until after more than two eye shock did he not die or just feel pain?

Mantingan did not have time to think about it. If he didn't die despite inhaling thousands of grains of poison powder, then that's good. But if in the end he remains dead, then it is also okay, does not Mantingan assume that he has died since that night?

Immediately the Spell struck back with the Blood Wind Palm after releasing the Sword Kiai Kedai in his left hand for a moment, but the attack was too easy to avoid even being repelled by the Thousand Book Swordsman.

They then slid downwards while continuing to exchange tread attacks from a distance. Slowly the distance between the two was thinning, so it was certain that the two would be in close combat distance after touching the ground. But before that happened, the Mantingan and Swordsman of the Thousand Books were unceasingly exchanging attacks!

______

note:

Moon episode: 13/40