The Musafir

Resuming Travel

AFTER witnessing Munding Caraka hovering in the air like a no-load, Dharma became completely stunned. While the buffalo he was staring at was just a lazy moan before coming back down and slashing under a shady tree which is now his favorite place.

Dharma then said, “When I was a kid, my parents used to talk about stealth. But I always thought of them as a tale of bragging to deliver the children into beautiful dreams, but now my eyes are completely open. Could also Kembangmas be a reality?”

The thin smiling mantle. It is true that for centuries the Kembangmas was only told as a fragrant flower-shaped stealth creature. Although there was a massive hunt for Kembangmas in the history of the martial world, but again the story is also considered nothing more than a silat story. No one thought that Kembangmas is part of reality as well as a miracle.

“Miracle is indeed something that is very possible for the sky. Ah, there are so many powers in this universe that I still don't know.” Dharma shook slowly.

Although it sounds absurd, did Kembangmas once say that he came from kahyangan, and came down to earth just to master it?

Is kahyangan, svarga nature like just the imaginary nature, really real?

Even if the Mantingan did not want to believe it, it would be harder to believe in the existence of a dragon-sized snake demon hovering in the sky for him on the eve of the thunderstorm in Koying at that time. If it did not come from a different realm, then where did the creature come from?

It is true that the Dharma says, there are many powers in the universe that are unknown to man, and it is too early to conclude them in such a way.

Mantingan remembers how Kiai Guru Kedai once said that the religious stories that exist today are actually only made by the experts of the book. Svarga and naraka exist in nature after death, indeed who ever went there and then came back again to tell everything he saw?

Although impressed is not the right action, but that is how the truth is often mistaken for error, and mistakes are often suspected of the truth.

This is the conversation between Mantingan and Kiai Guru Kedai at that time:

“On the true scriptures, they do not mention that a dead person will encounter the svarga and naraka realms.”

“Lantas why did I find so many sentences about svarga and naraka after the suffix in those books, Kiai Guru?” The man asked at that time.

“Not that the sentences have direct meaning, Mantingan,” said Kiai Guru Kedai, this time his voice became a little softer than before, as if to say something quite offensive. “As when it is said how in svarga there are jelly-eyed angels, does not really mean a group of girls who have beautiful eyes.”

“Lantas what is the true meaning of those angels?” Ask back Mantingan.

“Actual meaning?” The teacher showed a big smile. “Your journey is still long, students! You'll know for yourself someday.”

Even today, Mantingan still does not understand what is meant by observant-eyed angels. However, Kiai Guru Kedai continued:

“The scripture is a guide for humans to live in the world, not nature after death.”

“But it is good that you do not speak this understanding in front of the crowd. Not yet the time,” continued his teacher.

“Kiai Guru always said that the truth is not good if kept alone. Isn't this contradictory?”

“True. Did I violate my one word?”

The mantan immediately regained consciousness. Didn't Kiai Guru Kedai say that the time had not come? Then he again asked, “When did that time arrive, Kiai Guru?”

“Currently, there is no need for you to worry about time. But first of all, you must try as hard as possible to get a place in the eyes of the public so that all the words that come out of your mouth can be heard and considered,” explained the old man. “For if it were not so, the truth you would say would be reviled, as well as you who would surely be considered a lunatic.”

“How can I reach that level? Because Kiai Guru should know, not all speech that comes out of my mouth can be immediately considered by others as a truth.”

Kiai Guru Kedai smiled before replying, “You must be a person who has an influential position. Can you someday serve as a king or even a warrior who tops the martial world?”

Mantingan thought for a while, but he shook his head. “Such things ...I find it difficult to achieve, Guru.”

“If you cannot, then you must be a writer who can bewitch people with what you write!”

That is the ultimate answer from Kiai Guru Kedai, who until now always remembered Mantingan, he never forgot. His mind wandered until finally stopping for a moment at Rashid, the long-bearded man who had the pseudonym Raksabhuni. Doesn't he have the intention of bewitching the minds of the crowd with his writing?

The mantle regained its senses when a clap landed on his shoulder.

“Adik Man, don't let your guard down.”

It is the Dharma that is aware of how Mantingan has sunk with his mind.

The quick-talked mantle nodded in return. It is true that his mind has sunk so far into a contemplation that it has no end, that neglect comes to him, which in itself can kill him!

“This is the time for me to leave, Elder.” Mantingan signaled the North River Angel who was not so far behind him to get closer. “Thank you for the place and protection that the Elders gave. I know very well how much your life could have been threatened by receiving a visit from both of us, but the Elders did it for us anyway. Elder, I don't know what to pay for all this with.”

The mantang is not making small talk. All his words were clear from the bottom of his mind. If he currently still has ‘Stone-Stone’, then surely he will give some to the elders of the White Wind Padepokan. However, he currently has less than 200 gold pieces, and such a sum would not mean much to Dharma.

“Adik Man has brought glory to White Wind College, so can I still dare to ask for your reward?” Dharma replied with a big smile, not expecting to get praise from the one big person he was up to. “Depart Brother Man. My time is with you!”