The Prince of Travelers

Chapter 073: The Old Hermit's Custody

“How has your condition improved, boy?” physician Ong asked in the morning when Li An had first opened his eyes since yesterday. The old healer was pounding something in the cobek. A distinctive herbal smell was stinging in the room.

“I ...,” Li An trying to get up. He felt that his body was so heavy that his hands almost failed to support him. With eyes still trying to get used to the intensity of the light in the morning, his gaze swept around. He looked at an old grandfather who was now struggling with herbal tools.

“Hm? How?” Physician Ong turned to Li An for not hearing the young man's complaints well, “You're still sick, right?”

“Where .... is this?” instead of answering, Li An asked back.

“In my house,” replied Physician Ong briefly. Hais ...it was not the answer Li An expected. He did not even know who the old man was.

“Who ..?” Li An asked again.

“Ong,” replied Physician Ong again, “Call me Physician Ong. I saw you being taken by four warriors yesterday afternoon. So, I told them to bring you here. It has been a long time since I used my abilities to treat anyone other than the Old Hermit. Now answer my question, boy! Are you still sick?”

“...”

Li An just nodded slowly. His head was filled with questions. However, the pain and pain that continued to stab the body forced him to shut up.

“So, yes?” Physician Ong stroked his white-bearded chin, “You better lie down. Don't push yourself too much. Your warriors are hunting and gathering food now. You don't have to worry at all.”

Day by day passed. The wounds and fever that Li An suffered gradually healed. In a few more days, he could have just continued on his way to return the empire and asked for help.

“Holy Land?” Li An who was sitting around with Wang Hongli frowned, “The Old Hermit's grandfather from the Holy Land in the West?”

“That's what he told me, Prince,” Wang Hongli replied. “Then, he was a monk in his country. For some reason, he was expelled by the government there.”

“Sister Hongli, I have to meet the Old Hermit's Grandfather,” said Li An who suddenly remembered Ali. There were embers burning in his heart, but he did not know what embers were. The ember encouraged his scholar soul to find out something.

“Alright, Prince,” Wang Hongli nodded, “Let's follow me.”

Wang Hongli escorted Li An to the top of the hill next to Tabib Ong's hut. It took them half a day to get there. There are slopes that they must go through before climbing the Old Hermit Hill.

“Old Hermit's grandfather,” call Wang Hongli while knocking on the door of a small house with his middle finger shell, “Our young master is about to meet you.”

“Come in!” the voice of the Old Hermit was heard from inside the small house.

Wang Hongli pushed the door open. Once inside, he found an old man dressed in white wool who was kneeling facing the West. The old man got up and turned around to welcome his guest.

“Honey, I have nothing to welcome guests,” replied the Old Hermit with his party, “I'm sorry. Let's sit outside.”

Wang Hongli and Li An nodded without protest. They sat on a large rock facing west. From the top of the rock, they could see the vast wilderness of lush forests.

“Holy Land,” Li An replied without making small talk, “Is it true Old Hermit Grandfather from the Holy Land in the West?”

“Really, but it was decades, even hundreds of years ago,” replied the Old Hermit, “It was a very past time.”

“Old Hermit Grandson,” call Li An whose heart is re-ignited by mysterious coals, “Please tell me about that Holy Land.”

“You excited young man,” the Old Hermit smiled gently, “This is a fortune to me. I have not talked for a long time about the Holy Land other than you and your warriors.

Son, the Holy Land is a blessed earth, a land of prophets and apostles,” the Old Hermit began to tell his native land, “He is a fertile land. Everything that grows there is the best in the world. Fruits, olives, and all sorts of other commodities.”

The Old Hermit also tells the experience of his golden age when he was still a monk. He tells the story of how he fought with his teacher, then with his students against the bid’ experts who changed the contents of the Bible.

“My teacher was arrested by Emperor Rum for his differences. We worship Allah the Most Merciful, while the emperor follows an order that manifests the divinity of God into three,” the Old Hermit sighed, “I do not understand, how could they consider the One to be three? Son, when someone brings you three apples, then he says, ‘This is one apple.’ Will you believe?”

Li An frowned, trying to digest the Old Hermit's question intent. He had heard of such an idea, but nowhere. Probably on one of his expeditions in expanding the influence of the Fuli Trade Union.

“My teacher defeated them severely in a meeting, but the influence of the emperor was stronger so that my teacher was still considered heretical by them,” continued the Old Hermit, “Padah, they are the ones who are actually heretical.”

“Grandfather, have you heard that the Holy Land has changed hands?” li An asked after the Old Hermit had been silent for quite a while. Hearing the question, the Old Hermit frowned with a gaze that seemed to ask for an explanation.

“Really? I just heard it,” said the Old Hermit then, “Who is the owner of the Holy Land now?”

“Muslims,” replied Li An, “That's how they call themselves. I heard the news from my friend who is an Arab.”

“Nak, what did you say in earnest?” the Old Hermit widened his eyes. Faintly, a happy look on his face. Li An also confirmed the answer, “That's how I heard it, Grandpa. I haven't seen it myself. However, I already intend to go there someday.”

“True, Son! Right!” exclaim the Old Hermit excitedly, “Go to the Holy Land! If this old man still had a strong physique, this man would definitely go there by himself. However, that is already impossible for me now. To come to Tabib Ong hut alone is already difficult for me.”

“Em .. Grandpa, why are you two making a home on a separate hill?” asked Wang Hongli later. He's been curious about it since yesterday. But I don't know why he asked today.

“Now, I have arrived here first,” replied the Old Hermit, “Ask the Physician Ong. It was he who chose to make a hut on the hill opposite.”

After answering the question, the Old Hermit turned to Li An again, then said, “Son, can this old man leave you one thing?”

“Please, Grandpa,” Li An nodded reverently.

“This is just a small request because you intend to go to the Holy Land,” the Old Hermit looked at Li An expectantly and happily, “Please send my greetings to the leader of the faithful who rule the Holy Land. Truly, I am sure he is the best leader as long as he takes the law from the Law of God.”

“Alright, I will note this greeting and give it to the Khilafah Country Leader when visiting there later,” Li An nodded again, “I will try my best so that this message can be conveyed.”