The Thousand Mask Warrior

Naibors

Jayaseta has been wearing a set of clothes made of green-dupus silk. The top shirt has long sleeved buttons. His long pants covered the eyes of the feet. Her waist was wrapped in a similar color glove. Her long hair, as usual, was curled at the top of her head and covered in a Malay-style headband. He grasped the handle of a kelewang handed over by King Nio for him to be taken across the river with his new owner.

"What kind of clothes is this necessary?" Jayaseta.

All eyes looked in amazement at him. King Nio did give some new clothes that he clearly had as a skipper who carried a lot of merchandise.

"You really don't realize that you're this attractive, swordsman?" ask King Nio who is now able to sit well. "I'm even suspicious, lest you're actually a descendant of Priyayi, blue blood. This ordinary silk clothing makes you dashing. And honestly, even as a man can fall in love with you," King Nio laughed. He glanced at Dara Cempaka who when his gaze collided with the view of the skipper, he could no longer hide the red hue on both cheeks.

In essence, although Jayaseta hated getting this kind of attention, he still accepted the reason that he had to wear good Malay clothes on the way. This was intended to reduce friction with the Daya tribes who saw this small group as coastal people who did not want to find trouble, let alone challenge them.

The long boat that Jayaseta was riding with his entourage contained the head of Karsa stored in a woven bamboo bag, beef jerky as a stock in addition to other food, spear and sharp weapons, and, some silk sheets and gifts as a gift for the tribe they want to visit later.

Dara Cempaka who dressed in men, as well as the two crew members who eagerly accompanied Jayaseta on the trip also wore beautiful clothes.

The two jung crews each used the title name given above the deck, as their new form of identity. Jung crew who came from Blambangan named nickname Ireng is indeed dark skinned. While the only crew who came from Palembang Malay named the nickname Siam, because indeed he is a mixture of Siam, Palembang Malay and Chinese, has skin that can be said to be inversely proportional to his colleagues.

They are the great rowers. The skinny boat ride Jayaseta was speeding on the edge of the river that flows fast in the middle.

Ireng paddled at the front end of the boat, while Siam at the back. Dara Cempaka occasionally helped provide paddle assistance, making Jayaseta who shriveled in the middle of the boat feel so embarrassed because he could not contribute any help.

It was the third day of their journey. Every day, they stopped by the river. Camping, rest and overnight. It was then that Jayaseta felt again confident and strong. When its feet touch the ground, it is the fastest to hunt birds, fish, wild deer or find a variety of fruits for their food.

Just once the curse poison in his body acted up and cracked. But Jayaseta only takes two breaths to reorganize his energy, expelling the internal energy toxins that are confused by his own work.

At night, Jayaseta is more alert. This matter no one doubted it, everyone slept well, knowing that there were formidable warriors guarding them, even though all three, including Dara Cempaka himself, were, not a layman in terms of silat science.

However, when it is above the flow of river water, Jayaseta is the one that is as cherished by the three. He often took the opportunity to sleep or rest.

***

The third day of Jayaseta's boat trip, during the day when the actual sunlight above the head was covered with lush trees.

Four people tucked behind trees whose roots reached the riverbank, watching Jayaseta's boat turn into the creek where they were.

These four people were wearing clothes that bore similar traits to those of the other Daya people, but instead of cloth loincloths, they were wearing a piece of trousers that narrowed at the ankles.

They had prepared a spear in their right hand that was directed to Jayaseta's boat, they waited patiently for the time when the boat was close to their firing range.

The other hand that was free held the handle of the sword that hung at the waist. However, unlike the Daya tribe do who were more like a machete than the length of the blade, their swords had slightly different features.

This sword had a convex edge and a concave back, which widened towards the tip so that the center of the slash was located at a point.

This sword is often called naibor or nyabur. The blades usually have one or more hollow sections that look like they are broken and have no break or are called midribs. The handle is made from deer antlers.

But there is also one person from this group who carries a crossbar whose shape is also very similar to naibor or other similar weapons, namely langgai tinggang.

***

Dara Cempaka who felt something was wrong. His kingdom was almost completely lost here, changing the sensibilities of a well-trained swordsman.

His decision to take Jayaseta to the fortified village of ulin wood without informing his relatives, unbeknownst to his parents who were still in the country of people, was a courageous decision. The Grandfather had entrusted him with this task, even though he also had to be unable to visit his grandfather and did not know how he was now.

So, it is also true that he was needed, especially seeing the swordsman was losing a lot of his short skills on this fast flowing river.

Dara Cempaka removed the iron-framed fan tucked in her waist. He then felt the spear in the boat and grasped it tightly.

Ireng and Siam have also understood this situation. Their sensibilities are also challenged. Birds fly from the trees on the banks of this creek.

Unlike the main river, smaller tributaries have smaller currents as well as the shallowness of the river. The boat can walk slowly.

The two crews clasped their oars tightly.

"Damn!" jayaseta said in his heart. He had already felt and studied the danger that threatened, but in the middle of the river like this, he again felt useless even though he had been held too.

A SYUUUTT!

A spear came out from behind the trees whose roots ran from the ground into the river water.

"Review, spear!" exclaim Dara Cempaka while flicking his fan.

The spear shaft was hit by a slight flick of Dara Cempaka's fan, but made him change direction. Ireng parried her with a dipper so that the spear was thrown up. Jayaseta slashed it into two pieces of spear that fell into the water.

"Take us to the edge! We will be more free to fight them there" Jayaseta exclaimed.

Everyone agrees with Jayaseta, but everyone agrees that this is not easy. Moreover, one spear drove again towards the boat.

Jayaseta is still too limited in moving, especially he is also so worried that he will be able to fall into the water. This is where the role of Dara Cempaka is again seen. This second attack was repelled with a spear that he held so failed to hit Siam who was still rowing as fast as possible.

"Focus your energy and mind on rowing to the edge as soon as possible, I will try to withstand their attacks" said Dara Cempaka.

Sure enough, two more spear throws can be repelled by Dara Cempaka with a combination of fan and spear. Just at that time the end of the boat hit the edge of the muddy river and full of tree roots.

Jayaseta jumped lightly but quickly. His feet touched the ground, making all his senses and nerves return to full work.

Four enemies from behind the trees had not even all had time to pull their naibor and crossbars when Jayaseta had planted a kick into the chest of one of the supports.

BRUG!

The victim's body slashed backwards until four spears away.

The Jayaseta roared in a half-circle, knocking out the attackers. All three are in disorder. Some fell down, some rolled back. The other one fell and felt blood flowing from his naked chest filled with tattoos.

Jayaseta stood with simple horses with a drawn hermit beside her. The sight of the swordsman's eyes had already shrunk the guts of the four spear throwers, including one person who was thrown because of Jayaseta's kick. The man felt his chest crumble softly.