The Thousand Mask Warrior

Hio

Fong Pak Laoya knotted and tied a piece of red cloth on his head. He crossed his legs and mixed all the shamanic trinkets in front of him while his mouth was muttering spells. He wrote some words of ancient Chinese greeting on a yellow sheet of paper. The paper was then burned and put in water in a small brass vessel before the fire devoured the spell paper. A hissing sound was heard in the water which was then clouded by black and gray ash. Fong Pak Laoya drank the liquid into Pratiwi's mouth which was half conscious and half still heavy.

***

Yu and Fong Pak are from different regions of mainland China. Although basically the same people from mainland China, both have different languages, cultures and religions.

From the beginning, Yu was not a person who believed too much in shamanic matters. The science of Chinese medicine that he mastered can still be explained by science and common sense, even in many ways sometimes aligned with the science of Western medicine that he received from Walanda and Meester Equa. However, Chinese healers who utilize supernatural powers, supernatural beings or even the help of the spirits of ancestors and gods, is not the spirit and is not the place to judge it.

Initially he was also not too dizzy with various types of diseases that are said to be caused by exhaustion, witchcraft, curses or internal energy attacks as often told by Ngalimin, Ngalimin, the healer Meester Equa who was of Javanese blood.

His world changed completely when he found the wounds in Pratiwi strange and difficult to explain. Energy in a person is true and can also affect others. More or less the same as chi in Chinese terms or ki in Japanese terms.

This time he had to try to accept a different type of treatment and reality when the figure of Fong Pak Laoya came to pick them up by the river. The Chinese said, "This girl is actually conscious, but her body is hard to move. That inner power attack was not an ordinary inner power, but was also accompanied by a curse. Your pinprick science will not be able to continuously relieve the pain, especially if he still continues to try to express and use his inner energy. Immediately, help me take him to the temple" said Fong Pak Laoya.

This short speech surprised Yu. He felt he had never met this person before even though he was Chinese. However, the stranger had spoken to him as if he had known him for a long time when he swore he had just seen him this time.

A little story was told by Fong Pak Laoya to Yu about his origins and why he lived alone in the wooden temple he built before Yu handed over Pratiwi to be treated in a way that shaman.

Pratiwi himself had opened his eyes but it was true as Laoya said that the girl felt her whole body sick and immovable.

The smoke of incense or hio in Chinese terms filled the temple room. There are five hios that are burned, symbolizing the five basic elements of human life, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Hio itself, which means fragrant, does spread a distinctive smell when burned. Stems as big as a red lid that twinkled at the end that burned in the dark.

***

"If you guys really want to cure this disease, I highly recommend meeting Laoya who is more experienced than me. For that, you are forced to take a long road through the sea again to the Riau archipelago which is currently within the territory of the Sultanate of Johor," said Fong Pak Laoya after his treatment was fruitful. Pratiwi awoke after Fong Pak Laoya asked permission and help from the spirits of ancestors from China who followed his journey to this island.

Yu looked at Pratiwi who looked indifferent, then looked back at Fong Pak Laoya. "Laoya sure that's the only way?"

Before Fong Pak Laoya replied, Pratiwi stood up, "No need. Why is it so hard to take care of me. We're done with our goal of getting to this godforsaken island. Killing Jayaseta's brother is definitely an impossible job, we lost, and it's a bitter reality to take. Second business, grandfather. Hmmm ... I was stupid with him. We've met him. He seems to be difficult to mampus, but he already smells of soil. There is no way tired of paying attention to it," said Pratiwi.

Fong Pak Laoya smiled then said, "You are indeed a stubborn girl, aren't you Nyisanak?" Pratiwi. "If you really think that way, then the nyisanak assume that the nyisanak will have stopped from the martial world?"

Pratiwi turned to face Fong Pak Laoya and smiled irritably. "I Pratiwi can take care of myself, stranger. Thank you for making me sober and missing from this little bit of pain. But, Yu or any healer can do it. I can recover without the need for excessive treatment" Pratiwi replied.

For this matter, even Yu himself disagreed. He could already be said to have almost given up trying to treat and treat Pratiwi. In addition to the nature of the internal wound disease suffered, Pratiwi's own stubborn nature often makes him upset.

Fong Pak Laoya, haired pigtailed overhead with a red cloth still wrapped around him, a yellow silk robe covering most of his body came to his feet.

With a quick and unexpected movement the Laoya flashed and attacked Pratiwi who was unprepared. The dark-skinned sweet girl's tiny body was pushed back a few steps due to Laoya's kick that hit her chest.

Not yet aware of what happened, the Laoya lunged back like lightning giving a spinning kick.

BUGS!

The prince this time was completely thrown out of the small wooden temple. It fell flat on the ground. His chest felt like a crumble was smashed by a sledgehammer.

Yu got up and ran out of the temple and approached Pratiwi. With great anxiety and shock he grabbed the body of the girl he loved. "Crazy, crazy, out of your mind, Laoya! What do you mean this?! Why is it that after you've just healed him you've attacked and injured him?" exclaim Yu. Pratiwi tried to get up with Yu's help. He coughed and his body went limp. It seemed that Pratiwi was upset and wanted to retaliate, but what power of strength was lost from his body and spirit.

"My attack is nothing compared to the deep energy wounds suffered by your lover. As a swordsman, I think your girl agrees that she has lost the sensitivity and sharpness of a champion and fighter. I just wanted to make sure that he really wanted to stop being a swordsman forever" said Fong Pak Laoya.

"You're completely insane, Laoya!" reply Yu.

Pratiwi gently brushed off the two hands of Yu who were holding her arms and shoulders.

"Damn, nyisanak. Think carefully. You want to stop being a warrior in this miserable state, or fight a little bit to try to heal your wounds and regain control of those ways of your deeds?" fong Pak Laoya. He turned around and left Yu and Pratiwi.

"Don't really think about it, Pratiwi. That guy is insane. No need to spend time and energy to give him calculations. We'd better leave this damned place soon. Your body is better than ever, even though that madman attacked you. I'll take care of you, just like always. Don't you hear those damn words," Yu said, calming Pratiwi down.

Pratiwi himself then looked at Yu fixedly. "We're off to Riau. You still have to take care of me as you promised, let alone we'll make a long journey. But before, we have to get married. It's just like I promised. Is that Laoya able to marry people?"

Yu had no idea what Pratiwi would say. He stares at the face of ayu but cold Pratiwi.