The Thousand Mask Warrior

Labbiri

Datuk Mas Kuning took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He was poultice and so familiar with every array of smells in this place. The harbor wind that carries the scent of fish caught from the sea, the smell of spices merchandise from inside the ship, or the smell of weathered wood of the ship and damp goods submerged in sea saltwater. The Datuk also knew well the sounds of seagulls and the cries of sailors and fishermen who were mutually authenticated.

Although he has been away for approximately 43 years, despite changes in power and culture and customs, Malacca is still the Malacca he knows. This is where it came from. So when his feet stepped on the land of the hometown, the whole universe seemed to welcome him.

Datuk Mas Kuning smiled.

Dara Cempaka and Jayaseta looked at each other and smiled to see this scene. They understand how longing for a place where you are born, shaped and forced to be abandoned, is a feeling that is truly full and deep.

"If I were not a skipper, but a warrior like you, Jayaseta, I would definitely go on this journey of great knowledge and experience" King Nio told Jayaseta.

"As skipper and sailor, the journey of lord King Nio was equally great. I gained experience and knowledge that is unparalleled and cannot be paid for anything" Jayaseta replied. "Master King Nio need not worry. Once again, life carries a vortex of fate in such a secret way. The universe's plan is not for us to unload. We've been a match in the past, where knowing the future brings us back together, sir," he continued.

Datuk Mas Kuning who heard these words turned towards them. His smile is growing. He found that Jayaseta already had the capital to become not only a qualified swordsman, but also a wise one.

"Well, fine, Jayaseta. I always pray that the line of destiny will bring us back together on the right path. Give your short path to this life as well as possible. I will continue to sail, buy pepper in Malacca, sell it in Semarang or Betawi. I might as well return to Sukadana or Banjarmasin on Tanjung Pura island, maybe face off again with pirates and pirates, then sail again splitting the ocean. Just as you must reach the shortness of retirement," replied King Nio at length.

Jayaseta patted the dark-skinned skipper on the shoulder and hugged him while whispering, "No need to overdo it, sir. We will definitely meet again. Will Ireng and Siam come with me? They're your crew, sir."

King Nio chuckled. "Ah, let me be a little sad, Jayaseta. I have to sail without any more excitement without you."

Jayaseta laughed back.

"Until we meet again in the next few months. May your business in the land of Siam run smoothly so that you can restore my crew perfectly and we go on a cruise with the same excitement again."

***

Baharuddin Labbiri, the middle-aged Bugis man stood stiffly looking in disbelief at the group of people who came to his house. Walking ahead, it could not be wrong he saw Datuk Mas Kuning, the person who contributed to maintaining it as a child, became the uncle of the teacher of science kanuragan, friends, friends and parents.

Datuk Mas Kuning himself remembers leaving Baharuddin Labbiri when he was 24 years old while Bugis men were very young, maybe 9 or 10 years old. As a young teacher and adoptive father, Datuk Mas Kuning had to ask Baharuddin Labbiri to stay strong and survive. The little boy must be able to hide from the threat of the Pranggi soldiers. At such a young age, Baharuddin Labbiri already has an obligation to hide the activities of the Malacca gayong silat training but still maintain it.

Datuk Mas Kuning turned out to be still poultice where the location of the building, although now it has grown to be three to four times the width, area and magnitude.

It was there that the young Datuk Mas Kuning practiced silat with the Malacca hulubalang secretly and secretly, hiding their moves in silat pulut dance. Baharuddin Labbiri, the son of a Bugis warrior sailor who died at sea, was kept by Datuk Mas Kuning and became his first silat disciple.

Unexpectedly after Datuk Mas Kuning and many hulubalang and Malacca warriors were arrested and about to be killed Pranggi soldiers, the little boy now has a wrinkle face and white hair like himself.

"If you have appeared almost to rival my old age, Labbiri, but the naughty eyes of your children will never change" said Datuk Mas Kuning sumringah, expressing the shock of Baharuddin Labbiri.

The middle-aged man still did not speak at all. Instead, he immediately hugged his foster father. The taste of haru has been spilled. All the longings and questions have been answered.

***

"I can't believe uncle came back to this place, came back to our house and met me again. Many years ago, I witnessed my uncle being captured by the Pranggi troops and led to his death. But there is no doubt that uncle will survive. It turns out to be true. God still gives me his grace so that I can still meet the most meritorious person in my life" said Baharuddin Labbiri.

The grandfather chuckled. This meeting had made the two let go of an overwhelming longing. Tears should be shed, stories scattered.

After their shock, surprise and disbelief began, Baharuddin Labbiri entertained his uncle, his adoptive father in the main room with food, drink and betel.

"Labbiri, how could your uncle be that great. I left you when I was old ... Howmany? Nine, ten years? I was twenty-four years old. Where my services may be so great, Labbiri. In fact, look at you now. The middle-aged man ... Ah, I can hardly believe my own eyes, managed to maintain and even build a gayong silat college with Malay, Bugis and even Javanese students. Silat pulut still you keep. How do you hide this from the Pranggi government, Labbiri?" Said Datuk Mas Kuning while several times amazed.

Indeed, in the open building in this middle building cluster, it is clearly visible a padepokan, silat college as well as a Malay dance and art studio. Male and female students are busy practicing silat pulut dance and of course the gayong silat Malacca and Pattani which are still slightly disguised with the flowers of the horses.

Jayaseta was amazed by this activity. Moreover, the training of every disciple looked so familiar to him. They all move in silence. Each punch and step so smoothly absorbed in the harbor and the sound of pitched tools. The power of gayong silat is actually hidden in the strains of tone and voice. Reminds him of silat training at Datuk Mas Kuning's house in Sukadana.

Jayaseta looked at Dara Cempaka who was no less amazed to see the silat exercises. It can be said that even Dara Cempaka is the one who gets a deep feeling about this. He has been training for a long time under the Grandfather, his own grandfather. Now, he was in the place where the grandfather was born and grew up.

Baharuddin Labbiri looked closely at the uncle's face, then circulated his gaze to the entourage: Jayaseta, Dara Cempaka, Narendra, Katilapan, Ireng and Siam, then chuckled, "Your grandfather has provided a solid foundation for your father to survive and work. The science of gayong that he taught the father is not just the science of fighting and fighting. If it was only a matter of science, the father who was nine or ten years old at that time, most only understood his skin. But, Uncle Mas Kuning has given the father everything necessary to live the destiny bravely," Baharuddin Labbiri told Jayaseta and his colleagues.

"Alright, uncle. Tell all. Just tell me what I can do for my uncle and this group of honored guests" he continued with a smile and warm.