The Thousand Mask Warrior

Drunkards

Unbelievable surprise cannot be hidden from the faces of the two friends Sasangka, Katilapan and Narendra. They looked at each other and could not say anything.

But Sasangka flinkered. His gaze was still fixed on the western sky.

He remembered the important time of his meeting with Lau Siufan at that time.

Since first seeing Lau Siufan, Sasangka has started to change. He has cut his hair and trimmed his mustache and beard. Wearing a new and fresher head covering. Her clothes were even bright gray.

He had walked early in the morning with a slight limp because the pain was still stabbing in his thighs and hips.

Ngalimin who still often came to the hut where they were treated with Katilapan and Narendra actually prevented Sasangka from traveling. In addition to health reasons, it is likely that the Walanda Betawi people, especially Pratiwi subordinates, could have seen it.

But for the sake of seeing the new spirit of Sasangka, Ngalimin can not do much. Moreover, his two best friends said that Sasangka can disguise and guard themselves. With him walking out and moving his body, the chances for him to be healthy will also be greater.

His deep sadness also seemed to be getting over him.

***

Arriving at Sasangka in a field near the river, he sat under the bamboo trees and waited for the Chinese girl to pass by.

Babah Lau, the father of Lau Siufan, was a merchant and owner of a wine shop near the market outside Betawi fort. He collaborated with the Chinese wine distillers who had already lived in Betawi.

Siufan, his fifteen-year-old daughter often came to the market to bring food or needs of the father.

Similar to today.

Siufan dressed in pure white. Her hair was neatly rolled at the top of her head. His neck was clearly visible under the sunlight. Sasangka held her breath as their eyes clashed.

Sasangka world seemed to be sucked out into the vortex of charm of the girl, when Siufan actually just a glance. But this clash of gazes shattered all defenses of Sasangka, the mature twenty-five-year-old.

Sasangka's view could not be separated from the slender figure who walked with short and nimble steps that he did not notice there were three men standing in the way of the girl. I don't know when they were standing there.

"Woi Sipan's. Sipi ... Sipaaan ... Where's your wine? Can you have one bamboo?" said one of the men in front of him with a strong Malay accent. They clearly seem to be drunk.

As a swordsman, Sasangka felt a bad feeling. Muscles tightened.

"Why ask me? You can go to my babah shop as usual" Siufan said casually.

"Hah, Babah Lau's wine is delicious, but the child is better. Seeing you just makes us drunk, ha ha ha." said one other person with a laugh. Of course this is overwritten with laughter by others.

"You come with us, Sipan. In order for us to get drunk for a few days without having to buy wine from your babah, ha ha ha ..," again the laughter of the drunkards sounded.

All three of these men were standing doyong like a coconut tree in the wind. They continued to tease the girl with various seduction words until obscene sentences.

Sasangka initially tried to survive not to interfere. He wanted to see to what extent their behavior could be silenced. But his blood bubbled when the two drunken men started touching Siufan's arms and shoulders.

Sasangka stood then down the field towards the setapan road on the river bank where the three men held Siufan.

"Don't bother that woman!" shouts Sasangka.

Not only were the three drunken men looking at Sasangka, even Siufan looked at her.

"Well, whoa, whoa ... Is this man your lover, Sipan?" ask one of the three drunkards. Sasangka saw the three slip a machete on their waists.

"It's none of your business. I don't want any trouble. You guys are too drunk. I must immediately meet Babah," Siufan replied still sounding relaxed and cold.

The man did not pry Siufan's words and staggered toward Sasangka. "Heh, muffled cockroaches. What's your business, huh? If you want to mess around, you should think carefully," said the man with a threatening tone while holding the handle of the machete. To the size of a drunken person, the words he spoke sounded very sane.

The other two drunken men chuckled and let one of their comrades deal with the unknown man. They continue with their activities teasing the virgin.

Siufan looked towards Sasangka. Which is seen as translating this view as a form of request for help.

"Wait on! What do you really want, kisanak?" both hands of the drunk man held Sasangka's chest. Of course, those detained cannot accept. Sasangka retaliated by pushing the man on his chest as well.

BUGS!

The punch was actually not much, but Sasangka was not in a state of full health. There was a stinging pain to his hip bone even though the attack landed on his chest.

The people are burning with anger. He retaliated by throwing two punches, one in the chest the other hit the head of the drunkard.

BUGS!

BRACKET!

The drunk collapsed to the ground unconscious.

Unfortunately, Sasangka fell to the ground. The simple moves he used asked for payment. His whole body hurts. His hip bones and thigh wounds were unable to accept the movement and weakened his legs.

Sasangka screamed stifled. His muscles were not used for a long time, let alone trained. The incredible stiffness made it seem as if his body was cracking here and there.

Sasangka saw Siufan was about to run towards him, but the two drunkards grabbed both hands.

Sasangka again felt his blood bubbling. He wanted to wake up and finish off the wedge*ngan-bajing*an, but his body could not be invited to cooperate at all.

Only, Sasangka saw events that were beyond his expectations.

With one flexible gesture, Siufan turned around, releasing the grip on his arm as well as hitting the chest of one drunkard, slapping his ears, kicking his knee and rewarding a fist on the neck of one drunkard on his right.

Four strikes in one move!

Not that's all. After one round Siufan was able to release the handrails of the two drunkards and managed to drop one of them, he also slapped the other drunkard's forehead, turned his knee and planted two sideways fists into the opponent's stomach.

The last drunkard collapsed holding his stomach.

***

"You can silat?" sasangka said a little surprised and fascinated.

"Not as good as you are, brother. I'm not a swordsman" said Siufan. He approached the drunkard Sasangka had beaten earlier and checked his breathing.

"You almost killed him" Siufan said as he stared at Sasangka.

Sasangka was confused. He should be perfumed that such a person is natural to be beaten. He thought Siufan was looking at him for help. Then after one drunkard managed to rub him and his body was in pain, Sasangka thought that Siufan was running towards him to help him.

In fact, the girl checked the state of the drunk.

"Didn't you teach them, too?" sasangka said he did not believe it.

"They are the drunken champions of my cadaver. Their behavior is like that. I'm used to facing them. Sometimes I just have to slap them to make them come to their senses and stop bothering me. But seeing your attack, brother, on this one drunkard, I had to make two other drunkards collapse too to see this drunken state you made unconscious."

"wait. So you think it's my fault and I've gone too far? They bother you and don't they deserve to be beaten up?"

"Not so, brother. No offence. Thank you for helping me. My silat wasn't special. Babah and my mother taught Siam Kun-thau or Kuntao the Three Juruses to protect themselves. I'm not good enough and brave enough to kill people. Look at them, once two hours have been sprawled. That's because they're not dangerous people, just drunk. But, you are a swordsman. Even with the body injured, your speed and strength cannot be denied its greatness," said Siufan at length.

Sasangka could watch Siufan's face up close. His pair of eyes are beautiful, not narrow as usual typical of Chinese women's eyes, but the petals are not curved. His lips are thin red.

"You know where even I'm a wounded swordsman?" Sasangka.

A pair of Siufan's white cheeks met red. He glanced towards Sasangka. "I've been watching you from the beginning. I know, you're a big brother watching me too. So I'm finding out about you. Finally I know that you live in a hut near the bamboo hill, taken care of by Ngalimin with your two fellow warriors," Siufan said without further ado.

Sasangka scratched his head, "You're the unusual girl Lau Siufan," he said.

Siufan's two beautiful eyes widened, "Rear, not many can say my name well. People other than my family or neighbors are Chinese who know how to say my name. Even my mother calls me Sipan" he said.

Both giggle.

Suddenly Siufan fell silent and was aware of something. His cheeks were red. "Rear, you also find out about me?"