The Thousand Mask Warrior

Saam Kun-thau

The Chinese who first settled in Betawi before the Souw Beng Kong troupe from Banten came mostly from the area named Amoy in Hokkien-speaking China.

The science of Chinese martial arts Babah Lau which originally came from Kwangtung, developed in such a way that it has its own characteristics, namely, moreover, mixed with the silat science of the Chinese-speaking Amoy Hokkian and silat from the island of Java and the archipelago.

The Hokkien Chinese originally gave the term kuntao to their silat.

It is understood that the kuntao was known to be brought by the Southern Chinese who worked as traders and laborers. The hard and challenging life to cross the ocean requires them to master martial arts.

The term kuntao is derived from the Hokkian dialect which literally means "the way of the fist" though when translated more accurately as "the art of battle".

The Kuntao that Babah Lau taught to his daughter, Siufan, was named Kuntao Tiga Jurus or Saam Ku-thau.

Like all early kuntao, every Chinese family or group taught it secretly and secretly, teaching it only to those in their circle.

Kuntao takes the basis of that diverse Chinese silat. From moves that take the motion of animals such as tigers, dragons, praying mantises, snakes or monkeys to martial arts by taking the style of natural elements such as fire, water, air and earth.

Babah Lau adjusted the Chinese silat to the terrain in the archipelago. The Pasundan or Javanese silat movement while he lived in Banten and Betawi made him decide to merge the Chinese silat style and archipelago.

"You want to teach me?" sasangka asked Siufan who was getting familiar with him day by day.

Siufan's straightforward, no-nonsense nature, even acknowledging firsthand that he had the same feelings of interest as Sasangka, made Sasangka become increasingly interested in him.

They don't even have to cover anything.

"You mean it, brother? My silat kuntao style is only three and definitely not as good as your silat moves as a swordsman" replied Siufan.

"Of course I mean it. I want to get to know the moves your father taught you, and ... So that we can always meet," said Sasangka reluctant to look at the face of Siufan ayu.

The young girl herself smiled.

Suddenly his face turned disappointed.

"Ah, I don't think you'll be able to, brother," he said flatly.

Of course the girl's answer made Sasangka aghast. "What do you mean, Siufan? Don't you know for yourself who I really am. Have you understood for some time that I, Sasangka, a swordsman who has passed through the ocean to various places, facing various types of enemies, criminals, pirates, and even other warriors? Are you troubling me?"

"It's not me, brother. You're the one who trifles you. I heard you were so disappointed in the death of your friends. You've been so sad you haven't done anything this whole time. You leave your body and muscles stiff. Even I heard you seem to want to stop being a swordsman" Siufan replied straightforwardly.

Siufan's words made Sasangka ponder. This girl is so straightforward and honest. He was stunned and aware of what he had done to himself all this time.

"You heard a lot of it."

"Sasangka Back. I am the son of a wine seller in Betawi. Of course I hear a lot of fan news stories. You know not how a drunk prattles?" answer Siufan flat.

"Alright, Siufan. I have understood the essence of your words. I'm grateful for this. You have awakened me to all my mistakes. From today on, you'll see that I'm going to be a complete Sasangka again."

Sasangka's speech is not a mere joke. Within one or two wulans, her hip bones improved, perfect in fact. Likewise with a puncture wound on his thigh.

He has trained his dagger silat. Even the wedhung was tucked in his waist back.

***

"Why only three moves?" asked Sasangka on the first day he had recovered and trained with Siufan.

"My father said, three is the fundamental number. I was trained to fight three enemies at once. You simply spin the axle, move around rapidly like this and attack the enemy with fists, and palms. Especially the palms, we can use the sides of the palm or the back as well."

This kuntao movement turned out to be simple but was done very quickly, like in layers.

"Why just three? What if you get hit by five or ten people for example," asked Sasangka while following Siufan's movements.

Of course, Sasangka understands. All skills depend on the user. Not that there is one type of fighting style that is greatest among others. But with this kuntao style, Sasangka can understand the core of the martial arts.

Sasangka trained him constantly, then practiced it on his dagger.

Three is the basic number.

A strange thought, yet somehow, he found the embodiment of this three-stroke kuntao style in his dagger art.

Siufan secretly smiled proudly at the development of his lover.

For months the two got closer. Sasangka also recovered and found his identity.

***

"Sasangka Back. You must take your two best friends, Narendra and Katilapan to go to Semarang. I heard some credible news. Your friend Jayaseta is in danger" Siufan said suddenly one afternoon during their meeting.

It is true that the news obtained by Siufan can be trusted. Siufan is a smart girl who happens to work at his father's wine shop to benefit from getting a lot of news and news from inside and outside Betawi.

Hearing the name of the person he knew very well Sasangka did not show anything.

He simply replied, "He is a great and famous swordsman, of course he is always in danger. But he could definitely deal with it as usual."

"This time no, brother. Jayaseta was married in Semarang to a man named Almira. But he himself had to go sailing to Sukadana. On the ship he will be killed by pirates and one of the magical twin of the Poet Baka who works for the Walanda Company. The problem is, his wife will be killed by his other twin and the members of the Hell Earth Needle group. You can't let this savage thing happen, can you?"

"Jayaseta's married? He finally found happiness if so," said Sasangka indifferently.

"What's wrong with you, brother? You're not listening to me? You must save Almira!"

"Listen Siufan. Jayaseta has been happy. He has his own business. Why should I interfere?"

"Well, you still want to be like this until when, brother? You're sulking because your comrades were killed, and you're blaming him, aren't you? You envy her greatness as a great warrior, even if she is married. It's like forgetting the struggles and sacrifices of you and your comrades, isn't it?"

Sasangka. He tried to hold Siufan's arm in annoyance. But the girl took half a step back, brushed off the lover's arm and gave a swift, hard slap to Sasangka's cheek. Even before Sasangka regained consciousness, Siufan punched his chest and stomach.

Sasangka fell down.

Siufan turned away. As he moved away he shouted, "I want you to come under the condition of helping Almira! I don't want to have a cowardly husband and not a swordsman!"

Siufan's quick steps made his slender body disappear in just two breaths.

The Siufan attack was not a deadly attack for someone like Sasangka. But his words really hit him.

He stood up, flicked his pants dirty by the ground after falling down, then went to meet Narendra and Katilapan.

***

"Narendra, Bed. Honestly, I used to blame Jayaseta for the deaths of our friends Badra, Mahendra, Kesuma and Karsan. When I lost them, I also lost my life. Then I met Siufan. He realized that I was thinking too much about myself and being a coward. Siufan gave me back to life, similar to Jayaseta who had met Almira.

"My debt with Jayaseta has been paid off. I saved his wife from the Threaties. Now is the time for me to get my own life. Almira for him, Siufan for me. I hope you can understand that I will not come with you to Sukadana. My business with Jayaseta is done.

"I'm going back to Betawi. Give my regards to Jayaseta. I'm sure he's fine in there."

Sasangka looked at her two best friends closely. The three realized this was a unanimous decision that could not be canceled again.

Years together are not easy to forget. But every meeting has to be a farewell. They had already parted with their friends in the most miserable way, hence this separation was not at all easy.

Sasangka turned her body and walked away from her two best friends. He did not look back at all until his shadow was lost in the dark of the night.