From above the roof tiles are still dripping the remains of stagnant rainwater. The light glistens in the morning sun. Like beautiful pearls, also like painful tears.
The bedroom door was pushed from the outside. Fu Hiong-kun stepped in with a bowl of porridge in hand.
"Lin Toako is awake?" His mouth asked so, but secretly in his heart he took a deep breath.
How could he not know that Song Ngo Lin had not slept all night.
Song Ngo Lin did not answer. He didn't even seem to notice Fu Hiong-kun's presence. Also did not hear the girl's greeting. Fu Hiong-kun put the bowl of porridge on the table. Again he took a deep breath.
"Lin Toako..."
Song Ngo Lin seemed to have snapped out of his reverie. He looked at Fu Hiong-kun with an astonished face. "When did you come in here?"
The question is also strange. Fu Hiong-kun laughed bitterly.
"Just now," he said simply.
Song Ngo Lin pondered again. His face was getting darker. "Hong.... Where is my sister now?" he asked quietly.
Fu Hiong-kun didn't answer right away. He seemed to be considering whether he should speak frankly. Finally he felt compelled to tell the truth.
"He has gone."
"Go?" Song Ngo Lin seemed to still want to say something, but he canceled it.
"He's fine. You don't have to worry." Fu Hiongkun forced a smile on his lips. "You better eat this porridge first. While it's still warm."
Song Ngo Lin shook his head. "Then... I'll put it on the table. It's up to you when you want to eat, but you have to eat, right?"
Without waiting for an answer from Song Ngo Lin, he immediately turned around and said: "I'll go out first."
Just now Song Ngo Lin intended to call Fu Hiongkun to bring the bowl of porridge because he was not in the mood to eat, but the girl had already stepped out in a hurry.
Arriving at the long corridor, Fu Hiong-kun's tears could no longer be held back. She burst into tears.
In fact, he could not bear to see Song Ngo Lin's condition, which was like a person who had lost his passion for life. Just at that time Song Han appeared from the other corner. He glanced at Fu Hiong-kun. "How is the condition?" he asked understandingly.
"Still sitting dumbfounded by the table. He didn't sleep all night," said Fu Hiong-kun in a halting voice.
Song Han looked at Fu Hiong-kun while taking a deep breath.
"Hiong-kun, we've made you suffer..."
Fu Hiong-kun lowered his head deeply. "No... I'm not suffering...!"
Her tears flowed even harder.
––––––––
Three days passed. The bodies of Sen Man-cing and Li Cu had been properly buried. Song Han gave an order to Cung Kok to arrange everything. The prayer ceremony took place simply. Some of the guests who had not yet returned attended the prayer ceremony solemnly. In their hearts there was no contempt for Sen Man-cing, instead they felt sorry for this woman's fate. So was their impression of Li Cu. This man is more worthy of respect than his own teacher.
With sincere feelings, Fu Hiong-kun knelt in front of Sen Man-cing's coffin acting as his representative. Meanwhile, Cung Kok and Song Han acted as the Tok Ku Bwee family in welcoming guests who paid their last respects.
Sen Man-cing and Tok Ku Bwee both had bad luck. They are two people who have suffered all their lives because of love. Sen Man-cing's death may still be understood by the people present.
Meanwhile, Li Cu's death is indeed to be regretted. Tok-ku Bu-ti did not deserve such a high defense from his students. But what else to say. The rice is already mush. The dead can't come back to life right?
––––––––
During the league that very day, Song Ngo Lin's state still did not change. Do not say eat, a drop of water never wet his lips. Fu Hiong-kun didn't give up.
Without knowing the word tired, he continued to persuade Song Ngo Lin and advised him.
Although he understood Song Ngo Lin's feelings, he was also worried that if this situation continued, Song Ngo Lin's health would definitely be affected.
Song Han was also equally anxious. Until the fourth day, he still saw Fu Hiong-kun coming out of Song Ngo Lin's room with a bowl full of porridge still intact.
A pair of eyebrows that had changed color immediately lifted upwards. Song Han didn't ask any questions. Fu Hiongkun also said nothing. He just passed beside Song Han while shaking his head repeatedly. His lips curved into a bitter smile. Song Han subconsciously followed closely behind.
Arriving at the inner room, he saw Fu Hiong-kun pouring back the porridge he brought back into the pot. Once again Song Han took a deep breath. "What's really going on in that kid's mind?" Song Han grunted irritably.
Fu Hiong-kun shook his head. "He's just too sad. Now what we have to do is help him forget what happened that night. If possible let him leave this place for a while."
Song Han shook his head repeatedly. "I don't think it's easy for him to forget the events of that night."
"Lin Toako's fate is truly pitiful!"
"Hiong-kun, your heart is so kind, your face is also beautiful. I don't understand why Ngo Lin...." Just said
halfway through, Song Han realized that under these circumstances he really shouldn't say such words. He quickly changed the subject. "You can't... At this rate, it's not just him
harm himself, other people also bother. I had to be strict with him and scold him to the fullest so that his mind would come to its senses. He must remember that he still has a long way to go and must not lose his passion for life because of this problem. Of course Tok-ku Bu-ti will be even happier when he finds out about it!"
Finished saying he immediately turned his body to run out.
Fu Hiong-kun intended to prevent it, but it was too late. He was forced to catch up behind Song Han.
––––––––
The bedroom door was tightly closed. Song Han pushed open the door and stepped inside. There was no trace of Song Ngo Lin's shadow.
There was only a letter lying on the table next to the red candle that had been extinguished.
Song Han rolled his eyes. Quickly he rushed to the front of the table. He picked up the letter that lay there and read it through. Her eyes were as wide as quail eggs.
Fu Hiong-kun had also arrived. Seeing Song Han who was confused he immediately came over.
"What's wrong with Lin Toako?" he asked frantically.
Song Han took a deep breath. He handed Fu Hiong-kun the letter left by Song Ngo Lin. "He went over the border!"
Fu Hiong-kun was stunned. He accepted the letter by reading it over and over again. Finally he fell on the bench limply. Song Han shook his head and took another breath.
"His departure might have been good. Far better than torturing himself to death in this place."
Fu Hiong-kun just nodded like a dazed person. Song Han turned his head to look at Fu Hiongkun. He forced a smile on his lips.
"Ngo Lin is not young anymore. His martial arts skills are very high. You don't have to worry about anything happening to him."
Fu Hiong-kun still nodded without saying anything.
"If Ngo Lin has gone beyond the border, we don't need to stay here anymore either," Song Han continued.
Fu Hiong-kun's lips moved, he looked like he wanted to say something, but Song Han had already snapped him back. "You don't have a definite goal anyway. You better come with me back to Wudangsan."
Fu Hiong-kun considered for a while then he nodded his head in agreement with Song Han's suggestion.
Song Han slowly walked out of the room. His eyes wander. "The name Bu-ti-bun is just a memory. This place is the base where every plan for Bu-ti-bun's crimes is prepared. It's of course useless to leave it alone. There is even the possibility of it being used by other heretical groups. We'd better just burn it down! " he said firmly.
The rest of Bu-ti-bun's destruction was also determined by these words of Song Han
––––––––
Song Han's departure from Bu-ti-bun was also due to the sad incident that Song Ngo Lin experienced. If everything had gone smoothly without incident, maybe Song Han wouldn't rush back to Wudang-san and make that final decision either.
Strong winds helped fuel the fire. Song Han had already given the order that not even a bit of anything should be left behind. Bu-ti-bun's headquarters immediately became a sea of fire with all its contents.
The fire burned for two days and one night. After raining heavily all night, the next day the fire started to die out and came to a slow halt. Not a single part of the Bu-ti-bun headquarters is still intact. As far as the eye could see, everywhere was just scattered rubble. The ruins of the walls were pitch black.
It seemed heartbreaking that people didn't know what that place was before and why Song Han gave the order to burn everything to the ground.
Until late afternoon the rain was still falling. Even stronger than before. A shadowy figure like a wandering spirit appeared in front of the former Bu-ti-bun gate. The stone wall that used to be the boundary of the yard was cracked and scorched black. Not even a spark of fire was visible, all that was left was the remnants.
But in the eyes of that person was visible fire blazing. Fire of fury! His fists clenched tightly. Head hair, clothes, from top to bottom was drenched in rain water. It was as if his back couldn't be straightened anymore because it was exposed to the continuous rain.
He seemed unable to forget the past might, where everyone felt trembling at the mere hearing of his name. Tok-ku Bu-ti!
Since morning he has come. His eyes stared at the flames that had completely devoured the former headquarters of Tok-ku Bu-ti. He found no sense to stop it.
It broke his heart to see the Bu-ti-bun headquarters being scorched by the flames little by little.
––––––––
His mind wandered. Revenge burned in his heart. When Bu-ti-bun was destroyed by Siau-yau-kok, at least he still had Tok Ku Bwee and his daughter,
Tok Ku Bwee. His daughter?
"Humph!" He has no daughter. Even he has no one now.
"Bu-ti-bun.... Bu-ti-bun...." he muttered repeatedly.
His chest rumbled. His breath hitched. His eyes flashed a terrible light. Then he raised his head and laughed out loud. The sound of laughter was more like the hysterical screeching of a human whose brain had gone insane.
The sound of laughter emanated from his heart that was too sore.
So loud that it reverberated far into the distance.
The current situation of Tok-ku Bu-ti has indeed almost entered an abnormal level
––––––––
Noon.
Pek ka cik's situation today was no different from the previous days. On the highway in the middle of the hamlet, you can see people passing by without stopping.
Still as lively as ever. Pek ka cik is an old name. The name was taken because the people living in that area used to consist of a hundred families. Now it has reached thousands.
However, the given name is still used today. The location of the place is very strategic. There are also a lot of merchants walking back and forth in this place. This is also one of the reasons why the place is getting more and more populated.
People who want to go north or south must go through Pek ka cik. Thus they do not need to traverse dense forests or mountains where there are still many wild beasts. It is also a suitable place to stay for one or two nights before continuing your journey back.
In an area like this, no matter what model of human being or whatever profession comes, it certainly doesn't attract too much attention. As a crossing area, there are indeed many people who stop at the hamlet. By only wearing a pandan hat that is lower than the general public, unless someone else deliberately bends over to glance, the face that is partially covered by the pandanus hat is not easy to see. Besides that, he still wore a piece of black cloth to cover the left and right sides of his face and tie it under the chin.
This person walked close to the walls of other people's houses. It seemed that he was trying to avoid the sight of the passing residents. Every step of his feet did not change. As it has been carefully measured.
––––––––
Near the bend at the end of the road, there is a fortune telling man. On the pedestal of the small table in front of him lay various kinds of objects needed for divination.
Everything is arranged on a white cloth that is shabby.
The color of his face like someone who is not well. His pallor was almost like the cloth on his dingy desk. A pair of pupils are also almost all white. It seemed that the fortune teller was also blind.
The man who was wearing a pandan hat and whose face was barely visible stopped in front of the fortune teller's table. The fortune teller paid no heed to his presence. He continued to shake the bamboo tube filled with long sticks. It took a long time before he suddenly realized that someone was standing in front of him.
His hands stopped moving. His head was tilted slightly.
"Brothers came for fortune-telling?" he asked then.
"That's right." said the man in the pandanus hat in a deep voice.
"Fortify yourself or someone else?"
"A good friend."
"Know his birthday?"
"Cia gwe ce-sa (Month one day three)."
"How old is he now?"
"Over sixty years."
"What would you like to see?"
"How long can he live in this world?"
"Oh?" The fortune teller was stunned for a moment. Then he moved the tube in his hand again and took one. On the wooden surface was written the letters 'Thirty-eighth'. The fortuneteller's eyes looked up.
A pair of fingers touched the surface of the wood and then he pondered for a moment. After that he put the long stick back into the tube. He suddenly shook his head repeatedly.
"He is dead, what else is there to tell fortunes?"
"Then, what should I do now" You better go to the prayer equipment shop at the end of the street.
Buy seven candles and pray for your best friend," the astrologer suggested.
The person wearing the pandanus hat didn't say anything else. He turned around and immediately left the place. The fortune-teller did not ask him for payment either. He continued what he was doing earlier, namely moving the tube filled with long wood. Her almost twisted eyes flashed a glistening light in the sunlight.
Suddenly, a sinister gleam flashed across his eyes. But who had the chance to notice the situation?
––––––––
The shop that sells prayer items is not very big. When the person wearing the pandanus hat stepped inside, there wasn't a single visitor there shopping.
A maid came up to him.
"What do you want to buy?"
"Candle...."
"How many sticks?"
"Seven...."
"Usually people buy an even number of candles so they can make a pair. But sir..."
"I just want to buy seven sticks."
"Fine. One stick two tails. Fourteen tails in all."
With fourteen tails of money to buy seven candles, if someone else hears it, of course he will think his hearing is not right. But the person wearing the pandanus hat didn't think it was expensive at all. He took out a sum of fourteen pounds and placed it on the counter.
The servant actually held out seven candles for him.
The pandan hat man accepted it without counting again. "I want to worship a dear friend. How do I use these candles?"
"People who die return to the ground. Only then can the spirit rest. You should go to the Tio family shop to buy a good quality coffin. There are many choices there."
"Tio's family shop? Where is it?"
"Sir live down this street. In the middle there is a large coffin shop and above it is a sign that says "Tio Family"
––––––––
The said Tio family shop was in fact tightly closed. But just one push the door was opened.
Even though it was still daytime, it was dim in the room. All the windows were closed by a black curtain. The atmosphere was so tense and terrible.
The person wearing the pandanus hat stepped inside. He closed the shop door again.
"Is there anyone inside?" he asked out loud.
No reply was heard. The pandan hat person greeted once again. This time, a coughing sound was heard.
Surprisingly, the sound came from one of the coffins lined up in the room. The pandan hat person was not the least bit surprised. He was still standing waiting in his original place.
Suddenly there was a flash of light. A candle had been lit and was being held up by someone who appeared from beside the casket at the far end of the room. He walked over to the man in the pandanus hat with slow steps.
"Who are you looking for?"
"I want to buy a coffin!"
"Which cost?"
"How much it costs I do not care, the important quality is good!" The man in the pandanus hat stepped forward and lit the seven candles he was carrying.
The person who had appeared from beside the coffin was now clearly visible. Turns out he's a hunched back because of a disability. He stared at the man in the pandanus hat with a probing look.
"Who are you planning to kill?" he asked directly.
"Song Han..." said the man in the pandan hat one by one.
The hunchback was stunned. "Song Han of Wudang?"
"I didn't know there was a second Song Han worth killing."
Again the hunchback fell silent.
"How much does it cost?"
"How much can you afford?" The hunchback asked.
"Ten laksa tail!" It seemed that the man in the pandanus hat was generous enough to spend his money.
Again the hunchback was stunned. "We agree with the price you give. Now you can leave this place," he said later.
The person wearing the pandanus hat remained motionless. The hunchback chuckled. "If you can find this place, of course you also know the rules that apply here. A month after Song Han's death, you have to come back to deliver the promised money, not even one detail can be reduced.?
The person wearing the pandanus hat nodded his head. "Sure," he said quietly.
"You have lit a candle in this place. It means that the transaction between us has taken place. If you don't have ten laksa tails of money, you better ask for alms from now on. Don't regret it later!"
"You don't need to worry...!"
The hunchback laughed dryly. "As long as we don't worry about payment problems. Surely you understand much more than we do."
The person wearing the pandanus hat let out a cold laugh. "Hope you won't disappoint me either."
"It doesn't feel like a business worth ten laksa tail is not an unprofitable business. We will definitely try our best. So far, we have never disappointed the expectations of our customers!" said the hunchback.
The person wearing the pandanus hat laughed coldly once again. The hunchback took one step forward. He pointed his index finger. "Remember! One month only has thirty days!
Time passes quickly!"
The man in the pandanus hat snorted once. "If this isn't what worry is said to be, then what is it?"
Calmly the hunchback took back the candle that was lit earlier. "If killing a Song Han who is such a highly knowledgeable figure still can't make money, I don't think we will hesitate to add insight by killing another Tok-ku Bu-ti!"
The person wearing the pandanus hat still didn't show any reaction. "Unfortunately Master isn't Tokku Bu-ti. Otherwise, we certainly wouldn't have to worry at all," said the hunchback next.
"Oh?" The pandan hat looked a bit curious.
The hunchback just chuckled.
"Although Bu-ti-bun has been destroyed, but if Tokku Bu-ti listens to your words, he will definitely honor you with three cups of wine!"
Finished saying, the man in the pandan hat immediately turned his body and walked out.
The hunchback watched the man in the pandanus hat leave the room of his shop. He secretly smiled slyly. He blew out the candle in his hand until it went out. Things inside the Tio family shop weren't pitch dark. The seven candles lit by the man in the pandanus hat were still burning brightly.
––––––––
Approximately three li north of Pek ka cik there is a resting place shaped like a pagoda.
After leaving Pek ka cik, the man in the pandan hat kept walking. Arriving at the resting place that he just stopped his footsteps. In his hand he carried a jug of wine and three bowls. He sat down on a stone table in the center of the resting place. He calmly downed three successive cups of wine. After that he took off his pandan hat and took off the black cloth that covered the bottom of his chin.
Tok-ku Bu-ti!
After finishing three bowls in a row, he threw them down the hill. Why he gulped the three cups dry, only he knows. Although the corners of his lips revealed a cold laugh, his eyelids didn't reveal a hint of a smile.
"Tian Sat" is an organization that provides assassins for hire. This organization has been around for a long time. This organization is huge and also very mysterious. Their motto is no personal grudges. All they see is money. They also don't care who they kill, as long as the price is according to their wishes.
Tok-ku Bu-ti has been trying to annex this organization for a long time. Previously, Bu-ti-bun also provided contract killers. But their wings are less wide when compared to the Tian Sat. Even though until now he had not been able to find out who the head of this organization was, Tok-ku Bu-ti was very interested in how it worked which was mysterious and never failed.
Such is the secret of this one organization that any members who support it are never leaked. Judging from the figures they managed to kill, of course the members of this organization consisted of highly knowledgeable people. But who is a high class figure in this world that Tok-ku Bu-ti doesn't know?
He had thought about one by one, but of all the people he knew, it was impossible for anyone to want to become a member of an assassination association like Tian Sat.
After finishing three cups of wine, suddenly a strange feeling crept into Tok-ku Bu-ti's heart. Bu-ti-bun really doesn't have a chance to revive!
The wind over the hill was blowing hard. The trees remained standing straight, but the leaves waved in the wind. Tok-ku Bu-ti's hair was starting to get messy.
His mind grew chaotic.
As a Buncu who has been respected and feared by the people of the kangouw world, is it appropriate for him to take actions like this as an outlet for his revenge?
He began to consider this matter. But he was sure that by this time the seven candles had all extinguished. Sorry it's too late. Why didn't he think of it from the start?
––––––––
Of course Song Han also couldn't forget that there was a human named Tok-ku Bu-ti in this world. However, he never ordered people to investigate where his tracks are now. In his little heart, currently Tokku Bu-ti is just a lowly human who doesn't mean much. He really didn't want to spend his time thinking about this one person. Moreover, the affairs in Wudangsan still have a lot to be done.
When he had free time, Song Han often looked for Fu Hiong-kun and chatted with him.
Most of his time is mostly spent training Cung Kok and other Wudang students in martial arts lessons. He also reformed the Jit sing kiam ceng line, whose members had all died.
Fu Hiong-kun is now in charge of the kitchen providing food for the Wudang students. Secretly he still likes to sit pensively in the back garden. Who else could he think of if not Song Ngo Lin. When Yan
Cong-tian had arrived beside him he was still unconscious as well.
"Hong-kun..."
The girl gasped. She turned towards Song Han with a blushing face.
"Locianpwe...."
Song Han took a deep breath. "Hiong-kun, there's something I want to discuss with you..."
Fu Hiong-kun looked at him in surprise.
"About what?"
Song Han did not answer immediately. It seemed he was considering something. After a while, he finally said what he meant.
"Hiong-kun, you are alone. Even though your brother Giok-su is still alive, we don't know where he is.
After all he's not a good human that you can follow. The grudge between him and our side is very deep. We cannot predict what will happen in the future. If you are willing, I want to adopt you as my son. Of course I'm not forcing you, it's up to you whether you are willing or not."
Hiong-kun was stunned by Song Han's words. He looked at her with moved eyes. "Thank you, Lociapnwe... I'm so happy to be honored so high!"
Song Han's face lit up immediately. He accepted Fu Hiong-kun after considering it carefully. The girl is very kind hearted. Without discriminating against any grudges between them, he guarded and cared for Song Han wholeheartedly. He also got Suat tian for Song Ngo Lin.
After all, he had already loved her and all this time he had considered her like his own child. It's not normal for a tosu to have adopted children, especially if she's a woman, but Song Han, whose customs are strict, doesn't care about all that.
He stretched out his hand stroking Fu Hiong-kun's head.
"Thank you, Hiong-kun. I'm so happy. You remind me of my student Xiao Rong..." Song Han took a deep breath. His face darkened. "I don't know what happened to him? I don't even know where he is and whether he is still alive or not?"
"Hope Locianpwe don't think too much about Xiao Rong cici's situation. As far as I know, Giok-su koko really loves her, surely he wouldn't have the heart to kill that girl.
How about we have someone investigate the situation?"
Song Han's eyes immediately shone brightly. He nodded his head. "That's right, Hiong-kun. All this time we have always been busy with various problems. To the extent that we forgot about Xiao Rong. Tomorrow I will order some people to investigate where the girl is now. But the important thing is, tomorrow I will announce your appointment as my daughter."
Fu Hiong-kun was a little excited to hear Song Han's excited tone.
––––––––
Early in the morning, Cung Kok was called by Song Han. Seeing his Supek's excited face, he became astonished. "Supek, Tecu Cung Kok is facing."
Song Han immediately approached and grabbed Cung Kok's hand. "Cung Kok, soon you will gather the other Wudang students in the hall. I want to announce something," he said enthusiastically.
"What business is Supek so passionate about?" Cung Kok asked curiously.