Sunlight pierced through the gaps in the window. I stretched my stiff body from yesterday's hunt.
"Karman, wake up! Someone's looking for you!" Tono said while splashing water on my face.
"Mmmmh... five more minutes..."
"Putri! Putri is looking for you."
My eyes snapped open. With my soul still not fully synchronised, I went out to meet Putri.
Outside the dormitory, Putri stood with her arms folded with an expression colder than usual.
"Putri? What is it?"
She was silent for a moment, trying to find the right words to say.
"About Healer Sugeng," Putri continued.
I became curious. Putri, who was usually cold, now showed a serious expression. What exactly was...
"His condition worsened last night. The physicians said..." She took a breath. "Two weeks at most."
The world seemed to spin. Memories of our interactions in the village made my chest feel tight.
"Two weeks? But he was fine when I..."
"His old wounds flared up. The journey when you carried him to the city... damaged his internal organs worse than expected. He was hiding his pain."
My hands trembled.
Sugeng. The person who saved me. The person who was my first home. Was dying helplessly.
"But there is still one hope," Putri continued. "The Jade Moon Lotus. It only grows in the depths of Kidang Alas. The physicians say it's his only hope."
"Where? Tell me where!"
"Karman, listen first..."
"I don't care! Quickly! Just tell me!"
Putri held my shoulders, trying to calm me.
"That location is in the forbidden zone. Even the Elders rarely go there. The beasts there aren't like the ones you usually face."
"I'll still go."
"I know." Her eyes stared sharply at me. "That's why I'm here. You can't go alone. Sect rules require at least five people, with one senior, for the inner zone."
"So?"
"I've spoken with Father. He permitted it. But..."
"Thank you, Putri." I bowed deeply. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," she said, turning away. "You must meet Elder Hartono. Now."
---
I ran to Elder Hartono's residence. My heart pounded. Physician Sugeng only had two weeks.
Krieeett
The door opened before I could knock.
"Enter." Elder Hartono's voice was cold.
Elder Hartono stood with his back to me.
"It's been two weeks since you last came."
My body tensed.
"Elder, I..."
"Two weeks. I gave you a book. I asked you to study. And what did you do?"
"I was hunting, Elder. I needed points for..."
BAM!
A wooden training dummy hit my forehead. Hard enough to draw blood.
"For food?!" Elder Hartono stood up, staring at me with blazing eyes. "YOU THINK POWER COMES FROM FOOD?!"
"E-Elder..."
BAM! BAM!
A barrage of blows. No qi used... just pure technique. But more painful than any beast attack.
I was thrown back until my body hit the wall.
"Do you know why I gave you that book?!" Hartono approached. "Because you're STUPID! You only rely on a body that won't die. But a body without technique is just a living punching bag!"
"Forgive me, Elder..."
BAM!
A kick landed squarely in my stomach. I vomited blood.
"Don't apologise with words!" Hartono grabbed my collar. "Show me with ACTION!"
He threw me to the centre of the room.
"Get up. Show me the stance from the book."
I stood up unsteadily. My body had already healed, but... my tears flowed.
"Elder..." my voice trembled.
Elder Hartono was silent for a moment.
"I have to go to the depths of Kidang Alas. I have to..."
My hands shook, holding back emotions ready to explode.
"If I fail... if I'm late... the person who saved me will die..."
Tears kept flowing. I didn't care if I looked weak.
Sugeng was the first person to treat me like a human.
Elder Hartono stared at me for a long time. His expression didn't change.
Then he let out a long sigh.
"...Foolish boy. Don't act so arrogant! Do you think you..." Elder Hartono paused for a moment.
"The beasts here are at least level five. A single one could kill dozens of ordinary disciples," he continued.
"I'm not..."
"I know you have an unusual body!" Hartono interrupted. "But you're still STUPID! Power without proper technique is just another form of suicide."
He stood up, taking a stance.
"The stance you've been using... I've been watching you."
My heart pounded. So, he had been watching me all this time?
"That night. When you were surrounded by beasts. I watched you from afar." He said while gazing into the distance. "And I saw something save you."
This is dangerous. I might be suspected because the White Tiger didn't hurt me at all, but saved me.
"I don't know what you're hiding. And I don't care." He continued while taking a stance. "What I care about: you are my disciple. And I won't let my disciple die from stupidity."
He demonstrated the movements.
"The stance you've been using... the foundation is correct. But the application is messy. You rely too much on your body's regeneration."
His movements changed.
"In the inner zone, regeneration isn't enough. Some beasts can devour qi. Beasts that can destroy souls. Beasts that can..." He stopped.
"...It doesn't matter. What matters is: learn this."
Hartono performed a combination of movements. I tried to follow.
"Wrong! Your feet are too wide!"
PLAK!
A bamboo stick hit my leg.
"Again!"
We trained for hours. I lost count of how many times I was hit for making mistakes.
PLAK! PLAK! PLAK!
My body was covered in bruises. Regeneration worked. But the pain didn't disappear.
"Why..." I gasped. "Why is Elder training me so hard?"
Hartono stopped. His back was to me.
"...Because I once failed to protect someone important."
His voice was soft.
"My teacher. Fist King Supardi. He died because I wasn't strong enough."
He turned around. For the first time, I saw tears in the corners of his eyes.
The sun was almost setting. My training was over.
Elder Hartono handed me a scroll map that he had taken from a cabinet.
"The Jade Moon Lotus is here." His finger pointed to a spot on the map. "But there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"That area... is Viper King territory."
My body tensed.
"Viper King. A level seven beast. Even I would have difficulty facing it alone."
"Then how..."
"Don't fight him." Hartono looked at me seriously. "The Viper King is territorial. As long as you don't take its eggs, it won't attack."
"Eggs?"
"Yes. Viper beasts are very protective of their eggs. If someone steals them..." Hartono drew a line on the map. "The entire colony will hunt the thief to death."
I swallowed hard.
"So... don't touch the eggs."
"Exactly." Hartono folded the map and handed it to me. "Take the Lotus. Get out as fast as possible. Don't be greedy."
"I understand, Elder."
"And one more thing."
He looked at me intensely.
"I've spoken with the Sect Leader. Senior Bagong will guide you."
Senior Bagong. The one who saved me that time.
"He's experienced. Follow his directions."
"Yes, Elder."
I bowed, about to leave.
"Karman."
I turned back.
Elder Hartono looked at me with a perturbed expression.
"...Don't die."
"I promise, Elder."
Nighttime. At the Kidang Alas gate.
Putri was already waiting with all the necessary equipment. Her sword gleamed under the moonlight.
"You're late," she said coldly.
"Sorry, I just finished meeting with Elder Hartono."
"I know. I saw you coming out with a bruised face this afternoon."
Tono came running, carrying a large bag.
"Karman! I've prepared traps, supplies, and..." He looked at my face. "Good heavens, why does your face look like you got beaten up by debt collectors?!"
"Shut up! Or do you want me to beat you up, too?"
"Hehehe... just kidding."
The sound of slow, measured footsteps was heard.
"Senior Bagong!" Putri bowed.
"Sorry, I'm late. I had to 'convince' Bonar to come." Bagong patted Bonar's shoulder, who looked reluctant.
"Why do I have to go with this village trash..." Bonar muttered.
"Because the Sect Leader ordered it," Bagong answered softly.
Bonar fell silent.
"Alright." Bagong clapped his hands. Five people complete. Putri, Karman, Tono, Bonar, and me."
He took out a map. A different one from Elder Hartono's map.
"The route we'll take is slightly different from the standard map. I know a safer shortcut." Senior Bagong said. "We leave at dawn tomorrow. Get plenty of rest." He continued.
We all nodded.
As the others left, I stared towards the depths of Kidang Alas. My thoughts wandered everywhere. Honestly, I was scared. But Sugeng's cure was at the other end.
"Wait for me, Healer Sugeng," I whispered softly.