Hah... hah... hah...
My breathing is heavy and shallow. I don't know how deep I've fallen. This place is so dark, silent, and cold.
My regeneration is extremely slow. The stab wound from Senior Bagong is turning blue. I can't even feel my legs.
"H-help..." My voice refuses to come out.
My mind is blank. My only hope is that the Jade Moon Lotus has been delivered and that Physician Sugeng can recover soon.
They say hard work doesn't betray the result. I hope so. I hope my efforts weren't in vain. I hope Physician Sugeng recovers soon.
At least my death won't be meaningless.
Tap tap tap.
A flash of white light descends into the ravine.
I've seen this before. It's like the appearance of the White Tiger. It seems I won't die today. Thank you, God...
BRUK!
The tiger's paw strikes, hitting my chest squarely, creating a hole.
Why?! What do you mean?!
Then it throws me. With its claws, it smashes me against the cliff wall. My body is buried under the rubble.
Once again, the tiger roars, shattering the silence at the bottom of the ravine.
---
Meanwhile, in a very distant place.
The tiger's roar is heard.
"Hoho, it seems this failed product has returned, just like 20 years ago. It appears we need to create chaos greater than we've ever done before," said the man with the silhouette of the Fist King's killer.
Then he rose from his throne, summoning one of his right-hand men.
"Prepare. We will create the greatest chaos. More than we have ever done. And I hope the next product doesn't fail again," concluded the mysterious man.
---
Days turn into days.
It has been two days since Karman's death. Many people feel the loss deeply, especially Bi Ijah. Staring at the payment tray still full, she recalls a young man who valued her cooking. She cries as if she has lost her own child.
Meanwhile, Tono sits at his usual table in the canteen. The menu is the same, but his table feels too empty. Now, he is just in a space. A silent, lifeless space that no longer feels the same.
Putri still swings her sword, pouring out all her emotions. Her mind is in turmoil. Why wasn't it me instead?, she murmurs in her heart.
But Bonar seems unchanged. He goes about his life as usual.
Meanwhile, in the assembly hall, the elders are holding a meeting. Elder Hartono arrives late.
"Alright, it seems we can begin our meeting today," said the sect leader. "An incident occurred in Kidang Alas. It has claimed another victim. So we must decide whether to continue opening Kidang Alas or close it."
A man, Elder Bejo Bejan, raised his hand.
"Wasn't this an unintentional incident? We should keep it open, considering the sect's future. Besides, the victim wasn't from a major family or a martial arts lineage."
Elder Hartono clenched his fists until his fingernails pierced his palms.
"Damn it! You promised. Weren't you the one who brought that child here?! Why aren't you taking responsibility?! At least show some concern!" Hartono shouted.
"What should I be responsible for when he was too weak and acted recklessly?" Bejo replied coldly.
"Calm down, everyone," said the sect leader. "Are there any other opinions?"
"What if we just close it? We only need to find another alternative for our sect's sustainability," said Hartono.
"Don't be so arbitrary! Kidang Alas was closed once before because of you!" another elder yelled.
"What do you mean?!" Hartono retorted.
"We all know Kidang Alas was closed because of the death of the Golden Body successor, your fellow disciple!"
Hartono restrained his emotions. Because it was all true. It was as if they had been holding back from mocking him all this time.
"If you weren't a disciple of the Fist King, would we respect you? If you weren't the last person to know the Golden Body technique, we would have expelled you from the elder council long ago. Don't act so arbitrarily!"
Hartono fell silent, struck by the facts.
"Enough! Let's not argue," the sect leader interrupted. "I have another suggestion. We will close it temporarily. We will let the situation cool down until it stabilizes, then restrict exploration to the peripheral areas only. How about that?"
All the elders fell silent, indicating agreement.
"Alright. It's decided then."
The meeting ended. Everyone left the place, except for Elder Hartono, who remained sitting in silence.
No one felt the loss except Elder Hartono. Yes, it's happening again. He remembers clearly how his fellow disciple died at the hands of the White Tiger.
The sect leader approached.
"Hartono, I understand how it feels to lose someone important to you repeatedly. But what can we do? Our sect's destiny is bound, just as day and night never precede or abandon each other. So it is with our sect, the White Tiger and the Golden Body. I hope this sorrow doesn't linger."
Meanwhile, in the clinic, Physician Sugeng, despite having only an incomplete Jade Moon Lotus, has shown slight improvement. His condition is getting better. His originally pale complexion now has a bit of color.
In the clinic corridor, Tono, Putri, and Bonar sat for hours without speaking at all.
Then Putri broke the silence.
"You all understand what we've been through, right? What have we seen? Let it remain only among us. And we must truly protect Physician Sugeng, because that was Karman's last hope."
---
A full week has passed since the Kidang Alas incident. The sect has returned to normal. Kidang Alas has been reopened. Students have started entering again, but only the outer areas.
Everything feels alive and peaceful, except for Tono, Putri, and Bonar. They continue their daily routines, but it feels empty. A careless and impatient boy named Karman has left a deep impression on their hearts.
Until a commotion occurs at the entrance to Kidang Alas.