(Part 5)
When there was a rebellion and riots caused by a band of robbers in the north, the prince’s son had shown courage and helped eradicate the robbers. This raised his name high and he received the praise from the emperor himself.
With this status, which girls would not be crazy about him and which parents would not want to have a son-in-law like Sim Tek Kun?! However, this young man himself repeatedly refused the persuasion from his mother and father to get married.
Instead, he was very happy to migrate, to adventure among the kang-ouws, and to do livelihood as a wise warrior. He went in and out of villages and towns, giving hand to anyone who needed help. He was handfull, both to contribute money and energy and power to help poor, weak people. So, for a short time his name was famous among the kang-ouws and he also got a nickname of Bun-bu-taihiap (Great Warrior of Literary and Martial-Art Experts).
When Prince Sim Liok Ong and his wife knew about Lian Hong’s existence, they became very interested. In the kingdom’s capital there was rarely anyone known that this girl was also good at martial-art. People only knew her because of her beauty and dancing skill. Seeing this girl, Prince Sim and his wife immediately liked her and then submitted a proposal without first asking their son who was nowhere at that time.
As receiving that proposal, Ciok-taijin almost danced with joy. He hugged his granddaughter with tears in his eyes while saying, “Lian Hong …… Lian Hong … finally Thian (God) showed His mercy to us! You have been proposed by Prince Sim for his only son! Ah, what a great honor! Know this, many daughters of other princes in the emperor’s palace will not necessarily be able to receive this much honor. Bwe Kim, good daughter, finally you bring happiness and honor to your parents through your daughter …”
Seeing the great excitement shown by his mother and grandfather and grandmother, Lian Hong immediately couldn’t bear to refuse. In fact she was not happy at all hearing the news of her match-making because she did not have any desire to bind herself to a matchmaking. She had heard the news about Sim Tek Kun, and she secretly wanted to know the truth of it. She considered that the news about the young man was very exaggerated and often her sweet lips pulled mockingly.
“Hm, Bun-bu-taihiap …? Arrogant youth! Are there any rich, noble young men deserved to be called as a taihiap? Surely he is just a youth who was always having fun and wasting his father’s wealth. That nickname was certainly given by people licked the noble, rich man for something.
But who wanted to lick back on their own saliva?! Now it turned out the young man had proposed her, the young man who had always been sneered at by her. But what power did Lian Hong have to be able to reject it? Seeing the excitement of the people she loved, she was unable to express her opinion, only able to lower her flushed face, not because of shame but more due to anger. Yes, she was so angry to the young man who she considered to be presumptuous and brash enough to propose her! What kind of person that young man was? How dare he try to tie her as his wife?
Thus, she secretly thought with a curious heart. Lian Hong is indeed a strange girl. Her attitude was gentle, beautiful and very witty, but behind all that, she had a tough heart inherited from her father.
The engagement was held and the news of the engagement had spread to all of the kingdom’s capital. So many parents and daughters felt jealous of the fortune of the Ciok family. However, Lian Hong herself only accepted all this with a cold heart.
“Kong-kong,” she said softly and spoiled, “I always comply and obey you. And even in terms of matchmaking, I obey your will. But there is one thing I want to ask from you, and may you are willing to grant it, that is, I don’t want to be hastily married. Let this engagement be postponed for at least one year!”
Her grandfather, mother, and also her grandmother were just gawking at her. Ciok-taijin could only shake his head. The good thing was that Prince Sim was also in no hurry and received the request for this time delay because at that time their son had not returned to the kingdom’s capital yet.
About a month later, came the news that made Lian Hong and Bwe Kim cry. Lian Hong felt unconscious when she heard it.
This news was conveyed through a letter from Ouwyang Sianjin that was delivered by a messenger, which contained the information about the death of Ong Han Cu. In the letter, Ouwyang Sianjin mentioned the names of the five people who had killed Ong Han Cu, and one of the five was Leng Kok Hosiang who once came to harass them but was defeated by Ouwyang Sianjin, as previously told.
Ciok-taijin could only sigh a few times and shook his head, “Hm, that’s how people live as migrants who are always in touch with rough people of kang-ouw. Fight, injure or be hurt, plant seeds of hostility, cause hurt and resentment in the hearts of others, then fight again, kill or be killed, and so on as if demonous circle.”
Lian Hong, who had regained her consciousness when she heard his grandfather’s words, then quickly stood up and with his chest lifted she said, “Kong-kong, that’s true. But the soul of a dashing man, who upholds truth and justice, will never be afraid and reluctant to sacrifice his life. If there are no dashing people who eradicate evil people and defend the oppressed, weak people, how the condition of the world will be? Crime will be increasingly rampant. And because of that, I have to go find the enemies who killed my father. I have to get revenge!!!”
“No, Lian Hong, no!” exclaimed Ciok-taijin, “You’re just a young girl, how can you go out and look for those dangerous criminals?”
“No need to worry, Kong-kong,” the girl answered with a manly attitude, “According to suhu’s letter, even now suhu is also looking for the f*cking Yap Cin, nicknamed as The Infinite Monkey. Let me go after him and help him eradicate the criminal!”
“No, Lian Hong, you will only make us feel anxious and worried always,” now also Mrs. Ciok also helped her husband to prevent their granddaughter from leaving. Even Bwe Kim also forbade her child not to go on the danger. Lian Hong became overwhelmed and could not be insistent.
But in the evening, the girl escaped leaving her room quietly. Only a letter was left on the table ini her room informing that she wanted to go after her suhu to the City of Kam-ciu in searching of Sin-wan (The Infinite Monkey) Yap Cin. Ciok-taijin, his wife, and also Bwe Kim became very nervous. Bwe Kim could only cry.
However, Ciok-taijin then told his wife and daughter so that this would not be heard by Prince Sim because it would be very dangerous. Of course this was because Prince Sim would definitely be angry when he heard his future daughter-in-law running away to go wander like a wild kang-ouw girl.
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