Bu Kek Siansu (The Demigod) Chapter 26

"We request that Kongcu simply comply and allow us to present you to the To-cu so that Kongcu may speak with him directly."

Sin Liong nodded.

Indeed, facing these crude men would be extremely dangerous because they were difficult to reason with. If he could speak with the Island Master, who must be the most intelligent figure, he would be able to ask for information on whether Swat Hong was already on the island. He nodded, and several inhabitants of Pulau Neraka then lit torches. Sin Liong himself discarded his branch, put his robe back on, and followed the group of a dozen people into the forest. Along the way, he saw dangerous spots: mud pits covered by tall grass, swirling sands that could suck down anything that stepped on them, strange trees with fruits that looked delicious but whose scent told him they contained wicked poison, and other hazards.

Truly a strange and dangerous island, he thought. It was fitting that it was called Hell Island (*Pulau Neraka*), and silently, he condemned the cruelty of the Ice Island Kingdom (*Kerajaan Pulau Es*) for banishing criminals to a place like this. Judging by the condition of the men who captured him, only Bouw Tang Kui still looked somewhat normal. This was likely because the giant had only been banished here for a few months, whereas the others, though they managed to survive, had turned into savage people whose character and memory seemed to have changed!

And besides becoming abnormal, they seemed to have mastered a formidable and terrifying skill: the art of controlling the venomous creatures on the island. The proof was that even though they walked through the forest full of venomous animals without shoes, not a single creature dared to attack them. Finally, using his sharp eyesight and sense of smell, Sin Liong realized that these people had used some kind of ointment, apparently rubbed all over their feet, causing the animals to retreat as soon as they approached.

He was completely surprised when they reached the middle of the path, where there was a large clearing and a big house appeared, surrounded by simple wooden huts. Lamps were brightly lit, and Sin Liong was led into a spacious room where the island's leader, called the To-cu (Island Master), was waiting. The room was more than ten square meters wide, surrounded by many people holding various weapons, all of whom displayed suspicion and hostility, except for Bouw Tang Kui, Sia Gin Hwa, Lu Kiat, and a dozen others who had only recently been banished there. These people recognized Sin Liong as the disciple of Han Ti Ong who had always been kind to them; many of them had even been treated by the young man.

"Kneel before the To-cu now!"

The Bearded Man said, pushing Sin Liong forward.

However, Sin Liong stood calmly before the To-cu and observed him attentively. This man was old, certainly at least sixty years of age. His head was enormous, but his body was small and thin, making him look comical, like a male lion sitting on a chair! His pair of eyes shone brightly, and his mouth was twisted into a sneer. His face was actually handsome, but his ferocious demeanor made it look terrifying and frightening. His clothing was not tattered like that of most inhabitants of Pulau Neraka; instead, it was made of new and clean fabric.

His chair was made of carved bones, and the armrests were decorated with snake skeletons whose wide-open jaws revealed sharp, curved teeth. To the right of the leader of Pulau Neraka sat a young girl who had almost caused Sin Liong to mistake her identity earlier. The girl was about the same age as Swat Hong, a pretty girl who was smiling; her demeanor seemed cheerful, and perhaps because of her age, she looked similar to Swat Hong.

Sin Liong had almost called out to her when he first entered the room. Seeing how the captive youth looked at her with full attention, the girl smiled. Seeing that Sin Liong refused to kneel before him, the old man stared sharply, then spoke slowly, his voice low,

"Hmph, you refuse to kneel, eh? I want to see if you will kneel when both your kneecaps are broken!"

Saying this, the old man's hand suddenly snatched a *toya* (staff) from a guard, bent the *toya* until it snapped in the middle, and with a single movement of his hand, the pair of broken *toya* pieces shot toward Sin Liong's legs! The youth was startled but remained calm. He realized that the leader of Pulau Neraka intended to use the thrown staves to dislocate his knee joints. So, he quickly moved his legs, leaped upward, and then, after seeing the two *toya* flash beneath his feet, he used his feet to step down. The pair of short staves plunged into the floor, and the youth stood on the two tips of the staves with his body straight, acting as if nothing had happened!

"Wow, he is amazing, Kong-kong (Grandfather)!"

The girl who had been smiling earlier cheered in admiration, while the men of Pulau Neraka looked angry, believing the youth was mocking their leader.

"Amazing, what! Such child's play!"

The big-headed old man snorted angrily.

"Can Kong-kong do it too? Teach me then!"

The girl said with a spoiled attitude and voice.

"Hush! Be quiet!"

The old man snapped, his eyes never leaving Sin Liong. Scolded like that, the girl pouted, her face red, holding back tears. Sin Liong felt pity and leaped down, saying comfortingly,

"Sweet little sister, do not be sad. If there is a chance, I will teach it to you."

The girl looked at Sin Liong with wide eyes, and then the gloom vanished from her spoiled face, becoming radiant again.

"Young man with a presumptuous attitude and mouth! Who are you, relying on a bit of skill to cause trouble on Pulau Neraka?"

The old man roared, restraining his anger because he felt greatly belittled when his attack with the pair of staves failed and was dealt with by the youth in such an extraordinary manner. Sin Liong quickly paid his respects with a deep bow, then said in a calm voice,

"I hope To-cu will forgive my arrival on Pulau Neraka. As I have told all the inhabitants of Pulau Neraka, my arrival holds absolutely no ill intent or desire for hostility. My name is Kwa Sin Liong and ...."

"He is the disciple of Han Ti Ong!"

Suddenly, the Bearded Man shouted loudly.

This statement was met with a noisy uproar from everyone present because they had become extremely enraged. Everyone there was an exile from Pulau Es, dating back to the first king, and they had lived there for three generations—some were new exiles, and some were descendants of old exiles—but all of them harbored hatred and resentment toward one name: Pulau Es! So, upon hearing that this handsome and calm youth was the disciple of Han Ti Ong, the last king of Pulau Es, their fury was imaginable. With their wild gazes, they wanted to tear apart and kill the youth, whom they considered a great enemy, and had they not feared their leader, they would surely have charged forward to carry out the intention reflected in their eyes.

"But he always opposed Han Ti Ong, opposing the banishment to Pulau Neraka!"

The voices of several people were heard defending him—the voices of Bouw Tang Kui, Lu Kiat, Sia Gin Hwa, and several other new exiles.

"Just kill him!"

"Drag out Han Ti Ong's disciple!"

"Make him snake bait!"

The big-headed old man raised both his arms and roared,

"Silence...!!"

Sin Liong was startled again. When the leader of Pulau Neraka let out that roar, he seemed to have exerted his *khikang* (internal energy), causing Sin Liong, who stood directly in front of the old man, to feel his legs tremble! He understood that the leader of Pulau Neraka truly possessed high martial skill and knew that he had entered a dragon's lair and was in danger. Yet, Sin Liong did not feel the slightest fear because he felt he had committed no wrong against them. So, he bowed again to the leader of Pulau Neraka, saying,

"To-cu, once again I explain that my arrival holds absolutely no ill intent, and if it were not absolutely necessary, I would certainly not dare to set foot on this island. I came to search for my *Sumoi* (Junior Sister Apprentice) named Han Swat Hong, the daughter of my *Suhu* (Master)....."

Sin Liong stopped his words, realizing he had spoken too freely, but since the words were already out, they could not be retracted.

"The daughter of Han Ti Ong...??"

The leader of Pulau Neraka shouted so loudly that it startled everyone.

"You are looking for Han Ti Ong's daughter here?"

Sin Liong said,

"That is correct, To-cu. Because I suspected she was here, I followed her here."

"Capture Han Ti Ong's daughter!"

"Kill her!"

"Hang his daughter!"

Now Sin Liong raised both his arms and, exerting his *khikang*, he shouted,

"I request that all of you (*Cuwi*) be silent!"

And everyone fell silent. Among those with high martial skill, including the leader of Pulau Neraka, they were deeply impressed because this young man, who was not yet fully grown, clearly possessed incredibly powerful *khikang*!

"I hope To-cu does not misunderstand. Han Ti Ong's daughter is also an exile."

Sin Liong's statement naturally shocked and astonished everyone, leaving them speechless, only staring at Sin Liong with wide eyes.

"You lie!"

The big-headed old man scolded.

"How could Han Ti Ong banish his own daughter to Pulau Neraka?"

"Perhaps To-cu understands the severity of the law on Pulau Es, and actually, the one considered to have broken the law was my *Suhu*'s own wife, his first wife, which I am certain was merely due to slander. *Suhu* passed judgment on *Subo*, and my *Sumoi* then represented her mother by exiling herself to Pulau Neraka. That is why I followed her here, to ask her to return to Pulau Es."