Ice Island Palace Chapter 27

"Are you Aunt Kam Kwi Lan, known as Mutiara Hitam?"

Maya asked Mutiara Hitam while looking at her with admiration. Mutiara Hitam, who was still pointing her weapon at Raja Yucen, was also astonished watching the young girl whose movements were so light, defeating her two disciples.

"Who are you? And who is that gallant man below?"

Tek San also leaped onto the large rock and bowed respectfully.

"Teecu Khu Tek San, disciple of Suhu Kam Liong, pays his respects to Sukouw (Martial Aunt) and Paman Guru (Martial Uncle) and thanks Ji-wi for your assistance."

"Ahhh....!"

Mutiara Hitam was stunned and also delighted to hear that the powerful man who had tried to help her disciples was her own brother's disciple! "And this child....?"

"She is Sukouw's own niece, Puteri Maya....!"

"Aihhh....!"

Mutiara Hitam's exclamation contained a suppressed sob, and her right hand reached for Maya's head and hugged the child briefly, while her left hand still "restrained" Raja Yucen.

"Heeiii! Mutiara Hitam, release us! Haven't we already freed Khu-ciangkun and those three children?"

"Not yet, Your Majesty. We are not safe yet. My child, Maya, come and join your aunt."

However, Maya had a different opinion. As soon as she met her aunt's two disciples, she felt a strong dislike. They had arrogant personalities! And she already felt admiration and fondness for Khu Tek San, so she shook her head and said,

"Thank you, Aunt. But I want to go with Khu-ciangkun!"

Mutiara Hitam sighed deeply. She was a valiant and powerful woman who disliked fuss. Once a decision was made, it was not changed, and upon hearing her niece's decision, she did not argue further. Her heart remained firm and proud.

"Very well, Maya. You going with Khu-ciangkun and meeting Pek-humu (Your Aunt) Kam Liong is the same thing. Now, Khu-ciangkun, go ahead and take Maya south. We guarantee that the Yucen people will not disturb your journey."

Khu Tek San bowed, then held Maya's hand and said,

"Let us go!"

Both jumped down from the large rock and ran off. No one dared to block them. However, Khu Tek San, searching with his eyes, did not see the horse-faced youth who had appeared earlier with Raja Yucen, the youth whom Maya said was named Siangkoan Lee and who had killed his courier. After waiting for a while until she was absolutely certain that Khu Tek San and Maya had gone far, Mutiara Hitam released Raja Yucen, and her husband also released the shoulders of the two high-ranking generals who had been completely unable to move when he gripped them earlier. Mutiara Hitam bowed to the king and said,

"We hope Your Majesty forgives us. If we followed our heart's desire, perhaps we would have killed Your Excellency, considering the death of my brother, the King of Khitan, at your hands...."

"Ahhhh, that vile accusation!"

Raja Yucen snapped angrily.

"The King of Khitan and we, at the last moment, fought shoulder-to-shoulder facing the wave of Mongol invasion until the King of Khitan fell! We did not kill him!"

Mutiara Hitam and her husband exchanged glances, then Mutiara Hitam said,

"Whoever killed him, my brother fell in war, so I will not blame anyone. However, we do not harbor enmity with anyone, not even with Raja Yucen, so we hope Your Majesty will not continue this hostile attitude and will order your subordinates not to disturb us again in the future! The King grumbled.

"Our enemies are only other nations, not individuals. What benefit is there in being hostile toward Mutiara Hitam? As long as you do not disturb the security of our territory, why would we oppose you?"

"Good, with that, we understand each other. Now, farewell, Your Majesty, and our apologies once again!"

Mutiara Hitam grabbed Yan Hwa's hand while her husband held Ji Kun's hand, then they flashed and vanished, swallowed by the darkness of the night.

"Damn it!"

Raja Yucen stomped his feet.

"Get me down....! You are all fools, so many useless people facing just two individuals! I must reprimand the King of Sung! It is improper to spy on a friendly kingdom! What is this? If there is no satisfactory resolution, I will attack the Sung territory!"

The King raged and complained furiously.

Because she had met her niece, Puteri Maya, Mutiara Hitam, her husband, and her disciples did not continue their journey to Go-bi-san and instead returned to the peak of Mount Yin-san, where there was a large cave they had once used as a residence. Seeing how turmoil and war between the northern tribes were still occurring everywhere, Mutiara Hitam wanted to isolate herself on Yin-san so that she and her disciples would not be involved. However, one can imagine Mutiara Hitam's shock and anger when she and her husband, along with their two disciples, arrived in front of the cave on the peak of Yin-san, and saw a sharp-nosed old man and woman had occupied the cave and now greeted their arrival with mocking smiles.

"Who are you? What do you want here?"

Mutiara Hitam snapped while staring intensely. Because with just one look she could recognize the man and woman as being of Indian or Nepali descent, she addressed them in the Indian language. The tall, thin old man with charcoal-black skin laughed.

"Ha-ha-ha, welcome, Mutiara Hitam! Several years ago, we met at our master's hut!"

Tang Hauw Lam slapped his forehead, looked at his wife, and exclaimed,

"Wow, wow, wow, aren't you the disciples of that limping weapon maker? You are the disciples of the hermit Naragita in the Himalayas, aren't you?"

Mutiara Hitam remembered, and she exchanged glances with her husband; their eyes briefly shone, and Mutiara Hitam said,

"Aihh, what a coincidence!"

"Heh-heh-heh!"

The Indian old woman named Nila Dewi chuckled.

"It is indeed a coincidence for us, but not a coincidence for you, Mutiara Hitam!"

Mutiara Hitam furrowed her brows, her face turning cold, and she said,

"We knew your master, but we do not know your names?"

"I am Nila Dewi and this is Mahendra,"

Replied the Indian old woman.

"What is the purpose of your visit?"

Seeing Mutiara Hitam's cold and threatening demeanor, the Indian old man then said,

"Wow, we saw your actions when you rendered Raja Yucen helpless, Mutiara Hitam. We are extremely impressed! The older Mutiara Hitam gets, the more formidable she becomes, truly like a genuine pearl—the older it is, the brighter it shines!"

"Mahendra, no need for excessive flattery. Just tell us frankly, what do you want and why have you seemingly taken our place?"

Mahendra laughed, but this laughter was somewhat forced, meant to cover his fear of the powerful woman.

"Mutiara Hitam, we are imitating your actions toward Raja Yucen. We preceded you in occupying this place and will only return it to you if you agree to exchange this place for...."

The two Indians laughed and looked at Can Ji Kun and Ok Yan Hwa!

"Exchange what? Come on, say it, stop playing games!"

Mutiara Hitam snapped.

"In exchange for your two disciples. Didn't your husband say that if you lose disciples, they are easy to replace, and...."

"Wow, wow, wow, Mahendra is truly skilled at clowning and talking now! Hey, Tall Blackie! Tell us, if we refuse to give up our disciples, then what?"

Tang Hauw Lam asked, laughing.

"We won't give up this place either!"

Mahendra replied, and he and Nila Dewi prepared to guard the front of the cave. Mutiara Hitam and her husband had heard of the vile practices carried out by people belonging to the sect of the Himalayan hermit named Naragita—namely, the cultivation of black magic that required the sacrifice of the blood and souls of children with good bone structure, like their two disciples. However, Mutiara Hitam and her husband remained patient, and after exchanging glances and agreeing through their eyes, Mutiara Hitam then said,

"Nila Dewi and Mahendra, people like us do not settle matters with words, but with actions. Now, try to defeat us. If we lose, then we will not prevent you from taking our disciples."

"Excellent! That is the speech of a gallant person! Mutiara Hitam, we are increasingly impressed with you,"

Said Mahendra.