Ice Island Palace Chapter 32

Khu Tek San asked Maya as they sat resting under a large tree, sheltering from the scorching sun. Maya took a deep breath.

"Uncle Khu, please don't call me Your Highness. Truly, I am not a genuine Khitan princess, and I am merely an adopted child of the Khitan King and Queen! They had no offspring, and I was an orphan. That is why I dislike accompanying Bibi Mutiara Hitam, who surely knows that I am not her real niece. I am an ordinary person, Uncle Khu."

Khu Tek San furrowed his brow. This was the first time he had heard this. However, whether she was his own child or an adopted child, this girl was the Khitan princess he had to protect and bring before his master.

"Very well, Maya. From now on, for your own safety, I will acknowledge you as my niece. Let us continue our journey. Ahead, past that hill, is a fortified fortress of the Sung ranks, our own comrades. After meeting them, the journey south will certainly be smoother. We can ride horses."

The two of them set off, and even though Maya was only ten years old, she already possessed considerable skill, especially after eating the red fruits—whose efficacy had greatly diminished now, but had enhanced her gin-kang. Thus, the journey could be completed quickly. Only now did Maya realize that the effect of the red fruits, which made the body light, was only temporary, and apparently, those strange people ate those fruits constantly. No wonder when she discovered the fruit tree, they made a fuss, afraid that the fruits would be finished!

They spent the night on the hillside, and the next day, before noon, they arrived in the guarded territory of the Sung army. Khu Tek San's heart was overjoyed, and he urged Maya to quicken her pace. He was happy to meet the troops of his country and the generals who were his colleagues. However, one can imagine how shocked and exasperated this mighty general was when he arrived at the guard post, only to be immediately surrounded by the Sung Imperial troops. Several mounted generals appeared, confronting him with arrogant attitudes, and one tall, large general full of authority bellowed loudly.

"Khu Tek San! By order of the superiors, we are arresting you as a traitor!"

The general then gave an order to his men.

"Shackle both his arms, and the girl too!"

"What is the meaning of this...?"

Khu Tek San could hardly believe his own eyes and ears!

"Hmph, Khu Tek San! Are you planning to rebel again, fighting against the state army?"

The tall, large general asked with furrowed brows. His face was grim; apparently, he disliked carrying out this duty. The two other generals also watched silently, their faces gloomy.

"I will not resist. Please proceed!"

Khu Tek San offered both his arms, which were immediately shackled with strong iron cuffs. Maya, who could only stare at Khu Tek San with wide eyes, did not resist either when her hands were shackled with smaller iron chains. Hmph, it seemed those chains had been prepared beforehand, Khu Tek San thought. Then he looked at the three generals and said loudly.

"Ong Ki Bu! Cong Hai and you, Kwee Tiang Hwat! The three of you know what kind of man Khu Tek San is! You are my colleagues who know my character, who know my actions! Why are you arresting me now on charges of treason?"

For a moment, the three generals did not answer and exchanged glances. Then Ong Ki Bu, the tall, large general, spoke,

"Khu Tek San, you know that officers like us only obey the orders of our superiors! You are accused of having betrayed the state, of having become a lackey of the Yucen people, and you are even accused of protecting the Khitan princess. It is clear that you are disloyal to the Sung Dynasty, and therefore, we will carry out the superior's order to punish you immediately!"

"What...?"

Khu Tek San roared in anger.

"I am not a man afraid to face any punishment! However, right or wrong, a general only undergoes punishment after being examined in the high court in the capital city! Why am I to be punished without a court examination?"

Again, the three generals looked very uncomfortable, their faces turning red, and with a hoarse and forced voice, Ong Ki Bu said,

"All this is not our will, Khu Tek San, but by order."

"By whose order? Did Hong Siang himself order it? Please show me the order from the Emperor!"

"The Emperor does not handle military matters on the border, you know this, Khu Tek San?"

Answered Ong Ki Bu, who seemed genuinely uncomfortable dealing with this matter and wished for it to be over quickly.

"If you want to hear the sound of the superior's order, then listen!"

The tall, large general then pulled out a scroll of paper and read aloud.

"Since it is clear that General Khu Tek San has committed treason against the state by becoming a lackey of the Yucen Kingdom, we command all generals guarding the border to arrest him and carry out the death penalty by hanging at the place where he is captured!"

Khu Tek San's face did not change; he showed no sign of fear, although his eyes reflected exasperation and anger.

"That is merely slander! Who issued this order, Ong-ciangkun?"

"The superior's order must be obeyed, and there is no need for us to debate it further, Khu Tek San. Prepare to undergo the hanging punishment,"

The general gave a signal to his men and pointed forward. Khu Tek San looked ahead and saw that a gallows rope was already prepared on a tree for him!

This was truly a punishment that had been planned and arranged beforehand. However, he knew the three generals well as brave and obedient generals, so it was impossible for them to commit slander and harm him. The fault must lie with the one who issued this order!

"Uncle, I think this is also the result of the actions of that man named Siangkoan Lee...."

Maya suddenly whispered. This girl did not feel horrified at all seeing how death threatened Khu Tek San, who was about to be hanged, and perhaps threatened herself too. She remained calm and used her brain.

"True...! You are right...!"

The mighty general clenched both his fists between his shackled chains, standing not far from the ready gallows rope. Then he turned his body and said in a loud voice.

"I, Khu Tek San, as a general who is always ready to sacrifice his life for the state, obey the order, and since there is no trial, I do not need to defend myself. I only ask of you, obedient executors of the order, not to disturb my niece, because the order does not mention punishing her. I ask Ong Ki Bu, as a former good colleague, to kindly escort my niece to Minister Kam Liong!"

"Your request is granted, Khu Tek San!"

Ong-ciangkun thundered.

"And if I, Ong Ki Bu, have accepted, no devil shall be allowed to harm that child!"

Khu Tek San smiled, and his face brightened as he looked at the tall, large general.

"Thank you! Thank you, not only for your help toward this child, my colleague Ong, but also thank you because your attitude proves that the Sung Generals are still true, brave, and mighty men. Now, I am ready to accept the punishment!"

Khu Tek San stepped forward toward the gallows rope. Maya watched with wide eyes, not out of horror but out of admiration for this mighty attitude! A soldier who received the order stepped forward and lowered the gallows rope, placing it around Khu Tek San's neck. He then retreated to pull the end of the rope from behind the tree trunk along with three of his comrades. Khu Tek San stood with a brave posture, eyes wide open, ready to accept the coming of death.

"Readyyy!"

A command was heard, followed by the order to pull the end of the rope so that the noose would tighten around Khu Tek San's neck and hoist him up.

"Krekkk!"

It was not Khu Tek San's body that was hoisted up, but the gallows rope itself, which suddenly snapped and fell to Khu Tek San's feet! Everyone was astonished and looked up, becoming agitated when they saw a handsome young man suddenly sitting perched on the tree branch where the gallows rope had been. Ong Ki Bu and the other generals, as well as Khu Tek San himself, were extremely surprised to see how the young man could be there without anyone knowing, even though there were many skilled people present! Seeing that the young man clearly came to help him, Khu Tek San's heart became worried and displeased, because this would certainly mean that he truly was rebelling and defying the superior's order. So he shouted.

"Hey, impudent young Enghiong! Please do not interfere in military affairs! I, Khu Tek San, willingly undergo the punishment, why are you itching to interfere?"

The young man smiled, and everyone looked on in wonder. He was very young, at most twenty-one years old, his face was handsome, and his demeanor was mighty. His sword hung on his back, and even though he faced so many troops, he looked completely calm.

"Khu-ciangkun, you are a mighty man who deserves to be praised and admired by everyone. You are an example of bravery. However, what I witness here is not military law, but jungle law! Where is the rule that a general who has rendered so much service, like Khu-ciangkun, is punished without trial, hanged just like that in the wilderness? Are the generals carrying out this lowly task not ashamed?"

"Hah, young man! Come down and let us speak properly! I am Ong Ki Bu, responsible for the execution of this punishment. Who are you?"

The young man floated down, his movement light and graceful. He stood in front of Ong-ciangkun, smiling calmly!

"My name is Kam Han Ki...."

"Ohhh....!"

Khu Tek San could not hide his shock; he stared blankly and wide-eyed. Of course, he had heard from his *suhu* that his *suhu* had a younger cousin who had disappeared since childhood and was presumed dead, named Kam Han Ki. Now, he suddenly appeared here as a handsome, mighty young man who dared to defy the Sung army!