Provisions for Life in Social Interactions

Pauw Hiap Tojin adjusted his legs again, and his eyes began to turn red. He immediately lunged forward using his renowned technique, the Art of Severing Muscles and Bones. His fingers opened with the Art of Capturing technique, because he still couldn't bear to hurt the girl and only wanted to capture her.

Once close, he used the Jade Tiger Colliding with the Goat technique. Seeing the person attacking his shoulders, Lian Hwa bent her legs and leapt under the person's arms. Then, jumping, he grabbed the priest's head with his left hand and "plopped" it, slapping it with a "plop" (slap). He mockingly said, "Second move!

The priest only felt a slight headache, which only increased his anger. In fact, beyond his understanding, if Lian Hwa had wanted to, her kick earlier would have been enough to knock her enemy out, let alone this second blow. But she deliberately used minimal force, because her playful nature made her want to toy with the insidious priest.

So, using her extraordinary lightning body technique, she served the priest using a martial art with a weak fist, and with the Swiftlets fly somersaults technique. She succeeded in every move, slapping the face, flicking the ear, pushing, and kicking. Even when they had fought nineteen moves and she had successfully toyed with her enemy nineteen times, she delivered the final blow.

When Pauw Hiap Tojin, enraged, launched a feint attack, skilled and deadly, he grabbed Lian Hwa's head with both hands and then kicked her in the stomach. Lian Hwa used her left hand to block the priest's hands.

When the two hairy arms collided with the girl's delicate ones, the priest's internal energy reversed, sending his entire body tingling! Before his foot could strike Lian Hwa's stomach, the girl used the tip of her left foot to poke her opponent's knee, causing the kicking leg to fall back, helpless and limp. Then, lightning-quick, so fast that no one could see her move, her right finger struck and stabbed into the blood vessel!

The tosu was shocked and tried to dodge, but he was quickly defeated.

The strike hit the blood vessel in his tendon, and he stood there stiff as a statue with both hands attached to Lian Hwa's left hand!

Laughter and cheers rang out from all the couriers present.

"Well, your lady was able to fight back for twenty moves, and you've lost! Now you must pay your debt!"

Lian Hwa picked up a machete lying on the ground. Hwat Khong Monk was shocked and wanted to stop the girl, who he thought was going to kill Pauw Hiap Tojin. But Lian Hwa didn't approach the tosu; instead, she went to the herd of horses.

With the machete she had picked up, she scooped up some horse dung and swung it from there. The horse dung at the tip of the machete flew toward the tosu, hitting him squarely in the face. A fair amount of the still-wet, warm horse dung entered her mouth and nose.

Everyone cheered again. But Hwat Khong, the monk, was even more displeased. He considered the girl to be excessive and her actions inappropriate. So he immediately approached the girl, who was still standing there laughing loudly.

"Hey, miss, you said earlier that I'm your suheng. But, as far as I can remember, I've never had a junior sister. Especially one as small as you miss. Please explain it to me."

Lian Hwa was surprised to hear the monk's somewhat displeased voice.

"Hwat Khong, brother, have you forgotten when you helped a little girl ten years ago?"

Hwat Khong was flabbergasted. "So… you are… that child, Lian Hwa?"

Han Lian Hwa nodded with a smile.

"Oh, oh… I knew it…" the old monk said, moved.

"What, brother?" the girl asked.

Hwat Khong was going to say, "I knew it… that that Supreme master's strange nature would rub off on her," but he just continued, "I knew you would inherit such a high and strange skill. I'm so happy, sister." But he still felt awkward calling this little girl his junior sister.

Hwat Khong was happy to see the orphaned girl now possess such a skill, but he was also worried about her mischief. He still felt unsatisfied, so without another word, he approached Pauw Hian Tojin, who was still standing like a statue. He extended his right arm and tapped the tosu's back with his finger, trying to eliminate Lian Hwa's pressure, but to his surprise, his efforts were ineffective.

Hwat Khong Hwesio felt strange and embarrassed because many of the couriers and the robbers were watching his actions. Curious, he tried again, and this time he succeeded. But this made Hwat Khong even more astonished, because he could see that what had healed Pauw Hiap Tojin wasn't his clapping, but a small stone that flashed and hit the priest's rib.

He understood that Lian Hwa had secretly helped him eliminate her strange trick.

Hwat Khong was amazed and grateful that the girl had enough virtue and had protected his senior brother from shame.

Pauw Hiap Tojin, red-faced and embarrassed, wiped the horse dung from his face and then turned to Hwat Khong monk.

"Truly, I didn't see Mount Thai-san before my eyes and didn't know my stupidity. Please tell me the name of your brave junior sister."

"Hmm, Pauw Hiap brother, why deepen the enmity? You are as an ascetic, why dishonour your clan by interfering in worldly affairs?" rebuked Hwat Khong monk.

This answer angered Pauw Hiap Tojin. "Are you afraid of my revenge?" he asked with a sarcastic voice.

Suddenly, Lian Hwa approached them and, with a sweet smile, said, "Eh, fake priest! Who's afraid of your revenge? You are an evil human being who seeks your harm. After you learn a lesson, instead of being aware of your badness and even want to plant hostility.

Okay, okay! Listen, my name is Han Lian Hwa, and I will always be ready to face your revenge. You can learn for another hundred years!"

This remark was arrogant, and Hwat Khong looked up to his junior sister angrily. Seeing his senior brother, Lian Hwa was shocked and covered her mouth in amazed.

"Pauw Hiap brother, don't mind my junior sister, she's still a kid," said Hwat Khong.

But these words pierced the priest's heart because they reminded him of how his fame in the martial arts world had suddenly fallen so low and been swept away by an unknown little girl! If it had been someone famous from the martial arts world who had brought him down, he wouldn't have been curious, but this girl had only just appeared and still acted like a child. Yet, she was being treated like a mouse and a cat.

So, hearing Hwat Khong's words, he became even angrier, then, with a grunt, he turned around and walked away with a grand gesture. Lian Hwa could barely contain her laughter, but she only glanced at her senior brother with a smile on her face!

Hwat Khong Monk then looked at Ong Mo Lin, the Yellow Snake and said, "Now, Tuan Bu and Tuan Ong, both of you, respect me and settle this feud."

The Yellow Snake replied, "Thank you for your help, Master and Miss. Of course, I will settle this dispute if only Brother Bu Kiat would return the goods that are under our responsibility to deliver. Please understand that the reputation of the Shipping company is a source of food for all of us couriers." He glanced at Bu Kiat and his friends, who stood there helplessly, hopeless, now that Hwat Khong Monk and his junior sister were there.

Hwat Khong gently persuaded Bu Kiat to return the goods, forcing the Black Wasp to reply,

"Concerning you, master, I'll return the items to Brother Ong." He then signalled with a whistle, and several people emerged from the jungle pushing a cart containing five large crates filled with valuable goods that they were fighting for.

After expressing their thanks, the group of couriers happily left the area.

Hwat Khong and Lian Hwa also went in another direction, watched by Bu Kiat and his friends, their hearts throbbing.

"Brother, I brought a letter from the late master for you," said Lian Hwa, feeling uneasy seeing her senior brother remain silent as if he didn't care about her.

"Passed away? So uncle was...?" Hwat Khong couldn't continue, shocked and moved.

Lian Hwa nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes. Hwat Khong, the monk, immediately asked her to stop and sit under a large tree. He opened his uncle's letter and read it respectfully.

Then he looked at his junior sister, who was still pensive and sad, and sighed.

"Sister, calm your heart! Everyone dies when their time comes. There's no need to grieve over your master's death, yes, because your uncle has been called home by the Almighty. It's better for us to discuss the future now. You have now descended the mountain and... and... where are you going now?"

Lian Hwa looked at her senior brother sadly. The old monk's clear, polite face inspired trust, and she felt as if she were facing her own family. Now, being asked such a question, she felt sad and confused. She could only shake her beautiful head as tears streamed down her cheeks

"I don't know, brother... I don't know..." It was all she could say, her voice filled with sorrow.

"Don't be sad, sister," Hwat Khong comforted her, patting her hand. "Let me be frank. Your master asked me to guide you into a world that seems unfamiliar to you."

Lian Hwa immediately knelt before her brother. "Thank you, brother. Master has indeed instructed me to follow all your instructions. From now on, brother becomes my master's successor."

Seeing the girl kneel repeatedly with tears in her eyes, Hwat Khong couldn't help but feel moved. After all, he was the one who had helped Lian Hwa in the first place.

"Sister, I'd love to teach you, as long as you promise."

"What promise, brother? Even if I have to enter a sea of fire, I will do it as long as my brother gives me some guidance and takes me to my parents."

At this point, her tears welled up again.

Hwat Khong nodded in understanding. "I understand, sister. As a dutiful daughter, you certainly want to know how your parents are doing. But since that place is far away and you haven't had any experience travelling and meeting martial arts people, now isn't the time for you to go. That's the promise, sister. I frankly admit that in terms of martial arts, I'm far behind you. I quickly learned this when you fought Pauw Hiap Tojin earlier. So, in terms of martial arts, don't expect to ask me for guidance anymore. Only in terms of politeness and behaviour appropriate to the world can you imitate me. But now that you've started following me in all things, you must obey my instructions. You must not impose your own will. Are you capable, sister?"

Lian Hwa immediately bowed and nodded.

"Yes, brother. I can."

"Well, let's go back to my temple first."

Hwat Khong Monk stood up, and the two of them used their sprinting skills to Bok-lun-san Hill, where Hwat Khong Monk resided.

Upon arrival at the temple, Hwat Khong recounted the story of Han Bun Lim, Lian Hwa's father, who was killed by Bong Him Kian, and how her mother had also committed suicide while being held captive by that evil Young Master Bong. He also told how Lian Hwa was helped by Hwat Khong and their encounter with Sian-kiam Koai-jin Ong Lun, Lian Hwa's teacher.

Upon hearing of her parents' fate, Lian Hwa wept bitterly and, furious, suddenly drew her sword, emitting a dazzling light.

"Hey, sister, what will you do?" Hwat Khong asked, surprised.

Lian Hwa didn't answer, but her eyes flickered as if they were on fire. Then, without a word, she shot out of the temple.

"Sister, wait!" Hwat Khong jumped out too, chasing after her.

But Lian Hwa ignored his shouts and kept running. Hwat Khong was forced to use all his quick-running skills to catch up with the agile and fast-moving sister. But he was still left behind, and he became very nervous.

"Sister, remember your promise!" he shouted again.

Lian Hwa glanced back briefly, her face red and tears streaming down her cheeks, then she ran again.

"Sisteri! Where are you going? You don't know where your enemy lives yet!" Hwat Khong hadn't told her about the village where her parents and Young Master Bong, her enemy, lived.

Hearing this, Lian Hwa stopped and sat down on the ground, sobbing.

Hwat Khong, somewhat out of breath, arrived at the scene and stood before Lian Hwa, his face fierce but his heart filled with pity.

"Sister, it turns out you can't control your emotions. Your customs are truly not beneficial at all.

Didn't you promise to obey my words? Have you forgotten to order your own master?" His voice was firm and cruel.

Han Lian Hwa raised her head to look at her senior brother, then suddenly she fell to her senior brother's feet, crying out in anguish. Her mouth weakly said, "Brother... forgive me..." Then she collapsed unconscious!

Hwat Kong Hwesio was confused. Without hesitation, like a father to his child, he supported his sister and ran to the temple. It turned out that Lian Hwa's body was very hot, and her breathing was laboured.

For a week, Lian Hwa had been ill. Her body was feverish, she was constantly delirious, cursing Young Master Bong and threatening to chop him to shreds, then she sobbed, mentioning her mother and father!

It turned out that the girl, who had always been joyful since childhood, without knowing the meaning of hardship, had now received an emotional blow so severe that her feelings of depression caused her body to ache.

All this time, Hwat Khong had patiently comforted her, and he carefully provided for all his junior sister's needs with the help of several junior monks who were in charge of his temple.

After Lian Hwa recovered, Hwat Khong advised her in a calm voice, "Sister, listen carefully. Regarding revenge, it is indeed your duty. But all actions must be carefully planned. Don't just follow your lustful heart, because actions based on lust will only cloud your mind, making everything you do unsuccessful.

"Now, learn patience. And as your master wishes, you must stay here for a while to learn the proper etiquette and other things a girl like you should know.

Then, when I deem the time has come, I will tell you where your enemies are, and I will allow you to go and seek revenge for your parents."

Lian Hwa was forced to obey her senior brother's words, even though it was very difficult for her to be patient.

Thus, from that day on, Lian Hwa lived in the room next door in the temple and listened to the guidance of her senior brother, who was well-versed in the conditions of the martial arts world and the rules related to living in the common world. Hwat Khong also taught her about the behaviour of a polite and respectful girl. Lian Hwa now understood that her recent behaviour was inappropriate.

According to her senior brother's teachings, it was inappropriate for a girl like her to laugh loudly in public. It was even more unacceptable to sit at the same table with a man she didn't know, as she had done when she met Peng Bouw, the Black-faced Horse.

She felt ashamed of remembering it all, but deep inside, there was also a sense of curiosity. Why was it that men could be careless and do whatever they wanted, but women had to follow so many rules? Too bad I'm not a man, she thought.

When she asked her senior brother about her experience with Peng Bouw, Hwat Khong, who understood that his junior sister was still "green," frankly explained that the man named Peng Bouw was a rude person. His intention in inviting Lian Hwa to eat with him was not out of honesty and purity, but rather out of insolence.

"Sister, be careful of impudent men like that. Be careful of all kinds of men who easily reprimand a girl they don't know, unless the reprimand is justified. You'll meet many impudent men like that on your journey."

Lian Hwa's face turned red after she caught her senior brother's meaning. Although she was still ignorant, her girlish feelings whispered to her conscience, making her understand the meaning of impudent men. She accidentally blurted out,

"Ah, then all men are untrustworthy and impudent..."

Her senior brother gave her a sharp look, making her realise she had let slip her words, not remembering that her senior brother was also a man! Lian Hwa's face turned even redder, and she hurriedly said,

"Sorry, brother. I didn't mean all men; there are exceptions, like brother, master, and people like the monks in this temple." These words made Hwat Khong, the monk, burst into laughter.

At that moment, a monk servant suddenly approached Hwat Khong and reported that there was a visitor outside. Hwat Khong immediately came out, and it turned out to be Lin Piauw, the head of the security guard in Pianbongkee-chung village, located approximately ten li from the Banhoktong temple and one of the largest villages at the foot of Boklun-san Hill. Lin Piauw was a former martial arts teacher nicknamed "The Steel Fist" because he was renowned for his immense strength and his fists, which could easily penetrate walls.

Hwat Khong, the monk, welcomed Lin Piauw with respect and hospitality, as he already knew and recognised Lin Piauw as a brave and honest man. He had even taught him some striking techniques, so it could be said that Lin Piauw was his "half" disciple. Lin Piauw also paid great attention to the Chief Monk Ban Hok Thong temple. So when he met, he immediately looked up very respectfully and said,

"Master, how are things here? I hope you are safe and at peace."

"Thank you, Master. I am fine. And how is your work? It's all done and running smoothly, isn't it?"