In the Forest of a Thousand Flowers, he felt the safety, cleanliness, and soothing silence. At first Sin Liong had no intention of returning to his city because he was still horrified, not wanting to see his bloodstained father and mother, not wanting to see the broken bodies of three thieves. When he arrived at the Jeng-hoa-san forest and saw how his body and clothes were stained with blood that smelled so bad, he quickly bathed and washed his clothes in the creek in the forest, a creek whose water came out of the source, clear and cool.
At first, he did not want to go home because of the horror in his heart, but after two or three months of "hiding" in that place, his love for the Forest of a Thousand Flowers grew and he now does not want to go home at all because he has considered the forest as his new home! Near the big peak tree, there was a rocky hill and there was a cave big enough to make a home, a shelter from the rain and wind. This cave he cleaned up and made this into a very pleasant place.
Thus, this child had no idea that the wealth of his parents, who had no other family or relatives, had been fought over by the neighbors until it was all gone! By "securing" the valuables of the empty house, the neighbors had enriched themselves. These people still didn't know, or understand, that they were repeating the actions of the three thieves they had ganged up on and killed.
They were also committing theft, although not in as "violent" a manner as the thieves. The thefts committed by these neighbors and "friends" were far more dirty and lowly than those committed by the three thieves because the thieves committed the thefts deliberately and openly, they were thieves, they had nothing to hide, and their crimes were open, as people who took other people's things when the owner was careless or asleep. However, what the neighbors did was theft in disguise, under the guise of "helping" so that if a measure is made, their crime is multiple, firstly evil like the ordinary Thief for taking and destroying other people's property, secondly evil because they have been hypocritical, committing crimes under the guise of "kindness".
And so it was that for two years the five-year-old boy lived alone in the Forest of a Thousand Flowers. As the son of a medicine man, even though he was only five years old, Sin Liong knew more or less about medicinal leaves and roots, and he often joined his father in searching for medicinal leaves in the mountains. Now that he was living alone in the forest, his talent for medicine was tested and nurtured by nature.
He had to eat every day for this purpose, and he had learned from experience which leaves were effective and which were delicious, which were poisonous, and so on. During those two years, with his clothes torn to shreds, he often got sick and from this experience, he also got sick from this experience he was able to select medicinal leaves and roots, not from knowledge, but from experience. Perhaps because there was nothing else to think about, the child was able to devote all his attention to the knowledge of these medicinal leaves and roots, fruits and flowers, so that his sense of smell was very keen.
Just by smelling it, he could determine what properties a leaf, flower, fruit, or root contained! There is no mistaking the saying that experience is the smartest teacher. Of course, these words are only true if one has a love for what one is doing. And indeed, deep down in Sin Liong's heart, he had a love that gave rise to a liking, and this liking gave rise to the craft of studying the properties of the many kinds of flowers and leaves that grew in the Forest of a Thousand Flowers.
In addition to studying the properties of plants, not only for daily food but also for medicine, Sin Liong had another favorite that arose from his love for nature, a love that was complete and that probably arose because he felt that he lived alone and also arose. After all, he saw the cruelty that scratched his heart about the actions of man when his mother's father and the three thieves died.
In that place he saw pure peace, beautiful reasonableness, and never saw falsehood, never saw cruelty. This love of nature made him so sensitive to his surroundings, made his senses so keen that he could feel how warm and delicious the morning sunlight was, how soft and cool the fresh full moonlight was that without anyone telling him to do so, almost every morning he bathed naked in the morning sunlight and every full moon he bathed naked in the full moonlight.
Without realizing it, his body had received and absorbed the miraculous energy essence of the moon and sun and made his blood clean, his bones strong and the internal energy in his body more and more accumulated beyond his awareness. After sweating all over his body and turning his body cross-legged on the rock, sometimes his chest, Sin Liong climbed down from the rock, wiped off the sweat with a wide handkerchief, then after his body was no longer sweaty, after being caressed by the morning breeze, he put on his clothes again and went to take out the medicinal flowers, leaves, fruits, and roots from the cave to dry in the sun. This is what his daily work, apart from grafting, propagating, and planting medicinal plants.
Towards midday, people began to arrive who needed medicine. Among them were some rough kang-ouw men who had suffered poisonous wounds in battle. To all of them, Sin Liong indiscriminately administered medicine after examining their wounds and ailments.
More than fifteen people came in succession for medicine and the last to arrive was a half-aged man of great stature, on his back hung a machete and he came limping because his thigh was severely wounded, a wound that was swollen and blackened.
"Sin-tong, you help me..." As soon as they arrived in front of the cave where Sin Liong was sitting and chopping wet roots with a small knife, the black-faced and tall man fell and whimpered in pain.
Sin Liong furrowed his brows. Among the people who asked for treatment, he disliked seeing kang-ouw people the most who could be recognized by their rough demeanor and the weapons they always carried. However, he had never refused to treat them, in fact, he secretly regarded them as wolfish, bloodthirsty people, who were always fighting and hurting each other, so they were human beings who should be pitied because they did not know what peace, tranquility, and love between people brought peace and happiness.
"Dashing old man, didn't you come two months ago and ask for medicine for the wound on your left arm that was poisoned?" he asked, looking at the black-skinned face.
"That's right, that's right, Sintong. I'm the Sin-hek-houw (Black Tiger Sakti) who had a poisoned needle weapon on my arm. But now, I've suffered even worse injuries. My thigh was slashed by the opponent's sword and unfortunately, the sword contains a great poison. If you don't help me immediately, I will die, Sin-tong."
Sin Liong said no more and walked over to the man on the ground, examining the wound under his torn pants. The wound was wide and deep, the wound was covered in blackened blood and swollen, and the whole leg was hot, a sign of severe poisoning!
Sin Liong took a deep breath. "Lo-enghiong, why are you still fighting with others, hurting and killing each other? Didn't you promise not to fight with others when you first came here?"
Those wide eyes bulged then his gaze softened. There was no way he could be angry with this child prodigy. A seven-year-old child could talk to him like that as if he were an old man who became a hermit and lived a holy life! "Sin-tong, I am Sin-hek-houw, and don't you call me Lo-enghiong (Bold Old Man). I am a robber, do you understand? A lone robber who relies on robbing passers-by for a living! If I didn't need things, I wouldn't bother people, and if the people I need things from don't fight back, I wouldn't attack them. However, twice I've misjudged people. In the past, I attacked a grandmother who looked weak, and as a result, my arm was severely injured. Now, I robbed a weak-looking grandfather who was carrying a valuable item, and as a result, my thigh was almost cut off and I'm now severely poisoned. You do me a favor, I'll be grateful to you, Sin-tong and will tell you something very important."
"Lo-enghiong, I don't need thanks and rewards. I know the properties of the plants here, they grow here just like that allowing anyone who understands to pick and use them, without buying, without taking, and without using force. I'm just picking and handing it over to you, what need do I have for thanks and rewards? This great wound of yours, the whole leg is already hot, meaning that your blood has been poisoned, to remove the poison that is still lurking around the wound, the wound should be opened so that it can be treated, not as it is now covered by dried up poisonous blood. Can you open your wound, Lo-enghiong?"
The middle age man widened his eyes and was again amazed at the way the boy spoke, but his amazement vanished when he remembered that this boy was Sin-tong, the child prodigy! So he drew his machete and seeing the flashing light of the machete, Sin Liong closed his eyes.
He remembered the three machetes that had slashed into his father and mother's bodies and the many machetes that had slashed into the bodies of the three thieves. Sin-hek-houw used the tip of his machete to stab and reopen the wound on his thigh.
He groaned loudly, but the wound was already open and black blood was gushing out. Tormented by intense pain, Sin-hek-houw threw down his machete and used both hands to massage the painful thigh. Sin Liong knelt, using his delicate fingers to help massage so that more blood came out.
The blood was black and the smell made people want to vomit! But Sin Liong, who did so with compassion in his heart, with a deep sense of pity that was neither made up nor intentional, accepted the smell with even more emotion. How miserable and suffering this person is, was all he could whisper.
He then took some root powder and sprinkled the powder into the wound. "Ouchhhhh...I'm dead!" The grandfather cried out loudly when he felt how the medicine brought pain like there were dozens of bees stinging the wound. "Please bear with it, Lo-enghiong will soon lose the pain. Don't fight the pain, face it as reality and know that the powder is the medicine that will drive away the disease."
As he said this, Sin Liong then used four leaves that had been kneaded so that the leaves became wet and withered, then he covered the wound with four leaves.
Sure enough, the man's moaning grew slower as the pain lessened and he finally took a deep breath as the pain was now bearable. "Please Lo-enghiong bring this root, cook it and drink the water. It is meant to purify the poison still in your leg. In this way, the wound will fester and heal quickly. The powdered medicine and leaves are to replace the medicine once a day, presumably enough for a week until the wound is completely healed."
Sin Liong said as he wrapped the medicine in a wide leaf and handed it to Sin-hek-houw. The rough man accepted the bundle of medicine and let out another long sigh. "If only I could have a friend like you always by my side. If only I could have a son like you, I would not have strayed so far. Thank you, Sin-tong, and I have nothing to offer you except to warn you that you are in great danger."
Sin Liong looked up at the black-skinned face in wonder. "Sin-tong, the kang-ouw world has been abuzz with your name. The kang-ouw people, including myself, who have received your treatment, brought your name into the kang-ouw world and there was an uproar as the name Sin-tong became the flower of every kang-ouw person's lips. Many great parties were attracted, thinking you must be an incarnation of a god or Buddha and now there are many parties and gallant men ready to come here and to persuade you to become their member or disciple of famous kang-ouw people. Unfortunately, among them are two demon men who have other intentions, not good intentions like martial figures and parties, but vile intentions towards you."
Sin Liong furrowed his brows, he did not feel the slightest fear because he had no ill will towards anyone in this world. "Lo-eng-hiong, I'm just an ignorant little boy, I have no enmity with anyone. Who is the person who would bother me?"
The grandfather looked moved. "Ahh...you really are a strange and pure-hearted person. If I had the skill, I would protect you with all my body and life, not only because you helped me twice, but because I am unwilling to see anyone want to harm a child prodigy like you. But those two demons..." Sin-hek-houw shivered and looked very tired.
"Who are they and what do they want from me?"
"In the kang-ouw world, there are many heretics, demon men including people like me. But compared to the two people I'm talking about, they are two savage tigers while someone like me is just a mouse! One is an old man dressed as a beggar, looking like a poor and pious man, but he is the number one demon, the head of the Pat-Jiu Kai-pang, a man who has a house like a palace and whose ordinary and pious face hides a character that is crueler than the devil himself! Woe to you if you are in the hands of this grandfather Sin-tong."
"Hmmm, I don't think a grandfather like him needs a child like me. I'm not worried about him bothering me, Lo-eng-hiong!"
"It's not strange that you think so, for you are a child prodigy with a pure and innocent heart and mind. But I am very worried, not to mention the second demon who is no less cruel. She is a woman, beautiful and no one knows how old she is. She looks beautiful, has long fragrant hair, and always carries an umbrella, seemingly weak and in need of protection. But like the first demon, all that beauty and gentleness hides a true character, a character more vile and cruel than the devil himself."
"Lo-enghiong, just hope Lo-enghiong doesn't badmouth others like that. I don't believe it."
The grandfather took a deep breath and rose to his feet. "I've warned you Sin-tong. And if you want, let you come with me to hide in a safe place so that no one will know. When it's safe, then you can come back here. I heard rumors that those two demons are heading to Jeng-hoa-san looking for you."
But Sin Liong shook his head "I'm needed by the villagers here, I'm not going anywhere, Lo-enghiong."
"Hmmm, never mind, I tried to warn you. I hope it doesn't happen as I feared. And even more, hopefully, I won't get hurt again like this, so if you're no longer here, Iwon't be able to find a cure. Goodbye, Sin-tong and thank you again."
"Goodbye, Lo-eng-hiong, have a speedy recovery."
The man walked away dragging his injured leg, took a dozen steps back, and said, "Is it true that you don't want to come with me to hide, Sin-tong?"
Sin Liong smiled and shook his head without answering.
"Sin-tong, what is your real name?"
"I'm called Sin-tong, even though I feel like an ordinary boy, I can't bear to refuse the title. You know me as Sin-tong, that's my name."
Sin-hek-houw shook his head, continued on his way, and was still shaking his head as his mouth grumbled, "Wonderboy, wonder boy..baby!" And he clenched his fists as if to strike out at anyone who would disturb the boy he admired.