The Return of the Fire Dragon Swordsman
Pakuwon Widoro's

Gayatri nodded at the words of Panji Tejo Laksono. They immediately turned right, heading towards the Duchy of Tanggulangin City.

The stout horse seemed to be running with all its might towards the west. Tracing the rocky highway that connects the territory of the Duchy of Tanggulangin, they witnessed the progress of the small wanua along the way.

After the Kingdom of Panjalu was ordered by Prabu Jayengrana, progress was felt in all regions. There is no more famine or disease outbreak that spread in the area of Panjalu. Agricultural land as the biggest supporter of people's life is really noticed by the government. The granary of food barns are built in every dung (village) that is the basis of food availability in each region. The village market was turned on to accelerate the turn of the economic wheel.

In addition, security issues are also very well maintained in the entire duchy of the kingdom of Panjalu. The judicial system is also well organized at the level of Pakuwon, Duchy to Kotaraja. Although there are still some reports of robbery but it was very little in the Duchy of Tanggulangin. That's why this area became prosperous as a producer of rice, rice, rice, and soybean also with its marine products.

Therefore, the green rice fields increasingly make this region so beautiful, especially with high hills that seem to be a towering natural fence

Panji Tejo Laksono smiled faintly at the progress of the area south of Tanggulangin Duchy City.

But the beauty was broken by an annoying sight.

A middle-aged woman appeared to be sobbing while kneeling before a well-dressed man with four large-bodied soldiers behind him. While the other two blocked the arm of a teenage girl who has a typical ayu-paras of village girls. The girl thrashed around trying to escape but she was outmaneuvered by the two large-bodied soldiers.

A middle-aged man whose hair had partially turned white appeared to have collapsed on the corner of the courtyard.

"Huhuhuhuhu..

Release my son Ki Condro. My son is still a child, not yet worthy of being a noble concubine" the middle-aged woman said as she sobbed.

"Shut your mouth, Nyi Murti..

Your son will be made a concubine by Gusti Akuwu Sastrogalih, the ruler of Pakuwon Widoro here. You should be proud of all this Nyi Murti, not even cry about it", hardened by a well-dressed man named Ki Condro.

"But Ki Condro, the Cantile is still a child. Age is not yet 2 windu. Please let him go Ki", Nyi Murti clenched tightly onto Ki Condro's leg, begging that the man let go of Kantil.

The residents who gathered to watch the event did not dare to help Nyi Murti. They all know the character of Ki Condro, the retainer of Pakuwon Widoro Palace who became the henchman of Akuwu Sastrogalih, the ruler of Pakuwon Widoro. The thick-bodied man did not hesitate to persecute people who dared to oppose him.

Every 1 full moon, Ki Condro is obliged to find a young girl to be a lustful satisfier of the famous Akuwu Widoro with young leaves. He always wandered from one woman to another in the Pakuwon Widoro region to find a new young girl for the Akuwu.

Unfortunately, this full moon he entered Wanua Karang Pulut where Nyi Murti, a one-child widow who had a beautiful daughter named Kantil. This one month, Ki Condro investigated the background of Nyi Murti. After he knew that the woman was just an ordinary village woman, that afternoon Ki Condro brought his men to capture Kantil.

"Based on stupid women!

You're really useless. Remove this foolish woman from before me", cried Ki Condro loudly. Two large-bodied soldiers immediately blocked the arm of Nyi Murti. They violently threw the middle-aged woman's body indifferent to the screams of pain and the yells of Nyi Murti.

Ki Condro then took Kantil on a horse-drawn carriage. Although Kantil tried hard to escape and screamed while crying as if he wanted help, but Ki Condro still took the horse carriage to go towards Pakuwon Widoro City.

Nyi Murti continues to mourn the departure of Kantil the baby who will be a sad satisfied Akuwu Widoro.

Tejo Laksono's bewildered banner determined the direction leading to the Duchy of Wengker, he saw a middle-aged woman crying as she pleased in the courtyard of his house. There were two neighbors next door who were entertaining him.

Soon Panji Tejo Laksono jumped down from his horse as did Gayatri who followed him.

"I'm sorry, Kisanak.

I'd like to ask. Where is the road to the Duchy of Tanggulangin?", asked Panji Tejo Laksono politely.

"You are not a resident here?", a thin mustachioed old man asked and stared at Panji Tejo Laksono and Gayatri.

"We wandered from far away. Want to see the hustle and bustle of a big city city in the Panjalu Kingdom" Panji Tejo Laksono replied with a faint smile.

"just fine..

You guys just go straight down this road. After passing through Pakuwon Widoro City, you straight continue towards the North. Later you have up to half a day of travel in the Duchy of Tanggulangin", reply the old man immediately.

"Randu Kang, please,

How's Cantil going, Kang? I don't want my daughter to be the next victim of Akuwu Sastrogalih. I am not willing", said Nyi Murti interrupted the conversation Panji Tejo Laksono and the old man called Randu.

"I can't do anything either, Murti..

We are only small people, will not have power against the retainers Pakuwon Widoro. Kantil's fate is bad, you have to let him go" replied Ki Randu helplessly.

"I'm sorry if I wanted to know. What is the meaning of Nyi's words, Kisanak?

Has something happened that is not pleasant for him?", Panji Tejo Laksono was curious.

Ki Randu let out a long sigh, before telling about the state of Pakuwon Widoro, including the evil Akuwu Sastrogalih who likes to play young women. Also about Kantil, the son of Nyi Murti who became the next victim of the depraved lust of the Akuwu.

"Bad!

This can't be allowed! How could crimes like this continue to run rampant in the Tanggulangin Duchy? Did Duke Prangbakat not do anything?", Panji Tejo Laksono clenched his hands tightly. Adipati Prangbakat was the eldest son of Adipati Kalang who succeeded his father after the duke sepuh died.

"We have reported this matter to the Duke of Tanggulangin, Kisanak.

Yet Gusti Adipati seemed to turn a blind eye to this. Because this Akuwu Widoro is a cousin of the Duke of Tanggulangin" Ki Randu said with a heavy sigh.

"Fuck up!

Using power to oppress others is really not allowed.

Kisanak and Nisanak,

You guys just calm down. I have a friend at Kotaraja Kadiri's palace. I assure you he will crack down on this matter. Now the most important thing is that Nyi Murti is calm first", Panji Tejo Laksono calms the mind that is raging in the heart of Nyi Murti.

The middle-aged woman immediately smiled with relief at the words of Panji Tejo Laksono, as well as Ki Randu. While Gayatri frowned at the young prince's words.

'He has friends in the government of Panjalu? What is he hiding?', inner Gayatri.

Panji Tejo Laksono immediately looked for the letter pigeon. With the help of Ki Randu, he obtained her at the residence of Lurah Wanua Sumilir. After writing a few words on a piece of cloth tied to the leg of the letter pigeon, Panji Tejo Laksono released the messenger bird which immediately shot towards the sky.

Finished sending the letter, Panji Tejo Laksono and Gayatri headed towards the city of Pakuwon Widoro according to Ki Randu's instructions. They want to free Cantil.

At the border of Pakuwon Widoro, Panji Tejo Laksono sought lodging to store their horses as well as a place to devise a plan to rescue Kantil.

An inn located some distance from Pakuwon Widoro Palace, Panji Tejo Laksono and Gayatri stopped his horse. They immediately rushed in after the two thick people received their horses.

"Welcome to our inn, swordsman..

Apa kalian ingin menginap di tempat kami?", tanya seorang lelaki pendek gemuk dengan mata sipit dan perut buncit.

"Supply two rooms for us to spend the night, as well as food. But we'd like to walk for a while after a short rest. This is enough is not it?", said Panji Tejo Laksono as he held out 5 pieces of silver to the front of the table where the fat short man stood. The man's eyes instantly widened when he saw the silver glint before his eyes.

Waiter, take this man to our best room. Quickly", the fat short man ordered to a thin man who politely escorted Panji Tejo Laksono and Gayatri to the inn room.

****

Nun is far to the North, in Kotaraja Kadiri. A soldier rushed to Tumenggung Ludaka who was sitting on the wooden chair of his residence porch, talking to Demung Gumbreg his best friend.

"What's the soldier? Is anything important?".

"Please Gusti Tumenggung, there is a dove letter that just arrived. This is the writing he carried" said the soldier as he held out a white cloth on Tumenggung Ludaka. Soon Tumenggung Ludaka received and read the writing on the cloth.

'Uncle Ludaka,

There was a crime committed by Akuwu Widoro.

Duke Tanggulangin protect her.

Please help'.

Such is the sound of the writing that is written in that writing. Tumenggung Ludaka immediately smiled at the knot reading the writing listed there.

"Guwarsa, Lembuwana..

Come here!!", shouted Tumenggung Ludaka loudly.

The two black shadows flashed quickly and immediately crouched down in front of Tumenggung Ludaka. Their clothes were all black and wore wooden masks half of their faces painted blue. They were both members of Lowo Bengi Forces, special forces of the Kingdom of Panjalu who served as special teleik troops under the leadership of Tumenggung Ludaka.

"Gusti Tumenggung called us? Are there any tasks that we have to do?", said one of them quickly.

"Bring ten of your men to the Duchy of Tanggulangin. Five people watched the palace of the Duchy of Tanggulangin, 5 people left for Pakuwon Widoro. Report any important events as soon as you get there.

Depart now!", orders Tumenggung Ludaka soon.

"Sendiko dawuh Gusti Tumenggung", the two men worship at Ludaka and then dart like a shadow flashing out of the residence Tumenggung Ludaka.

"Siwikarn, Jaluwesi..

Take twenty soldiers who have qualified martial arts. You guys get ready. After I returned from the palace, we departed", Tumenggung Ludaka ordered two soldiers who were in charge of guarding his residence. The two of them immediately nodded their heads and hurried to carry out the command of the officer.

Without further ado, Tumenggung Ludaka shook Demung Gumbreg's hand to accompany him to the palace. Despite not knowing what, Gumbreg obeyed Ludaka's will.

Patugunung Panji was reading some letters sent by several messengers from the Duchy of the Kingdom of Panjalu when Tumenggung Ludaka and Demung Gumbreg came to face. The two high-ranking officers immediately worshipped and sat cross-legged on the floor of the King's private room.

"What's Tumenggung Ludaka?

Why are you facing without me calling?", asked Panji Watugunung aka Prabu Jayengrana while staring at Tumenggung Ludaka.

"Please forgive Gusti Prabu..

There is something Gusti Prabu needs to know", replied Tumenggung Ludaka while taking out the new letter cloth he got. With both hands Tumenggung Ludaka set it on the Watugunung Panji. The Panjalu king immediately stood up from his seat and took the letter in the hand of Tumenggung Ludaka.

Finished reading the letter, Panji Watugunung smiled wryly. He recognized the writing in the letter as the handwriting of Panji Tejo Laksono.

The Panjalu king immediately took a golden badge bearing Candrakapala from inside a wooden box on a small table beside his wooden chair and then extended it to Tumenggung Ludaka.

"Use it wisely. Get someone to help you. Depart now", orders Panji Watugunung immediately.

"Sendiko dawuh Gusti Prabu", Tumenggung Ludaka worshiped Prabu Jitendrakara after receiving the golden badge and then inching backwards from the King's private room with Demung Gumbreg.

"Mbreg, you're coming with me..

No need to say goodbye to Juminten. The task of this country", said Tumenggung Ludaka while carrying a bundle of cloth containing several bags of kepeng and a change of clothes.

"Where are we going Lu?

Kog buru. If the task of the country must carry a lot of travel supplies. Dhek Jum must have raged if I left unselfishly", Demung Gumbreg looked at the face of his sidekick.

"Not much talk..

Parting business, my subordinates will take care of it. Your needs are my responsibility", said Tumenggung Ludaka as he walked out of his house.

"But Lu.."

Gumbreg had not had time to convey his objection, Tumenggung Ludaka had cut his speech.

"There's no buts..

You want to defy Gusti Prabu Jayengrana's orders? Oh yes, if you refuse to come with me, I will report the events in the Lodaya Civil Land yesterday to Juminten? You don't want that to happen, do you?", Tumenggung Ludaka smiled widely.

"Yes yes, not Lu..

I can hang Dhek Jum. Yes yes I'm coming with you", Gumbreg who was frightened by Ludaka's threat immediately rushed to follow the steps of his closest friend. Accompanied by 20 selected soldiers, they set out to the Duchy of Tanggulangin.

****

Throughout the afternoon until that afternoon, Panji Tejo Laksono and Gayatri observed the situation around Pakuwon Widoro Palace.

Using the bamboo caping to cover part of his face, they were really good at being observers especially Gayatri who seemed really used to disguising herself. This made Panji Tejo Laksono a little suspicious of Gayatri's true identity.

From the observations and news they gathered, it is likely that the Cantil was placed on the western building of the palace which was the place of the concubines of Akuwu Sastrogalih. From that observation, they knew that the palace gatekeepers would change every day so they had the opportunity to infiltrate the palace after dusk at the turn of the guards.

After bathing and filling his stomach, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately changed into black black clothes while covering half his face with black cloth.

Thookkk thok!

The knock on the bedroom door sounded loud. Panji Tejo Laksono immediately opened the door of the room. Gayatri who turned out to be ready to go directly into the bedroom Panji Tejo Laksono. Immediately Panji Tejo Laksono closed the room door.

"Are you ready, Gayatri?", asked Panji Tejo Laksono as he put his sword on his back. The beautiful woman disguised as a man immediately nodded while opening a little bedroom shutters to see the situation outside.

The western sky reddened the sign soon dusk will change with night. The bustling streets were gradually deserted, leaving some people visible to pass by. While some of Pakuwon Widoro's soldiers were seen patrolling the city's security while hitting the bende occasionally.

When it was dark, Panji Tejo Laksono turned to Gayatri before darting quickly from his bedroom window.

"Let's go"