The Return of the Fire Dragon Swordsman
Night at the Forest

Everyone inside the large tent rushed out with unsheathed weapons including Senopati Badraseta. Bungkik Janadipa who had first noticed his presence immediately darted ahead of their steps while scolding his bamboo fan towards the thick fog that covered the entire place.

Whhhuuuuussshhhh!!!

A series of strong winds blow from the fan of Bungkik Janadipa bamboo. The strong gust of wind, made the fog in front of the large tent disappear. Everyone who came out did not find the figure they were looking for in that place.

"Suckers! He immediately escaped after being discovered!", said one of the courtiers of Kanjuruhan Duchy named Tumenggung Mondoluku. The thick-bodied man spread his gaze around the place with a frenzied look of eyes as if he wanted to chew someone.

Bungkik Janadipa whose nose is sharp, looks to sniff something. There was a faint scent of blood spreading in the air. The midget man hurriedly picked up the torch attached to the entrance of the large tent then used his sense of smell to search for what he had just finished.

Surely the alleged Bungkik Janadipa. On top of the grass, there were a few drops of blood attached. Bungkik Janadipa immediately wiped the fresh blood while grinning widely. The midget man immediately rushed over to Senopati Badraseta while showing blood on his hands.

"He must have been hit by my Hedgehog Thorn Needle, Kakang Badraseta. He wouldn't be able to survive more than midnight tonight if he was high-scientific but if his science was shallow, most around this forest alone would have been extinct", said the midget man while smiling triumphantly. Senopati Badraseta who understood well with the ability of martial sister like her nodded in understanding.

"Then ignore him.. Let's continue our conversation inside the tent.

Butenggung Mondoluku, tighten security in our place. I do not want to be helped a second time", hearing the orders of Senopati Badraseta, the high officer of Kanjuruhan soldier with a thick body that immediately respect the leader before moving to carry out his duties.

The high-ranking officers of the Kanjuruhan soldiers immediately returned to the tent. But how surprised Senopati Badraseta when he saw the newsletter sent by Patih Simbarmanyura the warangka of Jenggala government that he put on his seat has disappeared somewhere.

"Na..Where's that newsletter? Hey, does anyone know where the newsletter from Kotaraja Kahuripan is?!", cried Senopati Badraseta frantically.

"No one else will enter this place, Gusti Senopati. Or maybe also the person who was injured by Gusti Advisor managed to enter this place?", said an officer of Bekel rank.

"You must not talk recklessly. Obviously we are all in front of the entrance of the tent, how could anyone go inside without us knowing?", another person who seemed to be an Intercessor saw from his clothes.

"Never make a fuss!

Now you guys check all the places around the barracks. Find the letter immediately. If anything suspicious, quickly report!", said Senopati Badraseta immediately.

"Sendiko dawuh Gusti Senopati", after saying so, all the officers present at the place immediately moved to inspect the area around the Kadipaten Kanjuruhan army barracks. A huge commotion immediately occurred throughout the entire army barracks of the Kanjuruhan Duchy. All the places in the search, even to the pouch of kepeng belonging to the soldiers did not escape the examination, but the items in search did not meet as well.

A red-hooded figure called Peacock Geni continued to stand next to Senopati Badraseta to await the results of the search. After waiting for a while, the retainers of the Kanjuruhan Duchy soldiers who took part in the search, regrouped in front of the large tent where they were meeting. All reported that they did not find the item they were looking for.

"Merak Geni, please report this incident to Gusti Patih Simbarmanyura. The departure of the attack to Panjalu from the southern region, waiting for the answer you brought from Kotaraja Kahuripan ", said Senopati Badraseta while staring at Merak Geni. The red-clad woman who always looked down at the ground just nodded in understanding. A moment later he had already darted fast like he was flying away from that place.

After the departure of Merak Geni, Senopati Badraseta immediately turned to look at Tumenggung Mondoluku.

"Wide your people around this place to Tumapel City, I want the bastard who stole the newsletter arrested. If anything suspicious, arrest him. If you fight, kill it. I will be in charge of Gusti Adipati", orders Senopati Badraseta immediately.

Tumenggung Mondoluku immediately respect the supreme leader of the Kadipaten Kanjuruhan soldiers and then rushed to arrange the tasks he received.

Meanwhile, a burly man staggered away from the warrior barracks of the Kanjuruhan Duchy. His right hand kept his right chest. Even without the slightest illumination and relying only on the moonlight that lived halfway in space, the man continued to move through the darkness of night in the middle of the forest located in the west of Pakuwon Tumapel City.

While when the commotion occurred, Panji Tejo Laksono who used his Ajian Halimun managed to steal a newsletter from Patih Simbarmanyura, the royal warangka of Jenggala Kingdom, without the slightest difficulty. He could also leave the Duchy of Kanjuruhan warrior barracks without causing a commotion. After witnessing his stirring the soldiers of Kanjuruhan Duchy after Senopati Badraseta lost his newsletter, Panji Tejo Laksono who stood at the top of the towering trees on the edge of this small forest, immediately darted quickly towards where his entourage was.

With a flickering body movement of a swallow, Panji Tejo Laksono jumped from one large tree to the top of another. After nearly three breaths, Panji Tejo Laksono stopped his movement. His sharp eyes, caught the movement of a shadow that kept on walking limped towards the west. The figure had even toppled twice but he got up again and continued to try to leave the place as soon as possible.

'Who is he? Why is he moving west? I will continue to follow him', Inner Panji Tejo Laksono as he keeps an eye on the movement of the black shadow.

Arriving at the edge of the small forest that was the Wanua Panawijen region, the man immediately shouted for help.

"Adhi Pritanjala's...

Help me Adhi.", after the sound was heard, from behind the thick dark trees, another shadow appeared. Soon he caught the man walking staggered.

"Basuki's back, what's wrong with you?", asked the other shadow immediately.

"I-I was exposed to a secret weapon from a midget swordsman in the warrior barracks of the Kanjuruhan Duchy. It looks like Adhi's poisonous weapon" said the man, who goes by the name Basuki.

"Then we better hurry up and leave this place, Kakang. They will certainly soon hunt you down", said the man who was slightly shorter than Basuki who was called by the name of Pritanjala. Both of them immediately rushed to leave.

But not even 4 steps they move, Panji Tejo Laksono who had just watched their movements jump down the road.

"Who are you? Why block our way?", hardik Pritanjala with a threatening tone of voice.

"I should ask, who are you? Why did your comrade deal with the soldiers of the Kanjuruhan Duchy?", Panji Tejo Laksono stared intently at the two of them.

The two men were shocked to hear Panji Tejo Laksono's question. The two soon realize that Panji Tejo Laksono has witnessed everything. Without waiting for long, Pritanjala immediately pulled out the keris on his waist and lunged forward towards Panji Tejo Laksono.

Two sacks of keris in the hands of Pritanjala immediately lead to the stomach of Panji Tejo Laksono. The prince only shifted his body position slightly to the right side until Pritanjala's attack only grabbed an empty air as long as next to Panji Tejo Laksono.

With a quick movement, Panji Tejo Laksono's left hand immediately blocked Pritanjala's right wrist and then twisted it behind the body of the man who was a little short.

Aaaarrrgggghhhh !!!

"Take me off, you bastard. My hands want to break this", Pritanjala groaned in pain due to twisting done by Panji Tejo Laksono. His heirloom keris fell to the ground.

"I don't want to kill people. But I don't mind if I have to break the bones of people who can't talk.

Quickly tell me who you are and what is your purpose in spying on the soldiers of Kadipaten Kanjuruhan?", Panji Tejo Laksono strengthened his torsion until Pritanjala again grimaced with pain. Pritanjala who was in pain started talking, "We-we are..."

Seeing that Pritanjala was about to speak, Basuki quickly threw the short sword that he had held tightly to his handle towards Pritanjala.

Shrrriinnggg !!

The banner of Tejo Laksono who saw that, quickly pulled Pritanjala's body until the sword was stuck on the palanquin tree behind them. Basuki's eyes stared fiercely at Pritanjala.

"For a password, abstain from divulging the secrets held by him, Pritanjala!! Even if it has to die, but it is more honorable than being a traitor" cried Basuki who immediately pulled a keris on his waist. Apparently he wanted to kill his own sister. Panji Tejo Laksono also immediately understood that the two of them were telik password.

"Hold your anger, Kisanak!

Have you guys dropped the password from Panjalu?", hearing the question of Panji Tejo Laksono, the two people momentarily fell silent without saying anything.

"If it's true that you're both on the Panjalu code, then we're on the same side. I am also a Panjalu man", Panji Tejo Laksono said, releasing Pritanjala's hand. This slightly short man immediately breathed a sigh of relief because the torment in his nature had ended.

"Are Kisanaks really Panjalu's? Do not try to fool us with your attitude" said Basuki who is still half-believed by the talk of Panji Tejo Laksono. Hearing that, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately reached behind his clothes and took out a golden badge bearing the image of Chandrakapala which was a sign that the person holding him was a close relative of Daha Palace.

Although the half moonlight was only dim that night, it was enough to make Basuki and Pritanjala see the golden badge in the hands of Panji Tejo Laksono. The two immediately knelt down and worshipped the prince.

"Please forgive me, Gusti Prince. We really did not know that we were dealing with a close relative of Daha Palace" Pritanjala said immediately.

"Here you go, if you're really stuck in Panjalu's password, I'm happy enough to meet you.

Now tell me, what have you found while spying on those Jenggala soldiers?", asked Panji Tejo Laksono.

Basuki immediately told about the task he had done and reported the results to Panji Tejo Laksono. Seeing Basuki who was coughing while talking, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately realized that the burly man was being exposed to poison.

"There's enough of your report, Basuki. I'll help you get the poison out of your body.

Sitting quietly ", upon hearing the order from Panji Tejo Laksono, Basuki immediately sat cross-legged on his back to the prince. Panji Tejo Laksono immediately exerted his inner strength and channeled it to Basuki. The burly man immediately sweated as the high level of energy belonging to Panji Tejo Laksono entered his body. Pritanjala was ordered to make the wound wider on the toxic needle marks.

While picking up some of Basuki's blood ways, Panji Tejo Laksono continued to channel his inner power. Black blood started from coming out of the wounds of poisonous needle marks belonging to Bungkik Janadipa.

After that blackish blood started to turn into ordinary fresh blood, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately stopped his actions of channeling the power within. Basuki's face paled from losing a lot of blood, immediately smiling as the tightness that seemed to clog his respiratory tract disappeared.

"While the poison is out, you better not use your inner strength anytime soon. My advice, strengthen yourself and leave as soon as possible because the Jenggala soldiers tomorrow morning will definitely comb this region.

Try to immediately report this to Tumenggung Landung in Daha City. This is a big problem that needs to be prepared immediately to overcome" Panji Tejo Laksono said immediately.

"We are grateful for the help of Gusti Prince. Then, we will leave this place soon.

May Hyang Agung always give protection to Gusti Pangeran Panji Tejo Laksono ", said Basuki who got a nod of the head from Pritanjala. Both of the Panjalu code immediately jumped on their horses after worshiping at the Panji Tejo Laksono. The two of them immediately kicked their horses through the darkness of night on the edge of the small forest border Wanua Panawijen to the west.

After the two left, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately shot quickly towards the direction where his entourage spent the night. The arrival of Panji Tejo Laksono immediately made Gayatri ask, "Where did Kakang come from?".

"There's something that needs to be resolved. I have finished well", said Panji Tejo Laksono while removing the bamboo caping he always wore. Sriati who had not seen the handsome face of Panji Tejo Laksono, immediately looked stunned with the good looks of the young prince. So did Naratama who was amazed by the face of Panji Tejo Laksono who immediately grabbed the roasted wild boar to fill his rumbling stomach.

Dyah Kirana who did not like the view of Sriati, immediately elbowed Lurah Wanua's daughter Panawijen. Sriati instantly realized.

The night was getting late, the air around the place became cold as if to freeze every inch of life that was there until the morning before arriving. The eastern sky looks reddened the sign that Surya will rise soon. The rooster tree sounds earthy from the east which is the area of Pakuwon Tumapel City. On that blind morning, Panji Tejo Laksono's entourage was startled with a loud noise that instantly made them wake up from their sleep.

"Hey wake you up!

Why spend the night in this place?"