The Return of the Fire Dragon Swordsman
Kembang Kadipaten Kalingga Palace

"Ka-Kanjeng Romo, since when was Kanjeng Romo here?", stuttered Ayu Ratna heard the voice of Duke Aghnibrata who appeared in the sari garden of the Duchy of Kalingga.

"Since you said that you refused to be betrothed to the prince of Kadiri. You can actually think clearly, right?

If you marry Panji Tejo Laksono, then you will have the honor and raise the degree of the Duchy of Kalingga Palace. Just so you know, Ayu Ratna, please, all dukes in the Kingdom of Panjalu even foreign countries such as Sunda and Surasilulu sent a message to Gusti Prabu Jayengrana to be willing to match Gusti Pangeran Panji Tejo Laksono with their daughter. But everything was suspended because Gusti Prabu Jayengrana was best friends with me so they were willing to match you with Gusti Pangeran Panji Tejo Laksono. This is a great honor received by the Duchy of Kalingga.

If you refuse this matchmaking, then not only tens or even hundreds of beautiful princesses from other regions are willing to replace your position as the next queen of Panjalu.

Anyway I don't want to know. You must be the wife of Gusti Pangeran Panji Tejo Laksono", said Duke Aghnibrata firmly.

"But Kanjeng Romo..."

"There's no buts. If you dare to mess around and act as you please, you will get severe punishment from me.

Remember, Ayu Ratna. The honor of the Duchy of Kalingga is in your hands. Once that honor is lost, then the whole fate of our family will end miserably. Take it well", having said that, Duke Aghnibrata immediately left the sari garden of the Duchy of Kalingga with a sour face.

Ayu Ratna's leg limp heard her father's decision. Kalingga Palace Flower was immediately sat on a wooden chair in the sari park. Slowly her tears dripped from the corner of her beautiful eyes.

"Patience to Princess Gusti..

Trust Gusti the Duke only wanted the best for Gusti Putri. No parent wants their child to suffer if they are married later", entertain Sukesi with full tenderness. The palace attendant who was also Ayu Ratna's only close friend smiled faintly.

"Thank You Sukesi.. You've always been faithful to accompany me when I'm not feeling this way.

But I will not just stay silent and surrender to the circumstances. I will do something to thwart this matchmaking plan" Ayu Ratna said as she wiped away the tears that soaked her cheeks.

"Well, what does Princess want? Don't act weird Gusti Putri", Sukesi began to worry.

"You take it easy, Sukesi..

I will not run away from this palace. But Uncle Pringgalaya will make the prince of Kadiri did not dare to enter the Duchy of Kalinga Palace. Now take me to Padepokan Bukit Kalang, Sukesi", take Ayu Ratna while standing from her seat. He immediately stepped towards the side door of the Kalingga Duchy's palace. Sukesi who was worried about Ayu Ratna's safety immediately followed the steps of the princess.

With a horse carriage, Ayu Ratna and Sukesi along with 8 guards left the palace of the Duchy of Kalingga heading towards Padepokan Bukit Kalang which is south of Kadipaten Kalingga City.

After a long journey, Ayu Ratna's entourage stopped her chariot at the foot of a hill that was not too high.4 Ayu Ratna's bodyguards stood guard where they stopped while Ayu Ratna, who was still standing, Sukesi and the four Kalingga soldiers went up to the top of Kalang hill.

On the hillside of Kalang, stands a silat college that is quite famous in the martial world. Although it is not a silat college that has hundreds of students, but the average silat college student has skilled martial arts skills.

That afternoon a middle-aged, stocky man with a puffed left hand and a thick mustache who began to whiten seemed to be observing dozens of students who were practicing silat movements. Although he was no longer young, the middle-aged man still looked gallant and strong. He is Pringgalaya, the leader of Padepokan Bukit Kalang who is famous as Pendekar Golok Buntung. In the martial world of Jawadwipa Land he quite has a big name as a white swordsman. Although the handicap but the martial ability he has is no doubt.

"Strengthen your horses, do not be easily swayed despite a sudden attack", cried Pringgalaya while continuing to watch over his students who train with seriousness.

From the direction of the padepokan gate, Ayu Ratna, Sukesi and his four personal guards were followed by two gatekeepers walking closer to Pringgalaya.

"Good afternoon Uncle Pringgalaya, has uncle forgotten me?", asked Ayu Ratna while smiling faintly at the leader of Padepokan Bukit Kalang.

Pringgalaya immediately scrunched her forehead for a moment like she was trying to remember something. As he remembered, a smile fell on his lips.

"Ah Ayu Ratna my niece, you've grown up apparently. I almost didn't recognize you because you've turned into a beautiful girl.

Janur mountain you're here, Ayu Ratna. Is there anything important?", Pringgalaya immediately looked towards Ayu Ratna. Pringgalaya is the younger sister of Ayu Ratna's mother, Niken Sulastri. They were both sons of the daughter of Maharesi Lokeswara of Pedarmaan Dieng. They spoke while walking towards the main residence of Padepokan Bukit Kalang.

"I didn't come here just to visit you, Uncle Pringgalaya. But I want to ask Uncle for help", Ayu Ratna replied politely.

"Help? What kind of help did you ask for from your uncle, Ayu Ratna?

If it's money, I don't have it. Just ask your father", said Pringgalaya with a faint smile.

"Ah This uncle, I did not ask for any financial help from uncle.

All I ask is that Uncle Pringgalaya block the group of people of the Kingdom of Panjalu who will come to Kalingga", Ayu Ratna replied while aligning his body beside Pringgalaya. They then sat in the porch of the main residence Padepokan Bukit Kalang while continuing the conversation.

"Attacking the people of the Kadiri Palace? Have you gone crazy Ayu Ratna?

Isn't that the same as treason against the government? I don't want to die silly with a stamp as a rebel", refused Pringgalaya who was a little surprised to hear Ayu Ratna's words.

"Not to kill them Uncle, but to challenge a prince who would propose me as wife.

Honestly, I do not like the matchmaking done by Kanjeng Father Duke. So let's just say Uncle wants to test the ability of the prince from Kadiri named Panji Tejo Laksono as a condition to be able to propose to me. If he can win against Uncle, then he can continue the intention to challenge me. But if he lost, then he would have to voluntarily cancel this matchmaking plan. I'm pretty sure that Uncle Pringgalaya can beat him.

I beg you Uncle is willing to do it. Only Uncle is my only hope to cancel my arranged marriage plan with the prince of Kadiri ", hiba Ayu Ratna with a hearty.

Mmmmmm..

"You're really smart too, Ayu Ratna. I didn't think you had such a thought.

All right, I'll do it. But if in the back of the day he does not accept his defeat from me and orders the Panjalu soldiers to storm into Kalingga, I will not interfere" Pringgalaya said immediately.

"If that's the case, uncle doesn't have to worry. I can persuade Kanjeng Father Adipati to talk with Gusti Prabu Jayengrana because they are close friends", hearing Ayu Ratna's answer, Pringgalaya must have understood.

After a long conversation, Ayu Ratna and her bodyguards begged to return to Kalingga. While Pringgalaya put his men to be spies in charge of informing the arrival of people from Kadiri who want to enter the City of Kalingga Duchy.

****

Panji Tejo Laksono pulled the reins of his horse once it reached the banks of the Wulayu River which became the boundary of the Duchy of Bojonegoro with the Duchy of Lasem in the south. For two days he left Kotaraja Kadiri with Gayatri, Luh Jingga, Tumenggung Ludaka, Demung Gumbreg, Siwikarna and Jaluwesi and 4 selected soldiers Tumenggung Ludaka.

To facilitate the journey, they wore disguises until no one recognized them as the rulers of Katang-katang Palace.

"Uncle Ludaka,

After crossing this Wulyu River, where are we going?", asked Panji Tejo Laksono while jumping down from his horse. Tumenggung Ludaka also followed the young prince as well as his other followers.

"After we cross the Wulyu River, then we will arrive at the pier crossing Jipang Gusti Pangeran. Later we continue to follow the road to the west, if there is no definite obstacle we reach the area of Pakuwon Randublatung before dusk", replied Tumenggung Ludaka while guiding his horse beside Panji Tejo Laksono who first walked closer to the crossing pier.

Satu persatu para pengikut Panji Tejo Laksono mulai naik ke atas kapal penyeberangan yang menyediakan jasa penyeberangan bagi para pengelana maupun para pedagang yang ingin ke wilayah Kadipaten Lasem selatan dan sebaliknya.

Slowly the crossing boat moves to split the Wulyu River which is high water. The wide river that is commonly used to be traffic appears to be a turbid brownish water sign that in the upstream area the rainfall is still high even though the rainy season like it will soon end.

After the ferry boat docked to the Jipang crossing pier, the group of Panji Tejo Laksono immediately rushed down from the crossing ship. Tumenggung Ludaka paid for their crossing.

"Lu, aren't you hungry?", Demung Gumbreg said half-whispering in Tumenggung Ludaka's ear leading the horse to his right.

"Are you hungry yourself, Mbreg?", Ludaka asked.

"We haven't had lunch yet..

My stomach has been rumbling since the city of Bojonegoro Duchy earlier", said Demung Gumbreg a little loudly whispering to his sidekick.

"You've been waiting.. Later when we meet the food stalls we stop..

You're an old officer but your behavior looks like a snot boy. Patience a little" said Tumenggung Ludaka.

"That stomach strain doesn't know Lu's age..

If you are hungry, then hungry. It has nothing to do with age. You are completely heartless", grumbled Demung Gumbreg.

Panji Tejo Laksono who heard Demung Gumbreg's words smiled faintly. Without waiting for a long time he led his horse towards the food stall located on the edge of the Jipang crossing pier.

A fairly large and crowded food stall visited by people stands majestically on the edge of the highway that is near the pier crossing. A beautiful woman with a little open makeup seems to be busy serving the buyers who are tiled in front of the table. A slightly flirtatious sweet smile was engraved on the face of this beautiful woman who was around 3 decades old.

He is Nyi Kinanti, a former tledek dancer who took over the job of being the owner of a fairly large food stall. Its friendly and supple carrying makes the visitors of its food stalls feel at home for a long time in the stall. In addition, her makeup that slightly provokes the passion of the men make her into a flower shop on the roadside. In addition to her 5 beautiful young girls also helped the food stall until the food stalls are so famous around the place.

But behind her makeup inviting lust and her sweet smile, she is a member of a fairly respected college in the Duchy of Anjuk Padang that has moved to Lasem, The Flower Poison College. It is said that she was a widow who was left dead by her husband who was a soldier when killed by robbers, to make her choose to learn poison science on Dewi Kenanga, who was a warrior, the Head of the Flower Poison School after the death of Dewi Kembang Wengi in Anjuk Farm. After avenging her husband's death, Nyi Kinanti chose to leave Anjuk Farm and live in the place while opening a small business that is now a large food stall.

The banner of Tejo Laksono immediately tied the reins of his horse on the deck of the horse beside the courtyard of the food stall. His followers followed the prince.

When Panji Tejo Laksono entered the food stall, the attention of the food stall servant girls was immediately fixed on Panji Tejo Laksono who opened his bamboo caping. Similarly, Nyi Kinanti was stunned to see the good looks of Panji Tejo Laksono.

"Name,

I ordered grilled fish. White rice and a cup of ginger wedang" Panji Tejo Laksono said as he showed off his deathly smile.

"Ba-good Denmas.. Si-please wait at the place that has been prepared", spied Nyi Kinanti answered the talk of Panji Tejo Laksono. He's been misbehaving.

One by one the followers of Panji Tejo Laksono ordered their food and sat around Panji Tejo Laksono.

A stocky man with a thick mustache and a thick sideburn who was enjoying food at one of the dining tables growled loudly at the nervousness of Nyi Kinanti. He had long harbored a fondness for Nyi Kinanti but the beautiful woman never responded. He was so jealous to see Nyi Kinanti paying attention to Panji Tejo Laksono. The man named Beggol immediately stood up from his seat while pounding the table and pointing towards the table Panji Tejo Laksono.

Arakkkkk!!!

"Hi rotten bastard!!

How dare you tease my future wife. Are you tired of living ha?", cried Beard with anger.

The loud cry of Benggol made the atmosphere of the food stall that was originally boisterous low because they talked to each other directly quiet no sound. All eyes were immediately fixed on the table Panji Tejo Laksono.

Demung Gumbreg who was sitting closest to Beggol, immediately turned to Beggol while looking intently at Beggol and said loudly.

"Who's also teasing your future wife?

Just know your future wife doesn't"