Night Eagle Swordsman

The Duchy of Langitan

After a while waiting by the roadside, Puguh's ears caught a large number of footsteps. A short distance later passed by a group of people who were all riding horses. The front one carries a banner that says 'Padepokan Kartika Murda'.

After the riding troupe passed, Puguh immediately told his teacher that the one who had just passed was a horse from Padepokan Kartika Murda. The cavalry took a straight path.

"Good ngger. It seems that indeed in the near future there will be a martial competition in the Duchy of Langitan," Ki Dwijo said while stroking Puguh's head.

Then the two of them went back to continue their journey on foot, because they did not rush to get to the place they were headed.

On the way on foot, there were several groups that preceded them. There were even groups that used chariots and were escorted by warriors who rode horses. The group that uses the train usually comes from a school. While the group of a paddlepokan usually rides a horse, or even some are on foot.

----- * -----

By late afternoon, Puguh and his teacher were almost at the end of the road that connects the village or region. The end of the road is seen connecting with the forest edge.

Puguh was busy looking at the atmosphere of the road they passed, because he felt he had never passed this road. Ki Dwijo suddenly said, "Ngger Puguh, look in front there is a crowd."

Hearing his teacher's words, Puguh tried to concentrate on focusing his eyes and ears. Moments later, at a distance that is still quite far away, Puguh saw the movement of human movement accompanied by something that sometimes looks shiny.

Then his teacher asked him to run to get to the edge of the forest.

Right, arriving at the edge of the forest, there was a fight between the two groups. Judging from the banner and the vehicles used, they came from the Pagelan Academy which fought people from the Argo Langking Padepokan.

In that fight, the people from Kademangan Pagelan were pressed and there were already some who had gotten injured, which were mostly soldiers.

The fight was unbalanced, because the ones escorting the martial contest participants of the Pagelan Academy were only the lowly soldiers. So against some young teachers who accompanied the students who represented the Padepokan Argo Langking, the soldiers lost at the level of silat.

Seeing the unbalanced fight, Ki Dwijo approached and flicked both of his palms forward twice.

Breesss !!!

Bruuuaaakkk !!!

Instantly, some people who were fighting slammed and fell like a typhoon.

Seeing that, the leader of the group from Padepokan Argo Langking immediately shouted in disbelief.

"Who are you ! Dare to interfere in this business !"

"Who am I, it doesn't matter. Most importantly, stop this fight" replied Ki Dwijo.

Ki Dwijo who used to be very famous by his name with the nickname of the Thousand Swordsman, has been around twenty years more disappeared from the martial world, so the leader of the entourage of the young Padepokan Argo Langking did not know him.

"Are you all on your way to the Duchy of Langitan City to take part in the martial arts match ?" ask Ki Dwijo.

"We are only avenging one of our students who was accused of stealing and was imprisoned by the Kademangan Pagelan warriors" said one of the young teachers who escorted his student.

"That's Demang Pagelan's business with your teacher, Ki Kalung Gunung," replied Ki Dwijo, "Your business is to participate in the martial arts, representing your group. Now, you guys break up, get rid of this fight !"

Finished saying, Ki Dwijo slightly moved both of his palms. Suddenly arriving from both palms came out a small whirlwind that gave rise to a shrieking sound.

It was as if knowing who they were dealing with, the young teacher and all the disciples of Padepokan Argo Langking did not prolong the affair and immediately left the place.

After the entourage from Padepokan Argo Langking left and was not seen again, one of the Kademangan Pagelan warriors who seemed to be the leader of the entourage immediately approached. In addition to thanking them for being helped, the warrior leader of the group from Kademangan Pagelan asked Ki Dwijo and Puguh to be with their entourage, if they want to go to the martial arts in the Duchy of Langitan.

Because there was no other plan, Ki Dwijo received an offer from the leader of the group.

The warrior leader of Kademangan Pagelan's entourage was delighted. So happy, he even ordered his men to entertain Ki Dwijo and Puguh with delicious food that can usually only be enjoyed at the home of penggedhe and palace officials.

After resting with a night on the edge of the forest, in the morning, the group Kademangan Pagelan continued the journey to the Duchy of Langitan. Puguh and Ki Dwijo were on the train together with Kademangan Pagelan's relatives who were representatives to participate in the martial arts competition.

When the train starts to leave, something changes in Puguh. In a few moments, his eyes were blank. A sad look was on his face. His memory drifted, returning to when he was in the train of the Kademangan Pandan Ireng troupe. It was then, before his eyes, that his symbol was killed for the sake of protecting him and the others.

As his eyes began to sting and blush, Puguh quickly shook his head and suppressed the feeling of sadness in his heart.

Without Puguh realizing, all these things did not escape the attention of Ki Dwijo. Ki Dwijo knew, Puguh must be reminded of the terrible events he had experienced.

"An extraordinary child. At his current age, he was able to suppress his feelings of sadness. Hopefully this will be a good mental padlock for him" Ki Dwijo said in his heart.

They traveled in a carriage escorted by horsemen for two days. During those two days, their journey was safe and there were no distractions of any kind.

----- o -----------

In the afternoon leading up to evening, after travelling for two days, the group of Kademangan Pagelan arrived at the Duchy of Langitan.

The warrior leader of the Kademangan Pagelan entourage invites Ki Dwijo and Puguh to find lodging, but Ki Dwijo refuses on the grounds that they both still have business.

They eventually separated. Ki Dwijo and Puguh immediately got off the train. Then Ki Dwijo invites Puguh to walk down the road that leads outside the township.

Arriving at the edge of the township, Ki Dwijo immediately darted towards the small forest on the edge of the township and immediately bouncy climbed to the top after finding a tree that was the largest in the small forest. Arriving at a fairly sloping branch, Ki Dwijo invited Puguh to sit down and rest.

"Why are we here, teacher ? Why don't we stay at the inn like Kademangan Pagelan's entourage, teacher ?" Puguh asked his teacher.

'He he he he ..... Forgive your teacher, this is Puguh. This is because the teacher has no money to pay for the inn," Ki Dwijo said while laughing a little embarrassedly at his student.

__________ ◇ __________