THE SUNAN BODYGUARD

episode 4c: Guests to Kiai Lembu Areng in Galunggung Crater

“Oh yes, please stop by the kingdom of Galunggung within the territory of the great kingdom of Galuh. There is a powerful person, called Kiai Lembu Areng. Meet her. If he does a lot of work, you need to know munkar!” shouts Syech Belabelu.

Rejo replied with a wave of his hand, and continued walking slowly with the three tigers.

Rejo chose an uncommon path. If previously always chose the village road, now Rejo choose the rice field, or wilderness. The hope was that he would no longer meet humans, which could trigger him to become arrogant. In fact, Rejo chose to walk at night, and rest during the day.

Rejo's journey became very slow, and quite tiring. He's totally unprepared to meet a scared person watching him walk with a tiger.

Inevitably, Rejo finally passed the Galunggung Mountain area as well.

Actually, Galunggung is a kingdom that is quite respected. It's just that, because of the greatness of Prabu Siliwangi who united the land of Pasundan and Galuh, making Galunggung only ruled by the Duke. Rejo did not want to meet the duke, but, Rejo sought a figure named Kiai Lembu Areng, as authorized by Shech Belabelu.

Rejo chose a small cave at the foot of Mount Galunggung as his residence. He placed these three wild tigers that followed him, inside the cave. It was as if there was communication with the body language between Rejo and the three tigers.

The tiger understood that he was told to stay temporarily in the cave. And the tiger seems sure, he will not be left alone by Rejo.

Without being followed by the tiger, Rejo freely entered the villages in the Duchy of Galunggung.

The goal is clear, find out, who is the figure of Kiai Lembu Areng who is mentioned by Syech Belabelu's powerful figure.

In every village that Rejo visited, always asked about the figure of Kiai Lembu Areng. And, the reaction asked, all the same.

That is not answering, staring in fear, and immediately leave without a word.

“Who exactly is this Areng Cow Kiai, why is everyone I ask, seems to be scared?” rejo murmur.

Finally Rejo made sure that there was no way he could get information about the figure of Kiai Lembu Areng, if he just asked.

Rejo made a pretty crazy plan. He engaged the female tiger to make the charade.

The way, with sign language, Rejo asks the female tiger to enter the village, then roars as loud as possible. The hope is that villagers will be scared. Just then, Rejo appeared by shouting him disciple Kiai Lembu Areng. Then drive away the tiger. Of course, because it is a charade and already know the tiger, then, easily this female tiger is driven away.

What Rejo got, in one village, instead of getting information about Kiai Lembu Areng, even all the doors were tightly closed. It was as if the fear of the villagers had become.

“What is this? They were already frightened by the tiger, and when I shouted the name Kiai Lembu Areng, even made the villagers more afraid. Who exactly is Kiai Lembu Areng?” muttered Rejo, stroking the neck of the female tiger.

They are heading to another village.

The scenario remains the same. The tiger was asked to enter the village first, and asked to roar as loud as he could.

All the villagers immediately ran into their homes. Someone immediately closed the door, someone immediately took the weapon.

Not wanting to have a fight between the armed villagers and the female tiger, Rejo immediately ran towards the tiger, shouting Kiai Lembu Areng disciple.

Known to the villagers who had unsheathed weapons, Rejo immediately approached the female tiger, as if hitting with all her might, towards the head of the tiger.

The tiger groans in pain. Falling down, then running out of the village.

The villagers were screaming.

Rejo.

“Kisanak, you are certainly a new person here. We never know you here,” said the village.

“True, Father. I happened to pass by,” Rejo replied, while courting respect towards all the villagers.

“Thank you for driving the tiger away. Of course you are not Pasundan, not Galunggung.”

“With how to know?”

“Because it is impossible to hit a tiger, if you are here, or a Pasundan. We all respect the tiger, because this animal we believe drops from our king, Prabu Siliwangi.”

Rejo was shocked.

“You will be doomed, for you dare to strike the tiger.”

“Then, the weapon that the fathers held, is not to hurt the tiger?” ask Rejo.

“You're mistaken, young man. This weapon is indeed we wield, but not to kill the tiger, but to ask luck to the tiger. Tradition in our village, if any tiger comes, we will put all the weapons on the ground, to be endowed with the tiger. And the tiger will certainly ask for reward by pouncing on one of us. We're sincere. And of course the tiger will reach nirvana. Meet Prabu Siliwangi.”

Rejo.

“Masya Allah...,” whispered Rejo.

“You said, his student Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng. That is also impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because we know, Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng, it is impossible to raise a disciple.”

“Hah!”

Rejo just gawking.

Rejo finally decided to confess and tell the truth.

“Please forgive. I am not a student of Kiai Lembu Areng. Why did I shout as a student of Kiai Lembu Areng, because, every time I asked about the figure of Kiai Lembu Areng, no one answered, even from his eyes shuddered in fear, and immediately left. I'm curious. Mohoin sorry.”

“Hmm. Why do you ask about Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng?”

“Because I was told by my teacher, to meet Kiai Lembu Areng.”

“Actually, it is a taboo for all of us to tell who Kiai Lembu Areng is, but, because we believe that you who dare to hit a tiger will be hit by a calamity, yes, we will tell you, who will wretch this.”

Rejo.

“Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng, is a powerful hermit. Even to say his name alone, we were quite afraid. Almost the same as hitting a tiger, there will be a disaster for anyone who calls the name Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng.”

“Lho.. didn't you mention the name Kiai Lembu Areng?”

“Yes, because we all already know, that the one who will be affected by the disaster is not us. But thou. We are sure of that, after seeing you hit the head of the tiger.”

Rejo just stared in confusion.

“Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng is a hermit, who lives in the crater of Mount Galunggung. He's very strange. Sometimes he went down to the mountains to kill people. But, at another time, he went down the mountain to bless the people. Even gave a lot of gold. But, the most frequent is to go down the mountain to kill people.”

“So, Kia Kanjeng Areng it lives in the mountain crater?”

“True. Called Kiai Lembu Areng, because indeed his body blackened all like charcoal. Why did your teacher tell you to meet Kanjeng Kiai Lembu Areng?”

“I don't know either.”

At the time of this dialogue, the female tiger came from the door of the village.

This time it did not roar, but walked weakly.

The villagers were unaware.

Once the distance was close, all the villagers were shocked. They immediately unsheathed the weapon, and laid it on the ground. Then everyone sat down to the tiger and saluted.

The tiger, came to Rejo, then swiped his body at Rejo's feet. Licking Rejo's legs, then sitting half down.

The villagers were shocked.

They cried out to see this sight.

“Duh Gusti, if this tiger forgives this young man, it means we will be affected by the disaster, because it calls the name Kiai Lembu Areng.”

People cry with fear.

Rejo's turn was scratching his head, confused and astonished.

He did not expect, so in the confidence of the people in the Padjajaran territory.

“Father of all, why are you so deifying a tiger. Isn't he just a wild animal, whereas we, have brains and minds?”

“Young people, tigers are sacred animals. Tiger is the incarnation of Prabu Siliwangi.”

“Hah?”

“True young man. Tiger is a sacred animal. In fact, if in this village there are livestock that are eaten by tigers, then the owner of the animal will soon become rich. It has been proven time and time again. And our village will be prosperous, sustenance will be abundant in this village.”

Rejo was silent. There was no way he could straighten out to people who had such firm convictions.

“So, what do you really want, young man?”

“I just want to know, where can I meet Kiai Lembu Areng. That's it.”

“Oh... Is that all?”

Is correct. That's it.”

“Please go to Mount Galunggung. Between the upper crater and the lower crater, there is a cave. That's where you can meet the person you mentioned earlier.”

Rejo was just a head-scalp. So great is Kiai Lembu Areng, so to say his name only people do not dare.

Rejo immediately announced.

As soon as Rejo walked, the tiger followed. From the direction of the grove following the two tiger cubs. They stepped towards the direction the villagers were pointing at.

It took Rejo a long time to reach the top of Galunggung Mountain. He was more and more carefully choosing the path.

The area of Galunggung Mountain Crater that greened, after the eruption)

At the top of this mist-filled Galunggung mountain, Rejo took a look, where was the residence of Kiai Lembu Areng.

There are several caves visible.

Rejo immediately descended into the crater, and began to browse one by one the cave.

No human figures were found in all the caves.

However, Rejo's belief said, Kiai Lembu Areng certainly existed in one of the caves. Hence, Rejo took a closer look at each cave, which smelled of this pungent sulfur.

No human figures were found.

”Certainly Kiai Lembu Areng this a powerful person. How can it possibly breathe a sigh of relief, in an area that smells pungent like this?”

Gradually, Rejo felt his head dizzy, because he inhaled the smell of sulfur for too long. Rejo decided to climb to the top again to get some fresh air.

At the top of this Galunggung mountain, Rejo sat cross-legged leisurely. His eyes spread all over the cave.

“Where are you, O Kiai Lembu Areng,” whispered Rejo himself.

Unexpectedly, there was a chuckling laughter.

The laughter seemed to be sourced from a very old figure, as there was a trembling impression. Even so, Rejo felt a huge amount of inner energy.

Before long, Rejo's stomach started to get nauseous.

“This is definitely not because I inhale this sulfur scent, but this is due to the deep power channeled through the voice earlier.”

Rejo immediately gathered energy in, to deal with the nausea in his stomach. But late. Moments later, Rejo vomited.

“Pardon Kiai Lembu Areng, for my sassness come to Panjenengan's house,” said Rejo with energy in as much as possible.

Rejo already thought, that the talk he must have heard Kiai Lembu Areng, whose existence is not yet known Rejo's.

True exists. Soon after, there was a sound.

“Young man, who are you? And what are you here for?”

“Include, my name is Rejo, I was told by Kanjeng Syech Belabelu to come here. I am a student of Kanjeng Syech Belabelu.”

“Oh, that Belabelu gembrot? Keep, he order what is the same to you?”

Rejo nodded for a moment. There are doubts about telling the truth.

“Why silent?”

Rejo still doesn't say.

“Young man, why are you silent for so long? What did Belabelu order to you?”

Because it is impossible to avoid, even if lying, Rejo believes it will definitely be found out. Rejo decided to tell the truth.

”Kanjeng message Syech Belabelu is, I was told to meet Panjenengan. If Panjengan act, I was told hai munkar.”

“The intention of that nahi munkar, to kill me?” so one voice appeared.

“Maybe the meaning is not far from it.”

“Ha ha ha. It's still this Belabelu. From a long time ago, since he was a child, never changed his behavior.”

Rejo replace shocked.

“Since childhood?” thought Rejo.

“Means the age of Kiai Lembu Areng is very old,” further thought Rejo.

“Young. You are not the first to come here. Already dozens of people stop by here, when I asked what message from the Javanese land trustees, they generally answer for friendship. That means they lie. In fact, the message of all Javanese guardians is the same, exactly what is ordered to you, which is as much as possible to kill me. Young man, you have just spoken the truth, without fear. I salute you. All right, I'll see you.”

Shocked Rejo reeds.

He also immediately prepared all the worst possibilities, because he did not know, what kind of Areng Cow Kiai looks like.

Rejo spread his gaze among the caves, no human figure appeared.

However, the old figure seemed to be stumbling up. Right in the crater hole of Mount Galunggung.

Rejo just gawking.

“How could the Kiai Lembu Areng emerge from the hot crater rim?”

All that sounds is chuckling laughter.

"Young people. Why are you surprised? In my place, the air is cold."

Rejo just silently nodded.

Rejo saw, despite being old, Kiai Lembu Areng can climb the cliffs of the crater easily. Rejo thought that the cliffs of the crater must be hot, because Rejo could see embers bubbling away at the bottom.

When the distance is close, then Rejo saw that the natural figure is called Kiai Lembu Areng. His body was full of angus. Or even, it could be that the skin of Kiai Lembu Areng is already dark and blackened.

Rejo understood that the figure he saw was certainly a very powerful figure. It's just that, Rejo is not inexhaustible, how to protect hair and clothes so as not to burn, even though it is very close to the fire that the heat level is extraordinary.

Kiai Lembu Areng has now reached the top of Mount Galunggung, found Rejo.

Rejo immediately saluted.

Rejo felt an extremely hot air spreading from the body of Kiai Lembu Areng.

Forced, Rejo must exert all his strength to block this heat.

"Young people, I know, you have heard the talk, that there are no more powerful people in the Javanese quarter. The most powerful is the son of Prabu Siliwangi."

Of course Rejo was shocked, because he heard the words coming from the Majapahit King Wikramawardhana.

"The young man, whom the king of the east spoke of, is indeed true. I'm not so good."

Rejo was even more shocked, as if Kiai Lembu Areng knew what was being said.

“Young people, all this time, I have never met people who were told by the Javanese Guardians, because they lied. In order to please me, they said to be in touch. In fact, the message was that those people were told to kill me. And only one of you, who dared to tell the truth to this old man. For that, I want to see you. Now, do what is your duty, which is to kill this old body,” said Kiai Lembu Areng.

Of course Rejo didn't dare. Let alone to kill, to raise his face to see how Kiai Lembu Areng looks, Rejo did not dare.

“Ampun, Kanjeng Kiai. I don't dare.”

“Why?”

“I was told to kill Kanjeng Kiai, if I get the fact that Kanjeng Kiai is doing a munkar act. So far, I have no basis at all. In fact, I do not know what kind of action Kanjeng Kiai. Indeed, the people at the foot of Mount Galunggung said, that Kanjeng Kiai often killed people. In fact, so afraid they are to Kanjeng Kiai, to say his name only, they do not dare.”

“Ha ha ha ha.... how scary am I? Young man, whatever you do, you believe the people or not, I have no business. Our business is, you will kill this old body, please.”

“Please, Kanjeng Kiai, I don't dare.”

“Lho, have you not known from the speech of the people, what I do? It can be concluded that I am a cruel and vile person. Please kill.”

“Please, Kanjeng Kiai. I can't kill anyone else just by listening to people. I should know for myself. I admit, my science may not be able to kill Kanjeng Kiai. But, if really Kanjeng Kiai is the same as the ones people are talking about, then we might fight to the death. If I die, then I am martyred.”

“Young man, I caught the vibration of a firm and clean heart. I've never found anyone with a determination like you. So you want to know what I really am? And what I've been doing all this time. All right, then, I invite you to come into my house, down there.”

Rejo.

How could he possibly get inside the embers, inside the mountain crater?

Kiai Lembu Areng just chuckled.

Rejo forgot, that he was a student of the Sage of Swadaraya from Mount Tidar who had a ferocious science. In fact, when practicing first, Rejo's mouth could spout fire.

Rejo's body is burning.

Because it was intended to neutralize this malignant science, making Rejo forget, that he was actually used to struggling with fire.

“Please forgive Kanjeng Kiai, how can I get into the crater?” ask Rejo while scratching his head.

“Cake cake, you forgot. Have you not struggled with fire when you were a child. Have you forgotten your teacher, Resi Swadaraya? The martial world already knows it all,” said Kiai Lembu Areng.

Rejo was again shocked.

“Truely everyone already knows?”

“True. Even Syech Belabelu, Syech Subakir and Sheh Jumadil Kubro also know. So, what are you afraid of? The crater of the mountain is hot, but are you not actually used to struggling with the heat? Only, I don't want you to enter my house with your clothes on fire. That's it.”

Kiai Lembu Areng immediately moved. He limped down the cliff, and began to enter the crater of Mount Galunggung.

Rejo just watched from the top of the cliff.