The Slaughterhouse

That same night, Jagat was escorted by two villagers towards Sawung Bumi. Its location was not too far from the village, indicating that danger was lurking nearby.

The two men guided Jagat with torchlight as they climbed the first of two hills ahead. A glimmer of light could be seen from behind tall bushes, probably coming from a house.

Standing at around 1.80 meters, Jagat appeared towering next to the two men. As they casually pointed towards a house hidden behind the bushes, Jagat seemed like a towering figure.

"We can only take you this far. Please forgive us."

Without waiting for Jagat's response, the two men left him there and walked away.

Jagat felt like he was being led to a slaughterhouse, surrounded by people lurking around the house. The gate was adorned with a majestic arch, though it looked weathered. Every detail of the house did not escape his gaze as he slowly tried to understand his abilities.

He carefully treaded the grassy path. After ten steps, several guards turned their attention towards him. One person ran inside, while three others approached and surrounded him.

"I am Jagat."

The two men in front of him fell silent for a moment, but their eyes signaled their companion behind Jagat, and suddenly everything turned dark. He was struck hard from behind, and he lost consciousness.

Jagat was forcibly taken to what he had referred to as a slaughterhouse, but it didn't quite fit the description. The house was too beautiful to be a slaughterhouse. Its yard was filled with green grass and neatly arranged rows of flowers.

He was pulled towards the backyard, where the real slaughterhouse seemed to be. There was a simple hut with weathered walls full of termite holes.

In the hut, a small window framed a beautiful face peeking out with sadness. It was Gendis, crying as she saw Jagat coming to rescue her.

"Quick, get some water!"

A woman's voice jolted him from his sorrow. It was Marini, the leader of this pursuit. She was arrogant and merciless, leaving an injured old man and his friend in the training hut.

Gendis didn't know what had become of her grandfather, even though Marini said Sawung Bumi would take care of him. A rope as thick as an arm was hanging around Jagat's neck. He was dragged like a dog towards a tree. Jagat's body was pulled without resistance, the rope coiled around him and tightly tied.

His head hung low, silent and still disoriented. That's why Marini needed the water, which had just arrived. She poured it over Jagat with force, and he woke up abruptly, remaining calm despite being bound.

"I no longer care if you find evidence or not. But the way you tried to escape is an insult to Sawung Bumi."

"I didn't try to escape. I just wanted to prove my innocence. Now, where's Gendis? Is she alright?"

"What do you want to prove when Poison Kala has been eradicated from Jawadwipa (Java)?" Marini replied, raising her thick black eyebrows and furrowing her forehead slightly.

"What do you mean? Eradicated? How?" asked Jagat.

"Kingdoms change, and so does the world of martial arts. You understand this better than I do, Jagat. Now you wait for punishment from my master. Don't even think about trying to escape."

Marini turned her body around. Her footsteps were like those of a graceful, powerful, and agile horse, challenging the hills surrounding the slaughterhouse.

"Show me Gendis! Is she okay?"

Marini signaled with her eyes to her members to bring Gendis before Jagat without stopping her steps, then she continued speaking from a distance.

"What kind of trick did you use to seduce that innocent girl?"

Jagat snorted as he observed some of Sawung Bumi's members entering the house, bringing Gendis out. From a distance where he was held captive, he could clearly see the terrified and saddened expression on her face.

The unfortunate young girl shouldn't be in such a place and situation. She had been impulsive to run away from the training hut.

"Release her, Marini! She knows nothing about our affairs. Is this how the White Sect behaves? Holding defenseless women captive, you're truly despicable!"

One member stepped forward and delivered a hard blow to Jagat's stomach.

"This has nothing to do with the White Sect, villain! We will keep this girl until our grandmaster arrives!"

Marini immediately pulled Gendis towards the front of the house. It seemed that Gendis was taken to a better place than before. At least, that eased Jagat's mind.

The dark night passed as Jagat tried to stand still, unable to sleep soundly in that position.

His half-closed eyes were occasionally disturbed by forest mosquitoes biting his skin. And like a blink, the rays of sunlight slowly penetrated through the thatched roof of the hut in front of him.

As it turned out, Jagat was facing east. He could now see some members bustling in the backyard, fetching water and firewood, preparing breakfast for a day that seemed busy with the arrival of their grandmaster, Ki Rapala.

The figure arrived in the afternoon on a majestic black horse. His long white beard extended down to his chest, and the wind seemed to enjoy blowing it every time he walked.

Marini welcomed him with respect and joy.

"So, you are the one named Jagat?"

Jagat Wengi didn't answer immediately. He had already counted the number of members here. It was almost impossible to escape again. He could only rely on his negotiation skills.

"I didn't kill your disciple, Ki Rapala. Trust me."

"Do you expect me to believe you or my disciples who saw you? Should I trust you or my own students?" Ki Rapala asked, flanked by two disciples on his right and left as bodyguards.

"Please believe me. It wasn't as they saw it."

"Bring him to the center!"

Ki Rapala turned away from Jagat Wengi and took a machete from one of his disciples. A large piece of wood was already placed in the middle of the hut's yard. Jagat was ready to face his punishment.

His head was placed on the wood, leaving his neck exposed at the edge. The machete with its sharp blade gleamed as the eastern sun shone on its metal.

"What last words do you wish to say, young man?" Ki Rapala inquired.

"I just wish to be mute for such deaf ears like yours."

The members of Sawung Bumi chuckled softly upon hearing Jagat's last request.

"Be careful what you wish for if you don't want to die today."

Jagat didn't understand the meaning behind Ki Rapala's words. He closed his eyes, ready to meet his end, yet deep down, he wanted to see Gendis one last time. Was she okay? Had she taken a bath? Was she looking beautiful?

The machete that was about to strike down on him suddenly halted by the sudden appearance of an arrow, knocking it out of Ki Rapala's hand.

"What are you doing, Ki Rapala?!"

Arya Mandana's voice echoed throughout the yard of the hut, along with his dozens of soldiers who immediately surrounded Ki Rapala and all of his members. Gagak Tantra was also seen guarding by his side.

The Sawung Bumi members who were inside the house quickly emerged, each grabbing their weapons and choosing their opponents. Jagat's head was already under Ki Rapala's foot, his hands tied behind his back.

"Why are you here, Arya Mandana? This is an internal matter of my sect. The kingdom cannot interfere. That was our agreement when I helped you drive out the Mongols."

"And Jagat, whom you have captured, also helped me in driving out the Mongols. Release him, Ki Rapala. We can discuss this matter peacefully."

"Forgive me, Arya Mandana. I cannot grant your request."

In a quick and shallow breath, just as Ki Rapala was about to swing his machete again, Jagat pushed the frail body of Ki Rapala away with a forceful move, as this powerful old man was well-versed in skills and experience.

Jagat's movement seemed like a signal for Mandana to step in and protect him. Mandana immediately leaped from his horse to intervene and deflect Ki Rapala's retaliatory strike.

The machete was blocked by Mandana's bow and arrow. However, Jagat wasn't entirely safe as the Sawung Bumi members approached him with strikes from their staffs.

Jagat was pushed backward, and his head was stepped on by one of the soldiers blocking the other Sawung Bumi members' attacks.

Gagak Tantra arrived shortly after with his small knife to cut the ropes binding Jagat.

"Are you alright, Jagat? We almost arrived too late. My apologies."

Jagat was briefly taken aback by the genuine concern shown by Gagak Tantra. He had never experienced such a helping hand in his life.

"Mandana! You've gone too far! Does the palace know about this??" Ki Rapala asked as he took a few steps back after avoiding Mandana's kick.

"I never involved the palace in my personal matters, Ki Rapala."

"It's not a personal matter when you bring so many Majapahit soldiers. I will report this matter to the palace."

The verbal argument between Ki Rapala and Arya Mandana didn't last long as Ki Rapala's disciple intervened to assist him. The fight shifted, seemingly giving him a chance to continue his mission.

But this time, Jagat was not alone as Tantra was by his side. The battle between the grandmaster and a Bekel Majapahit and a book thief ensued.

Despite never having fought together before, Tantra and Jagat moved in perfect sync with agile movements, evading and counterattacking with punches and kicks.

One thing that crossed Jagat's mind was Marini's absence in the midst of this fight. Where was she? What was she doing?

Jagat immediately grew suspicious. Marini must be inside the house and using Gendis as a tool to threaten him.

His suspicions were soon confirmed when Tantra was pushed back by Ki Rapala. Marini shouted with her knife pressed against Ki Wardiman's throat.

"Stop!"

Gendis was also choked by Marini's tight grip.

Ki Wardiman? So, he had been in this house all along?