The four men were startled and tried to retreat. But Arya didn’t give them the chance to even catch a deeper breath. The handsome young man, moving faster than the eye could follow, disabled all four attackers in an instant.“If you want to keep the only life you have intact inside your body, then tell me now—who is your true leader? Is it Ki Ageng Wanayasa, or is there someone else leading you?” Arya threatened.Over thirty members of the bandit group exchanged nervous glances. What they had just witnessed wasn’t some lucky coincidence for the young man. Resisting him now would be futile—nothing more than a senseless suicide mission.The invincibility of Arya’s body turned their inner fear into something visible—shown clearly through their gestures and expressions.“If you won’t talk, I promise none of you will walk away alive. Your actions have harmed so many people, and more could suffer from your barbarity!”Arya stepped forward and picked up a branch about a meter long from the g

Arya handed the two pouches filled with coins to the girl. “Give one to your master, and the other is for you.”The girl looked at him in disbelief. Being saved from the cruelty of those men was already a precious blessing—and now, being given such a large amount of money felt almost unreal to her.“Just take it. Give the money to your parents,” said Ratnasari, noticing the girl’s hesitation.“Thank you, kind sir. But how can I possibly repay your kindness?”Arya smiled warmly. “If your parents are still alive, repay us by being devoted to them. And don’t forget to be kind to others. The smiles of those you help are sincere prayers directed to you. No one who has been helped ever prays ill for their savior.”“Now go home. We’ll take care of the rest,” Ratnasari added, following up on Arya’s words.“Yes, kind lady. Once again, thank you both so much for your help. May the gods grant you both lasting happiness in your marriage.”Arya and Ratnasari exchanged glances after hearing the ble

Wisnu could no longer hold back the emotions bubbling inside him. Swear words spilled from his mouth repeatedly. Though he didn’t shout, at least it gave him a bit of relief.“Damn it! Why the hell am I having such rotten luck today?”His thoughts drifted back to that morning. After leaving the eatery, his stomach suddenly cramped, forcing him to relieve himself as quickly as possible.He galloped his horse at full speed to find somewhere secluded. A river became his target, and it didn’t happen just once—it happened several times until his body was completely drained.To recover his strength, Wisnu rested under a tree. But unexpectedly, a bird perched above dropped its feces right onto his head.In the afternoon, while riding through a forest on his way to the Jaya Buana capital, a heavy rainstorm poured down on him, soaking him to the bone. His body turned pale from the unrelenting cold.His misery was complete when he arrived in the capital. With no available lodging, he had to sle

"Is what Darno said true, Ki Ageng?" asked one of the villagers, who had begun to doubt their village chief."Of course he won’t admit it. If criminals were so quick to confess, the prisons would be full," Darno responded swiftly before Ki Ageng Wanayasa could speak."Silence, Darno! Now I see clearly—you are the mastermind behind this slander. I will never forgive you!" Ki Ageng Wanayasa snapped."Keep lying, Ki Ageng. In the end, your true colors will be revealed. No matter how clever a squirrel is at leaping, it will fall eventually. The same goes for you. No matter how tightly you wrap a corpse, its stench will rise in the end," Darno retorted, a mocking smile curling on his lips.Ki Ageng Wanayasa clenched his jaw. Darno’s words struck him deep. He turned to look at the villagers, who now stared at him with uncertain eyes."Do you all believe the words of this ungrateful scoundrel?" Ki Ageng pointed his index finger at Darno. "He’s followed me for years, and now he dares turn aga

Everyone who heard Suryo's words agreed and sincerely hoped that the throne of the Sastrajingga Kingdom would someday be passed on to Prince Jayalaksana. With his humble and people-oriented nature, coupled with his outstanding martial arts prowess, they believed the kingdom would reach the peak of its glory under his rule.Meanwhile, Arya continued galloping through the dead forest, now abandoned by its former occupants—the Maling Cluring bandits. The narrow trail cutting through the forest was barely visible beneath the layers of dry leaves. The absence of merchants and travelers for a long time had caused it to disappear.According to the innkeeper’s estimation, passing through the dead forest would shorten the travel time by two days. While the public route would take five days, crossing the forest would only take three.But Arya had no intention of staying in the forest that long. He pushed his horse to its limits, channeling his energy into the animal’s body to enhance its streng