2025-11-16 17:07:14
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Trial for Yoga
Ratih could sense the deep bitterness trembling within Aji’s voice. She knew very well that the man had never truly healed from the tragedy that had stolen the lives of his wife and child, leaving behind a wound that time itself refused to mend.Before long, Yoga and his master arrived at the palace gates. Their footsteps quickened as they approached Aji, who had been waiting anxiously for their arrival.“I knew you would come,” Aji said, offering a warm smile that carried both welcome and sorrow.Despite the shame gnawing at him, Yoga forced himself to return the smile. He understood clearly that without Aji’s guidance, he would have forever wandered in darkness—branded a traitor, condemned by society, and haunted by a disgrace he would never be able to wash away.“I have given my word. I will assist the Duke in resolving this matter,” Yoga replied with solemn determination.“Come, let us head inside. The Duke has been exp
A Vow to Live and Die Together
“That is impossible! I refuse to believe that you were ever a robber. You must be joking, Aji,” Ratih exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and nervous laughter.Aji offered her a soft, knowing smile. From the expressions of the three people before him, he could clearly see how unimaginable his confession sounded to them.“I won’t force you to believe me, Ratih. What I revealed just now is a grim reality—one I had always intended to bury deep within myself for the rest of my life.”He shifted his gaze to Rangga.“And regarding your question, Rangga… I was the planner for every robbery my group carried out. All the strategies, routes, traps—every detail was my responsibility. The skills I use now were honed through those experiences. You may remember how I recognized the traps Bargowo’s group set for us in the forest. That was because those traps were painfully simple—common tricks any bandit would know.”Bargowo managed a twist
Collecting a Promise
“Indeed, my Lord. In fact, Yoga will become a crucial figure in the grand design we have prepared,” Aji replied with unwavering certainty.“And if he chooses not to return… what then must we do?” Duke Hanggareksa pressed on. Doubt lingered in his voice like a shadow that refused to disperse, for he still could not fully believe that Yoga would truly come back.“He will return, my Lord. I am certain of it. But even if he does not, I have already prepared an alternative plan.”“We will speak of it again tomorrow. I am far too tired to think clearly now. Will you rest here tonight, or return to the inn?”“I shall return to the inn, my Lord. I must explain tomorrow’s strategy to Bargowo and Rangga,” Aji answered respectfully.“Very well. You may go. But at dawn, you and Ratih must already be here. With Yoga’s betrayal laid bare, there are few I can still trust besides the two of you.” Duke Hanggareksa exhaled sharply, his breath rus
A Plan for Yoga
“I still cannot grasp your meaning, swordsman. Could you explain your intentions more clearly?” the old man asked, his voice carrying the weight of age and battle-worn caution.Aji answered with a faint, composed smile—one so subtle it barely revealed itself, yet its confidence filled the dim cave like a quiet flame.“It is simple,” he said. “If Yoga truly wishes to accept my offer and return to serve the Duke, then I already have a plan prepared for him.”“A plan?” the old man echoed, leaning slightly forward.“You will hear the full details later at the palace,” Aji replied. “For now, everything rests on Yoga—on whether he is willing to redeem himself or continue down a path filled with regret.”The old man placed a gentle but firm hand on his student’s shoulder.“If you truly desire to atone for what you have done,” he said, “then accept the chance he is giving you. I believe you will come to no harm should you choose the path of honesty.”Yoga hesitated. Shame churned inside him l
Awakening
The man clad entirely in black—Yoga’s teacher and the one who had guided him down the shadowed path—surveyed the surrounding forest with sharp, wary eyes before finally stepping into the mouth of the cave.From roughly thirty meters away, Aji watched the scene unfold. Though the night had swallowed everything in darkness, his gaze pierced through it with predatory clarity. Years living as a bandit had trained him to see what others could not, to catch the smallest movement even in the faintest sliver of moonlight. Shadows, distance, and darkness meant little to him now.---Inside the cave, Yoga sat alone atop a moss-covered stone, motionless and weighed down by despair. His clothes were filthy, dampened by dirt and forest residue, yet he no longer cared. The sting of regret drowned out all discomforts.His thoughts spun in chaotic circles.What would become of him now that his treachery had been exposed?Since the age of ten, Duke Hanggareksa had raised him as though he were his own
Escape
The moment he sensed the poisonous force spreading through his veins, he summoned the depth of his inner energy. A slow, deliberate breath escaped his lips as wisps of black smoke seeped out from beneath his skin—thin at first, then thicker, until the poisonous heat that had clouded his mind dissolved into the night air. Color returned to his face, his breath steadied, and his gaze sharpened like a blade just pulled from the forge.Unbeknownst to him, the Sword of Darkness strapped across his back stirred restlessly. A faint ripple of shadow pulsed along the scabbard, drawing in the remnants of the toxin that lingered inside his meridians. Because of that unseen assistance, Aji did not need to exhaust his inner strength to purge every last trace; the sword devoured the poison greedily, like a starving beast awakened from slumber.The man in black who stood across from him widened his eyes in disbelief.Aji had cleansed a deadly poison technique—his poison technique—with a casual ease
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