A Dynasty Of Deceit

KINGDOM ARILRIT

It was a night. The two carriages rattled along the lonely road, one carrying boxes of silver and the other carrying the young master dressed in black. His black hair was tied in a ponytail and his eyes were closed as he sat in a meditative posture. His hands rested on his knees and his sword lay beside him.

Sixteen men guarded each carriage, holding fire torches and lanterns to light their way. The wind howled as they walked. They were alert and wary, knowing that bandits could attack them at any moment.

Suddenly, a loud shout broke the silence. "Bandits!" One of the guards guarding the first carriage yelled. He pointed at a group of men in black who emerged from the bushes, wielding weapons and their face covered, revealing only their eyes.

The young master opened his eyes immediately and leaped out of his carriage. He looked at the bandits with a calm and steady gaze.

He held his sword firmly, ready to unsheathe it. "I don't wish to shed blood. I am not the kind of person who enjoys it. Brothers, I'll give you a piece of what I have if you promise to let us pass through this road peacefully." He said in a clear and authoritative voice.

The bandits did not reply. Instead, they heard a laughter echoing from the trees. The guards turned their heads in different directions, trying to locate the source of the laughter.

"A righteous man. Is that what you are?" The voice said mockingly. "Or are you just afraid of us?"

A masked bandit flew down majestically from a tree and landed on top of the carriage carrying the silver. The breeze blew his black cloak as he descended. His head was covered with a hood, his face was covered with a mask, and red threads were tied on his fingers. His sword was unsheathed and gleaming in the torchlight. His stature was that of a young man, but his aura was different from a mortal.

"Are you the leader?" The young master asked, looking at the masked bandit on top of the carriage.

"Leader or not, I don't have to answer your questions, dear nobleman." The masked bandit said with a sneer.

"What is in this carriage is a small portion compared to what is in your family treasury. Leave it here and run away, if you still value your life."

"The bandit is spouting nonsense! Young master, we should take action!" A guard yelled.

"Yes!" The other guards yelled in agreement.

"It's not the first time we've encountered bandits! You've always subdued them! We don't believe you feel intimidated by the little trick that masked bandit pulled! We will fight on your behalf!" Another guard yelled.

"Yes!" The other guards yelled again.

A guard was about to charge at the masked bandit.

But before he could reach him, the masked bandit stretched out his hands and the red threads on his fingers extended and wrapped around his neck. The guard was lifted by a thread from the masked bandit,choking and struggling to breathe.

"Ghost weaver." The young master muttered under his breath. He recognized the rare and deadly skill that the masked bandit possessed.

"Please release him. You can have everything." The young master said calmly, but with a hint of desperation in his voice.

The masked bandit tilted his head to look at the young master. "Oh? The nobleman is reasonable." He said sadistically.

The other guards murmured among themselves as the masked bandit withdrew his thread and the guard that was hanging in the air was dropped down.

The guard groaned in pain as his body hit the ground while he coughed.

"Young master,the master won't be happy with this!",a guard yelled.

"Yes!",the other guards yelled and murmured among themselves, feeling helpless and angry.

"It's not the first time we've encountered bandits! You've always subdued them!.I don't believe you feel intimidated by the little trick that masked bandit pulled!.We will fight on your behalf!",another guard yelled.

"Yes!", other guards yelled as they were about to jump to the top of the carriage to attack the masked bandit at the same time.

But before they knew it,the masked bandit threads splitted as the masked bandit stretched his two hands and their necks were wrapped with the red threads,making them to hang on the air.