The blind boy with the red silk threads

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.

"Demon!",the guard who was first dropped yelled as he gritted his teeth

"So you don't believe I could kill you all at once, eh?" The masked bandit said with a chuckle. "Or should I use one of you as an example?"

He tightened their necks with the threads, making the guards scream in pain.

"I'll be delighted." The masked bandit said sadistically.

"Release them! They don't know what you're capable of!" The young master shouted, feeling a surge of anger and fear for his men.

"Oh.So you know what am capable of,then?"the masked bandit tilted his head to the young master as he chuckled slightly.

"I don't know what your capable off.But if you drop them,they will listen to my command",the young master said,calmly".

The guards held the threads on their neck as they struggled to breath.

"Well.Am in a good mood",the masked bandit said as he dropped them on the floor.

"Heed my command!. leave the carriage of silver and escort me back to the residence.Anyone that wishes to disobey me ,can die for nothing",the young master said as he entered his carriage.

The guards escorted the young master out,leaving the carriage of silver.

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The boy sat on too of the carriage alone .The other bandits were gone with the boxes of silver that was in the carriage and the three horses.

"I knew that you will come back",the masked bandit chuckled as he got down from the carriage and turned to the young master with his hand on his back.

"Did you think that you'll be able to catch us carrying the boxes of silver and attack us?.If that was your thought,then you're already late.I only stayed back to witness your disappointment".

"Huh,you're alone?.Not my business,you can't kill me.Goodnight,dear nobleman",he waved as he was about to walk away.

"Who are you?",the young master asked .

The masked bandit peeked over his shoulder,"why are you concerned with my identity.It's useless,dear nobleman.Go back to your rich abode".

The masked bandit was about to walk away but the young master moved swiftly towards him and the masked bandit escaped him.

He didn't use his threads or his sword against the young master as the young master didn't unsheathe his sword or used any weapon.

They used their hands to fight and in the process,the young master held the bandit mask as the bandit kicked him away.

The night wind blew the bandit hood back.

Under the moonlight,the young master could see the boys features.He was blindfolded,the night wind blew his silver medium length hair and his white skin.He found out it was a young boy behind the mask.

He gazed at the boy as the night wind blew his cloak and silver hair

"Silver hair,red thread,but..., you're blindfolded,could it be because you're blind or it's a type of skill",the young master muttered.

"Are you teri?",the young master asked curiously as he stood up from the ground.

The blindfolded bandit gasped as he flew away in the dark,passing trees.

"Wait!,i need to ask you something!",the young master yelled but the bandit was already out of sight.