The caravan slowly rolled out of the town and the lively streets gradually disappeared behind them, replaced by a long dirt road that stretched toward the distant horizon.
On either side, open plains extended as far as the eye could see, with only the occasional tree breaking the endless landscape.
The rhythmic sound of wagon wheels and horses' hooves filled the quiet journey.
Inside the lead carriage, silence lingered between the three passengers, those being Lei Mei, Lei Shun and Sun Yunso.
All of them were sitting peacefully but the atmosphere was a little awkward; well just for Sun Yunso because the siblings were having a quality time together.
"If you don't mind me asking, where exactly are we headed?"
Lei Mei looked at Sun Yunso's direction.
"Oh, we're on our way to Meizou." Lei Mei answered with a big smile.
"Meizou," Sun Yunso whispered the name softly, making sure he remembered it.
"I see, and... what exactly is it that we're supposed to be transporting?"
Lei Mei looked over at her big brother before she said anything.
"We're transporting goods."
She gestured toward the wagons behind them.
"The goods are mainly food, fabrics, and medicine, along with some valuable items for trade. These supplies were ordered by several merchants based in Meizou."
Lei Shun calmly added,
"Nothing illegal, if that's what you're wondering."
Sun Yunso gave a small nod.
"I wasn't."
His eyes wandered back to the road in front of him, his gaze drifting away from whatever had caught his attention before.
He just wanted to get a handle on the job he'd taken on, that's all. I mean, what kind of escort can you be if you don't even know what you're supposed to be protecting?
It wasn't about the cargo itself, but more about understanding his role in all of this.
A swordsman's got to know what he's fighting for, right? Otherwise, he's just going through the motions
Lei Mei smiled faintly.
"I'm glad you asked. Most escorts only care about getting paid. They never bother asking what they're protecting."
Sun Yunso remained silent.
Lei Shun glanced at him before speaking.
"Knowing your cargo is part of the job. If something goes missing, an escort should notice."
Sun Yunso gave a small nod.
"I understand."
The carriage continued to sway gently as it rolled along the road. Outside, the sound of hooves echoed steadily across the open plains.
A guard who was riding alongside the caravan suddenly shouted out with a big smile on his face.
"So far, so good!"
Another laughed.
"It seems like the stories about the Black Fang Bandits are just that - stories, and they might not be based on fact."
A few of the others chuckled in agreement.
"They probably heard we were coming and ran."
But Sun Yunso still had his doubts, and he kept his eyes fixed on the road stretching out before him.
"..."
Something felt unusual.
The wind swept across the empty fields, carrying only the rustling of tall grass.
Not a single traveler had passed them since leaving town. It was as though everyone had chosen to avoid this road.
Lei Shun noticed Yunso staring into the distance.
"Is something bothering you?"
Sun Yunso answered without looking away.
"No, it just feels quiet."
Lei Shun's expression became thoughtful.
"It usually is."
Silence settled over the carriage once again.
The caravan kept moving at a steady pace, slowly fading from sight as it traveled further down the deserted road that led to Meizou.
Sun Yunso finally turned his gaze away from the road stretching out before him.
"...My apologies."
Lei Mei tilted her head.
"For what?"
He glanced through the carriage window once more.
"This road...it just gives me a bad feeling."
Lei Mei smiled reassuringly and waved a hand.
"We've got nothing to worry about, really. There are six escorts with us, so we're in good hands. They'll keep us safe, no need to stress about it."
She laughed softly.
"We've only been on the road for about an hour, so no need to worry, okay?."
Sun Yunso simply nodded in understanding but his gaze still wandered back to the scenery rolling by outside.The air was thick with tension, and an uneasy feeling lingered.
Lei Shun sat motionless, his eyes fixed intently on the young swordsman, who was seated across from him, surrounded by an unsettling silence.
The silence inside the carriage lingered for a while before Lei Shun suddenly spoke.
"Come to think of it...I never did learn your name."
Lei Mei blinked.
"...Oh."
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I completely forgot to introduce the two of you."
She looked at her brother, feeling a little embarrassed, and smiled.
"His name is Sun Yunso."
"Sun Yunso..."
Lei Shun said the name over and over in his head, a small smile spreading across his face as he did so.
"That's a fine name."
Sun Yunso gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
Lei Shun couldn't help but stare at him for a bit longer, his mind fixed on something that had been bothering him since their first meeting.
"If you don't mind me asking. I noticed the scars over both of your eyes."
Sun Yunso's body stiffened ever so slightly.
"You can still see, yet your eyes don't have the color most people do."
His eyes had a strange look to them, the color was almost gone from his irises, making them seem really unusual.
"I was wondering, if you are blind?"
Lei Mei glanced back and forth between the two men, her eyes moving from one to the other.
"Brother."
She could tell it wasn't an easy question to answer.
Sun Yunso remained silent for several seconds. His hand unconsciously drifted toward one of the scars crossing his eye.
"I'd rather not go into details about how I got these scars, let's just say it's private. And about my eyesight, I'm not totally blind, just a bit limited in what I can see."
"Is that so, then allow me to apologise for asking in the first place. It was not my right to pry into past events."
"It's okay, curiosity does kill the cat as they always say, right?"
"Indeed it does."
The two young men gave out some laughter as if they were slowly bonding. Lei Mei felt like the third wheel in the exchange.
As the boys were having their moment, they were interrupted by the driver.
His face turned pale.
"We've got company!"
Dozens of figures stepped out from both sides of the road. The caravans had already been surrounded.
The horses came to a violent stop.
The train suddenly lurched, throwing everyone off balance, and people grabbed onto whatever they could to steady themselves.
"What happened?"
Lei Mei's hand shot out and grasped the side of the carriage, as if on instinct.
Outside, panicked voices erupted.
"We're surrounded!"
"Get ready for combat!"
The guards quickly pulled out their swords, and the loud clang of metal filled the quiet air of the empty fields.
Sun Yunso quietly stepped out of the carriage. His eyes slowly swept across the road, there were people and dozens of them.
These men were not just eager for battle, but also ready to claim whatever spoils they could find in the carriages. Some of them wielded swords, while others carried axes, spears, and bows, a formidable arsenal that struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. They were a force to be reckoned with, driven by a hunger for victory and a desire for plunder.
At the center stood a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard and a scar running across his face. A massive blade rested casually on his shoulder.
He smiled.
Things are looking up, today's harvest turned out way better than I thought it would.
The guards swiftly took their places, creating a shield around the five carriages. One by one, they pulled out their weapons, ready for action.
As Lei Shun got out of the carriage, he automatically positioned himself in front of his little sister, a protective gesture that came naturally to him.
"Stay behind me."
Lei Mei nodded nervously.
"O-Okay."
Sun Yunso quietly stood beside the other escorts, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist. He didn't draw it, not yet at least. His colorless eyes calmly swept across the men blocking the road.
"Twenty-three."
One of the escorts glanced at him.
"What?"
"There are twenty-three of them.
The man swallowed.
"You counted that already?"
Sun Yunso didn't answer.
His attention never left the bandits.
The scarred man standing at the front took a few slow steps forward before stopping several meters away and a sly grin spread across his face.
"Let me tell you about us. We're called the Black Fang Bandits, and I'm in charge - my name is Zhang Pojun. I'll get straight to the point."
His massive blade dropped from his shoulder and slammed into the frozen ground with a heavy THUD.
"Drop your cargo and weapons, and maybe I'll spare your lives."
Lei Shun stepped forward.
"I'm afraid we can't do that."
Zhang Pojun sighed dramatically.
I'm really disappointed, I was hoping that today would be a peaceful day without any violence or trouble.
One of the veteran escorts suddenly barked,
"Enough talking!"
He pointed his sword at the bandits.
If you really want this stuff, just come and get it!
The bandits suddenly erupted into loud laughter, their voices echoing through the air. Meanwhile, Zhang Pojun calmly pulled his blade out of the ground, its metal glinting in the light, and raised it threateningly at the caravans, his movements slow and deliberate.
Just get rid of the escorts, but make sure the cargo is okay.
The laughter vanished.
Suddenly, a group of 23 bandits rushed in all at once, filling the space.
The escort tightened his grip on his spear.
"Protect the cargo!"
The guards moved out to cover the caravan, with each one taking a side to watch over.
Lei Mei's face lost all its color as she stood inside the lead carriage.
"They're here..."
Lei Shun remained calm despite the tension.
"Stay inside."
Sun Yunso found himself suddenly back inside the carriage, his hand coming to rest quietly on the hilt of his sword, still sheathed at his side.
Steel clashed violently across the open road.
The first guard clashed with the bandits, his curved sword smashing into a heavy axe, making a loud clanging sound.
He quickly turned his wrist, knocking the axe out of the way, and then slammed his shoulder into the bandit's chest. This made the man stumble backwards, losing his balance.
Suddenly, another bandit appeared out of nowhere, charging in from the side. But before he could even swing his weapon, a spear came flying out of nowhere, shooting forward with incredible speed and accuracy.
Thrust!
The spear cut right through the man's shoulder, and he let out a loud scream as he stumbled backward.
"You're open!"
A guard with two short swords suddenly appeared between two foes, moving quickly. His swords shone like silver as he cut one bandit's arm, then spun around and hit another in the chest. He was fast and his blades seemed to flash in the light. The bandits were caught off guard by his swift movements.
"Agh!"
Blood splattered across the snow-covered ground.
One of the escorts was ready, preparing to face the three bandits that were charging towards him.
It was surprising to find that he wasn't carrying any weapons, just his bare fists, which were oddly wrapped in black bandages.
One of the bandits attempted to swing at the escort, but the escort was too quick and dodged the attack. The escort then grabbed the bandit's hand, twisted it, and delivered a solid punch right to his face.
The other two approaching, but the escort didn't flinch, instead, he seemed pretty thrilled about the whole thing.
He took a stance and waited for them
He blocked one attack, but another blade managed to slip past his defense, slicing a shallow cut across his shoulder.
"Ghk!"
Even so, he refused to fall.
In another part of the scene, a different escort was fighting with amazing accuracy, dodging each blow with tiny, precise movements, and then quickly striking back with fast and effective hits.
The once peaceful road had become a battlefield.
The sounds of screaming men, clashing weapons, frightened horses and splintering wood echoed through the valley.
Lei Mei sat in the lead carriage, her hands clutching the edge of her seat tightly.
"They're... they're actually holding them back."
Lei Shun continued watching through the small window.
"For now."
Outside, more bandits emerged from behind the trees.
"...There's more!"
One escort's face paled.
"They're reinforcing!"
Zhang Pojun burst out laughing as the battle played out before his eyes.
"You fools actually thought twenty-three men were enough?"
He raised his hand.
"Everyone attack!"
A large number of bandits suddenly appeared on the road, coming from both sides of the mountain pass, their presence seeming to pour in from all directions.
The escorts' confident expressions disappeared.
"...Damn it."
"We're being surrounded!"
The pressure suddenly intensified, doubling in an instant. One of the escorts found himself on the back foot, desperately fending off a fierce attack from four opponents who had closed in on him all at once.
One of the bandits was stopped from striking, but only for a moment, because another one kicked him really hard in the stomach, and he fell back, hitting a wagon wheel.
The horses neighed in panic and the precious formation that had held together moments ago slowly began to break apart.
Things were starting to go the bandits' way, and it seemed like the battle was turning in their favor.