The Musafir

Trapped

HORSE kept racing on the streets of the twilight, no ceaselessly scattering dry dust into the air.

The dimness is getting thicker. Light and dark are indistinguishable by clarity; that is dimness. The most vulnerable moments for a swordsman are the short times in which twilight begins to turn into night.

The horses are racing faster. His breath was heard one-two in the midst of the increasingly strong wind.

Mantingan understood that the horses were not doing it for no reason; their instincts realized there was a danger that was seriously threatening him from behind.

Indeed, sometimes, animal instincts can be much higher than human instincts, including the selected horses of the White Wind College.

Mantingan closed his eyes. Soon he installed the Science of Hearing Dew Drops to find out the form of danger that is threatening his entourage.

The mantle does not send sound waves, but it can receive sound waves generated around it.

From behind him, the young man caught the sound of agility, the grunt of breath, and the slight gushing of his fart.

But it was clear that there were some warriors who were darting following him from behind. But based on the sound of their true prowess was not too fast, the warriors did not intend to attack his entourage. It is most likely that they are just trailing, at least for now.

The mantle began to consider quickly. If they were only trailing like this, it did not demand the possibility that in front of him was a trap they had prepared.

If his entourage is caught in a trap, and then tries to escape by fleeing backwards, then his entourage will meet with warriors who follow it.

If this is the case, Mantingan decided to stop before facing directly with the enemy trap.

Raised next to his hand while shouting, “Everything, stop!”

Hearing that, the North River Angel, Cana, and the entire White Mask Army that was there immediately pulled the horse harness.

The horse held its speed until it stopped completely. Their breaths broke the silence in the twilight.

The Tenth Army of the White Mask drew their swords from its cage as it arranged a row of horsemen circling the Mantingan and the men who were with it. But Mantingan refused to receive protection, it was he who was very much needed in this atmosphere.

The mantle jumped off his horse before lightly landing outside the protection circle. Along with that, Mantingan also release the lock on the Sword Kiai Kedai.

“Where are the enemies, Brother?” One of them asked him.

“Fright in front of me.” The mantans spoke calmly as they stared straight at the weight of the road, it was the path they had been on. “Despite that, stay alert on all sides and directions. Protect women and children.”

Of course, what women and children mean is the North River Angel and Kina, even Cana is included in it. But apparently, the boy did not accept being referred to as children. Kana jerks her horse to join the protection line. He pulled the sword from his cage.

Mantingan actually saw Kana, and completely disagreed with what the boy was doing. However, the current state of affairs greatly did not allow Mantingan to argue and lecture Kana.

Mantingan's eyes looked back towards the front. The darkness has turned into darkness. The night has really come. But this situation is not much different from the danger when the twilight is still dimly lit.

At times like this, the heart rate begins to weaken. The body also needs less time to adjust.

Usually, in times like this a swordsman will avoid the fight as much as possible, because it only leads to futility or silly death.

No more sound of wind, grunting, or a broken twig. Except for the sound of crickets, the whole thing became very quiet.

Of course, the warriors who followed Mantingan and his entourage knew that Mantingan had realized their presence. So now both sides are silent, waiting for who will take action first.

The atmosphere was still quiet, and they were still staring. The wind slowly whirled, passing between them. The sky looked more gloomy than the previous nights, the stars covered in thin clouds.

It was at this time that Mantingan made a verdict which he then presented to the ten White Mask Troops through the Science of Whispering Wind. “Brothers, at least three of you must check the path we will pass in the east. Come back quickly, and be careful.”

Without needing to be asked twice, three of the ten warriors jumped from the saddle of his horse before darting eastward. They disappeared into the darkness.

“Preserve the line,” he said again using the Science of Whispering the Wind, “and retreat slowly.”

The horses started to slow down. Take small steps according to the instructions. The protection line remains, not broken. The intelligence of the horses of the White Wind College was indeed beyond doubt, they could understand things very well. Even the three horses that the rider left behind were still able to walk while continuing to guard the line.

His coat and entourage continued to move over the road to the east, with the male warriors in the front row while the two women were in the circle of protection.

But simultaneously and without agreement, the riders pulled the reins of his horse which immediately made the horse ridden by the North River Angel and Kina stopped as well. The mantel stopped, Kana stopped. Their faces stiffened.

How could they not stiffen up like that if from a distance the clanking of metal clashed?

Without even talking to each other, everyone knows. They've been trapped!

The mantle acted as quickly as possible, he stuck four pieces of Protective Magic Throw around the defensive line. Four more sheets for Throwing Magic Trappers.

Dozens of black characters floated around the line of magic circles that the Mantang had made around the protection line. While himself and Kana were outside the magic circle.

The mantle took out a large needle as well as a piece of Regulatory Magic Throw. He extended it to Cana.

“Take each of the seven swordsmen's drops of blood from the White Mask Army, cover their blood with this throw without exception,” Mantingan said quickly but calmly, “give me this thrower after you are done, do it as soon as possible.”

“Kakanda, I want to fight with you here ...”

“This time don't argue, Kana!” Mantingan raised his voice and looked at the boy sharply.

With a furious feeling, Kana took out a needle and a piece of throwback from Mantingan's hand before directing her horse to enter into the magic circle.