Disguise

The journey required secrecy so Ki could only bring along those that were close enough to her to be able to keep everything to themselves and not break from her control.

While many were loyal there could always be those who may be tempted by short term gains in the future so she had to make sure that those working the closest to her had the most restraints on them.

The blood shadow group, Rashida and Marilyn were bound by the blood mystical arts to Ki, as their mystical arts leader she had control of their lives and could sentence any traitors to immediate death though the connection they share.

The wolf riders were bound to Ki through their loyalty to the family but Ki also had them all consume a vitality Gu worm to make sure there weren't any chances of betrayal or escaping after betraying.

Marilyn had been able to stabilise and control the underworld with the help of her own power and Ki's help but it also helped that she had her own Gu worm to control the lives of those under her better whether they be her closest people or even the leaders and executives of various gang or groups she had subdued.

Even the reaper organisation which had risen alongside Nox had a similar way to control so that it would not escape Ki's grasp completely.

The support, benefits and gain in power they received did not come without a price so naturally Ki needed certain assurances that they would not turn on her later after gaining what they need.

There have been many cases in her previous life where she had some people turn their backs on her after they gained her support and even led to her almost losing her life because of carelessness and trusting people too easily.

Eventually she became wary of everyone and established business relations based on the benefits she could gain and what she could return to them but she would never give away key information that would endanger herself or involve others in her private dealings.

Now that she had the family to look out for and not just herself, with the power of mystical arts she could firmly keep her people in place and punish or kill those who who betray and try to run away.

This Era was known as the era of villains because betrayals were common and alliances were fickle, many organisations or groups could turn on another for an immediate gain and the blood sect, unorthodox alliance and devil sect took advantage of this.

It's not that she did not trust the loyalty of the people she had raised and saved but she did not trust that her enemies couldn't find a weakness in her group if they tried hard enough to be able to then exploit it.

People are weak to temptation so anyone can have something that would make them turn on another like their own vice.

Each persons vice could be something simple like gambling, a need for power or to rise in position so there are many ways to capture a persons weakness to make them act against someone they were loyal to.

The family grudgingly agreed to allow Ki to go on her journey to the outside world but that did not stop them from thoroughly preparing for any emergencies.

Within the carriages were extra food and drinks, clothes and other items like blankets and camping gear to cover the time she was away and also in case something delayed her return.

Ki went to her stable after securing the other horses to the carriages and approached her war horse and placed her hand in its stable. "Raven it's time for us to go on our first journey together."

Raven responded by placing its head against her outstretched hand as if very familiar with its owner.

After letting Raven out of the stables, Ki began to get assistance from others as she kept Raven calm.

As Raven lowered its body several people began to put on a set of metal pieces and tighten them to the horses body.

Ki had the blacksmith make an armour for her horse according to its size specifications and needs to not restrict its movements too much.

A dark metallic face, neck, chest, back and tail protector, stirrup and saddle were placed over a black silk cloth covering which was laid over Raven's body and was secured in place.

Ki looked at the completed armoured warhorse and nodded approvingly. "This should help better protect you from any arrows or attacks against a spear or sword if we have to have a direct confrontation."

Horse armour wasn't introduced until a little later but Ki never had the connections or the money to be able to have her own made during her earlier years in her previous life so she lost many horses when ambushed or in battle.

It wasn't until later that she could afford to have some made but she had already retired behind the scenes as she took over the information network of the blood sect so she did not feel the need to have it made.

Now she had the resources, money and the people along with her past knowledge so all she needed to do was draw up a rough sketch and request it all to be made.

She inspected Raven in the dark armour then went back to her room to get changed.

She dressed in close fitting and dark clothing while binding up her undeveloped chest tightly and secured a sword to her waist along with several leather straps that also were attached.

On the straps held a flask on her side and a bow and quiver full of arrows on her back, her legs had several throwing knives in a sheath which were secured in place around her right thigh while on her left was a small pouch full of small metallic balls.

She then lifted the hood on the cloak she wore over her close fitting clothes and secured a black half mask that rested over the top of her nose and stopped after it passed her eyebrows. [1]

Beneath her long sleeves of her cloak she secured two sleeve arrows to her forearm and a bracelet on her wrist which seemed to contain several very thin metal needles. [2]

After completing her transformation she looked like a charming male wandering mercenary or traveller who would be perceived as thin and weak thanks to her feminine and undeveloped body but also her short hair helped to better create the illusion that she was a male to outside eyes.

She curled her lips upward and admired herself in the mirror for a couple of moments before leaving once more.

She made her way back to the stables and got on top of her horse once more and exited while heading towards the location of the people waiting and the carriages.

Ki did not believe that she had forgotten anything and she was fully prepared to face any unexpected encounter.

As Ki looked down as she sat on Raven, it looked like she and her horse were ready to join a major battle according to the eyes of outsiders but in Ki's eyes all this was necessary to be able to conceal her identity while travelling.

Her role during this journey was to appear as a travelling mercenary who was escorting some carriages goods so her current look helped to show that either she was someone in the group of guards with enough authority or an important member to them.

To complete the image Ki had those who accompanied her dress in a similar way in dark clothing along with a half mask and cloak.

She brought a small group that specialised in archery and daggers or throwing knives to stay within the carriages while the others that were driving the carriage or riding alongside the carriages by horse were either swordsmen or used a sabre.

She needed to bring with her a group that was lightweight and did not need to carry any obstructive or heavy items with them but also be able to defend themselves in an unexpected situation so she chose the best of the groups within the blood shadow group that also had some familiarity with horses.

[1] https://www.cappelsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/W7344-solid-white-blank-venetian-half-mask.jpg

[2] https://tenyearsago.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/kiss-of-the-dragon.jpg wrist bracelet in the image or similar