The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Youngest Master of the Zhu Family (22)

Blood Scent

There was a man.

Before him, a subordinate trembled in fear as he delivered his report.

The man’s expression twisted horribly at his subordinate’s words.

“Blood Hand Poison Emperor is dead?”

“Yes, Killing Lord. The Black Blood Group, Red Water Group, and Black Water Group that the Poison Emperor led… all completely annihilated, according to the report.”

At his subordinate’s words, the man ground his teeth.

“Who?”

Killing Lord Do Gon couldn’t easily understand this situation.

Though the Poison Emperor’s martial arts level was inferior compared to other Demon Emperors, he wasn’t someone who would fall so easily either.

At Do Gon’s question, the subordinate answered while trembling.

“The Zhu Family’s Red Dragon Corps moved, they say.”

“Red Dragon Corps? Mere Red Dragon Corps killed my brother? Do you think that makes sense?”

Do Gon asked repeatedly in disbelief.

But the only answer that came back was the Zhu Family’s Red Dragon Corps.

“Not the Namgung, not the Peng Family either… how dare the Zhu Family?”

But what was even more absurd was that it was the Red Dragon Corps.

The Sword Master hadn’t moved personally, and it wasn’t even the Sword Dragon’s doing.

Just the conclusion that it was the Red Dragon Corps’ work.

“No matter how many times we investigate, the conclusion is the Red Dragon Corps…”

“Crack.”

Do Gon finally rose in anger.

“Then what about my medicine? I’ll never be able to get it again now?”

“Th-that is…”

The subordinate didn’t know what to do with himself.

He was at a loss for what to answer, to the point where he could barely breathe.

Do Gon had been regularly receiving medicine tribute from Blood Hand Poison Emperor.

The real reason for his anger was that he would never obtain this medicine again.

“Fine.”

Do Gon suppressed his anger and rose from his seat.

His body had been feeling stiff lately anyway, so this seemed like good timing.

“Red Dragon Corps.”

For once, life flowed in Do Gon’s eyes.

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* * *

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Azure Stone Essence.

Undoubtedly one of the eternal spirit medicines.

Known as a spirit medicine that can revive dying vitality with just a single drop, blue droplets form in rock crevices only on clear nights when moonlight shines down, and they must accumulate for at least ten thousand years before enough spirit medicine is completed for one sip.

‘I can’t take this.’

I did know of several locations where Azure Stone Essence was said to flow.

But I didn’t even know if they were real, and I couldn’t take Azure Stone Essence.

Because Azure Stone Essence not only purifies death energy, but even purifies demonic energy, so for me who harbored demonic energy, it might have completely opposite effects.

This was consistent with how I didn’t get greedy with the Great Return Pill before.

Unfortunately, because I harbored demonic energy, the types of spirit medicines I could take decreased exponentially.

Among them, there was one particularly dangerous but special item.

‘Thousand-Year Dragon Saliva Essence.’

A legendary spirit medicine unknown to most martial artists, and perfectly suited for me.

As the name suggests, it means the essence spat out by a dragon that lived for a thousand years, and it’s a crystallization of spirit medicine born from concentrated essence that accumulated for hundreds more years.

At least for demon cultists, it could provide even greater effects than Azure Stone Essence.

This dragon saliva was a spirit medicine that remained at the final stage of completing the Heavenly Demon Body or Immortal Body, and I knew this fact because of memories from my previous life.

‘The Heavenly Demon, that bastard also took this.’

The awakening agent for becoming a true Heavenly Demon.

Naturally, I also remembered the location of this dragon saliva.

“I should move right away.”

There wasn’t much time.

The grand festival hosted by the Zhu Family would be held in a month at most.

Since I had to return before then, I needed to set out immediately.

Having organized my thoughts, I rose from my seat and headed to Sword Soul Hall.

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* * *

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The Zhu Family’s main hall, Sword Soul Hall.

I went straight to see Father.

“You want to leave the house temporarily? Without even stating your reason?”

“I simply want to gain some experience.”

Father let out a hollow laugh.

“No parent sends their child to their death before they even reach adulthood. If you said you wanted to visit your maternal family home, I would send you, but since it’s not even that, I absolutely cannot send you.”

Ju Tae-seong was stubborn.

I had to persuade such a father.

“Born as the direct heir of a martial family, even if I can’t harbor great ambitions, I don’t want to become an immature fool who only receives protection at home.”

“Ha, do you mean you want to go on a martial journey?”

“Well… if possible.”

Martial journey.

It was like an initiation ritual for the younger generation held by martial families or sects.

Making one’s name known in the martial world, building fame, and further elevating the family’s reputation.

Eldest Brother earning the name Sword Dragon was also thanks to his martial journey.

“No.”

Ju Tae-seong shook his head immediately.

The reason was that I was too young.

“Regardless of your level, a martial journey with a body that’s only fifteen years old? How absurd.”

“Elder Brother also chose to journey through the martial world before adulthood and accumulated countless experiences. He earned the title of Sword Dragon by single-handedly cutting down twenty-two masters of the demonic path at Blood Hollow Mountain. Do you think I cannot do the same?”

“….”

At those words, Ju Tae-seong’s eyebrows twitched.

To his ears, my words must have stimulated his interest in various ways.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

“Yes, I am no longer just the young youngest child. Therefore, I wish to see the wider world, so please help me.”

At those words, a mischievous smile bloomed at the corners of Ju Tae-seong’s mouth.

“Is it ambition?”

Ambition.

Since I had used Eldest Brother as an excuse, he was asking if I intended to covet his position.

I didn’t want to get involved in political struggles within the family.

I simply needed an excuse.

“Do you… truly wish for me to be ambitious?”

“….”

Instead, I questioned Father in an even more provocative tone.

Father couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

He just stared at me blankly with a somewhat shocked expression.

“Hahaha!”

Then suddenly he laughed heartily and rose from his seat.

“Good.”

Father had finally given his consent.

“What’s the big deal about being born with Zhu Family blood and harboring great ambitions? I permit it. However, I’ll need to assign additional guards.”

Of course.

I had already anticipated this much.

That Father would definitely assign guards.

‘Dragon Ascension Unit. They’ll be the ones assigned.’

The Dragon Ascension Unit, one of the noble family’s hidden forces.

It was obvious as fire that they would report everything I did to Father.

“Red Dragon Squad Leader.”

However, a different name than I expected came out.

With Father’s quiet call, the door opened and Red Dragon Squad Leader Yu Ran walked in.

“Yes, Family Head.”

And she winked at me with one eye.

“Hand over your assigned duties to the Vice Squad Leader and guard the youngest young master.”

“I will do as commanded, Family Head. Huhu.”

Like a script that had been arranged in advance.

Father commanded, and Yu Ran nodded as if it were natural.

Since when had Yu Ran followed Father’s orders so faithfully?

“You may go.”

Father dismissed me with those final words.

As soon as I left Sword Soul Hall, I asked Yu Ran.

“Doesn’t the Red Dragon Squad Leader have a lot of work to do?”

“Well yes, I do have a lot… but the Family Head said this would be how I pay for the consequences of acting independently, or something like that.”

“It was discussed in advance? Did he know I would be going out?”

My head was confused.

I didn’t remember having long conversations with Father.

But how did he know?

I was just moving to obtain spirit medicine.

‘Ambition.’

Ah, was that it?

Did he think I was finally making my move?

It seemed he thought I had developed the desire to push aside my brother and claim the position of heir.

‘Phew, at least that’s fortunate.’

I let out a sigh of relief while looking at Yu Ran.

Yu Ran would already be Do Gon’s target.

It might actually be safer to keep her by my side.

‘I know best how to deal with Do Gon, after all.’

The problem was that danger would come to me as well.

But I already had countless countermeasures.

Moreover, she didn’t seem like someone who would easily reveal what I had done.

“What are you thinking about so intently? Young Master?”

Yu Ran brought her face close to mine with a meaningful expression.

“It’s nothing. Pack your things first. We’ll depart as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning.”

“Won’t you tell me where we’re going?”

“Let’s talk about that tomorrow.”

The place I was going was extremely dangerous.

Yu Ran might actually like it more, but there was still the risk of it being reported to Father.

I cut the conversation short and returned to my personal quarters.

There wasn’t much to prepare.

Just pack a few sets of martial robes and some emergency rations just in case.

For sleeping, I could rough it outdoors in uninhabited areas, or if there was a village inn, I could stay there.

However, what worried me was still Do Gon.

His unpredictable personality was notorious even among the fellow Demon Emperors.

He would often defy even the Heavenly Demon’s orders, so he was destined to fall out of the Heavenly Demon’s favor and die even without my involvement.

He was someone who absolutely couldn’t stand having his possessions taken away.

“With Yu Ran and Mu Ying, buying time and escaping should be possible.”

I had to consider even variables of variables.

The place I needed to go now was Qinghai Province, right at the doorstep of Xinjiang, which was Demonic Cult territory.

I could manage Do Gon somehow, but if I encountered the Four Fiends… I would truly be a dead man.

The Four Fiends were cruel and vicious beyond any comparison to the Twelve Demon Emperors.

“Considering the worst-case scenario, it would definitely be encountering the Four Fiends.”

This time I absolutely couldn’t move carelessly.

I needed to be fully prepared.

After pondering for a moment, I got up and headed to Iron Weapon Hall in the western part of the inner compound.

Iron Weapon Hall was where the Zhu Family’s weapons were handled, stored, and also crafted, and Father’s beloved sword and symbol of the Zhu Family, the White Tiger Point Sword, was also born here.

​

It seemed there would be quite a few things I needed to gather from Iron Weapon Hall.

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* * *

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The next day.

Mu Ying and Yu Ran were gathered in front of my personal quarters before even the rooster crowed at dawn.

After briefly greeting Dan-hee and Dan-ah, I set out on the road.

“Is it alright not to see Foster Mother?”

“Mother would only worry needlessly. I don’t want to cause her concern.”

Mu Ying nodded lightly at my words.

Mother would definitely try to stop me.

“But Young Master, why do you have so much luggage?”

Yu Ran tilted her head while looking at the huge pack on my back.

“I thought it might be necessary. You never know.”

“Let me carry some for you.”

“It’s fine.”

I declined when Mu Ying tried to carry my luggage instead.

Though it was heavy, I was actually satisfied since I could build my strength this way too.

“Now, please tell us. Where exactly are we going?”

Yu Ran asked subtly.

She seemed quite curious about our destination.

“I smiled slightly at her and answered.”

“Qinghai.”

“….”

As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell.

After a moment, Yu Ran grinned widely with delight while Mu Ying spoke in shock.

“Yo, Young Master? That place is….”

“I know it’s dangerous. But it’s a place I must go.”

I looked straight into Mu Ying’s eyes and spoke quietly.

“You said you trusted my words. You said you’d follow me in everything.”

“….”

At those words, Mu Ying’s expression changed.

A guard’s duty is to protect their master by any means necessary.

Mu Ying nodded with a resolute expression.

‘He’ll probably be grateful to me.’

If we successfully complete this journey through the martial world, I have no doubt that both Yu Ran and Mu Ying will grow another level.

That’s how much.

It was a dangerous place. Qinghai was.

Promising to return within a month, our party left the Zhu Family Estate like that.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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