The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 24

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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 (24)

To Kunlun Mountain

“Damn it….”

I opened my eyes after a full four hours had passed.

Perhaps all the accumulated fatigue had hit me at once, as I seemed to have slept quite soundly.

“I didn’t expect her to finish me off so thoroughly.”

I recalled the final strike I had received from Yu Ran.

My vision had just flashed white, and in that brief moment of confusion, Yu Ran had already blocked all my main escape routes.

And then… I passed out just like that.

I can’t even properly remember how I got beaten up.

It just hurt, and I collapsed like that.

“Even if I understand martial arts in my head, my body still can’t keep up.”

I thought I had built up decent muscle strength and was fairly confident in my stamina.

But it seems I’m still not ready to face someone at the squad leader level.

“Well, at least I slept well.”

I couldn’t sleep last night, but now I was able to sleep soundly like this, so maybe I should thank Yu Ran.

I packed my belongings and headed straight out the door.

Outside the door, Mu Ying and Yu Ran were in the middle of eating.

“Young Master, are you awake now?”

Mu Ying put down the water cup he was drinking from and rushed over to me, while Yu Ran raised her hand to greet me while maintaining her eating posture.

Gone was yesterday’s murderous appearance, replaced only by a foolish smile.

“Sigh, this isn’t right.”

I had tried to humble her pride, but I was mistaken.

Her skills were far more advanced than I had expected.

Most of all, her movements in response to opponent’s martial arts showed reactions like those of a wild beast.

While I was thinking about this, food arrived.

Mu Ying must have hurriedly ordered it.

After roughly finishing our late breakfast, we immediately left the inn.

Then we went straight to find a carriage to take us to Kunlun Mountain.

This time we had to ride the carriage all the way.

Having arrived in Qinghai Province, we didn’t know what might happen, so we needed to conserve our strength as much as possible.

The carriage carrying our party began moving swiftly toward Kunlun Mountain.

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* * *

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“Qinghai Province….”

Do Gon, who had received his subordinate’s report, smiled meaningfully.

He was tracking the movements of the Red Dragon Squad Leader, Yu Ran.

Tracking her movements wasn’t particularly difficult.

The Demonic Cult’s influence had already reached inside the Zhu Family quite some time ago.

Thus, Do Gon rapidly closed the distance with Yu Ran.

“Are they crawling into a death trap?”

Do Gon’s killing intent-filled laughter grew even deeper.

Qinghai Province was a place beyond the reach of the Central Plains Martial World’s power.

Once, Kunlun, which was like a leader of the Orthodox Faction, existed there, but they had fallen.

In other words, Qinghai without Kunlun was now no different from the Demonic Cult’s territory.

“Pass all information about that woman to the Demon Cultists in Qinghai, and tell them to capture her. Tell them they can do anything except kill her until I arrive personally.”

“Yes, Killing Lord.”

The subordinate immediately bowed his head and left the Great Hall.

After giving his orders, Do Gon gathered his weapons and rose from his seat.

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The hunt.

It was beginning.

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* * *

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The atmosphere had become somewhat strange.

The carriage had long since entered the mountain path, and as soon as night fell, it became eerily quiet.

“Young Master.”

Mu Ying, who was beside me, also seemed to sense something ominous and whispered quietly to me.

“Not a single insect or mountain beast is making a sound. It seems….”

“It’s beginning.”

I let out a small sigh and slightly opened the window in the carriage.

The surrounding atmosphere was heavy.

Moreover, what I could faintly smell in the air was definitely the scent of blood.

Chilling.

At the same time, goosebumps rose on my skin.

‘My Qi sensing has become more sensitive.’

With my current level, this sensation shouldn’t actually be possible.

Just like when I had previously located the Dragon Ascension Unit’s position, this time too I was instantly detecting the killing intent lurking in these mountains.

“So it’s come to this after all.”

I gathered my belongings and let out a small sigh.

This incident was perhaps like a test.

‘Our location was discovered too easily.’

The traitors lurking inside the Zhu Family.

Without them, our position couldn’t have been discovered so quickly.

I knew that traitors had spread throughout the Five Great Families and the Nine Great Sects.

It was just a matter of time.

In the end, it meant they had been betraying their own families and sects for a long time already.

‘If information leaks out to this extent even before the Demonic Cult rises to power.’

Creak!

Soon the carriage came to a stop.

The coachman spoke quietly in a trembling voice.

“Th-there… s-someone is bl-blocking the road?”

At those words, I opened the door and stepped outside.

Yu Ran and Mu Ying followed, each carrying their swords.

‘Demon People.’

Five figures blocking the path.

The chilling energy emanating from them was definitely demonic energy.

“Yu Ran.”

“Please speak, Young Master.”

Yu Ran also looked tense.

She grasped her sword hilt and slowly began gathering her martial aura.

“Don’t show any mercy and kill them all.”

“I really like that kind of order.”

Yu Ran smiled brightly.

The banner of the Orthodox Faction.

There was nothing to be gained by raising such things before Demon People.

Beings with different beliefs and different intentions, ultimately standing at opposite ends where they must kill or be killed.

Crash!

At the words that they must be killed, Yu Ran charged forward without hesitation.

Berserker.

It was a word that perfectly suited Yu Ran.

Drawing her sword in one swift motion, she mercilessly severed the neck of a Demon Cultist at the front.

Due to her killing intent-laden techniques, she had been restricted in various missions.

Despite being a martial artist from the Orthodox Faction, and even a commander-level figure, she showed no mercy in her strikes.

In the Orthodox Martial World that valued justification, pursued practical benefits, and prioritized external reputation above all else, her existence was truly like a thorn in their side.

Slash!

However, Yu Ran didn’t care about such things at all.

She beheaded Demon Cultists, didn’t bother avoiding the spurting blood, and thoroughly slaughtered her opponents.

Her sword strikes that delivered death cleanly without causing pain were even beautiful to behold.

‘This place is sufficient.’

I quickly surveyed the surroundings.

About five Demon Cultists were more than enough for Yu Ran alone.

However, the problem was…

‘There are too many.’

Demon Cultists were already spread throughout this entire mountain.

Even now, they were getting closer and closer.

“Uncle.”

I immediately called the coachman.

He was cowering in a corner, trembling with fear.

“How long does it take to get from here to Kunlun Mountain?”

“Yes… Yes? Ah, if we ride the carriage at full speed, we should arrive within about one hour, yes.”

One hour.

Of course, arriving at Kunlun Mountain wouldn’t end the Demon Cultists’ attacks.

‘However, I can’t be delayed here because of those scoundrels.’

Slash!

By the time my thoughts ended, Yu Ran had cut down all the Demon Cultists and approached me.

“Let’s go. Quickly.”

I immediately boarded the carriage.

Mu Ying and Yu Ran also boarded the carriage without complaint.

“Please run straight to Kunlun Mountain without stopping. I’m asking you.”

At my words, the coachman finally came to his senses and gripped the reins tightly.

“Commander, take charge of the rear of the carriage. And Mu Ying, take the front and protect the coachman as much as possible.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“I’ll do that.”

Mu Ying and Yu Ran answered simultaneously.

As the two adjusted their positions according to my words, I slightly opened the window to observe the outside atmosphere.

The carriage soon picked up speed and began racing at tremendous velocity.

It shook violently, as if the wheels might break.

And soon, the energy of Demon Cultists began pouring in from all directions.

“They’re coming.”

It was a tense moment.

The moment we were attacked from all sides, we would be finished here.

‘Do Gon. It’s that bastard. He’s the one who moved the Demon Cultists.’

I could tell because it was exactly the same method as in the past.

Do Gon had summoned countless Demon Cultists to drain my strength first.

The number of Demon Cultists I cut down back then easily reached two hundred in a single day.

Moreover, unlike my previous life, this place was Qinghai Province.

Since it was a region controlled by the Demonic Cult, the Demon Cultists here would surely do their best to gain the Demonic Cult’s favor.

Crash!

Thoughts were brief.

The attack began immediately.

Hidden weapons pouring from all directions and the indiscriminate assault of Demon Cultists rained down mercilessly from front, back, left, and right.

Nevertheless, the carriage pressed forward relentlessly.

Yu Ran swung her sword like mad, cutting down all the Demon Cultists who approached close to the carriage.

Even after killing and killing again, the endlessly swarming enemies possessed a madness that surpassed even Yu Ran’s.

‘This is what Demon Cultists are.’

They have no purpose or goal consciousness whatsoever in killing.

Simply by command, simply because they crave greed and blood.

They willingly throw away their lives like flies and charge forward.

That’s when it happened.

Boom!

An enormous presence was felt from the rear.

A feeling so profound that my entire senses froze for a moment.

‘Killing Lord, Do Gon.’

It was the appearance of Remnant Blood Kill Master Do Gon, another member of the Twelve Demon Emperors.

‘He finally caught up.’

Since Demon Cultists had appeared, I thought we’d encounter him soon.

But it happened much faster than expected.

“Kunlun Mountain is visible in the distance!”

The coachman’s urgent cry was heard, and as he said, the tall peaks of Kunlun Mountain came into view far away.

“Please run just a little faster.”

Faster, even faster.

Before Do Gon caught up, we had to enter Kunlun Mountain.

The coachman drove the horses frantically, shaking the reins like mad to survive.

“Young Master! Kunlun Mountain has such rough terrain… it’s impossible for the carriage to climb!”

The entrance to the mountain was visible in the distance.

Then the coachman shouted urgently.

When I glanced back at his words, the number of Demon Cultists had increased considerably.

“Huff, huff.”

Yu Ran’s breathing had also become rough, as if she was somewhat tired.

“We’ll go as far as the carriage can take us. And if we have to get off, follow me immediately and run. Understand?”

At my words, both nodded their heads.

Soon the carriage’s speed began to gradually slow, and the coachman gave me a meaningful look.

“Let’s go.”

I immediately gathered my belongings and leaped from the carriage.

Yu Ran and Mu Ying quickly followed behind me.

The coachman immediately cut the rope connecting to the carriage and quickly rode his horse down another mountain path, disappearing.

We began running toward the mountain with all our might.

The Demon Cultists following us hesitated for a moment, but soon found their direction and quickly pursued us.

‘Just a little further.’

There was a safe place.

The location where the Thousand-Year Dragon Saliva Essence was kept was completely sealed off by formation techniques constructed by Kunlun.

A forbidden zone among forbidden zones that no one except me could dare approach.

It was just when we were not far from that place.

“Caught you.”

At the killing intent-laden voice that reached us, my steps naturally stopped.

The atmosphere of the battlefield itself had changed.

Beyond the wafting demonic energy, a familiar blood-red radiance flickered.

It was Killing Lord, Do Gon.

‘Damn it.’

His movement was far faster than expected.

“Young Master.”

Yu Ran’s voice grew heavy.

She had instantly sensed that Do Gon’s level was far from ordinary.

She pushed me away and shouted resolutely.

“Send out the messenger pigeon. We have subordinates in Sichuan, so they’ll immediately request help from the Sichuan families and sects.”

The Red Dragon Corps carries out missions throughout the Central Plains.

In other words, she meant to send them communication requesting support.

That statement was tantamount to saying Yu Ran would face Do Gon alone in the meantime.

“Insolent wench, so you’re that crazy woman of the Zhu Family.”

“Shut up, you look exactly like chewed up and spat out meat. Who are you calling a crazy woman?”

At Yu Ran’s harsh words, Do Gon’s expression hardened for a moment, then he wore a maniacal smile.

“…Good, I’ll tear you apart alive, wench.”

Kwaang!

In an instant, the earth trembled.

As Do Gon’s single strike extended out, a shockwave that seemed to shake the entire mountain erupted.

The ground cracked, trees snapped, and even the sky became quiet as if holding its breath.

I gritted my teeth and stared at Yu Ran’s back.

Everything could be felt from her posture.

A resolve prepared for death.

“No!”

Just as I was about to step forward, Yu Ran turned her head and smiled at me.

“Young Master.”

Her voice was calm, unlike usual.

“I’ll buy you time, so please make sure to save me.”

With those words, Yu Ran threw herself toward Do Gon.

Even though she already knew she was no match for Do Gon.

Soon, blood-red mist began to bloom in the sky.

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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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