The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 35

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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 (35)

Zhu Family Festival

The Zhu Family Festival is held for a total of 10 days.

And two days have passed.

The third day marks the official beginning of the festival, and it’s also an opportunity to witness the Zhu Family’s martial arts firsthand.

“Wow! Those are the famous Red Dragon Corps warriors, right? Man, they’re really incredible.”

The Zhu Family’s Red Dragon Corps.

The largest military force in the Zhu Family, mainly responsible for guarding the family estate and maintaining order in Jiangxi Province.

Led by Ju Yu-ran at the front, the Red Dragon Corps warriors in red martial uniforms entered one side of the training ground in unison.

Following them, warriors dressed in pitch-black martial uniforms entered.

“It’s the Black Dragon Corps! Wow, I’ve never seen the Black Dragon Corps in my life!”

“The Black Dragon Corps is so cool! Woah!”

The Black Dragon Corps is one of the Zhu Family’s main forces, primarily handling external missions for the family and protecting business establishments.

Therefore, their skills are on average superior to the Red Dragon Corps.

After receiving training in the Red Dragon Corps for a certain period, the largest number of warriors advance to the Black Dragon Corps through the martial tournament held during the festival.

Right after the Black Dragon Corps entered, warriors in blue martial uniforms came in.

The Zhu Family’s Blue Dragon Corps.

A special unit-like military force created by selecting mainly agile individuals.

When war breaks out with the Dark Path, they form reconnaissance teams or handle special missions like cutting enemy supply lines.

Next came the White Dragon Corps and Yellow Dragon Corps.

The White Dragon Corps serves as the eyes and ears of the family, possessing the greatest intelligence network in Jiangxi Province.

Therefore, those who appeared now are only a very small number of individuals whose identities have been exposed; the other warriors cannot participate in the martial tournament.

This was to avoid exposing individual identities.

Finally, the Yellow Dragon Corps consists of those considered the elite of the family.

They are deployed on the most dangerous and difficult missions, and it’s no exaggeration to say there are almost no missions they fail.

Besides these, the Zhu Family had three more military forces called the “hidden strength.”

Of course, they never participate in the martial tournament.

One of them was the Dragon Ascension Unit that protects the direct descendants of the family.

There were also two more mysterious military forces named the Heaven Dragon Corps and Destruction Dragon Corps.

“The martial tournament begins!”

Finally, with Ju Yu-kyung’s shout, the martial tournament began.

* * *

I was sitting in the highest place on the platform, together with Father and the Elders.

From here, the entire training ground below was visible at a glance, but unfortunately, Ju Sang-jin was sitting next to me.

“You’re dead.”

Ju Sang-jin made a throat-slitting gesture so only I could see and muttered something.

Of course, I cleanly ignored him.

I don’t know why someone who’s old enough acts like that.

I turned my head to look at the training ground again.

The martial matches proceed separately, with areas divided throughout the great training ground.

‘White Dragon Corps.’

Among them, I carefully observed the White Dragon Corps.

True to their reputation as the eyes and ears of the family, within Jiangxi Province at least, no one can match their intelligence network.

But…

‘On the day the Demonic Cult rose up, the White Dragon Corps could do nothing.’

They didn’t even notice the Demonic Cult’s surprise uprising.

They couldn’t even detect the signs.

‘Why couldn’t they know?’

It was a problem I had pondered countless times.

If nothing else, the White Dragon Corps should have noticed what was happening within Jiangxi Province.

Even the Beggar’s Sect, known for having the strongest intelligence network, had to yield to the White Dragon Corps within Jiangxi Province.

The fact that they failed to notice the Demonic Cult’s uprising ultimately means there’s only one reason.

‘A traitor.’

There’s a traitor among them.

This wasn’t suspicion but almost certainty.

At first, I thought about it a lot.

Whether to find and punish the spy hidden within the White Dragon Corps.

Or to completely overturn everything.

But the conclusion I reached was different.

‘Create a new intelligence force.’

Those who can only be controlled by me, who won’t hesitate to use any means and methods to gather information.

Even if there’s no traitor, the fact remains that they failed to detect the Demonic Cult’s movements.

I need to create one massive intelligence force that surpasses the White Dragon Corps in this Gangxi Territory.

Sometimes it’s better to create something new rather than replace what already exists.

I think that time is right now.

While I was lost in such thoughts,

someone approached me.

“Woo Jin.”

When I turned around, it was Elder Oh, my youngest uncle, Great Hero Ju Tae-hwi.

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Follow me for a moment.”

Uncle led me away from the platform to a place where no one was around.

After looking around, he handed me a wooden box.

The wooden box seemed to be about the length of my forearm, but it was quite heavy for its size.

“…?”

“Didn’t I tell you before that I’d give you a gift?”

“Ah, is this that gift?”

“Yes, take a look.”

I had forgotten about it, but he remembered and prepared a gift for me.

Youngest Uncle always took care of me like this.

“I gratefully accept it.”

I bowed politely to express my gratitude and opened the wooden box Uncle gave me.

Inside the wooden box was some kind of metal ingot, and I was genuinely surprised the moment I saw it.

“This is…”

“Haha, surprised? Yes, it’s Hundred-Refined Pure Steel. You must have heard of it?”

Hundred-Refined Pure Steel.

One of the Eight Metals Under Heaven, it’s a metal refined by hammering ordinary iron until no impurities are mixed in at all.

Of course, it’s not as good as Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, but Hundred-Refined Pure Steel is certainly a very hard metal.

“It must have been hard to obtain, so why give it to me… Uncle, you should use it.”

At my words, Uncle smiled and shook his head.

“I don’t need it. I wanted to give you something better, but as you know, I’m broke.”

“…”

“So, do you like it?”

“Yes. Thank you, Uncle. I’ll use it well.”

This will be sufficient help in making my sword.

It may not compare to Father’s beloved White Tiger Point Sword, but it won’t break easily like ordinary swords.

“By the way, I heard you decided to participate in the direct descendant martial tournament this time?”

Uncle asked in a subtle tone.

Then he suddenly grabbed my pressure point and channeled his energy into me.

It was just a moment’s breath, but that energy instantly stirred through my insides before disappearing.

“Hooh.”

A gleam flashed in Uncle’s eyes as he confirmed my condition.

“So the Family Head’s words were true. You… this internal energy. Where on earth did you obtain it?”

I couldn’t say I had gained it through cultivation.

Obtaining this much internal energy in just one month was only possible with the help of spirit medicine.

“I was just fortunate.”

“A fortuitous encounter? Something like that?”

“Yes, well.”

“My, heaven is truly helping you.”

I knew why Uncle was so pleased.

He was the only Elder in this noble family who supported me.

Uncle had occasionally hinted to me that he hoped I would become the Young Family Head and help Father lead the family well.

He was the only person in the family who cared for a mere wastrel like me to such an extent.

But I was truly sorry to say that I had no interest in becoming Young Family Head.

Why would I want to sit in such a troublesome position?

Administration, politics – I had neither the time nor ability to concern myself with such things.

‘Sigh, if I said that, he’d be thoroughly disappointed.’

Of course, I didn’t show it.

If I deliberately acted as though I had no attachment to the Young Family Head position, Uncle would be truly disappointed.

I needed to gradually persuade him over time to look toward Eldest Brother instead.

“I’ll put it to good use, Uncle.”

“Good, now hurry along. Since the Family Head has given strict orders, you can’t be away from your post for long.”

“Yes, I’ll head back now.”

I bowed respectfully and quickly returned to my position.

Then I gestured for Dan-hee, who was standing in the distance, to come over.

“Did you call for me?”

“Yeah, take this to my room for me.”

“Yes… ugh.”

Dan-hee staggered for a moment while receiving the wooden box.

‘Ah.’

It was Hundred-Refined Pure Steel, after all.

And it was the size of my forearm at that.

Being solid and highly condensed steel, it would be quite heavy for a girl my age to carry.

“I’ll go take care of it right away.”

In the end, Mu Ying stepped forward.

He took the wooden box and headed quickly toward the quarters.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Young Master.”

“No, as long as you’re fine, that’s what matters.”

Dan-hee blamed herself for not being able to carry that one thing.

Then, suddenly feeling a chilling gaze from behind, she glanced back to see Ju Sang-jin looking this way.

No, to be precise, he was scanning Dan-hee up and down.

Dan-hee also seemed to get goosebumps, trembling as she tried to avoid his gaze.

“…”

Why was I feeling disgusted for no reason?

I quickly sent Dan-hee back to her original position.

Then, meeting Ju Sang-jin’s eyes, I curled up one corner of my mouth and gave him a sneering smile.

Sure enough.

Ju Sang-jin was getting angry, but with so many adults present, he couldn’t act rashly.

I was truly looking forward to the day of my duel with that bastard.

​

* * *

​

The deep inner quarters of the Zhu Family.

Several figures walked into Namgung Yi-hwa’s personal quarters.

“We greet the Second Wife.”

They bowed respectfully to Namgung Yi-hwa.

“Please sit.”

She offered seats to those who had entered her quarters with a cold expression.

As they sat down as if it were natural, Namgung Yi-hwa got straight to the point.

“Dae Ju.”

“…Please speak.”

The man called Dae Ju wore a thin face veil that barely revealed his features.

Judging by his face glimpsed through the veil, he gave the impression of being a man with truly refined features.

No, if you saw him for the first time, you would definitely mistake him for a woman.

“I heard the Eldest Young Master is going to the Jusan Archipelago this time?”

“That’s what’s been decided.”

“Why was that report so late in coming?”

“As you know, we’ve been a bit busy preparing for the Heavenly Martial Tournament. My apologies.”

Dae Ju bowed his head.

When Namgung Yi-hwa’s face reddened as if she was about to explode, Dae Ju quickly spoke up.

“It was such a suddenly conveyed matter that our understanding was delayed. But please don’t worry.”

“Do I look like I’m not worrying right now? If this happens, the Young Family Head position for our Sang Jin is… as good as lost, isn’t it?”

“Wouldn’t this rather be an opportunity? You must know all about what happened at the Jusan Archipelago.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Namgung Yi-hwa’s expression softened slightly at the mention of an opportunity.

The Jusan Archipelago was currently in complete chaos.

To settle that situation would take at least a couple of months, even at the shortest estimate.

Moreover, the family’s heir was leaving his position vacant because of it.

And he was departing for dangerous territory with no telling when he might return.

In that case, she could create a position for Sang Jin until he returned.

How?

Manipulating the family elders in the absence of the master was no difficult task.

‘This could indeed be an opportunity.’

As Dae Ju said, this was nothing short of a golden opportunity.

However, even with the support of more than half the elders already secured, she couldn’t feel at ease.

After all, in the Zhu Family, only the Sword Master’s will took absolute priority.

Suddenly, Namgung Yi-hwa’s gaze turned toward the back garden.

‘Damn it.’

But of all times, Yu Harin.

Not only had she regained consciousness, but she had also recovered her health.​

No matter what, she was still the Foster Mother in name.

So it was still too early to feel secure.

“Please make sure Sang Jin stands out during the martial tournament. It’s unlikely, but if Sang Jin makes a mistake or shows signs of losing…”

“In that case, I’ll secretly make adjustments. However, please understand that if the Eldest Young Master steps forward, even I can do nothing.”

“Huhu, the Eldest Young Master is only an eldest young master in name. Would he even participate in the martial tournament? He’s so weak and pathetic.”

“Everything will go according to your wishes, Lady.”

Dae Ju bowed his head with a cold expression and left Namgung Yi-hwa’s quarters.

I didn’t like his behavior, but he was still of Namgung Family blood.

When choosing sides, it’s safer to stand with the powerful.

That was the reason why White Dragon Captain Ju Tae-san could maintain his position despite having no real ability.

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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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