The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 38

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

Youngest Master of the Zhu Family (38)

Variable

Well, it wasn’t that I had hoped for Father’s pure love or affectionate attention.

But I did feel a little disappointed.

Was it just treatment that changed according to martial arts achievements?

Or was it expectation he had because of my changed appearance from being immersed in alcohol and women?

Either way, the bitter taste in my mouth was real.

‘I didn’t want blind love, it would have been burdensome anyway.’

But even so, wasn’t this reaction too different from the past?

“The sparring tournament is temporarily suspended.”

At the Sword Master’s frost-like command, the assembled heroes could only nod their heads, even without understanding the reason.

I wasn’t the only one who felt the anger embedded in Father’s voice.

The heads of other families quietly slipped away from their seats, reading the Sword Master’s mood.

Father turned his back and headed toward the Sword Soul Hall.

Soon after, a moment later.

A man appeared and secretly slipped among the assembled heroes.

No one knew the identity of that man, but I knew who he was.

‘Uncle Ju Tae-hak.’

Father’s cousin and the captain of the Dragon Ascension Unit.

Ju Tae-hak immediately sought out the White Dragon Captain, said something to him, then headed straight to the Sword Soul Hall.

Soon the White Dragon Captain followed behind him with a devastated expression, his head hanging low.

“Hey.”

I walked toward Ju Sang-jin, who was still seething with unresolved anger.

“Why do you always act like you want to devour me whenever you see me?”

“Hey? How dare you…”

“If you had acted like a proper older brother even once, I would have gladly called you by your proper title.”

I pretended to extend my hand while secretly grabbing Ju Sang-jin by the collar without anyone noticing.

Then I brought my face close to his and quietly revealed my killing intent.

“I was just going to properly crush you, but you went ahead and acted like an idiot yourself?”

“What?”

Ju Sang-jin’s face contorted.

Like a face that knew nothing at all.

‘What?’

Seeing that blank expression, I began to understand the situation in an instant.

“You don’t know anything, do you?”

“…What the hell are you talking about?”

Then… is it Namgung Yi-hwa after all?

Well, when it comes to politics, Namgung Yi-hwa is more likely than this stupid fool.

“What are you doing?”

Just then, someone climbed onto the platform and grabbed my wrist.

It was Second Elder, Great Hero Ju Tae-geon.

The so-called Ju Sang-jin faction that openly supports Ju Sang-jin.

“I was just trying to help him up.”

I smiled and released the pressure point on Ju Sang-jin that I had been gripping.

“How dare you learn such martial arts of unknown origin and defile the sacred tournament. I will not let this slide this time.”

“Hmm…? Martial arts of unknown origin, you say?”

“I have never seen or heard of such crude martial arts filled with such vicious killing intent. Where did you learn such shoddy martial arts that only the Dark Path would practice…”

“Your words are strange. Then you’re saying that Second Brother was completely defeated by such shoddy martial arts.”

“…”

At my words, Ju Tae-geon’s complexion openly reddened.

He seemed to realize the contradiction in what he had said himself.

“How dare you talk back? When an adult is speaking…”

“Brother, please stop.”

Then, my ally appeared.

It was Fifth Elder Uncle Ju Tae-hwi.

“Isn’t Woo Jin right? Brother, why are you always so eager to devour Woo Jin whenever you see him?”

“What? Because you keep protecting him like this, that arrogant brat doesn’t know his place and…”

“Brother. Aren’t your words a bit too harsh?”

Ju Tae-hwi frowned and spoke sternly.

“They are all the same nephews to me. Don’t ruin the atmosphere at our family’s grand festival that’s held once a year, Brother.”

“Th, th… These bastards…!”

Ju Tae-geon was left speechless.

Because Ju Tae-hwi’s words were actually correct.

Since he had stepped forward in a moment of anger, there was no further justification to scold me.

“I shall withdraw now, Brother.”

Ju Tae-hwi respectfully performed a cupped fist salute until the end, then took me and left the training ground.

“Hahaha.”

Then, when we reached a place where no one was around, Ju Tae-hwi suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“You cunning little rascal. When did you grow up so much?”

The look in his eyes as he gazed at me as if I were precious… was extremely burdensome.

“What will happen to the sparring tournament?”

Actually, this wasn’t the real charm of the sparring tournament.

Perhaps Eldest Brother might come out.

I had been waiting to see Eldest Brother rise again.

But it’s ending like this?

That absolutely cannot happen.

“Well, he won’t end it like this. Let me go see the Family Head for a moment. It seems… that bastard Ju Tae-san…”

Ju Tae-san is the name of the White Dragon Captain.

The one who just helped Ju Sang-jin by shooting a needle at me.

‘This is strange.’

Honestly, it’s a strange situation.

The Sword Master is here, and other famous masters of the martial world are seated in this place.

Did he think it wouldn’t be caught?

‘Hmm.’

What’s even stranger is that it’s similar to my past life memories yet different.

Back then, Ju Sang-jin had beaten me up.

I found out later that it was Namgung Family swordsmanship, and I just thought I had collapsed in fear as usual.

‘Even then, he shot a paralyzing needle at me, but the Family Head just let it slide…?’

At first I thought that, but that didn’t make sense either.

It wasn’t just a place with only Zhu Family members, but a gathering where countless heroes and heads of other families had assembled.

Yet the fact that the Family Head’s reaction was different from my past life and now means…

‘In my past life, he didn’t shoot the needle at me.’

That’s the conclusion I reach.

“Could it be. Namgung Yi-hwa. Is she trying to keep me in check?”

Namgung Yi-hwa has a thorough personality.

She intends to eliminate all people who would interfere with her son Ju Sang-jin becoming the young family head.

Actually, in my past life, Ju Sang-jin had emerged as the most likely candidate.

“Hmm, that won’t do.”

That’s a shortcut to ruining the family.

Since I had experienced it enough in my past life, this time I absolutely had to put Eldest Brother in that position.

Let’s slowly persuade Eldest Brother….

‘I need to deal with this.’

What remains are the Elders and Namgung Yi-hwa.

Really… there wasn’t a moment’s rest.

​

* * *

​

The Sword Soul Hall of the Zhu Family Estate.

After dismissing the other Elders, Ju Tae-seong faced the White Dragon Captain alone.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“….”

The White Dragon Captain had no answer.

He just hung his head, unable to say anything.

“The Zhu Family was utterly humiliated in front of everyone.”

“…I’m sorry, Family Head.”

“Delegate all the duties assigned to you to the Vice Squad Leader. I order you to self-reflect, and we will discuss further punishment and disciplinary action.”

It was indefinite house arrest.

The White Dragon Captain bit his lips tightly, pondering something, then soon bowed his head as if resigned.

“I accept the Family Head’s command.”

“….”

Ju Tae-seong, who observed his reaction until the end, let out a quiet sigh.

As soon as Namgung Yi-hwa returned, the atmosphere of the family estate changed drastically.

Though he hadn’t wished for this situation, it was at least necessary, so he planned to let it pass at this level.

More than anything, Ju Tae-seong was looking forward to seeing what choices his sons would make in this situation.

​

* * *

​

The sparring tournament resumed.

After I defeated both Elder Sister Seung-kyung and Ju Sang-jin, the atmosphere of the sparring tournament heated up properly.

The assembled heroes were excited.

Ju Woo Jin, the scoundrel of the Zhu Family who had received no expectations, not even any interest.

That scoundrel was currently causing a major upheaval.

Following the sparring matches of the direct descendants, even the branch family members stepped forward to the tournament.

Not only the children of the Elders but even those at the squad leader level stepped forward, properly stirring up the excitement of the tournament.

The assembled heroes praised the Zhu Family, calling this unprecedented grand festival the best.

Even just this much meant the Zhu Family’s Grand Tournament had gained tremendous response.

“In the end… is it over?”

Of course, I was disappointed.

There wasn’t even a trace of Eldest Brother to be seen.

He just sat in the upper seats watching the tournament, then disappeared and reappeared repeatedly.

It seemed he had no intention of stepping forward.

‘In the end, he couldn’t overcome it.’

Eldest Brother has a big problem.

It’s the guilt from being intoxicated by the power of the sword during the Anak Blood Incident and cutting down even innocent people.

However, even though later investigations revealed this wasn’t true, Brother still couldn’t overcome what happened then.

​

‘Those eyes that looked at me with resentment still weigh on my heart.’

​

This was Brother’s inner thoughts I had heard in my previous life.

I still can’t forget his appearance, trembling the moment he held a sword.

That miserable sight of him falling from a promising talent to someone who could do nothing.

I couldn’t stand to watch any longer.

‘Fool.’

I stood up from my seat with firm determination.

I was planning to threaten Brother if necessary to make him come out.

But there was no need for that.

“Huh?”

“Huh, what? Who’s that?”

“Crazy! It’s the Eldest Young Master! The Sword Dragon, Ju Seung-hyeok!”

The cheers of the assembled heroes were of epic proportions.

Overwhelming cheers that couldn’t even be compared to ours burst forth.

The gazes of the family heads and Elders sitting in the upper seats, and even Father’s attention, were all focused on the center of the training ground.

The one slowly walking out from the entrance was… Eldest Brother Ju Seung-hyeok.

“How cool.”

Only then did I let out a sigh of relief and sit down.

A faint smile bloomed on my lips.

Though I had worried, it seemed he had finally made his decision.

That determination to overcome it.

He had finally cast off the mental demon he had acquired.

Wearing a Hero’s Sash with a dragon carved in dark colors and a large ruby embedded in the center.

Ju Seung-hyeok’s appearance as he stepped onto the training ground, his dark and dignified robes fluttering, was like a dragon about to ascend to heaven.

An appearance that suited the nickname Sword Dragon better than anyone.

“Sword Dragon! Sword Dragon! Sword Dragon!”

All the assembled heroes rose from their seats.

The hegemon of Jiangxi Province, the Eldest Young Master of the Zhu Clan.

He smiled warmly and performed a cupped fist salute toward the assembled heroes.

“Wooooaaah!”

Thunderous cheers covered the entire Zhu Family Estate.

The fact that Ju Tae-seong’s expression in the upper seats finally became comfortable was something only I would know.

‘As expected, the Family Head wanted to place Brother in the position of Young Family Head.’

Well, there’s no talent like him.

A person with the patience and mercy to embrace everyone.

Brother possessed all those human qualities that Father lacked most.

“Eldest Young Master of the Zhu Family, Ju Seung-hyeok. I enter the martial way.”

Starting with a respectful cupped fist salute, Ju Seung-hyeok drew his sword.

He slowly unleashed the ultimate techniques he had mastered, satisfying everyone’s eyes.

“Hah.”

Namgung Yeom exclaimed in admiration.

The Eldest Young Master’s level was beyond imagination.

“It seems he hasn’t put down his sword during this time.”

“Well, doesn’t Seung-hyeok’s martial talent take after the Family Head?”

Even most of the Elders who supported the Second Young Master were shaken by Ju Seung-hyeok’s appearance.

‘He’s actually become stronger.’

I admired Brother’s swordsmanship as I watched.

I thought he wouldn’t put down his sword, but I never dreamed he would become this strong.

Ju Seung-hyeok finished his successful sword demonstration and stood tall in the center of the training ground.

His gaze briefly turned toward me.

A subtle smile formed on his lips.

It looked as if he was greeting me with gratitude.

Soon his gaze swept across the upper seats once.

He respectfully performed a cupped fist salute toward one figure.

“Eldest Young Master of the Zhu Family, Ju Seung-hyeok.”

The person he chose as his sparring opponent was an unexpected figure.

“To the Family Head of the Zhu Family, I humbly request your guidance.”

It was the first time this had ever happened.

A case of requesting a sparring match with the Family Head at the Heavenly Martial Festival.

With heavy footsteps, the Sword Master slowly descended from the platform.

The moment the Family Head of the Zhu Family personally walked out to the center of the training ground.

An overwhelming tension filled the space, so intense that no one dared to breathe.

“Family Head of the Zhu Family, Ju Tae-seong.”

He performed a cupped fist salute toward Ju Seung-hyeok.

“Accepting the Eldest Young Master’s request, I shall properly respond to this sparring match.”

Everyone fell silent as if holding their breath.

And after a brief moment.

“Woooooooh!”

Tremendous cheers erupted.

“As expected, it’s Eldest Brother.”

It was an unexpected move.

Who would have thought he’d directly request a sparring match with Father.

Eldest Brother had apparently decided to prove himself after all.

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