The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 43
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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 (43)
Recruitment
Two days had passed.
I sat in my room, calming my Mental Image Synchronization through meditation.
I pretended to be composed, saying I wouldn’t be impatient, but…
‘Sigh, what if he just leaves?’
In the end, everything depended on Yak Seon’s choice.
If he refused until the very end, I would have no choice but to give up cleanly.
‘Yak Seon could be useful for much more than just catching the Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord.’
Of course, it was inevitable to feel regretful.
“Let’s pack up.”
Soon after, I ordered Dan-hee to prepare our luggage.
In the end, Yak Seon didn’t come.
I thought about waiting longer, but if he wasn’t going to come anyway, it seemed like a waste of time.
It would be more beneficial to spend that time thinking of strategies to deal with the Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord.
Even if he changed his mind later, since I had revealed my identity, I figured he would come to the Zhu Family Estate on his own.
So we packed all our belongings and left the inn.
The carriage was already prepared, and we boarded it after finishing our short journey.
“Let’s go, home.”
Just as the carriage was about to depart.
“Wait a moment there.”
With a familiar voice, the carriage door opened and a large bundle suddenly came in.
“Oh my, were you thinking of leaving without being able to wait just a bit longer?”
“Elder Yak Seon.”
A smile naturally formed on my lips.
The person who entered the carriage was Yak Seon.
Unlike before, his expression had become quite light.
“What’s all this?”
“Oh well, since I’ll probably be staying for a long time, I had to pack some luggage, didn’t I?”
Even for that, it was quite a lot of luggage.
“Have you been carrying this around the mountain all the time? You have good stamina.”
“Phew, it’s hot.”
Yak Seon sat across from me and wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead.
Then he stared blankly at Dan-hee and Dan-ah sitting beside me.
“They’re my servants. The older sister here is Dan-hee, the younger one is Dan-ah.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Dan-hee.”
“I’m Dan-ah, Grandfather.”
Yak Seon’s eyes subtly reddened as he looked at the two girls.
“If Ui Kyung had grown up well, she would have smiled as prettily as you.”
“Didn’t you bring your granddaughter?”
At my question, Yak Seon shook his head.
“I left her at a medicine room for a while. It’s a medicine room I used to frequent…”
“Why don’t you come with us instead? To our Insu Hall…”
“No need. As I said, I won’t be bound to a noble family.”
Yak Seon was more resolute than expected.
It seemed like he was worried that I, or rather the Zhu Family, might use his granddaughter as leverage to threaten him.
“Yes, but more importantly, have you made up your mind?”
“Of course? I came because I decided. Before I die of old age, I should at least resolve my granddaughter’s grudge.”
Grind!
Yak Seon gritted his teeth as he spoke.
‘I’m sorry, but Elder Yak Seon was still living this vigorously even when I died.’
I don’t know when he dies.
Because I died first.
His body, trained with medicine, was as sturdy as any martial artist.
That’s why he could live in the mountains for decades without getting a single chronic illness.
“Let’s depart.”
So the carriage carrying Yak Seon departed toward Jiangxi Province.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Zhu Family Estate in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.
Namgung Yi-hwa was receiving a guest.
In her personal quarters, a man sat elegantly lifting a tea cup.
The man was an incredibly handsome young master.
Namgung Yi-hwa glanced at the man stealthily, then cleared her throat a couple of times before speaking.
“Guild Master?”
“Ah, yes. The tea’s fragrance was so good that I was savoring it for a moment. How rude of me.”
The smile he made at the same time was enough to fluster even the cold and proud Namgung Yi-hwa for a moment.
“Oh, no. But about what you mentioned in your letter before…”
“You’re indeed as straightforward as I heard.”
I’m not sure what was straightforward about it.
The man called Guild Master immediately took out one of several wooden boxes at his feet and placed it in front of Namgung Yi-hwa.
“Please open it.”
Namgung Yi-hwa immediately opened the wooden box.
Inside was a small pill that appeared to be spirit medicine.
As soon as the wooden box was opened, a fragrant herbal scent filled the entire room.
Just smelling that fragrance made one’s mind feel naturally clear.
“Oh my, this is the spirit medicine you mentioned?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Guild Master smiled brightly.
That smile was so enchanting that even the iron-willed Namgung Yi-hwa felt her heart melt away.
“Ahem, so the effects are certain, right?”
“Of course. Our trading company has sufficient capability to regularly produce and supply this.”
“But why haven’t I heard of such a trading company before? Formless Trading Company…”
“Let’s just say we don’t particularly want to reveal our existence, like our company’s name suggests.”
When Namgung Yi-hwa still seemed suspicious, the Guild Master took out another wooden box from his feet.
“If you find it hard to believe, I can show you by taking it myself.”
“Please try it.”
Namgung Yi-hwa nodded as if this was perfect.
Then the Guild Master, as if he had been waiting, picked up a pill and swallowed it.
However, even after time passed, there was no particular reaction.
“What’s this?”
“Haha, well, I don’t practice martial arts, you see. There’s no noticeable change like with martial artists. Just smoother skin, losing excess fat, and not getting minor illnesses?”
That alone would be spirit medicine with tremendous effects.
“Good. So the Formless Trading Company will spare no support for our Second Young Master?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then what should we give you?”
Learning about the Formless Trading Company was from a while ago.
I had just heard it in passing, but after Sang Jin was properly humiliated at the sparring tournament, that name suddenly came to mind.
That’s how this meeting was hastily arranged.
“There is one thing I desire.”
“Please tell me.”
Namgung Yi-hwa’s lips curved upward, finally showing a relaxed expression.
This was the renowned Zhu Family of All Under Heaven.
She thought what the Guild Master wanted would be at most wealth or perhaps some land.
But the Guild Master requested something completely unexpected as payment.
“Please create a position for me within the Zhu Family.”
“A position…?”
“I hear the Zhu Family’s chief steward is quite capable. Something like an assistant chief steward, or… any vacant position will do.”
It was an incomprehensible transaction.
This spirit medicine was so precious it was impossible to put a price on it.
Of course, it didn’t have tremendous effects like the Great Return Pill, Plum Blossom Divine Pill, or Taiji Divine Pill, but even as a mass-produced item, it had quite respectable efficacy.
Having the technology and financial resources to manufacture such medicine, yet all he wanted was just one position in the Zhu Family?
It was far too suspicious a proposal.
“That won’t work. Only our Family Head can make such appointments. Or it would require recommendation from the Elders. It’s not something I can get involved in.”
“Ah, is that so? Then… how about something like a low-ranking warrior?”
At those words, Namgung Yi-hwa pondered for a moment before nodding.
“That much I think I could manage somehow, but would that really be enough?”
“Haha, that would be sufficient. Later, when Second Young Master becomes the Young Family Head, I’m sure you’ll take care of my personnel rights.”
“Mm, alright. Let’s make a deal.”
Normally, she should have been endlessly suspicious.
But Namgung Yi-hwa didn’t have the mental capacity left to judge rationally.
Sang Jin had suffered a crushing defeat at the sparring tournament, and the White Dragon Captain had been captured.
On top of that, the Family Head had summoned the Sword Dragon separately to go to the archipelago where the noble family’s important secrets were hidden.
She was beyond impatient—she was on the verge of going mad.
Therefore, she couldn’t even think straight and ended up accepting the deal just like that.
‘He’s someone without greed. Is it because he’s the owner of a wealthy trading company?’
The Guild Master wore a smile whose meaning was unclear.
He soon set down two wooden boxes.
“One is for you to take, Lady. Consider it a bonus.”
“Oh my, thank you. Let’s work well together from now on.”
“Understood, Lady.”
The Guild Master left an elegant farewell and departed from Namgung Yi-hwa’s personal quarters.
After the Guild Master left, Namgung Yi-hwa, now alone, opened the wooden box to check the pills inside.
The pills glowing with a subtle white light brought peace to her heart just by looking at them.
“With this…”
Firm resolve appeared in her eyes.
She was prepared to do anything for her son.
“The position of Zhu Family Head… I will absolutely not let it be taken away.”
She steeled her resolve and left the room.
Then she walked briskly, almost running, straight to Sang Jin’s personal quarters.
Meanwhile, the Guild Master of the Intangible Trading Company changed his expression as soon as he left the room.
His expression, which had been all sweet smiles just moments before, was so cold it seemed frozen, utterly desolate.
“What a greedy wench.”
Moreover, even his voice was not the seductive tone from before.
It was a chilling voice that made one’s hair stand on end just hearing it.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed cunningly like a snake’s.
“It won’t be long now, Zhu Family. Your fate as well.”
After muttering incomprehensible words, he vanished from the spot like a phantom.
* * *
“Grandfather.”
The way she spoke with her small mouth was so adorable.
As if she might burst if squeezed, or fly away if touched.
Yak Seon raised his granddaughter more preciously than his own children.
Perhaps knowing her grandfather’s love, granddaughter Ui Kyung grew up well without ever throwing a tantrum.
A child full of laughter.
She was a child with deep understanding.
Though she must have been curious about her parents’ death, she never once asked, worried it might sadden her grandfather.
That made him feel so sorry for her.
‘I will definitely protect you, at least.’
Even when going to the mountain, he would always put his granddaughter in a wicker basket and set off on mountain trips.
Gathering medicinal herbs together and his granddaughter’s chatter asking about this and that was another source of happiness for Yak Seon.
Whether people around mocked him as the basket old man or not, he found comfort and peace in this daily routine.
One day, Ui Kyung suddenly collapsed and couldn’t get back up.
The raging fever and gasping breath that seemed about to give out were urgent enough to make even Yak Seon stamp his feet in distress.
He mobilized all his knowledge and tried every medicine he knew, but it was useless.
He sold his medicine room and even sold all the small land he owned.
With that money, he bought ingredients again and searched through all the medical texts in the Western Region just in case.
But there was no improvement.
He couldn’t even identify what the illness was.
Then one day, quite by chance.
With a desperate heart, Yak Seon brought Silver Sleep Grass to the lips of his granddaughter who lay as if dead.
Silver Sleep Grass is a demon flower that only reacts to demonic energy and shows no reaction to any other energy.
The moment he brought the Silver Sleep Grass to Ui Kyung’s lips, the Silver Sleep Grass turned pitch black.
‘Demonic energy!’
Yak Seon collapsed right there.
It was exactly the same reaction as his son and daughter-in-law.
‘In the end… in the end…’
Was he unable to protect any of his children?
In endless despair, his granddaughter barely regained consciousness.
“G-Grandfather…”
Her voice was hoarse, completely without strength.
Even so, worried that her grandfather might be sad, Ui Kyung tried to smile bravely despite her young age.
“I-I want to eat…”
“Food? Yes, let’s eat. Yes, you need to eat. My granddaughter, my precious granddaughter.”
He buried his face in his hands and wept.
His granddaughter, trying somehow to see this pathetic grandfather’s face with pupils that couldn’t even focus, was so pitiful.
This helplessness of not being able to do anything for her!
He wished it was all a dream.
If he could sleep and wake up to see that door open and Ui Kyung greeting him with that pretty smile of hers.
“Grandfather.”
If only she would welcome him like that.
“Please get up quickly.”
If only she would take his hand like that.
Yak Seon weakly raised his hand and grasped Ui Kyung’s hand extended toward him.
And at that moment.
“Grandfather?”
The vivid sensation awakened Yak Seon’s consciousness.
When he came to his senses, the carriage had already stopped.
“We’ve arrived, you need to get off now.”
“….”
It wasn’t Ui Kyung.
Right, what was her name again? Dan-ah?
The name of the pretty girl who was the same age as his granddaughter.
“Yes… we’re here.”
With a faint smile, Yak Seon stepped out of the carriage.
One of the Twin Immortals of the World.
Yak Seon, Woo Moon-hak, had finally set foot in the Zhu Family Estate.
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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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