The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 46

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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 (46)

 

Investigation

 

“This color, the black spots visible here and there. And… most decisively, this smell.”

 

It was Yak Seon’s words.

 

“Blood Grass is mixed in here.”

 

“Blood Grass?”

 

“I’ve read ancient texts left by the Sima Sect before. It’s a type of poisonous herb mainly handled by the Unorthodox Faction. It paralyzes the mind, and the longer one takes it, the more the soul gradually collapses until they become an empty shell. Originally, it was used for torture or brainwashing.”

 

Those words sent chills down my spine.

 

‘What? Then Namgung Yi-hwa… to Ju Sang-jin?’

 

No way, that absolutely makes no sense.

 

Namgung Yi-hwa is someone who lives only for Ju Sang-jin.

 

I definitely needed solid evidence.

 

I immediately went back to Ju Sang-jin’s personal quarters together with Elder Yak Seon.

 

Before entering the quarters, Yak Seon frowned as he smelled the lingering odor.

 

“Huh, such a dense smell. Is this a torture chamber?”

 

“It’s not. This is Second Brother’s room.”

 

“Hehe, the smell of Blood Grass resonates this strongly in the personal quarters of the Second Young Master of a noble family?”

 

Yak Seon said he was thoroughly shocked and shook his head.

 

Even so, he resolutely stepped into Ju Sang-jin’s quarters.

 

“You…!”

 

I lightly struck the back of Ju Sang-jin’s neck as he lunged at me again like having a seizure, knocking him unconscious.

 

Then I laid him down gently in the middle of the room.

 

“Please examine him.”

 

“Huh, there’s nothing to see. He’s already poisoned.”

 

Yak Seon immediately recognized Ju Sang-jin’s condition.

 

However, Yak Seon still personally checked Ju Sang-jin’s pupils and pulse to observe his condition in more detail.

 

His demeanor when treating a patient was quite different from his usual mischievous appearance.

 

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he’s been taking it for very long.”

 

“Can you detoxify him?”

 

“Huh? What do you take me for?”

 

Yak Seon rolled up his sleeves and confidently pounded his chest.

 

“Detoxifying Blood Grass isn’t that difficult. However, the problem is…”

 

“A problem?”

 

“They mixed something else besides Blood Grass. That’s why I said it felt like Soul Transformation Pills. It’s similar, but this is clearly different.”

 

“So you’re saying it’s difficult?”

 

“I’ll need some time.”

 

I nodded at Yak Seon’s words.

 

It would be a problem if he couldn’t detoxify it, but what mattered was that he could detoxify it, regardless of how long it took.

 

“Please make an antidote. If you give the necessary materials to Dan-hee, she’ll procure them right away.”

 

“Haha, I shall do so. Ahem, but to think the Second Young Master of the Zhu Family is in such a state. This will be quite embarrassing.”

 

“…Indeed it will be.”

 

Sigh, I couldn’t help but let out a breath.

 

Above all, there was a separate problem.

 

‘This is different from how things unfolded in my previous life.’

 

In my previous life, Ju Sang-jin was absolutely not like this.

 

No, the development had gone wrong from the sparring tournament to begin with.

 

‘Because I won. And he was utterly humiliated…’

 

So did the future change because of that?

 

‘No, the overall situation hasn’t changed.’

 

The fact that the Family Head and Eldest Brother chose to go to the archipelago after the sparring tournament ended hadn’t changed.

 

‘The result changed because I intervened.’

 

It changed because I, who already knew the future, altered the development.

 

Also, Yak Seon who is now by my side.

 

Originally, he was someone I would meet purely by chance when I turned twenty.

 

But this time, I sought him out.

 

Perhaps developments different from my previous life are a natural progression.

 

The traitor inside the Zhu Family.

 

Starting with the White Dragon Captain, I think Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord is the mastermind behind it all.

 

‘Good, since I’ve decided to change things, let me properly change them once.’

 

I said to Yak Seon.

 

“I have somewhere to go briefly. Please go back and rest first, Elder.”

 

“Eh? Where are you going again?”

 

“There’s something I need to check. Please go ahead.”

 

I said that while giving Mu Ying a meaningful look.

 

“I’ll escort him back and return.”

 

Mu Ying immediately took Yak Seon and left the place.

 

I looked at the collapsed Ju Sang-jin, let out a small sigh, then soon left that place.

 

I hadn’t wanted someone to be ruined to this extent.

 

The Zhu Family needs everyone to join forces together.

 

Of course, except for the traitors.

 

Those bastards had to be killed without fail.

 

Those vermin-like creatures who steal important information from within the noble family like invisible parasites and offer it to the Demonic Cult.

 

Swoosh!

 

I immediately flew toward Namgung Yi-hwa’s personal quarters.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Late at night.

 

I observed Namgung Yi-hwa’s movements all day long.

 

She stayed holed up in her quarters without budging.

 

There wasn’t even anyone who came in or went out.

 

‘But it was strange.’

 

The problem was that voices kept coming from her quarters.

 

‘Who on earth is she talking to?’

 

What was even more suspicious was that no one except Namgung Yi-hwa could be seen in the quarters.

 

No one went in, and no one came out either.

 

‘Well, there’s no point in just being suspicious.’

 

I lay down right there.

 

It seemed I would have to confront this directly.

 

With my head not sorted out right now, that was all I could do.

 

The next day.

 

As soon as dawn broke, I first sought out Elder Yak Seon.

 

Then I took Yak Seon and headed straight to Namgung Yi-hwa’s quarters.

 

But…

 

“You cannot enter.”

 

A guard warrior blocked us right at the entrance.

 

When I snuck in, he didn’t even notice, yet somehow entering openly was more difficult?

 

“What’s there that can’t be done?”

 

I glared at the guard warrior and asked.

 

He was not a warrior of the Zhu Family.

 

Originally, Second Madam, whose pride reached the very pinnacle of heaven, had even brought a warrior from the Namgung Family as her guard.

 

Still, the Family Head, who found it quite uncomfortable to have warriors from other noble families in the Zhu Family estate, declared he would only accept one, and the result was this man standing before me.

 

His skills were quite considerable for a mere guard.

 

‘Peak level.’

 

One might ask who would assign such a precious peak-level master as a guard, but if it’s Namgung Yi-hwa, the story is different.

 

She is strictly speaking the one and only precious daughter of Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yeom.

 

Wouldn’t a father’s heart be willing to provide not just a peak master, but even more than that?

 

“The Lady has forbidden anyone from entering.”

 

“Can’t I even pay my respects to Mother? I am her son, after all.”

 

“…That is not allowed.”

 

The warrior was firm.

 

For a moment, I considered using suppression, but there was a good method right next to me(?).

 

I gave an ominous smile to Yak Seon, who was staring with a blank expression, then spoke to the warrior.

 

“This is Elder Yak Seon. He wishes to pay his respects to Mother.”

 

“…Huh.”

 

“I apologize, Elder Yak Seon. I should have informed you beforehand…”

 

Before Yak Seon could say anything, I quickly covered his mouth.

 

Fortunately, the quick-witted Yak Seon glanced at me once, then pretended not to know and coughed awkwardly.

 

“Yak Seon…?”

 

The guard’s gaze changed.

 

He quickly scanned Yak Seon from top to bottom with sharp eyes.

 

“Are you truly that Yak Seon, one of the Heavenly Twin Sages?”

 

“Do you think I brought some beggar here to play around?”

 

I could feel Yak Seon glaring at me at those words, but I deliberately ignored it.

 

“…I will speak to the Lady. Please wait a moment.”

 

He was one of the Heavenly Twin Sages, after all.

 

Someone whom others couldn’t easily meet even once was personally visiting to pay respects.

 

If it were a lie, the youngest Young Master would receive severe punishment for daring to use a renowned person’s name.

 

“You bastard, what are you doing? And what? A beggar?”

 

As soon as the guard disappeared, Yak Seon burst out angrily.

 

“Your words are excessive. If I’m a bastard, does that mean the Family Head of the Zhu Family, called the Sword Master, is also a bastard?”

 

“Y-you brat! That’s not what I meant!”

 

Yak Seon panicked.

 

I chuckled, then turned my gaze away.

 

The guard quickly emerged.

 

“Please come in. You are invited inside.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

I was able to enter Namgung Yi-hwa’s quarters together with Yak Seon.

 

​

 

* * *

 

​

 

The moment I stepped into Namgung Yi-hwa’s quarters, I felt all the hair on my body stand on end.

 

‘What is this unpleasant sensation?’

 

It seemed Yak Seon felt the same way.

 

Immediately frowning, Yak Seon looked at me and whispered quietly.

 

“This place is worse than Second Young Master’s quarters.”

 

“…Indeed.”

 

A foul smell penetrating through my nostrils.

 

Unlike Ju Sang-jin’s room, this was more damp and extremely unpleasant.

 

Soon we were guided to Namgung Yi-hwa’s room.

 

In white silk clothes with dark ink-colored hair neatly braided to one side.

 

In the eyes looking at us was a coldness colder than ice crystals.

 

Though she smiled with her mouth, her eyes held unmistakable viciousness directed at me.

 

“I greet my aunt.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Namgung Yi-hwa answered reluctantly.

 

Her gaze immediately turned to Yak Seon.

 

“This is my first time meeting you. I am Namgung Yi-hwa.”

 

“Hehe, the Second Lady of the Zhu Family is indeed a tremendous beauty as I heard.”

 

Yak Seon flattered her as he took a seat.

 

“However, do you have some business with me?”

 

Namgung Yi-hwa asked politely.

 

The reputation of the Heavenly Twin Sages was not something Namgung Yi-hwa could handle.

 

“Well… I, you see, what was it…”

 

Yak Seon was flustered.

 

He had been forcibly dragged here originally, not come intentionally.

 

“I brought him here, Mother.”

 

“…”

 

I quickly interrupted before Yak Seon could panic further and make a mistake.

 

Then Namgung Yi-hwa’s gaze turned to me.

 

“You? Why?”

 

“You seemed to be in poor health lately, so I thought I’d have some medicine prepared for you.”

 

“What ridiculous nonsense. Since when have you ever thought of me like that?”

 

Even with an outsider present, Namgung Yi-hwa didn’t bother to hide her harsh words.

 

“Go and stay quiet. Whether you read books or go out and do something, there isn’t a single person in this house who cares about you.”

 

“Yes, yes, I’ll do that. But before that…”

 

I immediately changed my expression and grabbed Namgung Yi-hwa’s wrist.

 

“W-what are you doing?”

 

Namgung Yi-hwa was startled and let out a sharp scream.

 

Then the door opened and that guard from earlier came running quickly.

 

He grabbed my hand and quietly commanded.

 

“Young Master, let go.”

 

“Move aside.”

 

“I said let go.”

 

“Ha, this is really annoying.”

 

This damn guard can’t even properly assess the situation and is acting up.

 

This is the Zhu Family estate.

 

It’s not a place for a Namgung Family warrior to interfere.

 

“What are you doing? Drag this bastard out immediately!”

 

Namgung Yi-hwa shouted sharply at the Guard Warrior.

 

The guard immediately grabbed his sword hilt.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Don’t draw that.”

 

Mu Ying growled quietly from outside the door.

 

“The moment you draw that sword, a bloody storm will blow here. Is that what you want?”

 

At Mu Ying’s question, the guard immediately frowned and looked at Namgung Yi-hwa.

 

“What are you doing? Just draw it. Throw him out or kill him, handle it yourself!”

 

Her eyes wavered for a moment.

 

Along with slight trembling, her lips twitched.

 

A strange sensation as if something was about to burst out.

 

“…!”

 

At Namgung Yi-hwa’s words, the guard flinched.

 

The word “kill” was definitely crossing the line.

 

“You saw it, didn’t you? Your master is not in her right mind right now.”

 

I spoke quietly toward the guard.

 

“Will you retreat like this and keep silent? Until Second Madam suffers even worse?”

 

“….”

 

He trembled as he gripped his sword hilt.

 

Because the face of his master reflected in his eyes was no longer that noble lady from before.

 

Seeing the guard’s reaction like this, there was definitely something going on.

 

Moreover, the moment I channeled internal energy into Namgung Yi-hwa’s wrist I had grabbed, I felt a strange flow of energy.

 

An extremely chilling and cold sensation, yet strangely persistent and clinging—a truly filthy feeling.

 

‘It’s demonic energy.’

 

It was demonic energy, but a slightly different quality of demonic energy.

 

‘Could this be?’

 

Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord.

 

Could it be that bastard’s demonic energy?

 

Eventually the guard retreated, and I pressed acupoints on the screaming Namgung Yi-hwa to forcibly put her to sleep.

 

The flustered guard tried to move again, but this time Mu Ying also drew his sword without restraint.

 

“Yak Seon is examining her. If you truly care for your master, it would be best to cooperate.”

 

At those words, the guard couldn’t react at all.

 

Originally, this shouldn’t be happening.

 

But there was no choice.

 

“Huh.”

 

Yak Seon’s expression as he checked the pulse of the unconscious Namgung Yi-hwa was grave.

 

It was quite different from when he had examined Ju Sang-jin’s pulse.

 

Yak Seon looked at me and spoke seriously.

 

“Just who exactly have you been fighting against all this time…?”

—————
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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