The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 52
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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 (52)
Weakness
Sword Soul Hall.
Whenever Family Head Ju Tae-seong was away, Elder Oh, Ju Tae-hwi, would take his place.
This was due to the opinion of the family elders who judged him to be the most suitable, excluding the Grand Elder who had no particular interest in the family’s affairs or management, and the Second Elder who decided the martial force budget and mission deployments.
I came straight to see my Youngest Uncle.
“Hehe, has this boy gotten heatstroke? What are you talking about?”
A face full of laughter, unlike Father’s.
However, behind that, his name was Ju Tae-hwi, who reeked of murderous blood.
He was better known in the Martial World as Blood Venerable.
Thinking he had misheard, he asked again.
“I said please send me to Black Horn, Uncle.”
“Nothing has been decided yet. I’m just acting Family Head. For such major matters, the Family Head must judge directly…”
“Then it will be too late.”
“Huh, then what do you want me to do? Moreover, even when the Family Head returns. You want to go to Black Horn? What nonsense…”
“Uncle.”
I looked straight into Ju Tae-hwi’s eyes with a serious tone.
In his deep black pupils, with a subtle red aura swirling in them, I could faintly see my reflection.
“When the Family Head returns, it will just end. We will clearly be remembered as cowards who just cowered in fear at home against those who threatened Foster Mother’s safety.”
“…Who would think such a thing? How dare they against the Zhu Family…”
“Instead of just shouting ‘how dare they against the Zhu Family,’ we need to show them. So that no one dares to utter the word ‘dare’ before the Zhu Family.”
Uncle’s pupils trembled.
Within those trembling pupils, I remained completely unwavering.
I was asking.
Is it really right to just stay still like this?
Is this the behavior the Zhu Family, which we so proudly proclaimed, should take?
“I…”
“Uncle, I know you well. And you… know me well too.”
At my words, the trembling in Ju Tae-hwi’s eyes stopped.
When I killed Broken-Face Asura, I had already seen it.
Blood Venerable had no hesitation.
No, rather, he was hoping for it.
To give him an even more cruel price in return.
The perfect death of those who dared to harm the Zhu Family’s Foster Mother!
“Hahaha!”
Suddenly, Uncle burst into hearty laughter.
Loud enough to make the Sword Soul Hall noisy.
After laughing so refreshingly for a while, Uncle’s expression looked more comfortable than before.
“Indeed… my eye for people is accurate. Nephew, my youngest nephew.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Become the Young Family Head. This uncle will spare no support, both material and spiritual.”
Uncle’s true intention.
It was content I already knew, and a gateway I had to pass through.
I had no intention of becoming Young Family Head, but the moment I showed that, Ju Tae-hwi would be greatly disappointed.
‘I still need Uncle’s hand.’
So I couldn’t show it.
I had to hide my intentions even more and use Ju Tae-hwi’s power to the maximum.
“I am considering it.”
“Hahaha! As expected! A man should naturally be like that, indeed.”
Blood Venerable rose from his seat.
In his hand was his beloved sword, the Heaven-Severing Absolute Sword.
It was a divine sword named for cutting the sky and severing connections, a great famous sword worthy of being compared with Father’s beloved White Tiger Point Sword.
“Good, go then. Go to Black Horn and bring back an answer that will satisfy this uncle. This uncle permits it.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Finally, approval.
True to his fiery nature, Uncle was properly fired up.
I felt sorry for deceiving my innocent Uncle, but it couldn’t be helped.
To get what I wanted, I wasn’t in a position to be picky about means and methods.
* * *
Blood Venerable’s action power was second to none.
Uncle immediately tried to select warriors to head to Black Horn.
But I stopped such Uncle.
Since Black Horn Master wasn’t someone who would be intimidated by force in the first place, and since this wasn’t a place we were going to war, we needed to exercise maximum restraint.
So I decided to dismiss all the warriors and depart with only Mu Ying accompanying me.
“I’m, I’m nervous, Young Master.”
Whether he was really nervous, Mu Ying’s fingertips were trembling finely.
“We’ll depart as soon as day breaks, so prepare well.”
Actually, there wasn’t much to prepare.
Just some travel expenses and emergency food supplies in case of need would suffice.
I casually turned my gaze.
Lately, Yak Seon and the Dan-hee, Dan Ae sisters had become quite close.
It seemed he was thinking of the granddaughter he had left behind alone.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
“…Just.”
Yak Seon, does he have eyes on the back of his head too?
He felt my gaze and looked at me.
“I have somewhere to go briefly. Please take good care of this place in the meantime.”
“Hehe, you’re telling me to hurry up and make the antidote. Ahem.”
“It’s not that. Oh right, and your granddaughter should arrive here within a few days.”
Previously, he had stubbornly refused to bring her to the Zhu Family, but now given the situation, he had decided to call his granddaughter.
At those words, Yak Seon’s expression brightened.
Though he pretended to be fine, it seemed he had been worried all along.
“It’s, it’s fine though. Hehe.”
…You can’t even hide your laughter?
“I’ll arrange separate quarters for you two to stay in.”
“Nothing grand is needed. Actually, the current place is good too. There seem to be many rooms left over…”
He was referring to my quarters.
“If you wish, I’ll arrange for you to stay somewhere more spacious.”
Just as my words ended.
Dan-hee came running in a panic, her face pale.
“E, Elder! No, Young Master!”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
It was an uncharacteristic reaction from her.
“Second Young Master has, has opened his eyes!”
“…!”
At those words, I hurriedly headed to my quarters.
Opening the door to the room where Ju Sang-jin was, he was blankly staring into space amid the thick medicinal fragrance.
However, his pupils were unfocused.
“Step aside, you bastard.”
Following behind, Yak Seon entered the room, checked his pulse, and immediately examined Ju Sang-jin’s pupils.
After examining his condition like that, Yak Seon nodded slightly.
“Phew, fortunately. It seems he’s regaining consciousness.”
Yak Seon realized his medicine had properly taken effect and let out a sigh of relief.
“Then Second Madam is….”
“It will take some time. The poison qi and demonic energy in Second Madam’s body was more severe than this guy’s.”
At Yak Seon’s words, I finally felt a little relieved.
Soon after, his focus seemed to gradually return, and Ju Sang-jin stirred and looked this way.
“….”
Then he was startled and immediately raised his upper body.
“Urgh.”
But his physical condition was absolutely terrible.
He dry heaved while flailing his hands in the air.
Yak Seon, as if accustomed to this, handed him a bowl of clean water.
Eventually, Sang Jin, who had regained his senses, opened his mouth.
“You… what? Is this… your room?”
It seemed all his previous memories had completely disappeared.
He rambled incoherently while trying to get up from his spot.
But his body hadn’t fully recovered yet, as he kept staggering continuously.
“Just lie down and answer.”
I forcibly pressed down on his shoulder, making him sit down.
Having no strength in his body at all, he sat down ridiculously easily.
“Do you have no memory of before? Nothing comes to mind at all?”
“What the hell is this about? Just because you beat me at the sparring tournament….”
“Just answer what I’m asking, will you? I don’t want to waste words with you.”
Either way, he and I are bound by ill fate.
Ju Sang-jin.
In my previous life, and in this life too.
Truly an ill fate without even brotherly affection.
“What memory? What do you want to hear?”
Ju Sang-jin’s energy calmed down a little.
Finally recognizing reality, Ju Sang-jin furrowed his brow and began forcibly trying to recall his memories.
“It seems there’s nothing.”
Watching him ponder for a long time, I laughed as if finding him pathetic.
As expected, he’s a completely useless bastard.
Just as I was getting up from my spot, Ju Sang-jin suddenly called out to stop me.
“Wait.”
“….”
“What about Mother?”
“Second Madam is also in poor condition like you. She’s currently being treated.”
“I need to see Mother.”
“There’s nothing you can do by going. Just stay here quietly and receive treatment.”
Saying that, I was about to turn around.
But Ju Sang-jin’s words weren’t finished yet.
“Formless Trading Company.”
“…!”
I was startled by those words.
“What?”
“The Guild Master of Formless Trading Company. That bastard introduced himself like that. And….”
He has no memory.
Ju Sang-jin frowned, then immediately grabbed his head and writhed in pain.
“Ugh… Urgh.”
‘Soul-Destroying Emotion Technique.’
It was the side effect of that.
Though Yak Seon’s detoxification pill had awakened his mind, it seemed the traces remaining in his brain hadn’t been completely erased yet.
“Should I put him to sleep? What should we do?”
Yak Seon asked me.
I shook my head.
“Let’s leave him to suffer. Since Second Young Master of the Zhu Family was so foolishly caught, he deserves to hurt a bit.”
“Hehe, you heartless kid. Understood.”
Yak Seon grumbled but nodded his head.
In fact, both Yak Seon and I knew well that leaving him alone wouldn’t cause any problems, so this was possible.
“Phew, rest for now. I’ll ask again later.”
I left the room as it was.
Since he wasn’t in a state to answer properly.
* * *
‘Formless Trading Company.’
Still, it wasn’t bad information.
It’s probably a fake name, but it would be better than having no traces at all.
‘If only I had information sources I could mobilize at times like this….’
The lack of intelligence network feels overwhelmingly significant.
It seemed I’d need to properly make plans after visiting Black Pavilion.
“Young Master, the preparations are complete.”
At Dan-hee’s words, I immediately headed outside.
Mu Ying followed behind, and youngest uncle Ju Tae-hwi was already waiting in front of the training ground at the entrance to the inner compound.
It wasn’t just youngest uncle.
Warriors who were already furious about this Foster Mother attack incident had gathered in droves and were waiting.
“Are all preparations finished?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
At my completely unworried appearance, youngest uncle laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.
“Hahaha! Sending you alone made me worry, but seeing you so robust makes me think it was just my needless concern.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll finish this properly and return.”
I don’t just mean I’ll grovel.
“I’ll bring back a proper apology.”
I said that while giving a cupped fist salute toward Uncle Ju Tae-hwi.
Warriors surrounding us from all sides.
Though they usually ignored and despised me, this time was different.
The status of being direct line.
Plus the shocking skills I’d shown at the sparring tournament.
Perhaps?
Maybe this time too?
Such psychology was clearly visible in their expressions.
Their appearance of being suspicious yet having no choice but to follow.
They also gave cupped fist salutes toward me in unison.
“Go and return.”
Like that, I boarded the carriage heading toward Black Pavilion, the greatest alliance of the Unorthodox Faction.
* * *
Sogang Village, located at the southern border of Jiangxi Province—or more precisely, on Guangdong territory.
It was also a crossroads that Woo Jin would have to pass through.
“Who did you say is passing through here?”
The one wielding the greatest influence in Sogang Village was none other than a man named Chu Mil, who belonged to Black Pavilion.
He was also the leader of the Sogang Sect, the most prominent martial arts school in Sogang Village.
This Chu Mil had shown interest in Woo Jin’s procession.
“The Sword Master’s youngest, Eldest Brother.”
“That bastard who used to frequent the Extreme Pleasure House like it was his own home?”
The subordinate nodded at Chu Mil’s words.
“Yes. That’s right.”
His eyes sank deeply.
He harbored very unpleasant memories regarding the Zhu Family.
“I was already wondering how to deal with those Zhu Family bastards, and now this opportunity has come.”
He spoke quietly with a sinister gleam in his eyes.
“Get the boys ready. I need to cut off at least one of that bastard’s limbs to be satisfied.”
“Yes, Eldest Brother. I’ll prepare them right away.”
He had no intention of killing.
The Sword Master’s retaliation? He wasn’t afraid of such things.
No, before that, he was confident he wouldn’t be caught in the first place.
With eyes full of killing intent, he caressed his sword and wore a chilling smile.
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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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