The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 57

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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 (57)

 

Who are you?

 

Sometimes, it’s better to tear someone apart and kill them once rather than babbling dozens or hundreds of times.

 

This was something the Dark Lord used to say like a habit in my previous life.

 

It was his philosophy of life, and a kind of enlightenment he had uniquely gained from his brutal and gloomy existence.

 

The Dark Lord asked.

 

​

 

‘Did you investigate my background?’

 

​

 

I naturally shook my head.

 

Who would dare investigate the background of the Dark Lord, one of the Ten Supreme Masters?

 

Unless they had hundreds or thousands of lives to spare.

 

He must have many worries.

 

He must have many questions too.

 

I had returned his own habitual words back to him without changing a single syllable.

 

In any case, I had to achieve my goal this time.

 

If I could just gain the Dark Lord’s support, I would be able to obtain quite a lot of convenience while operating in the Dark Path.

 

‘I would have been trembling in fear before.’

 

I was surprised at how bold I had become.

 

How many people could meet the Dark Lord of All Under Heaven, say everything they wanted to say, and come out like this?

 

Even though I was the youngest son of the Sword Master, the Dark Lord wasn’t actually the type to show consideration for such circumstances.

 

The Dark Lord came looking for me again the next day as soon as dawn broke.

 

True to his alias, he appeared quietly without any sound.

 

As if he had originally been in one corner of the room.

 

“Have you decided?”

 

At my question, the Dark Lord observed me intently.

 

It must be strange to him.

 

It must be incomprehensible.

 

But even so, he had to accept.

 

I had merely thrown him one interesting bait, and he had to bite it to confirm the reality of the bait I had thrown.

 

“I refuse.”

 

“….”

 

However, the Dark Lord’s reaction went differently than I had expected.

 

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

 

At the Dark Lord’s words, I nodded.

 

Even the possibility of refusal was already within my expectations.

 

“Please tell me the reason.”

 

“There are several reasons.”

 

The Dark Lord held up three fingers.

 

“First, I don’t do business at a loss. This is ultimately judged to be only beneficial to your Zhu Family.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Second, the information network you’re trying to create. I could make it myself if I wanted to. That’s my second reason.”

 

“Hmm. That’s possible.”

 

I silently nodded.

 

And finally, the third.

 

“My pride won’t allow it.”

 

“….”

 

After his words ended, I nodded as if I understood.

 

In any case, even this refusal wasn’t a complete refusal.

 

What that meant was that I had already dropped the bait.

 

“I understand the Black Horn Master’s intentions well.”

 

“Is that all there is to it?”

 

“Yes. I will properly convey to the Family Head that you have no intention of going to war.”

 

At those words, the Dark Lord chuckled.

 

“I’ll handle internal discipline myself. Thank you for letting me know.”

 

“Don’t mention it. Then I’ll stay just one more day before leaving.”

 

“As you wish. You can stay several more days if you want.”

 

With those words, the Dark Lord left the room.

 

Just like when he came, it was clean without leaving any trace whatsoever.

 

“Did it not go well?”

 

Mu Ying, who had observed the entire situation, asked.

 

I gave him a meaningful smile.

 

“No. It went well. I never thought the Dark Lord would accept so ‘easily’ from the beginning.”

 

“Hmm… I don’t understand Young Master’s intentions at all. I don’t understand just pretending to go to war either… and what you’re trying to scheme based on that…”

 

“Don’t think too complicated. I was thinking of making them fight among themselves.”

 

Spies fighting against spies.

 

Both ultimately have the same roots in the Demonic Cult.

 

Then how would they react?

 

Would they hide and pretend not to know?

 

Or would they pretend not to know and kill each other?

 

“Then isn’t it over now? Why bother staying here longer…”

 

“No. The Dark Lord gave me an opportunity. He’s telling me to try and seize it.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“There’s something like that.”

 

Leaving behind the curious Mu Ying, I worked my brain hard.

 

The Dark Lord would move.

 

And the aftermath would spread throughout all of Black Horn.

 

Unlike the Righteous Path, the Dark Path truly carries out purges with extreme brutality.

 

Then, what choice would the Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord make?

 

The Dark Lord would set up the stage.

 

I just had to move accordingly.

 

Black Horn’s prestige would be preserved, and the spies would be caught.

 

Conversely, the alliance between me and the Dark Lord would continue.

 

Just this much was enough to achieve the modest goal I had wanted.

 

​

 

* * *

 

​

 

Black Horn boasted an overwhelming size that felt like a fortress.

 

Accordingly, the number of warriors was truly so many that you’d trip over them.

 

‘It’s incredible.’

 

In my previous life, I was only able to visit after Black Horn had completely collapsed.

 

The smell of countless corpses mixed together, rotting away.

 

The blood was so abundant that leather shoes would get completely soaked, and even flocks of crows that had gathered attracted by the smell of blood.

 

Naturally, since Black Horn was such a massive organization, spies would be moving actively.

 

Among them, there would naturally be spies from the Demonic Cult as well.

 

I would find the connecting link between them and the Zhu Family’s spies and eliminate them.

 

No matter how much of a tail it is, if you follow it up, the body will inevitably be revealed.

 

“Hey.”

 

“….”

 

“Can’t you hear me?”

 

Someone beside me called out.

 

When I looked over, I saw a familiar man’s figure.

 

Dae Ju of the Black Ghost Sword Unit, Wi Gun-ak.

 

“What.”

 

I answered curtly.

 

“I heard you’re that famous troublemaker from Jiangxi.”

 

You’re just hearing that rumor now?

 

How quick of you.

 

“Don’t even dream of causing trouble while staying here. There’s no family to protect you here. Understood?”

 

“…Well, I can’t guarantee that.”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s not something I can control. I said I can’t guarantee it.”

 

At those words, Wi Gun-ak trembled with rage.

 

What an honestly expressive man.

 

“I’ll be watching. Please exercise self-restraint.”

 

After spitting out those cold words, he turned away coldly.

 

He wasn’t originally like this, but he seemed strangely on edge.

 

Well, it’s none of my business.

 

“Well then… since this is a rare opportunity, shall we take a look around?”

 

So Mu Ying and I decided to tour the inside of Black Pavilion first.

 

​

 

* * *

 

​

 

Jiangxi Province, Nanchang in Chengdu.

 

There were suspicious movements in one corner of the Zhu Family.

 

“Report: the Youngest Master has entered Black Pavilion.”

 

“Good, excellent. We need to pluck out that annoying pebble and crush it to pieces.”

 

The voices of the two men were so gloomy and quiet that they couldn’t be heard even from close by.

 

Among them, the man who appeared to be the superior carefully surveyed the surroundings before quietly speaking.

 

“More importantly, who exactly is that old man the Youngest Master brought?”

 

“We’re looking into it, but it’s not easy. It seems the Youngest Master has hidden him very thoroughly. No one knows that old man’s identity.”

 

“Damn, this is getting complicated. Even the White Dragon Corps that was almost in our hands slipped away…”

 

Things that had been proceeding smoothly were starting to go completely wrong.

 

It was all because of the Youngest Master, Woo Jin.

 

Strangely, everything he got involved in fell apart completely.

 

The matter with Foster Mother and Yu Harin was the same.

 

This time too, the plans involving Second Young Master and Second Madam had come to nothing.

 

“There’s no choice. We wait for orders from above.”

 

For now, there was nothing he could do.

 

All matters had been reported upward, so appropriate measures would be handed down.

 

“How pitiful.”

 

Despite being only fifteen years old.

 

To be caught by the Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord of all people – the price would be nothing but certain death.

 

​

 

* * *

 

​

 

Black Pavilion was turned completely upside down.

 

The master of Black Pavilion, Dark Lord, had issued a general assembly order to all warriors.

 

Unlike other places, Black Pavilion was structured with authority concentrated in the pavilion master.

 

Moreover, the pavilion master wasn’t just any ordinary master but one of the Ten Great Masters of the Martial World.

 

There wasn’t a single person with the guts to disobey his orders.

 

From the vice pavilion master to elders, protectors, unit leaders, and even the lowest-ranking warriors – everyone gathered at Black Hall, the center of Black Pavilion.

 

An uncountable number of warriors assembled in one place.

 

Not just a summons for executives, but a general assembly order.

 

Dark Lord swept his gaze over everyone below and spat out cold words.

 

“There are those bold enough to dare spy in my house.”

 

That was the starting point.

 

Murmuring began among the warriors.

 

“Shut your mouths.”

 

A voice filled with profound internal energy swept through the surroundings.

 

The tremendous power instantly quieted the area.

 

“Rather than chattering away enthusiastically, tearing someone apart once… I find that more entertaining.”

 

That was a warning.

 

Dark Lord’s warning to the spies hiding among the warriors.

 

“Run away or hide deeper. Do as you please. I will definitely find you all and tear you apart limb from limb while you’re still alive. Kuk kuk kuk.”

 

At those words, even the executive-level personnel turned deathly pale.

 

Dark Lord disappeared, turning his back as if he wouldn’t listen to any words, leaving only those words behind.

 

Naturally, chaos erupted in the area.

 

“Damn it! Who is it? Who dared to spy around like a rat?”

 

“Just get caught! Even if the Pavilion Master doesn’t, I’ll snap your neck myself! Got it?”

 

Most showed these kinds of reactions.

 

“…This is a bit extreme, isn’t it?”

 

“He should explain the situation properly, suddenly talking about spies… Hey, isn’t this just trying to scare us and keep us in line?”

 

“Exactly. This is going too far, even for him.”

 

There were also these kinds of reactions.

 

Of course, Dark Lord was observing each of those reactions from an unseen location.

 

“Impressive.”

 

I watched the entire scene from a distance.

 

I was actually a bit surprised by Dark Lord’s shocking declaration.

 

I never dreamed he would make such an open announcement.

 

This could become a foolish act with more losses than gains.

 

Black Pavilion wasn’t just a single family or sect, but a coalition formed by numerous factions and sects.

 

No matter how powerful Dark Lord was, he couldn’t rule them all through fear alone.

 

As I expected, a chaotic situation began to unfold.

 

And finally.

 

Dark Lord definitely made eye contact with me.

 

What was drawn on his lips was clearly a smile.

 

And that too was extremely meaningful.

 

As if…

 

‘Is he saying he’s set the stage, so now it’s my turn?’

 

He was definitely helping me without damaging Black Pavilion’s pride.

 

Then why?

 

‘So Dark Lord was suspicious too.’

 

It meant he had already noticed something as well.

 

Well, well.

 

Since I received his expectations, it was only right that I should produce results worthy of those expectations.

 

“Let’s go, Mu Ying.”

 

Therefore, it was time for me to act.​

 

I never waste a single day.

 

Although the Dark Lord had given permission to stay for several days, I couldn’t just sit around and wait forever.

 

I first began investigating the trading companies that frequented Black Horn.

 

Naturally, if I investigated openly, Black Horn might take considerable offense, so I had to conduct my investigation secretly.

 

‘Formless Trading Company.’

 

The only information I had heard from Second Young Master, Ju Sang-jin.

 

Create drugs to devastate the target’s mind, create openings, and then exploit those gaps with the Soul-Destroying Emotion Technique.

 

That was the Snake-Eyed Ghost Lord’s method.

 

Then what would be the easiest and fastest way to spread such drugs?

 

My conclusion was that only trading companies could do it.

 

In fact, in my previous life, the Demonic Cult had unknowingly devoured about three-quarters of the Central Plains’ merchant groups.

 

There were so many common and overlapping names that I couldn’t remember or investigate them all.

 

But…

 

This life is different.

 

Shiver.

 

Goosebumps suddenly rising on my skin.

 

“…Mu Ying.”

 

While investigating the trading companies passing through the main gate of Black Horn, a carriage had just passed in front of me.

 

“Yes, Young Master.”

 

Mu Ying called out solemnly.

 

“That carriage. Follow it without being noticed.”

 

This chilling sensation was telling me.

 

That bastard was already close by.

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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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