The Youngest Prince of the Zhou Family - Chapter 7

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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 (7)

Preparation

Shaanxi Yu Family.

What kind of place is this?

It’s my maternal family home, and a fairly famous household in Shaanxi Province.

Of course, it wasn’t a martial family, but rather a merchant house with considerable talent in business.

However, the flaw, if it could be called one, was that no male heir had been born to continue the family line in recent times.

‘Grandfather cherished me greatly.’

Indeed, my maternal grandfather and head of the Yu Family, Yu Jang-baek, had truly shown me remarkable affection as his youngest grandson.

So much so that other grandchildren might have considered it favoritism.

I had finished preparing for my journey to visit my maternal family.

From here in Jiangxi to Shaanxi was quite a long journey.

‘It’s a long way, but I can’t delay even a moment.’

The poison decoction given to Mother was definitely the work of the Demonic Cult.

In the first place, there was no one else under heaven who could so cunningly blend poisons and employ such schemes.

‘Blood Hand Poison Emperor.’

Crack!

The moment I thought of him, my teeth ground together involuntarily.

In my previous life, how much effort had I put into killing him?

The damage he had inflicted on the martial world was beyond imagination.

Using absolute poisons that even the Tang Family couldn’t detoxify, he had poisoned and manipulated virtually all the major figures of the martial world.

‘If not that bastard, there’s no one else who would dare commit such a bold act against the Zhu Family.’

It was definitely the work of the Blood Hand Poison Emperor.

The one who had concocted an extreme poison that even Heo Su-kyung, who managed the Zhu Family’s Insu Hall, couldn’t detoxify.

‘I’ll find him… and kill him.’

Before he could properly grow in power, I had to crush him in the initial stages.

My preparations were complete.

I packed simple food supplies, money, and a few sets of clothing into a bundle and slung it on my back.

“Young Master, the carriage has arrived.”

Just then, Mu Ying’s voice could be heard.

There wasn’t much time.

‘I must return within ten days at minimum.’

That meant, generously speaking, five days for travel there and back.

Five days to pursue the fierce beast.

Ten days would be sufficient.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Mu Ying also followed behind me with a determined expression.

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* * *

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Meanwhile, Mu Ying was lost in thought as he watched Woo Jin’s back walking ahead.

‘What is it?’

It was difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was.

He was Woo Jin’s close guard, protecting him at the nearest distance.

Except for sleeping hours, he was the one who stayed with Woo Jin all day long.

Naturally, he was quicker than anyone to notice Woo Jin’s subtle changes.

‘He’s changed. Ever since he returned from the Extreme Pleasure House that time.’

Thinking about it, something had been strange since that day.

Originally, once Woo Jin set foot in the Extreme Pleasure House, he would book a room and lounge around for three or four days.

But that day, he suddenly left the Extreme Pleasure House after just one day like a madman, and had been wearing a serious expression ever since.

Moreover, he went to the Main Hall, which he had rarely visited before, and suddenly paid his respects to the family head.

He asked to keep watch over Foster Mother’s situation.

‘Is that all?’

He had even cut off his visits to the Extreme Pleasure House since that day.

Then he began frantically visiting the Training Ground as soon as he woke up, skipping breakfast and devoting himself to cultivation all day long.

Especially when Woo Jin was pressuring the guard at the Separate Residence.

‘Why did I do that?’

Mu Ying had felt overwhelmed by Woo Jin for a moment.

He had felt an eerie sensation that if left alone, Woo Jin might actually kill the guard at the Separate Residence.

That’s why, without even realizing it, he had unconsciously rushed toward the guard.

It seemed like if he had hesitated, Woo Jin really would have killed him.

‘Huh, let me focus.’

Mu Ying soon shook his head to clear away his thoughts.

What was important now was finding the fierce beast that had made the poison decoction, as Woo Jin had said.

If reported to the family, it would be a massive incident that could cause a bloodbath.

And at the center of it were Woo Jin and himself.

‘For now, I’ll focus on pursuing the fierce beast.’

In any case, such changes in Woo Jin were most welcome as a warrior.

Mu Ying silently followed behind Woo Jin.

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* * *

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The carriage ran without rest.

I had deliberately called for a four-horse carriage, and hired two coachmen as well.

The meaning was to run without stopping for even a moment, taking turns sleeping and driving.

Of course, the horses’ stamina wasn’t infinite, so we had to change horses once in between, but excluding that, we ran without rest and finally arrived in Shaanxi.

“Whew.”

The carriage arrived in Shaanxi’s capital city, Xi’an.

Unlike Nanchang in Jiangxi where the Zhu Family was located, it was bustling yet quite a dignified city.

It seemed to be because the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, a major sect, was located here.

Indeed, Taoist priests wearing Mount Hua Sect robes could be seen here and there throughout the area.

The carriage soon passed the main road and entered a quiet path.

My maternal family home could be seen in the distance.

Though not as large as the Zhu Family estate, a fairly large and elegant mansion came into view.

The carriage stopped, and after paying the coachmen their fare, I got off the carriage.

“Oh my? Who might this be? Isn’t this our Young Master Zhu?”

Just then, a servant who was entering the Yu Family estate saw me and came running over with a cheerful greeting.

“It’s been a while, Uncle Heo.”

“My goodness, how did you come all this way… Oh? Did you come alone?”

Uncle Heo.

I don’t know his name.

People just call him Uncle Heo, so I call him Uncle Heo too.

With a good-natured smile, he looked around the surroundings.

He seemed to be looking for Mother.

“Mother couldn’t come. She’s feeling a bit unwell.”

“Oh my, is that so. Come inside quickly. Quickly.”

Uncle Heo patted my back and stepped into the family estate.

“Huh? Who is this? Isn’t this Woo Jin?”

As soon as I crossed the main gate of the Yu Family Estate, familiar faces welcomed me.

It seemed there had been some trading business, as most were out.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

Na Baek-hwan, the eldest son of my great aunt Yu Seo-rin.

With his refined features, tall stature, and sturdy build.

My cousin brother resembled his father, the great warrior Na Jin-han, more than his mother.

“What brings you here? Where’s your mother?”

“Mother couldn’t come.”

“Really? Is she very ill? Sigh, she should be getting better by now.”

Mother’s illness was known throughout the maternal family.

Since she had always been frail, the Yu Family Estate had spent considerable money dedicating themselves to treating Mother’s condition.

“She’ll be fine soon. More importantly, what are you doing?”

“Ah, there’s a trading company departing on business today. I was just inspecting some goods.”

“You must be busy.”

“You can say that again. You should have sent word ahead. Then I would have set aside my work to wait, tsk.”

“Haha, I’d come running anytime you just say the word.”

“Right. Go on in. Great-grandfather will be very pleased.”

I smiled, bowed my head, and turned around.

My expression hardened fiercely as I turned away.

‘The fierce beast is here.’

Heavenly Central Trading Company.

Among them, I must find the one who gave Mother the medicine.

I looked around and entered the Main Hall where my great-grandfather was.

Naturally, investigating the trading company required permission from Yu Jang-baek, the family head.

For a merchant house to investigate a trading company was a matter directly connected to the merchant house’s honor.

I went straight to the Main Hall, and the servants made a fuss welcoming me.

They immediately guided me to where my great-grandfather was.

“Family Head, Young Master Zhu Woo Jin has arrived.”

At the servant’s words, sounds of commotion came from inside.

“Hehe, who did you say? Our youngest grandson, Woo Jin? Quickly, quickly tell him to come in!”

A welcoming voice could be heard.

I immediately opened the door and entered.

“Hahaha! Our Woo Jin! Come here! Come! Uhahaha!”

A bold great warrior.

My great-grandfather, whose nature was refreshingly straightforward and unrestrained, always pursuing natural emotions without pretense.

“It’s been a while, Great-grandfather. Have you been well?”

“Eh? Our youngest grandson knows how to give such proper greetings? You must have learned some manners while I wasn’t looking! Haha!”

Yu Jang-baek ran out barefoot and hugged me tight enough to nearly break me.

‘For a merchant house head, he’s incredibly strong… ugh.’

Such intense affection.

Of course, I didn’t dislike this.

I had received this overflowing love generously here, something I could never experience at the Zhu Family.

“Yes, yes, our grandson. Did you come alone? Your mother didn’t come?”

“Yes, next time I’ll definitely come together with Mother.”

“Good, good. Our grandson, have you eaten?”

Now fifteen years old.

Even though I’m not a little child, Great-grandfather still treats me like a baby.

“Yes, I ate something simple.”

“Really? Oh my, but why are you so thin? At your age, you should constantly eat and eat more to build up your body…”

Right, just as he says, our great-grandfather also has quite a build.

Of course, it’s not just flabby fat, but rather his frame itself feels thick and solid.

“Great-grandfather, actually I have a request, which is why I rushed here.”

“Hm? A request? What request? Do you need money?”

“No.”

I quickly shook my head.

I have quite a lot of spending money.

This was because Great-grandfather constantly sent me money without rest.

“Then what request? Tell me quickly. I’ll do anything for you.”

Yu Jang-baek patted my bottom with a pleased smile.

Could he really be that happy?

He has many grandchildren too, really.

“Is there a place called Heavenly Central Trading Company?”

“Heavenly Central Trading Company? Of course there is. Why do you ask?”

“I’d like to look into them.”

At my words, Yu Jang-baek’s expression changed.

Indeed, a family head is a family head.

He immediately sent eye signals to the servants, and they too caught on and quickly left the room.

“What’s the matter? With such a serious expression.”

“Something happened to Mother.”

“What! Something happened?”

“Yes. Someone gave Mother poison. There was a report from my close associates that the poison came from Heavenly Central Trading Company.”

“Those damn bastards…!”

Yu Jang-baek’s aura changed.

He openly displayed his anger and quietly suppressed his rage.

“It was Heavenly Central Trading Company? Who in Heavenly Central Trading Company?”

“I need to investigate. That’s why I need Great-grandfather’s permission.”

“Permission? Hmph, so Heavenly Central Trading Company dared to do such a thing to my daughter? I’ll go right now and those bastards…”

“You can’t, Great-grandfather.”

I urgently stopped Yu Jang-baek.

If he moved according to his hot-headed and rough nature, the Blood Hand Poison Emperor would definitely cut off his tail and flee.

I don’t think Heavenly Central Trading Company is the main body to begin with.

A tail that can be cut off at any time, truly a tail among tails.

That’s exactly what it is.

Following that tail to track down the Blood Hand Poison Emperor’s location and kill him.

That’s exactly what I want right now.

“I’ll catch them. If Great-grandfather moves, they’ll notice and flee.”

“…”

At those words, Yu Jang-baek, who had been pondering, soon nodded.

“Won’t you be in danger?”

“It’s fine. I brought reliable guards with me.”

“Alright, go investigate. If it’s certain that it was their doing, I’ll stake the Yu Family’s fate and erase their signboard from history.”

Yu Jang-baek is a merchant.

Sometimes, they say money stained with a merchant house’s anger is more frightening than the sword wielded by martial families.

One can appeal to emotions and hope for mercy from a blade, but money has a cruelty where one cannot hope for even a glimmer of hope.

And Yu Jang-baek had exceptional talent in wielding such money like a weapon.

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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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