Chapter 467 1: Young Master

The Divine Dynasty.

Taiyuan Prefecture.

After centuries of conquest, the Divine Dynasty now ruled over the Nine Provinces.

Compared to the vast Divine Dynasty, Taiyuan Prefecture was but a corner of the realm. Still, it was a sprawling land that supported millions of people.

It was dusk. The setting sun cast a crimson haze over the land, bathing everything in a soft, gentle glow.

In a forest outside the city.

A shabby carriage was parked at the edge of the woods. The driver clutched the reins, controlling a stubborn old horse. He kept glancing into the depths of the forest, his eyes betraying his anxiety and unease.

'Why aren't they out yet?'

'Just a ten-year-old kid, a scholar who's never even practiced Martial Arts. What's taking so long?'

"..."

His face etched with impatience, the driver jumped down from the carriage. He tied the reins to a random tree trunk and strode into the woods.

He had not gone far when a commotion reached his ears.

The clamor was punctuated by the sound of "THUD... THUD..." before it slowly died down. The driver's expression changed.

'Did something go wrong?'

SWISH!

He shot forward, dirt spraying from under his feet as he lunged like a nimble cheetah.

Even before he landed, the scene before him made his heart leap in shock.

Two people were locked in a standoff.

One of them was dressed like the driver, holding a long spear and staring at his opponent in utter astonishment.

The other was a boy of fourteen or fifteen. He had handsome features and a refined brow, but his face was deathly pale, as if he were recovering from a serious illness. He swayed on his feet, looking as though he might collapse at any moment.

Judging by his attire, the boy came from a well-off family. His clothes were woven from the finest silk, and the Jade Pendant at his waist was exceptionally clear and lustrous—no Mortal Grade item. For some reason, however, it was stained with dirt, obscuring its smooth gleam.

Two other men lay on the ground, but they had already breathed their last. The fatal wounds were the shallow cuts on their throats.

The driver's eyes swept over them, and his pupils contracted.

'Such ruthless methods!'

'Such precise technique!'

"Did you do this?"

He directed the last question at the boy.

"Who are you?"

Zhu Ju pressed a hand to his forehead. He swayed, staggering backward as he spoke in a faint voice:

"Why are you attacking me?"

This transmigration had been far more difficult than he'd imagined.

Despite the Heavenly Mirror's aid, he had been caught in the backlash while passing through the Immortal Array. His Physical Body had nearly disintegrated, leaving only a fragment of his former self to reach this world. He'd had no choice but to merge with this body.

He never would have thought that the moment he opened his eyes, he would see several vicious-looking men lunging at him, nearly causing him to perish completely.

"Boss," the man in the standoff said through gritted teeth.

"Be careful!"

"This little bastard was hiding his strength! Second Brother and Fourth Brother were careless and fell to him."

"Oh?" The driver strode forward, his eyes glinting.

"To kill Second and Fourth Brother while under the influence of Enchanting Fragrance... only someone who has entered the Grades of Martial Arts could do that."

"A kid like you has never practiced Martial Arts, and yet..."

SWISH!

Before he could finish, he suddenly charged forward like an arrow released from its bowstring.

In mid-air, he gave his arm a slight shake. The Soft Sword at his waist snapped straight with a RING, stabbing toward Zhu Ju's throat.

This strike embodied the essence of speed, precision, and ruthlessness.

At the same time, a cruel look appeared on his companion's face—Old Third. Stamping one foot on the ground, he thrust his long spear forward.

"Die!"

The sword and spear attacks converged, forming a deadly pincer. Not even the most agile monkey could have escaped.

Zhu Ju's eyes seemed unfocused. With a slight shudder of his swaying body, he left an afterimage in his place.

His dangling left hand drifted upward, and a dagger—more decorative than practical—slid out from his sleeve. His movement seemed slow, yet it perfectly intercepted the driver's path.

It was as if...

...the man had run straight onto the dagger in his hand.

THUNK!

The driver's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the dagger embed itself in his forehead. His charging body dropped straight to the ground.

He landed without a sound, as dead as could be.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ju's right hand, which had been resting on his brow, pressed down gently. The incoming spear was diverted, stabbing harmlessly to his side.

Old Third roared, gritting his teeth as he tried to halt his momentum, completely unaware of a small stone rolling to a stop by his feet.

His foot slipped.

He lost his balance and pitched forward, his chest landing squarely on a steel knife that had been plunged blade-up into the ground.

The bloodstained tip of the blade burst from his back. Old Third's body convulsed once, and then he too lost all signs of life, joining his brothers in death.

"Ngh!"

A stifled groan escaped Zhu Ju's lips. His face grew even paler as he staggered back two steps and slumped against a tree trunk. He gasped desperately for air, his consciousness fading.

'The Divine Dynasty?'

'Taiyuan Prefecture!'

'I'm not going to die here, am I?'

"Young Master!"

"Someone, quickly!"

"The Young Master is here!"

"..."

A familiar voice reached his ears, and a pair of anxious, concerned eyes came into view.

Memories from this body surfaced in his mind. Zhu Ju gave a faint smile.

It was Shuang'er.

His personal maidservant from the mansion.

*

*

*

Zhu Mansion.

The soft bedding slowly eased his frayed nerves.

Zhu Ju lay in bed, allowing the maidservant, Shuang'er, to press his acupoints while his consciousness sank into his Sea of Consciousness.

Due to the entanglement of Cause and Effect during his possession of the body, this body was also named Zhu Ju, the eldest young master of the Zhu Mansion.

Taiyuan Prefecture was famous for its sericulture and weaving.

The Zhu Family had built their legacy on weaving.

In Taiyuan Prefecture, the Zhu Family wasn't considered a prominent and powerful clan, but a century of accumulation had made them wealthy enough to pass riches down through generations.

The original 'Zhu Ju' had just turned fifteen. With his mother having passed away early, he was doted on by his father since childhood—truly born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Spoiled since he was young, his personality was inevitably a bit arrogant and willful. However, his original nature wasn't bad. He simply couldn't endure hardship, which was why he had made no accomplishments in Martial Arts, though he was quite insightful when it came to poetry and literature.

'The Heavenly Mirror's perception was correct. This world truly centers on tempering the Physical Body and the Cultivation of Martial Arts. However, the original owner of this body was just a Mortal and had never encountered any top-tier experts, so it's impossible to tell what the upper limits of Martial Arts in this world are.'

'The Nine Grades of Martial Arts...'

'Ninth Grade is the weakest and First Grade is the strongest. The original's father could shatter metal with a single palm, yet he was only an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist. By that logic, a First-Grade Expert should be at least at the Golden Core Realm. But for now, that's all just speculation and can't be taken as fact.'

'As the eldest young master of the Zhu Mansion, even without knowing any Martial Arts, he never ran into danger all these years. Now, a few petty thugs who haven't even entered the Grades were able to kidnap him. Where were the guards?'

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Zhu Ju slowly opened his eyes and asked:

"Did something happen to my father?"

"...Yes." Shuang'er was a pretty girl with delicate features. She was the personal maid who had grown up with the original Zhu Ju. Hearing his question, her expression changed. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and said:

"News came yesterday. While traveling outside the city, the Master was ambushed by bandits from the Celestial Eagle Thieves. He died at the hands of their third-in-command, Red Eagle Tong Zhixiang."

"Young Master, my condolences. Please take care of yourself."

"Hmph!" Zhu Ju snorted softly.

"My father just had his 'accident,' and now I'm attacked. Aren't they being a little too blatant?"

"Go!"

"Have someone notify a Steward from the Qingyi Gang. I want this matter thoroughly investigated!"

In this world, the Divine Dynasty reigned supreme, but the influence of the local Government Office was weak. Even taxes were collected by Martial World Sects. The Zhu Family were not only wealthy merchants; they were also affiliated with the Qingyi Gang.

When something happened, it was natural for the Qingyi Gang to handle it.

"Yes." Shuang'er acknowledged his order. She stopped pressing his acupoints, bowed respectfully, and began to withdraw.

She had only taken two steps back when the door was kicked open and someone rushed in.

A person with eyes as wide as Copper Bells pointed a finger at Zhu Ju on the bed.

"It's him!"

"I suspect this person has been possessed by a Demon and has lost his Primordial Spirit! My older brother has already been killed."

"I implore you, Senior, to use your power and execute this Demon!"

"Third Brother," Zhu Ju said, his eyes narrowing.

"Nice of you to show up."

"Don't call me Third Brother!" Zhu Ji waved his sleeve, his youthful face set in a strangely old and serious expression as he snapped:

"You're not my big brother at all! Zhu Ju was so weak he couldn't even tie up a chicken. It's impossible for him to have escaped from those villains!"