Chapter 12 : Trap set

—————Zhang Kun's pov————

RUSTLE RUSTLE

I ran into the forests of the Longhu kingdom after resupplying. I could feel doubt and exhaustion creep in, straining from the pain of my injuries.

I know something changed. Something has happened.

I could feel it in Dai Weisi's gaze and the hardened eyes of Zhu Zhuyun. It was disgusting to not know what, and I hate being this helpless. I knew it, my life was in danger.

It was almost like a beastly instinct.

Perhaps a side effect of my unknown cultivation I made, or the way I was absorbing the purple Qi was defective. I felt like a beast sometime.

This was the reason most soul masters couldn't rise without the support of a force. Without proper guidance, I couldn't even walk forward on the path of cultivation with confidence. I wondered my future fate when I finally make a mistake in my path.

"It is too soon to think about that."

It was a long way off, considering my current position.

WHISTLE

I watched as a normal hawk drifted towards me, carrying a message.

8o42ggr98fhuYEV*$BD(NON

It might seem like nonsense but for teacher and me, this was clear.

AI.

[Translating…

Mo Tian: I have packed up all the wealth and making my way to rendezvous with you in capital of Longhu. Be careful.]

Considering my position, I sent the teacher a message to evacuate just in case.

RUSTLE

I swung my hammer without pause, "3 gear: Rippling hammer."

The 1st hammer struck my 2nd hammer, which flew like a bullet and hit the source of sound.

BOOM

The hammer stuck through a tree and borrowed itself from something. I cautiously approached it to see a dead rabbit chewing on blue silver grass.

It felt eerie as fuck.

I felt that I was imagining too much and was strung thin, far too much. Especially after the harassment of the nobles in the last few days.

As I bent to pick the hammer with my free hands, my hair stood on ends. Before I could know it, I was punched into the air like a cannonball.

THUCK THUCK

As I felt the taste of iron in my mouth, another blow came without pause as my flight changed paths.

THUCK THUCK

BANG

BANG

Again and again, even as I fell to the ground, the blows came. I knew it, this speed and control of power, it was a soul emperor.

The sounds of boots were heard as I looked at the source. "Well, well. It seems that the saying is true afterall-'Karma strikes true'"

I snorted and said, "I am no evil master for the karma to target me, and you are no saint, Prince Dai Huo."

He shook his head at my answer. The crowd of followers that surrounded him grew angrier. But the reply came from the soul emperor guard beside him.

CRACK

I felt it.

My right leg was broken into pieces.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."

"Shut up and listen, kid."

Dai Huo walked forward and fell into his seat - me.

"AGH."

Just the weight of him on my chest made me unable to breathe and suffocate.

"You have been very naughty, trash. You think that some damaged reputation will end me? No, in fact, this will blow over in a few months."

I chuckled at that despite the pain. "I want to see how fucking the minister's wife can be blown over."

He said, "Because my surname is Dai."

The sheer confidence and power he had when saying enough to prove the influence of the Dai family on the Star Luo empire.

From the top to bottom, laws, positions and even the framework of the Star Luo Empire are centered on nurturing the Dai family and ensuring that the empire was following the Dai Family and crushing any threat in the bud for the Dai Family.

A saying is famous in the empire-The only threat to the Dai Family is another member of the Dai Family.

It meant that except for civil wars or struggle for the throne, the members of royalty never lost their life in any other conflicts throughout history.

"…..So, I could go back and continue to fuck her. It doesn't matter."

I realized I had zoned out from his explanation but couldn't bother with it when he said, "It is a pity. If I met you first, I would have recruited you. I am sure that I would have been better than my brother."

I nodded at those words. It is without doubt he looked after people well, even more than Dai Weisi. Especially since he doesn't have the constraints from noble influence.

I asked him, "Prince Dai Huo, how about you let me go?"

"HAHHAAAHAHHAAAAAAA."

He laughed for a long time, or maybe a short time. I couldn't know because the pain was too much.

"You seriously expect me to release you and forget everything."

I nodded at that and said groggily, "Yeah. Because I plan to bribe you.."

"Oh! What are you going to bribe the prince of the empire with?"

I felt my mind clear. "Obviously the Throne."

I thought he would go on another rant or laugh, but he became focused and asked me, "How?"

So, he really wants the throne. Well, it was his only path. After all, failure meant death. At least on Dai Mubai's case, the empress and Zhu family would ensure a way out.

I said, "How about I can give you the support of all the nobles who stood with prince Dai Weisi during our spar? I am sure that I can make them loyal to you. Even better, I can ensure they will never bow down to Dai Weisi till their last breadth."

That got whispers in his followers while the prince who was sitting on my chest got up and looked at me in the eye. My serious look must have gotten him as he said, "It is far too tempting."

SIGH

"But, it's too late."

I nodded and said, "Yes, it's too late. Not for me, but for you, prince Dai Huo."

I watched as the prince's eyes dilate in sheer fear while the soul emperor guard moved in front of him.

"ATTACK."

Zhu Wan's shout resounded through the clearing as he attacked Prince Dai Huo's guards while the noble kids and tracker teams who followed him attacked Dai Huo's people.

I possessed my martial soul and caught the legs of Dai Huo and pulled him down to my level like a pro.

With a fierce lunge, I bit down on his throat. My claws tore through clung to his flesh as the battle raged around us.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,"

The shout was music to my pain filled ear, "Isn't it funny? You were played like a clown because of your emotional self. All this for what? Lust and pride. It has gotten you into this position, Prince Dai Huo. If you had controlled them, you would have been better than Prince Dai Weisi just based on your sheer charisma and broad mind in choosing merit among followers. I guess, not everyone is perfect."

"NO, NO, Noooo."

I watched as he screamed in despair as his followers being killed, captured or admitting defeat. I dragged him away, dragging his injured body and my body with a limping leg.

"You, release Prince Dai Huo."

Fortunately, the loyal follower couldn't get near me, Ju Lian tore him apart and gave me an impressed nod. "Zhang Kun, I really thought we were coming to kill you. But we are here to decide the Emperor of Star Luo Empire."

Fancy way of saying that they were here to kill Dan Huo. Whatever, Ju Lian was always weird, blending into the nobles as he spent time with them.

I dragged the cationic Dai Huo out, who kept muttering, "No, no, no, no."

I said to him while I took my seat as we observed the distant battle, no, slaughter. Even Dai Huo's soul emperor looked like he was about to be done in.

"You know, in order to fool you, Dai Weisi even used the noble kids as the attack force. Deceiving you with the fact that the pampered noble kids might never risk their life. Yes, they won't but they had no say in the matter. Dai Weisi was ready to sacrifice them to lure you into a trap. Even the torment I had the past few days was allowed by him to lure you. To think that was all it took to lure you out. I am unimpressed, prince Dai Huo. I am really unimpressed."

"YOU, I WILL KILL YOU."

BAM

In response to his threat, my punch knocked a few of his teeth loose.

I said to him, "Now it is time for me to fulfil the reason I dragged you all the way here. I am sorry, prince Dai Huo, I have too little innate soul power. So, I have to make do with the soul bone for strength. After all, you broke my leg."

With that my Hammer came down.

"NOOOOOOOOO"

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[Zhang Kun

Age: 11 years, 3 months

Martial soul: Tiger

Spiritual Power: Spirit Origin

Soul Power: 20

Self-made soul skill : Rippling wave

1st soul ring [900]: ice control

Equipment: Spirit refined Magic silver hammers, Heavy silver hammers-Thousand refined [Blood sacrificed],

Wind tiger Left leg soul bone [20000]: Skill- Legs of Wind.

Occupation: advanced Blacksmith]

I felt like bursting out in happiness as my legs healed from the soul bone fusion.

As expected of a prince, a 20000-year-old soul bone. I wonder if the other two princes possessed similar level soul bones.

Of course they did. In the struggle for the throne, the winner gets all the soul bones from the princes and completes a set of soul bones. Cruel and efficient, as expected of the Star Luo empire.

I went back to the clearing to see that Dai Huo's people were held hostage, and Dai Weisi's group had already started the recruitment speech.

While the struggle ended, politics continue. The winners would squeeze the profits from the losers. As the unlucky few who died, well, they were unlucky.

But, even so, except Dai Lu, most of the noble kids were alive and well. After all, the focus of killing had been the servants and protectors of the kids.

I was more than a dozen soul ancestors, 3 soul kings and one soul emperor died now. Ironic, the weak soul grandmasters and elders got off with few injuries, while the stronger ones died. This was the royal conflict and the power of politics.

Zhu Wan came back from his own fight battered and looked me in the eye and asked, "Where is the prince?"

I shrugged and crushed the hopeful gazes of Dai Huo's followers by showing my new soul bone skill, "Legs of wind."

Just like that, the soul bone lit up, and I felt my soul power move automatically and felt wind gathering around my legs. With a single step, I danced across the air.

Dai Weisi's followers, at least the surviving ones, roared in happiness.

While they might have been initially angry since Dai Weisi used them to deceive Dai Huo, now they were happy. Because they have the favour of the future emperor by killing his rival for the throne.

Afterall, the risk was so insane they wouldn't dare attempt it normally, it was already over. Now they had the juicy reward to enjoy.

Really, not even a single person even considers Dai Mubai as a emperor. Poor guy.

SMACK

I felt the playful smack on my back as Ju Lian said, "Damn it. I was really deceived by your plans. Damnit, to think all of it is a play."

I shook my head and solemnly said, "No, not even a single incident in the last few days was false. It was because all of them are true that the plan succeeded."

THe listeners gulped in fright at that. I remember them all and I would not forget.

It was while going back towards the empire that I still felt uneasy.

Concubine Mu's revenge would come, but with time her faction's power will dissolve without her son as the flagship. Then a single soul saint, even if it was a food soul master, could be crushed easily by the nobles themselves.

Not to forget her rival, Empress.

Perhaps, the emperor would come forward to protect his wife. But, even won't let her roam free. Over the span of centuries, the empire's laws and methods evolved to deal with such situations. According to the past precedents, concubine Mu would be imprisoned in the Dai Family house. After all, letting her roam free, meant that the heir to the empire would die.

Cruel royal struggles.

SNORT

I felt like laughing, looking at Dai Huo followers promising alliances on their clan's behalf or willing to be spies for the Dai Weisi's group.

Against whom, it was obvious. It was against other noble factions and the royal family itself.

Politics, it was overflowing and never ending.

Since one round of the politics ended, another round begins.

This phase was between the future emperor and nobility.

It would continue until the next struggle for the throne.

It was not a thing for me to care about since I would be the direct subordinate of the emperor.

Now, I proved my loyalty to him without doubt, so I could see the secret knowledge of the Dai family that would grant to me as soon as Dai Weisi ascended the throne.

This knowledge was important enough for me to set aside my pride, to provide such miserable service, and risk everything.

You would be surprised how tough it is to truly delve into the martial soul and soul skills. For example, if you want to use a fire attribute soul skill, how does one's soul power flow to show the best effect? That too in the safest way? I did't want to burn myself down while experimenting.

If not fire, then there were still water, thunder......…

If I want to explore it all on my own, it would take thousands of years.

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I didn't expect the knowledge so soon.

Currently, we were in the Yanjin town of Longhu kingdom, bordering Star Luo Empire. We were greeted with the sight of a guest during our walk back.

Zhu Zhuyun met us on the road and Zhu Wan naturally went behind her while the noble kids and prisoners started congratulating her.

"Congrats, Princess."

"What princess? You should call her crown princess."

"Sh! Idiot, she is the next empress. We know, but don't break the taboo."

It went on for a while until she came towards and gave me a storage artifact. The moment I opened it; I saw books and books.

Curious, I opened one of them and saw knowledge on how to balance oneself when using a fire attribute energy overflow in my right hand. Apparently, sending soul power to spleen, liver and lungs will help..

If all of them were the same value, then this was the secret knowledge I worked very hard for.

I felt a chill go down my spine and my feet trembled in fear as Zhuyun said, "Aren't you happy, Zhang Kun? This is the knowledge of the Dai family, the genuine kind, not the semi-open knowledge given to you before."

The idiots looked at me with envy, not realizing the danger we were in.

I helplessly said, "What's the use of knowledge for a dying man, Zhu Zhuyun? So, will Zhu Wan will be the one to kill us all, or did you bring someone else?"

SWISH

The deathly silence that followed was broken by Zhu Zhuyun's chuckle. "No silly. Why would I kill you?"

I shook my head and said, "No offense, Zhu Zhuyun. I don't think Dai Weisi would even grant this knowledge even after he attained the throne. Much less now. I don't think I am wrong about thinking like that, considering his petty and greedy nature. The only reason I did this task for not the distinct possibility but the safe backing of future emperor. But, now I hold this knowledge. Perhaps, if it came with a marriage proposal to marry into Zhu or Dai family, I would not be so sure. But, now, I am sure that I was a dead man walking."

Ju Lian gulped and stammered out, "Z-Z-Zh-Zhang Kun, what a-are you doing? Stop i-insulting the prince."

I shook my head at him and pointed to the noble kids and the tracker unit who had already taken a circle around Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Wan. Some even went to the extent of opening the ropes on the prisoners.

Zhu Wan gave a disdainful huff that sent an explosive wave of soul power that sent everyone flying.

WHOOOSH

THUCK THUCK THUCK THUCK THUCK

Idiots.

Zhu Zhuyun probably had the same thought, but she was eligible to speak it out, "Idiots."

She turned towards me and said, "I am not the one coming to kill you. Rather, it is concubine Mu who has gotten every single one of your names and appearances, including your location."

Considering she came all the way to give us a warning; it was not her or Dai Weisi who leaked the information.

After all, the people here make up a significant portion of Dai Weisi's support.

Who the fuck has the guts to offend the next emperor?

Most importantly, I have another question: "Why do you take the trouble to warn us?"

"Dai Huo."

I see. She absolutely hated him. So, she was more or less returning a favour.

"I have given Zhang Kun my gift, and thanks. This is my gift for you, Ju Lian."

With a wave of her hands, someone put forth two tied men in front of Ju Lian. Such speed. It might even be a soul saint. Fuck, an unknown soul saint in the service of the royal family.

The tied-up men's identity, no, precisely the identity of the man and women drew a shout from Ju Lian, "Father. Mother."

As he untied them.

It felt like something that eluded me till now clear up.

"FUCK."