Chapter 74 - Zo

"That's what you get for treating me like trash. Next time, don't just assume who someone is just based of the cloths they wear," Julius told the people at the market.

…

"But master Julius. Everyone does it. It's not just us but everyone in your kingdom and the other 8 kingdoms. The poor get looked upon as they should. Why do you choose to defend them?" One of them asked as they continued to bow to the prince.

"I see, you're more far gone that I thought. You genuinely believe that a person's worth is dependent on their wealth," Julius said as he smacked his head in disappointment.

"But isn't it that way? Why should a person who contributes less to the economy be viewed as the same as someone who runs a business which helps a kingdom develop?" another one of the people asked Julius which left him speechless for a moment before he answered.

"While a person might be more valuable to a kingdom, or doesn't give them the right to treat others like trash. Everyone can be killed by someone else. Not a single person can escape death, so why do you bother with ranking each other based on wealth and status when you're all the same in death's eyes," Julius replied before leaving after the people had no answer for him.

"Wait master Julius," the salesman said before Julius could leave.

"Yes?" Julius replied.

"If Zo doesn't get her payment for the blade infused with the monster core, she's surely come after you," said the salesman as he tries to warn the prince.

"Master Jun, do you know who this person names Zo is?" Julius asked his master.

"Oh yes. I've heard of her numerous times. She's actually quite famous. She was at one time a candidate to be the next captain of the royal guards for one of the 9 kingdoms however she was defeated by the current captain and after that day, she ran off to gain strength. Of course now she's much stronger than that captain since Zo has more time to train so normally or would be good to stay out of her way, however I think it would be good experience for you to face off against her, but try not to go for the kill too quickly," said Jun out loud as the two left the market with Julius haven taken the dagger as compensation for the way he was treated.

The two of them got on the jade dragon before going back to the mountain to continue with their casual training until Zo would arrive to confront them. That would come much sooner as only 2 days after the star market incident, a hooded figure arrived at Jun's house with a small blade in hand.

"Where is Julius?" Zo asked as she pointed her dagger at Jun's throat after he had opened the door to her after she knocked.

"You've already made it. We've been expecting you, please follow me," said Jun as he calmly moved the dagger away from his throat and began to walk towards the end of the mountain before jumping off of it with Zo following suit.

"Julius! Zo has come," said Jun as he called out to his student which came walking towards the two hid his menacing aura enveloping Zo as if it was darkness itself. Nevertheless, Zo was prepared to face off against Julius who would be so arrogant as to steal from her.

"Please don't hold back against me," said Julius as he bowed down so that she would fulfil his request which she found puzzling. Zo was a tall woman which stood a little taller than Mary. She was relatively slim and had a smooth face but had eye bags probably from not getting any sleep due to her battles with monsters. Her weapon of choice was a small dagger much similar to that which Julius had stolen from her.

"Don't worry, I don't intend to. I don't fear your kingdom nor its people. You're nothing but a slimy thief to me," said Zo as she got into a fighting stance while Julius took off his weighted cloths.

Zo allowed Julius to make the first move out of pity however that would a fatal flaw. Julius took once step forward and just a moment later, he had disappeared from her line of vision. For some reason Zo felt as if she was getting chocked by a snake. Before she had realized it, Julius had managed to wrap his legs around her neck and managed to point the same dagger which he stole from her at her head before letting go of her seeing as she was hopeless to escape.

Once let go of, Zo began to breathe heavily as she tried to catch her breath and begin to even understand what ha just happened.

"Nice one Julius, where did you even learn to do that?" Jun asked his student.

"Oh that's right, I never got to show off my techniques until now. I learned a bunch of fighting styles when I was left to train for 3 months. I guess it really payed off," said Julius as he smiled before looking down at Zo who had her own blade pointed to her heart.

"I, Zo Yun shall take my own life as I have disgraced myself by allowing myself to get defeated by a mere child, no less a child of a great kingdom," said Zo as she almost stabbed her self.

"No!" said Julius as he rushed and slapped the blade out of Zo's hand.

"Zo, you said that you no king cared for the great kingdoms right? If that's the case, join me and become my comrade, not as a comrade of the prince but a comrade of Julius!" Julius said as he helped Zo get on her feet which reluctantly accepted as she had been spared by him and that was the least she could do for him.

"So what do you want me to do? Become your servant of something just like the maids at your castle?" Zo asked.

"No, why would I waste your power on something like that.. I want you to become part of my army when I start a kingdom of my own!" Julius said as he brought light into Zo's eyes.