Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 101

The moon is bright in the sky. Under its glow, a group of men in black move swiftly through the night.

Each of them carries a short dagger, faces hidden beneath black scarves. Their leader, tall and sharp-eyed, looks back and nods to a masked subordinate.

They quickly scatter. Although they know Chen Hou is here, they don’t know which dormitory or tent he is in.

So they split up and search separately.

One of the men, their leader, approaches a tent with dagger in hand.

No entrance?

He pauses, confused for a moment, then circles the tent twice until he notices a wrinkle in the material.

He reaches out carefully, feeling along the seam. His brows draw together. He can’t name it, but he can tell that the structure is highly sophisticated—something he’s neither seen nor heard of before.

Since he can’t find a way in, he presses the blade against the fabric, ready to cut it open.

But just as the tip of the knife nears the tent, something cold touches the back of his head.

He freezes. It feels like a spear.

Then comes a pleasant voice—so gentle it conjures images of wind, moonlight, and nobility. The kind of voice you’d expect from a man of great integrity.

But the assassin has no time to appreciate it. He knows instantly that the other party has been waiting for them all along—they’ve walked right into a trap.

Cursing himself internally for his stupidity, he speaks, “Why don’t you take one more step forward?”

Ye Zhou is intrigued. “You’re about to die, and you’re still this calm?”

Ye Zhou raises a hand and snaps his fingers sharply.

He originally thinks there will be a real fight. But everything turns out to be much simpler.

It isn’t the enemy coming to assassinate them.

They are the ones luring the enemy into the trap.

In an instant, lights flare on. The courtyard lights up like day. All the men in black are exposed in the harsh beams.

Chen Hou arrives late, bundled in a heavy coat. Unlike Ye Zhou, he has been resting indoors under heavy guard.

He nearly stumbles coming down the steps. Once he steadies himself, he is stunned by what he sees—The same “employees” who joked with him at the “supermarket” now stand with cold expressions, each holding a piece of metal to an assassin’s head. Even the most delicate-looking woman holds one firmly.

But that isn’t what shocks him most. It’s the lights.

They pierce the darkness, even brighter than daylight—so bright it hurts the eyes.

Chen Hou instinctively raises a hand to shield himself. He rushes to Ye Zhou’s side, but before he can speak, he sees the man Ye Zhou has at gunpoint.

He freezes.

Those eyes and brows—he knows them.

Hands trembling, he steps closer and pulls down the man’s black scarf.

A familiar face appears. Chen Hou looks as though he’s been punched in the chest. After several breaths, he finally speaks, voice trembling. “Why, A’ru? Why? You are my brother!”

A’ru looks at his “brother” and sneers, “We weren’t born of the same mother—what brotherhood is there? Ridiculous!”

Chen Hou says, “We have the same father. That makes us brothers!”

A’ru laughs bitterly. “You were born of the Marquis’ wife—you were always destined to be the prince. I was born of a palace maid—a slave from birth. And you speak of brotherhood? Aren’t you afraid Father will climb out of his grave and beat you to a pulp?” His laughter fades. Calmly, he says, “Enough. Since things have come to this, just give me a quick death for the sake of that so-called brotherhood.”

Chen Hou draws a deep breath. “Who sent you?”

A’ru presses his lips into a firm line and lifts his chin slightly. Though he is a prisoner, his gaze is contemptuous—as if Chen Hou isn’t even worth his attention.

“Your Majesty,” A’ru says, “there’s no need to ask. I failed. That means I die.”

Ye Zhou has been confused, but now he understands.

This is the Warring States period. It is a slave society. In such a system, children follow their mother’s status. It isn’t like later times, when noble sons can elevate their mothers’ rank—here, a mother’s status determines the child’s fate.

A Marquis’ wife gives birth to a prince.

A palace maid gives birth to a slave.

A’ru has been born a slave. To protect him, his mother sent him out of the palace to do hard labor. Later, Chen Hou found him and brought him back—but he is still just a slave.

Ye Zhou thinks, if it were him, he might not have felt gratitude either. Maybe he would’ve hated him.

If you’re going to leave me in the dark, then let me stay ignorant. I’ll live and die a slave.

Or—if you find me, take me away, and let me stand tall as a free man.

But instead, you tell me: we have the same father, you are the king, yet I am your slave. You found me, brought me back, and kept me as a slave—in the name of brotherhood?

So A’ru doesn’t wither in silence—he explodes in silence.

Ye Zhou puts away the gun. He can tell Chen Hou doesn’t want to kill A’ru.

Sure enough, Chen Hou looks at A’ru for a long time in silence before finally saying, “Take him away. Lock him up.”

A’ru suddenly laughs and looks up. “Your Majesty, do you really think I’m the only one who doesn’t want you to return? How many ‘loyal’ ministers are there in court? Everyone has selfish desires. Everyone’s greedy.”

Chen Hou finally loses his composure. He roars, “Enough, A’ru! How have I wronged you? Yes, you’re a slave—but what could I do?! There’s no precedent in Chen State for a slave to become a commoner! I fed you, clothed you, taught you to read and write. Even as a slave, you lived better than noble sons. How have I wronged you?!”

A’ru shouts back, “Did I ask for any of that?! Did you ever ask me what I wanted?! I’d rather still be that slave who didn’t know a single word! Who knew nothing, understood nothing! Reading?!” A’ru laughs maniacally. “May I ask, Your Majesty—what does reading do for me? If I read ten thousand volumes on war, can I become a general? What’s the use of reading? What?! All it does is remind me that once a slave, always a slave!”

Chen Hou shouts, “Take him away! Drag him out!”

Chen Yan steps forward with men and takes A’ru away.

Ye Zhou watches as Chen Hou bends over, clutching his chest, breathing heavily.

He says calmly, “Everyone’s gone, Marquis Chen. No need to act.”

Marquis Chen freezes.

Ye Zhou walks over, gently pats his back, and speaks in a soft tone: “You want me to think you’re a virtuous and benevolent ruler. But I believe virtuous rulers don’t make good kings.”

Chen Hou turns to look at him.

Ye Zhou doesn’t look away. He smiles faintly and says, “Being a righteous man isn’t easy. In the end, all your so-called virtues will turn into chains that bind you. If that’s not who you really are as a person, don’t pretend to be. Otherwise, the moment someone sees through you—betrayal comes faster than you think.” He pats Chen Hou on the shoulder. “Get some sleep. Talk to me tomorrow if you have anything to say.”

With that, Ye Zhou turns away. He gives Wu Yan a look.

Wu Yan pulls the trigger.

The first gunshot falls—and then comes another, and another.

All the assassins are gunned down. None are spared—except A’ru.

As Ye Zhou turns and unzips his tent, he looks back at the pale-faced Chen Hou and says, “I don’t like being lied to. Marquis Chen, you should understand that.”

Then he walks into the tent.

The other employees quietly put away their weapons and return to their own tents.

Only Zou Ming stays behind. He walks up to Chen Hou and whispers something into his ear.

Chen Hou’s eyes widen in shock. As Zou Ming turns to leave, Chen Hou collapses to the ground.

The nearby soldiers hesitate, unsure if they should help him.

Only when Zou Ming enters Ye Zhou’s tent does Chen Hou brace a hand on the ground, wave the soldiers away, and slowly rise to his feet.

His face is deathly pale as he stumbles back up the steps.