Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 10
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 10】
Chapter 10: Bloodline is Intriguing (1)
Starting the day after, intensive training within the Kwon Family began in earnest.
True to the Heukcheon Group’s reputation as a global enterprise and master of East Asia, the training methodology was anything but ordinary.
More than twenty trainers and physicians formed a dedicated team, moving solely for Kwon Han-ul’s benefit.
Several figures I’d heard mentioned in the media were present.
Cutting-edge scientific technology was employed to comprehend every aspect of my physiology, identifying the optimal training methods.
Once training concluded, dedicated sports massage therapists would attend to me, loosening my tightened muscles and applying expensive medicinal compounds to systematically restore my body according to a meticulous plan.
‘This is the sort of treatment only top-tier Hunters receive.’
I’d heard that even the elite Hunters who stood at the center of the Guild received similar treatment.
Both qualitatively and quantitatively, my advantages far surpassed theirs.
The astronomical costs were obvious, yet the Heukcheon Group was not the type to begrudge such expenditures.
‘No wonder Hunters invest such considerable sums—there’s genuine merit to it.’
Having a dedicated team exclusively for myself proved far more remarkable than I’d anticipated.
My stats climbed daily, and with the added effects of the Healthy Blood and the Jade Stone, the pace accelerated dramatically.
I even had to deliberately suppress my stat growth to avoid drawing attention.
‘Revealing the Healthy Blood would serve no purpose.’
The Healthy Blood was a trump card to be concealed until the very end. Exposure would bring nothing but trouble.
After physical training, I invariably visited Yong Hyun Moo Go, where I struck wooden dummies to increase my proficiency with the Ascending Dragon Heavenly Ascension Technique.
‘Skill progression is measured in grades, denoted by stars.’
From 1-star to 10-star.
Beyond that lay the Extreme Star grade, known as the transcendent stage.
‘To debut in a Platinum-tier Dungeon, I must master the Ascending Dragon Heavenly Ascension Technique up to 7-star.’
I devoted more time and effort to the Ascending Dragon Heavenly Ascension Technique than to physical training.
Physical abilities could be elevated quickly thanks to the Healthy Blood and Jade Stone, but skills required only one method—extensive practice.
‘Fortunately, I have the title effect of Yong Hyun Moo Go.’
With this title, skill proficiency growth within Yong Hyun Moo Go increased by up to fifty percent.
Thanks to this, I could rapidly elevate my skill proficiency.
During those relentlessly busy days, it happened.
“Kwon Han-ul, we will begin instruction today.”
Joo Ha-yeon spoke to me. I responded with confusion.
“Instruction? I’ve already received sufficient training….”
“Now that your body is adequately conditioned, it is time to cultivate your inner self.”
“My inner self?”
Joo Ha-yeon nodded and continued.
“A member of the Heukcheon bloodline must possess dignity and refinement befitting their station.”
A chill ran down my spine. I looked at Joo Ha-yeon with an expression of disbelief.
“Starting today, you’ll be attending classes in etiquette and manners, as well as languages and humanities.”
Good heavens.
My face drained of all color.
* * *
Needless to say, I had lived my entire life keeping my distance from studying.
I had only received compulsory education, and after that, I had done nothing but work as a Hunter.
What a Hunter needed to know was how to kill monsters, not trivial things like English vocabulary.
But now, studying?
Chills ran down my spine.
‘I never expected to encounter an ambush from such an unexpected direction… Truly, becoming a member of the Heukcheon bloodline is no simple matter.’
Huh? Wait, this…?
Yet when I actually began, it turned out to be quite manageable.
“Kwon Han-ul, your memory is remarkably sharp.”
No, it was more than manageable.
“…You’ve already memorized all of it?”
I absorbed everything Joo Ha-yeon taught me like a sponge. I even got every question she posed correctly on the spot.
Complex dining etiquette, greeting customs from various nations—I memorized them all after seeing them just once.
I mastered not only rote memorization subjects but also fields requiring practical application.
Now that I thought about it, throughout my entire life, I had never faced difficulties due to poor memory or insufficient comprehension.
Perhaps my talents lay not in my body, but in my mind.
“It seems you would have accomplished something remarkable even if you weren’t a Hunter, Kwon Han-ul.”
Even as flattery, it was an embarrassing thing to hear. I picked up the teacup Joo Ha-yeon had offered and spoke.
“It must be because the tea is so beneficial.”
With those words, I took a sip. Along with the refreshing aroma, messages materialized before me.
【’Healthy Blood’ detects the food!】
【This is food with remarkable properties!】
【Detoxification increases by 0.5!】
【Poison resistance increases by 0.5!】
A brew made from the tender shoots of the World Tree sapling.
I had been drinking this tea regularly these days.
It wasn’t just the tea. I had specially requested the mansion’s chef to prepare only foods beneficial for detoxification.
It was to build tolerance in preparation for consuming the Imoogi’s inner core.
‘My current detoxification is 5. Poison resistance is 6.’
To what extent did I need to raise my detoxification and poison resistance to consume the Imoogi’s inner core?
I couldn’t say with certainty.
I could only sense it.
The True Black Dragon Bloodline kept warning me that it was still insufficient.
Yet Kwon Han-ul remained untroubled. It was merely a matter of time, after all.
“Kwon Han-ul, you have an incoming call.”
“Don’t tell me it’s Kwon Ji-seok?”
“That’s correct.”
He wasn’t particularly keen on dealing with that man, but curiosity stirred within him about the purpose of the call.
Besides, there was something he wanted to confirm.
“Connect the call.”
Joo Ha-yeon extended the wireless phone to him. The moment he answered, Kwon Ji-seok’s bellowing voice erupted from the receiver.
-Hey! Why did you take so long to answer!
“I was ignoring it. You should be grateful I picked up at all.”
-What, what did you say? How dare you talk back to me….
“More importantly, shouldn’t you offer me congratulations?”
-What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?
Kwon Han-ul spoke to the bewildered Kwon Ji-seok.
“You haven’t heard? I’ve mastered all twelve techniques of the Black Dragon at Yong Hyun Moo Go.”
Suddenly, the other end of the line fell silent. Kwon Han-ul’s lips curved upward in a smirk at the reaction he’d anticipated.
There was no way he wouldn’t have heard.
The rumor that Kwon Han-ul had mastered all twelve techniques of the Black Dragon and achieved a complete victory against a mixed-blood had already spread throughout the entire Kwon Family.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? The line hasn’t disconnected, has it?”
-….
“Though I suppose the second son of the illustrious Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk wouldn’t be at a loss for words.
Joo Ha-yeon beside him looked deeply flustered, her expression clearly asking whether his personality had always been this terrible.
-Stop, stop acting so full of yourself over nothing!
“Oh, so it was nothing after all? Then surely you’ve also mastered all the secret techniques?”
Silence descended once more. Since it was perfect for needling him, but the conversation wouldn’t progress this way, Kwon Han-ul moved on.
“So what’s the purpose of your call?”
-You! Did you receive the inner core of the water serpent from grandfather this time?
“Yes, I did.”
-Sell it to me.
“I refuse.”
Kwon Han-ul rejected it outright.
There existed in this world items that could not be obtained even with hundreds of millions of gold.
The inner core of the water serpent was precisely such an item. Only a fool would sell it for money.
-Think straight. The water serpent’s inner core carries toxins, so it absolutely must be detoxified. And detoxifying something like a water serpent’s inner core is no trivial matter.
“Then do you possess a method to detoxify the toxins?”
-Of course I do. Why else would I be telling you this?
Kwon Ji-seok’s voice was brimming with confidence.
Kwon Han-ul inwardly marveled. Indeed, even rotten fish was still fish—the direct bloodline of the Kwon Family possessed considerable reserves of power.
“Still, I have no intention of selling it.”
-What? Hey! Have you lost your mind!
“I’m not insane, so I’m not selling it. Isn’t that right?”
-This bastard really!
Eventually, as blood rushed to his head, Kwon Ji-seok began to rage.
-That’s been a treasure I’ve coveted since the old days! So I finally found a way to neutralize it. And you took it from me!
“You should have found it faster.”
-And listen here! That was discovered by our Heukcheon Group! It’s not something a nobody like you should possess!
Kwon Han-ul’s eyes filled with irritation.
Despite awakening the Black Dragon Bloodline and acquiring the secret technique, Kwon Ji-seok still treated Kwon Han-ul as an outsider.
-Shut up and give me your account number right now. If you don’t….
“Kwon Ji-seok, your words just now are quite unpleasant to hear.”
Suddenly, Joo Ha-yeon interjected. She spoke toward Kwon Ji-seok on the other end of the phone.
“A nobody like him? When you think about it, that inner core rightfully belongs to Kwon Han-ul. Wasn’t it Kwon Cheon, Kwon Han-ul’s father, who defeated the water demon and obtained the inner core?”
-W-wait, Ha-yeon, how dare you speak to me so boldly….
Kwon Ji-seok’s voice trembled with shock.
But the shock he received was nothing compared to what Kwon Han-ul felt.
-B-but that inner core was obtained by that traitor, yes, but he gave it as a gift to grandfather! It’s no longer relevant!
Kwon Ji-seok rebutted Joo Ha-yeon’s words, unaware of how pathetic he sounded.
-A-anyway, hand it over to me! You can’t even consume it anyway! So entrust it to someone who can do it properly!
Kwon Han-ul felt exasperated. He needed to ask about Kwon Cheon soon. He couldn’t keep dealing with Kwon Ji-seok forever.
“What will you do if I absorb the inner core?”
-Stop spouting nonsense and hand it over!
“Now that I think about it, I recall you saying something similar before. That I wouldn’t be able to acquire the secret technique at Yong Hyun Moo Go.”
A third silence descended. This time it was somewhat shorter.
-Y-you bastard! Are you mocking me?
Kwon Ji-seok unleashed his fury.
-If you’re so confident, why don’t you try absorbing it this time!
“What will you do if I do?”
-Ha! Then I’ll do whatever you ask! Though you’ll probably drop dead right after absorbing it anyway!
“Don’t be so vague about it. Let’s make this clear. If I succeed in absorbing the water demon’s inner core, you must unconditionally grant me one request.”
-Fine! I’ll do it! But only if you actually succeed in absorbing that inner core!
Bang.
The call ended with a loud noise. Kwon Han-ul handed the phone back to Joo Ha-yeon and asked.
“So my father was the one who obtained the water demon’s inner core?”
Joo Ha-yeon sighed deeply as if she had made a mistake.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Why did you keep it secret?”
“It was the Chairman’s order.”
And she added.
“Do you remember when I mentioned that there are often bloodline members who make their debut in Platinum-tier Dungeons?”
Kwon Han-ul nodded.
“One of them was Kwon Cheon. And the monster that emerged from the Dungeon where he made his debut was a water dragon.”
It was simply astonishing.
‘…My father cleared a Platinum-rank Dungeon alone?’
Even within the Heukcheon Group, soloing a Platinum-rank Dungeon was a rare feat—something that happened only “occasionally.”
Yet one of those rare individuals was his own father, Kwon Cheon.
‘What kind of man was my father, truly?’
Since arriving at the Heukcheon Group, this was the first time genuine curiosity about his father had stirred within him.
Kwon Han-ul, who had been lost in thought for some time, muttered softly.
“Still, what should I demand from that bastard Kwon Ji-seok?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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