Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 159

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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 159】

159. The Past (1)

It was a rainy Monday afternoon.
Though the hour was still early, dark clouds hung thick overhead, casting the entire world into shadow.
“Please….”
My clothes were soaked through. So was my hair. Yet I felt no cold, cradled as I was in my mother’s embrace.
Her warmth shielded me from the chill of the downpour.
“Spare this child, I beg you.”
I wished my mother could escape the rain.
But it was a futile hope. Those surrounding her would not permit it.
“I make this plea with all my heart….”
Figures in white masks bearing crimson demon faces encircled my mother.
The Assassination Sword Squad.
Instruments of the Mei Family, created to eliminate their enemies through dishonorable means.
Sword demons who had buried their very lives, honor, and deaths in shadow.
“What crime has this innocent child committed? I implore you….”
My mother bowed her head to these sword demons, her voice trembling with desperation. Were it not for me in her arms, she would have prostrated herself entirely.
“Madam.”
One of the Assassination Unit members spoke. Her voice was high—unmistakably female.
“There is no need for such anxiety. We of the Assassination Unit are also blood of the Mei Family. Would we truly harm a child of our own bloodline?”
Among the Assassination Unit members, one possessed an especially sharp presence.
Even as a child, I could see it at a glance—this woman was their commander.
“Th-thank you.”
“However, Madam, I confess myself skeptical. Do you truly understand what crime your husband committed, that you offer such apologies?”
“Y-yes, of course I do.”
“Then speak of it.”
The woman’s words cut like a blade. My mother’s face paled as she looked up at her.
“Tell us in detail—what crime your husband committed, how he harmed the Family, why we have pursued him. Speak it yourself.”
My mother’s eyes wavered. I gripped her sleeve tightly.
A crime? There was no crime. It was all them—those who hated Father—who had fabricated these accusations.
“That is….”
And so my mother could only hesitate. To confess a crime never committed. To have a wife destroy her own husband’s honor with her own words.
“So you offer apologies without even knowing the charges? How can such apologies carry sincerity? Even your maternal desperation to save your child becomes suspect in my eyes.”
The woman’s voice grew sharper. My mother panicked and spoke hastily.
“H-he embezzled the Family’s assets, m-misappropriated them.”
“Elaborate with greater specificity.”
The grip of Mei Hong’s mother tightened around her daughter.
“I… I stole the rewards from the conquered Dungeon. The heirlooms meant to be presented to the Family Head… I took them. And when a clansman noticed… I, I killed them.”
Mei Hong lifted her head to look at her mother’s face. Tears streamed endlessly down her mother’s cheeks.
It was only natural. Her father was not that kind of person. Too kind, pure to the point of foolishness, noble to the point of absurdity.
He was always the one who suffered losses. Yet he would smile and move past them. Everyone adored him.
“You understand the situation quite well, madam. However, I cannot help but lament.”
The woman lowered her head. She brought her lips close to her mother’s ear and spoke.
“Pathetic wretch. You curse your husband while knowing everything?”
Her mother’s eyes widened. The woman let out a scornful laugh at the confusion written across her mother’s face.
“I despise women like you most of all. A person should have integrity. Yet you cast it aside like garbage.”
“B-but… y-you…”
“Then tell me again. That your husband was innocent, that everything was a false accusation, that the entire Mei Family has been manipulated.”
Her mother’s eyes trembled. Yet in the end, she could not bring herself to speak such words. She did not know what would become of Mei Hong if she did.
“Since you seem to understand your crimes precisely, it is time you received your punishment.”
The woman’s scornful smile vanished. In that instant, a longsword pierced through her mother’s heart.
“Wh…?”
The blade was withdrawn. Blood poured forth. The arms holding Mei Hong went limp.
“Ugh! Gah…!”
Her mother clutched her chest in agony. Yet she could not stem the blood gushing from the wound.
The woman paid her mother no further attention. She wiped the blood from her longsword and spoke in an icy tone.
“Take the daughter. The Crown Prince desires her.”
One of the Assassination Unit members seized Mei Hong’s wrist. She was dragged away helplessly.
“Ah… my child…!”
Her mother reached out a blood-stained hand. But she could not grasp the receding figure of Mei Hong.
As the Assassination Unit dragged her away, Mei Hong could not tear her eyes from her mother.
Then someone seized her jaw and forced her head around.
It was the woman who had killed her mother.
“Your name was Mei Hong, was it?”
The woman removed her mask. She had eyes with an exceptionally sharp gaze.
“Impressive that you do not cry. That is good. For you will soon be rolling through Hell as payment for your parents’ sins.”
The woman smiled. Her crescent-moon eyes and mouth were so repugnant it was nearly unbearable to witness.
“Let us see how well you endure.”
The commander of the Assassination Sword Squad.
Mei Xiao spoke with a smile.

* * *

Mei Hong jolted upright, her body trembling as she huddled on the bed, breathing in ragged gasps.
“Hey, are you alright?”
As she turned to look beside her, Kwon Hu-don’s face came into view, his expression etched with concern.
“What happened to Mei Xiao?”
“She left a warning for Han-ul and disappeared. She’ll come to kill him soon.”
“What about me?”
Kwon Hu-don’s mouth sealed shut, his eyes trembling uncontrollably.
“That is… well…”
“Please tell me the truth.”
Normally I would have smiled, but I had no room for such composure. Even suppressing this surging rage felt overwhelming.
“…She said nothing about you.”
The moment those words reached my ears, my mind went blank. A hollow emptiness welled up from the depths of my heart.
“Ha.”
The emptiness soon transformed into bitter laughter.
“Hahah.”
I laughed for a long time. Kwon Hu-don watched me with an anxious expression.
“Brother Hu-don, would it be alright if I was alone for a moment?”
“Yeah…”
Kwon Hu-don left the room without protest. Left alone, I stared at the blank wall for a long time.
“…She didn’t leave any message at all?”
There was no need to ponder the reason why.
It was too trivial to warrant any concern.
“So I’m that laughable in her eyes?”
Fury surged within me, yet simultaneously, I could only accept it.
When I faced Mei Xiao, I felt nothing.
Not her magical power, not her aura, not her presence—nothing. There was only one meaning to that.
An absolute, unbridgeable gap existed between us.
“…I will never catch up to her.”
Despair settled over my face.

* * *

It was the night Kwon Han-ul returned from Babel’s Ship.
Just as he was about to retire to bed, Kwon Han-ul received a message from Kwon Seon-woo.
-I will tell you about your father. Come outside.
In the end, Kwon Han-ul had no choice but to shed his sleepwear and change into outdoor clothes.
He emerged onto the deck, but Kwon Seon-woo was nowhere to be seen. Kwon Han-ul could only pass the time admiring the night sea.
Then, the cabin door opened and someone stepped out.
“Captain?”
He thought it might be Kwon Seon-woo, but it was Mei Hong.
“What brings you out at this late hour?”
“I was waiting for someone.”
“Waiting for someone?”
Mei Hong tilted her head knowingly. Soon, a sly smile crossed her face as if she understood everything.
“Are you enjoying a secret rendezvous with Sister Ha-yeon?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Really? It doesn’t seem that way. Be honest with me.”
“Mei Hong.”
“I won’t tell anyone else.”
“Is that so?”
He said nothing more. Yet despite this, Mei Hong’s face hardened as though her secret had been exposed.
“…Does it show that much?”
“It does.”
Compared to her usual demeanor, she was excessively bright. Yet her eyes were clouded. It was evidence that she was suppressing something deep within.
“…Mei Xiao is my mother’s enemy.”
“I know.”
On the day I recruited Mei Hong, I heard it directly—what Mei Xiao had done to her and her mother.
“The reason I joined your team was to kill that woman.”
“Yes, that was it.”
“I thought she would come looking for you someday. Since you killed the Maejung First Sword, Mei Xiao, his disciple, would surely try to kill you.”
“Your prediction was exactly right.”
Kwon Han-ul spoke with a hint of jest. But Mei Hong’s expression remained unresolved.
“Yet when Mei Xiao actually came, I couldn’t do anything.”
“That was unavoidable….”
“I heard from Brother Hu-don. He said Mei Xiao didn’t even spare me a glance.”
Mei Hong’s fists clenched tightly. Her shoulders trembled faintly.
“That was….”
I didn’t know what words of comfort to offer.
Why would Mei Xiao show her no interest?
Because she posed no threat whatsoever.
“I would rather be mocked. It would hurt less to be insulted over my mother’s sake.”
But to be ignored in this manner was unbearable.
“What am I supposed to do now…?”
What made it even more painful was that Mei Hong herself had felt directly through her skin that she could never surpass Mei Xiao.
“What am I supposed to do…?”
Mei Hong covered her face with both hands. She wept, bent at the waist.
“Mei Hong.”
Kwon Han-ul grasped those hands. Slowly, he pulled them away from her face. Then her swollen, puffy visage came into view.
“I am here.”
Mei Hong’s eyes widened in an instant.
“Why do you speak such words? Why do you despair?”
I stand right beside you.
“I may lack the qualifications. Perhaps you do not wish it.”
But.
“Entrust your resentment and vengeance to me.”
Mei Hong’s lips trembled. Her mouth had gone rigid, unable to speak.
“Will you permit it?”
Mei Hong slowly nodded her head.

* * *

“Then that settles it.”
Kwon Han-ul released Mei Hong’s hand as he spoke.
“Ah, please don’t burden yourself. After all, my life is threatened by Mei Xiao as well.”
Kwon Han-ul smiled brightly as he spoke. In that moment, Mei Hong’s expression shifted subtly.
“Captain, wait. You don’t mean to say you’ll take your revenge on me as a side benefit while fighting Mei Xiao anyway, do you?”
“That would be one way to look at it.”
Mei Hong glared at Kwon Han-ul with frightening intensity. She was so filled with resentment that he could only be taken aback.
“Ah… should I not?”
Mei Hong exhaled a deep sigh.
“I’m an idiot.”
“Did I perhaps misspeak?”
“Never mind. I’m going inside.”
Mei Hong yanked open the cabin door and disappeared.
Left alone, Kwon Han-ul stood there dumbfounded, utterly bewildered.
“So you’ve finally returned.”
Kwon Han-ul jumped in surprise and turned his head. Kwon Seon-woo was standing beside him.
“When did you arrive? I didn’t sense your presence at all.”
“Did you really think a young pup like you could detect me?”
Kwon Han-ul grumbled inwardly. Why did he always have to speak like that?
“So that was Mei Hong? She seems to be harboring quite a lot.”
“It would appear so.”
“Don’t make Joo Ha-yeon cry.”
It was a statement that made no sense in context. Kwon Han-ul frowned and looked at Kwon Seon-woo.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“You two seem quite close.”
“Isn’t it good to be close with your teammates?”
At those words, Kwon Seon-woo looked at Kwon Han-ul with eyes that seemed to pity him.
“Tsk, tsk.”
“Why are you doing that?”
“Never mind. You wouldn’t understand anyway.”
Kwon Seon-woo turned his head away as if the matter wasn’t worth discussing.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Angry about what?”
“Didn’t Mei Xiao come and go?”
Currently, Mei Xiao was being hunted for the crime of attacking Heukcheon’s main building.
Yet the leader herself, Mei Xiao, had appeared right before Kwon Seon-woo. Kwon Han-ul naturally expected him to explode in fury.
“I’ll admit, I’m not in a good mood.”
Kwon Seon-woo spoke while stroking his chin.
“If I had my way, I’d chase her down immediately and tear her to shreds… but judging from the report you submitted, she’s sharpened her fangs quite well.”
She claimed to be exhausted, yet she deceived my senses. Moreover, she’s even completed a Sword Force.
A Sword Force is the technique of an absolute being. Throughout the long history of Hunters, few have perfected such a force.
Perhaps there weren’t even five people in the entire world capable of facing Mei Xiao.
“I’ll need to raise the threat level. I should warn that bastard Myung-woo in advance.”
That’s why Kwon Seon-woo had no choice but to proceed cautiously.
“Let’s stop talking about that woman. We have other business to attend to, don’t we?”
At those words, Kwon Han-ul nodded and asked.
“As promised, tell me about my father.”
Kwon Seon-woo walked slowly toward the railing. He grasped it with both hands and felt the night breeze.
“Yes, I should tell you. I made a promise, after all.”
Kwon Seon-woo gazed at the night sea for a moment. Kwon Han-ul waited silently, sensing he needed time to prepare himself.
“But simply telling you would be boring.”
Suddenly, Kwon Seon-woo said that. Immediately after, his body vanished.
A chill ran down Kwon Han-ul’s spine. He spun around in alarm and crossed his arms defensively.
A palm strike extended in a straight line, slamming against Kwon Han-ul’s forearms. His body trembled as he was driven backward.
“What are you suddenly doing…”
He didn’t have time to finish speaking. Kwon Seon-woo, who had caught up, thrust his hand edge forward.
Kwon Han-ul jerked his head to the side. Kwon Seon-woo’s fingertips grazed past his neck.
His neck split open as if cut by a blade. Blood trickled down. Kwon Han-ul retreated, clutching his throat.
“Quite nimble.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Didn’t I say simply telling you would be boring?”
Kwon Seon-woo flicked the blood from his fingertip as he spoke.
“I’ll get a glimpse of your abilities too. Each time you withstand my attack, I’ll tell you about your father.”

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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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