Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 161
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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 161】
161. Japan Bound (1)
“Ah, so it’s Han-ul?”
Evening was falling.
Kwon Myung-woo held his smartphone to his ear, gazing up at the crimson sky as the sun descended toward the horizon.
“I heard the news. You nearly got the worst of it from Mei Xiao, didn’t you? That’s embarrassing.”
Kwon Myung-woo scratched his cheek, his expression clearly uncomfortable.
“When I was searching for her, she was nowhere to be found, but of all places, she had to show up there… The Chairman must have been furious.”
Kwon Myung-woo was in the midst of executing orders to eliminate Mei Xiao and the remnants of the Mei Family.
Yet the very target he needed to capture had brazenly appeared where Kwon Seon-woo was.
Not only had Kwon Myung-woo’s authority been severely undermined, but he now had no excuse if questioned by Kwon Seon-woo.
“Tsk… Anyway, I heard you’re departing for Japan today. It’s for the Rebirth, isn’t it? Lucky bastard. You’re experiencing something I’ve never had the chance to.”
Kwon Myung-woo chuckled heartily.
What was Rebirth? Even hunters counted among the strongest in the world had never experienced it.
It was only natural to be delighted that Kwon Han-ul had obtained something so extraordinary.
“It’s wonderful, but I’m worried about what schemes that woman Mei Xiao might pull. If I had my way, I’d stand guard while you underwent the Rebirth procedure… ”
Kwon Myung-woo had duties to attend to. There were still remnants of the Mei Family to deal with.
“Instead, I’ve arranged countermeasures in advance. What kind of countermeasures, you ask? You’ll find out once you arrive in Japan.”
Kwon Myung-woo smiled meaningfully before ending the call.
Then he slowly turned around. A man covered in wounds came into view.
Members of the Heukcheon Team were restraining him, his limbs bound and his mouth gagged.
“That’s enough. Release him now.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the Heukcheon Team members freed the man.
Though his body was now unbound, the man only gasped for breath and made no attempt to flee. His body was too damaged to move.
“My apologies. A call came through, and you were making too much noise.”
“You… damn bastards!”
The man spat out curses, words barely fit for human speech, yet no one present paid any attention to his words.
“Mei Ryo.”
Kwon Myung-woo looked down at the man as he spoke.
“I was quite surprised. While we were clashing with your Hwamoo Sword Squad, your leader Mei Xiao was elsewhere. We took quite the blow.”
At the very moment Kwon Han-ul was meeting with Mei Xiao.
Kwon Myung-woo had obtained intelligence on the Hwamoo Sword Squad and pursued them. And in that distant foreign land, he had encountered and engaged the Hwamoo Sword Squad in combat.
The outcome hardly needed to be stated.
“What’s your scheme? What reason did you have for orchestrating all this while using your own men as bait?”
“Do you think… I’d answer your questions?”
Mei Ryo spat on the ground. Kwon Myung-woo nodded slowly.
“Right, there’s no way you’d talk. Even after hours of torture, you’ve remained silent.”
While all the Hwamoo Sword Squad members were dead, Mei Ryo remained alive because Kwon Myung-woo had deemed him useful.
“The day of Heukcheon’s destruction isn’t far off! On that final day, the Mei Family will lead the charge and slaughter every last one of your precious Heukcheon Bloodline!”
Mei Ryo screamed with bloodshot eyes. Kwon Myung-woo tilted his head at him in apparent confusion.
“I don’t quite understand.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully before continuing.
“I appreciate your concern for us, but… isn’t this the wrong time for that? Shouldn’t you be worrying about your own family first?”
“What…?”
Bewilderment washed across Mei Ryo’s face.
Just then, a group of people came running from the distance.
Their appearance was peculiar. Unlike the Heukcheon Team, whose members wore identical uniforms, these people wore different clothes and carried different weapons.
“Acknowledge!”
The man at the front bowed, and those behind him followed suit.
“Gangtaedae has returned.”
“Good work. What were the results?”
“Yes, we discovered approximately thirty members of the Mei Family bloodline in the foothills to the north. All non-combatants.”
At that moment, Mei Ryo’s eyes widened in shock.
“How… how did you find them…?”
“You’re underestimating Heukcheon’s intelligence division. We’ve already identified that some of the Mei Family bloodline have gathered in this region.”
While Kwon Myung-woo and the Heukcheon Team fought, Gangtaedae had thoroughly searched the area and discovered the hidden Mei Family members.
“Take Gangtaedae and kill them all.”
Kwon Myung-woo spoke without the slightest hesitation. Mei Ryo’s face went rigid.
“Gua, Kwon Myung-woo! What are you saying! Is this what a prestigious clan like Heukcheon does!”
“Heukcheon never forgives its enemies. Women and children are no exception.”
“Kwon Myung-woo!”
Mei Ryo screamed. But Kwon Myung-woo didn’t even blink.
“Want to save your family? Then tell me where all the remaining bloodline members are hiding.”
The Mei Family members hiding in this region were only a small fraction.
The rest were scattered across various locations, barely clinging to life.
“Go to hell.”
Mei Ryo spoke with a face full of murderous intent. At that, Kwon Myung-woo let out a hollow laugh.
“So the family is more important than your relatives? Then there’s nothing to be done.”
Kwon Myung-woo gestured with his eyes. One of the Heukcheon Team members drew his blade and severed Mei Ryo’s neck. Hot blood drenched the ground around him.
“Director, was that a sincere order?”
Gu Eon, the leader of Gangtaedae, asked. Kwon Myung-woo’s expression turned displeased.
“Why are you doing this too? Of course it was a lie.”
“I see.”
“I was simply trying to intimidate him into opening his mouth.”
No matter how ruthless Heukcheon was, there were limits. They wouldn’t massacre ordinary civilians, even if they were enemies.
“Even if I gave such an order, I wouldn’t entrust it to Gangtaedae.”
Kwon Myung-woo looked at the Iron Steel Squad members standing behind Gu Eon and spoke.
The Iron Steel Squad was created within the Heukcheon Group to “dispose of” villains who committed crimes internally.
He couldn’t issue such orders to a unit where not a single sane member existed.
In fact, the Iron Steel Squad members all wore disappointed expressions as Kwon Myung-woo changed his words.
“The Heukcheon Team will escort all of the Mei Family’s bloodline to the Hukcheon Estate.”
“Yes, sir!”
“The Iron Steel Squad will go ahead and pursue the Mei Family.”
After issuing those orders, Kwon Myung-woo headed toward where the Mei Family’s bloodline was located, accompanied by the Heukcheon Team.
“Iron Steel Squad, listen up.”
After Kwon Myung-woo disappeared, Gu Eon opened his mouth.
“We’re departing for Nepal from now on.”
At Gu Eon’s words, complaints erupted from the Iron Steel Squad members.
“Captain, how much longer until we get there from here?”
“Let’s rest for a while at least. I’m going to die from exhaustion at this rate.”
Gu Eon listened silently to everything the Iron Steel Squad members said. Then he opened his mouth.
“If there’s anyone who wants to rest, step forward. I’ll bury you right here.”
In an instant, the Iron Steel Squad members fell silent. Gu Eon glared at them and spoke.
“Don’t get it twisted, you maggots. You’re in no position to demand anything from me.”
Gu Eon’s murderous intent pressed down on the Iron Steel Squad members. The sound of swallowing echoed from various places.
“What Heukcheon and I want from you is just one thing. Die while carrying out your orders. Understood?”
The Iron Steel Squad members slowly nodded their heads. Only then did Gu Eon withdraw his murderous intent.
“Bae Cheol-min.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll guide the Heukcheon Team and return. In the meantime, keep watch over the Iron Steel Squad. If you spot anyone showing even the slightest sign of disloyalty, execute them immediately.”
“Understood.”
The Iron Steel Squad member called Bae Cheol-min bowed his head.
Gu Eon left his seat to pursue the Heukcheon Team. Only after he disappeared did Bae Cheol-min raise his head.
“How amusing.”
And when he raised his head, Bae Cheol-min’s face was no longer obedient like before.
It was filled with hatred.
“Pretending to be merciful, these Heukcheon bloodline bastards.”
Bae Cheol-min ground his teeth. His family, under the pretext of helping Heukcheon’s criminals, had seen all its bloodline members reduced to slavery.
Hearing such words in this situation made his insides churn.
“You garbage.”
Bae Cheol-min turned to face the Iron Steel Squad and spoke.
“Did you hear what that bastard said? Shut your mouths and stay quiet.”
* * *
The call ended, and Kwon Han-ul set down his smartphone.
“Was that a call for Kwon Myung-woo?”
Joo Ha-yeon asked while pausing her work with the tea leaves. Kwon Han-ul nodded.
“Yes, it seems he’s been quite preoccupied with the situation involving Mei Xiao.”
“He must have been quite angry.”
“He didn’t show it, but…”
Kwon Han-ul trailed off. In truth, it was obvious without even seeing him.
“Still, I never expected to visit Japan this quickly.”
Currently, I was sitting inside an airplane. The plane’s destination was Japan.
Originally, I thought it would take considerably more time. There were so many materials needed for the Rebirth Transformation, and Takamine Hospital would need time to prepare for the procedure as well.
However, contrary to my expectations, thanks to the Hukcheon Estate actively stepping in, I was able to move up the procedure date significantly.
‘That old man, really…’
Suddenly, I recalled the conversation I’d had with Kwon Seon-woo the other day.
On a dark night, aboard a ship, Kwon Seon-woo had told me everything about his father’s death.
‘He said the patriarch forcibly dragged out his father, who had no interest in the position, and tested him.’
And when his father failed to meet the standard, he ordered his execution. The more I thought about it, the more absurd and tyrannical it seemed.
What was even more ridiculous was that Kwon Seon-woo had asked me if I intended to take revenge.
‘Of course not.’
Even thinking about it myself, it seemed excessive, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I wasn’t sentimental enough to harbor anger for a father whose face I’d never even seen.
‘More than anything, there were far too many inconsistencies to simply accept it as is.’
Long ago, I had ordered the Guild Master of Iron Fang to investigate my father.
Somehow, Heukcheon’s intelligence division found out about it. They approached the Guild Master of Iron Fang, handed over the information, and threatened him to keep it secret from me.
The information provided by Heukcheon’s intelligence division contained everything that Kwon Seon-woo had mentioned.
‘The problem is that the person who sent that agent was the Chairman.’
If what the Chairman said was true, why would he resort to such a troublesome method?
‘Above all, there was never any mention of Kwon Hyuk.’
That sinister and cruel man would never have participated in the competition fairly.
Yet the Chairman said nothing about Kwon Hyuk.
‘This is giving me a headache.’
I despised such troublesome matters. But being dragged along without knowing the truth was even worse.
“What are you thinking about so intently?”
Joo Ha-yeon asked while placing tea leaves into the teapot. I couldn’t very well tell her I’d been cursing the Chairman, so I deflected vaguely.
“I was thinking about the Rebirth Transformation.”
Rebirth Transformation.
True to its name, it was a phenomenon that completely changed the vessel that is the physical body.
It wasn’t merely a matter of enhanced physical capabilities. I’d heard that experiencing a Rebirth Transformation fundamentally altered one’s foundation as a living being.
From what I understood, the increase in combat power through Rebirth Transformation was several times greater than before.
“I looked into the Rebirth Transformation briefly once before.”
“Really?”
“Fortunately, the intelligence division had records on file. It’s commonly known that undergoing Bone Rebirth dramatically enhances physical combat prowess, but….”
Joo Ha-yeon added while checking the temperature of the teapot with a thermometer.
“In fact, such improvements are considered rather trivial. The greatest benefit one can obtain from Bone Rebirth is the filling of one’s deficiencies.”
“Deficiencies?”
“It varies from hunter to hunter who has experienced Bone Rebirth, so they couldn’t make a definitive statement.”
Even Heukcheon’s meticulous intelligence division couldn’t reach a clear conclusion—a testament to how mysterious and rare the phenomenon of Bone Rebirth truly was.
“Hu-don! Behind you! It’s behind!”
“Behind? Ugh, ahhhhh!”
“Gael! Bush check! If you don’t do it first, you’ll get stunned right at the start!”
“Understood. I’ll make sure not to forget going forward.”
Just then, the seat beside them grew noisy. Kwon Han-ul and Joo Ha-yeon glanced over.
Mei Hong had Kwon Hu-don and Gael Garsian in tow, the three of them engrossed in a game, controllers in hand.
“Hu-don! Charge in! Gael, set up the bow!”
Her demeanor was bright as always. Yet Kwon Han-ul couldn’t shake his unease.
That night when he met Mei Xiao—the expression Mei Hong had shown was far from ordinary.
“Hu-don! You can’t die!”
“I… this is the end for me… at least the two of you must survive.”
“Hmm, bush check… bush check….”
Whether Mei Hong knew what weighed on Kwon Han-ul’s mind or not, she remained absorbed in the game.
* * *
The airplane arrived in Japan without incident.
Kwon Han-ul disembarked from the private jet with his entourage.
Thanks to the Heukcheon name’s prestige, tedious inspections like cargo checks were all waived. We were about to leave the airport when it happened.
“Ah! Found you!”
A woman came running from a distance.
Sensing danger, the entourage gathered around Kwon Han-ul protectively.
“Wow, Kwon Han-ul? Sir? Honestly, the honorific doesn’t matter. It’s been so long since we last met. You’ve changed so much! That’s strange. You shouldn’t have had time to raise your stats while participating in the Heavenly Arena.”
The woman spoke without pause. Kwon Han-ul furrowed his brow and asked.
“Who are you?”
“You don’t know me? Ah, maybe you’ve never seen me in person?”
The woman suddenly threw open her jacket. A familiar emblem was visible on the clothes she wore underneath.
“I’m Alexander Aaron from the Black Sharp Squad.”
The entourage’s eyes widened.
They didn’t know Alexander Aaron. But the Black Sharp Squad…
“Did Aunt send you?”
“Not exactly sent… Anyway, want to follow me?”
Alexander Aaron gestured. Kwon Han-ul and his entourage followed her outside.
In the distance, an escort vehicle waited in advance.
“It’s been a while.”
And standing beside it was Kwon Mi.
“Mother?”
Kwon Hu-don exclaimed in surprise. Kwon Mi smiled and embraced Kwon Hu-don.
“My son. It’s been so long.”
Kwon Mi released Kwon Hu-don from her embrace. Then she spoke to Kwon Han-ul.
“By Director Kwon Myung-woo’s orders, I’ve been assigned to escort you for the time being.”
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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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