Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 175
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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 175】
175. The End (1)
—Then as promised, I’ll be taking this child with me.
The Ion Mage approached Lee Da-hae. Despair flickered in her eyes as she gazed at him.
She wanted to resist, but her body wouldn’t obey. Deep-rooted terror consumed her, paralyzing every muscle.
—Let’s head home.
The Sorcerer reached to hoist Lee Da-hae onto his shoulders. That’s when Kwon Hyuk spoke.
—Stop.
The Sorcerer turned to face Kwon Hyuk, bewilderment crossing his features.
—Kwon Hyuk, what are you saying all of a sudden?
—She’s bait to catch Kwon Cheon. I can’t just hand her over.
—This is a breach of contract! Didn’t you promise us? Didn’t you say you’d give us this child if we helped you attack Chairman Kwon Seon-woo? Didn’t you?
The Sorcerer’s fury erupted violently.
Launching a terrorist attack on the Heukcheon Chairman carried enormous risk and demanded considerable resources and time.
To make this attack succeed, Aion had to mobilize all its forces.
—We’ve concentrated all suspicion on Kwon Cheon as planned! Aion has kept its promise, so now it’s your turn to keep yours….
In that instant, the Sorcerer was hurled backward, slamming into the wall. The impact shattered it with a deafening crack.
—Don’t you dare talk back to me, you worthless insect.
Kwon Hyuk was already on his feet, his leg extended from the kick.
—I spared your pathetic life this time, but there won’t be a second chance. Shut your mouth and get out. Once everything is finished, I’ll hand her over then.
The Sorcerer pushed himself up, his entire body trembling as pain and rage intermingled.
His teeth ground together audibly. The Sorcerer glared at Kwon Hyuk, but Kwon Hyuk spoke with utter indifference.
—I said get out. Or do you want to die right now?
The Sorcerer whispered an incantation quietly. Darkness enveloped him, and then he vanished.
—His combat power is pathetic. But his other tricks are fairly useful.
Kwon Hyuk murmured, staring at the spot where the Sorcerer had disappeared.
Then the interrogation room door suddenly burst open.
—Da-hae!
The person who entered was Kwon Cheon.
His entire body was covered in wounds, and both his fists were stained with blood.
Evidence of countless battles fought to reach this place.
—So you really came.
Kwon Hyuk greeted Kwon Cheon with a pleased expression.
—Kwon Cheon, I never knew you were such a passionate man. Making a choice like this for just a woman.
Kwon Hyuk let out a cold laugh. Kwon Cheon simply stared at him with an expressionless face.
—Take her.
Kwon Hyuk released Lee Da-hae without resistance. Kwon Cheon rushed over immediately and supported her.
—Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
—Why… why did you come…?
Lee Da-hae gripped Kwon Cheon’s arm tightly. Her face was deathly pale.
—You shouldn’t be here! The Chairman will be furious. And then you’ll… you’ll suffer too.
Kwon Cheon covered Lee Da-hae’s mouth with his hand. A faint smile played across his lips as he spoke.
—How could I do that when you’re here?
At those words, Lee Da-hae burst into tears. Joy and guilt mingled together. Her emotions spiraled beyond her control.
Kwon Cheon lifted Lee Da-hae into his arms with both hands. As he turned to leave the room, Kwon Hyuk’s voice rang out.
—Nothing to say to your older brother?
Kwon Cheon stared at Kwon Hyuk with a puzzled expression.
—You know it all. I orchestrated everything. I framed you, and I took your woman.
The sneer at the corner of Kwon Hyuk’s mouth deepened further.
—You’re welcome to curse me. You’re welcome to resent me. I’ll listen to anything you have to say.
Kwon Hyuk’s face appeared remarkably compassionate as he spoke. As if he were bestowing some great favor.
—Why do you remain silent? Speak.
A strange fervor ignited in Kwon Hyuk’s eyes. He was intoxicated by this moment.
—Brother.
Kwon Cheon addressed Kwon Hyuk with those words.
—Please take good care of Father and the family.
The instant Kwon Hyuk heard those words, his expression fractured. His face hardened rigidly as he shot back.
—…What did you say?
But Kwon Cheon had already bolted from the room. Left alone, Kwon Hyuk stared blankly at the open doorway.
—Don’t pull this nonsense!
Kwon Hyuk’s face contorted violently.
—Stop this hypocrisy to the very end!
He roared. But there was no one left in the room to answer him.
* * *
—What were you doing to waste so much time?
The moment they stepped outside, Bae Chul-soo rebuked Kwon Cheon.
—Hurry! The pursuers will be on us any moment now!
The prison break had already caused considerable commotion. There was no way Heukcheon’s hunting dogs hadn’t caught the scent.
The three of them fled into the night, leaving the Kwon Family estate behind. The rugged mountain paths continued endlessly, but posed no serious obstacle.
How long had they been running?
—We’ve found them!
A shout echoed from the distance. The pursuers had already located the three fugitives.
—Traitor Kwon Cheon! And the betrayer Bae Chul-soo! We’ll bring you in alive!
A terrifying killing intent crashed down from behind. Kwon Cheon bit his lip without realizing it.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t matter. But with a body exhausted from the prison break, he couldn’t shake off the family’s hunting dogs.
Kwon Cheon’s face darkened.
Suddenly, Bae Chul-soo stopped running. He shouted toward the bewildered Kwon Cheon.
—You two go first.
—Chul-soo hyung? What are you saying?
—Or would you rather all three of us run together and get caught?
Bae Chul-soo spoke with exasperation in his voice.
—Don’t worry about me. I’ll catch up soon enough.
—Hyung!
—Listen, in times like this you just go quietly. Don’t drag your feet.
—But…
—You’re really worrying over nothing. Don’t you know my bloodline? I may not have much else going for me, but I’m confident in my stamina.
Bae Chul-soo laughed and spoke.
—And when else would I get a chance to show off like this?
—But…
Hesitation flickered across Kwon Cheon’s face. But ultimately, he steeled his resolve.
—…You have to come back safely.
—Don’t worry. And Da-hae.
Lee Da-hae, who had been nestled in Kwon Cheon’s arms, looked up at Bae Chul-soo in surprise. Bae Chul-soo grinned, flashing his white teeth.
—Congratulations in advance. Raise the child well.
Before Lee Da-hae could even thank him, Kwon Cheon began to run.
Bae Chul-soo watched the two of them disappear with a lonely expression.
—Ah… did I just bluff for nothing?
Bae Chul-soo scratched his head and turned around.
The grass parted violently as dozens of hunters burst forth.
—Hey, you bastards! Come at me! I’ll take you all on!
Bae Chul-soo shouted boldly. But the hunters didn’t attack him immediately. Instead, they knelt in two rows.
Someone walked between them. The moment Bae Chul-soo saw that person’s face, his expression hardened like stone.
—…Chairman?
The person who had come with the pursuers was Kwon Seon-woo, the Chairman of Heukcheon.
—How dare you….
Kwon Seon-woo glared at Bae Chul-soo with fury blazing across his face.
—The Kwon Family showed mercy to your house, and you repay us with betrayal?
Kwon Seon-woo unleashed his aura alongside his rage. Every tree planted in the forest trembled violently.
Blood trickled from the corner of Bae Chul-soo’s mouth. Simply absorbing that energy into his body had inflicted internal injuries.
—I swear on my name! You and the Bae family will rue this day in the depths of Hell itself!
Even if I called it recklessness, he wouldn’t accept my excuses.
Bae Chul-soo had long since abandoned any attempt at justification.
—Chairman.
Regret crashed over me. Why had I helped Kwon Cheon? Even knowing it would endanger not just me, but my entire family.
—If I may be so bold as to speak, sir.
Ah, the reason came back to me.
—Words and deeds cannot be taken back once spoken and done.
It was because Kwon Cheon—that foolishly kind bastard—deserved my pity.
—Therefore, I humbly beseech you to deliberate carefully so that you harbor no regrets later.
The Chairman’s eyes flooded with blood vessels. He roared at the pursuers.
—Kill that damned dog right now!
* * *
The two of us fled far to escape our pursuers.
I wanted nothing more than to wait for Bae Chul-soo, but we had no such luxury.
Though we exchanged no words, we both sensed it dimly—the likelihood of Bae Chul-soo returning alive was infinitesimal.
Fortunately, we managed to shake off our pursuers and successfully hide ourselves in a city in South Korea.
We had survived, but what came after was the real problem.
South Korea was a place where Heukcheon’s eyes and ears spread far and wide. Because of this, we had to remain perpetually vigilant to keep our identities hidden.
Unable to reveal who we were, finding legitimate work was nearly impossible. Kwon Cheon took on menial jobs to earn money while Lee Da-hae, pregnant, rested.
* * *
Each day was a struggle just to survive and put food on the table.
Lee Da-hae harbored no resentment. She was happy wherever Kwon Cheon was.
Yet she lived in constant anxiety—all because of Kwon Cheon.
A man who had enjoyed wealth as a direct descendant of Heukcheon had been reduced to living hand-to-mouth overnight. His true feelings could never have remained untouched.
—Isn’t this difficult for you?
One day, Lee Da-hae voiced such a question.
She deeply regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. Why had she asked something so foolish? The answer was surely already predetermined.
—It is difficult.
Kwon Cheon replied with his usual faint smile.
—Do you regret it, then?
Lee Da-hae felt her heart crumble. If Kwon Cheon said yes, if he truly did….
—I don’t regret it.
But Kwon Cheon’s answer was entirely different from what she had anticipated.
—I know what you’re thinking. You believe I’ve sacrificed far too much because of you.
She did.
Every day, Lee Da-hae wondered whether she deserved such boundless happiness.
—Da-hae, saving you was also a choice I made for myself.
—What do you mean?
—Who do you think is truly responsible for all of this?
It was obviously Kwon Hyuk. Yet Lee Da-hae could not voice those words.
Even after fleeing as though cast out from the family, Kwon Cheon had never once spoken a word of resentment toward Kwon Hyuk.
—It was because of me.
But the moment she heard those words, Lee Da-hae could only vehemently deny them.
How could Kwon Cheon be the source of this tragedy? He was the victim.
—If I hadn’t existed, Father would have made my brother his successor. My brother would have diligently fulfilled his duties as heir.
When Kwon Hyuk had falsely accused him, Kwon Cheon had felt pity before anger.
He believed his brother had become so corrupted precisely because of him.
—If only I would disappear. Then my brother might return to his former self, and the family could know peace again.
As these thoughts deepened, Lee Da-hae was dragged away by Kwon Hyuk.
It was then that Kwon Cheon finally steeled his resolve.
—Perhaps I used you as an excuse to run away.
Lee Da-hae shook her head. Her heart ached because she could find no words to comfort him.
—Thank you.
Kwon Cheon spoke with a radiant smile. Even in such dire circumstances, his smile remained exactly as it had been in the past.
Several months passed as the two remained together.
The day of birth drew near.
* * *
Ever since leaving the Heukcheon Estate, the couple had endured nothing but hardship—yet childbirth proved to be an exception.
—We’ll help you at our hospital.
The neighborhood obstetrician who had come to know the couple volunteered to assist with the delivery.
At first, they hesitated, wondering if they deserved such generosity, but ultimately accepted. Pride was a luxury they couldn’t afford when the alternative was giving birth on the street.
Lee Da-hae checked into the Obstetrics Clinic, nourishing herself with nutritious meals as she prepared for the day of delivery.
A month later, Lee Da-hae gave birth to a child.
A healthy boy who bore a striking resemblance to Kwon Cheon.
—…Ah.
Kwon Cheon held the infant in his arms, unable to speak for a long while. After examining the child’s face intently, tears streamed down his cheeks.
—Thank you. Thank you so much….
Once he regained his composure, he embraced Lee Da-hae and expressed his gratitude repeatedly. She shook her head. The one who truly deserved thanks was him.
—Is there anything you’d like to eat? I received today’s wages, so I can buy you whatever you want.
—I’d like some tangerines.
Upon hearing Lee Da-hae’s request, Kwon Cheon immediately rushed out.
Lee Da-hae lay in bed, cradling the child. She was savoring the warmth of his small body.
The closed door opened again. Lee Da-hae turned, thinking Kwon Cheon had returned.
—Welcome back….
Her body went rigid. The fear she had buried for so long spread through her entire being.
—It’s been a while.
Kwon Seon-woo.
The Chairman of Heukcheon had spoken.
* * *
Lee Da-hae instinctively shielded the child to her side.
She reflexively glanced toward the window, contemplating throwing herself out if the situation became dire.
—Don’t be afraid. I have no intention of harming you two.
Kwon Seon-woo walked slowly toward Lee Da-hae, his gaze lowering to the child she held.
—Is it a boy or a girl?
—A boy… sir.
—He’s the spitting image of Kwon Cheon.
Kwon Seon-woo sat in the chair beside the bed. He stared intently at the child, then raised his finger and gently touched the boy’s cheek.
Lee Da-hae’s face turned cold. She feared the Chairman might harm the child.
—I already told you I have no intention of harming you two. You don’t trust my words?
—I apologize…
Though she had apologized, Lee Da-hae’s demeanor remained unchanged. It was only natural—just ten months ago, she had tried to kill Kwon Cheon.
—I discovered you two long ago.
Kwon Seon-woo spoke to the wary Lee Da-hae.
—You were both foolish. Korea is Heukcheon’s domain. Did you truly believe you could evade my sight in such a place?
Kwon Seon-woo spoke with contempt.
—I initially intended to have you both brought to Heukcheon immediately. I meant to inflict punishment befitting your crimes.
Yet since arriving in this city, Lee Da-hae and Kwon Cheon had never encountered anyone from Heukcheon.
—Yes, that was my intention.
Kwon Cheon’s voice trailed off, his eyes growing dark.
—If not for the investigation team’s report submitted to me.
His voice carried no strength as he spoke.
Lee Da-hae was considerably shocked. Kwon Seon-woo had always been arrogantly confident. This was the first time she had seen him like this.
—The report stated it clearly. There were far too many suspicious points in the evidence left by the terrorists. Unlike their testimony, the connection to Kwon Cheon was deemed tenuous.
Though he spoke indirectly, the investigation team’s conclusion was this:
Kwon Cheon might have been unrelated to this terrorist attack.
—At first, I didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. If it were true… then I had made a grave error.
Kwon Seon-woo leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.
—When doubt crept in, my mind grew cold. Only then did I realize how consumed I had been by rage.
In my fury, I failed to investigate the deeper truth.
I ordered a thorough investigation of the terrorists, yet I never examined the findings myself.
I simply surrendered to my anger, drove Kwon Cheon into a corner, and sought to kill that child.
—Tell me, boy. Did I make the wrong choice?
Lee Da-hae drew a breath. Countless answers flooded her mind, yet she could not bring herself to choose any of them.
—Must I really answer you?
Kwon Seon-woo’s expression hardened. A bitter smile crossed his face.
—No. There is no need.
Kwon Seon-woo rose from his chair. Lee Da-hae attempted to stand to see him out, but he stopped her.
—Kwon Cheon has already fled the family. It is a violation of our clan’s laws.
Kwon Seon-woo’s voice regained its edge, his tone becoming sharp as he continued.
—Even if the charges are unfounded, what’s already been done cannot be undone. Heukcheon will never accept Kwon Cheon again.
Lee Da-hae felt the fragile hope she’d been harboring shatter into pieces.
She had dared to believe that Kwon Cheon might reclaim his former position.
—But I promise you this: Heukcheon will not pursue either of you going forward.
I cannot accept you. However, I will let you go free.
At those words, Lee Da-hae’s expression brightened.
Kwon Cheon’s suffering stemmed from his refusal to reveal his true power, desperate to escape Heukcheon’s gaze.
—Be happy.
After leaving those oddly stilted words behind, Kwon Seon-woo departed from the hospital room.
* * *
About an hour had passed since Kwon Seon-woo vanished. The door to the ward swung open.
Lee Da-hae greeted the visitor with a radiant smile.
—Kwon Cheon, do you know who just visited?
She was desperate to share this joyous news immediately.
But the figure standing in the doorway was not Kwon Cheon.
It was an Unknown Man dressed in a black robe.
—Who are you…?
Instead of answering, the man drew a dagger. Lee Da-hae screamed and clutched the child to her chest.
That was when it happened.
Kwon Cheon burst forth from behind the man and snapped his neck with both hands.
—Da-hae!
Kwon Cheon hurled the corpse aside and rushed toward Lee Da-hae.
—Are you hurt anywhere?
—N-no. But who on earth was that person…?
—We can figure that out later. We need to escape now. This place isn’t safe!
Kwon Cheon supported Lee Da-hae as he tried to make for the exit.
If only there hadn’t been a man blocking the entrance.
—…Brother?
Kwon Hyuk stood before them.
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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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