Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 206

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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 206】

206. Treasure Vault (1)

Black powder-like particles rose from Mei Xiao’s body.
All the particles were absorbed into Mei Hong’s form. Immediately after, she felt the world spinning violently around her, a dizzying sensation overwhelming her senses.
When the vertigo subsided, countless fragments of knowledge surfaced and then settled. Mei Hong took a deep breath and swung her longsword.
In the blink of an eye, she executed dozens of blade strikes, yet not a sound escaped. Everything remained silent, as though nothing had occurred.
“I never thought the day would come when I’d master that woman’s swordsmanship….”
Mei Hong spoke with evident dissatisfaction.
What she had just demonstrated was Mei Xiao’s assassination blade technique.
It wasn’t merely the assassination technique. Mei Hong realized that her mana circulation method had transformed without her conscious awareness.
It was far more efficient, and the output she could generate in a single burst had increased dramatically.
Testing it, she summoned an aura—and what poured forth was incomparably denser and sharper than anything she’d produced before.
“…Unbelievable.”
Though I had absorbed everything from Mei Xiao, my ability to recreate it fell short of even one-third.
Yet even that alone had elevated my level to a remarkable degree.
“…I hate to admit it, but she really was an extraordinary woman.”
Just as I was sheathing my longsword, newly appreciative of Mei Xiao’s prowess.
“Yikes, that’s unsettling. To turn a blood relative into a precious blade, no less.”
“What does it matter? You said yourselves you were enemies anyway. If you’re enemies, blood relatives are strangers too.”
Mei Hong startled and turned her gaze. There, hidden behind the wreckage, were Kwon Myung-woo and Byeok Ryok-gwon, peering out at her.
“Ah, you two. Don’t mind us and just finish what you were doing.”
“Is this fool insane? Does he really think that girl will accept such nonsense in a situation like this?”
Kwon Myung-woo and Byeok Ryok-gwon glared at each other, bickering back and forth. Unable to bear it any longer, Mei Hong asked in exasperation.
“What are you both doing here?”
“Me? I’m keeping watch because this senile old fool said he had business with Gael Garsian, one of your team members. Then I happened to notice you and was observing what you were up to.”
“I told you I have no intention of causing trouble. Why can’t you trust people’s words? When did the Heukcheon First Fist Master become so narrow-minded?”
The two elders glared at each other once more. Then Byeok Ryok-gwon clicked his tongue and turned away.
“Enough. I’d rather finish what I came to do than waste breath arguing with you.”
“Who are you to say that! I have no intention of wasting time with you either!”
“Then why do you keep following me around?”
The two elders continued their verbal sparring as they disappeared somewhere.
Mei Hong stared after them with a bewildered expression for a long moment.

* * *

“…Sigh.”
Kwon Hu-don exhaled without realizing it. Gael Garsian, hearing the sound, asked with a puzzled expression.
“Why do you look so grim? The captain isn’t injured, and all the team members are safe.”
“Huh? Ah, sorry for worrying you.”
Kwon Hu-don scratched his head in response. Yet his expression still betrayed something unsettled.
“If you have something troubling you, please share it. I’ll listen. We’re comrades, after all.”
The words struck Kwon Hu-don with considerable impact. His eyes widened in surprise.
Kwon Hu-don gazed at Gael Garsian, his eyes glistening with tears.
“Gael…!”
Though it might have been awkward, Gael Garsian managed not to avert his gaze.
“It’s just… I’m worried about what comes next.”
“What comes next?”
For Gael Garsian, the words made little sense.
Kwon Han-ul was a skilled warrior recognized throughout the Heukcheon Group. Not only was Han-ul’s future bright, but so was that of the Heukam Corps beneath him.
“Han-ul has become far too strong.”
Gael Garsian was even more bewildered. Wasn’t it a blessing to serve under such an exceptional superior?
“He climbed to world-ranker level, and in the blink of an eye, he surpassed the Double Numbers. Now he’s even defeated two Absolutes simultaneously.”
Considering Kwon Han-ul’s secret, such feats were hardly impossible. Countless bloodlines were aiding him, after all.
“But what about us?”
Kwon Hu-don’s face darkened.
“Can we even barely scrape by as world-rankers? With such meager strength, can we truly help Han-ul?”
Only then did Gael Garsian grasp what Kwon Hu-don was trying to say.
“If things continue like this, we’ll eventually become a burden to Han-ul. No—before that even happens, won’t we fall behind and fail to keep pace with him?”
Hearing Kwon Hu-don’s concerns, Gael Garsian could offer no real consolation.
In truth, Gael Garsian had harbored similar thoughts before.
He had followed Kwon Han-ul to repay the debt of gratitude for avenging his enemy. Yet instead of repaying that debt, he only received help from Han-ul.
“This won’t do.”
Kwon Hu-don’s voice grew firm. It was then that Gael Garsian found himself deeply agreeing with those words.
“Why do you keep following me!”
“I’m not following you! I’m going to see Han-ul!”
“Just yesterday you said you were here to keep watch over me!”
“I’m doing both! And I have questions for Han-ul!”
Familiar voices drew near. Kwon Myung-woo and Byeok Ryok-gwon were approaching, their voices raised at each other.
“Great-uncle?”
Kwon Hu-don’s eyes widened in surprise. Only then did the two elders cease their bickering.
“Hu-don, is Han-ul awake?”
“Ah, yes!”
Kwon Hu-don and Gael Garsian stepped aside. Kwon Han-ul, who had been lying on a makeshift bed, opened his eyes wide in surprise.
“Grandfather?”
Kwon Han-ul attempted to sit up. But his entire body trembled uselessly, refusing to move.
“It’s fine. Just rest.”
Kwon Myung-woo spoke to Kwon Han-ul. Then he turned to Joo Ha-yeon.
“Ha-yeon, I have something urgent to discuss. Would you mind taking these children elsewhere for a moment?”
“…Understood.”
Joo Ha-yeon retrieved two chairs from her subspace, set them down, and disappeared with Kwon Hu-don and Gael Garsian.
With everything in ruins and only three men remaining in the desolate space, an awkward silence settled over them.
“You understand why I asked Ha-yeon to step away, don’t you?”
“Are you asking about my secret?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Kwon Han-ul glanced sideways at Byeok Ryok-gwon. The gesture asked whether it was safe to speak with an outsider present.
“That bastard already knows everything anyway.”
“Then stop being so coy and tell me. I’m dying of curiosity. How does one person possess multiple bloodlines?”
Byeok Ryok-gwon let out a chuckle and added:
“Besides, since he’s helped your teammates, I think he deserves that much of an explanation.”
“Tsk.”
Kwon Myung-woo showed his displeasure.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already extracted an oath from him to keep this secret. He may be insane, but he’s not one to break his word.”
Trusting Kwon Myung-woo, Kwon Han-ul explained his secret.
From the day he first arrived at the Hukcheon Estate, he had been able to acquire different bloodlines and grow stronger by using them.
“…”
“…”
After hearing Kwon Han-ul’s full explanation, both men wore expressions of utter bewilderment.
“Is that really true? Why on earth do you possess such an ability?”
“I don’t know that much myself.”
He omitted any mention of the Vessel. That was something he could never reveal to anyone.
“I’m just as curious about why I developed this ability.”
So he simply played dumb.
With Kwon Han-ul taking this stance, the two men could press no further.
“A member of the Heukcheon Bloodline possessing multiple bloodlines? If this becomes known, the entire world will be turned upside down.”
Byeok Ryok-gwon folded his arms and spoke. Both Kwon Han-ul and Kwon Myung-woo fixed him with a sharp stare.
“As I said before, I’ll keep the secret. However, there is a condition.”
“Damn it, to think I’d have a weakness exploited by this lunatic.”
“Don’t worry needlessly. The person I’ll demand compensation from is Kwon Han-ul.”
“What? You said earlier you’d demand it from the Main House.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Kwon Han-ul waited tensely for Byeok Ryok-gwon’s next words. Such a secret could not possibly come cheap.
“Don’t you have a member of the Hwan-su Bloodline among your teammates?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I wish to take that person as my disciple.”
At these words, Kwon Han-ul’s eyes widened. Kwon Myung-woo’s reaction was identical.
“W-what? A disciple?”
“Why the surprise? You know I’ve always had a weakness for taking disciples.”
“That may be true, but… why specifically ask for that young man as your disciple?”
“To fulfill a lifelong dream of mine.”
Byeok Ryok-gwon scratched his cheek as he spoke.
“The Byeok Ryok-gwon technique originally has a paired skill—the Baek Hwa Ji Yeom Gak.”
“Baek Hwa Ji Yeom Gak? I’ve never heard of it.”
“That’s only natural. Since I never mastered it myself, it’s never been revealed to the world.”
Byeok Ryok-gwon cleared his throat before continuing.
“Just as Byeok Ryok-gwon manipulates lightning, Baek Hwa Ji Yeom Gak manipulates fire. Only someone capable of transforming mana into flames can learn it.”
The problem was that Byeok Ryok-gwon was born with only lightning affinity.
“When both skills are mastered simultaneously, their true value emerges. Yet I’ve never found a single hunter capable of wielding both forces at once.”
Simply altering mana’s properties wasn’t enough to master both techniques.
One needed an ability user who could transform mana into both lightning and fire entirely.
“Then I happened to learn about the Hwan-su Bloodline. That lineage can mimic the power of other creatures, can’t it?”
While humans with dual powers were unheard of, monsters possessed such abilities frequently. Byeok Ryok-gwon had seized upon this fact.
“That young man with the Hwan-su Bloodline could master both skills simultaneously. Then my lifelong wish to witness the true potential of both techniques would finally be realized.”
This was why Byeok Ryok-gwon had asked Kwon Han-ul to take Gael Garsian as his disciple.
“Kwon Han-ul, if you grant me this one request, I swear to keep your secret until my dying breath.”
Byeok Ryok-gwon grasped Kwon Han-ul’s hand, his eyes burning with yearning.
Kwon Han-ul pondered for a moment before responding.
“I apologize.”
At the refusal, Byeok Ryok-gwon’s shoulders sagged.
“Is that young man more important to you than your own secret?”
“It’s a decision I cannot make for him.”
Though we stood as captain and subordinate, I had no intention of forcing Gael Garsian’s hand.
“Ask Gael directly.”

* * *

Gael Garsian, suddenly summoned, found himself awash in bewilderment.
“…For this reason, I wish to take you as my disciple.”
Byeok Ryok-gwon explained in detail to Gael Garsian why he intended to make him his disciple.
“Commander, are you saying that you value my will?”
“Indeed. He specifically told me to ask you first.”
Gael Garsian fell into contemplation. As he remained silent, Byeok Ryok-gwon spoke with visible impatience.
“I am an absolute being who can boast of being among the top five in the entire world. I promise you—if you become my disciple….”
“How strong could I become?”
Gael Garsian spoke abruptly.
“Why do you ask such a thing?”
“I have a debt of gratitude to repay to you, Commander. But with my current strength, even if I wish to be of help, there is nothing I can do.”
For this reason, Gael Garsian had no choice but to ask Byeok Ryok-gwon.
“Could I become strong enough to repay that debt?”
The corners of Byeok Ryok-gwon’s mouth twisted. He spoke with a contemptuous expression.
“Ha! What pathetic words! If you become my disciple and inherit everything from me, you could even become the world’s strongest!”
“…The strongest?”
“Except for that bastard Kwon Han-ul.”
As if realizing something was amiss with his own words, Byeok Ryok-gwon quickly corrected himself.
No matter how much he thought about it, surpassing Kwon Han-ul was impossible.
“But you could reach the level just below him. What do you say?”
“I accept.”
Gael Garsian spoke without hesitation. Only then did Byeok Ryok-gwon’s expression turn satisfied.
“You won’t regret this.”

* * *

Kwon Hu-don stood at a distance, observing Byeok Ryok-gwon and Gael Garsian.
It was gratifying that Gael Garsian had become the disciple of someone as formidable as Byeok Ryok-gwon, yet for some reason, a corner of his heart felt uneasy.
“What’s so entertaining that you’re staring at it like that?”
Suddenly, a presence stirred beside him. Kwon Myung-woo had appeared without warning.
Kwon Hu-don startled and bowed deeply.
“G-Great Uncle!”
“Your surprise is rather amusing, I must say.”
Kwon Myung-woo chuckled in response. Kwon Hu-don stood flustered, unsure what to do.
“You looked troubled, so I thought I’d strike up a conversation.”
“Was my expression really that obvious?”
Kwon Hu-don touched his own face self-consciously.
“Mei Hong has obtained Mei Xiao’s power.”
“Pardon? Is… is such a thing possible?”
“It is the authority of Asura Blood. One can enslave the spirits of the dead.”
“Ah…”
Kwon Hu-don was already familiar with this ability. Mei Hong had demonstrated it to him several times before.
“So both of them have found their own paths in this manner.”
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“M-Me?”
Kwon Hu-don could not answer immediately. No matter how much he thought about it, this question had no answer.
“W-Well, if I increase the… intensity of my training a bit more…”
“Will that make you stronger than those two?”
“T-That would be… difficult…”
Kwon Hu-don’s shoulders slumped. At this sight, Kwon Myung-woo clicked his tongue.
“Listen here. I cannot abide seeing the Heukcheon Bloodline fall behind others.”
“I-I apologize.”
“I did not seek an apology. If things continue as they are, you will rank lowest in the Heukam Corps, and I will not tolerate that even if it costs me my life.”
Kwon Myung-woo’s eyes turned fierce. Kwon Hu-don trembled, overwhelmed by the pressure.
“I shall train you personally for the time being.”
And then he spoke words that were difficult to believe.
“…Y-Yes?”
“I will nurture you myself.”
“R-Really?”
Color returned to Kwon Hu-don’s face.
If he could learn from Kwon Myung-woo, known as the Heukcheon First Fist Master, he could grow remarkably.
“B-But I couldn’t possibly impose such a burden…”
“Besides, the Heukcheon Team and I cannot engage in external activities for some time.”
Kwon Myung-woo gazed down at his own chest with a bitter expression.
Though the treatment had concluded, the wounds Kwon Myung-woo had sustained were far from ordinary.
It was a wound pierced clean through by a sword—Mei Xiao’s mana lingered like poison, obstructing Kwon Myung-woo’s recovery.
Moreover, the Heukcheon Team had suffered considerable losses from the Gangtaedae’s betrayal. With a third of their forces gone, time was needed to replenish their ranks.
“So I’m saying I’ll focus on training you during that time. You still don’t like it?”
“N-no! Of course not!”
Kwon Hu-don shook his head vigorously. Satisfied with his response, Kwon Myung-woo nodded approvingly.
“Good. Then I’ll raise you myself.”
“Th-thank you so much!”
“Ah, but first call your mother.”
“Yes! She’ll be so happy!”
“No, that’s not it.”
Kwon Myung-woo shook his head and added further.
“You might die, so say your farewells in advance.”
Kwon Hu-don didn’t immediately grasp what Kwon Myung-woo meant.
“…Pardon?”
“One or two members of the Heukcheon Team always end up dead during training. So get your affairs in order before you come back.”
Kwon Myung-woo patted Kwon Hu-don’s shoulder twice, then left.
Kwon Hu-don followed after him, his voice trembling.
“Uncle. P-please reconsider just once more…”

* * *

The Heukcheon Team worked through the night, arresting the remnants of the Mei Family.
Unfortunately, they could not locate the Ion Mages during the process. They only found evidence that they had already escaped the Treasure Vault.
“There’s nothing left either, is there?”
Kwon Myung-woo, receiving the Heukcheon Team’s report, clicked his tongue briefly.
“That damned woman Mei Xiao must have already taken and used everything.”
True to its ironic name, the Treasure Vault held not a single remaining asset.
All that remained were the magic swords that Ion had modified.
“Everything else is fine, but the grand finale falls flat.”
Plunder is the victor’s right and the spoils of war.
With that missing, disappointment was inevitable.
“Our business here is finished. Let’s withdraw.”
Kwon Myung-woo issued the order to the Heukcheon Team.
Kwon Han-ul also began preparing to leave the Treasure Vault.
The stamina and mana depleted by the composite manifestation had returned somewhat, allowing him to move again. Though the power of his bloodline still slumbered.
Just then, Mei Hong poked his back repeatedly.
“What is it?”
“I think I should tell the commander first.”
Mei Hong glanced around before whispering to Kwon Han-ul.
“Actually, there’s a real Treasure Vault hidden inside the Treasure Vault.”
“Really? Is that truly the case?”
Mei Hong nodded vigorously. Kwon Han-ul asked as if he couldn’t comprehend.
“But even if there’s another Treasure Vault, wouldn’t Mei Xiao have already ransacked it?”
“No. That place contains truly important items, so I had Mei Xiao leave it untouched as a precaution.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
Mei Hong silently extended her longsword. The magical power emanating from it left Kwon Han-ul astounded.
“Don’t tell me you’ve made Mei Xiao into a Noble Blade?”
“Yes. You’re not angry, are you?”
“No, that’s not it….”
If one could transform a powerful warrior into a Noble Blade, one’s own combat strength would surge dramatically. It was something to celebrate, not condemn.
However, the dead cannot be made into Noble Blades. I simply couldn’t fathom how Mei Xiao had been subjugated as one.
“When I made Mei Xiao into a Noble Blade, I also obtained her knowledge. Among that knowledge was information about a hidden location within the Treasure Vault.”
Mei Hong smiled wickedly as she spoke.
“Let’s go see our real Treasure Vault.”

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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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