Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 24

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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 24】

Chapter 24: Bloodline Assembles (1)

Kwon Han-ul made his way directly to the Conference Hall.
True to the Kwon Family’s architectural tradition of constructing all buildings in traditional Korean style, the Conference Hall was designed to mirror the throne room of a Joseon Dynasty monarch.
The space exuded an overwhelming sense of classical grandeur, as if that ancient era had been meticulously recreated.
The only difference was that it had been built wider and taller than its historical counterpart.
Inside, roughly a dozen people had gathered. It seemed not everyone had arrived yet, as more continued to filter into the hall even after Kwon Han-ul’s entrance.
Remarkably, they were all pureblooded clansmen. I could discern this thanks to my True Black Dragon Bloodline.
“There are quite a few faces I haven’t seen before.”
“Not all pureblooded clansmen reside at the Kwon Family Estate. Most of these individuals have come from other regions specifically for this team competition.”
Joo Ha-yeon gestured toward the purebloods with her eyes as she spoke.
“Some are elders who were purebloods in previous generations, and while not direct descendants, there are also families that have maintained their pureblood status.”
Indeed, if only the Chairman’s direct bloodline remained pureblooded, it would be difficult to properly maintain the Heukcheon Group.
At that moment, the sharp click of high heels echoed distinctly.
A middle-aged woman in a crimson suit entered the Conference Hall with a confident stride.
It was Kwon Mi, Kwon Han-ul’s aunt.
“Thank you all for gathering. I’m Kwon Mi, and I’ll be overseeing this matter.”
Since Kwon Mi handled diplomatic affairs for the Heukcheon Group, this appointment was perhaps an obvious choice.
For Kwon Han-ul, however, the situation was far from welcome. Of all people, it had to be Kwon Mi—someone who despised him—taking charge of the team competition.
“As you’re all aware, friction has arisen between us and the Mei Family over ownership of a Dungeon. In response, the Mei Family has proposed that whichever side emerges victorious in a team competition shall claim the Dungeon’s ownership.”
At Kwon Mi’s words, the clansmen’s expressions darkened menacingly.
“The Mei Family dares to challenge Heukcheon?”
“They’ve grown bold. In my day, those wretches wouldn’t even dare talk back to Heukcheon.”
“It seems we’ll need to make the difference in our standings abundantly clear in the near future.”
“Will that suffice? Let’s crush the entire family without leaving a trace!”
Kwon Han-ul couldn’t help but be startled by the purebloods’ fierce reactions.
They weren’t merely expressing anger in words—they were genuinely enraged by the Mei Family’s audacity and viewed them with utter contempt.
Even I found myself wondering if it was appropriate to treat the Mei Family, which dominated the Chinese Continent, with such disdain.
‘Then again, perhaps it’s only natural.’
They were Heukcheon.
No matter how formidable the Mei Family might be, they paled in comparison to Heukcheon.
Heukcheon had always been the master of East Asia, while the Mei Family were merely challengers.
Perhaps such arrogance was justified.
“While I understand your sentiments… the Chairman has already decided to accept their challenge.”
“The Chairman agreed to associate with those insignificant fools?”
“Why bother with such a tedious matter? If you simply give us the order, we’ll teach them manners immediately!”
“He said it would be interesting.”
At Kwon Mi’s words, the purebloods fell silent.
“The Mei Family has never acknowledged the gap in power between them and Heukcheon. So he said this would be an opportunity to carve that truth into their very bones.”
“That does sound entertaining.”
“Now that I think about it, I approve.”
The purebloods nodded in agreement.
“The Mei Family has proposed three rules. First, each family will send three representatives. Second, whichever side has the last survivor will claim ownership of the Dungeon. And finally, the participants must be bloodline members who have not yet made a name for themselves.”
The purebloods frowned.
The final rule clearly frustrated them—it meant they couldn’t personally deal with the Mei Family.
“We will now decide on our participants here. If any of you elders have recommendations, please share them.”
Bloodline members who have not yet made a name for themselves.
At Kwon Mi’s words, the purebloods began offering their own candidates.
“My grandson has shown quite impressive skill lately….”
“My daughter is remarkably capable.”
The atmosphere suddenly shifted dramatically.
What had been a judgment chamber moments ago—deciding how to punish the Mei Family—had transformed into something like a gathering of doting parents.
“Why are they all getting so worked up?”
“It’s an excellent opportunity to raise their children’s reputation. If they perform well, they might even catch the Chairman’s eye.”
In other words, the courtroom had become a stage for advancement.
That was when the conference hall door suddenly burst open. Brilliant sunlight flooded inward, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Ugh, refreshing.”
The man who opened the door was an elderly figure with salt-and-pepper beard and hair.
But his frame was unusually muscular for his age. The muscles in his limbs were equally intimidating.
“Ugh, refreshing.”
The old man took a long swig from the bottle in his hand. His face was as red as a tomato—a testament to how much he’d already drunk in broad daylight.
His demeanor was far too irreverent for someone attending a conference. Yet the purebloods didn’t rebuke him; instead, they gazed at him with awe and reverence.
“Isn’t that Executive Director Kwon Myung-woo?”
“How did he come to be here….”
At that name, Kwon Han-ul also started in surprise.
Kwon Myung-woo.
The younger brother of Kwon Seon-woo, Chairman of the Heukcheon Group. Simultaneously, he was known as the strongest of the Kwon Family.
A man of tremendous talent who had personally created dozens of S-rank skills.
It was no exaggeration to say that most of the skills currently being learned by Heukcheon’s Hunters were his creations.
“Uncle, what brings you here?”
Kwon Mi rushed over and asked. He continued speaking while sipping his drink.
“Well, you see. Our Chairman Kwon Seon-woo gave me special instructions to come.”
“Special… instructions?”
Kwon Mi was the one overseeing the team battle. Even she didn’t know about these special instructions?
“Is there a Kwon Han-ul here?”
How does he know my name?
It was an unexpected call. Kwon Han-ul raised his hand and spoke.
“I am Kwon Han-ul.”
“That Kwon Han-ul fellow—make sure he participates in the team battle, no matter what.”
At those words, the faces of the purebloods hardened.
Among them, Kwon Mi’s expression was particularly striking.
“…What did you just say?”
Her face twisted like that of a specter.

* * *

“I said to have that Kwon Han-ul participate in the team battle.”
Kwon Myung-woo repeated himself. Kwon Mi bit her lip and cried out.
“This is absurd! This team battle isn’t just about dungeon ownership—it’s about the pride of the Kwon Family! Yet you want to throw that fool in without even proper verification procedures…!”
“Mi. You’re saying something quite amusing.”
Kwon Myung-woo took another sip of his drink. After draining it completely, he spoke to her.
“Demanding verification from a child who made his debut in the Platinum Dungeon? That’s a joke without a punchline.”
At his words, the purebloods began to murmur among themselves.
“His debut was in the Platinum Dungeon? So he’s the rumored true bloodline.”
“Indeed, a true bloodline. Everything about him is different from the start. We must be careful.”
“Hmph, it’s nothing special. Didn’t Chan-an also make her debut in the Platinum Dungeon?”
The atmosphere in the conference hall shifted. Everyone began to regard Kwon Han-ul with caution.
Kwon Han-ul smiled quietly. So the purebloods of Heukcheon, possessing such formidable power and influence, were now wary of him.
It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
No—it was actually quite satisfying.
“There’s a flaw in that reasoning!”
Kwon Mi refused to back down and cried out. Kwon Myung-woo tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Hunting monsters and fighting people are entirely different matters! Just because he’s good at killing monsters doesn’t guarantee he’ll perform the same way in combat against humans!”
Remarkably, most of the purebloods nodded in agreement with Kwon Mi’s words.
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. Hunting monsters and fighting humans are separate issues entirely.”
“Monsters and humans are far too different.”
There was once a famous hunter who was assassinated by an assassin.
Surprisingly, that assassin was merely second-rate, not even first-class.
A tragedy that occurred because the hunter had no idea how to fight people.
As public opinion swung in her favor, a smile blossomed on Kwon Mi’s face.
“I’ll speak well of this to the Chairman. So let’s suspend that decision for now…”
“You said I haven’t proven myself.”
All eyes converged. Kwon Han-ul was stepping forward.
“What are you doing? Do you have no sense of propriety in a place like this?”
“Since you say I’m lacking, I’ve come to prove it.”
“What? Proof?”
Kwon Han-ul summoned his Dragon Aura. A pitch-black energy rippled outward in all directions.
The purebloods gasped at the sight.
“Good heavens… how can one person possess such an enormous quantity of Dragon Force?”
“I’ve never witnessed such an ominous aura in my entire life.”
The purebloods gathered here were those who had made tremendous contributions to the family.
They had fought on the front lines and brought countless victories and glory to the Heukcheon Group.
In terms of pure ability, I was still a step below them.
Yet even they could not dismiss my Dragon Aura lightly.
I made my declaration to them.
“Anyone is welcome to challenge me. I will prove my capabilities right here and now.”

* * *

“Ha! Look at the audacity of this brat!”
“How dare he challenge us!”
Heated reactions erupted from various corners. Yet not a single person stepped forward.
Their pride would not allow it.
They knew Kwon Han-ul was a promising talent among the branch family, but not someone to be compared with themselves.
Then it happened.
“Ahahahahaha!”
Kwon Myung-woo, standing beside Kwon Mi, burst into loud laughter.
“Look at this arrogant fool. What? Challenge us? I’ll take you on! Ahahahahaha!”
Kwon Myung-woo began to summon his Dragon Force. At the sight, I felt a moment of panic.
‘Wait, this person is going to fight me?’
Kwon Myung-woo—the pillar supporting Heukcheon alongside Kwon Seon-woo, regarded as the strongest.
I had wanted to test my strength against him someday, but not now. There were still many imperfections in my technique. At this point, he was an opponent I wanted to refuse—not just burdensome, but impossible to face.
‘I need to make some excuse and decline…’
But Kwon Myung-woo gave me no such opportunity.
“Seeing is believing! Let’s begin right now!”
Kwon Myung-woo released his Dragon Force and closed the distance in an instant. I too unleashed my Dragon Aura in that split second. The two of us collided like wildfire meeting wildfire across an open field.
However.
‘My Dragon Aura is being pushed back?’
It was nothing short of shocking. Dragon Aura was a superior force compared to Dragon Force.
Yet my Dragon Aura was being overwhelmed by Dragon Force?
“How bold, to lose focus with me standing before you! Impressive nerve!”
Kwon Myung-woo threw a punch without warning. It was a simple, straightforward strike with no flourish whatsoever, yet—
‘I cannot block this head-on.’
I instinctively understood. I crossed my arms and lifted my body slightly. The next instant, my body was driven into the ceiling.
With a tremendous crash, dust rained down from the ceiling. Kwon Myung-woo’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Huh? Why is it so light?”
I looked up at the ceiling and asked.
“Hey?”
In that instant, the smile vanished from Kwon Myung-woo’s face.
Kwon Han-ul burst through the ceiling and descended toward him, driving his heel downward.
Kwon Myung-woo blocked the attack with his forearm. The collision rang out like reinforced steel striking steel.
“Oho.”
A smile bloomed across Kwon Myung-woo’s face.
“Your strikes have considerable substance.”
“You won’t be saying such things from this point forward.”
“And such fighting spirit!”
Kwon Myung-woo threw a punch. Reason screamed at me—evade, don’t block.
But instinct commanded the opposite. I surrendered to instinct without hesitation.
I didn’t dodge; I blocked. Even in blocking, every bone in my body resonated with the impact.
“Oho?”
Kwon Myung-woo’s expression shifted to one of surprise. I threw an identical punch at that face.
Kwon Myung-woo blocked with his forearm as well. Between our crossed fists, his smile was visible.
“You dare engage me in a bare-knuckle brawl?”
“There’s nothing preventing it.”
“How audacious!”

Kwon Myung-woo threw punches with evident delight. I gritted my teeth and met each one.
Forearms and fists collided without pause. With each impact, the Conference Hall trembled as though struck by an earthquake.
“This… this can’t be.”
“It’s… impossible.”
The pure-blooded members watching the spectacle doubted their own eyes.
“Engaging him head-on in a bare-knuckle exchange.”
Those who knew Kwon Myung-woo’s true strength had already caught on.
That he was holding back against Kwon Han-ul.
And yet.
Kwon Myung-woo’s fists were far from merciful enough to simply let through.
“Truly worthy of a pure bloodline!”
Greater ferocity infused Kwon Myung-woo’s next punch. I defended against it, but I couldn’t prevent my knees from buckling.
Grinding my teeth, I straightened my bent legs and drove my fist upward toward his jaw.
Kwon Myung-woo blocked with his palm. Yet my attack was no trivial matter—his body was pushed back ever so slightly.
“Hah!”
“Ha!”
Both our mouths split into grins. The pure-blooded members gasped once more.
“They’re… they’re both smiling.”
Every member of the Heukcheon bloodline pursues conflict without exception. The Black Dragon Bloodline makes them this way.
But I wasn’t laughing while exchanging blows like those two.
It simply meant that their competitive spirit and desire to win burned far stronger than anyone else’s.
“Hey there! You look exhausted. Why don’t you take a rest?”
“Great-uncle, you must be tired from your years. Perhaps you should take a break yourself!”
“Tch, you impudent brat!”
Kwon Han-ul raised his fist again. That was when it happened.
“Exhilarating! But if you continue, you’ll be in danger!”
I could still go on.
Just as Kwon Han-ul was about to shout those words, Kwon Myung-woo’s hand blade descended like lightning.
In an instant, darkness consumed my vision.
I couldn’t see with my eyes, and reacting was utterly impossible.
The hand blade struck the back of Kwon Han-ul’s neck. In that moment, his body crashed into the ground.

* * *

Kwon Han-ul’s body was driven into the earth. The floor crumbled, and dust billowed up in thick clouds.
“Hahahaha!”
From within the dust, Kwon Myung-woo laughed loudly. It was the kind of laughter that made everyone who heard it feel invigorated.
“Magnificent! Truly magnificent! In all my years, I’ve never seen a child more suited to Heukcheon than this one!”
Kwon Myung-woo turned to face the purebloods. Everyone flinched at the sharpness in his gaze.
“I, Kwon Myung-woo, guarantee it! This child is more than sufficient to bring honor to Heukcheon’s name in the upcoming team match against the Mei Family! In fact, he exceeds all expectations!”
Kwon Myung-woo drove his point home with another thunderous declaration.
“If anyone has objections, step forward now! I’ll personally convince you!”
Not a single pureblooded member of the Heukcheon Group had the audacity to voice dissent against Kwon Myung-woo, their supreme master and elder.
When everyone remained silent, Kwon Myung-woo turned to Kwon Mi and spoke.
“It seems no one has objections. What do you think?”
Kwon Mi bit her lower lip. She had more than enough objections, but she couldn’t voice them.
“…I understand. I acknowledge that child as our representative.”
“Hahahaha! Yes, that’s the spirit!”
Kwon Myung-woo burst into laughter once more. Then, a woman stepped forward.
“I dare speak a word to you, sir.”
“Hmm? What is it? Surely you don’t have objections to my decision?”
“Of course not. I’m simply… concerned.”
“Concerned?”
The woman, Joo Ha-yeon, pointed to the ground. There was a hole where Kwon Han-ul had been driven through.
“Kwon Han-ul hasn’t gotten up yet.”
A brief silence fell. Kwon Myung-woo frantically began digging at the ground with both hands.
“You, you hit too hard! Hey, he can’t be dead!”

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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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