Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 28
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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 28】
Chapter 28: Bloodline Triumphs (3)
Just before the black wave consumed Mei Peng, someone stepped into its path.
A crystalline blade sang out, cleaving the dragon demonic energy in half. Through the gap, Mei Rong appeared.
“The young dragon of Heukcheon shows little restraint. Our representative nearly perished.”
Mei Rong fixed Kwon Han-ul with a fearsome glare.
The quantity of dragon demonic energy Kwon Han-ul had unleashed was staggering. Had Mei Rong not intervened, Mei Peng would have been torn to shreds.
Kwon Han-ul responded to Mei Rong’s rebuke with casual nonchalance.
“I trusted that the greatest swordsman of the Mei would protect him.”
“The greatest swordsman of the Central Lands.”
Mei Rong corrected him irritably. At those words, Kwon Han-ul bowed slightly at the waist.
“It is an honor to witness the blade of the greatest swordsman of the Central Lands.”
At that single phrase, the spectators remembered a fact they had forgotten.
More shocking than Mei Rong’s intervention was something else entirely—he had drawn his blade completely.
“Mei Rong… he unsheathed his sword…”
“That attack was only that powerful?”
“C-could it be… he was merely demonstrating…”
Had Mei Rong merely intervened, it would have been understandable. When a duel grew dangerous, it was natural for an elder to step in.
But the fact that Mei Rong, the greatest swordsman of the Central Lands, had drawn his blade was difficult to accept.
“No, that’s not the important part right now…”
Then someone muttered in a daze.
“The Mei Family… lost… to Heukcheon’s bloodline… defeated by the sword…”
The impact of those words was tremendous. The Mei Family spectators cried out in voices they could barely recognize.
“This can’t be! No matter how renowned Heukcheon is! How could they defeat the Mei Family with martial arts alone…!”
“He just overpowered them with brute force! You saw it! That’s all it was!”
No matter how much time passed, the murmuring only grew louder instead of subsiding.
Then it happened.
Mei Rong dragged his finger across the blade. In that instant, an ear-splitting sword cry rang through the Duel Arena.
“Silence!”
Mei Rong sheathed his sword. Then he turned to Kwon Han-ul and asked.
“I have one question. How did Heukcheon’s bloodline acquire such swordsmanship?”
All eyes fixed upon Kwon Han-ul. Not only the Mei Family bloodline, but the Heukcheon bloodline as well.
“I practiced in my spare time.”
“…You achieved that level of skill through mere spare-time practice?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Kwon Han-ul lied without the slightest hesitation.
Well… strictly speaking, it’s not a complete lie either.
At those words, Mei Rong’s brow furrowed even deeper.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
In reality, as Kwon Han-ul, I had no choice but to insist.
The fact that I possessed multiple bloodlines absolutely could not be exposed.
Not only would the ripples be difficult to predict, but there was no reason to reveal my most powerful weapon.
That’s why I decided to pose as a genius instead.
“…If that’s true, it’s a blessing for Heukcheon. For our Mei Family, it’s nothing short of a calamity.”
Mei Rong turned his body. He lifted Mei Peng to his feet with one hand and shouted.
“The second duel is a defeat for the Mei Family!”
The spectators’ faces crumpled. They seemed to have much they wanted to say, but no one opened their mouth.
“Mei Hong!”
And he called upon the last remaining representative.
“Can you win?”
Mei Hong shook her head silently. At her action, Mei Rong’s expression twisted.
Mei Rong dragged Mei Peng back to the waiting area. Then he whispered something into Mei Hong’s ear.
In that moment, Mei Hong’s eyes widened. She glared at Mei Rong with a hateful expression.
“You filthy…”
“If you have the luxury to be angry, think about how to win instead.”
Mei Hong glared at Mei Rong for a moment, then stepped into the Duel Arena.
“I am Mei Hong.”
She spoke in a clear voice, then immediately took her stance.
‘This is…’
I felt neither the impressive momentum like Mei Chao nor the eerie premonition like Mei Peng.
Only a quietness, like a boulder sitting in an open field.
But I could sense it.
‘She’s incomparably stronger than the previous two.’
I couldn’t understand why someone of such skill was serving as the middle representative.
‘There must be some circumstances behind this.’
It wasn’t my concern. What mattered now was that finally, a worthy opponent had appeared.
I tossed the long sword to the side. At that sight, Mei Hong’s expression turned puzzled.
“I didn’t think I could face you properly with that.”
Thanks to the Asura Blood, I could wield any weapon freely, but to display my full power, I needed to use my fists.
“Both sides, prepare!”
Mei Rong called out loudly.
“Begin!”
The moment the duel declaration fell, Mei Hong drew her sword. And in one breath, she slashed her own forearm.
The blade turned crimson in an instant. But it didn’t stop there—something strange began to emerge on the surface.
Eyes.
A vertical slit appeared down the center of the blade—like a lizard’s eye splitting open.
It was incomparable to what Mei Peng had unleashed. If that was a cat, this was a tiger.
A smile played across Kwon Han-ul’s lips. Exhilaration surged from deep within my chest.
【Synchronization Rate 18% → 19%】
My blood began to boil. My dragon-horse energy burned fiercer than ever.
That was when it happened.
“Stop!”
The Mei Family Head suddenly shouted. Kwon Han-ul and Mei Hong froze in place.
“The Mei Family withdraws from this duel.”
Everyone was shocked by those words. Only Kwon Han-ul felt displeasure.
Just when things were getting interesting. What was he saying?
“Family Head! What do you mean!”
Mei Rong cried out in confusion. The Mei Family Head spoke calmly.
“Did you not see? How powerful that young dragon of Heukcheon is. The outcome is already clear.”
“But!”
The Mei Family Head ignored Mei Rong’s protest. He turned to Kwon Myung-woo and spoke.
“This team battle belongs to the Kwon Family. As promised, we relinquish our claim to the Dungeon.”
“Excellent! We of Heukcheon accept the Mei Family’s surrender! Hahahaha!”
Kwon Myung-woo’s laughter thundered through the Duel Arena.
Mei Rong and the other Mei Family members glared at Kwon Myung-woo with displeasure.
But it was futile. Savoring victory was the victor’s rightful privilege.
“You rascal!”
Kwon Myung-woo dashed from his seat and embraced Kwon Han-ul, lifting him high.
“Defeating all three by yourself! Truly magnificent!”
“Uncle, I can’t breathe.”
“Bear with it, you brat! Hahahaha!”
Other Kwon Family members climbed into the arena. Among them, Kwon Ji-seok shouted with frustration written all over his face.
“This bastard took them all down himself… Damn it! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”
“You should have volunteered for the first position.”
“What!”
Kwon Ji-seok erupted. Then he scratched his head.
“Damn it, you cursed bastard. Still, you did well.”
Kwon Han-ul doubted his own ears. Did those words really come from Kwon Ji-seok’s mouth?
“Of course, I would have done better! But since you did well, I’m saying this! Next time, this won’t happen again.”
Kwon Ji-seok grumbled on. Then Kwon Hu-don patted Kwon Han-ul’s shoulder.
“A-ah, hello.”
Kwon Hu-don was stammering as usual.
“Y-you were… incredible. Really amazing… so… I mean… I can’t quite… express it…”
Kwon Hu-don flailed his arms about.
Despite his strikingly handsome appearance, his mannerisms created a stark contrast.
“Would it be alright if we got along from now on?”
It was no different from elementary school children asking to be friends.
What should I say in response? That’s when Kwon Han-ul found himself at a loss.
“Hu-don, you!”
A sharp voice rang out. Kwon Mi strode forward and seized Kwon Hu-don by the scruff of his neck.
“Didn’t I tell you not to do this!”
“Y-yes, Mother…”
“Get back to your place this instant!”
Kwon Hu-don shuffled away with a dejected expression. Kwon Mi fixed Kwon Han-ul with a menacing glare.
“…Just because you performed well today doesn’t mean you should act superior.”
Kwon Mi continued speaking irritably.
“Anyone else would have produced the same result.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
When Kwon Han-ul gave a casual reply, Kwon Mi’s eyebrows shot up.
“Has everyone sufficiently shared in the joy?”
At that moment, the Mei Family Head asked. Kwon Myung-woo shook his head vigorously.
“How could we be satisfied! We must return to the Kwon Family and announce this victory, then hold a grand celebration! Ahahaha!”
The Mei Family Head’s expression crumpled slightly.
While it was cause for celebration for the Kwon Family, for the Mei Family it would become a source of ridicule passed down through generations.
“Still, I feel reluctant to let today’s hero depart like this.”
At that moment, the Mei Family Head spoke unexpectedly.
“To penetrate the heart of the Mei Family and defeat our own bloodline in swordplay… even I, who witnessed it firsthand, find it hard to believe such a remarkable feat.”
The Mei Family Head turned to Kwon Han-ul and asked.
“Young dragon of Heukcheon. If there is anything you desire, speak freely. I shall grant whatever you wish.”
Kwon Han-ul doubted his own ears.
“Do you truly mean that, sir?”
“I do indeed.”
Faced with this unexpected fortune, Kwon Han-ul paused to consider. How could he best use this opportunity?
‘Though he said anything, he surely doesn’t mean it literally.’
It would be impossible to request family secrets or treasures. This was merely the Mei Family Head’s goodwill, after all.
‘Then what I should ask for is already decided.’
Kwon Han-ul spoke to the Mei Family Head.
“Then I would like to spend today touring the Mei Family Compound and broadening my horizons.”
* * *
At Kwon Han-ul’s question, the Mei Family Head tilted his head in confusion.
“Sightseeing?”
In other words, he wanted to take a tour of the compound.
Opportunities to visit one of the great families like the Mei Family were rare indeed.
Yet here was the Mei Family Head agreeing to his request, and he wanted to tour the compound?
That was when it happened.
“Ahahaha! How bold of you, young dragon!”
Kwon Myung-woo suddenly burst into laughter. Everyone turned to stare at him with bewildered expressions.
“You’re planning to scout the Mei Family’s layout with your own eyes, anticipating the day you’ll become enemies with them!”
At Kwon Myung-woo’s words, surprise flickered across everyone’s faces. Everyone except one—Kwon Han-ul.
‘I never thought of it that way.’
Kwon Han-ul had simply wanted to tour the compound to see if he could gain something through the True Sura Blood.
But the others accepted Kwon Myung-woo’s interpretation as absolute truth.
“Truly, the bloodline of Heukcheon… not even overlooking such trivial opportunities.”
“That talent… that audacity… I have never feared Heukcheon as much as I do today.”
The Mei Family’s bloodkin trembled with dread. The Mei Family Head’s expression also grew noticeably tense.
“…Unsettling indeed. If he’s like this now, I cannot even fathom what kind of powerhouse he’ll become.”
I wondered if there was ever a case where interpretation proved more consequential than the original intent.
“Since I’ve already made a promise, I cannot refuse the request. However, my offer was extended solely to this young dragon. The rest of the Heukcheon party will have to wait.”
“A reasonable statement. The victor’s privileges belong only to the victor. Hahahaha.”
Kwon Myung-woo’s face remained wreathed in laughter.
“Ah, that’s right. Come here for a moment.”
Suddenly, Kwon Myung-woo called Kwon Han-ul over.
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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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