Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 55

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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 55】

Chapter 55: Bringing in the New Recruit (3)

Kwon Han-ul made no effort to chase after Mei Hong.
After all, where she was headed was obvious. There was only one place nearby—the Camp. A base the Kwon Family had established for regional operations.
What demanded his immediate attention was the condition of the bloodline members. They were still clinging to life, but they’d lost far too much blood.
Though I had no prior acquaintance with them, I couldn’t simply abandon members of my own family.
After administering basic first aid, I loaded them all into the vehicle and departed.
Fortunately, the car was spacious enough to accommodate all the wounded. Though I had to pack them in like cargo, practically bursting at the seams.
Heading toward the Camp, I encountered the manager immediately upon arrival.
“Good heavens… so it’s come to this…”
The Camp manager let out a heavy sigh upon seeing the injured bloodline members.
After hearing the full story, it became clear that the bloodline members who were being outmatched by Mei Hong in both ability and achievement had independently planned an expedition into the Platinum Dungeon.
‘Of course. The Heukcheon bloodline would never tolerate such humiliation.’
Those prideful bloodline members couldn’t possibly accept being surpassed by anyone—least of all by Mei Hong.
“Has Mei Hong arrived here?”
That wasn’t my concern. What mattered was Mei Hong herself.
“Ah, I see you’ve come for Mei Hong. She arrived just moments ago, but she went straight to the Shower Room, so I’m afraid meeting her right now would be difficult.”
“The Shower Room?”
I raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Seeing her arrive in nothing but a tracksuit to catch a shadow, I’d assumed she was rather lazy. But apparently, she had a surprisingly fastidious nature.
“It is strange, isn’t it? Normally, she’d endure being covered in monster entrails, claiming she never knew when a Dungeon might open.”
The manager spoke with a tone of bewilderment.
In any case, meeting Mei Hong right now was impossible. I had no choice but to wait.
As I was leaving the Manager’s Office,
Joo Ha-yeon, who had been waiting outside, was conversing with a young man.
“Well then, Joo Ha-yeon, I look forward to working with you going forward.”
“Please, speak comfortably.”
“I couldn’t possibly do that with a hero who stands alongside the Chairman.”
Pure-blooded Heukcheon.
And quite a skilled one at that.
As I was observing the young man, he and Joo Ha-yeon both turned to look at me, apparently sensing my presence.
“Oh, so you’re the legendary Pure Blood I’ve heard so much about!”
The young man’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. It seemed I was called “Pure Blood” far more often than by my actual name.
“Hello. I’m Kwon Han-ul.”
“I’m Kwon Hyung-min! I’ve just been appointed captain of the 18th Squad!”
Something felt off about this, and sure enough—he was captain-class.
He appeared to be a captain-rank officer, though not one with particularly high authority. The way he referred to his unit by number rather than name made that clear.
“So you command the Unnamed Squad.”
“I’m unworthy of the position, but that’s how it came to be.”
Kwon Hyung-min scratched the back of his head as he spoke.
Unnamed Squad
A newly formed unit without any distinguished achievements, it was referred to by number instead of name.
All Heukcheon units began as the Unnamed Squad, and only after proving themselves through accomplishments were they granted a proper name.
Only the Named Squad and beyond—those units that had earned their designation—could truly be called Heukcheon’s real fighting force.
“It’s an honor to meet you in person. I’ve heard much about you….”
Kwon Hyung-min’s eyes swept over Kwon Han-ul from head to toe.
“…The rumors weren’t exaggerated at all. If anything, they fell short of the truth.”
The measuring look in Kwon Hyung-min’s eyes gradually began to shift.
Surprisingly, it transformed into competitive spirit.
“If possible, I’d like to verify your strength firsthand.”
At those words, Kwon Han-ul let out a dry laugh.
“You want to test me even knowing I’m of pure bloodline?”
There was much meaning behind those words.
The Kwon Family and countless other clans divided their hierarchy by bloodline rank.
Mixed blood, inferior blood, pure blood.
Between each rank lay an insurmountable wall.
He was asking if Kwon Hyung-min would challenge him despite knowing this.
“In a land without tigers, the wolf becomes king.”
Kwon Han-ul found that odd. Wasn’t it supposed to be a fox?
“A wolf who has reigned as king all this time won’t simply hand over his crown just because a tiger has appeared. A king has his pride, after all.”

Kwon Hyung-min’s mouth corners rose sharply, baring his fangs in a fierce, savage grin.
“Especially if that tiger hasn’t fully matured yet, there’s nothing more to say.”
Kwon Han-ul chuckled and extended his hand. Kwon Hyung-min grasped it without hesitation.
In that instant, Dragon Thug Energy flowed through their clasped hands.
Kwon Hyung-min’s Dragon Thug Energy surged forward viciously, entering Kwon Han-ul’s body intent on tearing everything apart from within.
But.
Before the Dragon Thug Energy could properly rampage, the Dragon Horse Energy swallowed it whole. The Dragon Thug Energy was overwhelmed in an instant, unable to mount any resistance.
Kwon Han-ul’s Dragon Horse Energy invaded Kwon Hyung-min’s body. His forearm convulsed and began to scream.
“Cough.”
Spitting blood, Kwon Hyung-min dropped to one knee. Yet Kwon Han-ul didn’t release his grip.
Instead, he looked down at Kwon Hyung-min and asked.
“Do you wish to continue?”
Kwon Hyung-min gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Kwon Han-ul pulled him up by the hand.
Kwon Hyung-min brushed the dirt from his knees. Then he handed Kwon Han-ul a business card.
Kwon Han-ul looked at him with a questioning expression, wondering why he was being given this.
“It’s my business card. If you ever need assistance, please call on me. My squad and I wish to maintain good relations with you.”
Whether spoken with sincerity or not, Kwon Hyung-min bowed his head slightly.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, I’ve already been rejected by Mei Hong quite some time ago. I hope you succeed, Kwon Han-ul.”
With those words, Kwon Hyung-min departed. His gait was somewhat unsteady, suggesting he’d sustained severe internal injuries.
“I should offer my congratulations,”
“For what?”
“You’ve made Kwon Hyung-min submit to you.”
Kwon Han-ul’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Just from this? He’s submitting?”
“The Heukcheon Bloodline members are rigid, but surprisingly simple-minded. They initially refuse with all manner of excuses, but ultimately they follow the strong.”
It was still a way of thinking that Kwon Han-ul found difficult to comprehend.
But having subdued that prideful purebred, he couldn’t say the feeling was entirely unpleasant.
“You said you’d help when needed, didn’t you?”
“You wouldn’t have handed over your business card while saying that if you were lying.”
“Then that works out well for me.”
Kwon Han-ul tucked the business card into his pocket.
“Haven’t any other squads come by?”
“While you were inside, I’ve already met three captains from other Unnamed Squads.”
“Quite a few have shown up.”
“Oh, and the Named Squad is here as well.”
“The Named Squad too?”
Kwon Han-ul’s eyes widened. The Unnamed Squads had only just been established, so even if they coveted Mei Hong, he hadn’t expected the already-rooted Named Squad to come as well.
“Though they sent a representative rather than their captain.”
“Why haven’t they come to see me? I’d at least like to know which squad they’re from.”
“I’m sure they’re thinking the same way.”
The opposite?
Kwon Han-ul, who had been puzzled, soon grasped the meaning.
“…So you’re telling me to come pay my respects.”
It was true that Kwon Han-ul had grown stronger at an unprecedented pace.
It was also true that he possessed skills that could compete on the world stage.
But compared to the true powerhouses of Heukcheon, he still fell short.
So it made sense that not even a squad leader, but a mere proxy, would approach with such arrogance.
“By the way, what about Mei Hong?”
“I heard she’s showering. We’ll have to wait a bit.”
Just as Kwon Han-ul clicked his tongue at those words, the building outside suddenly erupted into commotion.
Kwon Han-ul and Joo Ha-yeon peered outside through the glass doors at the entrance.
Five people were walking toward them.
My eyes met with the person leading the group.
He was an exceptionally handsome man. Due to his small stature, it was hard to tell at first glance whether he was male or female.
“Huh?”
“What?”
Both Kwon Han-ul and the man recognized each other.
“Kwon Hu-don?”
“Ha, it’s Han-ul.”
When the Kwon Family went to the Mei Family Compound, they had selected three representatives.
Kwon Han-ul, Kwon Ji-seok, and the remaining one: Kwon Hu-don.
Despite his stammering and lack of confidence in everything, making him seem unreliable, his actual abilities were formidable.
“It’s been a while. Who are the people behind you?”
“W-well, they’re my team members. The family head approved their formation after we fought well at the Mei Family Compound.”
Kwon Hu-don’s face looked dark as he spoke.
It was strange.
Receiving approval to establish a squad from the Heukcheon Group was a great honor.
Yet he wore such an expression.
“D-did you also come because of M-Mei Hong?”
Kwon Han-ul nodded. Kwon Hu-don broke into a bashful smile.
With such a handsome face, that alone made for a beautiful sight.
“I-I did too. Actually, I’m not interested, but… my mother insisted on bringing her…”
“Captain, why are you rambling on like that?”
A man from behind spoke in a blunt tone. He was bald with a face full of scars.
“We’re pressed for time, so let’s go quickly.”
“J-just a bit more talk…”
“You haven’t forgotten the task Kwon Mi gave you, have you? Do you want to be reprimanded later?”
The man urged Kwon Hu-don again. Kwon Hu-don’s shoulders sagged.
“W-well then, see you later. I should be going…”
Kwon Hu-don entered the building with his team members. As they disappeared from view, Kwon Han-ul turned to Joo Ha-yeon and spoke.
“It seems he’s not properly commanding the squad.”
“I share that assessment. The individual members appear to possess considerable ability, but… they lack proper integration.”
Can such a group even be called a team? Kwon Han-ul remained decidedly skeptical.
“No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like leader material. How did things end up this way?”
“That’s probably because…”
“What were you just saying about my Hu-don?”
A sharp voice cut through from behind.
A middle-aged woman in a vivid red suit came into view. The moment Kwon Han-ul saw her, he exhaled silently in resignation.
“Say it again! What did you just say?”
“Ah, I believe you misheard.”
“Are you talking back to me?”
The middle-aged woman’s brow furrowed. Kwon Han-ul soothed her with the gentlest tone he could muster.
“How could I possibly do such a thing to you, Aunt?”
Kwon Mi.
The youngest daughter of Heukcheon’s Chairman Kwon Seon-woo and Kwon Han-ul’s aunt.
She stood right before him.

* * *

From their first meeting, Kwon Mi had never taken a liking to Kwon Han-ul.
“Are you mocking me right now?”
And that hadn’t changed.
“Aunt? I’ve never had a nephew like you!”
“Yes, I apologize.”
Kwon Han-ul let her words go in one ear and out the other. She had always been this way toward him.
“I only helped you out of necessity during the Mei Family matter, but that doesn’t mean I acknowledge you!”
Kwon Han-ul nodded as if in agreement. He felt no resentment. After all, they were never truly family to begin with.
“The Heukcheon Bloodline must carry dignity befitting their station! You were born flawed and raised outside—you lack grace, refinement, everything.”
“Kwon Mi, I would appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully.”
Joo Ha-yeon stepped forward and spoke. Kwon Han-ul tried to stop her, but it was too late.
“The Chairman acknowledges Kwon Han-ul. Any further insults toward him are insults toward the Chairman himself.”
Finding it difficult to argue, Kwon Mi clicked her tongue and turned away.
“You’ve gained some fame so far through sheer luck, but from now on, forget about it. My Hu-don will take the spotlight.”
Kwon Han-ul swallowed hard. Kwon Mi’s expectations seemed far too excessive.
“The fact that you’re here means you have business with that girl from the Mei Family, doesn’t it? I’m sorry, but that child will be joining Hu-don’s team.”
“Have you already discussed this with her?”
“No.”
Kwon Han-ul’s expression turned incredulous. She was making such confident assumptions without any basis.
“But once I show her this, that girl will definitely join our team.”
Kwon Mi loosened the cloth bundle she had been holding at her side, revealing a sword sheath.
It was a sword I recognized immediately. As I searched my memory, I finally recalled it.
“…Isn’t that the sword of the Sword Master of the Hundred Swords?”
“Originally, it was the sword used by that Mei Family girl’s father. The Sword Master of the Hundred Swords took it and used it himself.”
There was a reason Kwon Mi was so confident.
“How did you obtain it?”
“After the battle ended, I requested it from the Chairman, and he gave it to me. I had earned enough merit for that much.”
In truth, my merit was far greater than that. It was I who had held back most of the Mei Family’s masters who remained at the Main House at that time.
‘She’s willing to use such a treasure just to bring Mei Hong with her.’
If the Sword Master of the Hundred Swords used it, the item must possess tremendous value.
Yet she readily used it to bring Mei Hong here.
‘Is it for Kwon Hu-don?’
I could glimpse the extent of the effort Kwon Mi was making for her son Kwon Hu-don’s team.
“If you understand, stop wasting time and leave. I will take this girl with me.”
Suddenly, my gaze shifted behind Kwon Mi. A woman with a familiar presence was walking toward us.
“Is that Mei Hong?”
Unlike when I first saw her, she wore proper clothing instead of a tracksuit. She had even applied light makeup to her face.
Kwon Mi turned to look at Mei Hong. Upon recognizing her, she stepped forward.
“How have you been?”
Mei Hong bowed her head toward Kwon Mi.
“Kwon Mi, I greet you.”
“How delightful that you recognized me immediately. I came here to take you with me.”
“I don’t intend to….”
“Wasn’t the original owner of this sword your father?”
Kwon Mi displayed the sword hilt as she spoke.
“If you promise to follow me, I’ll return it right away….”
“I apologize.”
Mei Hong bowed her head again. And she walked past Kwon Mi.
Kwon Mi hadn’t anticipated this situation. Her face stiffened with bewilderment.
Having passed Kwon Mi, Mei Hong stood before me.
“I’m good with it.”
Then she suddenly said something incomprehensible. I could only blink.
Perhaps frustrated, Mei Hong’s expression turned angry.
“Goodness, I said I’m good with it!”
“Uh… So what exactly are you good with?”
“Didn’t you come to take me with you?”
“That’s true, but….”
“I said I’m good with it.”
Mei Hong spoke again to me, who still looked bewildered.
“Please take me with you!”

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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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