Chapter 208 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 208: Secret Vault (3)

After collecting all the relics, Kwon Myung-woo led his unit back to the city.

There had been a bit of trouble on the way out of the vault, but nothing major—because the Black Rice Brigade had already taken care of things outside.

Upon returning, Myung-woo rented out an entire hotel to let the troops rest. That evening, he called everyone together.

“Today, we faced a grave crisis.”

He looked around at the people gathered in the hotel’s grand hall.

“We survived it, and we gained many treasures. But we can’t just celebrate.”

One-third of the Hyukcheon Corps had died. Gu Eon, who led the Iron Corps, had been betrayed and gruesomely murdered.

Too much blood had been spilled. This was no time for joy.

“So let’s take this time to honor the fallen.”

Myung-woo raised his glass and downed it in one shot. The others followed suit.

“Phew…”

Hanul wiped his mouth with a grimace. The liquor was far stronger than he expected.

After setting his empty glass down, he looked around at the gathered Hunters. They were talking quietly, the atmosphere subdued.

“Hey you, what are you sneaking looks at?”

Myung-woo slung an arm over Hanul’s shoulder.

When Hanul turned, he saw a whole bottle of alcohol now in Myung-woo’s hand.

“You’re still injured. Should you really be drinking that much?”

“You’re lecturing me? You’ve got a hundred years too early for that, brat.”

Myung-woo tilted the bottle and drank straight from it. His expression didn’t change at all—even after chugging that potent liquor.

“Just for tonight. Otherwise… I don’t think I could handle it.”

His face took on a somber shadow. Hanul could tell instantly.

This entire expedition had been Myung-woo’s idea. Seeing the damage it caused, he was clearly weighed down with guilt.

“I’m heading to the training camp tomorrow.”

The famed martial families of Hyukcheon each operated their own training centers for upcoming members. Myung-woo was probably referring to one of those.

“It’s the best place for recovery. Besides, the unit needs reorganizing.”

“I see.”

“And more than anything, I’ve got to train this rascal over here.”

“Rascal?”

Hanul blinked in confusion as Myung-woo gestured somewhere. Kwon Hudon walked out.

“You’re going to train Hudon?”

“Yeah. I see promise in the boy. Thought I’d raise him myself.”

Hanul stared at Hudon, genuinely surprised. To be acknowledged by the Strongest Fist of Hyukcheon meant Hudon wasn’t just anyone.

“Still, I thought I’d get your permission first.”

“Mine? Why would I object to something that good?”

“Hmph, of course. I am offering to personally train him, after all.”

Myung-woo grinned wide, but his tone quickly turned serious again.

“But if Hudon leaves, the Dark Shade Unit will be cut in half.”

Even with Hanul, the unit had only four members.

Now that Gael Garcia had gone off with Kwon Biryuk, and if Hudon left too, that would leave just two.

“No need to worry. I was planning to put Dark Shade operations on hold for a while anyway.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. We’ve been through a lot recently… and I need time to absorb the elixirs.”

In truth, absorbing elixirs didn’t take much time.

But the one Hanul had acquired wasn’t ordinary. He intended to enhance its effects using the power of Healthy Bloodline—a technique he’d never tried before. It would take time.

“Then I won’t feel guilty taking him.”

“Please take good care of Hudon.”

“Hahaha! Of course I will!”

Pleased with the answer, Myung-woo laughed heartily.

* * *

“H-Hanul…”

But Hudon looked like he was about to cry, face pale.

“P-Please… have mercy—mmph!”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

Myung-woo clamped a hand over his mouth and handed him off to the nearby Hyukcheon troops.

“Make sure he doesn’t run awa— I mean, talk him into it gently.”

Hanul watched suspiciously. Something was fishy, but he chose not to press. After all, opportunities like this didn’t come often.

“Oh, right. Mei Hong, wasn’t it? Since things turned out this way—would you like to come too?”

As if just remembering, Myung-woo turned to Mei Hong. She blinked in surprise.

“Me?”

“You’ve gained a new power. Don’t you want to properly harness it?”

“Of course! I’d be honored!”

She answered without hesitation. After all, who would turn down training from someone of Myung-woo’s level?

“H-Hong! D-Don’t—mmph! Mmph!”

Behind her, Hudon yelled something muffled. He was quickly silenced again by Hyukcheon troops.

“But you’re going straight to the training center? Shouldn’t you meet with the Chairman first?”

Given that the Mei Clan had attacked and Myung-woo was severely wounded, it seemed only natural to report to Chairman Kwon Seonwoo.

But Myung-woo just chuckled.

“It’s too embarrassing.”

“Sir?”

“We got beat up by the likes of the Mei Clan. How could I show my face to my big brother after that?”

So he’d rather hide for now.

“Which is why you will handle it for me.”

“…What?”

Hanul blinked.

“If I run off, you’ll have to report what happened to the Chairman in my place.”

“Are you seriously dumping all that on me?”

Hanul looked incredulous.

“Granduncle, how am I supposed to keep my secret under wraps if you do that…”

“Ah, right. You asked to keep it a secret for now, didn’t you? But do you have to keep it secret?”

That question left Hanul confused.

“I know what you’re worried about. You’re afraid of the ripple effects if your secret gets out, so you want to keep it buried as long as you can.”

“That’s… true.”

“But that kind of thinking was when you were still a kid. You’re not that boy anymore. If you revealed it now, would anything really happen? And even if it did, you could handle it.”

Myung-woo folded his arms and continued.

“Not that you’d have to handle it alone. I’ll back you. Hyukcheon will be your shield. Who’d dare raise a fuss?”

“Still…”

Hanul hesitated. It wasn’t something he could agree to lightly.

“No need to announce it to the world. But how about telling the Chairman at least?”

“Chairman Seonwoo…?”

Hanul frowned without realizing it. Myung-woo laughed.

“You still don’t like my brother, huh?”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Everyone knows he’s irritable and has a rotten temper. But listen, Hanul—trust me. If you tell him, nothing bad will happen.”

Myung-woo’s voice was firm, then he added playfully:

“Of course, it’s your decision.”

He removed his arm from Hanul’s shoulder.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere more private—to drink some more.”

He waved and walked off.

Hanul stood there for a long time, staring after him.

* * *

The following morning, it was time for everyone to go their separate ways.

As he had said, Kwon Myung-woo departed for the training center along with Mei Hong and the Hyukcheon Corps.

“We should be heading out too.”

At Kabul International Airport, Kwon Biryuk turned to Kwon Hanul and said those words. He then shifted his gaze to Gael Garcia.

Gael Garcia stepped forward and bowed his head.

“Captain, thank you for everything until now.”

“You’re not leaving the Dark Shade Unit for good. No need to get all solemn.”

Hanul gave a faint smile, but the seriousness on Gael Garcia’s face didn’t fade.

“I promise—I’ll return stronger than ever.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

With that, Kwon Biryuk left, taking Gael Garcia and Raishin with him. As they departed, Raishin briefly glared at Hanul, but there were no further issues.

“Well, shall we go too?”

Hanul turned around as he spoke. Behind him stood Joo Hayun and the remaining members of the Iron Corps.

With Kwon Myung-woo and the Hyukcheon Corps now gone to the training center, the responsibility for transporting the relics and commanding the Iron Corps had fallen to Hanul.

Though not every member of the Iron Corps had turned traitor, what happened in the vault couldn't simply be overlooked.

Hanul planned to escort them to the Hyukcheon clan to be judged accordingly.

“Just to make this clear: don’t even think about running. Understood?”

The Iron Corps members furiously shook their heads. Their faces were filled with fear.

To them, Hanul was now etched into their minds as someone on the same level as Kwon Myung-woo. No one here had the guts to defy an absolute figure like that.

On the way back to Hyukcheon, Hanul began preparing a written report for Kwon Seonwoo about the incident.

The task gave him a headache the whole trip—it wasn’t something he was used to doing.

But in the end, all that effort was for nothing.

“He’s not here?”

Kwon Seonwoo wasn’t at the main estate.

Hanul asked the Chief Secretary in confusion.

“Why is he away?”

“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that. My apologies.”

The Chief Secretary bowed his head. Hanul let out a groan.

With no other choice, Hanul left the building, still holding the documents he had prepared.

“Lord Hanul, shall we return to the residence?”

Joo Hayun asked as she followed him outside. After a brief pause, Hanul shook his head.

“There’s somewhere I want to stop by first.”

* * *

Hyukcheon Vault

The place Hanul headed to was the Hyukcheon Vault.

Normally, because of strict security protocols, the vault could only be accessed during designated open periods.

Fortunately, it was currently one of those open periods, so he was able to gain access immediately upon request.

Upon entering, Hanul made his way straight to the 30th floor. As he approached a secluded corner, a message appeared before him:

“So this is my third visit, huh?”

Hanul muttered as he stared at the wall.

During his first visit, his resonance rate with the Black Dragon’s bloodline was too low, so he’d gained nothing.

On the second visit, he had met the required threshold and obtained the martial art technique Piercing Sky Dragon.

“Initiate authentication.”

Hanul said quietly.

This marked his third visit. Now, his resonance with the Black Dragon’s bloodline had surpassed 90%.

The wall parted at the center, revealing a hollow chamber. Inside were several items.

Hanul first picked up two slate tablets, roughly the size of a notebook.

– Quality: Unmeasurable

– Description: One of the secret techniques unlocked upon mastering all three forms of Black Dragon Ascension Art to their peak.

A dragon that soars the skies travels alongside the clouds. When this technique is unleashed, the world will seem small beneath your gaze.

– Quality: Unmeasurable

– Description: One of the secret techniques unlocked upon mastering all three forms of Black Dragon Ascension Art to their peak.

Even a dragon at its pinnacle knows remorse. When this technique is unleashed, all things shall bend before your will.

These were the two secret techniques he hadn’t obtained in his previous visits. Without hesitation, Hanul crushed the memory pages and absorbed both techniques on the spot.

Next, he picked up another item—something that wasn’t a memory page.

“What’s this?”

He unfolded the object. Surprisingly, it was clothing—and a very familiar kind at that.

“A suit…?”

Inside were a white dress shirt, leather shoes, and gloves.

– Quality: ???

– Description: A legendary masterpiece crafted by Grandmaster Park Mu-myeong. Made using the scales, hide, and sinews of a Black Dragon without restraint.

Hanul’s jaw dropped.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this was the very same gear used by their Founder. Eyes trembling, Hanul examined the suit over and over again.

Then he realized there was still one more item left inside.

He reached deep into the chamber and grabbed hold of something.

When he pulled it out, he found a fist-sized orb.

“Wait… this can’t be…”

He hurriedly checked the information tied to the orb.

– Quality: ???

– Description: The Dragon Pearl nurtured by the Black Dragon over ten thousand years. Contains the entirety of the Black Dragon’s power.

Hanul froze in place, staring at the orb in a daze.

And then, deep within the vault, an unidentifiable cry of joy rang out.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]