After being beaten by their stepmother, the two were carried by the servants to their shared room. Some of the servants looked at them with pity, while others had long since grown immune to such scenes. In this household, beatings were almost a daily occurrence, and few bothered to react anymore.
This household was full of monsters, people who wielded weapons as easily as breathing. Swords were the most common, clashing constantly in drills and duels. In this world, there was no magic, no aura, no flashy powers—nothing like that. It resembled Earth in its undeveloped age, when monarchies ruled and survival depended on skill and strength.
But the swordsmanship here was different. Unlike Murim techniques, which relied on breathing and internal energy, this world relied entirely on raw strength and precise technique. And even with just that, the strongest—the Pinnacle warriors—could smash a mountain into rubble. It might seem small compared to a world with magic, but in this world, crushing a mountain with nothing but sheer skill and power was proof of true dominance.
And his father… according to his memories, he was one of those warriors.
There were only five people like that in the entire world. His father was one of them. That made their household one of the unshakable pillars of the empire, feared and respected by all.
Lying on the bed with bruises covering his small body, Julia carefully nursed Jullian, even though her own wounds were far worse than his.
"Ha… You shouldn't have talked back like that, Jullian. Now look at us—we're both beaten up instead of just me." she said. Her tone wasn't angry. In fact, beneath the surface, she was quietly pleased.
If it had been the original Jullian, he wouldn't have said a word—he would have just cried silently. But now, for the first time, her little brother had stood up for her. Even if it was only a shout, to her it was monumental. A spark of courage, a flicker of strength where none had been before.
"It seems like father's bloodline is finally awakening inside Jullian..." she murmured to herself while tending his wounds. "I should keep this a secret until father arrives."
Her hands moved with practiced care, pressing gently on bruises and cuts, all the while her mind calculating the possibilities. For the first time, a small hope flickered in her chest—maybe her brother was finally beginning to grow into the strength their family demanded.
Even though she had awakened her bloodline earlier than Jullian and was naturally a genius, no one knew about it. To the world, the two of them were branded as disgraces of the main family. They were ten years old, part of the prestigious lineage, and yet they still couldn't hold a sword.
Of course, that was just Julia's pretense. She had awakened her bloodline at seven, and now, Jullian's had awakened as well.
Awakened bloodline wasn't some grand, hidden power or legendary skill. It was simpler, yet far more profound. It meant that they had faced their fears and were ready to wield a sword. After all, you can only truly hold a sword when you are ready to take a life. A sword is more than a weapon—it is a symbol of strength. Strength to protect someone, or strength to protect yourself.
You can only acquire that strength when you become fearless, when you face your deepest fears without flinching. That is what it truly means to be awakened.
"S-Sorry, sister." His voice was awkward, stiff and a little unsure, like he didn't know if he was saying the right thing.
"I can't believe I'm apologizing to someone younger than me." Jullian said to himself, a little surprised at how strange it felt to call someone younger "sister," even though he already knew the situation.
Julia smiled, warmly patting his head. Her hand was rough from training and from handling swords, but it felt firm and steady in a comforting way.
"And..." Her voice suddenly turned grim, serious and calm at the same time. "Don't hold a sword until our father comes back."
Jullian's shocked face was clear. He had already been thinking about starting his training, imagining himself practicing sword techniques and getting stronger, but now she was telling him he couldn't do it yet.
"Why?" he immediately asked, his voice urgent, eyes wide as he tried to understand her reasoning.
"Ha... my naive, little brother. Do you want to die early? Right now, we're only getting beat up by our stepmother, but if we start learning swordsmanship, our older brother will finally have a reason to fight us. And believe me, he'll definitely kill you. You two are heirs candidates because you're a man, and you know how ambitious that son of a bitch is!" She gritted her teeth at the mention of their older brother, her eyes narrowing slightly, her jaw tight.
Jullian immediately understood what she meant. He didn't argue or ask more. "I understand, sister." He said, nodding slightly, letting her words sink in, knowing it wasn't a suggestion but a serious warning he had to follow.
But Julia smiled. "Don't worry, little brother! Your big sister is reliable! We will train together secretly! But… you mustn't tell anyone, okay?"
Jullian immediately nodded. This was better than doing nothing and just waiting for their father, whose arrival wasn't even certain.
"Sister… you should rest. You are hurt too." Jullian said, looking at the little girl's bruised body, the dark marks on her arms and face a clear sign of their stepmother's cruelty.
But Julia just smiled. "Don't worry! Big sis is already used to this!"
Used to this? Yeah… this was the worst family he could ever have reincarnated into. An abusive household, both physically and mentally, that would have crushed most children.
Jullian could only look at this little girl with admiration. Despite being a child and constantly exposed to violence, she could still smile brightly and joke around. "She's strong-willed." he analyzed quietly, observing her carefully.
Being a top business tycoon, he had developed keen eyes that allowed him to see through people. It was a skill honed from years of experience and repetition, a talent that made him understand motives, strengths, and weaknesses almost instantly.
He couldn't help but feel pity for her, but right now, he was bedridden and could do nothing. All he could say was one simple thing.
"Thank you, Julia." He said genuinely, his voice quiet but sincere, carrying the weight of his thoughts.