Possessing Nothing Novel (쥐뿔도 없는 회귀)

Chapter 88 - Kim Jonghyun

Lee Sungmin opened his eyes wide in surprise and looked at Kim Jonghyun. Kim Jonghyun, too, was surprised and looked back with his mouth half-open. The last time he saw him was in Behenger before he left, so it was the first time in four years that they met again. Although four years had passed since they last met, Kim Jonghyun had not changed at all as if time had stopped.

"This... It's a strange relationship. Is this also fate?"

Kim Jonghyun mumbled and walked forward in a hurry. Compared to four years ago, his face had not changed, but his clothes had. Lee Sungmin remembered Kim Jonghyun wearing a t-shirt that he picked up from somewhere and a white robe worn over it.

But now Kim Jonghyun wore luxurious looking dark-colored robes. The black pattern on the robe was carved intricately with gold thread. It was continually twisted, looking as if it were alive.

"... Do you know him?"

Asked the middle-aged Taoist who was pointing his sword towards Lee Sungmin. The question was directed toward Kim Jonghyun. Lee Sungmin's eyebrows raised at the question.

High-level masters who had surpassed Peak Level weren't common. Among the martial artists whom Lee Sungmin met, there were a lot of eccentric experts. But among those, there were very few at that kind of level, even in large-scale sects. If you were a master who had reached the peak, it meant that you had more skill than average.

So the middle-aged warrior of the Volcanic Sect was roughly about half as good as Lee Sungmin. Given that Lee Sungmin was knocking at the gates of Peak Level, the warrior who blocked Lee Sungmin should be regarded as a master who stands at a considerable position even within the conservative factions of the volcanic waves. However, a master of such a level was extremely respectful of Kim Jonghyun.

"Ah. Ahhh. Ah, yes. I do know him. By the way... What happened? There seems to have been a misunderstanding."

Kim Jonghyun muttered while looking around. The young warriors of the Volcanic Sect who fell at the hands of Lee Sungmin raised their bodies. They exclaimed breathlessly.

"Oh, we did nothing wrong. I was controlling access from here as ordered, but he said he had to go inside!"

"... Ahem ..."

The middle-aged Taoist groaned at the cries of the young masters. He looked at Lee Sungmin's face with belated realization and muttered.

"You are... yesterday's... Aren't you that great young man who was delivering a message on behalf of Shaolin Temple?"

"... Yes."

"Yes... that's right. Woo Poong told us that you were acquainted with Ghost Blade. Surely... Are you here to save him?"

"That's... not it."

"If not, what are you here for? Why were you trying to subdue them? You say you aren't here to save Ghost Blade. If so, why did you try to hinder the Volcanic warriors from killing him?"

Lee Sungmin thought about how to reply to those words. He had to meet Ghost Blade Dok Bejun. There was something he wanted to ask him. He had to take responsibility for this.

In what way?

He had never thought about taking responsibility for someone he felt responsible for. If only in name. He just thought he should take responsibility. So it doesn't become a habit. The impulse he felt in his mind was only an impulse now. He hadn't entirely made up his mind about it, so he couldn't speak out or express his opinion yet.

"... Hmm."

Kim Jonghyun, who was silent, shrugged. His eyes turned to Lee Sungmin.

[What happened?]