Possessing Nothing Novel (쥐뿔도 없는 회귀)

Chapter 89 - Ghost Blade

Lee Sungmin approached the corpse on the floor. It had been quite a long time since the last time he had seen a dead body. The corpse was wearing the robes of the Volcanic Sect, but its condition surprised Lee Sungmin.

"This... what... ?"

Lee Sungmin muttered those words, feeling flustered. The cause of death[1] was from a deep sword wound on the chest, but that wasn't the only issue.

The body was dry and twisted like a mummy. The moment he leaned down to take a closer look, Kim Jonghyun stepped forward to stop him.

"Don't touch it."

"Yes."

He didn't intend to touch it. There was no knowing what would happen after touching a strange corpse like this. When Lee Sungmin stepped back a few steps, Kim Jonghyun stepped forward and looked at the body.

"Indeed."

Kim Jonghyun, who looked at the body in contemplation, said while stroking his chin.

"I heard Ghost Blade was practicing the dark arts... Hu-hu! I thought they were all simply put under a hallucination spell, but it wasn't that simple. Indeed. That's why I'm going to say this was Ghost Blade's doing."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know about energy drain?"

"Yes."

"Energy drain abilities come in very diverse forms. Vampires also use a form of energy drain, and what was that thing with the qi called... The absorption method for that is also an energy drain. There are many different types of methods. But the common point is this. Energy drain takes energy from the opponent and uses it as their own."

Kim Jonghyun said, holding up an arm of the malformed body.

"I'm not sure what kind of energy drain Ghost Blade uses. However... I know one thing for sure. He will still be strong, even at this moment."

While saying so, Kim Jonghyun stood up.

"I need to change the way I've been pursuing him. Until now, I was just divining his location and letting the Volcanic Sect Warriors chase him based on that. But if he's draining them of energy, this kind of method only works out in favour of Ghost Blade. I have to drive him into a corner and kill him for sure."

(t/n: he's directing them and the volcanic sect follows?)

The conversation he had with Dok Bejun yesterday passed through Lee Sungmin's mind.

'Have you ever faced a wall?' Dok Bejun faced the wall and despaired. Could he take it lying down? No. Dok Bejun used a means other than the sword to cross the wall.

He could not blame Dok Bejun. He did not have the right to do so. Lee Sungmin and Kim Jonghyun started moving again. The corpses ... their numbers kept increasing. It wasn't just the bodies of volcanic factions warriors.

"He has crossed the line. He has crossed too many lines. This will no longer end with the Volcanic Sect simply killing Dok Bejun."

The corpse of a mage wearing a robe. The corpse of a mercenary in armor. The bodies of guild members in black clothes clinging to their bodies.

"I can't understand the basis on which he's running. Is he confident that he can take them on all that once? Or is it that he's letting out a final struggle now that he's been driven into a corner? Eventually, only the ruin awaits him on this path."

Lee Sungmin was forced to sympathize with Kim Jonghyun's murmur. Dok Bejun ... He was heading toward ruin. Even if he succeeded in killing only Master Sungha and escaped, he would still be the Volcanic Sect's target and be pursued forever. The situation had already escalated from being a mere fight between Ghost Blade and Master Sungha alone. Significant damage had occurred to the magician's guild as well as the mercenary and information guild.