Possessing Nothing

Editors: Ytho, LaidBackGuy

Huge thanks to John Doe for sponsoring 4 chapters of Possessing Nothing (4/4)

Lee Sungmin returned to the inn near the northern gate three days later, where he had arranged to meet the Crazy Heavenly Demon again. Since he didn’t plan to stay there or have a meal, he directly entered the restaurant on the first floor and sat down. Rubia, who was hiding inside his sleeves, slowly came out and transformed from the sphere of light into her beastkin form.

“Is he not coming?”

“He will come.”

Lee Sungmin was confident. Crazy Heavenly Demon could not disobey him. It was because of Heoju’s powers which were deeply carved into his body. As long as Crazy Heavenly Demon had those powers, he had no choice but to come here.

[He has no choice. If he flees, my power in his body will seize him.]

Heoju said in a confident tone. Lee Sungmin also had a vague sense of faith in him.

Lee Sungmin had been staying at an inn in the central district for the past few days. It might have been possible to go to Geniella’s mansion or Kim Jonghyun’s place, but he had not. The two of them were not people who would act within reason. They were too unpredictable. In particular, he was worried about Kim Jonghyun’s inner thoughts, but he didn’t approach him because he didn’t want to get entangled.

He spent three days like that, thinking about the enlightenment he had acquired in the fight against Crazy Heavenly Demon.

In fact, it could not be called enlightenment. It was what he already knew. He had already learnt it but simply could not perform it. Although there was still a long way to go before he reached the level that he had reached in his subconscious, his slowly progressing body had exploded with ability during the life-and-death situation with Crazy Heavenly Demon.

‘Is this evolution?’

Lee Sungmin thought as he pressed down on the left side of his chest firmly. The power of the heart evolved through predation according to Freskan’s words. He did not want to practice predation, but the heart would undergo evolution regardless of his will. The only difference from the past was that there was a definite goal that it was evolving toward.

What Lee Sungmin was currently aiming for was none other than himself.

Rubia’s ears perked up.

The door on the first floor of the restaurant opened with a rattling sound. Lee Sungmin turned his head to look at the door, and the Crazy Heavenly Demon strode in.

“What is that?”

Lee Sungmin asked as he saw the man following behind Crazy Heavenly Demon. He couldn’t figure out the man’s size since he was wearing oversized clothes, but he could see that he didn’t have an arm since the man’s left sleeve was swaying in the wind.

“… Ehm.”

Crazy Heavenly Demon cleared his throat as he approached Lee Sungmin. It seemed like he was hesitating about how to explain this sudden meeting to Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin did not look at Crazy Heavenly Demon, and stared at Baek Museon instead, who was standing behind him. Even with a crippled arm, his aura was still unusual. Lee Sungmin figured that he must be the infamous Baek Museon.

“… That’s absurd.”

The first one to break the silence was Baek Museon. He looked at Lee Sungmin with a distorted expression and then turned around to look at Crazy Heavenly Demon.

“Did you lie to me?”

“What lie?”

“I came here to meet the young expert who nearly killed you.”

Baek Museon spewed out with an irritated voice.

“That guy. I know he’s pretty good, but he still doesn’t seem like he has the ability to kill you. Did you deceive me?”

“I only told you the truth. I nearly died by his spear.”

Crazy Heavenly Demon said in a steady voice. He was vaguely aware that the Lee Sungmin, who grabbed his neck, was different from the usual Lee Sungmin. Aside from that, there was no doubt that Lee Sungmin’s spear had threatened Crazy Heavenly Demon’s life. Surprised by the threat, he performed the Blood Gale Nova. If he had not done that, Lee Sungmin’s spear move would have killed Crazy Heavenly Demon already.

“A genius comparable to Minor Heavenly Demon Wijihoyeon.”

Baek Museon said with a loud voice.

“That’s what you told me.”

“You need to stop counting all your chickens before they hatch.”

Lee Sungmin muttered in an outraged voice. Crazy Heavenly Demon cleared his throat awkwardly, and Baek Museon looked at Lee Sungmin again. Lee Sungmin tilted his head crookedly and stared back at Baek Museon.

“Are you the famous Bloody Heavenly Demon Baek Museon? You were famous once. Rather, you are still famous… Or should I say infamous?”

Baek Museon felt unpleasant because he thought he had been deceived by Crazy Heavenly Demon, but he didn’t leave. Without asking for permission, he sat down opposite to Lee Sungmin and beckoned a waiter over.

“Drinks.”

The Crazy Heavenly Demon quickly took a seat beside Baek Museon while he was ordering.

[What the hell are you planning?]

Lee Sungmin voiced out inside Crazy Heavenly Demon’s mind. Crazy Heavenly Demon took a look at Baek Museon and explained the situation to Lee Sungmin. Baek Museon was devastated by his loss in the fight against Wijihoyeon. He was wasting away his days thinking he had been completely ruined as a martial artist.

[What does that have to do with me?]

[He’s in despair at the fact that the world was wide. So could you just… ]

[What can I do for him?]

[In fact, there is nothing you can do for him.]

While Crazy Heavenly Demon replied like that, Baek Museon ordered more liquor. Crazy Heavenly Demon said as he glanced at Baek Museon, who was drinking without even pouring it into a cup.

[What about becoming friends?]

“This crazy-”

Lee Sungmin spat out at Crazy Heavenly Demon’s absurd suggestion. Friends? To sit down like this and become friends without any context wasn’t too much different than listening to dogs bark.

[Oh, by the way… I haven’t been hit by you for three days. Is that okay?]

Crazy Heavenly Demon asked him anxiously. Lee Sungmin replied coldly.

[You must have recited the mantra every day, right? If so, that’s fine. However, just in case, be sure to get the slaps from me all at once later.]

[Okay.]

While Lee Sungmin and Crazy Heavenly Demon were talking silently, Baek Museon had already emptied a whole bottle of liquor. He exhaled a breath full of the smell of alcohol and looked at Lee Sungmin with cold eyes.

“Come to think of it. I haven’t heard your name yet.”

“I’m Lee Sungmin.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

The nickname ‘Ghost Gun’ should’ve been quite famous, but Baek Museon seemed unaware. Since his defeat at the hands of Wijihoyeon, Baek Museon had been completely uninterested in the rumors outside.

“You said you almost killed Elder Crazy Heavenly Demon. Is that true?”

“He must have already told you.”

“What a joke.”

In response to Lee Sungmin’s answer, Baek Museon burst into laughter. Lee Sungmin was annoyed by his irritating and stiff attitude. He unclenched his hands and asked.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s not that you’re weak. Your skills are excellent… I admit that. But I can’t think of it being enough to kill the Crazy Heavenly Demon Byuk Wonpae.”

“So?”

“You were lucky. The elder was just careless.”

Baek Museon replied. Lee Sungmin stared at Baek Museon’s face and opened his mouth.

“Then, were you also careless when you lost an arm to the Minor Heavenly Demon?”

It was Baek Museon’s sore spot. As soon as he mentioned ‘Minor Heavenly Demon’, Baek Museon’s gaze turned cold. Crazy Heavenly Demon shook his head as he looked at Lee Sungmin. However, Lee Sungmin’s expression was calm. What did it matter to him how Baek Museon felt? Lee Sungmin had felt similarly to Baek Museon as soon as they had met, and spoke without hiding his irritation.

“… Do you want to die?”

“No. I was just curious and asked. Whether you believe it or not, I met Minor Heavenly Demon about half a year ago.”

“What?”

Baek Museon’s eyes widened. It was the same with Crazy Heavenly Demon. Lee Sungmin continued his words as he glanced at Crazy Heavenly Demon, who was staring at him.

“A long time ago, I heard this. There were three Heavenly Demons in the current Eria. The Minor Heavenly Demon Wijihoyeon, the Bloody Heavenly Demon Baek Museon,  and the Crazy Heavenly Demon Byuk Wonpae. I met all three through some trick of fate. The Minor Heavenly Demon was undoubtedly a monster, and so was the Crazy Heavenly Demon. But… you.”

“Shut up.”

Baek Museon muttered in a small voice. He was already aware of what Lee Sungmin was going to say next. Lee Sungmin continued to speak under his harsh gaze.

“You’re the worst of the three.”

Crazy Heavenly Demon didn’t interfere. He thought that the situation was good. Baek Museon’s was affected by a mind full of inferiority from meeting an overwhelming existence. The Crazy Heavenly Demon had never met Wijihoyeon in person but could get an idea of how strong Wijihoyeon was from seeing Baek Museon’s depression.

The best thing for him would be to fight with Wijihoyeon once again. He couldn’t make that happen unless he knew where Wijihoyeon was. If so, it would be better for him to realize that the world is wide. If he fought with a young expert who doesn’t have a big age difference with Wijihoyeon, he could possibly find motivation again.

Although it was a plan made haphazardly, Baek Museon reacted as well as Crazy Heavenly Demon had hoped. He stood up and stared at Lee Sungmin. A sizzling red mist began to rise from around his feet. Blood Mist of the Night (血霧幽夜功), the technique which gave Baek Museon the title ‘Heavenly Demon’, had appeared once more.

“I asked if you wanted to die.”

“Will you be okay with just one arm?”

Lee Sungmin asked as he looked up at Baek Museon. The question was meant to provoke him. There was also a hint of curiosity and ambition. A few years ago, Wijihoyeon had one-sidedly won the fight against Baek Museon and cut off his left arm. Wijihoyeon from all those years ago. The Wijihoyeon, who had cut off his left arm, was rather weak compared to the Wijihoyeon now.

If you compared the Bloody Heavenly Demon of the past and the Bloody Heavenly Demon of today, Bloody Heavenly Demon with a severed left arm would be weaker than he was a few years ago. Even so, he wanted to test him out.

‘How far have I come now?’

If he could win the battle against the Bloody Heavenly Demon, who fought against Wijihoyeon, he could find out how far he had come. Lee Sungmin could feel his heart pounding. It was something that he could not have even dreamt of in his previous life. Since returning to the past, he had faced situations that had no possibility of happening back then. A human named Lee Sungmin, who had survived for 13 years and was only a C-class mercenary, was now about to fight Baek Museon, who had reigned over the Northern city of Travia. He had already survived after fighting with Crazy Heavenly Demon. Lee Sungmin got up slowly, feeling his emotions soaring.

“I really can’t watch this!”

Rubia, who was standing beside Lee Sungmin with drooping ears, said with a deep sigh. Bloody Heavenly Demon, who was staring at Lee Sungmin with burning eyes, snatched a bottle of liquor from the table and jerked up.

“Come outside.”

His fervent anger was obvious. But seeing as how he did not attack instantly, Baek Museon was still quite rational. Lee Sungmin watched Baek Museon leave the restaurant in a hurry, and turned to glance at Crazy Heavenly Demon.

“Get ready to be slapped.”

“Aheum!”

Crazy Heavenly Demon coughed and pretended to be ignorant.

Lee Sungmin pulled out his spear and held it in his hand loosely. He walked outside the restaurant. Bloody Heavenly Demon stood in the center of the red fog in the middle of the street. It was a small northern area with only vagrants and hoodlums, but it wasn’t deserted.

“Eh? Isn’t that the Bloody Heavenly Demon?”

The people standing around made a buzz. Baek Museon ignored the noise and glared at Lee Sungmin as he came out of the restaurant.

“You will have to pay for your ignorance.”

Baek Museon spat out as he glared at Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin shook his head while lifting the spear.

“If you can make me?”

“This bastard… !”

Baek Museon yelled in a harsh voice. When he raised his right arm, the red mist of the Blood Mist of the Night swelled greatly and turned into a killing move, striking out toward Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin moved calmly without any sense of panic. He used Shadowless’ Spirit Stealing Steps to jump over the mist, narrowing the distance between him and Baek Museon.

Baek Museon snorted and stepped forward loudly. The mist that had been shot out scattered and disappeared, then the range of red mist around him greatly expanded out again. Lee Sungmin stopped moving the spear and turned his upper body.

Kkwaang!

Spear force and red mist clashed. He thought there would be no force behind it since it was just some mist, but that didn’t seem to be the case. The feeling of resistance that he felt on his palm was quite extraordinary. Lee Sungmin roughly realized what kind of martial arts Baek Museon’s Blood Mist of the Night was.

‘The mist itself is strong.’

In terms of Inner Force, it was the same as Crazy Heavenly Demon’s Blood Gale Nova. But the method he used was completely different. Standing in the center of the fog, Baek Museon stared at Lee Sungmin.

“Did I not tell you? You’re not that good.”

“I’m only getting started.”

Lee Sungmin muttered as he infused qi into the spear in his hands. Lee Sungmin was feeling quite strange. Wijihoyeon’s doppelganger. Mad Wolf Juwon. Vampire Queen Geniella. Crazy Heavenly Demon Byuk Wonpae. When he faced those monsters, he felt a strong sense of fear and a feeling in his gut that told him that he might die. But now-

‘I feel quite comfortable.’

He didn’t think he would lose.