NovelOLX Chapter 284: Borrowing a Knife to Kill
Chapter 284: Borrowing a Knife to Kill
Borrowing a Knife to Kill
"It’s not fear; I’m just worried that failing the mission will ruin Steffan’s plans," White Ghost said, patting his chest, though his voice was somewhat shaky.
The room fell silent for a brief moment.
The overhead light cast long shadows across the floor, and the cool air from the air conditioner hummed softly in the background. Despite his attempt to appear confident, the unease in White Ghost’s eyes was impossible to hide.
After all, there was a fine line between courage and recklessness.
Attacking an enemy stronger than oneself could be called bravery, but it could also be called foolishness.
White Ghost knew exactly where Julian D’Aurelius stood.
That man was not someone who could be measured using common sense.
The memory of those calm golden eyes still lingered in his mind like an invisible weight pressing against his chest.
Black Ghost stared at his younger brother for several seconds.
Then he suddenly let out a sigh.
Without warning, he reached forward, grabbed White Ghost by the collar, and yanked him downward.
"Big brother—"
Before White Ghost could react, Black Ghost locked his arm around his neck and trapped him beneath his armpit.
The scene looked less like a lesson and more like a street brawl between brothers.
Black Ghost tightened his grip and began lecturing him sternly.
", you’re already an Old Martial Arts practitioner at the Gold Realm, not a mama’s boy."
His voice was firm and carried the authority of an elder brother who had dragged his sibling through countless dangerous situations over the years.
White Ghost struggled helplessly.
His face gradually turned red.
Black Ghost ignored him completely.
"When faced with difficulties, you must find a way to solve them and strive to grow."
His eyes narrowed as he continued.
"The path of martial arts isn’t about hiding whenever you encounter a stronger opponent. If that’s all it takes to shake your resolve, then how will you ever advance further?"
White Ghost wanted to reply, but his neck was trapped too tightly.
His only response was a muffled sound.
Black Ghost continued his sermon relentlessly.
"If you can’t muster enough resolve, how can we seize glory for Steffan?"
His words echoed through the room.
Though harsh, there was sincerity behind them.
The two brothers had followed Steffan for years.
They had crossed battlefields, survived countless dangers, and fought enemies stronger than themselves before.
To Black Ghost, fear was natural.
What mattered was whether one could overcome it.
After delivering his scolding, he finally lowered his head and asked sternly,
"Understand?"
White Ghost immediately began flailing.
"Got it, big brother, let go of me. Your armpit smell is killing me... yuck."
The moment the words left his mouth, he gagged dramatically.
His eyes squinted shut in pain.
His expression looked as though he had just inhaled poison gas.
The reason was simple.
Black Ghost had not showered for several days.
The scent trapped beneath that arm had reached a level that could be considered a biological weapon.
White Ghost nearly saw his ancestors.
"Ugh!"
He covered his nose desperately.
The reaction instantly shattered the serious atmosphere.
Black Ghost froze.
An awkward expression appeared on his face.
The mighty Gold Realm expert suddenly looked somewhat embarrassed.
He quickly released his brother and stepped backward.
"Ahem..."
He cleared his throat.
A trace of awkwardness flashed across his face before disappearing.
"That’s the point."
Trying to restore his dignity, he straightened his back and spoke in a serious tone.
"Show determination."
His eyes became firm once more.
"No matter how strong the enemy is, for Steffan, we must defeat him!"
The words carried conviction.
Even if the mission ahead was dangerous, retreat was not an option.
White Ghost rubbed his sore neck and took several deep breaths of fresh air as though he had narrowly escaped death.
Only after recovering did he nod vigorously.
"Okay, big brother!"
His voice sounded much more energetic this time.
Whether it was because of Black Ghost’s speech or because he had finally escaped that terrifying armpit was difficult to say.
The two brothers exchanged glances.
The mission had been decided.
Now all they needed was to wait for the arrival of the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
Neither of them realized that another person had already set his sights on the same prize.
...
Julian D’Aurelius, regarded as a formidable enemy, was sitting in his car, contemplating the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
The city lights flowed past the windows like streams of gold and silver.
The low rumble of the engine filled the cabin as he drove through the night streets.
One hand rested casually on the steering wheel while the other tapped lightly against the center console.
His black hair shifted slightly under the passing glow of streetlights.
Those striking golden eyes reflected countless thoughts.
After the Tyrant System had spoiled the plan, he already knew Steffan’s intentions.
That guy wanted Black Ghost and White Ghost to steal the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng.
Julian would never let it go!
The treasure was too important.
Firstly, it was a crucial ingredient for refining the Nine way cleansing exilir.
Without it, the effectiveness of the pill would be greatly reduced.
Secondly, if Steffan successfully cured Dario Ashbourne, the head of the Ashbourne family, he would gain a powerful ally.
That outcome was equally unacceptable.
Julian’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel.
His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
The moving lights outside painted fleeting shadows across his face.
For a moment, silence filled the vehicle.
His mind rapidly evaluated every possibility.
Steffan wanted the Frostheart Ginseng.
Julian wanted it too.
And if both sides wanted the same thing, conflict was inevitable.
A direct confrontation?
Possible.
But not necessary.
A faint smile slowly appeared at the corner of his lips.
The more he thought about it, the more interesting the situation became.
Sometimes defeating an opponent did not require drawing a sword personally.
Sometimes all it took was placing the right people in the right positions.
After pondering for a moment, he flashed a sinister smile, snapped his fingers, and hurriedly drove back to make arrangements.
This time, he planned to use a borrowed knife to kill!