I Was Mistaken for a Coincidence Chapter 24

Chapter 24 – Fruitful After the Rain(7)

Looking back on it.

It was a nonsensical situation from the beginning.

How could a powerless child deceive the eyes of two warriors and escape? An uncomfortable feeling that couldn’t be erased remained like a mark stuck to my chest.

I tried to ignore the ominous feeling, thinking it was just my imagination. And right now, the Black Death Squad has paid a hefty price for that arrogance. What kind of situation is this?

The pillar known as the Black Death Squad, which had been supporting the evil sect while hiding in the darkness until now, has been completely uprooted, and even its hidden roots have been exposed to the world.

The Black Plague Faction can no longer wield its sword for the evil sect. With the current capabilities of the Black Plague Faction, it’s virtually impossible to train another Black Death Squad.

“I see, so you were targeting the Black Death Squad from the beginning.”

Only then did things start to make sense in my head. Until Ingo escaped, the Black Death Squad had been scattered throughout the vast central plains, following the orders of the sect leader.

Then, when they heard that Ingo had escaped, the sect leader summoned the entire Black Death Squad and ordered them to track down Ingo. And now, here, they were all annihilated by a single person.

The Black Death Squad , the pride of the Black Plague Faction, comparable to the Sacheon Family of the Orthodox Sect in terms of poison skills, was wiped out. The leader couldn’t help but be amazed at the brilliantly executed strategy.

‘So that’s why you only let Ingo escape without killing anyone else! To make it look like the poison escaped on its own?!’

If the warriors had been killed, the sect leader of the Black Plague Faction might have sought help from collaborators. Even for an absolute master, it would be impossible to handle alone.

Because the old man already knew all the information about the collaborators. With that in mind, he had lured them into a trap. And they fell for it perfectly.

By annihilating the Black Death Squad , the Black Plague Faction’s greatest strength, the sect was as good as having its limbs severed. But they couldn’t give up on Ingo, who represented ten years of effort.

For the  Black Plague Faction, it was a situation with no way out. Mu-Myung, who actually had no such intention, was wondering what this person was suddenly talking about.

‘What nonsense is he suddenly muttering?’ 

“…Fine, I admit it. You are a far more dangerous adversary than the hypocrites of the Orthodox Sect.”

“Is that all for your last words?”

“Then, in the name of the Black Plague Faction, I will bury you here.”

The voice of the leader, who had seemed resigned like someone who had given up everything, suddenly filled with killing intent. Although it wasn’t what he had intended, it couldn’t be helped for the greater cause.

“You’re going to bury us in this situation? How exactly?”

“In fact, I had suspected your skill level from the beginning. But our top priority was to recover Ingo. So I didn’t want to use this method.”

“And now?”

“But in the end, I had to admit it. For the revival of the evil sect, you must die here.”

“Do you think I’ll just stand by and watch?”

Whatever he was up to, killing him first would settle it. Making this judgment, Mu-Myung didn’t hesitate to swing his sword. That is, until he heard the scream.

“Kyaaah!!”

“Sister! What’s wrong all of a sudden?!”

“What have you done to Seolhwa.”

“Seolhwa? Don’t tell me you named that Ingo? You’re much softer than I thought!!”

Slash.

With a chilling sound, the leader’s right arm fell to the ground. The leader screamed in pain, as if his flesh was being seared with a branding iron, but Mu-Myung had no intention of stopping there.

“Next, I’ll cut off your remaining arm, then your legs. Now tell me quickly what you’ve done.”

“Kuk, kukkuk… Do you really think we created Ingo based on some superstitious belief in sorcery?”

“With your mindset, it’s not impossible.”

“We’ve already mastered the method of creating poison scales. So we thought about this. Is there a way to store more poison and release it all at once?”

Perhaps it was due to the pain of losing an arm? The leader of the Black Death Squad]  was speaking half out of his mind, laughing crazily. At this, Mu-Myung suppressed his anger and questioned again.

“What does that have to do with this?”

“After many trials and errors, we realized that Ingo was the best method.”

“…Don’t tell me.”

“We start with weak poisons. Like insects or poisonous plants infused with weak poisons. Then gradually increase the intensity. Scorpions, centipedes, venomous snakes… Put the children who survive into a cave and let them ferment for another 3 years, and…”

Thud!!

Unable to contain his disgust, Mu-Myung finally kicked the leader’s jaw. Along with the sound of the jawbone breaking, the leader’s shattered teeth rolled on the floor.

“I’m not interested in that nonsense, just give me the antidote!!”

“Puhah! Do you think there’s an antidote? That Ingo is the Black Plague Faction’s greatest masterpiece, created to penetrate that damned Immunity to All Poisons. This colorless and odorless shadow poison is designed to make the poison in the body boil up and be expelled when it enters.”

Poison is the most certain and effective means to narrow the gap in martial levels. But that doesn’t mean it always succeeds. There are clearly masters with Immunity to All Poisons.

To kill them, the Black Plague Faction had finally achieved this after ten years of effort. There is no antidote, but a living deadly poison that can penetrate even Immunity to All Poisons.

Of course, it was necessary to expose it to shadow poison for a considerable time during the process. But thanks to having opened the bottle containing the shadow poison from the moment they noticed it, there was no problem.

“When the accumulated poison explodes, this place will become a land of death where no one can live for at least several decades.”

Originally, they had planned to detonate it in the heart of the orthodox Murim Alliance. But, as they say, a sparrow in hand is worth a hawk in the bush. This mysterious old man was no pushover either. At the very least, they would destroy him along with themselves.

However, just before Ingo was about to explode completely, In that brief moment that lasted less than a few seconds, Mu-Myung clearly realized what he had to do.

◇

Only vague, torn, and broken fragments remain in the mind. Was it because the shock was too great for a child to endure? Or was it because she didn’t want to remember?

The girl was too young to provide an immediate answer. In that place filled with only darkness, the only light appeared, and she ran towards it with all her might.

And when she came to her senses, what entered the girl’s eyes was the sight of an old man gently stroking the head of a girl who appeared to be about the same age as herself.

The girl couldn’t dare to imagine what meaning was imbued in that action. But just watching it made her chest feel warm, and before she knew it, she had…

[Stroke me too.]

She had blurted out what she wanted without hiding it. Others might think it’s nothing special. But for the girl, it was the first act of kindness she had ever received.

It was the warmth of a person that made her heart feel at ease. Every day after that was unbelievably joyful. For the first time, she ate food instead of tasteless insects like centipedes in the darkness.

She didn’t have to inhale smoke and scream in pain every day. But happy times pass in an instant. Seolhwa finally sensed that the end had come.

Pain that started from the lower abdomen spread throughout her body like a flame. Even an ignorant girl knew that something was seriously wrong.

“Run… away…”

Although she felt like she would lose consciousness at any moment due to the tremendous pain, her instinct desperately held onto consciousness. If she lost consciousness now, everything would end.

The kind junior sister who would hold her hand when she was scared even while angry. And the master who was the only one to accept her without any connection.

Although her knowledge was limited, Seolhwa had witnessed death closer than anyone else. She wished that the people she liked would not meet death.

But her unspoken wish would not come true. Sua, who was closest to her, grabbed Seolhwa’s hand. Sua shouted while even shedding tears.

“I haven’t properly apologized yet!!”

“…”

“I don’t even know what I want to do. So, don’t just die on your own…!!”

At first, she found her irritating and wished she would disappear. And that feeling still remained somewhat even now. But still, she didn’t want her to die like this.

“Both of you, clear your minds.”

At the familiar voice that eventually reached her, Seolhwa raised her head again. She saw the master who had taught her about human warmth. Master spoke with certainty.

“Do you remember the mental cultivation method I taught you?”

“…Yes.”

“Then sit cross-legged right now and regulate your dantian. There’s no need to worry.”

I’ll help you from behind.

How reassuring that one sentence was. Tears began to flow down Seolhwa’s cheeks. But there was no time to sit down and just cry.

Seolhwa sat cross-legged as her master had told her. Soon, energy like blue flames began to overflow from her body.