Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Firm Ground After Rain (7)
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Looking back on it now...
It had been absurd from the very start.
How could a powerless kid possibly fool two warriors and escape? An indelible unease clung to his chest like a stain.
He dismissed it as mere intuition and tried to ignore the ominous feeling. And right now, the Black Death Squad was paying dearly for that arrogance. What a sight this was.
The pillar known as the Black Death Squad, which had propped up the Evil Path from the shadows until now, had been utterly uprooted. Even the roots they'd hidden were laid bare for all to see.
The Black Epidemic Sect could no longer wield their swords for the Evil Path. With their current capabilities, rebuilding the Black Death Squad was practically impossible.
"I see. You targeted the Black Death Squad from the beginning."
Finally, the pieces started falling into place in his mind. Until the Human Gu escaped, the Black Death Squad had been scattered across the vast Central Plains, carrying out the sect leader's orders.
But upon hearing of the Human Gu's escape, the sect leader summoned the entire squad to pursue it. And here, they had been annihilated by a single man.
The Black Death Squad, the Black Epidemic Sect's pride, whose poison arts rivaled the Orthodox's Sakpa Clan. The leader couldn't help but be awestruck by such a brilliant scheme.
'That's why you let only the Human Gu escape without killing anyone! To make it look like the poison fled on its own?!'
If the warriors had died, the sect leader might have called on his allies for help. No absolute master could handle that alone.
The old man already knew everything about those allies. He'd anticipated that and lured them into the trap. And they'd fallen for it spectacularly.
Destroying the Black Epidemic Sect's greatest force was like severing their limbs. But they couldn't abandon the Human Gu, the fruit of a decade's labor either.
From the Black Epidemic Sect's perspective, it was a perfect checkmate. Nameless, who had no such intentions, just wondered what nonsense the man was spouting.
'What the hell is this guy muttering?'
"...Very well, I admit it. You are a far more dangerous foe than the Orthodox hypocrites."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"Thus, in the name of the Black Epidemic Sect, I will bury you here."
The leader's voice, which had sounded enlightened like one who'd forsaken all, suddenly brimmed with killing intent. Though not his intention, there was no choice for the greater cause.
"Bury us in this situation? How exactly?"
"Truth be told, I had some inkling of your prowess from the start. But our top priority was recovering the Human Gu, so I didn't plan to resort to this."
"And?"
"But in the end, I have no choice. For the revival of the Evil Path, you must die here."
"You think I'll just sit by and watch?"
Whatever trick it was, killing him first would end it. With that thought, Nameless moved to swing his sword without hesitation. Until the scream rang out.
"Kyaaah!!"
"Junior Sister! What's wrong all of a sudden?!"
"What have you done to Seolhwa?"
"Seolhwa? You gave that Human Gu a name? You've gone far softer than I thought!!"
Ssshk.
With a chilling sound, the leader's right arm hit the ground. Amid the agony like flesh seared by a branding iron, he screamed, but Nameless had no intention of stopping there.
"Next, your other arm, then your legs. Now tell me what you've done."
"Kuh... Kuhuhu... Do you think we created the Human Gu believing in mere superstitious sorcery?"
"With your twisted minds, it's not impossible."
"We already mastered creating Corpse Phosphor. So we wondered: couldn't we store more poison and release it all at once?"
Was it the pain of his severed arm? The Black Death Squad leader laughed madly, half-mad, as he spoke. Suppressing his anger, Nameless asked again.
"What does that have to do with this?"
"After countless trials and errors, we realized the best method was the Human Gu."
"...No way."
"We start with weak poisons. Bugs or toxic herbs infused with mild venom. Gradually increasing the intensity. Scorpions, centipedes, venomous snakes... Then cram the survivors into a pit and age them another three years..."
Thwack!!
Unable to stomach the revulsion, Nameless kicked the leader's jaw. Shattered teeth scattered across the floor amid the crunch of breaking bone.
"I don't care about your bullshit! Hand over the antidote now!!"
"Puhahat! An antidote? That accursed Immunity to All Poisons was made to pierce defenses like yours. The Human Gu is the Black Epidemic Sect's masterpiece."
"This colorless, odorless Shadow Poison is designed to make the venom inside boil over and expel."
Poison was the surest way to bridge gaps in realm. But it didn't always succeed. Masters of Immunity to All Poisons existed.
To kill them, the Black Epidemic Sect had labored for ten years to create a living deadly poison that even Immunity to All Poisons couldn't withstand. No antidote existed.
Of course, it required prolonged exposure to Shadow Poison. But since he'd noticed midway and left the vial open, there were no issues.
"When the accumulated poison explodes, this place will become a death ground uninhabitable for decades."
Originally meant for the heart of the Murim Alliance. But like pheasant or chicken, this enigmatic elder was no pushover. At least mutual destruction.
However, just before the Human Gu fully detonated.
In that fleeting few seconds...
Nameless clearly realized what he had to do.
Only vague fragments of tearing and shattering remained in her mind. Was the shock too great for a child to endure? Or did she simply not want to remember?
The girl was far too young to find answers. All she recalled was the sole light in that darkness-filled place, and running toward it with all her might.
When she came to, she saw an old man kindly stroking the head of a girl about her age.
She couldn't fathom the meaning behind that gesture. But just watching filled her chest with warmth, and without thinking...
[Pet me too.]
She blurted out her desire openly. Others might see it as nothing, but to her, it was the first kindness she'd ever received.
The warmth of someone who made her heart feel safe. After that, every day was like a dream. No more eating distasteful centipede-like bugs from the darkness—she tasted real food for the first time.
No more inhaling smoke daily or screaming in agony. But happy times pass in a flash. Seolhwa sensed the end had come.
Pain ignited in her lower abdomen like flames, spreading through her body. Even an ignorant girl knew something was terribly wrong.
"Run... away..."
The immense pain threatened to claim her consciousness, but her instincts clung desperately to it. Losing it now meant the end for everything.
The kind senior who held her hand even when scolding her for being scared.
And the master who alone accepted her despite no ties.
Though her knowledge was scant, Seolhwa had seen death closer than anyone. She didn't want the people she cared for to meet it.
But her wish went unfulfilled. Sua, closest to her, grabbed Seolhwa's hand. Tears streaming, Sua shouted.
"I haven't apologized properly yet!!"
"..."
"I don't even know what I want! So don't just die on me like this...!!"
At first, she'd been an annoyance Seolhwa wished would vanish. A trace of that lingered. But she didn't want her dying like this.
"Both of you, pull yourselves together."
The familiar voice made Seolhwa look up. There was her master, who had taught her the warmth of human touch. He spoke firmly.
"Do you remember the internal art I taught you?"
"...Yes."
"Then sit in the lotus position and circulate your qi immediately. Don't worry."
I'll help you from behind.
Those words brought such relief. Tears welled up and traced down Seolhwa's cheeks. But there was no time to sit and cry.
Seolhwa sat in the lotus position as instructed.
Soon, an energy like blue flames began overflowing from her body.