Ep406 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

At the end of a path traversed with swift steps as if folding space, lay an office. Creak An uninvited guest leisurely sipped tea in this ownerless space. One of the Five Great Families of Jianghu. The Murong family, which occupies a significant place in the division of the righteous factions of the martial world alongside the Nine Great Schools. The man sitting before him was none other than the head of the Murong family. A martial artist who held together a precarious family position with his own strength. More renowned by the moniker Meteor Sword than by his actual name. Murong Jinchun. Seated in a position everyone aspired to, yet dissatisfied, and ultimately betrayed the righteous factions to ally with the Demonic Cult. However, the betrayal was known only to Baek Woojin and his comrades. As Baek Woojin took a seat across the table, Murong Jinchun, who held the teacup, greeted him. “It’s been a while.” “Indeed, it has. I never thought I would see you here. I was planning to visit you soon.” Despite the subtle menace underlying the pressure, Murong Jinchun continued nonchalantly. “Is that so? I thought I’d find you since you hadn’t visited, but it seems it was in vain.” One must admit his courage. It’s not a simple task to maintain such poise in front of someone who holds a secret that must never be revealed. ‘Or perhaps he’s insane.’ Baek Woojin thought, with a cold smile. “If you came to say something, it wasn’t in vain. Had I reached Liaoning first, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.” “…….” This was sincere. He intended to head to Liaoning to settle urgent matters, knowing that leaving an enemy who could stab him in the back at any time was sheer folly. And there would be no words exchanged at that time. His head would have hit the ground before he could even speak. Momentarily speechless from the deadly tone, the other man regained his composure and spoke again. “So, you’re saying you’d spare some time for a conversation now.” Baek Woojin leaned back against the chair, folding his arms. “Out of curiosity. What made you come all the way from distant Liaoning to speak to me?” “To convey my gratitude.” “…For what?” “For your curiosity. Thanks to it, I’m still breathing.” “…….” He earnestly considered at that moment. Perhaps he should just kill him. Meanwhile, Murong Jinchun continued speaking. “Before we get to the main point, may I ask one question?” Baek Woojin pursed his lips and replied. “If it’s frivolous, keep it to yourself. If not, then go ahead.” “Then, I shall ask.” After moistening his mouth with tea once more, he finally spoke. “Why have you kept me alive all this time?” “I just didn’t have the time.” Having been dragged to the Demonic Cult by force, he spent more time there than anticipated. Gains from there were surprisingly beneficial, so might not exactly be considered a waste. Once he exited the Demonic Realm and returned to the central plains, he was frantically on the move. He hadn’t forgotten about them, just lacked the time to travel to Liaoning. To which, Murong Jinchun tilted his head and asked again. “You could have just leaked information that the main family had betrayed.” He wasn’t wrong. In reality, to punish them, simply informing the martial alliance of their betrayal would have sufficed. But the reason he hadn’t was. “Why should I entrust my revenge to someone else?” Because he wanted to end it himself. If asked to name the greatest danger he had faced, Baek Woojin would, without hesitation, cite the events in Liaoning. It was perilous and precarious. Had the Heavenly Demon of that time been someone else, he shudders to think of the outcome. Perhaps his older brother, and many of his comrades, might have met their end there. Fortunately, things turned out well, and no one was lost, but the harrowing experience still chills his heart. All of this stemmed from the Murong family. At the time, he didn’t know, but all the information Murong Jinchun provided was mostly false and a trap. If they hadn’t betrayed, such a crisis wouldn’t have occurred. After having his nerves so thoroughly rattled, how could he entrust his revenge to another? There was another reason for personally dragging him down, but for now, he decided to set it aside. “You seem more tenacious than I thought,” Murong Jinchun mused. “I can be incredibly ruthless to those who betray me.” “Hmm…, I regret choosing someone to collude with for the first time in my life.” Though his tone was light, his mood seemed heavier. The large beads of sweat forming on Murong Jinchun’s forehead attested to this. “Let's get to the point,” he said, using his mastery of internal energy to vaporize the sweat beads on his forehead. “I want to strike a deal with you.” “A deal…?” Baek Woojin frowned. A deal typically involves offering something the other party needs while receiving something one desires in return. Baek Woojin chuckled. ‘There can't possibly be anything to gain from the Murong family, unless… oh!’ There was. Something he wanted from Murong Jinchun, and something Murong Jinchun wanted from him. With a sly smile playing on his lips, Baek Woojin asked, “It seems you've come to find a way to save yourself.” Murong Jinchun, having been seen through so quickly, bitterly nodded. “Sharp as always, you’re correct.” “There’s only one deal that could satisfy both you and me, isn’t there?” “…Indeed, there is.” Quickly agreeing, he continued. “Then I’ll get straight to the point.” For the first time since their meeting, from a man who never showed desperation, a sincere plea came forth. “Spare the Murong family. In return, I’ll give you all the information I have on the Demonic Cult.” As expected, this was exactly the proposal he made. Murong Jinchun had come all the way from Liaoning to save his life. ‘He must have been quite uneasy.’ Even at the far reaches of the central plains, news about Baek Woojin traveled. His feats were so renowned that even those outside the central plains were aware. As Murong Jinchun and his family observed his growing influence, they would have been engulfed in anxiety. They never knew when he might suddenly storm their gates and bring destruction. Finally, Murong Jinchun decided that he would rather confront the threat than live in constant fear. “To be spared…” Using such a desperate phrase, not simply asking to be overlooked, but to be spared, indicated he had set aside his pride. ‘What to do…’ The initiative lay entirely with him. He, too, was in urgent need of information on the Demonic Cult, consumed by such need. Yet, Murong Jinchun was unaware of this. Feigning deep contemplation, Baek Woojin responded generously. “Well…, it’s not entirely impossible. As long as the information you provide is sufficiently valuable.” With the positive reply, a flash of hope flickered in Murong Jinchun’s eyes. Though it was fleeting, it was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope. Perhaps there was a chance for survival. Surely Murong Jinchun’s mind was now filled with such thoughts. Baek Woojin, observing him, doused such hopes with cold water. “Best to delay your hopes for later. Nothing is certain yet.” Leaning forward, he continued. “So, what information will you offer to save the Murong family?” At the awaited question, Murong Jinchun swallowed dryly. The critical moment had arrived. If what he had prepared wasn’t convincing, both he and the Murong family would face annihilation. “…There is a secret hideout not far from here belonging to the main family.” It was a sort of clandestine branch. A channel for meticulously gathering information from the central plains and relaying it to the main family. Before coming here, Murong Jinchun had visited that place. To leave behind items meant for Baek Woojin, known only to a select few including himself. “All instructional documents received from the Demonic Cult are stored there.” “Instructional documents….” If the Demonic Cult had issued directives to the Murong family in Liaoning, it likely meant they were orchestrating something significant. “While most commands have been executed, there are still ongoing orders.” These could indeed be valuable information. By linking past orders with those currently underway, they could discern what the Demonic Cult was attempting in Liaoning. Realizing that his proposal had an effect, Murong Jinchun continued. “If you promise to spare the Murong family, I’ll hand over all of them to you. And also….” However, this alone was insufficient. He needed to throw in another proposal to further pique Baek Woojin’s interest. So that he wouldn’t simply brush off the information and walk away, but see greater benefit than just tying him down with constraints. “For the next hundred years, we’ll be your lackeys.” No. Rising from his seat, he knelt on one knee, bowing deeply with clasped fists in respect. “Please, take the main family under your wing.” To forsake the pride of the Five Great Families and prostrate oneself. This was the best he could do to ensure the survival of the Murong family. Author's Note: I’ll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading as always. Thank you, and have a restful night as well. (_ _)