Ep408 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Before leaving Liaoning, Baek Woo-jin sought out Moyong Jintian and asked, "What do you know about the king's tomb hidden somewhere on the plains?" This concerned the king's tomb that he and his companions were to find. Moyong Jintian replied, "I don't know much. But, according to the tribes that follow the Demonic Sect, there's talk of a king from ancient times who conquered all the tribes of the plains. His tomb is said to be buried somewhere." "The king of the plains..." The timing suggests it's not the famous royal tomb everyone knows about. This is a world created by a third-rate writer. Depending on how he crafted the narrative, it's possible that there exists an imaginary figure preceding well-known history. "Do you know why you're searching for the tomb?" In response to this follow-up question, Moyong Jintian shook his head. "I've only been instructed to find the tomb; the reason was not conveyed. I'm sure it's the same for the tribes of the plains." "Hmm." Though the reason remains unknown, he has a hunch. Something that the Heavenly Demon desires must lie within the king's tomb. Hence, Baek Woo-jin's course of action is clear. 'Find it first.' He must locate the tomb before they do and claim whatever lies within it. Its form, size, and color—none of this is known. Yet he feels that simply finding the tomb is crucial. If it's the object the Heavenly Demon is fervently searching for, it must be extraordinary. With thoughts gathered, he finally spoke up. "I'll depart for Liaoning tomorrow. Will the clan leader accompany me?" Moyong Jintian shook his head decisively. "I still have things to attend to here." Baek Woo-jin tilted his head quizzically and asked, "Aren't you here to meet me?" Moyong Jintian, casting a gloomy look, retorted, "Closing the gate for a century requires at least some preparation." "Ah, that's true." Baek Woo-jin readily conceded, while Moyong Jintian bitterly swallowed his frustration. Observing this, Baek Woo-jin smirked and continued, "Then, at least inform the factions. They should be made aware of the situation." "...I will." "Well, I'm off. I have much to prepare for the long journey." As Baek Woo-jin stood up, Moyong Jintian rose to see him off. "Take care." "See you in Liaoning." Baek Woo-jin sauntered away leisurely. Watching him, Moyong Jintian gritted his teeth so hard in anger that his face trembled. 'That arrogant brat...!' Intense humiliation and indignation swept over his entire being. To be disrespected by a junior he shouldn't even glance at directly—what a disgrace! 'I shall never forget this disgrace.' He vowed revenge. If not in his time, then for his successors to exact the due price from Baek Woo-jin or his heirs. --- Seven days and nights after Baek Woo-jin and his companions left the headquarters, They finally arrived in Liaoning and were puzzled by the changed atmosphere of the city. "It’s more peaceful than I expected...?" "Indeed." "It was never this good before." Situated on the outskirts of the Central Plains and bordering the plains, Liaoning often fell prey to the nomadic tribes that roamed the grasslands. Even though it was protected by the Moyong clan, one of the Five Great Sects, they couldn't guard everything. There were often cases of losses to looters who exploited gaps in the strong defenses. Thus, while living peaceful lives, there remained a subtle anxiety in their hearts. "But now it seems completely different, doesn't it?" "Yes." What brought such peace to these people? They found the answer at a tavern they entered to grab a bite to eat. "Life's really good these days." "Absolutely! It's been nearly half a year since those wretched looters were last seen, right?" "Going on that long. I hope they never show up again." This was the tale they heard from those spending their time with makgeolli in broad daylight. There had been no looting for over half a year. Je-Gal Yeonji, who was listening to their stories alongside Baek Woo-jin, spoke up, "Something's odd, right...?" "Indeed." Most of the companions nodded in understanding, except for Gu Wang-soo, who, confused, asked the two, "Uh... what's odd?" "..." "…" Baek Woo-jin and Je-Gal Yeonji exchanged glances, each trying to avoid explaining. Ultimately, Je-Gal Yeonji lost the intense stare-off and was left with the task. "The food issue is a chronic problem for the nomadic tribes," Je-Gal Yeonji commented. "Indeed." "They have resolved part of this issue through raids." "Hmm... does that mean they no longer need food?" "Unless they've collectively decided to starve, that must be the case." Raiding is a means of survival for the nomadic tribes. As Je-Gal Yeonji pointed out, unless they've collectively decided to starve, it implies they are now receiving a stable food supply that eliminates the need for raiding. Gu Wang-soo then asked, "But how is that possible?" "...That's what makes it strange," Je-Gal Yeonji replied. "Ah, I see." If these tribes had found an easy solution to their food problem, they wouldn't have resorted to raiding in the first place. How could they have resolved an issue that remained unsolved for hundreds of years? After pondering for a moment, Baek Woo-jin spoke up, "Let's go to the Moyong clan. They might know something." After finishing their meal, they headed straight to the Moyong clan's residence. An acquaintance came out to greet them at the gate. "Welcome, Master Cheongwang Sword." "Uh… Your name was?" "I'm Moyong Bin." "Ah, I remember now." Moyong Bin, the eldest son of Moyong Jintian and the future leader of the Moyong clan. "I've been waiting since I received word that you entered through the city gates." Baek Woo-jin scanned Moyong Bin from head to toe, who maintained a consistently respectful demeanor. "There was a dragon hiding in the clan." Since they last met, Moyong Bin's achievements had grown significantly, beyond mere adequacy. With the right insights, he could potentially reach the state of Hwagyeong within three years. "What a pity." Given that the Moyong clan plans to close its gates for the next hundred years, it's a regrettable situation. Despite his remarkable achievements, he wouldn't be able to enter the martial world. However, it was a consequence of their own choices. "Please, come inside." "Let’s do so." Guided by Moyong Bin, Baek Woo-jin and his companions entered. The Moyong clan hadn't changed much from before. It was a place without much room for change, having naturally accumulated elegance and tradition by being one of the pillars of orthodox martial arts. After leading them to an annex, Moyong Bin spoke, "My father instructed us to provide any support you might need. Please let me know if there's anything you require." Baek Woo-jin, choosing liquor over the fragrant tea, posed a question, "I heard you're searching for the king's tomb." "Yes, that's correct." "What's the progress? Have you found the tomb yet?" With a nervous heart, he asked, and Moyong Bin shook his head, "We haven't found it yet." "Have the nomadic tribes found it?" "No. We've been exchanging updates, and the latest news from yesterday indicates they haven't found the tomb either." "That's a relief." The search had been ongoing for half a year. Despite the vast expanse of the plains, they were relieved to find it hadn't yet been discovered, having urgently rushed over in anticipation. "Is there any clue about the king's tomb?" "Unfortunately, no significant clue exists. Only the tale that a king once ruled the plains in the distant past and then suddenly disappeared." It was a fact Baek Woo-jin already knew from Moyong Jintian. "...No wonder it hasn't been found in half a year." Searching for the tomb of a legendary king passed down in only a single verse seems akin to finding a needle in a desert. "We might have to search on foot ourselves." Although frustrating, it's inevitable. This is the only lead to uncover what the Heavenly Demon truly seeks. "Let's rest well today and head out to the plains early tomorrow." "Sounds good." As the companions gradually departed for some rest, Baek Woo-jin asked, "Oh, there's one more thing I'd like to ask." "Please go ahead." "I heard that recently, there haven’t been any raids by the nomads." "Yes, that's correct." "Do you know why?" "I heard that a trading company has emerged that reliably supplies them with food." "A trading company...?" Baek Woo-jin tilted his head at Moyong Bin's response. "...Is that really possible?" The nomadic tribes of the plains are not ideal trading partners for various reasons. One major factor is their extremely low trustworthiness due to their habitual raiding. But a bigger reason lies elsewhere. "Do they have anything worth taking in exchange for food?" "I don't know that much either." Personal curiosity piqued Baek Woo-jin. Who is this daring figure engaging in trade with the nomadic tribes of the plains? "Do you know which trading company it is?" "They mentioned a trading company I'm not familiar with, called the Baekgeum Trading Company." "Baekgeum Trading Company..." It was a name he had never heard of before. --- **Author's Note** I apologize for taking a break yesterday. My daily routine isn’t very consistent, and sometimes it leads to headaches. I visited the hospital once, and they mentioned that it's likely due to stress or a disrupted lifestyle pattern. It would be nice if I could write at a set time each day, but it’s quite challenging. I'll do my best to manage my health and continue the series consistently. I'll see you in the next installment. Thank you for reading as always. Have a restful night. (_ _)