Ep411 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Baatar. Over the past few decades, this honorable title was awarded to those who have personally experienced and resolved significant events on the plains. A man bearing this distinguished name, Bayan, was in the midst of enjoying a tea session with a woman. To be precise, only her cup contained tea, while his was filled with alcohol. "It was a good deal this time as well." "I'm glad you're pleased." The woman was a merchant. She's the very person responsible for stopping the raids by supplying food stably through deals with the steppe tribes. Feeling satisfied by the successful trade that ensured ample food supplies, Bayan, with a pleasant smile lurking at his lips, posed a question to her. "But really... are those things really worth the price of food?" There was a tinge of concern in his voice. However, the woman with her unwavering cheerful expression nodded her head. "Of course. They are worth enough, so you need not worry." "That's a relief, but to be honest, it's a mystery. Are those weeds really worth money?" In return for supplying food to the tribes on the plains, what the woman received was none other than grass. It's not that these grasses grow everywhere, but since they sprouted all around the vast plains, they weren't particularly hard to find. Thus, the tribes paid them no heed. For Bayan, it was always baffling that such grass could be considered an exchange for valuable food. He wondered if that grass really held monetary value. Or perhaps— "Are you knowingly taking losses to stop our tribe from raiding?" An astute question indeed. The woman shook her head firmly with a determined expression. "Not at all." While she appreciated his consideration, unfortunately, she wasn't a saint who would squander her wealth for the lives of strangers. Contrarily, she was a merchant of iron who wouldn't budge unless there was profit... and even aspired to become one. "I'm truly making a profit, so you don’t need to worry." It was her steadfast gaze and smile that finally dispelled Bayan's doubts. "It seems to be true." Perhaps he was the one with a narrow perspective all along. Just because something was deemed useless to him, it didn’t mean it held no value for others. If that grass was of help somewhere and brought her profit, then that was fine. With it, he had secured food for a prosperous life. "Let us drink before it gets cold." "Yes, I'll enjoy it." While both of them were happily indulging in their respective cups of alcohol and tea— "Hello! Delivery is here!" A loud cry resonated across the entire tribe. "Hmm..." The words themselves were utterly perplexing, but one thing was clear. "It’s an expert." He realized that the person in question was proficient enough to rouse his competitive spirit. And also that this individual was direct in their challenge towards him. Bayan chuckled, showing all his yellowed teeth, and murmured. "Not to respond would be unmanly." Gulping down the entire drink from his big mug, the man wiped his mouth roughly and stood up. "Uh... Is there something going on?" The woman looked up with anxious eyes and asked. Bayan warned her. "Stay inside if you can. You never know what calamity might befall if you get swept up in this." "Oh, okay..." Leaving behind the woman who nodded, frozen with fear, the man gripped his trusty axe and exited the hut. * * * In front of a small but sturdy-looking tribe lined with tall wooden palisades. "Huuff." Baek Woojin took a deep breath before exclaiming loudly. "Hello! Delivery is here!" The bizarre behavior was greeted with cold, unamused eyes from his team members. "Young Master Baek." "Hmm?" "What... is delivery?" Jeong Yoonji inquired, and Baek Woojin replied with a smirk, trying to dodge the question. "It's something that feels really good when you receive it." People even spend a whole day waiting just to get one. Of course, what he had just shouted wasn't meant to bring about good feelings. If the opponent was truly a master, they would understand at once from his shout. That it was a declaration of war. "Who goes there!" Those who burst out of the huts wielded spears, swords, and axes, pointing them this way. Baek Woojin gleaned their momentum at a glance, a sparkle growing in his eyes. "Wow, they’re truly an elite minority!" Just as Zagal had mentioned. The warriors led by the one named Bayan were all beyond extraordinary. Not to mention, the stoutly standing figure in the center had already reached the level of Hwakyung. "They’d be a good match." They would be an excellent stimulus for his teammates, who were struggling on their path to reaching Hwakyung. However, what's important right now wasn’t this side. A large hut stood a little ways off. From it emerged a man exuding an overwhelming aura. His hair was a blend of white and black, giving off a gray hue, while his eyes were sharp and clear, unaffected by age. His strong jaw was framed by stiff bristles of a beard. Soon, Baek Woojin and Bayan's eyes met. It was Bayan who spoke first. "Have you experienced some kind of rejuvenation?" "No, I haven't." "Then you must truly be young... How is it that at your age?" "I've lived a rather harsh life." "I see." Bayan nodded in understanding. "But I have one more question." "What is it?" "Where have you sold off your manners?" It seemed to irk him that Baek was speaking casually rather than using honorifics. "Um..." Baek Woojin was momentarily at a loss for words. He hadn't expected Bayan to bring up manners. "If you wish to be treated with respect, I could certainly do so..." "If you want me to flatter you, I can be generous enough to do that?" "Something like that." "Heh, you're a bold young man." Bayan chuckled heartily, though veins were bulging at his temples. He was clearly quite angry. "I can’t see us having a long conversation if I'm in such a bad mood, so what brings you here?" To this, Baek Woojin replied. "I was told that in order to conquer all the plains, I must defeat you." "Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Bayan laughed loudly. Such arrogance. To say such a thing about conquering all the plains in front of him, nonetheless. Especially from someone who wasn't even born and raised on the plains, but in the central regions, a Han. Only then did Bayan realize. "So it was you." "What do you mean?" "The one who incited Zagal to start a war." Zagal, whom he met once, had lofty ambitions but wasn't someone capable of realizing them. Not exactly, as he had a decent mind, but severely lacked the martial force to back it up. The fact that he was waging war meant he had gained the martial force to support his ambitions. The man standing before him must be that force. With that thought, Bayan smiled. "Heh..., I was planning on coming to find you, so thanks for saving me the trouble." He was genuinely pleased that the man who rekindled his competitive spirit exceeded expectations. "Yes. If you wish to conquer the plains, you must defeat me, indeed." Bayan began to stride forward. His presence tearing through the air around them. It seemed his fighting spirit had fully ignited. Baek Woojin raised a hand towards him and spoke. "Ah, before that, I have a request." "…What is it." Baek gestured towards Bayan's elite warriors with his chin. "I think they'd be a good match for my subordinates as well... How about it?" "Hmm...?" Only then did Bayan notice the extraordinary skills of the young men and women lined up behind Baek Woojin. No, there was even one among them whose level could not be gauged. Realizing this, Baek Woojin quickly added. "Of course, this young lady here will not participate in the battle." "Mm..." Humming thoughtfully, Bayan nodded his head. Then he shouted to his warriors. "Would you like to clash with them once?" The warriors, seemingly waiting for this, responded with a spirited shout. "Yes!" They were courage incarnate. Not to be outdone, Baek Woojin turned to his comrades and spoke. "You all too—" But his words were cut short. "Why are you throwing us into a fight as you please?" "Oh..., I'm not really in the mood to fight today." "Those guys seem a bit scary..." Grumbles arose from various quarters. Half meant in jest, of course. They understood all too well that they needed a drastic change, given they’d hit a wall. The battlefield expanded. Baek Woojin's teammates and the warriors spread out, facing each other, leaving only Baek Woojin and Bayan in their original spots, staring intently at one another. One with eyes filled with a hunger for combat, the other with eyes serene and calm. Though appearing uninterested in the fight, Bayan could sense it. Within that calmness lay a fighting spirit that matched his own. An urge boiled within him. To draw out and clash fiercely with the power stored within that calmness. As such determination swelled within him, causing his aura to grow even stronger— "Chaaarge!" With a primal roar, Bayan charged forward, raising a fierce, tearing shout as he did. A gleaming ax cut through the air as it flew forward. Baek Woojin, determined not to be outdone, pushed off the ground, advancing with sword outstretched toward the ax. Ka-BOOM! The clash of mere human weapons produced an incredulous roar, almost defying belief. Crack! Snap! In the midst of the cacophony unleashed by the colliding energies, Bayan's smile deepened. The tactile satisfaction exceeded his expectations, causing his blood to surge with excitement. "Let's keep going!" The massive axe swung dozens of times in mere moments. Baek Woojin, undeterred, wielded his sword to parry each attack. With every collision came a resounding boom. This noise intrigued a woman inside the hut. "What on earth is happening...?" The noise outside was anything but ordinary. The unrestrained laughter indicated that the battle was no small affair. Curiosity piqued, she defied Bayan's warning and peeked outside the hut. And there she saw. Standing before the formidable Bayan, axe in hand, was none other than Baek Woojin. "Baek Woojin...!" Her eyes widened to the point of tearing, and her mouth stretched into a wide smile that nearly reached her ears. Pure joy was evident. Forgetting the fierce battle, she rushed outside and shouted. "Baek Woojin!" At the sound of a familiar voice, Baek Woojin turned his gaze from blocking Bayan's axe. In front of the giant hut stood a woman. One who often wept at the drop of a hat. Helpless when alone, often left wringing her hands. But constantly pushed to grow by facing reality. Baek Woojin's lips parted naturally, calling her name. "Geum Yeoul...?" It was indeed her. Author's Note: I will see you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading. Have a restful night.