Ep425 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The Blood Wind Duo. For nearly a century, two notorious old fiends committed countless atrocities. Baek Woojin ended their reign of terror. He realized something. “…It seems I’ve been caught in a trap.” The two fiends hadn’t set foot outside the cult’s confines for years. Their sudden appearance here was no coincidence. They must have been ordered by the Heavenly Demon to assassinate him. Yet, a lingering question remained. After impaling the heart of the cult leader, she said. ‘Only I can kill you. No one else.’ Why would she then suddenly send the Blood Wind Duo to kill him? Something doesn’t add up. ‘She must have predicted I wouldn’t die.’ She knows. The greatest strength bestowed upon him is his tenacity to survive and grow stronger amidst crises. Therefore, she must have anticipated his survival against the Blood Wind Duo as well. The only explanation for sending them despite knowing this? ‘She wanted them dead, not me.’ The Heavenly Demon burns with a desire for vengeance against him. But from Baek Woojin’s perspective, her sense of chivalry wasn’t entirely erased. And the Blood Wind Duo belonged to a category of men she despised the most. ‘Yet, she couldn’t simply behead them.’ The Heavenly Demon is an object of reverence among the cultists. Even she couldn’t wield absolute power at her whim. Especially not when it concerned her loyal followers. Even though the Sword Demon and the Fist Demon were marked as public enemies due to their wickedness, they were among the finest in the cult. Moreover, one couldn’t simply eliminate those who obeyed the cult leader’s orders outright. ‘So, she sent them to me.’ Borrowed Blade Murder. Sending them here to be killed by a borrowed sword, his. However, one puzzle remains unsolved. “She must know I’d grow stronger from defeating them….” The protagonist is inherently such a being. The center of the world, advancing through trials against stronger foes, learning and growing with every battle. No matter their wickedness, the Blood Wind Duo were mightier than most challengers. She would know he’d grow from this confrontation. Doesn’t this imply she either doesn't mind him getting stronger or wishes for it? “…….” His unfocused gaze, reflecting his tangled thoughts, drifts into the distance. Somewhere out there lies the Ten Thousand Peaks. And there, the Heavenly Demon watches the unfolding events. “What on earth is she thinking…?” As time progresses, she grows even more fearsome. Could she be crafting an unfathomable plan far beyond his imagination? And. ‘When the moment comes, how will I respond?’ As thoughts circle endlessly, Baek Woojin lets out a small sigh over an uncertain future. * * * Seol Suyeon had been learning the Muryung Divine Art from the sapling for about a month now. Many challenges and crises blocked her path. Once, accumulated energy blocked her meridians, causing her body to swell. Another time, her dantian almost shattered due to the newly transforming energy. An incessant barrage of life-threatening situations. Anyone else would capitulate to fear. “Haa…, I’ll try again.” But she was entirely unfazed. There are many reasons for this. First and foremost, she is part of the hero’s party that once vanquished the Demon Lord. She’d survived even fiercer pain and death looming closer than now. Had she run scared each time, she wouldn’t be standing here today. Yet the most significant reason lies elsewhere. ‘I want to be of greater help to the hero.’ That was her sole focus. In her original world, she failed to capture his heart, to hold him back. She blamed him, yet equally chastised herself. ‘If only I had a place deeper in his heart….’ He left, unable to overcome the pain of being shunned by his beloved. At that moment. Were her bonds with him deep enough to console his wounded heart, Maybe they could have lived their lives together. Thus, ‘This time, let me support you.’ She aims not to tether him, but to be his steadfast pillar. No wonder, for the last entity he is destined to face is none other than her beloved. ‘Angelica….’ Her mind conjures the image of a woman, steadfast under the sun, adorned in shining silver armor, her golden hair flowing freely in the breeze. 'Why did you make such a choice?' It is beyond comprehension. Someone who has lived with such reverence for justice and respect for the weak. Why did they become the Heavenly Demon, akin to the Demon Lord from our world? ‘Her heart must have been aching.’ One can hardly claim to fully understand all the pain and anguish a person might feel. Yet, having experienced something similar, I understand it well. In the midst of withering away each day, I heard news of her. I learned that like myself, she too secluded herself within a mansion, shutting the world out. ‘It wasn’t genuine… was it?’ Pushing Baek Woojin away couldn’t have been sincere. It was likely the result of the pain and anger from feeling betrayed by the person she believed would accompany her on the long journey to death. However, Baek Woojin took her actions to heart, choosing to disappear while wishing for her happiness. ‘It was merely a difference in approach.’ A tragic outcome drawn from differences in how they cared for each other. As a result, she and I ended up in similar situations. Forever separated from the one we love. In that despairing moment, we made choices that were alike yet different. One sought revenge, and the other hoped to remain by his side. ‘This, too, must be a difference in approach.’ The magnitude of our love isn’t diminished by our differing methods. It's merely a matter of finding a different way to leave a lasting mark on his heart. ‘I respect you.’ I don't want to hastily declare her choice as wrong. Abandoning one’s family, world, and very self requires more than mere half-hearted resolve. But. ‘I won’t allow it to go unchecked.’ Regardless of her intentions, I have no plans to turn a blind eye. I will stand firmly in her way. ‘I didn’t come here with any ordinary resolve either.’ She, too, left everything behind to focus solely on Baek Woojin by being reborn in this place. This time, to face him, to stand by his side and walk with him. Although many women came before her..., it doesn’t matter. Having lived together until now, they have become like family. ‘I’ll never, ever.’ She is afraid. What will Baek Woojin become by the end of this journey? She might have to plunge a knife into her beloved’s heart. A strong yet incredibly tender-hearted person, shouldering the fate of the world. Could he bear it? ‘No.’ She stripped away the premature worries from her mind. It doesn’t matter if he can’t endure it. Even if he sobs until the world collapses and declares he wants to die with her. ‘It’s up to me... up to us to lift him.’ We'll bring him back to his feet. Fortunately, this world offers many hands willing to support him. She firmly believes that if everyone unites, it wouldn't be a difficult task. Now, just one task remains. To provide the strength he needs so that he can safely reach the end of the journey. ‘I can do it.’ In her mind flows the mantra of the Muryung Divine Art she learned from the sapling over the passage of time. The ever-throbbing energy of life. Within it, the energy of the Muryung Divine Art expanded its realm, beginning to intertwine. They were energies that didn’t need to clash, yet they coalesced. The holy energy and the tree’s energy. Both warm energies filled with abundant life force. Such a mindset achieved the unification of the two energies. [Oh… Oh!] The sapling, observing Seol Suyeon meditating in lotus position, couldn’t contain its excitement. [Fi-finally!] Waves of life energy overflowed from her. If it were merely that, there’d be no reason for such admiration. The sapling could feel it. The mysterious aura she possessed combined with the roots of the Muryung Divine Art! Upon realizing this, he understood. [Yes…, that’s what it was.] A tree growing rooted in fertile soil. The mistake was relying solely on external sources for the tree’s energy, ignoring its essence. The overwhelming energy within the forest began to draw into her. Realizing this, Baek Woojin rushed over to gaze at her seated in meditation. “…No way.” Every ounce of energy from the forest seemed to absorb into her petite body. This phenomenon signified one thing. ‘She’s achieved enlightenment.’ Only at the brink of understanding a new realm does this occur. With the perfect mastery of the Muryung Divine Art, she had finally broken through the barrier to enter a higher state. Gathering all the energy that filled the void within her dantian, she opened her eyes. Brilliance! A gaze so intense it was almost burdensome to behold. Soon, those deeper eyes turned towards him. "Hero, I did it!" Please, praise me now. The underlying sentiment within her jubilant tone. "Well…, uh, I mean." Baek Woojin scratched his head with an awkward smile before continuing. "Good job." Seol Suyeon's face lit up with delight. […Seriously, such a display of ridiculousness.] The sapling's grumbling was an added bonus. Author's Note: I apologize for the sudden announcement of yesterday's hiatus. I should’ve informed you in the last episode that the story would take a break at the end of the episode, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to add any extra notes in the author's remarks. I took a day off to organize the story, and I’ll make sure to keep things tight without getting too slack. I’ll return with the next episode. Thank you for reading as always. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)