Ep452 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

When Baek Woo-jin awoke, dawn had long since passed, and the sun was hanging high in the sky. A state of clarity greeted him after an exceptionally refreshing sleep. But as he took in his surroundings, his expression grew more twisted with each passing moment. He was in Yongseon's bedchamber. On the large bed that carried a tantalizing scent, lay two dazzlingly beautiful, naked women beside him. A mother and daughter, no less. To make matters worse, they were to become his wife and mother-in-law. 'Screeeeech!' Baek Woo-jin screamed internally, incapable of voicing his turmoil out loud. He was not a human being. No human, disguised as one, could simultaneously embrace a future wife and mother-in-law! “Sigh...” Baek Woo-jin let out a small sigh, trying to calm his emotions. Carefully, he climbed off the bed and began picking up his scattered clothes, dressing himself piece by piece. He quietly opened the door and exited the chamber. “…….” His tumultuous emotions quickly settled down. ‘Let's admit what's to be admitted.’ From last night until dawn, he had been nothing short of a beast. But Baek Woo-jin was certain. No man placed in his circumstances would have made a different choice. ‘It was like a natural disaster.’ A mother-in-law who knew every way to incite a man, and a daughter inheriting and honing that talent to an alarming degree. If anyone could resist this, they'd either be impotent or prefer men; there was no other explanation. It was a nauseating self-justification. But what could he do, considering what had already transpired? He was certain that even if he could go back in time, his choice would be the same. So, what could he do? ‘Might as well live the life of a scoundrel.’ Just a scoundrel, but one devoted to his women. Surely, he could live his life without losing it, couldn't he? Musing with this thought, he approached the chamber. The maid who typically attended him anxiously paced by the door. “What’s the matter?” “Oh my!” Startled by his question, she retreated a step. Quickly regaining her composure, she asked quizzically. “When did you head outside?” “Oh, well..., I woke early and went out for some training.” He offered a flimsy excuse, but her face still brimmed with doubt. “Hmm…, early morning?” “Yes, indeed...” “That’s strange. I was standing right outside your chamber at dawn….” “Ah, uh.” While he fumbled for another explanation, she changed the topic herself. “That’s not important right now.” “The ladies have been eagerly searching for you.” By "ladies," she likely meant Tang Seonyeong, Jegal Yeon-ji, and Do-gyeong. The mere thought of them sent a chill through his body. Had they already sensed something amiss? “They’ve been worried since they haven’t seen you since morning.” “Ah.” Fortunately, it didn't seem like that. Relieved, he inquired the maid. “Where are the ladies?” “They're in Lady Tang’s room having some tea.” “Understood.” With that, Baek Woo-jin strolled the corridor. Now that things were as they were, he figured he'd best show his face to the concerned women with a light heart. Shortly, he arrived at Tang Seonyeong’s room. He softly knocked and entered, finding the women laughing and enjoying tea. The number of women present was not the three he'd expected but five. In addition to Tang Seonyeong, Jegal Yeon-ji, and Do-gyeong, there were also Seol Soo-yeon and Geum Yeo-ul. All five of their gazes zeroed in on Baek Woo-jin. “You finally decided to make an appearance?” “We were worried when you didn’t show up, Young Master….” “Honestly, shouldn’t we be at the point where you tell us if you’re going anywhere?” A barrage of questions! The first three were manageable. “Hah…, disappearing without a word, just like the old days…” Seol Soo-yeon launched an attack that resonated with their shared past. “Really, you're too much! Do you know how worried the others were? And, of course, I was too!” Even Geum Yeo-ul, seemingly eager to win favor with the older sisters, joined in, pushing Baek Woo-jin past his breaking point. “I’m sorry!” Seeking forgiveness was the best course of action. The tension began to subside. Then, Tang Seonyeong casually inquired. “Where have you been all this time?” “Oh, uh.” Ah. They say that a frog dies from a rock thrown out of mere curiosity. Baek Woo-jin found himself cornered by an innocent question asked out of sheer curiosity. A single bead of sweat trickled down his forehead and across his face. ‘What do I do?’ Before him were two paths. One where he would dodge the situation with a vague excuse and another where he would answer honestly and find some relief within his soul. Both paths had their pros and cons, making the decision no easy matter. After a moment of deliberation, Baek Woo-jin finally chose a path. “I was... having a chat with Lady Yong.” “…….” “…….” “…….” The atmosphere instantly turned ice-cold. The mood, which had seemed to be recovering, plummeted once more, crossing a point of no return. “A chat, you say.” Tang Seonyeong's voice fragmented and faded. Though he described it as a chat, no one in the room took it at face value. Of course, it could have been a chat as he claimed. Just not a casual exchange of pleasantries. Perhaps more along the lines of an exchange filled with deep affection. “Is it another one?” Jegal Yeon-ji's icy question made Baek Woo-jin shrink even further. He regretted, if only for a moment. ‘Should I have just glossed over it...’ No, this was something he had to reveal sooner or later since he decided to accept her. Seeking forgiveness sooner was, in the long run, the right choice. “At this rate, you’ll have women flocking to you just from breathing.” Do-gyeong's sarcastic addendum was tinged with Seol Soo-yeon's menace. “Should we stop him from breathing while we still can?” “If you do, he'll die, sister...?” “Fufu..., don't worry. As long as there’s breath in him, we can keep him alive. Somehow…” “But, if he's not breathing, there isn’t any breath left to keep...?” The only one pitifully trying to ward off Seol Soo-yeon's dark humor was Geum Yeo-ul. As the atmosphere spiraled beyond control, the eldest among them, Tang Seonyeong, spoke up. “Explain what exactly happened.” Even amidst this turmoil, she granted him the chance to explain. How befitting of a big sister. Baek Woo-jin explained how things came to be. He didn't reveal everything. He avoided lies but concealed part of the truth. The part he chose to hide was the existence of Yong Seon-ah. From beginning to end, the entire narrative was crafted between Yong Seol-ran and himself. ‘This is the right thing to do.’ His relationship involved more than just personal sin. If word were to spread, it would affect the entire Northern Ice Palace. And if Yong Seon-ah were to truly become pregnant, that child would be scrutinized and whispered about long before even being born. “…That’s what happened.” When he finished, a silence descended. Their faces betrayed their thoughts, each lost in contemplation. He was curious. What would they say once their thoughts concluded? Also, he was afraid. Fearing those words might be the harsh truths he dreaded to hear. ‘How laughable.’ In that moment, he found himself ridiculous. If he was so afraid, he should have been good to the women he already had. Why did he keep adding more? It was a conundrum he couldn’t understand himself, but resistance had often seemed futile. Born a man, how could he cruelly reject a woman who came to him unabashedly, especially one who blossomed like a beautiful flower? Especially in a world where polygamy was permitted! Just as he resigned himself to hearing their rebukes, Tang Seonyeong broke the silence first. “What do you all think?” Yet the question wasn't directed at him but at the sisters who had become almost like family. The response came from Jegal Yeon-ji, recognized among the women as the second eldest sister. “…I think it’s okay with me.” “……?” Baek Woo-jin couldn’t comprehend her words. After all that contemplation, her conclusion was that it was okay? Okay in what sense? That wasn’t the end, either. “Well, since it was the palace lord who brought it up, the story checks out.” Do-gyeong agreed. “I’m a bit mad... but you confessed quickly, so we should overlook it.” Even Seol Soo-yeon, who had just threatened to leave him barely breathing, conceded. “If the sisters are okay with it, then I’m fine too, hehe!” And Geum Yeo-ul, who was on the verge of moving up from her youngest spot. “In that case..., sigh, we better go greet the newest member.” Letting out a small sigh, Tang Seonyeong stood up. One by one, the others rose to follow her out of the room. The room was soon utterly empty. “What on earth…?” There was no one left to answer Baek Woo-jin's bewildered question as he stood there alone. --- **Author's Note** I'll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for always reading. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)