Ep453 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

In the midst of Baek Woo-jin's confusion over events he could hardly comprehend: Similarly, there was a woman thrown into an equally baffling situation. Taking a step back in time to when Baek Woo-jin had just left Yong Sena's quarters: Not long after, when she opened her eyes for the second time, she also found herself clutching her face, just like Baek Woo-jin. "Ah..." What in the world have I done? She trembled at the vivid memories of their wild first night together. "I must have lost my mind..." Indeed, last night she was undoubtedly overcome by madness. If any reason had remained, such a raucous night could never have happened. On the underlying mire of shallow regret, her feet trudged through. And if someone were to ask whether she regretted last night's actions, she would answer firmly. She absolutely did not regret it. The regret that comes with forbidden relationships barely scrapes her feet. The joy from yesterday fills the entire world apart from there, so how could such a feeling be diluted by mere regret? “Eep…” At the thought, Yong Sena's body heated up once more. She recalled the words her mother had spoken to her when she became an adult: The women of the Northern Ice Palace all have strong sexual desires. Until just two days ago, she thought she was an exception to that rule. After all, there were times when she comforted herself, but it was nothing to the intense lust her mother spoke of, just a mild yearning. But she realized she was wrong. She truly felt it as of yesterday. ‘I am indeed a woman of the North.’ That she was not much different from the others. Her mild desire was simply due to not knowing the pleasure a man could bring. ‘Oh, what do I do…♥’ And now she knew she couldn't live without the man, Baek Woo-jin. As she twisted in remembrance of him, a beast who had devoured her body, her face flushed red as she saw her mother sleeping peacefully on the wide bed. 'Let's get out of here first.' Shame took precedence over regret. Hastily picking up her clothes scattered on the floor, she quickly returned to her room. After cleansing herself of the various fluids mixed across her body and revelling in the refreshed sensation: "Um, Lady of the Palace?" A maid's tense voice came from outside the door. "What is it?" She replied while drying her wet hair. "Ladies have come to see you..." "...Ladies?" There weren't many within the Northern Ice Palace that the maids would refer to as 'ladies'. The most likely candidates were: The women promised to be Baek Woo-jin’s wives, who had been in the same group under his leadership since the academy days. "Oh my." Startled, she dropped the towel she was using to dry her hair and hurried to open the door. And there stood five women, each wearing a distinctly different expression. Sensing something unpleasant by instinct, she quickly lowered her head. "I-I'm sorry!" The five women nodded in satisfaction at her reaction. It seemed the perceptive youngest had been initiated properly. * * * Contrary to expectations of a violent uproar, nothing of the sort occurred. Baek Woo-jin, who had braced himself for a near-death thrashing and had prostrated meekly, emerged unscathed. Similarly, she, who had resolved to spend a long time breaking the ice with them, managed to blend in naturally within mere days. "Sister, this would suit you so well!" "Oh dear..., isn't this too short?" "Sister has such pretty legs; it’s fine!" "R-really? Then... with the youngest’s thoughtfulness, maybe I’ll try it on?" Do you see it? That is a conversation shared just a day after becoming sisters. Though slightly eerie that such a situation unfolded without a hint of anger, well, what can one do? If things have turned out well, suspicion alone isn't reason enough to deny it. "Well, it all turned out for the best." Even brushing aside the faint unease, he began preparations to depart promptly. Despite being damaged, he had successfully acquired the Divine Relics. Not only that; he also gained a beautiful wife and a mother-in-law, achieving beyond 100% to an incredible 120% success. What does that imply? "It's time to head to the next location." It means it's time to bid farewell to this harsh, yet somewhat endearing, land. As much as he'd like to stay a bit longer, time is always the issue. Out of the total of five Divine Relics, four were now in the hands of Cheonma and Baek Woo-jin, two each. This led Baek Woo-jin to speculate on which relics she had managed to acquire. Aside from the Wood and Water Divine Relics in his possession, three relics remained. One of these, the Earth Divine Relic, was speculated to be resting in the high plateau near the Potala Palace in the Western Region, much like the artifacts of the far North. If his assumptions were correct, that left the Fire and Wind Divine Relics likely in her possession. "This means I need to secure the Earth Divine Relic quickly…" Her plan seemed to hinge on gathering all five Divine Relics together. Yet, with two already in Baek Woo-jin’s possession, he had effectively disrupted her plans to some degree. Still, he couldn't afford to be complacent. She was Cheonma, after all. The mightiest woman, unrivaled in power, one could even call her the greatest of all time. Recalling her with jet-black hair instead of her usual golden locks, Baek Woo-jin spoke into the air as if addressing her directly. "What are you thinking…?" Her power was already far beyond the ordinary. That meant she could easily subjugate the entire central region under her feet if she so wished. And Baek Woo-jin wondered why, despite knowing this, she chose a roundabout way instead of acting directly. He struggled to understand her intentions. "Well, I guess it's fortunate for me." Though her plans remained shrouded in mystery, for now, it was better than having her confront him directly. While he was slowly finding clues to contend with Cheonma, it was only the first step. He needed to buy as much time as possible. To do so, he had to secure as many of the relics, her plans' apparent focal points, as he could. "Regrettable, but it can’t be helped." Regrettable. The Northern Ice Palace was nothing short of a paradise for men. Why, you ask? "Young Master, care to exchange some body talk?" "B-body talk, you say… how could you suggest such a thing!" "Master Jang! Can you perhaps read palms?" "Hehe, I’m skilled at many things, but palm reading is certainly one of my best talents!" Look at that. The women of the North are born with an inherent allure and soft skin due to their strong yin energy. Meanwhile, the men, affected by this yin energy, tend to be less masculine. This makes the Northern women bold and unrestrained when approaching men. Which is why such an unbelievable scene was unfolding here. "What a world we live in, truly." To see Guhwangsu and Jangsam surrounded by women. Was this perhaps another world, or a parallel universe? With eyes full of suspicion, Baek Woo-jin watched their behavior. "A sparring match, you say? I thought…" "What did you think? Were you having strange thoughts? Like, say… taking a bath together after sparring." "N-no, what do you take me for…!" "Oh, don’t you want to?" "N-not that I don’t…!" Guhwangsu was easily swayed by the bold woman. "Ahem… let me hold your hand for a moment." "My, how assertive." "Haha, it’s nothing." “Haha…! This tickles, Master Jang. Are you really reading my palm?” “Of course.” Grasping the beautiful woman’s hand, Jangsam flared his nostrils, hardly concentrating on any palm reading. "Right, I've decided." Watching this spectacle, Baek Woo-jin’s regrets vanished. He approached Jangsam and Guhwangsu, who were piled amongst the women, and delivered a thunderous announcement. "We’re leaving in five days, so get ready." "What!" "L-leaving?" Baek Woo-jin smiled at their reluctant expressions. "Why, don’t you want to?" The Baek Woo-jin Alert was immediately triggered. Silently, both of them shook their heads. Seeing their downcast expressions only lifted Baek Woo-jin’s spirits. * * * During the five days before their departure, Baek Woo-jin found himself engaged in three more secret meetings with Yong Sena. "You’re leaving soon?" "Yes, I can’t remain here indefinitely." "I see…" Her face was tinged with disappointment as she looked at Baek Woo-jin, who was set to leave. "Did you say five days from now?" "Yes." "Then, until then I’ll dedicate myself even more." "What do you mean?" In response to his puzzled question, she licked her lips with her tongue and replied. "Creating an heir, of course…♥" "……." Spending three nights in her chambers, except the day he decided to leave, they even decided to bring out the Yang Wine, which they had sealed away, to fuel their passion. Pregnancy wasn’t something that could be confirmed immediately, but they were both sure of it. "It’ll definitely happen." "We’re certain it will." Their conviction in an unseen future reflected their sincerity during those nights. Thus, even on the day before their departure, he spent the night with Yong Sena. "It's time for me to go." "Mother, promise you'll manage well without me?" Finally, the day of departure had arrived. It took a considerable amount of time. After all, it was the day a woman who had lived her entire life in the Northern Ice Palace was leaving her homeland and mother behind. "Don’t worry about me; take good care of your husband." Consoling her tearful daughter, she then turned her gaze to Baek Woo-jin. "Thank you so much. What you've done for us... I will never forget." "It was nothing." Baek Woo-jin, bowing lightly at her gratitude, noticed something. "Heh heh." The way she tenderly caressed her belly. That movement seemed to say: Here lies a child of your blood. "When your journey ends, make sure to visit. There will be something for you to see then." There was no need to ask what that might be. Baek Woo-jin replied with a bittersweet smile. "I certainly will." Though theirs was an inappropriate relationship that must be kept secret, she was carrying his child. Even if the day came when he could openly acknowledge it, he couldn’t ignore his responsibility as a father. Worry surfaced. Could someone who never felt parental love become a good parent? But for now, he decided to tuck those thoughts away deep in his heart. Creating a world where his wife and child could live in peace was the priority. "Let's depart then." With that, Baek Woo-jin turned his back. His figure grew distant as he boldly stepped across the frozen ground. Watching him leave, Yong Sena allowed herself a wry smile. "I will miss them for a while..." Her daughter left, and so did the man who was either her son-in-law or something else entirely. It would be strange if the silence didn't echo for some time. Yet she wasn't worried. He would illuminate his path no matter the danger, and she had yet another life to protect. "Suddenly, I crave something sour and sweet." "I'll prepare it immediately." Watching the maid scurry off as soon as she spoke, she chuckled quietly. Craving unusual foods she normally wouldn’t seek. It only confirmed what she sensed—that new life was indeed growing within her. She turned to another maid beside her. "Bring the most renowned physician in the Northern Ice Palace." "Pardon? Ah, yes…" "And perhaps a skilled midwife or two." "……?" The maid’s mind seemed to short-circuit with questions at the orders. Regardless, Yong Sena simply kept smiling, gently rubbing her belly. **Author's Note** I'll meet you again in the next chapter. Thank you for reading as always. Have a restful night. (_ _)