Ep454 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Days passed in a blur, with no time to rest as I moved tirelessly within the bounds of the Central Plains and beyond. The seemingly endless march finally came to a halt, granting us a period of respite. And a pleasantly long one at that. “Let’s take this time to rest for now, and handle whatever needs doing,” said Baek Woo-jin, ushering in a rare spell of peace amidst the crisis. After taking a whole day to rest thoroughly, Yoo Hwayon chose none other than training as her next pursuit. ‘I need to become stronger.’ The day she finally unraveled the truth surrounding Baek Woo-jin was the day she was enveloped in despair. She believed it could be undone. Despite the seemingly irreversible mistake she had made, she hoped that if she exerted everything she had, if she stayed by his side to the very end even when he pushed her away, perhaps he might turn his gaze back to her just once. Clinging to that belief, she persevered with all her might. But reality was cold. No, it was unforgiving. ‘Gaga...’ The one she believed would look back at her was already long gone. A single misstep had driven him to his death. Upon learning this bitter truth, her resolve crumbled; she wanted to die. Did the thought of leaving with him even cross her mind? It did not. She merely wished to atone for the agony of losing the one she loved due to her own actions. Yet, she couldn’t even achieve that. No, she was thwarted. Blocked by her own gaga, and another who bore his form. Thus, she shared a fleeting reunion and a bittersweet farewell with her beloved. On that day, she made up her mind. ‘I must protect him.’ In his stead, she vowed to protect the one treading a thorny path because of her mistakes. No matter when or how, she pledged to dispel the shadow veiling his path, even at the cost of herself. Thus began her journey anew. And she realized, with stark clarity. ‘I’m... not even worthy.’ She couldn’t guard his back, let alone his front, with her own abilities. Though undoubtedly she was a martial genius unmatched in the Central Plains. Reaching the state of Hwagyeong in her mid-twenties was a feat so rare it was scarcely noted in history. Yet it wasn’t enough. His lofty ideals demanded he save the world from all maliciousness, and his enemies grew ever stronger. Thus, he faced ever-greater perils, and she struggled to keep pace behind him. At every critical moment, she found herself pulled away, praying for his safe return. Could he comprehend? Did he know that in those moments, her heart would dry up, her blood drained as if parched? That only his presence thawed the drought that cracked her chest? ‘He doesn’t know.’ And that’s how it should be. This was all born of her own choices, her responsibility to bear. Still, she didn’t want to die like this. She couldn’t stand to wither away, clutching the hope that one who ventured into the jaws of death might return. It wasn’t death she feared. She simply wished her life would be spent meaningfully. Thus, unable to bear even a day’s rest, she sprang forth, wielding her sword. Whoosh— Whenever she thought of him while swinging her sword, a fierce wind followed. Whoosh! The final swing, straining every ounce of her strength, felt more intense than the first, a testament to her repeated growth. Anyone witnessing this would be left awestruck. And yet, it was never enough for her. Though she advanced, her growth was palpable, the distance between them seemed unchanged. The torment of it was nearly unbearable. ‘How am I supposed to do it?’ What would it take to close the distance between them, to grow strong enough to stand beside him? Then it struck her. ‘...Sparring.’ In the not-so-distant past, when he remained at her level, he had frequently engaged in life-like duels with the Bloodthirsty Witch, leaving his body marked with scars. She needed to be pushed further now, driven to a brink where death loomed near, forcing growth from the brink. No sooner had the realization dawned than her feet carried her somewhere. “Please, mentor me.” Her steps halted before none other than the Bloodthirsty Witch. If anyone could instruct her, allowing her to use that foundation to leap higher, it was him. However... “You’ve come to the wrong person.” She was refused. Lifting her bowed head, she asked the Bloodthirsty Witch. “The wrong person...?” “Yes.” The Bloodthirsty Witch didn’t decline because he didn’t wish to teach her. Sparring? He could manage that, certainly. If only the ones growing under Baek Woo-jin’s guidance could grow even faster. So they could support him as he repeatedly crossed dangerous paths alone and returned. ‘A few sparring matches? That’s nothing.’ Dozens, no, hundreds of times a day if need be. But even she had her limits. “My martial arts rely on fist techniques and claw techniques.” Her lifelong martial arts training focused on fist-based techniques and utilizing fingers and nails. There’s only so much advice she could offer to someone deeply immersed in swordsmanship. You may wonder how she taught Baek Woo-jin, then? “I didn’t teach him at all. I merely acted as a sparring partner.” She didn’t instruct Baek Woo-jin. She merely served as a suitable sparring counterpart. He never needed any lessons to begin with. To a warrior who already held a perfect sword in their heart, what more could she have imparted? But Yoo Hwayon was different. Though swiftly advancing, she had yet to find her own blade. Reaching that point required countless trials and insights. “Go to him.” Yoo Hwayon’s eyes widened at the Bloodthirsty Witch’s words. She must mean Baek Woo-jin by “him.” “In matters of the sword, he surpasses me by many folds.” Even with this guidance, Yoo Hwayon hesitated to leave. One question lingered in her mind. Would he be willing to teach her? Observing her hesitation, the Bloodthirsty Witch firmly pushed her forward. “Go, confront him. Sometimes, facing it head-on is better than endless deliberation.” “…Thank you.” With those words providing a sliver of courage, Yoo Hwayon trudged toward Baek Woo-jin’s quarters. Specifically, the small training ground in front of his home. There, unsurprisingly, was Baek Woo-jin immersed in wielding his sword. Every time she saw him, memories surfaced, occasionally sparking dreams beyond recollection. As she paused, Baek Woo-jin sensed her presence and stopped his training to ask, “What’s up?” “Ah, well…” Her mind momentarily blanked. It couldn’t be helped. Even knowing he wasn’t the same person she used to know, this still happened. Yoo Hwayon composed herself, exhaling slowly to clear her thoughts, then met his gaze to speak. “…I wish to receive your teachings.” She managed to utter the words with great difficulty and bowed her head. Would he reject her, she worried. The voice reaching her ears said, “Sure.” It was an easy acceptance. She looked up, surprised, and found Baek Woo-jin smiling brightly. ‘The same.’ Everything about the person she used to know and the one standing before her was different. Except for one thing. That innocent smile which first drew her to him. It was remarkably the same. While she dazedly gazed at his smile, Baek Woo-jin raised a finger. “There’s one condition.” Snapped back to reality, she questioned, “A condition…?” He responded, “Do whatever I say unconditionally.” She felt a slight anticlimax. She had worried he might impose a difficult condition. But wasn’t following instructions a given when seeking mentorship? She readily nodded in agreement. “Understood.” “Great.” Pleased with her response, Baek Woo-jin nodded before issuing his instruction. “Follow me.” “Yes.” He promptly led her away from his quarters. Their leisurely walk ended at the village market, of all places. Bewildered, she asked, “Um, Baek Gongja.” “Yeah?” “Why are we here…?” “For training, of course.” “Is that so?” Without hesitation in his response, she assumed it indeed was. Thinking they would soon head to the designated training spot from this midway point. But the next stop was the city’s most famous inn. “Shopkeeper!” “Yes, sir!” “Bring us your best, no need to worry about cost. And make sure Dongpo pork is included.” Dishes began arriving one after another. The sheer quantity made her wonder if they could possibly consume it all. Yet, Baek Woo-jin started his meal. “Wow, the food here is top-notch.” Curiosity piqued. She had asked for training, but why were they now dining at an inn? “Um…, Baek Gongja?” “Hmm?” “Why the sudden meal…?” “Training is always best on a full stomach.” It puzzled her. Isn't it typically advised to avoid consuming food heated with fiery energy when gathering natural qi? Furthermore, there’s the discomfort that comes with a full belly hindering physical movement. But beyond these concerns, something else piqued her curiosity. “Then why did we come all the way out here…?” Why leave behind their residence's dining hall, which served meals so hearty the tables nearly broke, to come to this inn? Baek Woo-jin's response was simple. “They say this place serves the best Dongpo pork.” “......” At a loss for further contemplation, she decided to set aside her thoughts and focus on the meal as he suggested. --- **Author's Note** Hello, dear readers. Apologies for taking longer to return from my break than I initially mentioned. Usually, I recover my condition after a day or two, but perhaps due to this being the second time, my recovery took longer than expected. This was the longest break I've had since starting my serialization on Novelpia. Thanks to the break, I was able to recuperate and rejuvenate, and I am ready to continue our journey. Having rested well, I aim to maintain consistency and, of course, make the story as enjoyable as possible. For the next few installments, I plan to focus on dialogue among characters that have been somewhat sidelined while advancing the main storyline. I promise it won't drag on too long and will transition back to the main story smoothly. I worry some readers might have left during the hiatus, but I’ll work diligently to regain your trust and hope you return! I’ll be back with the next chapter soon. Thank you always for reading. Wishing you a peaceful night. (_ _)