Ep456 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

They always lingered in his mind. It wasn't that those beside him didn't cross his mind, but— Yuhwa-yeon and Shin Ye-hwa. After learning about the death of their beloved, these two were ever present in his thoughts. Whenever he saw them, a feeling akin to guilt or debt would weigh on him. He knew the situation wasn't his fault. Yet, he still carried the weight of someone who was once dear to them. This awareness that his mere existence could constantly torment them was undeniable. Understanding their relentless efforts to support him each day... He took Yuhwa-yeon with him to the market for that very reason, she had asked to learn. It was a way to restore the peace that vanished from her life after knowing her lover's death. "Hmm... I tried something, but I'm not sure if it worked." The situation wasn't bad. Though she had expressed some curiosity about why they went, she followed along well. Perhaps giving her the hairpin at the end had been a bit much... "Oh well." It wasn't like it was a ring or necklace, just a simple hairpin. Moreover, he had explicitly told her not to ascribe too much meaning to it, so it shouldn't cause any issues. That day passed, and their first real training began. After a light meal, he headed to the training grounds to find Yuhwa-yeon already there, swinging her sword. She swung her sword gracefully into the empty air. But instead of her swordsmanship, his gaze fixed on the hairpin that held her hair in place so firmly. An old, faded hairpin. There was something particularly poignant about seeing it. 'Does she not like the hairpin?' Maybe it wasn't to her taste. Or perhaps she was reluctant to use a gift from him. 'Ultimately, it's up to the recipient how they use a gift...' Yet seeing it unused nagged at him, made him uneasy. "Hmm..." What could be the issue? While he pondered, Yuhwa-yeon noticed his presence and stopped her training to turn and face him. "You're here?" Startled back to reality by her words, Baek Woo-jin replied. "Yeah... Have you eaten?" "I have." "I see." A brief silence ensued. Then Yuhwa-yeon spoke again. "Shall we begin the training?" "Oh? Ah, yes, we should." He had momentarily forgotten. The reason they were here was to train. Baek Woo-jin reached for a wooden sword placed at the side of the training area, but she shook her head. "Please, with the real swords. I want it to be as close to reality as possible." "Are you sure? No matter how careful, you might get quite a few cuts." Every time he sparred close to real combat with the Blood Witch, Baek Woo-jin would shed a considerable amount of blood. Real combat was ultimately a fight for life. To emulate it, even if they avoided blatant lethal strikes, fatal moves were inevitable. With a determined expression, she nodded firmly. "I am prepared." "Is that so." Baek Woo-jin cast aside the wooden sword to the corner and drew out his real one. "Wounds deep enough to leave scars might occur." Scars. No matter how skilled a warrior she was, she was still a woman. No one would want to leave indelible scars on an otherwise graceful body. She hesitated momentarily before shaking her head. "It doesn't matter." In her contemplation, she realized something. There was no longer a reason for her to retain beauty. The person she once wanted to appear beautiful for was gone, so what was there to conserve? Understanding her feelings made Baek Woo-jin feel the sword in his hand grow heavier. 'She seems precarious.' Her mindset, her way of living, felt dangerously fragile. Like someone who clings only to the task left before dying. It was as though she was determined to solve one last task before departing. '...I suppose it's not surprising.' He had experienced a similar thing before. When he faced disdainful gazes from her. When he realized he could no longer love, his world crumbled. The cheers of those who praised him, and the radiant future he seemed destined for, all faded to grey, losing their meaning. She, too, would be no different from him. No, perhaps even worse. At least his loved one, while unseen, was still alive. 'Ah, I could see her if I wanted.' On second thought, he could see her. Though it was problematic seeing her as an adversary, nonetheless. A life that has lost its meaning inevitably leads to a predictable future. Withering away slowly or ending one's life on their own. 'I have to find a way before that happens.' Of course, there was nothing he could do immediately. To save her from the edge, he would have to restore meaning to her life—a feat not easily accomplished when one's dulled heart needs new stimuli and vigor. For now, the focus had to be on training. "Shall we start then?" "Whenever you're ready." And with that, their intense sparring match commenced. Of course, the blood staining the training grounds was all hers. --- After realizing Baek Woo-jin's death, Yuhwa-yeon and Shin Ye-hwa, who had never quite seen eye to eye, became the closest of friends. Their bond was forged through shared suffering. They had both loved one person, lost him due to a wrong choice, and sent him off with tears, which drew them closer and made them rely on one another. The best representation of their close-knit relationship was their sleeping arrangement. Even though they could each have their own rooms, they chose to share one. They found it most comforting to pass the time sharing stories only the two of them could understand before falling asleep. "Yoo is late today..." Having finished her training earlier, Shin Ye-hwa was particularly worried about Yuhwa-yeon being late today. "She hasn’t collapsed, has she?" Their recent training sessions had been grueling beyond description. They had promised. To support the one they loved by following in his path. That's all that remained for them. To catch up to him, who had gone far ahead, they led a life where collapsing any moment wouldn't be surprising. They'd even made a grim joke that if one of them was late without a word, it was because she had collapsed and should be rescued. As the night deepened, her anxiety began to rise. "I can't wait any longer, I need to go find her..." Creak! Just as she was getting up to search for her, concerned over how late Yuhwa-yeon was, the door opened. And Yuhwa-yeon walked in. Staggering as if she would collapse any moment, her body was covered in numerous wounds. "Y-Yoo!?" Startled, Shin Ye-hwa ran to support her arm. A heavy scent of blood hung in the air as she got closer. "W-What happened? Were you attacked? Who could have done this...?" At her worried inquiry, Yuhwa-yeon gave a gentle smile. "There was no attack." "Then how did you get these injuries?" "From sparring... I got them while sparring with Baek Gong-ja." "S-Sparring? With Woo-jin?" Shin Ye-hwa's eyes widened. "So, all these injuries were caused by Woo-jin?" "Yes, that's right. I asked him. I wanted to spar as close to real combat as possible." She had asked, and Baek Woo-jin had obliged. His swordsmanship, close to real combat, was indeed ruthless. Although he avoided the face and vital points meticulously, he cut without hesitation in non-lethal areas. "Ha ha..." Yuhwa-yeon was satisfied. It wasn't entirely real combat, but it was much more engaging than training alone. Every moment spent analyzing a move or pinpointing a weakness was a testament to her growth. "This is… unbelievable!" Even if it was sparring close to reality, weren't these injuries too much? Yet, the one who suffered smiled blissfully, leaving Shin Ye-hwa at a complete loss. "You need treatment first." Halting her thoughts, she seated Yuhwa-yeon on the bed and began treating her. Applying ointment on the injuries that even she—a fellow woman—admired, Shin Ye-hwa assessed their depth. "Fortunately, it doesn't look like there will be any scars." Surprised at the assurance, Yuhwa-yeon asked in disbelief. "Really? Some seemed quite deep..." "Yes, it's a close call, but with proper care, you'll be fine." "I see..." Yuhwa-yeon smiled wryly at her response. 'Liar.' All that talk about possible scars, yet his strikes had been calculated to avoid leaving any. Her pride was slightly hurt, but a part of her was pleased. Thinking that he cared for her that much. Those emotions subtly, ever so slightly changed her perception. A body she thought didn't matter at all now began to feel just a little precious. --- Author's Note I apologize for not posting yesterday... I caught COVID with my mom and while we got through it, her fever kept going up and down yesterday. So, we visited the hospital in the evening and found out it was likely a severe cold. We stayed there until the afternoon the next day before I brought her home. Lately, the saying "health comes first" really resonates with me. I encourage all of you to wear a mask when you're out, even if it feels like a hassle. I'll make up for any missed updates soon with continuous releases. I'll see you all in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Wishing you a restful night. (_ _)