Ep467 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Before capturing the suspect, Baek Woo-jin decided to conduct an experiment. The Soul Imprisonment Formation, an incomplete technique. After perfecting it, he stood in the center of the formation's influence and addressed Jang Sam and Goo Wangsue, who were inside the formation with him. "Come on, insult me." "Insult you...? How could we possibly insult our captain?" "Yeah, that's right." Naturally, they didn't agree instantly. They knew Baek Woo-jin's seemingly grudge-free facade all too well. But while they might manage it once, doing it twice or thrice seemed impossible. "Hey, it's fine, just go ahead and insult me. This is just an experiment, right?" "Even so..." "It's not like you actually dislike me and want to insult me, right?" "Well, that's true, but..." "Do you think I'd hit or kill you over something like this? I just want to check my emotional state, that's all." Twice, three times, four times. The repeated bait gradually chipped away at their resolute stance. And finally. "Y-you... you womanizer!" Goo Wangsue threw the first stone. In a time where masculinity was emphasized, calling someone a "womanizer" was close to contempt. Of course, it didn't affect Baek Woo-jin in the slightest. He knew that in this world, just as in others, women preferred men like him over rugged types. "Mm-hmm, keep going." Baek Woo-jin said with a relaxed smile, causing Goo Wangsue and Jang Sam to exchange glances. 'If he doesn't get mad at being called a womanizer, maybe it's really okay?' 'This might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance!' Fear gradually subsided, replaced by unfounded confidence. Eventually, the two nodded to each other and began to unleash a tirade without pause. "You rogue!" "Scoundrel!" "Menace to men!" "Beast!" Starting with seemingly childish insults. "That title of Sky Sword God is ridiculously lame!" "Acting like you have no grudges, but your personality is vile...!" Even poking at aspects he was secretly sensitive about! "Hmmm, alright..." A heavy sigh escaped him. The heat rising from beneath his feet had reached the top of his head. He was angrier, more quickly, and more intensely than usual. But just up to that point. No matter what, it never escalated to murderous intent. His feelings were deeper than usual but it seemed unlikely he'd kill over such triviality. As he was diagnosing the situation. "Hahaha, why isn't he saying anything?" "You promised not to get mad, right? You kept your word, huh?" "Come on, say something!" Jang Sam and Goo Wangsue, having crossed the line in their excitement, started nudging Baek Woo-jin. Their fingertips tapped lightly against his stomach and chest like cunning little bandits. Yet the effect was significant. 'These bastards dare to touch me?' Even the feather-light touches felt like an attack. He almost wanted to leave conspicuous bumps on their heads. Then he realized. For the emotion of anger from an argument to escalate to murderous intent, physical contact needed to be involved somehow. "So that's what it was." The martial artists from the orthodox and unorthodox sects who caused the third incident had said as much. They claimed they lost their balance and fell into their opponent after being bumped by a hastily passing errand boy. They perceived it as an attack, which escalated the fight. Which means. 'That errand boy purposely bumped into them.' The errand boy who escalated a verbal argument into a physical fight was either the culprit or an accomplice in these incidents. When the hypothesis, which was purely conjecture, was proven correct, all preparations were complete. All that remained was to set the trap and wait for him to walk into it. Before that. "I only told you to insult me, when did I say you could touch me?" "Ugh...!" "Eek!" Baek Woo-jin's vengeance was swift for the two who had crossed the line after getting overly excited. * * * Everything unfolded as expected. For several days, they had been lying in wait in a region equipped with formations within the alliance. "What outrageous words are you saying!" "Did I say anything incorrect? Everyone knows you orthodox folks are two-faced, don't they?" "Hmph...! Even if we're black-hearted, it's nothing compared to those who are born that way!" "...Are you insulting my parents now?" "If you conducted yourself better, there'd be no reason to dishonor your parents." "Grrr...!" With each exchanged word, emotions surged rapidly. It was at the point where throwing a punch wouldn't be surprising. A discreet step brought someone closer. It was a handyman in shabby attire, holding a rag in one hand. "……." But that was just the appearance. Despite his appearance as an ordinary laborer, his stealthy movements resembled those of an assassin. His footsteps and presence were almost completely silent, suggesting he had mastered advanced footwork techniques. ‘Just a little more.’ He remained patient, not acting hastily. When the disguised handyman was close enough to reach one of the men and extend his hand, Baek Woo-jin made his move. ‘Now!’ From his hidden position, Baek Woo-jin sprang into action. He closed the three-pace distance with a single step, reaching out his hand. Thud! The raised hand intended to strike was halted in midair, before it could reach the side of the heated man. The handyman, Dan Mok-gyeong, belatedly realized who had stopped him, and his eyes widened in shock. ‘Baek Woo-jin...!’ The most renowned figure in the current martial world. Concurrently, the number one assassination target of the Demonic Cult. Many from the Dan Mok clan had tried to dissuade him from joining this mission. Yet he remained undeterred. At the age of twelve, Entranced by the journey of an ancestor who narrowly survived their clan’s massacre and traveled to settle anew in the Ten Thousand Mountain Range solely for revenge. From then on, he held a single thought. ‘I must carry out the ancestor’s revenge with my own hands.’ To him, this mission seemed the perfect opportunity for that vengeance. The alliance between these long-feuding groups appeared as fragile as a flickering candle in the wind. He wanted to be the one to blow out that flame. Extinguish it. With that determination, and eventually with the respect for his stubbornness from his family, he left the Demonic Cult. On the day he departed, everyone warned him. To be cautious of Baek Woo-jin. Not to underestimate him because of his youth, and to avoid getting entangled with him if possible. He was undoubtedly extraordinary. Not yet thirty, having surpassed the Flower Realm and reaching the Profound Realm, defeating numerous schemes of the Demonic Cult. But that was it. As long as everything proceeded according to plan, no one in the alliance would suspect anything. He thought so, and had cautiously manipulated the formations several times. ‘How did he...?’ How was Baek Woo-jin able to grab his hand? “Hello?” As he greeted with a bright smile, Dan Mok-gyeong quickly assessed the situation. ‘I’ve been caught.’ This entire setup was a trap. Sometime, somehow, Baek Woo-jin had seen through his methods and set a snare. Even understanding that a small gesture was needed to incite murderous intent. ‘Damn it.’ It was to ensure certainty. Any unseen maneuver might direct anger elsewhere instead of the target. To incite definite murderous intent towards the opposition, he pretended to make a mistake—ironically, this ensnared him instead. ‘Should I have used a spy instead?’ Regret that perhaps he should have concocted the plan and left the execution to the spies within the alliance. Was his obsession with proving himself and avenging his ancestor the catalyst? But only for a moment. He coolly analyzed the situation. ‘Once captured, merely escaping is impossible. Then…!’ His dedication to martial arts since childhood, born out of revenge, yielded impressive results. At just thirty, achieving mastery of the Flower Realm. Such an accomplishment left him unmatched by anyone in the alliance, aside from Baek Woo-jin and his comrades. But even that wasn’t enough. Not enough to free his captured hand without harm. Resolutely, he decided to swing his other arm. Target: His own wrist. ‘I have no choice but to sacrifice my hand…!’ A ruthless move. Who could decide so quickly to sever their own wrist? Yet he could. No, any member of the Dan Mok clan could. To survive the harsh realities of the Demonic Cult, even more brutal than the underworld, they relied on efficient, cold, and calculating judgment, and the determination to act on it. His hand swung down without hesitation. Intending to sever his wrist and instantly use footwork to escape along the pre-planned route. But his attempt was thwarted from the outset. “Wow, you’re really something, aren’t you?” “……!” Baek Woo-jin anticipated even this move. In his experience, there had been many. Those willing to chop off their own limbs like lizard tails in a desperate bid to escape. Having encountered such situations several times, Baek Woo-jin had naturally learned to recognize the fierce resolve specific to those determined to make a ruthless escape. “I think you need to stay still for a bit.” Despite his trump card—severing his wrist to escape—being thwarted, Dan Mok-gyeong did not give up. Instinctively sensing that Dan Mok-gyeong was contemplating his next move, Baek Woo-jin quickly pressed his fingers against the man's pressure points. Dan Mok-gyeong’s body immediately stiffened. “N-no…!” It was over. Once a master far superior in skill had immobilized his pressure points, escaping on his own was no longer an option. Only two options remained. The first was to comply, endure the hardships, and then attempt an escape using the spies planted within the alliance. The second was... sacrifice. After a brief moment of deliberation, he chose one of the two options. At that very moment, Baek Woo-jin asked him a question. “Who are you?” Luck amid misfortune, perhaps. Facing the awaited question, Dan Mok-gyeong rolled his eyes and, with a frightened expression, shouted. “P-please spare me! I’ll tell you everything!” As his cries, verging on desperation, attracted more people from the alliance, he announced, “My name is Dan Mok-gyeong! I am a descendant of the Dan Mok clan, taken in by Master Sa Heuk-ryeon!” Out of the two options, he chose sacrifice. “I did everything under the master’s command! So please, take me to the master!” By sacrificing himself, he hoped to ignite enough chaos to completely tear apart the tenuous alliance holding together. --- **Author’s Note** I was a bit late. Recently, I’ve been working at different locations rather than at home. Maybe I've gotten used to working there, but writing at home today with the rain slowed me down significantly; Even if it rains tomorrow, I guess I'll have to go there... I’ll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading, as always. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)