Ep468 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Danmok Family. In the past, they were a notorious faction within the martial arts world, condemned for their use of heinous warfare techniques during the Great War, ultimately leading to their obliteration. The unexpected mention of this long-forgotten surname threw everyone into confusion. "What- Danmok Family?!" "How could the name of a family that was destroyed long ago resurface?" "Is it possible their eradication back then wasn't complete...?" Confusion soon gave way to feelings of betrayal. "The claim of being on a secret mission ordered by Leader Sahak... what does it truly imply?" "Does it mean that Leader Sahak took in the descendants of the supposedly annihilated Danmok Family?" "How could he associate with the progeny of a traitorous clan...?" Leader Sahak Do-gyeong had walked the ruthless path all his life, earning the respect and reverence of the society. To learn that he was secretly employing the Danmok Family's heirs left everyone in a state of shocking disbelief. "Leader Sahak would never do such a thing!" "That guy must be lying!" "But didn't he say his surname is Danmok?" Opinions split into factions. One side couldn't believe that their respected leader could commit such an act. The other side was in an uproar, convinced that Hak-San-Do's association had protected the brilliant minds of the Danmok Family for their own power and advantage. "Heh, heh-heh-heh…!" Jeering amidst the turmoil, Danmok-gyeong reveled in the chaos. He could feel it. His single utterance was accelerating the collapse of the coalition at an unprecedented pace. Though his chances of survival dwindled, it mattered little to him. 'The path I’ve chosen.' He willingly closed the door to survival, fully aware of the possible avenues for future endeavors. In a way, it delighted him. If sacrificing his life meant dismantling the greatest obstacle to his clan's revenge, the coalition... If it could ignite the spark of vengeance their family had long harbored... 'If only that were possible, how could I begrudge this life...!' His family would continue the path he laid. Those far more capable and exceptional than himself would conclude the vengeance within the framework he established. For that future, he offered his life, taking the first step forward. "Take me to Leader Sahak! My crimes will be fully revealed before him!" The audacious and unwavering proclamation of someone prepared for death was terrifying. His palpable emotions stirred the hearts of all who were present. Sahak Do-gyeong. The trust he had built among many over decades was violently shaken. 'Look at this bastard.' Baek Woo-jin discerned his true intentions. No different from a moment ago. Instead of pulling out the hand that was caught, he chose to sever it off, favoring the flow he sought over escaping the crisis. 'He’s resolute, I’ll give him that.' Though an enemy, he had to acknowledge it. The audacity to throw not just his wrist but his very life away to achieve his objective. The powerful force of disrupting a coalition of thousands, tens of thousands, with a single life. 'If this continues, everything will end.' The bold, drastic, yet undeniably smartest move made on the precipice. If not executed well, everything would unravel. Both orthodox factions and his own comrades would denounce their leader, Sahak. What would happen if the brilliant leader of Sahak, who had proficiently led the massive organization with a ruthless path, disappeared? 'There’ll be a war among those who aspire to become the new head.' The leader of a colossal organization commanding half of the martial arts world. Whether from the orthodox side or the renegades. Many would vie for that position, employing any means necessary. How many would sacrifice themselves in that process, and how much wealth would be squandered? 'That must be prevented.' If it proceeds that way, everything ends. Every step taken to confront the Dark Sect would dissolve into nothingness. A path hundreds, thousands of times more arduous than before would unfold. 'I must block this move no matter what.' To preserve the coalition in its entirety, the move he made must be opposed and overcome directly. Therefore, he pondered. 'But how?' In a situation where decades of trust were faltering. How can their hearts be solidified once again? The solution was not difficult. 'Reveal that he’s not acting for Leader Sahak but as a pawn of the Dark Sect.' An escaped member of the near-demolished Danmok Family had turned to the Dark Sect, harboring dreams of revenge. If this truth could be thoroughly conveyed to everyone, this crisis would naturally resolve. ‘The problem is how to convey that...’ There was no discernible trace of demon energy, which should inevitably exist in someone who’s practiced dark arts, within him. In a way, it was understandable. He hadn't mastered the demonic arts, which was why he could infiltrate the coalition as a spy. 'Damn coward. Couldn't he just learn some demonic arts?' It was disappointing. After all, nothing revealed the identity of their kind more clearly and effectively than the presence of demonic energy. 'If only a hint of demonic energy would show up somewhere.' It didn't even have to be his own. If he could sense any demonic energy nearby, he could manipulate the narrative to pin it on him. Such was the cunning of someone who had long removed the word 'honesty' from his life vocabulary. But it seemed impossible. There couldn't possibly be anyone with demonic energy right in the heart of the coalition's headquarters... "Ah." There was. Someone with demonic energy. They say the darkest place is right under the lamp. 'I have it, don't I?' Baek Woo-jin contained demonic energy within himself. Or more accurately, he could generate it at will. He had mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the supreme martial technique passed down only to the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect. This was the singular breakthrough to counter and overcome the adversary's move. Having found this path, Baek Woo-jin directed a sinister smile at Danmok-gyeong, who was grinning triumphantly, and delivered a resounding declaration to the bewildered members of the coalition. "Hear me, all members of the coalition!" Listen! Listen! As the echo reverberated, one by one, the coalition members fell silent. In the quiet that settled over the room, he continued: "This man is indeed a member of the destroyed Danmok Family! But, he is not a subordinate of Leader Sahak!" Some members protested at this. "How can you be so sure of that?" "It only looks like you're defending your future father-in-law." "A supposed righteous warrior defending the renegades, how could you...!" "I misjudged the Heavenly Light Sword, tsk...!" Doubts began to be hurled at Baek Woo-jin as well. But he did not rush. No, there was no reason to rush. As long as his prepared stratagem worked, overturning the current opinion would be easier than flipping his own hand. As the murmurs began to subside gradually. "You have a point. To confirm that he isn't a subordinate of Leader Sahak, I must present clear evidence." His confident tone kept the coalition members from speaking hastily. Toward them, he declared: "From now on!" Baek Woo-jin proclaimed, "I will show you that evidence directly!" He drew upon the internal energy sleeping within his dantian. Following the principles of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, he intentionally reversed the natural flow, defying the very heavens. The process of distillation left behind pure destruction. But it wasn’t over yet. 'The demonic energy used by the Dark Sect isn't pure but rather tainted.' To achieve this, he mixed in the light impurities he carried in his body. The pure, clear black slowly mixed with grayish filth, each step taking it further from purity. Finally, once it had descended into unmistakably tainted demonic energy for all to witness, he shouted, "Behold!" He unleashed a strike towards Danmok-gyeong's dantian with his sleeve hiding the demonic energy. Smack! "Ugh...!" With a mere flick of the wrist, his dantian shattered, and the displaced energy surged out through every pore of his body as an escape. 'Now is the time.' Baek Woo-jin inserted the demonic energy he meticulously crafted and tainted into the dissipating energy. As the uncanny and sinister energy, distinctly unlike natural energy, spread out, those closest began to sense something amiss. "This unnerving energy..., could it be?" "D-demonic energy." "It's flowing from him!" Chaos erupted once again, albeit in a somewhat different form from before. Confident that his plan was working perfectly, Baek Woo-jin called out with even greater resolve. "Exactly! He is not a subordinate of Leader Sahak but an agent of the Dark Sect!" His declaration did not end there. "What the Dark Sect wants is clear! The collapse of the righteous and renegade alliance! Because only then can they more easily take over the central lands!" "This can't be...!" "Were we being manipulated by the Dark Sect all along?!" The direction of their blades turned. The orthodox and the renegades. The sharpened edges that were aimed at each other now redirected to their rightful target. The Dark Sect. The depraved group that worshiped the so-called unholy god, the Heavenly Demon, always lurking to seize the central lands. "Stay firm and don't waver! While fighting against the common enemy, the Dark Sect, remember that we are united, that only by joining forces can we protect the central lands!" In the heightened atmosphere, Baek Woo-jin quietly, yet solemnly, delivered a final note of resolve. "Never forget this." Sometimes, a whispered word can stir more profound reactions than the loudest shout. This was one of those times. “Waaaah!” “We are one!” “Our true enemy is the Dark Sect!” “Let’s protect the central lands!” The coalition members, driven by a singular determination to safeguard the central lands, began to unite as one. Watching this unfold, an expression of defeat crept across Danmok-gyeong's distorted face. 'How did things come to this…!' He had never mastered the demonic arts. He had never even been close to demonic energy. Yet, this unsettling aura—extinguishing the blazing fury fueled by his very life force—where did it originate? The answer was not elusive. "Baek Woo-jin, could it be... you...!" Somehow, someway. He was certain that Baek Woo-jin had mastered demonic arts. To manipulate demonic energy with such ease wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Locking eyes with Baek Woo-jin, who had incited the emotions of those around him, Danmok-gyeong saw it—the unmistakable derision. "Heh-heh-heh!" Faced with the intense and palpable mockery directed at him, Danmok-gyeong cried out. "You despicable baaaaastard!" Admiration poured forth. ### Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. I've been writing outside the house for a while, and lately, transitioning to writing from home has slowed my writing pace as I adjust. During this week, I'll likely be continuing to write from home, so my schedule might be a bit irregular. However, I will try my best to stick to the release schedule. I kindly ask for your understanding if I can't always meet it. I’ll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading as always. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)