Ep475 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Out of nowhere, a column of black smoke rose into the sky. The first to notice it was none other than the youngest disciple of the Kunlun Sect, who had been fetching water by the river as usual. "Ah, no, that black smoke... it's definitely...!" Recognizing immediately that the smoke came from a fire, he raced in its direction. What he discovered there was a blazing red flame climbing a massive tree. "How is there a fire on the mountain?!" Mount Kunlun, known as the place closest to the heavenly realm under the sky, was not only the domain of the Kunlun Sect but also a sacred land for Taoists. To preserve the untouched state of nature, the use of fire was strictly forbidden. Within the sect, fire was only permitted in designated areas. So it was perplexing. There hadn't been any lightning from the clear sky; how could a tree catch fire? Yet that wasn't what mattered right now. "We need to put out the fire!" The priority was to deal with the immediate crisis at hand. The flames were consuming the large tree. If left unchecked, the fire could spread to nearby trees and grow uncontrollably. Fortunately, he had the most effective tool at his disposal for extinguishing it. "Take this...!" On his back and shoulders, he bore a hefty water container. The boy lifted it with determined effort. He advanced toward the fire with quick strides, letting his imagination run a little wild. The flames had erupted so suddenly. If he succeeded in extinguishing the fire that threatened to engulf Mount Kunlun— 'The senior brothers and even Master would surely think better of me! I might even receive a great reward...!' An exceedingly youthful thought from a very young boy. He chuckled to himself, believing he might even learn a piece of advanced martial arts; he gripped the water container tightly and poured it onto the flames. Ssssshhhhh! Yet contrary to the boy’s expectations, the fire didn’t go out. "Wh-what...?" The water container was as large as his torso. Although young, it contained a considerable amount when filled to capacity. Even after emptying it all, the flames held fast. They didn’t even diminish slightly, as he had hoped. "Wh-what's going on here?" The boy grew bewildered. He quickly grabbed another water container and splashed the water onto the flames climbing the tree. Ssssshhhhh! Then he saw it happen. The water barely touched the flames before it evaporated into nothingness. At that moment, he realized. "This isn't an ordinary fire...!" The young boy recognized that this blaze was no mundane fire. Understanding that he alone could not subdue the flames, he frantically ran in another direction. 'If only the senior disciples and Master were here...!' He steadfastly believed that those with far greater skill than him could surely quell the flames. * * * "F-fire on Mount Kunlun...!" It didn’t take long for the cry of a martial artist to reach everyone’s ears. As the united members, who had recently cut down every last demon creature, looked with astonishment towards the distant Mount Kunlun, someone soared through the air. "To dare set fire on the sacred mountain...!" It was none other than Myunghyun, the former head of the Kunlun Sect. Within the confines of the sect, fire is contained to specific areas. Taoist practitioners, who seek Kunlun Mountain for enlightenment, never wield fire on the mountain. Allowing nature to exist in its natural state, untouched by human force, forms the core Taoist teaching. Thus, there could only be one reason for flames to rise on Mount Kunlun. "That witch is hastening her doom...!" It could only be the work of the woman who left behind weak demon creatures and vanished. "Let’s follow them." Knowing this place was a diversion, Baek Woo-jin wasted no time in following Myunghyun to Mount Kunlun. The closer they got, the more pronounced the black smoke became, and beneath it, fierce red flames flickered. And surrounding them were hundreds of individuals. Judging by their matching attire, they seemed to be disciples of the Kunlun Sect. The first to reach the flames, he shouted to the disciples. "What on earth happened here?!" Then one of the disciples stepped forward to answer. "The flames suddenly surged! We've been trying to douse them with water, but no matter how much we pour, the fire won't die down...!" The disciple’s voice nearly broke into a sob at the end of the explanation. The response deepened the seriousness etched on Myunghyun’s face. "Despite pouring water, the flames aren't being quenched, how can that be...?!" Dozens of large trees were charred black and collapsing. Each time a spark leapt from the fire, it latched onto nearby trees, growing in size and ferocity. The disciples of the Kunlun Sect desperately threw water on the flames, but it had no effect. This was an experience entirely new even to Myunghyun, who had lived for many years. 'Fire should naturally yield to water, so how is this possible...?' He couldn't afford to remain shocked for long. Myunghyun unsheathed his sword and shouted to the disciples. "Everyone, step back!" The moment his words were out, the disciples hastily retreated. Once assured everyone was clear, Myunghyun tapped into his dantian to awaken his inner energy. His energy seeped out through every pore, expanding widely around him. 'First, I must stop the fire from spreading further...!' His inner energy enveloped the area where the flames raged, forming a circular barrier. A desperate measure to prevent the fire from spreading until a way to extinguish it could be found. Trapped, the flames clawed and searched for a way out against the formidable barrier. Seeing this, Myunghyun sighed momentarily in relief. But suddenly— Woooosh! The flames, which had been desperately searching for an escape, began hurling themselves against the barrier. "No, this can't be...!" Myunghyun was taken aback. How could flames move as if they possessed a will of their own? Boom! The force with which the flames struck the barrier was overwhelming. At this rate, the barrier would collapse in less than a moment. It was around this time that Baek Woo-jin and his team arrived. "How on earth can such flames even exist?" He assessed the situation. Fires that wouldn't diminish no matter how much water was poured on them. Given the circumstances, it was certain Jin Mi-yeon had set the blaze, but how she conjured such flames was a mystery. As he pondered ways to extinguish the fire— "Husband." Yong Seol-ran, standing behind him, spoke as she stepped forward. "May I try?" "Ah." Her confident demeanor and smile reminded him of a crucial fact. Yong Seol-ran was trained in handling forces like the Suhaeng Sinju and the Jeseucheonryu techniques. Though neither was yet fully mastered. The shattered Suhaeng Sinju remained unhealed, and the complexity of Jeseucheonryu rendered her progress insufficient. "Are you sure you can do it?" Baek Woo-jin asked, concern evident in his voice. She responded with a reassuring smile. "Leave it to me." It wasn't a flippant claim made without basis. "Very well." Baek Woo-jin approached Myunghyun to convey his plan. "When I give the signal, please lower the barrier." "Do you have a plan?" Baek Woo-jin nodded, a sly grin on his face, in response to the urgent inquiry. "My wife will extinguish the flames." It would be a lie to say he wasn't uneasy. But Myunghyun chose to trust him. "Very well. Signal me once you’re ready." "Understood." As the two men concluded their conversation, Yong Seol-ran clenched the Suhaeng Sinju tightly in her palm. The bead, precariously cracked like a spider's web. As she maneuvered her inner energy according to the Jeseucheonryu incantation, a flow of water energy unfurled from within. 'This is truly incredible.' Despite the imperfect mastery of Jeseucheonryu and the incomplete state of the Suhaeng Sinju, Even with the constraints limiting its full power, its energy was astoundingly intense. It was a bit daunting, and there was apprehension. 'Can I truly control this energy...?' Could she harness the immense power of the bead entirely? Was she not wasting time by embarking on an impossible task? As these worries bubbled up, her energy began to waver. Noticing this, Baek Woo-jin placed his hand over hers, which was tightly held against her chest. "Stay calm and focus slowly." The warmth emanating from his hand and his nurturing words erased her fear. 'That's right... I can do this.' Her husband stood by her. The man who saved Bukhaebing Palace from peril, destined to save the entire martial world of the Central Plains. With him, anything was possible. Even if she floundered in despair or was consumed by the power. 'My husband will save me.' Her restored resolve allowed her to delve deeper into the incantation of Jeseucheonryu. Consequently, the water energy saturated her body. And in response, the water energy dwelling deep beneath Mount Kunlun began to rise to the surface, droplet by droplet. Every droplet, initially seeming insignificant, started merging, amassing in size. Whooosh! Before long, the water stream had grown tall enough to tower over their heads, moving freely and shifting form at her command. Once she was satisfied with the amount gathered, she unleashed a focused gaze, swiftly waving her hand. “Haa...!” The first technique of the Jeseucheonryu, the foundation for all subsequent forms. “Wave (波).” A surging wave, larger than the flames themselves, rose on all sides of the fire. Baek Woo-jin shouted to Myunghyun upon seeing this. “Now!” Hearing the command, Myunghyun quickly dismantled the barrier of energy he had been struggling to maintain. With the barrier gone, the flames surged forward, only to be met by the massive wave behind it. Ssssshhhhh! The rushing flames were gently enveloped by the undulating wave. The fire, unyielding to any amount of water before, transformed into a white steam that briefly shrouded the base of Mount Kunlun, then naturally dissipated with the breeze. Author's Note I will see you in the next installment. Thank you always for reading. Have a restful night. (_ _)