Ep493 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The Crimson Blossom. The name of Tak Il-Woo's disciple, gained in the latter years of his life, came about on that very day. During a time when the apricot blossoms were in full bloom atop Mount Yeonhobong, their delightful fragrance wafting everywhere. While he was deeply immersed in the heady scent of plum blossoms, the cries of a baby reached his ears. -"Waaah! Waaah!" Seeing a baby abandoned at the gate of a sect was a fairly common occurrence. The Mount Hua Sect, being a pillar of the martial arts world and composed of righteous paths, couldn't simply walk past an abandoned infant. But that's as far as they'd typically go. The norm was to take the abandoned child and assign them as a disciple under a lower-ranking teacher. So he thought, taking the child with that intention. However, when he attempted to hand the infant over to a teacher, the newborn grasped his finger tightly with their tiny hands. -"Hoho, it seems the child has taken a liking to you, Elder." It was indeed peculiar. The child's grasp felt as if they were pleading, "Don't abandon me." Or perhaps it was more like the infant was choosing him, demanding, "You shall raise me!" He found this very endearing. An infant with such spirit surely would grow to become a distinguished hero, representing the Mount Hua Sect. So he took the child in with those thoughts, although in truth, it was merely an excuse. He simply couldn't bear to leave the child. The fingers tightly clasping his, the wide eyes staring intently at him. Having resolved to raise the child himself, he looked up and saw them. The plum blossoms bathed in the crimson of the setting sun. As if to say, "This shall be the name of the child you will raise." -"Hongmae (Crimson Blossom)... no, I'll name this child Honghwa (Crimson Flower)." And so, after much deliberation, the name was decided. A child inevitably demands much attention. Moreover, being an elder of a Taoist sect, he had never married, making it even tougher for him. From that time forth, he developed a deep respect for all mothers and fathers in the world. -"Hoho, why did I take on this child...?" He regretted it almost every day. The child, unable to speak, would cry ceaselessly when hungry or wet, making him anxious. Could he read even a single line from a book undisturbed, or perform a martial arts technique smoothly? He was sure. Had he not taken in the child, Honghwa, he’d already have reached the peak realm. Yet, if asked whether he regretted raising the child, he would reply. “Absolutely not.” Never. It was as joyous a time as it was challenging. More cherished than when he first entered the Mount Hua Sect and mastered plum blossom swordsmanship. More treasured than when he ascended to a higher martial realm. More precious even than when he became an elder and ascended to this honorable position. Precisely because he valued those moments so dearly and cherished the child deeply. “Did you cough, Master?” Noting the disciple who came to greet him as was usual, he instantly realized. Someone was masquerading as his disciple, trying to deceive him. "…Who are you?" Upon this question, the disciple who always greeted him with a bright smile smirked slyly, replying: “My, you caught on so quickly? How boring.” That was the day Tak Il-Woo's world was shaken to its very core. * * * For Baek Woo-Jin, being able to perceive the flow of vitality more clearly than ever, it became evident. The woman pretending to be Tak Il-Woo's youngest disciple was undoubtedly an aged woman. Thus, to provoke her, he started speaking. "Granny, aren't you embarrassed to wear that face?" However, instead of anger, she was shocked. "…How did you know?" “You mean about the granny inside?” “No. I mean how you recognized my reverse-aging technique.” "Ah, that." It wasn’t Baek Woo-Jin who first sensed something amiss about her. “My wife is quite perceptive.” “Wife…?” A name flashed through Honghwa's mind. “Geum Yeo-Wool..., could it be that child?” “Correct.” Indeed. It was none other than Geum Yeo-Wool who sensed something strange about Honghwa. That was precisely what baffled her. “I barely exchanged any meaningful words with that child…” At most, she had merely exchanged seemingly playful, childish banter. What part of that had given her away? “The initial approach wasn’t bad. With everyone disliking Baek Woo-Jin, a female disciple who respects and trusts him? It's enough to open the lonely heart of my wife imprisoned in isolation.” Yes. It was a very good attempt. If not for one small, unintentional slip. “There was a flaw in one of the stories you blurted out.” “A flaw…? What flaw are you talking about?” “You mentioned that the part of the story you liked the most was…” “That is…?” Indeed, she had said so. Facing off against the Heavenly Demon on the plains, when he saved his comrades and was captured and taken to the Heavenly Demon Cult. She said that was the most admirable and respected moment. And it truly was. Though Baek Woo-Jin was an enemy of the Heavenly Demon Cult, she admired his courage. After all, not everyone could willingly walk into the jaws of death to save their comrades. Yet, that turned out to be the mistake. “That story.” Baek Woo-Jin paused briefly before standing up, turning around to face her with a sly smile that answered her confusion. “It’s a story that’s not known to the world.” “What…!” Since becoming the Sword Deity, much of Baek Woo-Jin's activities were known to many. But there was one particular story. The tale of being caught by the Heavenly Demon on the plains and dragged to the cult was never disclosed to anyone. Rather, it couldn’t be revealed. A person of virtue captured by the demonic cult, yet returning unharmed? Such stories tend to be twisted as they pass from one mouth to another. “Why spread a story that would easily mislabel me as a spy for the demonic cult?” Wary of this, Baek Woo-Jin had implored his allies. Under no circumstances were they to speak of that incident to anyone. There’s only one reason someone would confidently blabber such a tale. “Old hag, you must have seen me at the cult, right?” This meant she was a figure from the cult. He had caused quite a ruckus after being dragged there; they must have heard at least why he ended up in that place. In any case. Sensing something off in that part of the story, Geum Yeo-Wool relayed everything to Song Hee-Yeon after their conversation. Out of concern that the story might leak, she had conveyed her suspicions precisely, without changing a single word in her message to Baek Woo-Jin. “Ha…, never thought my cover would be blown from that slip.” Honghwa chuckled dryly. Despite having spun a tale to lull her into complacency, the last thing she’d expected was for it to inadvertently reveal her identity. But regardless. Baek Woo-Jin advised her to surrender. “Anyway…, it’s all over now. Why waste your strength? How about surrendering?” Honghwa glanced around her. The twenty assassins she’d brought as bait had long been subdued. Yet she didn't give up. She glared at Tak Il-Woo, a desperate look on her face, and shouted out. “Tak Il-Woo! Will you just stand by and watch?” “…I…” She spat out venomous words towards him, who was in turmoil. “If you continue to stand idly by, your beloved youngest disciple will never return!” To get Honghwa back, Tak Il-Woo had followed her instructions until now. Despite repeatedly telling himself it was impossible, he couldn’t help it. His cherished youngest disciple, whom he had raised with love like a daughter, was as precious to him as the Mount Hua Sect itself. As he hesitated, the woman disguised as Honghwa shouted fiercely. “Call your disciples now to surround them! Make up any crimes and frame them!” This might be his last chance. The last chance to undo his mistake. But by doing so, he would never see his beloved youngest disciple again. ‘What should I do, oh, what should I...!’ In the height of his confusion, “Elder Tak.” His voice pierced through the chaos in his mind. “The beloved youngest disciple you cherish, we've already rescued her.” His eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that… is that true?” “Yes. So please, correct the wrongs now.” At this, the woman shrieked. “It’s a lie! That child is locked in a hideout only I know of, how could you…!” Baek Woo-Jin chuckled smugly in response. “Not anymore. It's not a hideout only you know about.” “What do you mean by that… oh…!” At the end of her gaze, she saw a woman. Song Hee-Yeon. A traitor of the Shadow Clan who had pledged allegiance to the cult. “Could it be you…!” “We rescued Lady Honghwa from your hideout in Hwaeum. Just yesterday.” She answered with an emotionless tone, making the woman erupt in anger. “You, you…!” She tried to charge at her, seething with rage, but Tak Il-Woo wouldn’t stand for it. “Hear me, disciples of the Mount Hua Sect!” As soon as his voice reached them, it didn’t take long for hundreds of voices to thunder in response. “Yes!” Soon, hundreds of presences converged toward them. “The Honghwa you see before you is not your junior sister but a fiend wrapped in a mere shell!” The tip of Tak Il-Woo’s sword was directed straight at her. “Seize her immediately and bring her before this elder!” As the deputy of the sect leader, The command of Tak Il-Woo, the first elder of the Mount Hua Sect, was met with fierce eyes from the members of the sect. “We obey the deputy’s command!” Overwhelmed by the sheer force of their presence, “Ah, ahhh…!” She lost even the strength to resist. Author's Note I apologize for the delay. I tried to reverse day and night by even considering a regular hiatus yesterday, but unfortunately, I failed… Although I tried to sleep at night and write during the day, nothing came out until nightfall... As a result, I ended up writing again in the early morning and now I'm about to sleep. I'll try to write faster over the weekend and gradually adjust my sleeping schedule. Please bear with me until then. I will see you in the next installment. Thank you always for reading. Have a wonderful day. (_ _)