Ep502 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

A chilling aura, akin to icy tendrils, gracefully sweeps over the area. The presence emanating such force is none other than Cheonma. This was mercy. It was a sliver of clemency, a lingering trace of humaneness urging those who wished to live to flee quickly. To achieve her desires, she had cast aside everything. Therefore, she was always prepared to eliminate anyone obstructing her goals. The reason she showed even this small amount of mercy was because those rushing towards her with disregard for their lives reminded her of the comrades who had perished in front of her and him in the past. What would they say, those comrades, if they saw her current self? What scorn and reproach would they heap upon her? “This is hypocrisy.” It was terribly amusing. A resolve to destroy the world to achieve her goals, yet offering clemency to reduce the bloodshed here seemed absurd. The hypocrisy was so blatant that it made her want to retch. Hesitating at the memory of fallen comrades? Even that was ridiculous. Even if the people before her were the comrades of the past, it would not make her halt. "…Is such trivial emotion still within me?" It couldn’t be. These feelings were nothing more than dying embers, flaring temporarily due to memories. She would soon prove it. By becoming drenched in the blood of the enemies blocking her path. Her gaze, filled with lethal intent, swept over those surrounding her. "Blame the gods." For your deaths all stem from them. Smoky-black energy, emerging from the dreary world around, filled the ranks of a thousand masters surrounding her. "What, what is this?" "Protect your bodies with your energy!" "Stay alert, you never know what might happen..., ugh!" Stay alert. Before those words could be fully conveyed, calamity began. Swish! An ally surrounded by an unrefined aura collapsed, coughing up blood. "Ugh...!" His body, sprawled on the ground, was covered with wounds as if he had been slashed all over by a sword. "C-could it be…!" A sudden, ominous thought. Could all this energy surrounding them like mist be her sword aura? Regrettably, that was the truth. Swick! Slash! "Argh...!" "Aagh!" "Kuh...!" One by one, those enveloped by the aura like a misty crimson fog collapsed. Desperate attempts to break free from this ghastly phenomenon proved futile. Each move only made the energy clench tighter around them, slicing them apart. Crash! Boom! "How could this be?!" The horrendous sight rendered a scholar gaping in disbelief. Even as he watched, he couldn’t believe it. The will, steeped in cold determination, had weaponized the surrounding energy. It was something beyond mere skill; a martial artistry at a level even he, who had dedicated his life to the martial arts, could not fathom. A realm so lofty he doubted one could reach it even with two lifetimes devoted to it. Could such power truly be sanctioned for humans? The thought barely settled. "…Abbot." He called to Abbot Taewon of Shaolin, who stood beside him, similarly engulfed in awe and terror. Snapping back to his senses, Taewon answered with a steely expression. "Speak." Hyeonhak, readjusting his sword grip, addressed Taewon with a resolute look. "I wish for them to live." "Amitabha…." Chanting under his breath, a merciful smile crept onto Taewon's lips. "I’ve considered that as well." The future of the martial world, they had rushed here, unswayed by the fearsome name of Cheonma, willing to sacrifice their lives. Even if he and they were to perish here, should they succeed in killing Cheonma, the future of the martial world would be bright. That was how he had thought before coming here. "I was wrong." Only now did he realize. They were the vital future of the martial world, much more valuable than Cheonma's life. A future for the martial world without them would be even darker than the present. "…Abbot." In a heavy tone, he made a plea beyond reason. "Die here with me." To preserve their lives. If they are the future, he was both the past and the present. A relic of the past, destined to vanish beyond the high mountain peaks, to disappear like a fading era. They had long obstructed the path of the younger generation. Now, it was time to trust in them and clear the way. "I too feel that it is time for me to return to the side of Buddha." Taewon shared the same sentiment. It was not he, but the young ones, who were fit to master and advance the thousand-year martial arts legacy of Shaolin. They were ripe and brimming with passion, ready to risk their lives for the martial world. Those proud individuals were destined to bring prosperity to Shaolin and, by extension, the entire martial domain. "Let us proceed before it is too late." "Indeed." The two elderly masters, having regained some strength, moved forward with determined expressions. They spared no thought for preserving their stamina. Harnessing all their inner energy, they unfolded the martial arts they had honed over a lifetime. "Amitabha…!" With a chant, a colossal statue of Buddha rose behind him. The Thousand-Handed Avalokiteshvara. At his command, a thousand hands reached out towards Cheonma. "The Divine Palm of a Thousand Hands." A final strike combining a lifetime of martial arts and spiritual devotion. "Haah…!" Hyeonhak watched his counterpart, who had been his rival in youth and friend in old age, display his full power. Not to be outdone, he unleashed his newly perfected sword technique. Having learned and devised countless sword arts, he returned to the beginning. The starting point of all swordsmanship. He had devoted his life to a simple sword technique: a downward strike from above. And he achieved it. "The Mountain Overload." A sword strike endowed with the power to crush a mountain descended upon Cheonma's head. "……." The thousand hands that obscured the sky and the sword strike crushing like Mount Tai. Cheonma looked up at the culmination of these two masters' life works. "That is a noble resolve." Noticing their resolve, Cheonma withdrew the aura surrounding her to confront the two descending techniques. BOOM! CRASH! The sound echoed like the end of the world. As everyone staggered from the massive collision of forces, Hyeonhak spat blood and shouted. "Retreat, everyone!" Taewon joined in to bolster his call. "Shao Lin disciples, plan for the future!" The Pillars of the Martial World. The cry from two of the three pillars supporting the orthodox martial world left no room for ambiguity. They meant to hold the line while others escaped. "Abbot!" "Leader!" The feeling of helplessness, unable to do anything. Those who cried out desperately to two who were a mental bulwark against this menace. In the turmoil of whether to advance or retreat, Hyeonhak shouted again. "Deliver this message to the Dark Lotus Lord, and to the Heavenly Light Sword God." To the two who would face Cheonma on his behalf. He continued with a wry smile. "Tell them we're preserving the future of the martial world and thus take on this heavy burden without resentment." It was both a request to those who would lead the martial world in his stead and an excuse to drive away those who couldn't bring themselves to leave. A few, with gritted teeth, turned their backs on him and moved. "Retreat!" "Follow the Leader's command!" "Any disciple who makes the Abbot's sacrifice in vain will be punished!" Their voices, full of lament, echoed across the mountain. In short order, the alliance members, following those who had made their decision, began to descend from the mountain one by one. Cheonma did not bother pursuing them. Even if she had, the two elderly men, ready to meet their fate, would not have idly stood by. Once the retreat was complete, leaving only the three behind, Hyeonhak expressed gratitude toward Cheonma. "Thank you for your mercy." No matter how ready they were for death, should Cheonma have decided to pursue, more than half would have met their end. "I have repeatedly stated, as long as you do not obstruct my path, I shall not kill." In fact, even the current situation seemed unnecessary to her. "You too may leave." If they chose to turn back, she would not stop them. This was to say, there was no reason for the two of them to risk their lives in lieu of those who had retreated. Yet they did not retreat. "We understand. If we were to leave now, you would not pursue us." Knowing fully well, they chose to stay. "While they may still grow and retreat, we cannot." The weight of their actions was different from that of the others. The younger ones could grow stronger and return with new resolve after today’s defeat. But not for the two who remained. "We have already experienced enough defeat and humiliation. There is no longer a path or means for growth." They had tasted ample defeat and, each time, had persevered to survive until now. Having endured for so long, they had even received unmerited favor. The Three Pillars. The support of the orthodox martial world. Hence, they could not flee. "A pillar supporting a grand house must also fall with care, should it collapse." No matter how firmly a pillar has stood for ages, it is bound to eventually fall. Because of their size and strength, they must ensure they don’t harm others when they topple. “…I understand your resolve well." Nodding, Cheonma slowly raised her sword. "Come." She gestured towards the two, whose hands trembled slightly as they gripped their swords and fists tightly. "I shall grant you the honorable death you desire." The Swordsman, the Monk, and Cheonma. Their final clash shook the entire mountain of Songshan. --- **Author's Note:** I apologize for arriving a day later than scheduled. I thought I would feel better after a night's sleep, but my cold and fatigue worsened. Moreover, early yesterday morning, my mother, who looks after me, suddenly developed a high fever, and we had to visit the emergency room. Recently, I’ve had various issues to resolve at home, leading to my physical limits being stretched thin. After lying in the ER with my mother and receiving some IV fluids, I managed to rest a bit more at home. I feel somewhat better now. I will do my best to fill in any gaps in writing as much as my health allows. I look forward to meeting you in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Wishing you a peaceful night. (_ _)