Ep507 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The Demon Sect's intentions were obvious. They sent in their relentless, pain-insensitive demons at the forefront, planning to bulldoze through the enemy's defenses and leave nothing but chaos in their wake. It was a simple yet effective strategy. However, the Orthodox Alliance, having anticipated this, had prepared its own secret plan. "Prepare the Anti-Demon Formation with the Arhat monks of Shaolin!" "Amitabha!" Chanting their Buddhist cries, the Arhat monks of Shaolin ascended the ramparts. Taking their positions as one, they drew deep from their dantian, channeling their internal energy to unleash a powerful cry. "Gal(喝)-!" As their cold, piercing shout filled the air, the demons halted in their tracks, beginning to waver. Shaolin, the premier among the Nine Great Schools. They had faced despair against the overwhelming might of the Celestial Demon. They were once considered the ultimate line of defense for the righteous martial world. Yet, fleeing from the Celestial Demon and losing their Abbot in the process brought them to their knees, albeit briefly. From the quiet seclusion of their training chambers, where they had been detached from the world, the elders emerged to chastise them. -"How dare the disciples of Shaolin be so weak...!" Awakened by the reprimand, the Shaolin disciples then devoted themselves to crafting a secret weapon against the Demon Sect. Harnessing the unique internal energy of Buddhism filled with the Anti-Demon spirit, they developed the Lion's Roar. This technique intertwined with a formation's power to unleash an even greater force. "The strength of the Lion Subduing Demon Formation exceeds our expectations, it seems." "Indeed... perhaps the Buddha is watching over us." The elders only found relief, laughing as they watched the disciples confidently advance against the approaching enemies. What could be more emblematic of the true nature of Shaolin? With the demons hesitating under the binding shout infused with potent Buddhist internal energy: "Now!" A group rushed out through the opened gates. "Annihilate those wicked beings entirely!" They were disciples of the Kongtong Sect, second only to Shaolin in subduing demonic energy. The Fumo Sword Technique. Strong in killing intent for a Daoist sword style, yet its brilliance in actual combat was shown as it sliced through the demons' tough bodies like tofu with ease. The result was a perfect synergy between Shaolin’s Lion Subduing Demon Formation and Kongtong’s Fumo Sword Technique. Slice! Crush! The disciples of Kongtong often found themselves under scrutinizing gazes. For a Daoist sword style, it possessed an excessively potent killing intent. And they displayed ruthless efficiency, showing not a shred of mercy when facing foes. Because of this, there were murmurs suggesting they might be better classified as part of the demonic sects rather than the orthodox, yet they proved themselves here and now. "Cut down every last one and pave the way to victory!" Their spirit undoubtedly aligned with the righteous path, and their deeds to date were unquestionable. Mercy was a luxury not afforded, nor should it be, on the battlefield. They merely persisted in the approach that allowed them to shine brightest in this arena. Baek Woojin found himself sincerely impressed by them. "Indeed, that's how a sword should be wielded." The martial arts swordsmanship is uniformly captivating. The unique goals and traits of each faction were alluringly diverse. However, these goals and traits were not without their drawbacks. Some techniques, bloated with superficial ritual, riddled with Buddhist compassion, and Daoist non-action, were cringe-inducing. In his view, such ideals only hindered the sword fighting intended for cutting down enemies. "Hmm... perhaps the intricate nature of martial arts sword techniques stems from this." Conversely, perhaps these restrictions had been the catalyst for their profound development. The constraint, intertwined with holding onto one's beliefs, likely drove them to strive harder. “Perhaps nothing exists with only drawbacks.” Reflecting on one of life's truths as he looked over the battlefield, albeit briefly. To stem the mounting casualties, the Demonic Cult began their counterattack. The Demonic Cult members moved to protect the temporarily paralyzed demons. They utilized the dying demons thoroughly. They timed their attacks for the precise moments when Kongtong's disciples were occupied cutting down the demons with their Fumo swords. Slash! "Ugh...!" One by one, Kongtong's disciples began to fall. Upon this, a signal for retreat was sounded from the walls. "Everyone, fall back!" This had been the extent of their plan. Stop the demons in their tracks with the Lion Subduing Demon Formation and reduce their numbers with Kongtong's Fumo Sword. If the Demon Sect were not fools, they would certainly retaliate. The moment they took action, a signal for retreat was given to prevent unnecessary sacrifices. "Good. The initial plan worked well." Baek Woojin's gaze shifted to Jegal Yeonji, who was busily coordinating the movements within the fortress. She insisted on delivering messages personally, even though it could have been delegated to someone else, simply because she was the fastest at it. "Adorable to no end." With such qualities, how could one not be charmed by her? Beside her, the retainers of the Jegal family gathered, brainstorming together. The cooperative operation between Shaolin and Kongtong sects had been conceived by their minds. Jegal Yeonji had, before she knew it, become the centerpiece of the Jegal family. "Well, it’s only natural." She had earned a name in the martial world, exhibiting both combat skills and strategic genius. Having spit blood in real-world battles alongside Baek Woojin, she had reached a level far beyond those pampered within the family. Consequently, the power structure within the family was reconfigured with her as the centerpiece. Moreover, she successfully unified the family by requesting to be treated with the authority of a family head solely for the duration of this war. Even those who had eyed opportunities from the shadows were drawn to her cause. She had never harbored the slightest interest in becoming the head of the Jegal family. Her only desire was to marry Baek Woojin and live a prosperous life. And if this war concluded safely, she could realize that dream. Thus, she openly declared she had no intention of becoming the family head and harnessed their strengths. "Move quickly, everyone!" "Yes...!" "I told you not to neglect your agility training!" "S-Sorry!" The way she disciplined the Jegal family members like a cat playing with a mouse might have seemed vengeful, but was that just his imagination? "Well, if you’ve got pent-up frustrations, it’s right to let them out." It didn’t bother him at all. "My dear wife, do whatever pleases you!" If it meant she could ease the knots in her heart, he was all for it. As he silently cheered her on— "Could you step aside a moment, my dear husband?" A playful voice teased his ears. Tang Sunyoung, having ascended the ramparts, claimed the prime spot from where everything could be seen. Then, she commanded the Tang family warriors who had climbed up with her. "Prepare!" She released the bow from her back and set an arrow to the string. The Tang family's twin secrets, the Poison Art and Hidden Weapon Technique, were ineffective against demons. Without exceptional poison, demons couldn't be harmed, and their tough skin required significant internal energy and skill to penetrate with hidden weapons. Thus, they opted for the bows they now wielded as a solution to this dilemma. When it came to projectiles, they were confident. Bows were no exception. "Aim!" The bowstrings tightened tautly. The arrows were iron bolts, imbued with internal energy. "Fire!" Boom! Zoom! At her command, a rain of arrows cascaded down. The iron-tipped bolts saturated with their energy pierced the demons mercilessly. Thud! Thwack! Thunk! Demons collapsed one by one, turning into pincushions. A cold smile curved on Tang Sunyoung's lips. As mentioned, penetrating a demon with a hidden weapon required considerable internal energy and exceptional skill. Tang Sunyoung was one of the top masters of the Tang family, possessing all these qualities. "Haat...!" With a short shout, her hands began moving at a dizzying speed. Flinging countless hidden weapons with each motion, her hands moved too fast to follow. Martial artists watching her were left speechless with amazement. "That's... the Full Blossom Rain...!" "To witness one of the Tang family’s ultimate arts in action!" An art that few in the Tang family could fully execute. Full Blossom Rain. It unfolded from Tang Sunyoung's fingertips. Whoosh! Zoom! A myriad of hidden weapons glittered as they poured from the sky. A mesmerizing yet chilling sight. The energy-infused projectiles easily pierced the demons’ bodies and embedded into the ground. Thunk! Splat! No matter how resilient, demons couldn’t survive with their heads, spines, or hearts impaled. Every single demon caught within her declared territory fell. To the Demonic Sect, constantly urging their troops forward, even they began to feel the strain. If all the demons collapsed before breaching the fortress gates, their plans would be disrupted. Watching this transpire, the Vice Leader, Jangmin, swallowed his frustration and gave the order. “…Pull the demons back.” “As you command.” It was an unavoidable decision. These were the steadfast defenders who had safeguarded the central plains amidst countless threats for centuries. To wrestle ground from such adversaries, a few retreats were to be expected. “…Morale is the issue.” There was one issue, however—their morale had taken a slight hit due to the unilateral damage they had sustained. No matter how brave the disciples were, courage was most effective when facing an enemy blade-to-blade, not when facing an unseen death without even a proper clash. In this momentary lull, as they pondered their next move, a faint shadow unexpectedly loomed over them. "Hm...?" Baek Woojin looked up at the sky, puzzled. He, along with everyone else, witnessed it. "The sun... it's disappearing...?" An eclipse. The moment when the sun began to be devoured by darkness. Author's Note I apologize for not posting an update yesterday without notice. As the story nears completion, I am striving to enhance its quality. I've been living on cat naps in my chair since the day before yesterday, and I've realized that simply spending more time on something doesn't necessarily make it better... I'll make sure to post the evening update on time without delay. I'll see you in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Once again, I apologize and hope you have a great day. (_ _)