Ep520 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

At the most opportune moment, Baek Woojin threw open the eyes and ears he had kept closed for a year. The bustling taverns of the city echoed with countless stories exchanged over clinking cups. From among the myriad tales, Baek Woojin swiftly extracted the information he needed. The first thing he discerned was the new epithet bestowed upon him. "The Martial God...!" The Martial God. An unparalleled title never before granted in the long history of the martial world. "Ha!" Baek Woojin was more than pleased with it. Quite content, in fact. Not because it was a unique title that no one else had received. But because, "A title needs to be clear and powerful." A simple epithet. Yet, it bore an intensity incomparable to any other. Although 'Celestial Sword God' had its flair, it was slightly cringe-worthy, which made him appreciate the new title even more. "It's been a while since I've felt like this." Receiving praise in his absence felt incredibly sweet and exhilarating. Having experienced and turned away from it once, its significance resonated even more. ‘In the end, I've managed to save yet another world.’ There was a profound sense of relief upon successfully completing his given mission. But it was fleeting. “Hmm..., no, not yet.” Though it seemed as if everything had concluded, it was far from over. He had merely shrugged off the heaviest burden from his shoulders. As long as he drew breath, tasks unendingly cropped up. For Baek Woojin, this was especially true. "...How long am I going to live?" Perhaps he could easily reach a hundred, no, a hundred and fifty years. He even knew ways to extend his finite life nearly to eternity. "Ascending the immortal realm would definitely grant a millennium." The groundwork for ascent to the immortal realm was already set. He could achieve it anytime if he decided to sever all ties with the mundane world. Yet, as long as he lived, that was unlikely to happen. His curiosity about the immortal realm was there, but he preferred the mundane world even more. A world filled with women waiting for him. He preferred eavesdropping on the praises sung for him nearby, over hearing them from afar. "...That's not what's important now." Pulling himself from his reverie, he sank into thought. The tales he heard after the new epithet were about the women waiting for him. There were many stories, but only one thing truly mattered. "The Baek Clan, huh..." He had once told them that he wanted to establish his own clan and live together with them after gaining independence. They had not forgotten those words. They had built a mansion to serve as the foundation for the Baek Clan, awaiting his return. "Ha ha... this is truly a surprise gift." Completely unexpected. And thus, even more touching. It was the greatest gift he had ever received in his life. Simultaneously, he felt guiltier. Had he composed his emotions sooner, their anxious hearts might have been less tortured. "Now, I just have to repay them." Clenching his fist, Baek Woojin made a vow. It wasn't too late. The life they would share from now on would be long, and he intended to ensure that those who chose him would live without regret. At that moment, good news reached his ears. "A banquet, you say...?" Upon hearing this, Baek Woojin rushed toward the mansion built in Huanzhong, Hubei, for the Baek Clan. By the time he arrived, guests were already entering Huanzhong one by one. However, Baek Woojin did not immediately enter the mansion. "Not yet." He pondered. Whether it would be better to kneel before them and apologize before the banquet, or to make a dramatic entrance on the day of the celebration and maximize the impact. The answer came to him swiftly. "Of course, the latter." Profound, dramatic moments have the power to overshadow even bad memories. It was a clever ruse to slightly reduce their anger. Thus, for four days, Baek Woojin stood outside, eagerly eyeing the mansion that would soon become his home. "My word... It's perfect." Beyond perfect, actually. The positioning of each pavilion based on geomantic principles, the skillfully arranged lakes and gardens—all of it. From above, it almost resembled an artwork. And so, he restrained himself, longing to enter and live with the women, until the day of the banquet finally arrived. As his tale began to reach his ears, and Dang Seonyeong was stepping forward to calm the situation, Baek Woojin knew with certainty. 'The time is now!' It was indeed the perfect moment for Baek Woojin to reveal himself. His figure soared through the sky. * * * He landed gracefully, using air-walking techniques, and made a respectful gesture by cupping his fists to greet the crowd. Cheers erupted around him. "It's the Martial God!" "Have you finally recovered?" "What a relief!" "Oh, how magnificent he looks." "I heard he has many women... could I possibly join them?" Hearing this, he was confident. 'Perfect entrance.' His plan had worked flawlessly. Once Baek Woojin retracted his stance, his gaze shifted toward the women. There was no trace of anger on their faces, just a perfect memory wipe. "You...!" The closest to him, Dang Seonyeong, approached, turning her back to the crowd. Baek Woojin smiled at her and asked, "Sorry, did I keep you waiting long?" "Yes, a very long time! And quite a lot!" The moments of anxiety she had experienced for the past year flashed quickly through her mind, only to vanish at the sight of his familiar, shadowless expression—just the Baek Woojin she knew. "...But now that you're here, it's all right." She welcomed him. Everyone else did the same. As Baek Woojin and Dang Seonyeong approached together, numerous playful but welcoming complaints greeted him. "Why did you take so long...? Hnng...!" "I waited so long for you to come!" "Hehe... Welcome back, my husband." "Sniff! I was worried something might have happened to you, and you didn't even send a word...!" "Master...." The touching reunion resembled the emotional reunion of long-lost family members. The Bloody Witch clicked her tongue disapprovingly at the sight, admonishing him. "Tsk... You always show up at dramatic moments, don't you? Was that intentional?" Baek Woojin, who had managed to embrace all the women, quickly shot a stern look her way. 'Do keep quiet.' Because she had hit the mark. Anyway. Their heartfelt reunion had finally concluded, and the real banquet began. He moved about, sharing drinks with the guests who had come to the celebration. Among them were his future fathers-in-law. "Pour me a drink, son-in-law." "Yes, father-in-law." "Soon, we should spar." Unexpectedly, the Black Scorpion Emperor Dogheong challenged him to a duel. Baek Woojin answered with a smile, "I don't spar with those weaker than me." "What, what...!" Dogheong's face flushed bright red. Only he knew whether it was due to the alcohol or his pride being wounded by Baek Woojin's words. He continued to exchange drinks with his effusive fathers-in-law. Afterward, he paid respects to his fallen comrades by filling the glasses of those who had fought alongside him in battle. And then. "Oh my, Martial God Champion. Spare us a moment of your time." "Indeed. We traveled a long way to meet you, Young Master Baek... You're not going to just pass us by, are you?" A wave of women hoping to become his concubines or even his distant lovers continued. The amusing part was that most hailed from fairly decent families. These women, already having the means to live comfortably, seemed nonetheless eager for his attention. Baek Woojin smiled wryly and spoke up. "Ahem... maybe just for a moment...?" Oops. That wasn't right. He tried to correct himself quickly, but it was already too late. "Hahaha! Sorry, everyone. There are just too many wanting to see our master." "Forgive us if he only makes a brief appearance, will you?" With wry smiles, Yongsulran and Geum Yeoul skillfully managed the situation, shielding him like ghosts. And that ghost was visible only to Baek Woojin. "Shall we go, husband?" To the underworld. "Yes. Yes, of course." It seemed he had managed to squander the points he had so painstakingly earned. Led by the women, Baek Woojin spent the day sharing stories and drinks with many people. "Thank you so much, Martial God!" "Thanks to you, the martial world is preserved!" "A toast to Martial God Champion, who accomplished what no one else has in martial history!" Cheers! It was the best of times. The sincere praise pouring from them left him feeling buoyant. ‘This is why I save worlds!’ He had seen countless people. Among them were vile ones who would sell out allies and countries for personal gain. And there were those who would willingly sacrifice their lives for their allies and countries. Though he had experienced deeply confusing moments because of this, at last, he reached a conclusion through all those moments. 'This is humanity.' As ugly as it is noble. A paradox like both sides of a coin. At times appearing worthless, and yet immeasurably precious. These people, mixed in just the right proportions, form an indescribable chaos. Baek Woojin found his place in the midst of this chaos. A shield protecting the virtuous, a sword mercilessly cutting through the wicked. He wasn't dogmatic; instead, he adapted to situations, using them to his advantage. He was a somewhat unscrupulous hero. As he saved this world, he once again confirmed he was on the right path and smiled. Just then— Crack! A peculiar sound, one he had never heard before, echoed in his ears. At the same instant, the world before him froze. Everyone who was drinking, chatting, and even sharing smiles stopped in place, suspended like sculptures. It wasn't just the people who had stopped. The flowers fluttering pleasantly in the breeze, the tiny insects buzzing over the food. Even the sun hanging high in the sky. Time and space had halted, yet Baek Woojin remained untouched. "...!" Though shocked at this unprecedented sight, he paused only briefly. His mind quickly settled, assessing the situation swiftly. The culprit was obvious. A power that far surpassed human capabilities. No, a divine power. This was an act only the god who created and oversaw this world could perform. As his eyes finally rose, intense light streamed down from the frozen sky, accompanied by a voice. —The time has come. If you wish to meet Me, open the path through the Hero's Chronicle. It was an invitation. A summons to meet the god who created the world. The moment he had awaited for many years was now within reach. Author's Note I apologize for the delay. It's not easy crafting each chapter with care. I ask for your patience as I take the time necessary to ensure a satisfactory conclusion. I look forward to seeing you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading, as always. Have a restful night. (_ _)