Ep432 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

After spending a day resting in a warm room, easing the fatigue accumulated from his travels, Baek Woo-jin donned the finest winter attire provided by the North Sea Ice Palace and prepared to head out. To closely examine the eternal ice crystal, he needed to provide an appropriate offering. For this, Yong Seollan requested the essence from a mystical creature imbued with profound yin energy. "A mystical creature, huh?" Mystical creatures. Typically, these are animals or plants that, having surpassed their natural lifespan, live for hundreds of years and become imbued with mysterious energies. For martial artists, such mystical energy is a significant boon—an opportunity unto itself. Initially, the task seemed overwhelming. 'A mystical creature isn't something you can just call upon like a pet.' As the term suggests, a mystical creature is essentially walking fortune. Is fortune something that one can easily stumble upon, lying on the ground like a pebble? No. It's called fortune precisely because, even if one searches all their life, they might never encounter it unless fate allows. When first tasked with retrieving the essence of a mystical creature, Baek Woo-jin thought it was a prank. Perhaps they never intended to guide him, only to toy with him. 'Fortunately, that wasn't the case.' Perceptive enough to sense his unease, she quickly continued speaking. There was a mystical creature living in a cave within the northern sea's snow-capped mountains. However, its presence was so formidable that even dreaming of its subjugation was beyond reach. At first, this information seemed puzzling. 'With so many masters present, how is the subjugation difficult?' There were as many as ten seasoned experts, discernible by their mere presence. Even the palace lord, Yong Seollan, had reached the realm of mastery. With this level of expertise, most mystical creatures should be easily subdued. All doubts vanished upon hearing the name of the creature. "The White-Scaled Serpent King." A king of serpents, its body cloaked in snowy-white scales. An unparalleled mystical creature, rarely appearing more than a few times in martial history. Some even argued that the White-Scaled Serpent King should be regarded as a water dragon in training, akin to a legendary creature striving to ascend. "...Indeed, just the level of mastery wouldn't suffice." Due to its rare appearances, information about the White-Scaled Serpent King is scarce. The few useful tidbits suggest its pristine, white scales are hard enough to repel most sword attacks and that its venom can freeze a person to death. In truth, it's not mere mastery but a supreme level of expertise that's required to consider subjugating such a creature. But with difficulty comes the promise of great rewards. "Indeed, the essence of the White-Scaled Serpent King could swiftly purify whatever contamination ails the eternal ice crystal." It is rumored that the essence of the White-Scaled Serpent King, which resides only in the harshest of lands, is filled with extreme yin energy. If this energy can cleanse the contamination eroding the eternal ice crystal, nothing would be more beneficial. "Everything is... ready." He had prepared since last evening. From Dang Sun-young, he borrowed various antidotes and the elixirs known to neutralize poisons merely by holding them in one’s mouth. Though Dang Sun-young seemed eager to accompany him, she chose not to, knowing well enough. She understood that joining him on a journey to subdue a mystical creature of the White-Scaled Serpent King's caliber would only burden Baek Woo-jin. The same went for the other team members. He assigned them the new challenge of training in extreme conditions. In Baek Woo-jin’s eyes, the North Sea Ice Palace, standing amidst the harsh land, was the ideal training ground. 'For the environment itself is a trial.' To stave off the biting cold, one must constantly circulate their internal energy. In other words, just moving outside drains one's energy rapidly. Imagine then, engaging in intense training in such conditions. With their body and energy quickly depleted, enduring it alone would significantly bolster their strength and stamina. "Alright." Having fastened his sword and a gourd of spirit wine to his waist, he stepped out of his chambers. As soon as he did, a chill wind swept over him. As he prepared to embark on his journey, he felt a tad empty. "...Perhaps it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve ventured out alone." How long had it been since he last traveled solo? Yet, he couldn’t justify bringing them along merely because of a sense of loneliness. The journey was perilous enough that any mistake could cost lives. If it were his sister, the Red Blood Witch, she would certainly be a considerable help. 'Just in case.' He decided to leave her and the team behind, as the North Sea Ice Palace's true intentions could not be wholly trusted yet. If they were to reveal their hidden fangs, having the Red Blood Witch would ensure no cause for concern. Meticulously prepared for every possible contingency, Baek Woo-jin filled his mouth with the divine brew of the heavens. "Alright then... Let’s go." With unsteady steps, Baek Woo-jin made his way out of the North Sea Ice Palace. * * * Halfway up the snowy mountain. Deep within a cave beneath the snow-covered ground, a colossal serpent lay coiled. Its entire body was cloaked in immaculate, snow-white scales. A poet once referred to it as the White-Scaled Serpent King. It earned the name for its majestic appearance, with gleaming white scales worthy of being considered the king of serpents. Normally, it spent most of its time absorbing the vast amounts of cold surrounding it. The more it absorbed, the larger its body grew, the harder its scales became, and they would glow with an even more pristine white hue. Today was no different. Though a sense of contentment enveloped it as it basked in the ever-increasing chill, ready to drift into a pleasant nap... Crunch, crunch. From not far away came the sound of footsteps crossing the snow-blanketed ground. These were not the steps of an animal but a human. Though slightly curious, the serpent paid little heed. It had no appetite for humans. Rarely did humans venture anywhere near it, and if left alone, they would soon leave the mountain... "Oh, found it." Creeeak. ...Or so it thought, until a human boldly dashed into the cave and stood before it. In its centuries of existence, not only had its body grown, but also its wisdom and knowledge. Among this was an understanding of human language. Thus, it understood. The human had come to this mountain to seek none other than itself. Creeeak...! This was not entirely uncommon. Among humans, it was known as a mystical creature. Its internal core, said to be of great benefit to martial artists. The White-Scaled Serpent King was naturally docile. It neither preyed on humans nor found pleasure in senseless killing. Its only joy was coiling here, absorbing the cold. However. Kyaaaa! That was only as long as it was left undisturbed. The human who sought its life-sustaining core could not hope for the same leniency. Rumble! As its enormous body unfurled, debris rained down from the cave ceiling. The sheer presence of its slight movements created an overwhelming sense of intimidation. This was the snake's final act of mercy. Should the intruder realize the power disparity and flee, it would not give chase. However. "Wow, you must have lived a long time, huh? Your size and those scales, really impressive...!" It seemed he had encountered a madman unmatched in his centuries-long life. * * * In the martial world’s history, the White-Scaled Serpent King is depicted as a particularly malevolent serpent. Some masters claimed to have drawn their swords to protect villagers from its attacks. Others recounted their battles on snow-covered mountain paths where the serpent emerged to devour them, triumphantly defeating it in the end. However, upon facing the White-Scaled Serpent King coiled in the cave halfway up the snowy mountain, Baek Woo-jin discerned the truth. ‘It was all a lie.’ He realized in an instant that their tales were fabrications. Even with a human standing plainly before it, the creature merely furrowed its brow, refraining from any rash aggression. Meaning, it did not attack without provocation. Likely, their feats had been exaggerated to cover their greed. Claiming to have slain the creature to acquire its core wouldn’t sound as impressive, would it? So they embellished their stories, casting the White-Scaled Serpent King as an unparalleled evil entity for dramatic effect. This realization only added to Baek Woo-jin's discomfort. ‘This makes it difficult.’ To harm a peaceful mystical creature and take its core, his conscience pricked uncomfortably. Purifying the eternal ice crystal was intended to save all the residents of the North Sea. Yet asking it to sacrifice its life for everyone else seemed absurd. The mystical creature before him was more intelligent than most humans. "Hmm, what should I do?" Sensing danger from Baek Woo-jin's demeanor, the White-Scaled Serpent King began to uncoil. Rumble…! The cave started to shake. Stone fragments falling from the ceiling hit Baek Woo-jin’s contemplative head. Amidst it all, an idea suddenly sprang into his mind. "Ah, that should work!" With a sly smile, Baek Woo-jin addressed the White-Scaled Serpent King, which was observing him closely with a flick of its tongue. "Hey, can you lend me just a bit of your core?" Not the whole thing—just about half. Hearing this, the White-Scaled Serpent King let out a roar filled with rage. Author's Note I'll see you in the next installment. Thank you so much for reading each time. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)