Ep439 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Upon hearing the news that Yong Seon-a, the previous palace owner trapped within the ice, had died, Yeonhee dashed off with haste. Flying out of the cave brimming with a biting chill, she soon halted her steps. A world of pure white, crafted by the contaminated eternal ice. Because, surrounding Yong Seon-a’s ice, a figure was already there, holding it tight and weeping. “Yong Seolran...” It was none other than Yong Seolran. Yet, he couldn’t, for the life of him, comprehend the current situation. For she must not have even been aware that her mother was alive just moments ago. ‘Why is she reacting so suddenly like that?’ Holding onto the ice that encased her mother, she wept as if forgetting the fact that the fierce cold from the eternal ice was freezing her body. The interpretation of this bewildering scene was provided by Baek Woo-jin, who had followed her. “I told her.” “You, great master?” “Yes. I was curious about how she would respond.” When Baek Woo-jin told Yong Seolran that Yong Seon-a was still alive. Her reaction was not much different from Yeonhee’s just a moment ago. After confirming over and over that he wasn’t lying, she burst out of the tent. “Isn’t it strange?” Baek Woo-jin remarked. “...” “By your account, the Dragon Sovereign was the one who killed her mother, yet… why is she like that?” Her face was stern and immovable, unseen by Baek Woo-jin. “Well, even if one acts blinded by power, it seems they can’t quite erase the bond shared between parent and child.” Only then did the scene before them start to make sense. It was a plausible scene. If anyone had just heard that their mother, thought to be dead, was alive until moments ago, and only recently passed away, encased in cold ice, they would surely react similarly. ‘Yong Seon-a has died.’ At that very moment when her death became certain. “Heh, heh...” She laughed. From being deranged by sheer shock? Not at all. “That relentlessly surviving life... it has finally ended.” Purely because she was delighted by the death. No sooner had she uttered her manic laughter and words than a sword rested upon her neck. “So, you were the culprit.” Baek Woo-jin, having instantly grasped the situation, unsheathed his sword. A perilous situation where the slightest move from him could end her life. Yet, Yeonhee didn’t cease to smile. “Heh, if you want to kill me, go ahead. I have no more regrets about life.” “Regrets?” There was no pretense in her voice. She genuinely seemed indifferent about her life. What made her feel so relieved? ‘The death of Yong Seon-a.’ Her death was what Yeonhee had longed for. Yet even this is not easily understood. If she desired her death so greatly, she should have sought every possible means to kill Yong Seon-a, who lay dormant in the ice. “Why didn’t you kill her even though you knew she was alive?” “Haha! Yes, you must be curious.” Despite knowing that Yong Seon-a wasn’t dead, why hadn’t she killed her? With a bright smile, she revealed the reason. “Because I couldn’t kill her.” Or rather. “Because to kill her wasn’t right.” The memory slowly resurfaced. When her energy center was depleted from purifying the contaminated eternal ice. Yeonhee struck with all her might against Yong Seon-a’s back. No matter how skilled one in ice arts was, that was only when their internal energy was full. Caught off guard, Yong Seon-a froze instantly, and she thought her heart had stopped. But it hadn't. A faint pulse transmitted through the hand she had placed on the ice to check. The faint sensation from that moment still lingered deeply on her palm. ‘Indeed, a master of enlightenment.’ It taught her not to underestimate those who transcended humanity of another era. Heaven itself seemed to assist her in that miraculous turn of events. Calming her trembling heart, she thought of another way instead of killing Yong Seon-a. A strategy that would not only ensure her inevitable death but also allow her to harness some of that transcendent power— a win-win situation. With a smile, Yeonhee shared this plan with Baek Woo-jin. “If you look closely at the ice, there’s a tiny hole.” “A... hole?” Baek Woo-jin furrowed his brows at her words. He hadn’t noticed any holes. Too focused on the heartbeat emanating from Yong Seon-a, he hadn’t had a chance to closely inspect the ice. Baek Woo-jin inquired again. "What did you do with that hole?" Yeonhee responded with a broader smile, revealing her actions in a voice laced with palpable disdain. "I placed a bug through that hole into Yong Seon-a's body." "A bug... surely you don't mean...?" Punching a hole through that thick ice wasn't merely to insert any ordinary bug. It implied something beyond imagination. Acknowledging his suspicion, she nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's right. A worm of solitude." The solitary worm. An insect bred under special conditions, its abilities varying greatly depending on its nurture. Baek Woo-jin pressed the sword harder against her neck as he asked in a low tone. "Are you a remnant of the Blood Sect?" It was a logical assumption. After all, the Blood Sect frequently utilized such means. Contrary to his expectations, she twisted her expression in distaste and shook her head. "Don't confuse me with that mere cult." "Cult, you say..." That single word revealed Yeonhee's true allegiance to Baek Woo-jin. Smirking, he taunted her. “Aren’t you just another cult yourself?” Her reaction was swift and fiery. “Shut up. The Heavenly Demon is the sole sky, the god of this world.” Indeed. She was a follower of the Demon Sect. It was no surprising revelation. With a practicing priest here, the influence of the Heavenly Demon was inevitable. But now, the focus wasn't her allegiance, but rather the nature of the solitary worm. "Enough about that. Tell me what the worm's effects are." "Hmph...!" Annoyed by his irreverent tone, she was about to fall silent, but then she reconsidered. She thought divulging this inescapable, dire situation was all the more exhilarating. "The worm, once inside the body, attaches to the heart. It gradually takes control over time. And a body controlled by solitude..." A sinister smile spread across her lips. "Dies. And then is reborn. As a puppet that only responds to the command of the worm’s host." "......" At last, the reason behind her immense joy over Yong Seon-a's death became clear. Her barely-sustaining breath cut short through the Ghostly Breathing Technique was proof that the worm had finally taken full control. Now she could manipulate Yong Seon-a at will. But something remained unclear. Presumably, Yeonhee was the host for the worm inside Yong Seon-a. "If I cut off your head, won’t it all become futile?" She laughed at his question. "Go ahead, try it." Apparently, the situation wasn't simply resolved by killing the host. "If I die, the worm, without a host, will run rampant." Which meant, a master reaching enlightenment would go on a rampage, unable to distinguish ally from foe. The ensuing damage would be immeasurable. That's why the prospect of death no longer daunted her. Still, it was hard to comprehend her reckless disregard for her own life. But she was a Demonic Cultist. A being incomprehensible enough to abandon her life for the Heavenly Demon’s will without a second thought. "Now, watch." Pointing at Yong Seon-a still encased in ice with her finger, Yeonhee continued. "Observe the moment when a loyal servant born to act solely on my command emerges!" Ha ha ha ha ha! After her laughter, filled with madness and ecstasy, subsided. As she said, changes began in the ice surrounding Yong Seon-a. Crack! Cracks began to spread across the seemingly unbreakable ice. Craaack! By the time the loud noise of cracking had covered the entire surface of the ice. Bam! The ice finally shattered into pieces, and Yong Seon-a, who had been asleep inside, awoke. Yeonhee was convinced. At last, she had been reborn as a puppet that would follow her and her alone. Otherwise, why would she ignore her weeping daughter at her feet and walk towards her? “Ah ha ha ha ha! It’s finally done!” A wave of ecstasy washed over her. The thrill of not just defeating but also subjugating a master at the peak of enlightenment surged through her. Yong Seon-a, with a heavy expression, silently approached her and stood nearby. Despite being from a younger age, the mid-life beauty’s presence incited nothing but awe and envy. Finally, she spoke. "Are you prepared to pay for the crime of daring to harm the Sovereign of the Northern Sea Ice Palace?" “……?” It was at that moment. The moment she began to sense that something was amiss. Author's Note Hmm... it's quite curious. In reality, it's not my particular taste, but when expressions like "mid-life beauty" pop up in a novel, why do they feel so intriguing? I can't quite figure it out. There's not much left of this episode, so we'll wrap it up quickly and cleanly. I'll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for always reading. Have a peaceful night. (_ _)