Ep443 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

From the moment the outlines of the end began to appear, Baek Woo-jin was lost in deep contemplation, day in and day out. 'Can I defeat her?' Angelica. Now that she had become the Heavenly Demon, could he bring himself to cut her down with his own hands? This wasn't merely a matter of resolve. Before anything else, it was his skills that held him back. 'The gap is still glaring.' Since the point of possession, Baek Woo-jin had grown rapidly. His growth speed was unprecedented in the history of the martial world. However, it was still not enough. The world claims that the Divine Master, Black Emperor, and the Three Elders are vying for the title of the strongest under the heavens. But that statement is wrong. 'The Heavenly Demon stands supreme over all.' Even against the Sword Master and the Black Emperor, he felt it was possible to contend. It would be tough, but he could foresee a chance for victory depending on the circumstances. But against the Heavenly Demon, it was different. Even as he stood now, having grown immeasurably since their first encounter, thoughts of a duel with her only spelled two words in his mind: inevitable defeat. How could he stand on equal ground with her? From the moment he set her as his enemy, he pondered this question, and recently, he found a small clue. 'The Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon.' The very martial art she mastered—the Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon. Within it, he focused on the essence of the technique itself. 'A martial art that defies the will of heaven, the Reversal of Heaven (逆天).' A perilous power acquired by reversing the predetermined flow within his body and causing a clash. Was it correct that its essence ended with merely reversing the flow of energy? If it were, the Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon would not be regarded as the greatest martial art of all time. 'It would have been dubbed a suicide art.' Carrying this small doubt that came unbidden, he began to delve into the Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon. Specifically, the infinite possibilities contained in the two words: Reversal of Heaven (逆天). After a considerable amount of time, he reached a realization. And what was that? 'To transform my very mindscape into Reversal of Heaven.' To be precise, to project his own mindscape through the energy evoked by Reversal of Heaven. The mindscape projected through this appeared unremarkable on the surface. Only when it touched another's mindscape did the difference reveal itself. Just like now. Shwaaa! A world of pure white was dyed completely black. Simultaneously, the fierce winds that had been ceaselessly battering them also subsided. Until a moment ago, the place they were in was a world artificially constructed by the energy of eternal ice. Though unintended, it was essentially a purely projected mindscape viewed through energy. This meant they had been fighting in a world favorable to the creature until now. Thus, he obliterated that world. With a mindscape evoked through the energy of Reversal of Heaven. The mindscape termed the Reversal Heaven Mindscape, constructed through the formula of the Martial Arts of the Heavenly Demon, possessed the same power as demonic energy. It disrupted and destroyed the flow of order. The reason the world turned black was because of this effect. He had severed every bit of its orderly flowing energy and mindscape. [...] A mindscape projected upon the world is in constant circulation with its master. The energy flows to the mindscape, and the energy drawn by the projected mindscape flows back to its origin. Ruling within such a favorable environment is precisely the true power of the Absolute State. However, the creature clad in the guise of eternal ice suddenly lost this advantage. Meaning: “It was nice fighting in your favor all this while, wasn't it?” The creature’s power plummeted after losing its beneficial environment. What's more, wasn't its body made of ice? The colder it was, the harder the body became, but conversely, the warmer it got, the softer it became. Thunk! Crack! Water began to drip, one drop at a time, from the creature's body, which had started to melt. A steadily softening sensation. Startled by this, the creature began to pour out energy wildly. Its melting body barely managed to harden once more. However, this was merely a temporary fix. There was only one way to free itself from this terrifying feeling. [Dieeeee!] It was to kill the very one who had turned the world black. The creature charged recklessly at Baek Woo-jin. While its speed was fast, it seemed lacking compared to just moments ago. One wide sidestep evaded its attack. From its attacks laced with desperation, Baek Woo-jin confirmed another hypothesis. 'It's just like Backlin.' Like the Serpent King Backlin, this creature too was severely lacking in battle experience. Compared to the serpent-like Backlin, the humanoid creature had a slightly better situation, but that was it. Moreover, with its advantageous environment stripped away, the creature's diminished power and speed laid bare its weaknesses even more glaringly. 'If it had awakened as anticipated, everything would have been different.' Its failure lay in awakening much earlier than expected, leaving its power unrefined. And coincidentally, Baek Woo-jin happened to be there at that moment. Had either of these factors been absent, the creature would have turned into the ultimate, most fearsome monster as Jin Mi-yeon had predicted. [Why, why, why, why, why?!] Faced with the sight of Baek Woo-jin effortlessly evading its attacks, the creature finally began to spiral out of control. [Why, why, why, why, whyyyyy?!] With indiscriminate attacks, its barrage of questions continued incessantly. Whatever it was desperate to understand, it would never find the answer. Because the creature’s existence was permitted only for this fleeting moment. "Baek Family Sword Technique: First Iteration White Thunder Splits the Sky." In the dim, darkened world. A streak of brilliance, emanating from Baek Woo-jin's sword, cleaved the world asunder with pure white sword light. Swish! The layers of its transparent body and armor split in two, collapsing to the ground. The rapidly dissipating energy and life force. As the creature's eyes dimmed closer to the ground, they still harbored questions. [Why..., why...?] Just as Baek Woo-jin had confidence in, the creature could not find the answers to its questions even in its last moments. Thud! Without resistance, it melted away, merely wetting the ground with a handful of water before expiring. Soon, the wet mark on the earth—an evanescent reminder—would naturally dry up and vanish, leaving no trace of the creature in the world. * * * One day passed, then two, three, and finally four. As time went on, the biting cold that enveloped the North Sea began to gradually fade. Still bitterly cold, yet the residents of the North Sea welcomed its return to the familiar chill they knew and loved. Along with this, something else they had lost came back. "The Lady has returned!" "Long live Lady Yongseona!" "Is this a dream, or is it real?!" Yongseona. The previous mistress of the North Sea beloved by the residents had returned alive. Every village she passed was filled with crowds eager to see her. Some wept. Some rejoiced. Others felt happiness. With each sight of their exuberance, Yongseollan's expression darkened a bit more. The joy residents expressed for her returning mother made her feel keenly aware of her own inadequacies. 'I wasn't enough.' No matter how much she tried, was it still too soon for her to win their hearts? No, even if more time passed, could she truly govern them all as her mother did? With each passing village, her confidence and self-esteem dwindled further. The last village before entering the Northern Ice Palace. Just as she felt pushed to the brink by the unwavering welcome directed towards Yongseona— "Long live Mistress Yongseollan!" "Ah…?" Someone shouted her name, Yongseollan, instead of Yongseona, praising her with cheers. And that solitary shout spread like wildfire. "Mistress Yongseollan had it rough too, I bet!" "Suddenly inheriting the mistress's position—imagine how tough that must have been!" Before long, Yongseona's name faded, and accolades were directed at her. Expressions of appreciation and understanding for the tireless efforts she had endured. "Sniff...!" It moved her to tears. It had been a struggle. Her mother, Yongseona, an infinitely admirable figure, sometimes became a burden to her. The pressure of feeling she could never match her mother's achievements, no matter how hard she tried. Day and night, she had striven, desperate to alleviate that burden. But the outcome of such efforts and the endings they led to were entirely separate matters. She thought no one would ever recognize her efforts hidden beneath those conclusions. 'But I was wrong.' They acknowledged and understood her efforts. The realization brought her immense joy and happiness, causing tears to flow naturally. Her mother, Yongseona, watching her proudly, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace. With a warm inquiry directed at her sobbing daughter: "Do you understand now?" "Sniff... Yes." Finally, she understood. Why her mother loved this land so deeply. Why she was willing to sacrifice her life for the future of the people living here. "I understand now." It is said that a nobleman lays down his life for the one who recognizes him. For those who understood and appreciated her efforts and heart, there was nothing she couldn’t sacrifice. Realizing this, the burden weighing heavily on her heart finally lifted. With a newfound lightness in her steps, she arrived at the Northern Ice Palace. A grand celebration was held to commemorate the return of the previous mistress at the Northern Ice Palace. Throughout the night, the warm fires burned endlessly. People reveled in the festivities, moving amidst the flames. Passing through the crowd, Yongseollan made her way to where Baek Woo-jin sat in a corner, quietly sipping his drink. "Thank you, Mr. Baek." "Thank me? I was merely doing what needed to be done." The gratitude was acknowledged. After all, it was something Baek Woo-jin felt he must do as well. However, Yongseollan’s gratitude wasn’t for that alone. "No, not for that." "...Is there something else you are thankful for?" "There certainly is." A gentle smile graced Yongseollan's lips as she watched his feigned innocence. She continued her words. "In the last village... it was all orchestrated by you, wasn’t it?" Initially, she hadn't realized. Then, she came to know. Realized that as her expression grew darker with each village they passed, it was Baek Woo-jin who had arranged it all. Caught in what he thought was the perfect crime, Baek Woo-jin hurriedly tried to explain. "I might have started it, but the residents followed through on their own accord." "I know." That’s why, even when she learned the full truth, it didn’t upset her. While it may have started with him, the accolades that followed were born from the residents' spontaneous understanding. It only deepened her appreciation. "I think I now understand why there are so many women around you, Mr. Baek." Why the women chose him. Why they couldn’t help but be drawn to him. It was simply that. Author’s Note: I apologize for missing a release without any notice yesterday. After finishing writing an installment, I lay down for a short break and ended up falling asleep... I should have avoided lying down even when resting; it was my mistake. I'll make up for it soon. The Northern Ice Palace episode is nearing its conclusion. I'll ensure a good wrap-up before moving on to the next episode. I'll see you in the next installment. Thank you for reading as always. Have a restful night. (_ _)