Ep445 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The Sacred Pearl and the Celestial Water Stream. These are treasures so invaluable that assessing their worth is nearly impossible. Such items could incite intense greed even in a person who has lived without much desire. "Take them with you." "...!" Offer them just like that? Without expecting anything in return? An angel, perhaps? I almost inspected Yong Sun-ah's back for wings at that moment. "However, there is a condition." "Oh, um." The warmth in my heart instantly cooled. 'I got excited for no reason.' I wasn't disappointed. Frankly, acquiring such valuable objects without any compensation would be a problem. Even without a physical exchange, a debt of gratitude would remain. 'This is already a good enough deal.' The Sacred Pearl. And the Celestial Water Stream that enhances its use—these are items Baek Woo-jin must possess. Being able to take them under certain conditions, without any conflict or struggle, was already fortunate. 'Let's agree to whatever is reasonable.' Baek Woo-jin, prepared to accept any reasonable request, inquired, "Please tell me, what is the condition?" "It's simple." Yong Sun-ah said, a slight curl forming at her lips. "Marry my daughter." "...Pardon?" A completely unforeseen condition was put forth. * * * While Baek Woo-jin roamed the entire central continent, building his reputation. "I’ll kill him, no matter what...!" She dedicated herself to rebuilding the laboratory he had destroyed, filled with determination. Fueled by the humiliation and disgrace Baek Woo-jin had caused her, a one-track mind focused on erasing him, who could darken the future of her sky and god, the Heavenly Demon. The fruit of her relentless research was the creation of the parasitic demon 'Eunwol.' A demon that possesses the body or object of another, transforming it at its will. "Yes, this is it...!" It was truly groundbreaking and efficient. Unlike previous demons, which couldn't surpass the physical limitations of humans or beasts tainted by dark energy, Eunwol was different. By possessing a host and transforming it as it pleased, it could become a much stronger demon even if the host body was unimpressive. Through this, she intended to create the mightiest and most fearsome demon. While searching for a suitable host for Eunwol, she discovered something extraordinary. 'The Sacred Pearl...!' If Eunwol could possess the Sacred Pearl, touted as the Ice Crystal of Eternity? Her body trembled with excitement as she immediately sought an audience with the Heavenly Demon. Kneeling deeply, she fervently poured out her plan, to which the Heavenly Demon gave a brief response. "Do as you deem fit." "Thank you...!" With permission granted, she commenced a journey to the distant northern sea. A journey of relentless walking, day or night. She felt neither cold nor hunger. Half of her body had already succumbed to demonization, making her immune to such discomforts. Upon reaching her destination, she met with the spy she'd planted long ago at the Northern Ice Palace and arrived before the Sacred Pearl. Despite the fierce, relentless frost biting through her, she forced her way forward and pressed Eunwol, whom she had been holding dear, into the Sacred Pearl. Seeing part of the Sacred Pearl turn black, she laughed heartily. "Heha..., hahaha!" It felt as if her heart would burst. How powerful would a demon, having taken the vessel of a powerful divine orb, become? Bearing hope in her heart, she returned directly to the demonic sect. To Jin Mi-yeon, Eunwol was as precious as a child. Thus, before sending off her creation, she had connected with it spiritually. Day after day. She could distinctly feel the state of her creation as it slowly took over the Sacred Pearl. That day began like any other. However, as the end of the day neared. Throb! "Ugh...!?" A sharp pain pierced through her body. "This, this is...." That pain wasn't her own. It was Eunwol's. And at the same time, a whirlwind of emotions began to swirl. Primarily feelings of murder and rage. She realized. Something was happening to her creation. There was nothing she could do. All she could do was pray and hope that her creation would survive. But. "Ah...." At a certain point, she could no longer feel Eunwol's heartbeat. A ceased heart could signify only one thing. Death. "Ah, ahh...!" Her creation. "Noooo!!!" Had died. The masterpiece she had dedicated years to crafting had been destroyed. For days and nights, she wailed. Alternating between manic laughter and tears, she was gradually consumed by rage. She needed a culprit. Someone on whom she could unleash her pent-up fury. Finding this culprit wasn’t difficult. "Baek Woo-jin…." She had recently heard news of him heading to the Northern Ice Palace. So, it had to be him. The one who destroyed her foundation and threatened to shadow the path of the Heavenly Demon. He had interfered once again. Now he had shattered her greatest work! "I will definitely... definitely kill him." A resentment that reached into her very bones. Just then, a summons came from the Heavenly Demon. Even though her fury had reached its peak, the call of the Heavenly Demon was absolute. She promptly set out to meet the Heavenly Demon. What could be the reason? As she knelt with her head bowed, waiting for words to fall from her lips. "It's time to stop." The words were as shocking as a bolt from the blue. Stop what, exactly? For there was only one thing she was doing. Even understanding the meaning, she blasphemously doubted it. So she asked, nevertheless. "Stop what...?" The Heavenly Demon responded with an even colder voice. "The demon research." "My... my lord…." Her heart seemed to plummet. "Demons can be sufficiently created by those who are simply tainted by dark energy." It was the first time she had heard such a reproach. It sounded like an accusation, questioning what she had accomplished after pouring in so much money and time. She felt a bit unfairly treated. There were several successes right within her grasp. Engulfing the Sichuan clan, a pillar of the orthodox martial world, from within. Demonizing all the tribes of the distant plains. Transforming the Sacred Pearl into a demon. 'If only I succeeded…!' Had she actually succeeded, it could have accelerated the glorious future of the demonic sect considerably. All of these were progressing steadily by her hand. Yet what was the result? All failures. And all these failures were due to a single person. "Baek Woo-jin, you...!" She had cursed him so much that she could no longer even think of any more words to disparage him. What kind of terrible fate bound them so tightly together? Tears, one of the things she had lost due to half of her body turning demonic, seemed as if they might flow again. 'What should I do?' The command of the Heavenly Demon is absolute. She knew she couldn't defy or modify the words that emerged from her lips. Yet, this time, she wished she could change the command. What would support that endeavor? It didn’t take long for her to find the answer. "Please, just give me one chance!" Thud! Jin Mi-yeon pleaded, banging her head against the hard floor. Above her bowed head, the Heavenly Demon’s voice reached her. "A chance?" It was not a refusal. Nor had her head been struck off. This meant there was still a sliver of hope to secure a chance. "You are correct, my lord. I am a failure, having accomplished nothing." "…." "But the root cause of all these failures lies with a single person." "Baek Woo-jin?" "Yes." Lowering herself even further, she earnestly pleaded. "Give me an order, my lord. Command me to kill Baek Woo-jin! And if I succeed, please allow me to continue my demon research!" After her plea, silence descended. It was only a moment, but it felt eternal and torturous. Praying for this agony to end soon— As she hoped earnestly, the Heavenly Demon finally opened her tightly sealed lips. "What if you fail?" She answered as if she had been waiting. "I will follow your will, my lord." Be it death, or something beyond. Pledging to follow whatever wished, the Heavenly Demon nodded slightly. "Very well. I will grant you one last chance. Proceed as you wish." "Th-thank you, thank you, my lord!" "Leave now." "Yes, yes…!" Fearing the Heavenly Demon might change her mind, Jin Mi-yeon quickly fled the scene. The gaze of the Heavenly Demon watching her retreat was as cold as ever. "Anything…." She had vowed to accept whatever the consequence of failure might be. "Hm." A slight smile formed on her lips. It’s unlikely that will happen. She is well aware of how relentless Baek Woo-jin can be. Moreover, he might miss a target once, but he never misses it a second time. Therefore, Jin Mi-yeon has only one way to survive. She must kill Baek Woo-jin. If she fails to do so, it will cost her her life. Only time will tell how the entangled fate between the two will ultimately conclude. For now, she waits eagerly. Until the day she can make her move. --- **Author’s Note:** This episode is expected to conclude within one or two installments. I will see you in the next segment. Thank you, as always, for reading. Have a restful night. (_ _)