Ep447 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

After concluding his private meeting with Yong Seon-ah, Baek Woo-jin gazed out the window at the sunset painting the sky in shades of crimson. It was already early evening, with the sun gradually sinking down the horizon. Seeing that time wasn't too late, he decisively headed towards Yong Seol-ran's quarters. 'Why drag things out unnecessarily?' Striking while the iron is hot, he planned to wrap up all discussions today. As Baek Woo-jin made his way to her residence, he internally organized the conversation he needed to have with her. 'I need to keep it cold.' He intended to relay the earlier conversation to her in full. "Your mother seems to desire a marriage between us. What do you think?" It was crucial to emit an air of indifference when probing her feelings. Otherwise, it might appear as though he's leaving room for engagement. 'Letting this drag on could be problematic.' They say a hero has three wives and four concubines. Baek Woo-jin was already entangled in a complex web of relationships that nearly exceeded this saying. Not to mention his fiancées: Dang Seon-yeong, Jegal Yeon-ji, and Do Kyung. Plus, there's Jeong Hye, Seol Soo-yeon, Geum Yeo-ul, and Song Hee-yeon. He's either in a close relationship with each of them or likely to form one. Pausing his steps, Baek Woo-jin lightly tapped his forehead, lamenting. "Oh dear, I must be crazy." Upon reflection, isn't it excessively too many? If he truly were to fill the number to seven for "three wives and four concubines," won't it be too much? Therefore, he resolved to regain his senses as steadfastly as possible. 'If this number grows any larger, I wouldn't be able to face my wives...!' His beautiful companions who always have his back. From now on, he vowed to live solely for them. With his mind resolute, he finally arrived in front of Yong Seol-ran's quarters. "What brings you here, Master?" asked the maid standing guard by the door. "I'd like to have a brief meeting with Miss Yong. Could you please inform her?" "Understood. Please, wait a moment." The maid gingerly opened the door and went inside. Soon, Baek Woo-jin's sharply attuned hearing picked up the commotion coming from within. "Just, just tell him to wait for a moment! Ahh, what do I do...! At least some light makeup...!" "Ahem, ahem." Quietly shutting down his overly sensitive hearing, Baek Woo-jin stood by patiently. Shortly after, the maid returned, slightly flustered, speaking awkwardly. "Um, my apologies, but could you wait a little longer...?" Baek Woo-jin nodded amicably. "Of course. A sudden visit can be startling. Please tell her to take her time. I'll wait here." "Th-Thank you, Master." In the world he lived in before, showing up unannounced at a woman's home was considered a surefire way to fall out of favor with a romantic interest. Understanding this, he waited patiently for her to prepare. Time ticked by. Finally, the maid aiding Yong Seol-ran emerged once more. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Please come inside." "Thank you." Baek Woo-jin stepped slowly through the open door. As he passed through two doors, the elegant decor of her quarters came into view. "Welcome, Master Baek." Yong Seol-ran greeted him from behind a table with a steaming cup of tea set before her. Dressed as flamboyantly as ever, she hadn't lost a bit of her poise. Baek Woo-jin clicked his tongue in admiration. 'Amazing.' In such a short time, she managed to do her makeup, style her hair, and change her attire. "Hoho... Did I keep you waiting long?" "Not at all." "Please, have a seat." Sitting down across from her, Baek Woo-jin took his place. Yong Seol-ran leaned forward to pour tea into a cup placed in front of him. The sound of flowing tea filled the silence. While she did so, Baek Woo-jin inadvertently studied her face. Her appearance wasn't much different from Yong Seon-ah's, whom he had met earlier. Perhaps her youthfulness and freshness in place of maturity were the only differences. "Please, enjoy." Watching Yong Seol-ran pushing the teacup towards him, Baek Woo-jin found his impression of her subtly altered compared to their first meeting. He had thought she was a self-assured lioness, supported by her striking appearance and bold makeup, but realized this wasn't the case. Underneath her glamorous and sturdy facade, she was still a cat. A cute cat pretending to be aloof. With this newfound understanding, making eye contact with her almost made him want to smile. "But, why have you come at this hour? To my quarters, no less." "Ah." Catching himself, Baek Woo-jin composed his thoughts internally. 'I mustn't be like this.' His objective was to explain the situation to her and gently convey his intent to decline. To achieve his goal, Baek Woo-jin knew he needed to appear colder. "Let's get straight to the point." "O-oh, okay..." Yong Seol-ran was slightly taken aback by his abrupt change in demeanor and tone. He proceeded to explain the situation to her. He conveyed how her mother wished for them to be united, while subtly indicating his disinterest in the matter. "…For these reasons, Miss Yong, I must ask you." "……." Having laid out everything, Baek Woo-jin took a final step forward, meeting her eyes. Her moist, glistening eyes. The glossy red lips. And beneath them, her slender neck. Without realizing it, his voice softened from the icy tone he intended, and he reached out to her with gentle words. "Miss Yong, would you accompany me?" "…Yes, I would love to!" Feeling the warmth in her hand as she eagerly agreed, Baek Woo-jin snapped back to reality. Ah. 'This wasn't supposed to happen...' Once again, he found himself falling in love. --- Locked away in his room, Baek Woo-jin paced endlessly around his bed, repeating the same words. "What do I do, what do I do, what do I do..." Unconsciously, he had confessed to her with far more tenderness than he'd planned. That definitely hadn't been the plan! And she had accepted as if she had been waiting for it. Now, there was no way out; they were bound together. "I might really die this time..." The women had told him. They'd said that if he ever welcomed another woman, he should speak honestly without lying. Hearing this, one might think they were extraordinarily understanding wives for allowing him to have multiple lovers. However. "They only ever say that after nearly beating me to death, ugh." When those words escape their lips, Baek Woo-jin's body is usually battered and bruised. In the moments after his three fiancées leave him near death, they tenderly apply ointment to his wounds. Mulling over how to dodge even one more blow, Baek Woo-jin quickly abandoned the thought. "Forget it, forget it..." Reflecting on it brought a wry smile to his face. Isn't it only right to pay for one's sins? If it means giving some peace of mind to his partners by enduring physically, perhaps that isn't too bad. "They wouldn't kill me, right, they wouldn't..." And with that, he felt resignation bring him solace. Looking out the window, he noticed the night was pitch black, with even the moonlight obscured. "...I should just sleep." Just as he was about to lay down. "Master, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour." A shadow of a woman fell at the door. He briefly perched on the edge of the bed before standing up to answer it. It was one of the palace maids standing at the threshold. "Forgive me for this late visit, Master. The Lady wishes to see you urgently..." "...The Lady?" "Yes, Master." Baek Woo-jin tilted his head in puzzlement. What could she possibly want with him at this late hour? "...Alright." Having little choice, he followed the maid out of his room. But the direction was unfamiliar. "Aren't we headed to the office?" "No, the Lady is currently in her quarters." "……." Her quarters? It was a peculiar feeling, but he shrugged it off. In the Northern Ice Palace, where the Lady wielded absolute power, calling a man to her quarters in the middle of the night wasn't as risky as it might seem elsewhere. Finally arriving at Yong Seon-ah's quarters, he hesitantly stepped inside as the maid opened the door. Swish—Thunk! No sooner had he entered than the door quietly closed behind him. Inside, Baek Woo-jin found Yong Seon-ah. She was seated at a low table laden with drinks, dressed in attire so thin it seemed it might reveal more with any wrong move. "Ah, you've arrived." She greeted him with a soft smile as he stepped into the room. "Please, sit here." Baek Woo-jin was helplessly drawn to sit opposite her. And soon his glass was filled. "Have a drink first." Startled, Baek Woo-jin accepted the glass in surprise. Initially hesitant, he quickly found himself enticed. "Sss...!" The aroma of the drink, which he'd never encountered before, made his mouth water. 'What kind of drink is this?' Unable to suppress his curiosity, he downed the contents immediately. The golden color slid down his throat, different from the clear rice wine he knew, coating his mouth with a unique flavor. A slight earthy aftertaste followed by a rich warmth. And then, a creeping heat? "Oh." After just one drink, warmth spread rapidly through Baek Woo-jin’s body. The sudden change puzzled him, and he asked, “Excuse me, Lady?” “Yes? What is it?” “What is this drink made from, may I ask?” "Ah, that one." Her smile deepened. “Have you ever heard of the Yin-Yang Snakes?” “Yin-Yang… Snakes?” The Yin-Yang Snakes were not a single serpent but a pair. Referred to as Yin Snake and Yang Snake, respectively. “These two snakes are known to be mates. They are said to be inseparable from birth until death.” Yong Seon-ah continued, her voice slow and deliberate, as if savoring every word. Meanwhile, Baek Woo-jin felt the heat intensifying within. “The drink you had is made from the Yang Snake. And…” She raised another bottle that rested in front of her. “The drink that this humble lady consumes is made from the Yin Snake.” Yong Seon-ah downed the drink containing Yin Snake essence and rose to approach Baek Woo-jin. “Then you wouldn’t know.” “Know what… exactly?” “There’s a legend that when a man and a woman drink Yang Snake and Yin Snake liquor, they inevitably become bound as husband and wife.” “What, what does that mean…!” Startled, Baek Woo-jin tried to rise, but she reached out and gently pressed his shoulder down before he could act. “Ah, don’t worry too much. It doesn’t mean you actually have to marry. You'll just receive a mark." “A mark… you say.” “A symbol that affirms you two as a couple.” Her gaze was laden with yin energy as she looked down at him. “You asked, didn’t you? How I intended to establish a successor for the North Sea Ice Palace without Ranha.” “Yes, I did.” His breath ragged, Baek Woo-jin responded in fits and starts. The heat coursing through his body was converging in a place it absolutely shouldn’t. ‘You must resist, you must resist…!’ He repeated the words to himself like a mantra. Whether she sensed his inner struggle or not, she leaned closer, whispering with seductive warmth into his ear. “I said I’d let another bloodline inherit, didn’t I?” “…….” He couldn’t respond. Focusing on her breath, no matter how slight, could unravel him completely. Struggling to maintain his composure. She continued. “Tonight, I plan to conceive that bloodline with your seed.” Her breath, as hot as her body, melted away what little self-restraint Baek Woo-jin had left. Yet, it hadn’t vanished completely. Clinging to scraps of rationality, he questioned her. “You did instruct me… to connect with your daughter.” “Yes, I did.” “Then how can you….” Before he could finish. She interjected. “Don’t worry. This proceeding is with Ranha’s consent.” “W-what…?” He stammered at the shocking revelation. Watching him with an amused glint, Yong Seon-ah turned towards her bed, covered with heavy fabric. “Isn’t that right, my daughter Ranha?” “…….” At that moment, Baek Woo-jin realized they were not alone. Someone else was present. It was none other than Yong Seol-ran. “Yes… I’ve agreed to this as well, Master.” She emerged softly from behind the curtain, her face stained with a deep blush. “Master… please, bless my mother and me with your seed…♥” With those words, any trace of reason left in Baek Woo-jin dissolved completely. --- Author's Note: It’s been a while since I’ve written something 19+. Originally, I planned to write this as a side story, but that would have taken much longer. I’ll cover what needs to be addressed in this part, and delve into more complex narratives in the side stories. I look forward to seeing you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading. Have a pleasant night. (_ _)