Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: A Fortuitous Disturbance
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In Jinyang, there was a vast lake known as Yunmeng Lake.
Poets, scholars, and tourists who came here to enjoy the scenery would float boats upon its waters, savoring wine within them.
Bu Eun-seol, having left Jinhyangwon for a rare outing, was also on a small boat on Yunmeng Lake, drinking alone.
The sounds of the boatman’s oar, the chatter of people drinking, and the music and songs of courtesans on other boats filled his ears.
He listened to the medley of sounds, occasionally admiring the moonlight reflected on the lake's surface.
Before long, he had emptied an entire crock of wine, yet he felt no trace of intoxication. Instead, his eyes only grew deeper.
‘The purpose of demonic martial arts is to end an enemy's life with utmost speed. Perhaps the flaws of demonic arts stem from that very principle.’
Whether eating, drinking, or even sleeping…
Bu Eun-seol never rested a single day from his study of the principles of martial arts, and his skill was growing at a rapid pace.
But perhaps it was because he had relentlessly pushed and trained himself so harshly ever since he entered the martial world.
Even when eating delicious food or indulging in the life of a wealthy idler as he was now… he couldn't feel any joy or pleasure.
‘The Baekjeolyeonhwansik that Yeo Hwan-jin displayed was also unable to escape that fact.’
His mind grew complicated as he considered the flaws of demonic martial arts.
‘In any case, the current goal is the Great Righteous Masters.’
Having chosen the path of a Sip-ma-jeon-in, a clash with the Great Righteous Masters was inevitable.
If he allowed his focus to be scattered by trivial matters, Bu Eun-seol knew he could lose to them.
‘There are sixteen Great Righteous Masters remaining… no, perhaps seventeen.’
Yeong Ji-wi, who had lost to Bu Eun-seol at the Grand Martial Arts Tournament.
He possessed a genius-level sense but had been lazy in his training.
However, a human being can develop dazzlingly upon attaining enlightenment.
What if that defeat had brought Yeong Ji-wi to an awakening? Another powerful expert might have been born in the martial world.
*Swish. Swish.*
Just then, with the sound of a boat parting the water, an ornately decorated vessel began to slowly approach Bu Eun-seol’s.
“Oh my?”
On that boat was a very familiar woman.
It was the same woman he had seen at Jinhyangwon.
“What a coincidence seeing you here!”
The woman, her smile brighter than the moonlight, looked at Bu Eun-seol with friendly eyes.
“Since fate has brought us together, how about a drink?”
‘She’s changed her tactics.’
Bu Eun-seol let out a bitter smile.
Her persistence was second to none; it seemed her plan now was to build a rapport with him to ask to borrow the Seogangwon villa.
“I have plenty of wine here.”
Bu Eun-seol was naturally about to refuse.
“...!”
But then, he saw a large boat cutting across Yunmeng Lake in the distance.
On it, warriors in blue martial uniforms were scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes.
They were none other than the masters of the Jongnam Sect.
‘They’ve come this far.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed.
Among all the boats floating on the lake, he was the only one drinking alone.
If he remained as he was, he could easily be spotted by the keen-eyed masters of the Jongnam Sect.
“This isn’t just any wine.”
At that moment, the woman’s eyes widened as she spoke.
“This is the hundred-year-old Hundred Herb Wine, which is hard to find even for a thousand gold pieces. What’s more…”
“Very well.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s have a drink.”
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol stepped onto the large boat she was on.
“I knew you were a man who appreciated the finer things in life!”
She smiled brightly, revealing her perfectly aligned teeth.
She probably thought that because Bu Eun-seol was a wealthy idler, he understood the true value of Hundred Herb Wine.
“Let us drink.”
Having boarded without a second thought, Bu Eun-seol sat down at the table laden with wine.
The woman then offered him a large drinking bowl.
“They say you can only appreciate the true essence of Hundred Herb Wine when you drink it from a wide, large bowl like this.”
She then filled the bowl to the brim with the wine.
Hundred Herb Wine, said to be made from a hundred different medicinal herbs. Yet, it carried no medicinal scent at all, instead exuding a deep aroma like that of rice wine.
*Gulp. Gulp.*
Without delay, Bu Eun-seol drained the bowl in one go.
The woman clapped her hands and laughed as if watching a curious spectacle.
“You certainly have a refreshing way of drinking. It would be perfect if your personality was just as direct and爽快. For example…”
As she chattered on, the boat carrying the Jongnam Sect masters approached.
“…”
The Jongnam masters did not come any closer, instead observing the two from a distance.
From any angle, it looked like a picturesque scene of a handsome man and a beautiful woman sitting together, enjoying a quiet drink.
After watching them for a while, they passed by without stopping.
‘They’re gone.’
Watching the Jongnam Sect’s boat disappear into the distance, Bu Eun-seol inwardly felt the power of the Nine Factions One Union.
‘Their ranks of masters run deep.’
Judging by their formidable auras, they were likely first-generation disciples, of the same generation as Yeo Hwan-jin.
“Oh, right. I just realized we haven’t even introduced ourselves.”
The woman then looked at Bu Eun-seol and extended her hand.
“My name is Gu… Gu Cheong-jeong.”
‘A lie.’
Her slightly averted gaze and stuttering speech made it clear she had given him a fake name.
But Bu Eun-seol didn’t mind. He wasn't interested and had no need to know anyway.
“I am Bu Eun-seol.”
“Bu Eun-seol…”
This time, Gu Cheong-jeong looked puzzled. She thought for a long time, but the name didn't ring a bell.
‘No signs of martial training, and no weapon in sight… He must be just a wealthy scholar.’
“I see.”
As she smiled sweetly, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat and said.
“Thank you for the wine. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“You’re leaving already? You’ve only had one drink.”
“How could I dare to deplete more of such a precious hundred-year-old wine?”
“Are you heading back to the inn then?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really have to use all five villas?”
Gu Cheong-jeong had a truly tenacious and persistent personality.
Bu Eun-seol looked at her for a moment before asking calmly.
“It can’t really be because of Master Sammuk’s plaque. Why do you want the Seogangwon so badly? Are you meeting someone there?”
“How did you know?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Bu Eun-seol sighed.
“Unless you are a calligrapher, you would have no need to admire Master Sammuk’s work for days on end.”
If all she wanted was to see the plaque in the Seogangwon, she wouldn't have to insist on staying there.
“Alright. I’ll be honest.”
This time, Gu Cheong-jeong wore a bitter smile.
“I arranged to meet some old friends from the martial world here.”
“Friends?”
“That’s right. I told them I would reserve the Seogangwon at Unraegak Inn, the villa with Master Sammuk’s calligraphy, and that we would meet there.”
“Then why didn’t you come a little earlier?”
“Of course, I sent someone about a month ago. But I was told it was already fully booked then.”
She shrugged.
“To be honest, we left home against our parents’ wishes. We couldn’t afford to make reservations at our leisure.”
She was spilling details he hadn’t even asked for, but her tone and demeanor were friendly and without malice.
She was clearly the child of a family from a rather moderate and well-connected demonic sect.
“It can’t be helped.”
With a deep sigh, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
“You may use the Seogangwon.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
It was something he had resigned himself to the moment he accepted her drink.
In the martial world, when you received something, you were expected to pay its price in full.
“But only the Seogangwon. Do not enter any of the other villas. I dislike being bothered.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
With the matter easily resolved, Gu Cheong-jeong beamed and said.
“You’re not as stubborn as I thought.”
Bu Eun-seol gave a dry smile and shook his head.
“I’ll be on my way.”
“Wait.”
Looking anxious, Gu Cheong-jeong blocked his path.
“A man's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold. You absolutely cannot go back on it or regret this.”
“I won’t.”
With that short reply, Bu Eun-seol turned and left.
***
Bu Eun-seol regretted it.
No matter how much he suppressed his Yasudo senses, his hearing was several times more sensitive than that of an ordinary person.
Because Gu Cheong-jeong and the friends she brought with her were drinking and chattering all night in the Seogangwon, he ultimately couldn't cultivate properly.
—Hahaha! That was truly satisfying!
Even now, as dawn broke, the sounds of drunken revelry could still be heard from the direction of the Seogangwon.
‘They plan to drink for a full day.’
The drinking session that had started in the afternoon was still going on at dawn.
From the looks of it, they would continue drinking until morning.
‘I can’t even dream of cultivating until they leave.’
Cultivation required one to focus all senses and spirit inward.
One careless mistake could lead to minor internal injuries, or at worst, Qi Deviation.
—By the way, Master Sammuk is really amazing!
Just then, a voice came from the Seogangwon.
—When he wrote this plaque, I heard he drank three *mal* of wine before he even started writing!
Master Sammuk was known to love wine, and his tolerance for it was immense.
Thus, the story was passed down that he had drunk three *mal* of wine before writing the plaque for the Seogangwon.
‘He wrote the plaque after drinking three *mal* of wine… huh.’
Listening to the idle chatter from the Seogangwon, a thought suddenly struck Bu Eun-seol.
‘The calligraphy on Master Sammuk’s plaque was remarkably neat.’
That couldn't be solely because he could hold his liquor.
Even when drunk beyond reason, in pain, or feeling unwell…
Masters of calligraphy practice until they can write properly under any condition. And that should be no different for martial artists.
‘If my cultivation is disrupted by external interference, how can I claim to have mastered an internal art?’
Internal arts are often described as ‘the mind commanding the creation of qi.’
For this reason, martial artists typically seek only silence during their cultivation.
But thinking about it from another perspective, shouldn't one train to be undisturbed by any interference?
‘This is a good opportunity.’
Bu Eun-seol changed his mind.
He would try to begin his cultivation amidst that endless chatter.
Endless training and challenge.
And like eating and breathing… Bu Eun-seol integrated martial arts into every aspect of his life, developing it further.
This was precisely why, despite not having a superior physique, he had been able to grow stronger faster than anyone else.
*Woooong.*
As he began his cultivation, faint points of light emanated from his body.
He did not ignore the cascade of chatter but focused his mind and began to cultivate.
How much time had passed?
*Woooong.*
With a low hum, Bu Eun-seol finished his cultivation and opened his eyes.
Strangely, unlike usual, points of light did not erupt from his body, and the Reverse-Extreme Radiance that poured from his eyes had also grown slightly fainter.
Returning to Simplicity and Truth.
As one’s internal energy deepens, the unique characteristics fade, and one paradoxically appears more ordinary.