Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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Chapter 333: When an Old Desire is Revealed
The Great Drunken Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme arrived at the Great Drunken Forest.
“Leave the liquor box here. I’ll carry it from now on.”
“You were cold enough to leave me behind when I tried to stop you before.”
“Well, we’ve got some good liquor now.”
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. She was trying to console him because she could feel that Song Sa-Hyuk was feeling down. After all, he was her one and only friend.
So Yeonrang spoke to Lyu Bin, one of the Three Great Drunkards who had come to greet them.
“Drink with us today.”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“I want to drink, that’s why.”
At that, Lyu Bin looked over at Song Sa-Hyuk. He glanced once at the One-Slash Sword Supreme, then gave Lyu Bin a small nod.
“Then I’ll bring something to go with the drinks.”
So Yeonrang and the Great Drunken Demon went up to the Tower of Drunken Dreams first.
“Why are you doing something so out of character?”
As he asked the question, Song Sa-Hyuk came up with the answer himself.
He had quietly worked behind the scenes to help the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme reconcile. Thanks to that, the long-standing conflict between the two had largely been resolved.
And yet, even though So Yeonrang didn’t know that, she was now trying to connect Lyu Bin with him. Was this what they meant when they said life comes full circle? 1
“I got tired of doing the same thing all the time.”
When the One-Slash Sword Supreme extended her hand, a bottle of liquor rose from the box they brought and flew straight to the pavilion where she sat.
“Golden hands, huh? Out of all that liquor, you picked the rarest and most expensive one in a single try. Then again, with your hands, of course it would be the most precious.”
In the past, a comment like that might have made her bristle a little.
But now, it didn’t stir any anger. She was doing her best these days.
Yes—right now, her hands were indeed precious hands.
So Yeonrang poured a drink for Lyu Bin, who had returned with side dishes.
Lyu Bin accepted the drink politely and emptied her cup. The One-Slash Sword Supreme noticed her hand tremble with tension as she raised the glass.
“Have another.”
She poured her a second, then a third.
After downing three cups in a row, Lyu Bin’s hands no longer trembled.
“It feels like you came to the Great Drunken Forest just yesterday… and yet, time has flown by like this.”
“Do you really remember that time?”
So Yeonrang nodded. She remembered because there were so few women among the Drunkards. Of course, that didn’t mean Lyu Bin held any deep meaning in her life. It was just that, recently, as she underwent a shift in perspective, Lyu Bin had started to come into view.
When your life changes, so does your martial art.
It was the opposite of Geom Mugeuk’s idiom. It wasn’t that her martial art changed first, but rather her heart toward it did—and so, her life began to shift in consequence. In that way, life and martial arts were like two sides of the same coin, constantly influencing each other.
“Back then, you were young, I was fairly youthful, and your Demon Supreme was incredibly dashing.”
The Great Drunken Demon laughed soundlessly. On a normal day, he would’ve cracked jokes about how he looked even better now, asking how youthful flair could ever compare to the charm of a middle-aged man. But today, he was calm.
The three of them drank together. The One-Slash Sword Supreme didn’t try to bring Song Sa-Hyuk into the conversation. She simply let him drink on his own, while she chatted with Lyu Bin. She asked this and that, but true to her seasoned nature, she avoided any topic that might make Lyu Bin uncomfortable.
Except for this one.
“Don’t you want to get married?”
The Great Drunken Demon shot the One-Slash Sword Supreme a look, as if to say, What kind of pointless question is that? But she ignored his gaze and waited for Lyu Bin’s response.
“No, I don’t think about that.”
“Why not?”
“What kind of man would want a wife who drinks every day like this?”
“Then just meet someone who likes drinking too. Aren’t there plenty of men in the Great Drunken Forest?”
Lyu Bin only smiled.
“What about your Demon Supreme?”
At that, Song Sa-Hyuk cut in.
“You’re talking nonsense! Are you drunk?”
So Yeonrang said to him,
“Yes, I’m drunk. You drink way more than me—why don’t you ever get drunk? You’re the Great Drunken Demon, so you should be drunk!”
Their gazes locked midair.
And then the One-Slash Sword Supreme said what she had decided to say all along.
“Do you know why you’ve been so irritable and moody lately?”
Song Sa-Hyuk flared up. Irritable? You’re going to say that in front of my subordinate? 2
But So Yeonrang continued without stopping.
“It’s because you’re holding it in. You hold it in because you’re older now, because you’re the Demon Supreme. That damned age, that damned dignity. Listen, my friend. The older you get, the more you need to know how to express your desires—with class. That’s the only way to stop getting angry, to stop sulking all the time.” 3
Not that she herself had succeeded in expressing her desires with class. 4
And that was the point. That’s why she had something to say about it. Because every time she fell into even a moment of reflection, she would inevitably remember her own shameful desires of the past.
“Stop spewing nonsense and get out. You’re just wasting someone else’s precious gift.”
“No.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
Holding a bottle of liquor, the Great Drunken Demon descended from the Tower of Drunken Dreams and set out alone on a boat across the lake.
The two women stood, watching as his boat slowly drifted toward the moon’s reflection on the water.
“Honestly, what I said earlier was meant for you. That guy wouldn’t listen to a word of it anyway.”
Lyu Bin looked at her, startled.
“If you keep holding it in, over and over again… at first, it makes you sulk. But eventually, it turns into anger.”
Knowing exactly what she meant, Lyu Bin couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
“Are you scared? That if this keeps up, even the life of standing quietly by his side might vanish completely?”
Still, she said nothing.
“If that’s really the case, then don’t be afraid. You’ve watched long enough. That’s no longer affection—it’s just attachment and habit. It’s time to let that life drift away.” 5
Silence settled over both the Tower of Drunken Dreams and the lake.
How much time passed like that? A chill breeze blew in from somewhere. The moment it brushed past her, the One-Slash Sword Supreme sobered up, clarity returning to her mind.
Am I really in any position to give someone else advice? What do I even know about Lyu Bin?
Though her heart had been in the right place, she realized she might have overstepped. Should I just blame it on the Wilderness liquor being too strong? Say I don’t remember anything?
“Don’t think too much of it. I was drunk when I said all that.”
Just as So Yeonrang was about to rise, Lyu Bin finally spoke.
“You saw correctly. I’ve already moved past the sulking stage. I’ve been angry for years now.”
It was the first time she had ever spoken her heart. She had always maintained a polite demeanor, so the One-Slash Sword Supreme had never imagined she might be harboring such anger.
“Seeing how I’m still trembling like this… maybe I’m afraid. Afraid that even this angry life I’ve clung to will disappear.”
Lyu Bin’s eyes trembled slightly as she confessed her heart to someone for the first time.
So Yeonrang had nothing more to say. So, she filled Lyu Bin’s glass with the greatest courage she could offer as a fellow drinker.
“Just for today, let yourself be a real drunk.”
After saying that, she leapt gracefully into the air. Her movement across the lake was far too elegant and refined to be attributed to drunkenness.
When she landed on the shore and turned back, she saw Lyu Bin holding a bottle of liquor as she flew toward the boat where Song Sa-Hyuk drifted on the lake. 6
A smile spread across the One-Slash Sword Supreme’s lips.
Even if regret came later, she envied Lyu Bin’s youth—that she had the nerve to act on impulse.
But it was fine.
From now on, she would live her life expressing her own desires, too.
With elegance and dignity.
* * *
I arrived at the Eastern Fist Faction with my older brother.
Since I had once trained from the Red Fists to the Black Fists, nearly everyone I passed by recognized my face.
But their expressions and attitude toward me were entirely different now from what they had been back then.
I walked into the inner courtyard while receiving respectful greetings from the Iron Fists.
In the courtyard’s training hall, the Fist Demon King was instructing the Black Fists.
He personally supervised only the Black Fists, while the training of the remaining Iron Fists was entrusted to Cheon So-hee.
“Master! I’ve returned.”
“You’re here?”
After such a long time, even that fearsome face of the Fist Demon King was a welcome sight.
While he greeted me with his usual blunt tone, he welcomed my brother with gentle eyes.
“You’re here, Eldest Young Master. Let me help with that heavy load.”
But of course, I wasn’t someone to just stand back and watch.
“My box is heavier, you know! Are you discriminating against me?”
The reason for that “discrimination” was revealed soon enough.
“I’ve heard it several times from Workshop Lord Gwak. The Eldest Young Master put in a great deal of effort creating the gauntlets.”
“It was simply my duty. Today, I’ve brought the completed gauntlets.”
Geom Muyang opened the box and revealed the gauntlets.
In the meantime, Cheon So-hee, who had missed her chance to greet me earlier and only managed a polite bow, came over and whispered a greeting.
“I’m so glad you returned safely, Young Cult Leader.”
“I told you, when it’s just us, call me ‘senior brother’.”
She glanced toward Fist Demon King and my older brother with eyes that clearly said, It’s not ‘just us’ right now.
I raised my voice—loud enough for those two to hear—though I disguised it as a whisper.
“I’m glad our cold-hearted master has such a sweet junior sister.”
Dan Woo-gang looked at me and said,
“The sweeter she is, the shorter her life will be.”
“That won’t do. I take it back—no more sweet junior sister! Junior sister, this is the heartless martial world!”
Those watching smiled. They all knew my personality well, and the atmosphere was cheerful.
The Fist Demon King picked up the gauntlets and examined them.
“You’ve embedded a fine steel mesh in the palms.”
“That’s right. They’re lightweight and very durable. The craftsmanship of our Cult’s Iron Workshop is concentrated in that detail.”
Dan Woo-gang handed the gauntlets to Cheon So-hee.
She put them on and tested their power firsthand.
“The fit is excellent.”
She had one of the Iron Fists bring her a sword.
“Strike me with full force!”
An Iron Fist brought a sword and swung it powerfully. She caught it with her palm.
Despite the force behind the strike, her hand remained perfectly fine.
The Black Fists watching were impressed and let out wows of admiration while clapping.
The Fist Demon King nodded with satisfaction.
“Splendid gauntlets. You’ve done well.”
“Right now, we have enough for fifty users, but within a few months, we’ll deliver a full set for all the Eastern Fist Faction’s Iron Fists.”
“It must be thanks to your efforts. I appreciate it.”
Dan Woo-gang expressed his gratitude sincerely, and Geom Muyang smiled with the satisfaction of someone whose hard work had finally paid off.
While Cheon So-hee handed out the gauntlets to the Black Fists, we walked together through the inner courtyard.
The Fist Demon King conversed mainly with Geom Muyang. They discussed the gauntlet production, what kinds of support the Eastern Fist Faction still needed, and other work-related matters.
I stayed silent as I walked beside them, but the feeling was clear—my brother was much better at this sort of thing. It was a moment where I once again realized that for things to turn out well, someone had to be meticulous and thorough.
Dan Woo-gang sent me a sound transmission just as we were about to part ways.
—Good to have you back.
—I’ll visit again soon.
That single line from my master was all the welcome I needed. It felt better than a hundred fireworks going off in celebration. 7
At the entrance of the Eastern Fist Faction, I said to Geom Muyang,
“I’m hungry. Let’s grab a meal together.”
“When have we ever eaten together?”
“I was out in Wilderness this time… and I found myself thinking a lot about Father. And about you.”
After a brief pause, Geom Muyang replied,
“Let’s have a meal with Father soon.”
I could tell—this was his response to what I’d told him before, about taking care of our father. It meant, let’s do it together.
“You’re paying for the meal, then.”
“Nope. You’re the one with all the money.”
Surprisingly, I was starting to like my big brother. 8
But I couldn’t let my guard down. That’s exactly when people made mistakes in relationships—just when things had started to improve. That’s when you needed to open your eyes even wider and really see the other person.
I stood still for a moment, watching his back, then turned away in the opposite direction. The place I was headed for was the Southern Heavens Blade Family.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in his quarters.
“I’ve returned, Elder.”
“You should be resting from the trip. Why’d you come here?”
“Seeing you, Elder, is rest. But… what’s with all the book organizing?”
He was replacing the poetry collections and literary anthologies on the shelf with martial arts manuals.
“These are the manuals I read when I was young. I’m putting them out for Daeryong to read.”
“Everyone’s overflowing with love for their disciples these days.”
“Everyone?”
It had originally been a jab at Jeong Dae.
“I meant that I’m loved by the Fist Demon King, too.”
“As if. If you manage not to get beaten, that’s already a win.”
“Want help organizing?”
“It’s already done.”
I crouched down and began flipping through the stack of books Gu Cheonpa had piled up.
“There’s a lot here I haven’t seen before. Lend them to me, please.”
“You’ve got time to read?”
“I’ll make time, even if I don’t have it.” 9
While I was going through the books, Old Man Blade asked as he arranged the shelves:
“Were they the same kind as the one from the Martial Alliance?”
We had worked together when capturing Baek Cheongyeong.
“Yes. They seem to be on the same side.”
“This damned martial world never has a moment’s peace.” 10
He didn’t ask any more about it and picked out a few books for me.
“When you finish them, come borrow more.”
“I’ll drop by again.”
With the books the Blade Demon had lent me tucked under my arm, I returned to my quarters.
Jeokyeon was waiting for me and held out a bottle of liquor.
“What’s this?”
“A gift.”
“A gift?”
“While you bought the gift for the Great Drunken Demon, we pooled money and bought a bottle too.”
It turned out some of the liquor I had gifted Song Sa-Hyuk was among the more expensive bottles. When I bought that one, it seemed my escorts had secretly purchased a bottle of their own on the side.
“Where’d you all even get the money?”
“You may not realize it, but we happen to be the escorts of none other than the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. We get paid handsomely”, Jeokyeon’s joked self-deprecatingly. No doubt, it must’ve felt less like they were protecting me, and more like they were the ones being protected.
“Thanks for the gift. I’ll savor it slowly.”
“Then we’ll take our leave.”
With that, Jeokyeon withdrew, and I washed up and changed into fresh clothes.
Instead of turning off the lights and lying down on my bed, I picked up a book and the liquor bottle.
Click.
Using the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique, I opened a space of my own.
A clear ocean, a beach of white sand, a blue sky, and broad-leaved trees—with a comfortable chair beneath them.
“I missed you guys!”
I flopped onto the cozy chair.
“Ah… this is perfect.”
This feeling of bliss here! The former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader often warned that those who learned Illusion Art should be cautious not to get lost in their own world—but this place was something I could never give up.
Looking back on my life, the most important and necessary thing as I got older had been this: a space of my own, and time of my own.
At the very least, in this place, I could forget the whole world and quietly enjoy my own rest.
Today, I added one more thing to this sanctuary.
A small chair appeared beside mine.
On top of it, I placed the Secret Box.
“What do you think? You like it?”
The Secret Box was beaming from ear to ear. 11
Reclining in the chair, I slowly sipped liquor and read the book. The only sounds were the breeze, the cries of seagulls, and the fluttering of turning pages. Even if someone offered me all of the martial world, I wouldn’t trade it for this moment.
Thus passed my first day back at the cult—busier after returning than when I had left.
1 : The beauty of Karma ^^
2 : Lol, that’s just more proof that you’re grumpy XDXDXD
3 : Release yourself from the trappings of society !!! You’re a drunkard, so do as you like !!! Laugh, cry !!! Live !!!!
4 : Yup, that’s definitely in the Epic Fail category XDXDXD
5 : Get out of the friend zone. It will slowly suffocate all of your positive feelings.
6 : Men are useless when it comes to taking initiative anyways !!! Let go of your inhibitions and throw all your feelings at his face full power !!! At worst you’ll get rejected and be able to let go of that burden. At best…. ^^
7 : Taciturn and discreet, but warm. Classic Fist Demon King ^^
8 : That really shows how abnormal their situation is. Normally, all siblings wish the reverse ^^ Playfully yes, but still XDXDXD
9 : Thanks, Heavenly Time Secret Art !!!
10 : True, that’s kinda its founding principle.
11: Wilson sure is happy to return to the island ^^ So many memories….