Chapter 32: How Can One Forget Without Drinking (1)

- Do-hyeon. In strategy games like Go or chess, the most important thing is understanding your opponent's intentions and reading their moves.

Tuk, tuduk.

A game record unfolded in my mind as I pictured Seolhwa sitting before me. Unlike me placing black stones, her face smiling as she placed pure white Go stones.

- It's the same when writing. We need to predict the next method using plot hooks placed strategically, like territory in Go.

Seolhwa was skilled at teaching self-realization by giving me such riddles.

Saying that while writing may not have correct answers, it certainly has completely wrong ones.

- There are four important corners in a Go board. They're marked with black circles on the board. Now, if this were writing, what could they represent?

'They're material, setting, story, and plot.'

- Right. The upper right corner is material, the most important thing. It determines almost half of the writing.

Material is the driving force of writing. Like an engine in a car, it creates the 'anticipation' that drives the writing to its conclusion.

- Second... the upper left corner can be called the setting. Usually not obvious, but becomes problematic when the writing loses interest.

Setting creates plausibility and narrative, giving depth to characters. It also makes readers more immersed and empathetic to the story.

- With perfect setting and narrative, you just need to write down the characters' trajectories as they follow the story.

Because characters come alive, they sometimes act outside the planned story, or you might find yourself unable to continue writing in the latter half.

- Third and fourth are story and plot. We write to create each important episode, and we write plot to build bridges between those stories.

Among these, Seolhwa particularly enjoyed thinking in reverse. Filling gaps between stories by thinking backwards.

- Well, what did you find from the hints I gave you?

Seolhwa seemed to be resting her chin on both hands while looking at me.

'Yes.'

To defeat Shub-Niggurath, the self-proclaimed avid reader Outer God, I needed to use the difference between readers and writers.

It's something one never knows without writing. Only by exploiting the difference in perspective between writer and reader could I pierce through the opponent's weakness.

'Use settings or plot hooks hidden in the writing that readers would never expect.'

The target was the Dragon Phoenix Branch Meeting where characters from all works would gather.

The Eternal Extreme Acupoint was there, possibly the last bastion that could cure my blocked meridians, and I felt certain I could meet Seolhwa and other protagonists there.

"Master, with that elixir, couldn't we cure your chronic illness?"

On the way to the dock to return to the central martial arts world where the Dragon Phoenix Branch Meeting would be held.

Bi Wol had been constantly worried about my condition, becoming sensitive enough to react this way at just the mention of elixir.

"That alone might not be enough. It's a mass of yang energy that could burn one to death if consumed without special measures."

I spoke with a small sigh.

Even with such an elixir, I didn't think what was afflicting my body would simply disappear.

"My current condition isn't an ordinary blocked meridian case, it seems to be connected to an Outer God."

And not just any Outer God, but one depicted as an Outer God in pop culture. A being from the Cthulhu Mythos, famous for driving people mad just by seeing or describing its form.

Even Azazel, who was connected to a Great Old One, nearly fell into madness unable to use her power, so we'd need to use every possible means to defeat this.

"...This girl will burn herself to achieve victory for Master's well-being."

Bi Wol's eyes burned with fighting spirit more than ever before. She clenched both fists as she declared her determination.

"......"

Bi Wol was like a daughter created by Seolhwa and me. I pondered these words countless times as I boarded the ship.

Originally I had wavered thinking she was dead, but perhaps there was still hope.

* * *

When Bing Yeon returned to his sect, Ice Dragon Flower Banquet, many people showed joy at his arrival.

"It's Lord Bing Yeon...!"

"Lord Bing Yeon! How long has it been since you've returned!"

Children missing limbs, those using canes due to blindness, those with faces scarred by burns - they followed him like children following a parent.

All were children rejected from somewhere. They had histories of being used as test subjects by the Heavenly Demon Cult to create martial artists, or losing parents to accidents or attacks.

"It's Sister Bi Wol!"

"But who are those sisters beside her...?"

Most of them had built friendships with Bi Wol. Though they had all died in the original work, in this world Bing Yeon had saved them by risking his life.

While ordinary people might show pity or disgust at their wretched and grotesque appearances,

Bing Yeon was different.

"They are your new family. Go ahead and greet them."

Instead, he smiled while distributing sweet candies bought from the Western Regions to the children.

"You gathered new disciples while in the Western Regions."

"Indeed, as the Dragon Phoenix Branch Meeting approaches."

Bi Wol linked arms with Bing Yeon, showing off her presence. After defeating the Heart Demon, she had no hesitation displaying affection in front of others.

And then,

"Greetings! I am Verdandi, a hero from the Western Continent!"

One person bowed deeply with admiration in her voice watching Bing Yeon, while another barely nodded stiffly with a cold smile.

"...Hello. I am Azazel, Saint of Mercy."

Thus Verdandi and Azazel exchanged awkward greetings with Bing Yeon's disciples.

"Wow...! Her hair is golden!"

"That sister has strange black masses attached to her back! They're wiggling!"

The children showed curiosity at seeing people with different hair and eye colors for the first time. Seeing their innocence, Azazel could only press her lips tightly together.

"As expected, our Master is truly a good person!"

"I don't appear to be such a good person though."

Verdandi exclaimed loudly at the scene, while Azazel cast doubtful glances at Bing Yeon upon hearing those words.

Fortunately, Bing Yeon had gone inside to rest his overworked body, and Bi Wol had followed him, so they didn't hear this conversation.

"Why would you think that!"

"The background is too suspicious. In the East, isn't a relationship between master and disciple considered as bad as violating moral principles?"

If Bi Wol had heard such words, she would have struck down Azazel without question.

Originally, following the principle that sovereign, teacher and father are one body, the gratitude owed to one's ruler, teacher, and parents was considered equal.

In the East, there was a deeply rooted culture that they should be treated with the same attitude.

So much so that it could be proven by the term "deceiving teacher and destroying ancestors" in the martial arts world, where deceiving or insulting one's sect master was considered the greatest crime by all sects.

"He's a master who has designs on his disciple's future."

"Well, it would be strange for someone with that face to not have rumors about women!"

It wasn't for nothing that Bing Yeon had tried not to accept Bi Wol's feelings despite knowing them.

If rumors spread about a master and disciple being in love, they could be stoned in the marketplace, and the sect he had built could be destroyed.

"Junior Azazel, are you still worried about the future you saw then?"

"Yes, of course."

Azazel swallowed her continuing anxiety. Not only the future that pierced through her own future predictions, but there were moments when even looking could endanger one's life.

"Then why not stop being disciples!"

Hearing Azazel's words, Verdandi thought and offered a solution. It was actually possible to end the master-disciple relationship to marry.

Sometimes Verdandi showed cleverness born from innocence like this. As if resembling aspects of her creator, Yu Seolhwa.

"Don't trust the future too much! How can you just believe what you see without any evidence!"

Having nearly killed her own mother believing only in the main god's oracle, Verdandi hoped Azazel wouldn't judge Bing Yeon based solely on the future.

Honestly speaking, wouldn't it be fine even if there was a future where she attacked Bing Yeon wearing a blindfold after becoming an adult?

"...Then, what should I believe?"

Azazel frowned seeing Verdandi's bright smile. Their personalities were so incompatible it could be called human chemistry.

To the point where it wasn't even a matter of good and evil.

"The main god, the man I had a crush on, my family - they all abandoned me. The wounds inflicted by people still ache, so what are you saying I should believe in?"

Azazel spoke candidly about her experiences. This was also why she couldn't trust Bing Yeon immediately.

But, completely opposite to that,

"Believe in Master!"

Thinking of Bing Yeon who had saved them with his prophetic abilities, Verdandi thrust out her chest.

An ordinary person, even knowing the future, would only act for their own benefit.

Even in a world from his own novels, there was no need to go around saving people out of responsibility.

Rather, he could have lived in luxury knowing this.

Bing Yeon was already living on borrowed time. No one would criticize him for living only for himself.

"Our Master is an amazing person!"

Having vaguely noticed this fact, Verdandi raised the corners of her mouth imagining what was to come.

"What convenient words you speak."

Beside her, Azazel sighed.

* * *

"Now I will tell you your weaknesses."

I stood before my disciples holding a small wine jar. The wine inside was bamboo leaf liquor, a representative wine that often appears in mass-market martial arts novels.

Actually considering the distillation process, it had to be expensive wine, so I had spent quite a sum to procure it.

"...Why have you brought bamboo leaf liquor?"

"To show the ultimate meaning of flow, Bi Wol."

What I was about to demonstrate to these children was drunken fist style.

Though originally created for movies, there was a Beggar Sect leader in my novel who used it as his main technique.

Also, with the possibility that Seolhwa might be alive, I couldn't endure without drinking.

"Bi Wol, in your case, your moves will be read. Hide your killing intent and make yourself unpredictable."

I pointed to each person while reciting their weaknesses.

Bi Wol was unskilled at hiding her killing intent and too focused on principles, showing weakness even in sword debates.

"Verdandi, your movements are too big. You have too many unnecessary movements when using your sword."

In Verdandi's case, though I hadn't set any outstanding weaknesses, she had gaps that allowed me to subdue her.

"Azazel lacks practical experience and hesitates to attack people's vital points."

Finally, I advised Azazel and brought the wine jar to my lips. As the hot sensation flowed down my throat, a subtle intoxication began spreading through my body.

"I sing and the moon wanders, I dance and shadows scatter in chaos."

The meaning was that when I sing the moon lingers, when I dance the shadows scatter chaotically.

I recited verses from a poem I liked. It was Li Bai's "Drinking Alone Under the Moon," written about drinking alone under moonlight just like now.

"Come, try to take this wine jar from me. If you succeed, it's your victory."

"...Master?"

Seeing my staggering steps and unfocused eyes, Bi Wol licked her lips.