Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The twenty-third life had begun.

I lay in the barn, staring blankly at the ceiling. Rage and despair twisted together, dominating my mind, and more than anything, I couldn't forgive my own powerlessness. That crushing emotion bore down on my body and soul.

If only I'd chosen a little faster!

If I had, I wouldn't have had to witness my comrades' deaths.

"Ugh... Ahhh..."

Self-recrimination brought tears seeping from the corners of my eyes, trickling down to my ears. It was a pathetic sight that anyone else would mock, but I couldn't move. Overwhelmed by uncontrollable emotions, I was incapable of anything.

I wanted to forget.

Suddenly, alcohol surfaced in my mind as a way to escape the oppressive weight pressing down on my thoughts. Women or drugs might work too, but right now, I craved booze like a madman. Without a second thought, I bolted out toward the nearest village.

I ran and ran. This time, I didn't even grab the Heavenly Dark Secret Book—just sprinted blindly. Lying there would drive me insane, so I kept going. Sure enough, my internal energy had carried over again; even after three days and nights of nonstop running, my stamina held strong.

"Booze... I want to hole up somewhere with tons of alcohol and just drink."

The place I reached after running for a good while was Guanzhong. And in Guanzhong, the biggest brothel.

Spring Landscape Pavilion

I stared blankly at the sign before stepping inside. A waiter working there immediately yelled irritably.

"What the hell? We just opened for morning cleaning, and here's some filthy beggar kid..."

"Booze... Gimme booze!"

I said to the waiter. He gawked at me in disbelief, then grabbed my collar to drag me out.

"Damn it! Talk about bad luck..."

Whoosh

"Urk."

I instantly unleashed the Thunder God Style's Capturing Hand, hurling the waiter backward. I threw him so cleanly that he rolled across the floor a few times before realizing what hit him. Ignoring him, I found the Spring Landscape Pavilion's alcohol storage and barged in.

There it was.

'Drink! Drink and forget it all!'

Spotting the stacked jars, I grabbed one—bigger than my own body—and tilted it back, gulping it down without hesitation. It was pretty strong stuff; a sharp buzz hit me.

Damn it! But I'm not getting drunk!

As the alcohol's warmth rose, my internal energy automatically fought it off, neutralizing it. I knew this happened because my energy reserves were so vast. I tried consciously lowering my resistance by adjusting my meridians, but with so much power, my detoxification was too efficient. Ordinary booze couldn't faze me without effort. To fix it properly, I'd need to study the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and stimulate the points for intoxication—but that sounded like too much hassle.

"Damn... Whatever."

If I just keep chugging like a maniac, something's gotta give!!

For no good reason, I kept pouring jar after jar into my gut.

Gulp gulp

"Ugh... Uwaa... He's insane!!"

The waiter who'd followed me freaked out and tried yanking me away, but I wasn't about to let some punk like him budge me. I'd take at least a sect leader from the Nine Great Schools to make me pretend to struggle. Tears and snot streaming down my face, I turned to him.

"I'll pay for the booze later, so let me drink!!"

"Eek."

I'd infused a bit of energy into my shout, making the waiter tremble and back off. By then, I'd emptied one jar but felt zero buzz—like I'd just chugged water. I immediately expelled the excess moisture from my body and dove back into the booze frenzy.

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

As I drank, the waiter returned with a gang. The brothel owner, with them, excitedly barked.

"Drag that kid out!! He's gonna drink us dry."

"Looks like a martial artist kid. We picked the wrong one."

"Little shit's already a booze hound and causing trouble!"

These thugs threatening to break my limbs were clearly local unorthodox fighters from Guanzhong. But they were nobodies with laughable skills. I didn't even turn around, just kept drinking as the gang charged with yells.

"Waaah."

Thud crash

"Uwaaak."

"Kyeak."

In an instant, over a dozen grown men flew back from my Taiji Fist strikes. They were so weak I didn't even consider using Thunder God Style techniques. Every one hit vital points precisely, ensuring they'd be out cold for a while.

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

I kept pounding the booze. And I kept crying.

'Damn it... I can't forget.'

The some of them dying for me wouldn't fade from my mind. In my first life as an escort warrior, blacking out from binging would at least cut off the memories, but now even that was out of my control? Staying clear-headed just made it more suffocating and miserable, deepening my depression.

Gulp gulp

In the end, I emptied seven jars. The owner, trembling behind me, muttered.

"Eek... That's not human capacity..."

But by the pavilion's total stock, thirty jars remained. With tormented eyes, I grabbed the next one and started pouring it down, as the owner fled outside yelling.

"Uwaaa!! Geuk-ho! Han's Geuk-ho shown up yet?!"

I kept drinking.

I wanted to forget.

Why wouldn't it fade when I wanted it gone so badly?

I just wanted to drown face-first in a chamber pot and die, but even death wasn't a solution.

It hurt too much. I wished the booze would just fix this pain.

After emptying six more jars, I sensed a presence behind me. It held a spear at an angle and spoke.

"Hey, kid! Tasty stuff, huh?"

I knew the voice's owner. But I wasn't in the mood, so without turning, I snapped.

"Do you drink booze 'cause it's tasty??"

"Hah?"

He tilted his head in confusion, then burst out laughing.

"Pahaha. What a lunatic! Y'know, I've walked the Path of Alcohol for over ten years, but even at your age, I never thought like that. You look young—what's got you so beat down?"

"...-"

"Hey, when someone's talking to you, answer up. Am I stopping you from drinking? Least you can do is reply."

Irritated, I shot back.

"Pretending to be a suave playboy, you lightweight punk."

"What the—feisty little shit."

Grumbling, he continued.

"Kid. Name's Geuk-ho. I work here. What's yours? Gotta know to put it on your tab or whatever."

Right.

The guy lounging behind me with his spear was Geuk-ho. Currently the Spring Landscape Pavilion's top host and bodyguard, but really a successor to the Thunder God Style, connected to Lee Gwang. He knew one of its top movement arts, Soul Extinguishing Step, and could wield Heavenly Light too. Through my reincarnations, I'd learned all about Geuk-ho's background—he was no mere brothel gigolo.

But so what?

What good was Geuk-ho being impressive at healing my heart now?

That thought made me snap even harder.

"Fuck off! Name's Baek Woong—either drink with me or get lost."

"Hoo... Baek Woong... Simple name, huh?"

Geuk-ho scratched his chin, then sauntered over and plopped down beside me.

Plop

I turned to him; he grinned.

"Fine, big bro'll drink with ya."

"...-"

"Fun fact: They call me Guanzhong's top drunkard. Wonder if you can keep up, heh heh."

Gulp gulp

Geuk-ho laughed uproariously, but I ignored him and drank. No time for this host-punk now. I was barely holding my mind together. All I wanted was to drown in booze until the memories snapped.

Gulp gulp

"Graaah, ain't the Spring Landscape Pavilion's brew killer? Fruit wine from local farmers—hits you all at once."

Gulp gulp

"Graaah... Feels good."

Geuk-ho sat with me, chugging whole jars. The owner watching from behind fidgeted anxiously.

"Geuk-ho, what the hell?!"

"Can't you see? Having a blowout."

"No... We gotta kick that kid out..."

"Heh heh. I'll cover my tab, so just watch, old man."

"Ugh."

Geuk-ho smirked and kept drinking. I poured and poured into my gut for a while, then eyed him anew.

'This guy's got stamina too.'

Sure, Geuk-ho was at the peak realm with deep energy, but still young—not quite top-tier in the Central Plains. He was using a trick to expel alcohol, but everyone had limits. It was weird he'd match my insane pace.

Gulp gulp!

Gulp gulp

Geuk-ho and I drank in silence for a stretch. Soon thirty jars were gone, leaving just three. As I reached for one, Geuk-ho suddenly asked.

"Baek Woong, right? You not feel bad for that booze?"

I froze at the unexpected words. He went on.

"Lotsa assholes in Guanzhong make names after drinking—but even they love their booze. They know what it is, savor the taste, treat it right. Even the whales who love it more than family have affection and principles. But you, Baek Woong—you even know what that stuff tastes like?"

"...-"

Geuk-ho's out-of-nowhere words snapped me clear-headed. Already sharp, a sudden dose of common sense kicked my reason into gear. Self-loathing hit for hearing this from him, making me hesitate.

"...So what if I don't? You drink to get drunk."

"Yeah, true. But you're desecrating it."

"Desecrating booze?"

Gulp gulp

Geuk-ho matched a nearby jar, chugged it, and wiped his mouth.

"Listen up, punk—Booze is for feeling good. Anticipation before, buzz during, world's perfect when smashed... All without bothering folks. That's what this place is for."

Geuk-ho propped his chin on his knee, glaring.

"But fuck, chugging with a deathmask and shit-face? That's desecrating booze, right? Don't the folks who made it deserve better?"

"...-"

"Huh? Stick to your own Path of Alcohol with conviction—that's the point."

I gaped, dumbfounded.

"Lo... Logical bullshit."

Sounded convicting, but really just beefing with my drinking face. Nothing like the sharp logic from Mang-ryang or Zhuge Shi—left me blank for a sec.

Bang

Geuk-ho suddenly emptied the last jars first. Then grinned.

"Hey, I just drained the pavilion's stock—what now? Hit another joint?"

"...-"

"Wanna bet instead? We can drink tons more."

"Bet?"

Geuk-ho cackled.

"Yeah, let's go big since we're at it. You and me—drain Guanzhong's booze together. Who drinks more."

Ridiculous.

My plan to numb the pain with alcohol vanished in absurdity.

"Why the hell would I?"

"Scared? Then don't—"

"I'm just tryna drink alone, mind your business..."

"You in or what? Kekeke."

I snorted in disbelief.

"I'll win."

Boom

Soon, the Spring Landscape owner and every booze-joint boss in Guanzhong's entertainment district hauled out barrels and jars outside. Passersby gathered in crowds, wondering what was up. Jars piled into the hundreds, surrounding me and Geuk-ho.

Geuk-ho bellowed with infused energy.

"Everyone—Guanzhong's top booze whale gets crowned here—!"

"What's going on?"

"This matchup's judge—the hope of Guanzhong's martial world, ghost-catcher himself! Azure Dragon Martial Hall Master, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang!"

Across from us, Lee Gwang stood arms crossed. Beside him, Jin So-cheong brought some hall students.

Lee Gwang glared at Geuk-ho.

"Geuk-ho. Can't handle the fallout from this stunt, you're excommunicated..."

"Heh heh. Whatever."

Lee Gwang stepped forward. Eyes on him, he glanced between us and yelled.

"Begin!"

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

"Whatever, screw it."

Right now, Lee Gwang, Geuk-ho—who cared? Just forget and drink. No brainpower for grudges against Lee Gwang. I kept dumping jars into my belly, over and over. Geuk-ho matched, filling his gut like a madman.

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

After twenty jars between us, onlookers screamed.

"Uwaaak."

"Is that human capacity?!"

"God of booze."

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

Watching Jin So-cheong gasped.

"They're insane..."

Lee Gwang calmly said.

"So-cheong. How much could you handle?"

"Uh... I don't like booze much..."

"...-"

Of course not.

Jin So-cheong loved booze as much as Geuk-ho. Drank like a champ too. I knew from past lives.

Past fifty jars. Geuk-ho suddenly paled mid-expel.

"Urrp."

Limits hit—even expelling, his energy couldn't keep up. Detox lagged. He looked seconds from puking.

'I win.'

No way he empties another now. But as I savored victory, Geuk-ho focused.

"Huuuup!!"

Suddenly enlightened, his energy surged a level. Crackling Thunder Spirit Qi flared strong. Watching Lee Gwang admired.

"You did it! Broke through the wall."

"...-"

I stared at Geuk-ho, stupefied.

'What? Broke into Thunder Spirit realm, blasted open meridians... from booze willpower??'

Had to respect his Path of Alcohol now. Seen everything in life, but realm-up from drinking? First time! Geuk-ho burned with resolve.

"...You're my Path of Alcohol's greatest rival, ultimate foe, Baek Woong."

"No, seriously... You're scaring me..."

"Hup."

I muttered wearily; he emptied a jar in one go. Belly protruding a bit, he expelled fast. Then declared.

"I never give up!"

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

Bar owners watching our duel collapsed here and there, dizzy. Couldn't believe humans could drink this much. Some eyed us warily—how to collect on this tab?

The limit crept close.

'Ugh... I'm buzzing... Actually getting drunk...'

I'd outpaced and outdrunk Geuk-ho. Even my mighty energy hit its wall. Near a hundred jars down, a fuzzy haze and head-spin finally hit. Expel now and I'd win, but it felt like losing.

Gulp gulp

Gulp gulp

Drunk.

A sharp thrill spread as intoxication flooded my body. The sensation I'd craved arrived, but my mind wouldn't simplify. Limbs heavy, eyelids drooping, booze stench filling nose and mouth, throat and tongue warming—body screaming I was smashed.

Right before passing out drunk, I heard Geuk-ho slur.

"I... I'm... fuck... Guanzhong's... best got it... Ugh!!"

No, you're not Guanzhong's best.

If you beat me, Geuk-ho, you're Central Plains number one...

I chuckled inwardly.

'Kekeke.'

What is this?

Life throws stuff like this? This is life too?

Plop

I collapsed forward, sinking into sleep.

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