The tiger that was once called a mountain god revealed its tyrannical nature and charged forward.
It seemed to know very well that its huge and strong body was a weapon in itself. It swung its front paws and twisted its body to devastate everything around it. Faced with this overwhelming attack, Baek Woo Jin couldn’t even think of counterattacking and had to retreat a great distance.
“Completely like a small dragon, really.”
Memories of fighting a crazed dragon, who had once become the Demon King’s right-hand, flashed through his mind.
That creature which was over dozens of meters in length had been in some ways an even more difficult opponent than the Demon King himself.
The tiger in front of him was much smaller in comparison, but since Baek Woo Jin was also much weaker now than he had been back then, it felt like a similar situation.
“Not too bad.”
Those huge attacks, which didn’t even allow him to approach, were incredibly powerful when facing multiple opponents, but they didn’t have the same effect in a one-on-one duel.
In fact, by simply expanding his dodging radius and using the space around him, Baek Woo Jin didn’t feel much pressure from the tiger’s attacks.
“This is a bit disappointing.”
Baek Woo Jin muttered.
“Even a smart spirit beast turns into a halfwit when it’s consumed by demonic energy, huh?”
As a spirit beast, it should have intelligence far superior to that of a human, yet the creature was fighting wildly as if it was merely venting the anger that had risen to its very core.
Grrrrr!
Perhaps Baek Woo Jin’s mocking words had hit a nerve because the low growl that followed was soon accompanied by a sudden change in the beast’s movements.
Instead of charging head-on, it began to close the distance between them slowly.
“Oh, did I say something wrong again?”
When Baek Woo Jin wore a sheepish expression, the creature who was now closer swung its paw at him.
Baek Woo Jin was surprised by the speed, which was completely different from the reckless thrashing the Tiger Calamity had shown before, and barely managed to dodge, only for a second and third attack to immediately follow.
“Yikes…!”
Though his words had landed him in trouble, Baek Woo Jin actually thought to himself that this was for the better.
Large-scale attacks were easier to avoid, but the downside was that they left no opening for him to approach or counterattack.
In the past, he could have attacked from a distance, but right now, he had no such means.
Moreover, Baek Woo Jin’s body was in utter chaos, as if a battlefield raged inside him.
The poison slowly spreading through his body and the internal energy clashing against it to slow its progress were locked in a fierce struggle.
There was nothing more fatal to him right now than dragging out time, so even though it was more difficult, this situation where he could at least counterattack was far better.
Whooosh! Whooosh!
The sound of the Tiger Calamity’s front paw slicing through the air with enough force to tear it apart echoed. It was constantly reminding him of the fate that awaited if he was hit.
Yet Baek Woo Jin did not retreat. Instead, he continued to dodge while barely avoiding the attacks. His movements were precise and close to the edge. That in itself was a skill.
The attacks were fast and ferocious, but limited by the physical constraints of a beast’s body, making them highly predictable. For some reason, the creature also didn’t undergo the transformations typically expected of demonic creatures.
Is it because it’s a spirit beast?
It was different from ordinary beasts, and this peculiarity might have arisen due to its ability to resist demonic energy to some degree.
Moreover, Baek Woo Jin had one decisive advantage that allowed him to face the creature.
It was thanks to the flawless defensive abilities of the Drunken Immortal Steps and Drunken Immortal Sword Technique he used.
The Drunken Immortal Steps and Drunken Immortal Sword Technique were not confined to rigid forms and had an element of unpredictability to them. This flexibility allowed one to adapt and respond to even the most unexpected attacks, so long as they remained calm and focused. It was this very quality that turned surprise strikes into manageable threats.
His sword moved in a fluid manner and deflected the beast’s straightforward attacks with minimal impact while twisting the remaining force away from himself.
Additionally, his erratic and drunken-like movements made it impossible for the opponent to predict his movements.
After blocking the relentless barrage of kicks, tail attacks, and sharp teeth that rained down on him like a torrential storm, Baek Woo Jin was drenched in sweat, but an uncontrollable smile remained on his lips.
“I guess I really am crazy.”
He narrowly deflected the onslaught with the slightest margin. At that moment, it was as if he was turning an incoming death into life.
Baek Woo Jin found immense exhilaration in that.
The thrill of protecting his life against something so desperate to end it filled him with satisfaction.
It was at that moment, as his sword frantically moved in every direction, that a subtle change began to emerge.
So profound, so pleasant.
The Plum Blossom Sword Art of the Mount Hua Sect, which was famed for its elegance and illusionary beauty, was said to make plum blossoms bloom from the blade at a certain level of mastery. The technique even recreated their fragrance to mesmerize the opponent.
When the Drunken Immortal Sword Technique, which was known for its delicate and mysterious sword techniques, reached a higher level, a rich aroma of alcohol began to follow wherever Baek Woo Jin swung his sword.
The scent that entered Baek Woo Jin’s nose invigorated him, while the scent that reached his opponent’s nostrils became a poison that dulled its fighting spirit.
In the heat of battle, even a small amount of alcohol was enough to bring on a drunken stupor.
– Grrr…!
The Tiger Calamity, which had been attacking without a moment’s pause, retreated for the first time.
Its white fur seemed to have taken on a faint reddish color, as if its skin underneath had begun to flush.
Before long, the area had become Baek Woo Jin’s domain. With every small movement he made, the scent of alcohol spread further around him.
“Hah, now Myeong Jin will never be able to beat me.”
Myeong Jin, who was extremely weak to alcohol, would get drunk just from catching a whiff of this scent. Even back then, Baek Woo Jin knew he was the worst possible opponent for him.
The Tiger Calamity who was now staggering backward glared at Baek Woo Jin with slightly unfocused eyes, then began to shake its head violently. It was repeating the typical behavior of a drunkard.
“Haha, look at this guy.”
Even a beast driven purely by instinct could get drunk?
Cough!
Suddenly, a fit of coughing came over him, and dark blood began to drip onto the ground. It was a warning sign from his body.
I need to finish this soon.
Now that the Tiger Calamity was showing signs of being drunk, this was the perfect opportunity. If he missed this chance, Baek Woo Jin would die of poisoning before the beast did.
Even after honing the blade to its limit, wearing down its durability, and enveloping it in sword energy, it barely left a scratch on the creature’s thick hide. How could he sever its throat through such impenetrable flesh?
A stab.
Not a slash, but a stab. He needed to focus all his strength on a single point and pierce through its hide before driving his blade straight to the heart.
Just as Baek Woo Jin lowered his stance and got ready to put his plan into action—
[Such a familiar scent…]
“Oh, shit.”
A voice, far from human, echoed in his mind rather than in his ears. This was the reason why he cursed all of a sudden.
The Tiger Calamity who was now wearing a hazy expression was staring straight at him.
“Huh, its eyes…?”
What he had to focus on were its eyes. The beast, whose eyes had been stained blood-red by demonic energy, now had its left eye restored to its original blue color.
[Who are you?]
The voice was both ominous and brimming with killing intent. Seeing that only one eye had returned to its original blue, it seemed the Tiger Calamity’s mind had partially come back.
But how is this possible?
There had never been a case where a human or beast tainted by demonic energy regained their original self. Once they were consumed, they were lost forever.
Then why, of all things, had this tiger’s mind returned?
[I sense the aura of an immortal in your movements. And this scent of alcohol… it is the same as the wine I drank from an immortal who once visited this place.]
“Uh…”
It seemed this had something to do with him.
[Even that gourd is a treasure. How strange… Immortals are not supposed to give or receive anything from those of the mortal realm.]
Hmph. Hmmm.
The sound of heavy snorting against his head made Baek Woo Jin feel as though his skull was pounding, and a headache set in.
“Stop snorting against my head.”
[Ah, sorry about that.]
“Haah…”
His hand pressed tightly against his throbbing temples as he looked at the creature.
“Have you regained your senses, or what?”
[Not completely. Perhaps it’s because of the familiar scent or the aura of an immortal. My mind, which had been sealed deep inside due to the demonic energy, has only been partially freed.]
“Is that even possible? From what I know, once you’re tainted by demonic energy, there’s no coming back.”
[I don’t know either. I can only speculate that the energy I’ve accumulated over centuries prevented me from fully merging with the demonic energy.]
“I see…”
A small feeling of disappointment crept into Bark Woo Jin. If there had been another reason, it could have been a clue to bringing back the people who had been consumed by demonic energy.
“You said your mind has partially awakened. Is there a way for it to be fully released?”
At Baek Woo Jin’s question, the Tiger Calamity shook its head wearily.
[The demonic energy has already invaded down to my very bones. Even this brief moment of clarity is close to a miracle.]
It was clear there was no way to save it without killing it.
“One of my subordinates must have come here under your control.”
[Ah, if you’re talking about the human I possessed with the tiger minion earlier today, he’s inside the cave. Don’t worry, he’s not dead.]
“I see…”
The frustration that had been weighing on Baek Woo Jin’s heart began to ease, and his face relaxed noticeably.
[Hey, do me a favor.]
The Tiger Calamity lifted its front paw and slammed it onto the ground, creating a sizable pit.
[Give me a drink.]
Though calling it a “drink” seemed like an understatement as the pit was quite large, it wasn’t a problem.
The Tiger Calamity stepped back, and Baek Woo Jin walked up to the pit and tilted his gourd. The liquor poured out in a steady stream until the pit was filled to the brim.
When Baek Woo Jin stepped back, the Tiger Calamity lunged forward, buried its snout in the pit, and began to drink the alcohol.
[Grroar! Grraah!]
“Hey! Stop blowing your snorts at my head!”
[Sorry, I was just too happy.]
The Tiger Calamity laughed playfully.
This thing is more annoying than I thought.
Baek Woo Jin found the tiger before him increasingly irritating.
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