Chapter 1539: It Will Be Okay (Part 4)

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. It is practically impossible to excel in every field.

Of course, there are individuals who surpass the limits of ordinary people and shine in various areas. The world calls them "geniuses," but upon closer inspection, even geniuses have weaknesses and limitations.

There is no need to painfully lay out this common knowledge. But...to this extent...

A scream that couldn't be contained any longer erupted from Chung Myung's mouth.

"Kkkeuug!"

"..."

"Euhk!"

Chung Myung fiercely grasped the grass on the ground, crushing it. His bloodshot eyes glared at the one holding onto his ankle.

In those sharp pupils were hatred, resentment, and deep-rooted questions.

Why? Why on earth?

"Umm...."

Pwook!

"Kkyuuk!"

As he released the crushed grass, Chung Myung's trembling hand unfolded. In his dimmed vision from the pain, Yoo Iseol was there. She ruthlessly stabbed a long needle into the slightly opened wound.

Perfect.

The needle was infused with energy, pushing in to thoroughly eliminate contamination, had even a strand of Chung Myung's hair threaded through it.

There was no deviation whatsoever from what Tang Soso taught.

However...

Pwook!

"Aaaah!"

Chung Myung cursed.

"No! Why are you stabbing right next to it when you can clearly see! Why!"

Black hair was stitched haphazardly over Chung Myung's wound. Even for a six-year-old, it was so messy that it would be embarrassing if it were done as a joke.

"I'll do it instead! Move aside!"

"...I can do it."

"No, I'll do it! Me!"

"It is possible form me to do."

What on earth is possible! The wounds aren't from the rock fragment, but from the needle piercing through! I might faint! What kind of possibility is this!

'I'm going crazy.'

Why was it that a person who could pierce through a rock with a sword in hand was struggling so much when holding just a needle?

Hey, hey! Look at my hands shaking. Look at that...!

Pwook!

"Kkkeuk..."

Chung Myung's eyes rolled back white.

A long period of agony passed.

Exhausted, Chung Myung silently looked down at his own leg.

On the ankle, tightly wrapped in white bandages, vivid red veins flowed.

Was that blood really coming from the wound caused by the rock?

Chung Myung's venomous gaze turned towards Yoo Iseol.

Teeth gritted, stomach churning, but he couldn't say anything. There was a hint of pride that could be detected in his Sago's ever-indifferent face.

Finally, a sigh of resignation flowed instead of irritation.

And in reality, if one counted the needle pricks, Yoo Iseol's fingertips must have been stabbed more than Chung Myung's ankle. They looked swollen...

He let out a groan.

"Even if I get it, I don't get it. Is stitching that difficult?"

Chung Myung might not be skilled at stitching, but honestly, he wasn't this bad. While some may find stitching challenging, when it came to precision, Yoo Iseol had capabilities far beyond the average person would. Yet still.

Unexpectedly, Yoo Iseol's response to that question flowed from her lips.

"I remember."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung, who was holding his throbbing ankle, raised his head to look at Yoo Iseol. Still with a face that was hard to read, Yoo Iseol calmly elaborated.

"A long time ago."

Chung Myung, who didn't immediately understand, frowned slightly.

What...?

But soon, his eyes widened.

"Ah..."

It isn't that difficult to master a sword. You just need to follow the predetermined path of the sword skillfully.

However, creating sword techniques is an entirely different matter.

It is not an easy task, and if it is about creating a new sword technique within a limited time frame, one might have to risk their life.

Because the trajectory of a sword is not necessarily as predicted.

At the moment when the flow of internal energy and the path of the sword create dissonance, the weapon becomes a threat to its wielder in the blink of an eye. Many who enter the secret chambers with the intention of creating a new martial art often never see the light again, all due to such reasons.

And Chung Myung knew this. He was someone who had attempted such an absurd feat. Someone who hadn't even reached the level of creating a new technique, and yet dared to create a sword technique that far surpassed his abilities.

He noticed the swollen tip of Yoo Iseol's finger. Even now, it seemed like she was vaguely recalling something.

There could not possibly be a doctor in the deep mountains who could treat the father who got injured while creating a martial art.

If it was a wound from a sword, generally, it would have been self-inflicted. But what about Yoo Iseol's father?

Moreover, wounds that one couldn't stitch themselves ultimately needed someone else to stitch them. Probably...

'....Crazy guy.'

He felt sick to the stomach.

Yoo Iseol's father must not have had any other choice. Chung Myung couldn't understand it, but he couldn't deny it either.

But still...

Chung Myung's gaze turned towards Yoo Iseol.

He recalled again. Even during all this training, Yoo Iseol never made a crying sound or showed any signs of resistance.

While caught up in the rushing memories of the past, the needle would have pricked her hands without knowing where to go. But even in the midst of that, Yoo Iseol silently fulfilled her part. And even though it might be a mess, she managed to treat someone.

How could that be possible? Why go to such lengths?

"...Isn't it unnecessary?"

A genuine question flowed from Chung Myung's mouth.

Uncomprehensible for others, but for Yoo Iseol, it was a question she could understand.

"Do you really need to do this when you're already so skilled? There's no reason to go this far, is there?"

"..."

"Or is it just because you were told to?"

Yoo Iseol, who had been silently looking at Chung Myung, spoke up.

"Because I have to."

There was a lot contained in those words.

It was different from saying, 'I do it because I was told.' It was exactly as she said: Yoo Iseol had to do it.

Even though Tang Soso emphasized the necessity, it wasn't easy for those accustomed to wielding swords their entire lives to master the art of stitching. It didn't mean it was a difficult task; it meant it was something they didn't want to do.

Especially in a situation where war is imminent, it was likely that most would think it was better to spend time on something they were familiar with, something they were good at, rather than being occupied with something difficult and unfamiliar.

Even the Sichuan Tang Family, who advocated for it, wouldn't be any different from others.

That's why Baek Cheon took the lead. But in reality, Baek Cheon wasn't enough. Baek Cheon was commonly referred to as a 'genius.' He excelled in everything. He didn't face the difficulties others did.

However, Yoo Iseol was different.

Yoo Iseol, who was clearly devoid of any talent in this field even evident to the casual observer, was engrossed in stitching with her fingers swollen. Just seeing that image alone could effectively quell the dissatisfaction of others.

Yoo Iseol gazed silently at Chung Myung and then spoke.

"And because I can't."

"Huh? What do you mean..."

"If I don't say I can't."

Chung Myung, who was momentarily dumbfounded, slowly nodded.

It was a correct statement. If you don't admit that it is difficult, unfamiliar, and not easily familiarized, you will never be able to do it.

This was probably her own battle.

A small and insignificant struggle that only she, who wouldn't be recognized by anyone, could resolve.

A sigh escaped from Chung Myung's mouth.

'She's truly strong.'

Yoo Iseol was a strong person.

Everyone in Mount Hua would acknowledge this. Anyone who had challenged her or fought alongside her.

The peculiar thing was that Yoo Iseol carried wounds deeper than anyone else.

At that moment, Yoo Iseol grumbled in a blunt voice.

"Stupid."

"...Huh?"

"Like a fool."

"...No, didn't it all end just now? Why are you picking a fight again?"

"There's something I have to do."

Chung Myung tilted his head.

"Huh?"

"Definitely, somehow."

What was the story? Was she talking about herself?

"Even if I get hurt, even if someone else gets hurt, I have to do something about it. Because otherwise, it won't work. Because 'in the end,' that is the best."

"Sago."

Yoo Iseol's gaze drifted to the distant sky.

"My father."

For a moment, Chung Myung's fingertips twitched.

A deep silence settled between the two. Somewhere, the sound of a cricket singing like a quiet song could be heard.

Only after a long time did Chung Myung speak.

"What did you think?"

"What?"

"About your father."

There was no change in Yoo Iseol's expression. Even that cautious question from Chung Myung was still.

"Angry."

"...."

"Sad, pitiful, unpleasant, but I wanted to see him."

Quietly, a recollection of that time poured out.

Chung Myung nodded quietly. Yeah, it must have been like that. How could you explain such complicated emotions in any way?

To young Yoo Iseol, her father would have been everything. But all of that had ruined her. If Hyun Jong hadn't saved her, what would Yoo Iseol's life have been like?

Hyun Jong saved what her father had ruined.

To Chung Myung, Yoo Iseol felt like a thorn stuck in his fingers. Even if he forgot and chatted, it would sting and throb from time to time.

"Now..."

Yoo Iseol's gaze turned towards somewhere in the east. Perhaps her father was buried there.

"Pity. Just that."

"...."

Chung Myung was lost in thought. And he asked himself.

What was the right thing for Yoo Iseol's father to do?

He couldn't understand Yoo Iseol's father, but he couldn't deny his way of life. If he were in the same situation, he would probably practice and proclaim that way of life without any regrets.

As Yoo Iseol said, there was no choice. There was no other way. Even if it meant making sacrifices.

When his thoughts reached that point, a sense of nausea overwhelmed him.

Thinking of Yoo Iseol's father, Chung Myung felt a kind of discomfort that might be self-directed. The disgust he felt for not being able to deny it even though he knew it was wrong, and for pitying him even though he felt it was terrible.

"You are different."

Yoo Iseol suddenly opened her mouth.

Chung Myung looked at her blankly. She looked at him as if she knew what Chung Myung was thinking.

"No. You will be different."

"Sago?"

"Because I'm your Sago."

At that moment, Chung Myung saw it. Yoo Iseol's lips, firmly closed, were forming a faint line.

That truly rare smile was perhaps drawn to reassure Chung Myung.

Strong.

In Chung Myung's eyes, Yoo Iseol was stronger than anyone else in the world. Uncomparable to himself, who only pretended to be strong on the outside.

But because of that, a deep question arose.

Could that really be?

Was she stronger because of everything she went through?

No, it couldn't be.

Sometimes wounds can make a person strong, but continuous and fatal wounds could break a person beyond repair. No one knew that better than Chung Myung.

Perhaps Yoo Iseol was more desperate now than ever?

Because she had to. Right. Because of what she said...

When if that strength was no longer needed? No, when she couldn't protect what she tried to protect with that strength... What would happen to Yoo Iseol?

Could she still stand in front of Chung Myung with the same face when her world shattered once again?

"Sago, you..."

It was that moment.

"Here you are. I've been looking for you for a long time."

Chung Myung turned his head at the sudden voice.

There was the figure of Namgung Dowi approaching from this side.

"They're looking for you, Chief."

Chung Myung had a hunch.

From the moment he saw Namgung Dowi's stern expression... No, maybe even before that. When he felt that the situation was more peaceful than he thought.

Namgung Dowi's gentle voice penetrated his ears.

"The Evil Tyrant Alliance... has moved."

Icy blood sprayed from his heart and surged throughout his body.