Chapter 1538: It Will Be Okay (Part 3)

A small pebble swiftly soared through the air and landed on the flowing stream.

Plop.

The stone quickly sank deep into the water, indistinguishable from the ones already submerged. Finding it again would be nearly impossible.

"Damn it..."

Muttering a curse, Jo Gol picked up another stone and threw it. Another freely soaring stone submerged, disappearing into the depths.

"What did Sasuk say?"

"Do whatever you want."

"Sasuk?"

"That's right."

Tang Soso looked at Jo Gol as if surprised. Did the words "do whatever you want" really come from Baek Cheon's mouth?

'Baek Cheon Sasuk?'

It was hard to believe. In such a situation, Tang Soso, who knew Baek Cheon as an incontrovertible nagger, expected him to forcibly reconcile them, grabbing them by the collar or beating them up if necessary...

Tang Soso glanced at Jo Gol.

It was an unbelievable situation, but there was no way not to believe it. If asked whether Jo Gol was a trustworthy person, she would definitely say no. But even if asked if he was a liar, the answer would be the same.

In fact, Tang Soso looked at Jo Gol not because she doubted what he had said. It was because of Jo Gol's expression when delivering the message.

"What's wrong, Sahyung?"

"...What?"

"Your expression doesn't look good."

"With this situation, do you expect me to have a good expression?"

"It seems like it's not just because of that."

At the penetrating words, Jo Gol tightly sealed his lips.

- What will you do without me?

He couldn't give any answer.

He literally couldn't open his mouth. All he could do was keep his mouth shut, look at Baek Cheon, and then turn his body away from the cool breeze that rushed in.

'Damn it.'

What could he do when faced with something he never imagined? Even if he asked, there wouldn't be an answer.

Originally, it wasn't Jo Gol's role. The role of contemplating, preparing for, and finding new paths for what might happen was for Chung Myung, Baek Cheon, or Yoon Jong, right?

All Jo Gol had to was fight diligently according to their judgments. But why now, all of a sudden, did he hear such words?

"Sahyung."

At the voice, Jo Gol looked back at Tang Soso. She stared at him with a cold expression.

For a moment, Jo Gol felt the impulse to confide in Tang Soso all his worries.

But...

"What's the matter?"

Jo Gol quickly threw another pebble in apparent annoyance.

Plop.

The pebble quickly disappeared beneath the surface.

"It's just because the war is approaching, everyone is getting sensitive."

"What nonsensical..."

"Why? Even those guys are human. Facing a war where people may die in droves, would they be comfortable inside?"

"...That's true, but."

Tang Soso mumbled as if lost in thought. Jo Gol changed the subject.

"Aren't you supposed to be busy?"

"What?"

Their eyes met.

"You don't have the luxury to leisurely chat with some idle guy who has nothing to do. I heard you're extremely busy, right?"

"..."

"Focus on what you're supposed to do. Or..."

Feeling that he had deviated a bit, Jo Gol added a remark he wouldn't usually make.

"This is just like your dream, isn't it?"

Jo Gol knew.

It may have seemed like something that started impulsively, but in fact, Tang Soso had been thinking and pondering about the medical unit and the Tang family's development for a long time.

Everything she had seen, heard, felt, and experienced was fully reflected in what she was doing now.

Sometimes, the most important thing in a person's life happens in the early years.

If she missed this opportunity, Tang Soso's dream would never come true. If they won without the medical unit, everyone would underestimate its necessity, and if they lost, there would be no chance again.

Tang Soso also knew this fact very well. A sigh escaped her lips.

No matter how much you ponder, groan, and hesitate, the water flowed indifferently. It was like the impending war approaching at this very moment. If only it could stop for a moment. Just for a moment.

"Instead of worrying about this, focus on the medical unit."

"Sahyung!"

Jo Gol threw a handful of gravel.

"You know. Trying to change it now won't make a difference. They're the three most stubborn and nastiest people in Mount Hua. I don't know why they're like this, but let's leave them alone for now. Things will change or improve after some time. No, it will be better than now."

Tang Soso fell silent. However, Jo Gol could understand the hidden meaning in her silence.

Was there time to leave them alone?

Well, who knew about that?

"So, focus on your work. Don't let this ruin what you've been doing."

Tang Soso stared at the streamside where Jo Gol had been throwing stones.

Jo Gol's words were right. There was no use fretting over problems that wouldn't be solved. It was better to do something productive with that time.

"Alright, I understand."

She nodded weakly. Then, as if to convey that she would follow Jo Gol's advice, she turned away.

"However, Sahyung."

"Yeah?"

With her back turned, Tang Soso spoke.

"You mentioned that what I'm doing now is my dream, right?"

"...."

"It's a true statement. However... the reason this is my dream is that by doing this, people in Mount Hua won't die."

Jo Gol's fingertips trembled at those words.

"...That was unnecessary. Forget it."

Tang Soso walked away.

Jo Gol, who had opened his mouth as if to say something, quickly sealed his lips. Then, he weakly dropped his gaze into the flowing water.

It was futile.

How many times had he already confirmed it?

With Tang Soso's or the Tang family's power, there was no way to heal Baek Cheon. Tang Soso had likely thought about possible solutions with a hundred times more intensity than Jo Gol.

One should not reopen the wounds of such a person. Tang Soso probably considered all of this as a result of her own incompetence.

"Ha...."

Watching the flowing stream that sparkled under the abundant sunlight, Jo Gol lay down there. The sky, completely blue without a single cloud, filled his vision.

"It's disgustingly blue."

As if disliking it, he closed his eyes tightly.

* * *

That day, late at night.

Paaat!

Chung Myung's sword pierced through the rock in front of him in a single stroke.

Kaak!

As the embedded sword slightly twisted, a large rock shook shortly and quickly.

"Kuk!"

Kwag!

The rock pierced by the sword burst out with a loud noise. Inside the cracked rock, there were densely packed plum-shaped holes.

Staring at the interior with sharp eyes, Chung Myung opened his mouth.

"...Fuck."

It was a voice that seemed to growl.

Not enough.

If it had been a proper sword technique, the rock wouldn't have burst. Efficient sword energy could have left the outer layer intact while destroying only the inside.

But in the end, the rock broke.

Chung Myung, who had confirmed a few distorted shapes among the hundreds of plum-shaped imprints filling the inside of the cracked rock, wiped the sweat flowing down his face roughly.

"Hoo...."

He took a long breath. It was to calm his stuffy insides, but his confused mind didn't settle easily. Instead, the restless anxiety he had suppressed surged up his legs.

'Was it this far?'

It seemed as if he could see the back of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint in the distance.

Strong, arrogant, and unaffected by the world.

That was Chung Myung's past, and he had already stepped on that path once. It seemed tangible, but he couldn't seem to grasp it.

Of course, he knew it in his head.

Climbing a mountain once does not make the process any easier a second time. Moreover, climbing a path that took decades to climb previously in just a few years is impossible.

However, despite knowing it...

Kwaak.

Chung Myung's sword once again pierced into the nearby rock. The red aura clinging to the sword twisted and coiled around, soon covering his wrist.

Kwa-gwang!

However, the result was not much different this time. In fact, the rock exploded even more than the previous one. Chung Myung bit his lower lip, feeling restless.

Of course, he didn't necessarily need to become stronger now to solve the scattered problems around him. He had gained more than he had in the past, and he had become more adept than before.

Clinging to trivial things like personal strength was an attitude that ignored everything he had achieved since waking up here.

But, even though he knew all this, he couldn't stop.

The moment he exerted strength into his hand holding the sword once again.

"The sword is heavy."

Suddenly, a voice floated, and Chung Myung's gaze turned to the side.

A familiar shadow broke through the darkness and approached him.

Chung Myung released the aura wrapped around the sword and let out a sigh. Then, he asked coldly.

"Why?"

Normally, he might have joked, saying when did this place become a neighborhood hangout. But with numerous responses to choose from, Chung Myung only uttered a cold voice.

Anyone would be taken aback by such a response. However, the approaching figure did not seem to care about Chung Myung's unusual reaction. Or, precisely, it couldn't be determined whether she cared or not.

Yoo Iseol's expression was always like that.

Approaching at a neither fast nor slow pace, she stopped right in front of Chung Myung. They faced each other in silence for a moment.

Unable to overcome the silence and raise his head first, Chung Myung was the one who gave up first.

"Why are you here, Sago? Any trouble? Usually, you..."

But Chung Myung had to stop his words.

Yoo Iseol's gaze ignored his words and dropped down.

Her gaze stopped around Chung Myung's ankles. The white robe that wrapped around his ankles was now dyed in a bright red color. Perhaps a fragment of the rock had grazed his ankle.

Normally, it was a wound that Chung Myung would never have taken. But today, he didn't even realize he had been injured. It was evidence of how confused his mind was.

Chung Myung spoke with bitterness...

Kong!

"Ouch!"

Chung Myung, who opened his eyes wide, grabbed his head and stepped back.

In no time, Yoo Iseol had her sheathed sword in her hand.

"Why did you suddenly hit me?"

Kong!

But Yoo Iseol's sword struck Chung Myung's head again without hesitation.

Kong! Kong! Kong!

Dodging with his head wrapped, Chung Myung shouted in protest.

"No, did this Sago go crazy? Why are you like this!"

As Chung Myung yelled out, Yoo Iseol opened her mouth with an indifferent expression.

"Stupid."

"...Huh?"

"Clumsy."

"No. Why are you suddenly picking a fight..."

"Move your leg here."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung sneakily looked down at his leg. There was quite a bit of blood, but it was no different from a scratch.

"...This is fine, it's nothing."

"Out."

"What..."

Sshruk.

Yoo Iseol's sword was pulled out with a hissing sound.

Chung Myung awkwardly extended his leg, showing the wounded area to her.

...To be honest, he was scared of Yoo Iseol too.