Nothing is out of the question. (5)

With each step, a thunderous sound echoed.

No longer the graceful and silent swallow-like figure, Yu Iseol was now overtaken by an undeniable urgency.

‘Faster!’

Her normally expressionless face contorted with growing anxiety.

Thwack!

Accelerating, she swiftly sliced through the throat of an enemy, who was in front of her, and continued her sprint.

In her sword strikes, there was a resemblance to Chung Myung’s.

‘Faster!’

She pounded the ground relentlessly.

Her sword carried more than just her own life. Amongst the rain of arrows flying behind her, it wasn’t only the lives of the struggling members of Haenam that hung in the balance.

The lonely figure standing behind, watching her depart and holding the fort alone, continued to linger in her mind.

If they couldn’t reclaim this place in time and had to retreat, that sight behind her might just be the last image of Chung Myung she ever saw.

‘Too slow!’

Impatience urged Yu Iseol as she slammed the ground once more.

Bang!

Originally, gentleness and softness were Yu Iseol’s unique strengths, ones no one else amidst Hwasan’s chaos possessed. It was a path she had chosen to not fall behind in competition against those naturally endowed with strength.

A sword that wasn’t bound by mere physical strength, one that could be built up through relentless effort, even if not born with it, carving away at the bone.

That was the sword of the Sword Demon [검귀 – geomgwi – just like Ho Gameyeong named Chung Myung] Yu Iseol.

Swish!

A surge of inner power propelled a lightning-fast strike towards her. Without slowing down, she lowered her body to the ground, almost defying gravity.

The arrows fiercely shot towards her passed through empty air, futile in their attempt.

Swing after swing, arrows came her way, but Yu Iseol’s light arts never allowed a single arrow to touch her.

With a swift motion, Yu Iseol’s blade swiftly severed the neck of the archer aiming at her.

Thunk!

With a graceful arc, her sword swiftly intercepted the archer’s hastily drawn bow, slicing through it in one fluid motion, severing both the bowstring and the carotid artery. Anyone witnessing it would have exclaimed at the sight of such a fantastical swordplay.

Yet Yu Iseol bit her lip until blood seeped out.

‘Not fast enough!’

This wasn’t right. She needed to be faster. More efficient.

It seemed clear now.

Why was Chung Myung’s sword always so frantic? Why couldn’t she find any composure in her strikes?

‘Faster!’

She clenched her teeth, running towards another spot where arrows were being fired.

Of course, she knew. There were none of those she sought over there. The archers firing strengthened arrows were still hiding to avoid being exposed.

But right now, she didn’t have the luxury of finding them one by one.

So, there was only one option.

Instead of her seeking them out, she would make them seek her.

By wielding her sword as loudly and violently as possible in the most central location, striking down as many enemies as possible, those unable to bear it would inevitably attack her.

Then, by exposing herself to danger, she could uncover the enemy and lure out attacks on the main force…

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, causing Yu Iseol to involuntarily bite down hard on her lip.

⁃ Why push yourself so hard? To that extent?

It was something she had once casually uttered without much thought. She hadn’t understood Chung Myung, nor had she bothered to understand, so she had carelessly spoken those words. Now, they were etched in her heart.

Sahyeongs weren’t unreliable. There were no doubts about their skills.

Yet she had to push herself.

Because that way, she could save at least one more person.

Still, she had to push herself.

Because then the enemies would target her instead of others.

Fighting fiercely at the forefront was the best option. The more she drew attention by wielding her sword in the midst of the enemy ranks, the safer others became.

Ahead, the enemy forces were visible.

As she charged forward without a glance behind or ahead, the faces of the archers darkened.

“Shoot! Shoot her!”

The archers swiftly aimed their bows, raining arrows down on Yu Iseol. Arrows, several per bow, poured towards her like a flood.

Instead of slowing down, Yu Iseol drove her sword into the ground. The resilient plum blossom sword seemed to bend as if about to break, then snapped back with force as she vaulted into the air.

Zing!

Arrows, propelled by momentum, grazed her clothes as they flew by. Unfazed, Yu Iseol, like a fearless bird of prey, soared through the air once more, descending into the midst of the enemies with unwavering resolve.

The Plum Blossom Sword carved a much rougher path than usual, tracing a fierce arc through the air.

Crack!

Steel bows were severed along with their wielders’ bodies. As the bows and bodies were flung aside, blood sprayed over her head.

Thud!

As she landed heavily on the ground, she swiftly pierced the throat of a bewildered archer. With a dreadful thud, the blade pierced through, its crimson edge protruding from the back.

“Kill her!”

“She’s alone! Just kill her!”

From the moment the distance closed, the archers could do nothing. It was a universally acknowledged truth.

However, just because a saying is widely known doesn’t necessarily mean it’s correct. A released bow is a formidable weapon in its own right, no different from a dagger, and proximity doesn’t render a bow unable to shoot. If anything, as the distance closes, arrows become even more powerful.

The archers rushed forward, wielding their released steel bows. Meanwhile, those behind them, their bowstrings taut, stood ready to shoot at any opening.

Twang!

Yu Iseol swiftly struck the approaching archer aiming for her head with a single strike. But before she could deflect another attack, another archer, suddenly close, unleashed an arrow charged with inner strength.

Without needing to think, Yu Iseol instinctively leaned back, narrowly avoiding the arrow that flew past her shoulder. It sliced through a few strands of her flying hair before mercilessly impaling an unfortunate warrior of Sapaeryon from the rear.

“Aaaaagh!”

Though the stray arrow wounded an ally, no one paid it any mind. Charging forward, the archers lifted off the ground, unleashing a barrage of arrows towards Yu Iseol.

Faced with a relentless hail of arrows at close range, all Yu Iseol could do was roll on the ground to evade them.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The spot she left was instantly filled with arrows. It was clear that had she been even slightly slower, she would have been skewered by now.

‘Different.’

Like lightning, Yu Iseol sprung to her feet and charged towards the enemies in sight. Her body moved faster than she had anticipated.

“Huh, what—”

Thunk!

Yu Iseol, plunging her sword into the startled enemy’s abdomen, seized the nape of his neck and forcefully twisted it, inflicting agony. In an instant, he spun around, and just like that, their positions were reversed.

“Ah, no-”

As their positions were forcefully swapped, he quickly sensed his impending fate and desperately turned his head.

Thunk! Thud!

Before his head could fully turn, arrows rained down upon him, embedding into his back. Using the enemy’s body as a shield against the arrows, Yu Iseol swiftly drew her sword and slashed through the remaining foes.

From the moment she leaped into the wolf pack, she knew she had to be prepared to pay the price. No matter how skilled, there was no guarantee of emerging unscathed from the heart of the enemy.

Yu Iseol understood this well. Engaging in reckless actions out of desperation would only result in self-destruction.

Yet, there was one reason she plunged into the midst of the wolf pack.

“Aaargh!”

Several members of the group screamed as they were caught defenseless by the sword flying from behind. They were doomed without even realizing who had struck them.

“Sago!”

It was Yoon Jong. From the outside, he calmly but swiftly dismantled the enemy’s formation.

As the desperate screams echoed incessantly from beyond the encirclement, the archers’ hands trembled slightly.

Unlike spears or swords, a bow could only aim at one place. There was no bow that could shoot at enemies surrounding from both front and rear.

As if to prove that the archers were most vulnerable not when the distance closed but when their aim was disrupted, the two figures outside and inside the encirclement simultaneously unleashed their sword techniques.

The splendid plum blossom sword technique blossomed, sweeping away those who had gathered to surround Yu Iseol.

“Aaargh!”

“Uuurgh!”

The enemies, riddled with holes from head to toe, collapsed like worn-out rag dolls, devoid of strength.

The momentum now shifted to Yu Iseol. She seized it without hesitation, swiftly striking down the enemies one after another.

Whiiiiing!

But then, a piercing whistle echoed loudly. Arrows, propelled with incredible speed, flew towards Yu Iseol and Yoon Jong. These arrows, clearly different from those shot by the archers here, posed a greater threat.

Finally locating the trail of those she had to pursue, Yu Iseol’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

However, before she could even plant her feet on the ground, there was someone running in that direction.

“Geol?”

Without hesitation, Jo Geol, his usually cheerful face now cold and hardened, leaped into the forest. It didn’t take long for them to realize the outcome. The cries were unmistakably not Jo Geol’s, they belonged to the archers.

Once. And then again.

Three screams in total erupted. The moment the arrows were fired, Jo Geol accurately pinpointed and memorized their location, swiftly identifying and neutralizing them all.

His calm judgment, which belied his usual demeanor, was difficult to fathom for everyone who knew him.

Even the seasoned veterans who had been providing support fell victim to Hwasan, filling the archers’ eyes with despair.

As the offensive weakened naturally, Yu Iseol suddenly staggered, clutching her abdomen.

“S-Sago!”

Surprised, Yoon Jong quickly grabbed her.

Blood was seeping through her fingers as she clutched her abdomen. When she shielded herself with the enemy’s body, an arrow pierced her abdomen.

“These bastards!”

A vehement curse erupted from Yoon Jong’s lips as he swung his sword fiercely, cutting down the archers on both sides.

“Aaargh!”

The momentum was already irreversibly broken. Judging that survival was paramount, the archers abandoned their comrades without a second thought and fled.

“Sago! Are you okay?”

Yoon Jong, instead of pursuing them, supported Yu Iseol. Ensuring Yu Iseol’s well-being was far more important than dealing with those bastards.

“Yoon Jong.”

“Watch out, the wou… wound! We need to get you… treated…”

“There’s still a cannon.”

“What?”

“Trust me!”

Yu Iseol pushed Yoon Jong aside and slammed the ground.

“Sago! No! Don’t! Sago”

Despite Yoon Jong’s desperate cries, Yu Iseol ran towards the rear at full speed, leaving Yoon Jong and Jo Geol in charge of the front. She hoped that Chung Myung wouldn’t collapse before she arrived.

Anxiety burned her throat.

Every step she took, she left behind a trail of blood, staining the ground red.