"The camellia flower, when it withers, does not shed its petals one by one. Instead, it falls as a whole blossom. Fascinating, isn’t it?"

"It’s a little unsettling—it reminds me of a severed head."

"...Blood Wolf, you are likely the only person who would see it that way."

Seo Mun-Hwarin let out a deep sigh.

Despite her youthful appearance, the weight of her burdens was evident—perhaps made even more jarring by her long, cascading white hair.

I knew that her body had simply reverted to a younger state through Rejuvenation Arts, but it still felt strange every time I looked at her.

She must have noticed that my gaze had shifted from the camellias to her, because she shook her head.

"Even if you look at me like that, today’s sparring session is over."

"Saying it like that makes it sound like all I ever do is ask you to spar with me. That hurts, you know."

"Well, I have been pestering the Ironblood Hall Master for sparring sessions every day, but this time, I was just watching because you seemed to be in a good mood."

"Hmm. That sounds like a flimsy excuse, but since I am in a good mood today, I’ll let it slide."

With that, Seo Mun-Hwarin turned her gaze back to the camellia tree in front of her.

It had grown massive—so large that even I had to crane my neck to look up at it.

Standing before it, Seo Mun-Hwarin looked so small that I blurted out,

"Do you want me to carry you?"

"Blood Wolf. Do you realize how insolent you are toward me at times?"

"It’s not just toward you, Ironblood Hall Master. I’m apparently rude to most people. That’s probably why I ended up locked away in Ironblood Hall in the first place."

I shrugged.

"It wasn’t meant as an insult—I just thought it’d give you a better view."

"...I appreciate the thought, but I’ll pass. At least for now. Look closely—the buds have just begun to form. Soon, they’ll bloom. When that happens, let’s invite the Demonic Sound Witch and watch together."

"You’re talking about flower viewing? In the middle of winter?"

"Camellias bloom in winter. You probably wouldn’t know that since you care about nothing but the sword."

"Well... I only just learned that this tree is a camellia."

"I figured as much. Haven’t I told you time and again? Even as a martial artist, you can’t live your life only looking at your sword. There are people whose tongues are sharper than swords, and even the strongest hand cannot always handle ten weaker ones."

"If my sword is sharper than any tongue, then it doesn’t matter. And if my one hand is stronger than ten combined, then what’s the issue?"

Seo Mun-Hwarin, still gazing at the camellia tree, let out a light laugh.

A laugh so pure, it was hard to believe she had witnessed the depths of the murim’s darkness.

"Hehe. You talk big, Blood Wolf. Do you realize what you're actually claiming?"

"...Is it that significant?"

"Of course it is. Wielding a single sword to cut through every problem in the world—that is a dream even I, the narrow-minded Black Lotus Sect Leader, and even the Murim Alliance Leader cannot achieve."

"...Even the Imperial Family?"

"Hah..."

The names she had just spoken still felt distant to me.

And yet, even they weren’t enough?

I stood there, stunned, mouth slightly open.

Seo Mun-Hwarin continued, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness.

"You don’t have to be discouraged. If anything, there are more things you can do than things you cannot."

"...Then what matters is what I want to do?"

"Exactly. No matter how many things I can do, if the one thing I want is impossible, then what meaning is there?"

I already knew what Seo Mun-Hwarin truly wanted.

She had revealed it during a drunken conversation on a particularly lonely night.

But I couldn’t understand it.

What was so wrong about taking revenge on those who had wronged her?

If someone who held a grudge against her sought vengeance, she could simply cut them down.

That was the nature of the murim—or at least, the accursed unorthodox murim.

In the end, whether you were orthodox or unorthodox, survival always came down to a simple choice: Kill, or be killed.

Wasn’t that just the natural order of things?

Perhaps Seo Mun-Hwarin sensed my unspoken thoughts, because she suddenly turned toward me.

As she moved, her long white hair fanned out before settling back down.

I found my gaze following the movement unconsciously.

Seo Mun-Hwarin shrugged and stepped closer, now standing directly in front of me.

She wasn’t as tall as the camellia tree behind her, but the difference in our height was still considerable.

The old master in a young girl’s body looked up at me, her faded smile as enigmatic as ever.

"Let’s head inside. The sparring session is over, which means it’s time to study."

"...Do I really have to?"

"I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve asked me that. We already settled this, didn’t we? I agreed to mentor your martial arts in exchange for you studying things outside of martial arts."

"I know, I know. I’m not saying I won’t do it—I just want to skip today and make up for it tomorrow."

"Hmm? And why, all of a sudden…? Ah."

Seo Mun-Hwarin paused, then her face turned red.

For the first time in a long while, she actually looked her age.

"T-Today is… with the Demonic Sound Witch...?"

"...Yeah. Pretty much."

I nodded, recalling the white pear I had received that morning.

Seo Mun-Hwarin’s face flickered through a range of emotions—embarrassment, relief, envy, curiosity, and even a hint of resignation.

So many emotions passed in an instant before she settled on a forced calmness.

"Ahem. Well, if that’s the case, I suppose I have no choice. Since I was the one who originally suggested it, I’ll allow you to postpone today’s lesson until tomorrow."

"Thank you."

"But you won’t be postponing it again. In two days, you have a mission to carry out."

"I keep my promises, don’t worry."

"That’s all I needed to hear."

With a small nod, Seo Mun-Hwarin turned and walked away.

I watched her retreating figure for a moment before calling out,

"By the way, Ironblood Hall Master, you never told me—why were you in such a good mood today?"

"Oh, that? It’s nothing special."

She glanced back at the camellia tree she had been admiring earlier.

"The first snow is coming soon, and the buds have already begun to form. If we're lucky, we’ll get to see camellias blooming amidst the snow."

"...Ah. So when you said we should watch them with Seol Lihyang, this is what you meant?"

"Indeed. So don’t take too long with your mission—return before it’s too late."

"...It’s a long way out, but I’ll do my best."

I gave a small nod and made my way to Seol Lihyang’s room, while Seo Mun-Hwarin headed to hers.

But that promise would never be kept.

By the time I returned from my mission, it was already too late.

The halls of Ironblood Hall, now blanketed in snow from the past few days, were consumed by raging flames.

And Seol Lihyang, who had once said we would watch the blooming flowers together, lay lifeless in my arms.

I gently set her down, unable to complete the final words she had left unfinished.

She leaned against the wall as if peacefully asleep.

I memorized that expression—staring at her face for what felt like an eternity before I finally stood up.

I looked up at the burning halls, then drew my sword.

Srrrng.

Seol Lihyang was right.

Apart from being able to wield a sword, I was good for nothing.

So, I would fight alongside Seo Mun-Hwarin, who was still battling Black Sky Sword Emperor inside.

And I would take revenge in Seol Lihyang’s place.

My emotions burned hotter than I had expected, forging my fury into killing intent as I stepped forward.

The once-white snow had melted beneath the flames, mixing with the blood of the fallen, turning the ground into a filthy mire.

I ran, pushing off the blood-soaked earth.

I didn’t know how far I had gone before a warrior from Black Sky Sword Sect blocked my path.

I cut him down.

Others came—some drawn by the commotion, some fleeing, some foolish enough to stand and fight, and others begging for their lives.

I cut them all down.

Was it because this sect had already been annihilated once before?

Or was there another reason?

The warriors I encountered were only second-rate or first-rate at best.

None were difficult to deal with.

I pressed forward, slashing through them one by one, until—

At some point, I noticed something different about the corpses littering the ground.

They were no longer the bodies of Ironblood Hall members.

More and more, the corpses belonged to Black Sky Sword Sect warriors instead.

That should have been good news.

But instead, an uneasy feeling crept up my spine.

A battle had clearly taken place—so why was it so quiet?

Even Black Sky Sword Emperor was said to have reached the Flowering Stage.

If two warriors of such caliber had clashed, this place should have been echoing with their battle.

But instead, there was only silence.

I gritted my teeth and forced more internal energy into my legs, launching myself forward.

The corpses grew so dense that it became difficult to find a place to step.

Then, suddenly—

They stopped.

A clear boundary.

As if a massive boulder had crashed down, the entire Ironblood Hall stood in ruins, shattered beyond recognition.

Except for one place.

Amidst the wreckage, one courtyard remained untouched.

Snow lay undisturbed, as if the fire had never touched it.

The camellia tree stood there, its red blossoms in full bloom.

And beneath it—

Seo Mun-Hwarin knelt, gazing up at the flowers.

“…Ah.”

My breath caught in my throat.

She was alive.

But only barely.

Five swords were embedded in her small frame.

One of her arms was gone.

Her legs twisted at unnatural angles.

“Ironblood Hall Master!”

The fire I had barely contained flared up all at once, setting my blood ablaze.

No.

I couldn’t lose her too.

Not after Seol Lihyang.

Fueled by that single thought, I dashed toward her with everything I had.

Snow scattered in my wake.

Seo Mun-Hwarin, struggling for breath, turned her head toward me.

Our eyes met.

Her fading gaze flickered with warmth.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes. Please hold on—I’ll treat you right away.”

“It’s no use. This… isn’t something that can be healed.”

“Don’t say that. I have to do something.”

I pulled out the sword lodged in her back and immediately sealed the pressure points around the wound to stop the bleeding.

One after another, I continued pulling them out—

Until I saw it.

A gaping hole in her chest.

The place where her heart should have been—completely hollow.

She was right.

This wasn’t something I could heal.

The only reason she was still breathing was because of her immense internal energy as a Flowering Stage master.

But even that was reaching its limit.

Seo Mun-Hwarin, seeing my expression, forced a faint smile.

“Blood Wolf… What of the Demonic Sound Witch?”

“I saw her off.”

“…I see. That’s a relief. I’ll be joining her soon. But… I’m glad I got to see your face one last time.”

“…I’m sorry.”

"Hm? For what?"

"I was too late."

"Hah… So that’s what you meant…"

She shook her head with an exasperated expression.

“Blood Wolf. You weren’t late. If anything, you arrived right on time.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Look.”

Seo Mun-Hwarin lifted her gaze.

I followed her line of sight.

There, amidst the white snow, red camellias had fully bloomed.

Just as she had said.

For a moment, I simply stared in a daze.

Then—

A single camellia fell.

Not petal by petal, but the entire flower—just as she had described.

It landed at her feet.

Seo Mun-Hwarin looked down at it and spoke softly.

“Blood Wolf.”

“…Yes.”

“I will die soon. But you will survive.”

Even in this state, her voice carried certainty.

She must have known—Black Sky Sword Emperor was dead.

I glanced at the corpses strewn across the ground.

Among them, one stood out—a body clad in particularly ornate robes.

His head had been crushed beyond recognition, but based on his attire, there was no doubt.

That was Black Sky Sword Emperor’s corpse.

“All that remains are those as strong as you—or weaker.”

Her voice softened.

“So run. Save yourself.”

"You know better than anyone how much I value my life. And yet, you're telling me to flee?"

"Heh… I suppose that's true."

Her voice had weakened.

She was still staring at the fallen camellia.

That was good.

It meant she hadn’t noticed my lie.

I had no intention of running.

Even if Black Sky Sword Emperor was dead, there were still plenty of his sect’s warriors left.

I would not leave until I had cut down every last one of them.

“…Just one last thing,” she murmured. “Do not seek revenge. Black Sky Sword Emperor is dead. There is no one left for you to take revenge on.”

“I never sought revenge in the first place.”

A lie.

I had already inherited Seol Lihyang’s revenge.

And I would make them pay for Seo Mun-Hwarin’s blood as well.

Not just the warriors here.

Anyone who had ties to them.

Unlike the young Seo Mun-Hwarin, I would make sure no one slipped through the cracks.

“…Then my last request.”

Seo Mun-Hwarin picked up the fallen camellia flower with one hand and continued speaking.

"It is called Blossoming Years. It means..."

"The time we bloom like a flower. The most beautiful moment in life, isn’t it?" I whispered.

She smiled faintly.

“That’s right… You remembered.”

How could one ever forget? Seo Mun-Hwarin had taken on the appearance of her younger self through 'Reversal of Age' because she longed for the time when she lived without knowing vengeance.

"Blood Wolf. No, Cheon Hwi. Do not remember my death. Instead, I wish for you to remember only the joyful memories we shared together."

"I shall do so. Forever and always, the Iron-Blooded Master… No, my teacher, you will remain in my memory as a single camellia blossom."

"A teacher, you say? That’s… a little disappointing, but not bad. Yes, not bad at all..."

Seo Mun-Hwarin murmured softly, turning her head to look at me. Her voice gradually faded away. And then—

Thud.

Like the moment a flower falls, her head drooped powerlessly. From her hand, the camellia she had been holding slipped away, rolling across the snow.

With acupoint sealing undone, blood began to flow from her body, pooling around her.

A vivid crimson stain bloomed over the pure white snow—just like a camellia in full bloom.

I etched that sight into my heart.

I burned into my memory the sight of our shared hall engulfed in flames, the lingering scent of Seol Lihyang left behind, the flower painted in her blood, and the pain of losing everything.

And with that, I carved my own personal hell into my soul.

Seo Mun-Hwarin had told me not to remember, but I could not forget. I did not want to forget. So instead, I carved it into my mind—so deep that it would remain forever, even if it became a scar that could never fade.

The acrid scent of burning flesh and the metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils. My vision twisted, dyed in red.

The overwhelming killing intent surging within me was a clear precursor to Demonic Deviation... but it didn’t matter.

The only thing that mattered was that the remnants of the Black Heaven Sword Sect, having confirmed Seo Mun-Hwarin's death, were now rushing toward me.

Staggering, I rose to my feet and pointed my sword at them.

"Come."

Thus, half-mad and consumed by Demonic Deviation, I carried out my revenge.

By the time I had finished, I had ascended to the pinnacle.

And people had begun to call me the Sword Demon.

***

When I opened my eyes, the acrid smell of something burning filled my nose, and I felt an intense wave of heat.

"Are you insane? In such a small cave, and blocking the entrance with bushes—what were you thinking starting a fire here? Put it out immediately!"

"Hing. Alright, alright."

A clumsy kidnapper—Seo Mun-Hwarin—pouted as she sullenly put out the campfire.

I had barely regained consciousness, and I had already almost died.