CHAPTER 65: SWORD FLOWER OR SWORD DEMON? (1)

Han Soyeon’s POV [Flashback]

9997...!

Sword techniques unfurled, the air filled with the delicate scent of plum blossoms. This was both my master’s assignment and my daily ritual: ten thousand forms, executed from start to finish.

9998...!

It was no easy task. Unlike the basic Plum Blossom Sword, this exclusive technique, passed down directly by my master, remained intricate and elusive. Each form demanded my full focus. As my understanding of the sword deepened and my body adapted, I’d occasionally slip into a state of flow where time vanished—but my master, with her uncanny precision, would notice and heap on more training.

9999...!

Exhaustion weighed heavily. Sweat drenched my body, clinging unpleasantly to my skin. Yet, there was a reason I pressed on.

10000...!

Completing the forms meant freedom to do what I wanted. Even if I was confined to Hwasan’s grounds, it didn’t matter. That child was a Hwasan disciple too.

"Huff... huff..."

I nearly collapsed after the final form, but I gritted my teeth, steadied my trembling legs, and headed to my room. The urge to rush to him was strong, but I couldn’t go reeking of sweat.

Rustle—

I shed my training clothes carelessly and began washing. Cool water cascaded over my skin, rinsing away the sticky perspiration. Glancing at a nearby mirror, I checked for lingering marks. In the past, I’d never cared for such grooming—but now, it was all for that child. The age gap was a slight blemish, but love transcended such things.

"Hmm~ hmm~"

Humming softly, I applied cosmetics for skin care. Martial training kept my physique toned, but with this, no effort felt sufficient.

Squish—

Have they grown a bit?

My breasts, slightly too large for one hand, were once a hindrance. Now, they were a woman’s cherished weapon.

Yuseong probably likes them bigger, right?

Most men likely did. He wouldn’t prefer them small, surely. I hadn’t met many women to compare myself to, but I thought of my master...

...

No, not her. I recalled a martial uncle’s disciple I’d seen days ago.

Hehe.

Mine were definitely larger. This size would surely please Yuseong.

Rustle—

After grooming, I donned my finest outfit and used qinggong to glide toward the secular disciples’ training grounds. At our prearranged spot, I saw a child looking around. Had he noticed me?

"Big sister!"

His face lit up with a radiant smile as he ran to me.

Hug—

"I missed you!"

"Yeah... me too..."

The small boy buried himself in my embrace. As I patted his head, still shy of the jihak stage, I thought: Just five more years.

["Soyeon, training alone is fine, but I’d like you to connect with others too."]

My master’s words echoed. Back when I was consumed by martial practice at Hwasan, indifferent to socializing, she’d urged me to build bonds with others, like the disciples of her martial siblings. I’d tried, but found no one particularly compelling. I could be kind, earning thanks in the moment, but I had no desire to deepen those ties.

That was how I’d felt—until I met him.

"Wow..."

I’d stumbled upon this place by chance. While practicing qinggong and roaming Hwasan’s permitted areas, I found a vantage point overlooking the secular disciples’ training grounds. Normally, I’d have shrugged and moved on. But that day was different.

"Cute..."

From a distance, one child stood out. At first, I couldn’t tell if they were a boy or a girl—so striking was their beauty. Obsidian eyes that sparkled, a slender, delicate frame, and a face that embodied "cute," stirring protective instincts in anyone who saw it. The face alone was captivating, but the frail body made their gender harder to discern. Watching them among the male disciples clarified it: a boy.

I spent that entire day observing him from afar. He didn’t blend well with the others. Most avoided him, their gazes tinged with discomfort or displeasure. He seemed isolated, persistently trying to connect, only to be rebuffed and left training alone in a corner.

His skill... even flattery couldn’t call it impressive. His physique appeared too weak, and he lacked evident talent. He was practicing the Plum Blossom Fist, a basic technique, not even a sword art, but his execution was painfully sloppy. Among the disciples, he lagged furthest behind—no explanation needed.

How did he pass the entrance exam?

I genuinely wondered. The exam shouldn’t have allowed someone so frail to slip through. Did he have some hidden talent?

Oh, the time...

Lost in watching him, I hadn’t noticed how late it was. Panicking, I glanced at the sun—later than I’d thought. If I didn’t hurry, my master would be waiting.

There’s tomorrow, right?

He was a Hwasan disciple; he wouldn’t vanish overnight. With hope of seeing him again, I returned to my master that day.

+

After that, I began sneaking out to see him whenever my master wasn’t around. Fortunately, he was still persevering. His training showed little improvement, but something drove him to push so hard.

Should I help him?

The thought crossed my mind, but it wasn’t so simple. If my master caught me, I’d face a scolding.

But if he gets seriously injured and has to leave the mountain...

As I wavered, torn by indecision—

"What are you staring at so intently?"

"Eek?!"

My master’s familiar voice startled me.

"M-Master?! I wasn’t slacking on my training..."

"I haven’t even scolded you yet—why the guilty look? I only asked what you were looking at."

Her hand rested on my shoulder as she scanned the spot I’d been fixated on.

Gulp—

Did she catch me?

Had she noticed how closely I was watching that child? How long had she been here? If she’d known for days...

Oh no...

I trembled, dreading the reprimand to come, holding my breath as I awaited her words.

"Those are the new disciples who joined recently. I was worried, Soyeon, since you’ve never shown interest in others, but it seems I can relax a bit now."

"N-no, it’s not like that! I didn’t come here on purpose..."

"Hm? It looked like you were focused on someone specific. I thought you were just observing the disciples."

"Ah..."

I’d betrayed myself, admitting I was fixated on one person. My face flushed crimson.

"Do you know someone here? Most of these kids haven’t even reached jihak yet."

"No! No! I just wanted to see the children training under Hwasan’s name, even as secular disciples! I swear there’s no ulterior motive!"

I blurted out the excuse in a panic, but—

"...For that, your gaze was awfully locked on one person."

Oh...

She’d seen right through me.

"Y-you noticed?"

"I wasn’t sure, but your reaction confirms it."

"?!"

She’d tricked me with a leading question. I felt betrayed, though I’d fallen for it perfectly.

"So, which one is it?"

"D-do I have to tell you?"

"You will if you don’t want to keep sneaking out behind my back."

Her eyes were unyielding. If I didn’t confess, I’d be barred from leaving in the future.

"...That one. That child."

Swallowing hard, I pointed at him cautiously. He was still training diligently today.

Gulp—

What would my master think? My heart pounded as I awaited her judgment.

Her verdict came—

"...It’s not the ’flower’ that Hwasan represents."

She commented on his appearance. Indeed, his striking looks had captivated me from the start. I couldn’t argue, having been drawn to him for the same reason.

What do I do, what do I do...

I fretted, dreading she might forbid me from seeing him. Then her next words came—

"What are you doing? Go help him."

"Y-yes, what?!"

Unexpectedly, she was urging me to assist him.

"He’s a child under Hwasan’s name, isn’t he? If he’s struggling, it’s your duty as his senior to guide him, not just watch."

She’d noticed his training. He looked like he was straining to lift a rock—a method ill-suited for his frail frame.

"I’ll be back!"

With her permission, I darted toward him using qinggong.

+

Glance—

I’d only ever watched him from afar, but up close, his beauty was even more breathtaking.

How do I start talking to him?

Thump, thump—

My heart raced as I struggled to find a natural way to approach him.

I should’ve worn something nicer...

My clothes were decent but far from elegant.

Pretending to be a fellow disciple won’t work.

My attire was distinctly different from the other disciples’.

Should I just be direct?

Should I admit I was from the main sect right away? But then what? Confess I’d been secretly watching him train? He’d probably bolt.

Hoo...

My lack of social experience was a glaring weakness now. I had no clue how to start a conversation. After agonizing, I decided.

Just go for it.

I’d soften the truth, omitting the part about spying.

"H-hey, hi?"

I approached cautiously from behind, my voice tentative.

"?"

He turned, puzzled, his sweat-soaked body glistening from the grueling training, far too harsh for him.

"I’m Han Soyeon, a disciple from the main sect... I saw you practicing while passing by and thought you might need some help."

"Oh?! R-really?!"

"Yeah... You seem to be struggling alone, and your training method doesn’t look effective..."

"Thank you!"

Beam—

His smile was the purest I’d ever seen, making my heart race as if it might malfunction.

"For starters... let’s set this rock aside. It might be fine later, but right now, it’s doing more harm than good."

"B-but the book said to train like this..."

"That’s nonsense. Hwasan’s martial arts aren’t about brute strength."

Thump, thump—

Trying to stay composed, I approached and pulled him away from the rock. Up close, his radiant aura was overwhelming. The scent of his sweat hit me, nearly unraveling my composure. I quickly circulated my inner energy to clear my mind, suppressing the urge as I stared at his glistening neck. What sweet fragrance would I feel if I pressed closer?

"...I don’t even know your name yet. What’s your name?"

"Oh, I’m Dan Yuseong!"

"I see... Yuseong, huh... How old are you, by the way?"

"I was an orphan taken in by my grandfather, so I don’t know exactly... but roughly..."

His age snapped me back to reality. For a moment, I’d felt on the verge of something reckless. I resolved myself.

Just five years.

"S-so, I’m going to check your body, so stay still."

"Your body...?"