Chapter 15
The lotus garden, Yeonhongwon, drenched in moonlight, was heartbreakingly beautiful.
Step by step. The even sound of footsteps echoed through the garden. The flowers, as if welcoming someone, began to glow more brightly.
Seol Jadan took in each flower with his eyes.
— Madam, this child’s name is Unyeong. Seol Unyeong. Please remember it.
— Gaga (哥哥), no…
— No. I am Seol Jadan, and this is the daughter of Madam Dang Jo-yeong—Seol Unyeong.
— Ga… Gaga.
— Madam, please remember. She is our child. Seol Unyeong.
— Seol… Unyeong.
— Yes, Seol Unyeong.
— Please… take care of… Yeong-ah…
Every time he looked at a flower, the words of the person who had cherished them so dearly came flooding back.
He had thought them faded memories, but they felt vivid—like they happened just yesterday. He had tried to forget, but it was impossible.
— I’m sorry, Gaga. When the child grows up, please put this necklace on her.
— You should give it to her yourself. I won’t accept it.
— If you’re the one to give it, she’ll like it even more.
Seol Jadan took out the necklace he had hidden in his clothes. The gemstone sparkled brilliantly in the moonlight.
— Look. Isn’t this flower beautiful?
— Indeed. It’s very beautiful.
— Yes, and that’s how poisonous it is. It’s called the Dark Lotus (암련화). From your expression, I can tell. You’re afraid, aren’t you?
— No, it’s not that…
— Have you heard of the Snow Lotus (설련화)? It only grows in the cracks of cliffs in the faraway Heavenly Mountains.
— In such a barren place?
— Yes, it’s barren, but it’s also a place where good energy gathers. That’s why it’s so potent as a medicine, and audaciously, it’s also called the Emperor’s Flower.
— What an impudent nickname.
— Isn’t it? But transplant a Snow Lotus somewhere else, and it can’t survive. It needs the right energy. But if it does survive, it becomes the Dark Lotus. It creates its own energy.
— So…
— It harbors poison. That’s how it blooms so red and so beautifully. Gaga, I…
— Yes, Madam?
— I want our child to grow up like the Dark Lotus.
— Do you?
— Yes. No matter where she grows up, I want her to be strong and beautiful, someone who creates her own energy.
— She will grow up like that.
— If it’s you, Gaga, I know you’ll raise her that way. I believe in you.
Dang Jo-yeong’s expression, bathed in moonlight, was more beautiful than any flower.
Tragically, heartbreakingly beautiful.
“No, you shouldn’t have believed in me.”
Seol Jadan shook his head.
He should have embraced her more. Treasured her more. Raised her with more love.
Not as someone who had to create her own strength, but as someone who could grow by relying on his strength.
Not as a Dark Lotus, but like the Snow Lotus.
The child was precious. But every time he saw her, he couldn’t help but see the face of the one he missed.
The more he loved the child, the more he longed for Jo-yeong. That made it hard to face the child.
Unyeong must have noticed his heart.
“Of course she knew. That brilliant child would’ve sensed this cowardly heart of mine…”
Seol Jadan began learning martial arts from his father, Seol Wonpyeong, at the age of five. He was born with talent, and his aptitude was exceptional.
Every technique he learned imprinted easily on his body, and he trained diligently.
But oddly enough, he was forbidden to use martial arts outside the training hall. He was even told never to reveal to anyone that he was learning martial arts.
Young Seol Jadan couldn’t understand why.
He learned the family’s secret when he turned twelve. He was told that guarding the Seol Family Estate meant guarding the entire martial world.
It was the ancestor’s will—but he couldn’t comprehend it. Protecting Seol Family Estate for a future threat to the martial world?
Why couldn’t the family’s power be shown to the world? Why must the Seol clan sacrifice for the sake of peace? Why could the heir not live outside the family estate?
Nothing made sense.
He was sick of Honganhyeon, and the reclusive Seol estate stifled him.
At twenty, he reached the level of a top-tier martial artist and was granted permission to travel the Jianghu. A woman interfered and resolved an altercation with the Black Path, stepping in front of him.
She looked like a scholar and laughed, saying she’d die if she were hit—Dang Jo-yeong, a beautiful and sharp-witted woman.
When Seol Jadan vaguely shared his concerns about his family, she responded:
— I think a little differently. You’re just avoiding it for now, aren’t you? It’s not like you’ve abandoned your family. You still love them, don’t you?
At that moment, it felt like his whole world had changed.
The Seol estate no longer felt as suffocating as before. He accepted all his responsibilities.
But after reuniting with Dang Jo-yeong—only to lose her, leaving behind just their child—everything inside him crumbled.
— Father, why are you in hell? Isn’t it enough for me to be here alone? Why only me…?
And so, he began to rebuild a new world, piece by piece.
He never imagined Unyeong was having those thoughts—or that she’d been through such things.
No, it was all just an excuse. He simply wanted to believe she was doing well. Seol Jadan had been cowardly.
— You love her, don’t you?
Her voice echoed again in his ears.
He could no longer run away.
Seol Jadan began walking slowly. His steps gradually quickened.
Warm moonlight poured down onto the quiet garden, where the petals swayed silently.
After collapsing from the confrontation with Seol Dopung, Unyeong awoke, and the physician said she was only in shock.
Despite this, Seol Jadan and her nanny continued to worry.
Only after watching Unyeong eat heartily and go to bed did they leave.
Now that she had told Seol Wonpyeong she wanted to learn martial arts, she had to plan how to train.
“No matter who the martial arts teacher is, I’ll start with the Samjaegong as the foundation. Once I form a dantian, I’ll cultivate using the Johwagyeol. It’s great for concealing one’s level… hmm, but will Johwagyeol work well with this body? Theoretically, it should be fine…”
She had walked this path once before.
But martial arts wasn’t something that yielded the same results just by retracing the same steps.
Even if disciples learned the same techniques from the same master, their levels and achievements differed. Talent and aptitude mattered—but the most crucial factor was the path each chose to open for themselves.
This time, her starting age, environment, and body condition were all different.
To go higher, to reach deeper, she had to think more carefully.
Choosing her path was entirely up to her.
“Hmm. If I could bring in Elder No as my teacher, that would be ideal. It’s a matter of saving someone’s life, so maybe I could convince him…”
Once she began, her progress would outpace everyone else’s.
She would hide her abilities to a degree, but eventually, she’d need to reveal that she had a Heavenly Martial Body (천무지체) to her family. And she’d need someone to explain it for her.
That someone was undoubtedly Elder No.
She sensed a presence approaching from afar.
Unyeong closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
“Grandfather?”
Cautiously, Seol Wonpyeong entered the room.
Unyeong kept her eyes closed as he stood silently by her bed. He reached out a hand.
But just before his hand could touch her face, he stopped. Then, lowering his hand, he spoke softly.
“Child… I’m sorry. How can I ever repay this sin… What should I do with this sin…”
His voice was unlike his usual self, unlike the angry voice from earlier. It was full of pain and regret.
— You should’ve taken me with you… Why did only I survive? Why only me…
Unyeong knew that voice. It was the same voice she had when she longed for her family.
“I’ll give you whatever you want. Do anything you please.”
After standing silently for a long while, Seol Wonpyeong finally left. Only after his presence had fully vanished did Unyeong let out a deep breath.
“Phew. That surprised me. I didn’t think he had such thoughts… Well, since he said he’ll give me anything, I should take him up on it.”
Step, step. Another presence.
Unyeong controlled her breathing again and shut her eyes.
Seol Jadan entered the room. He did nothing—just stood at a distance and looked at her.
But Unyeong could feel it. She could sense it.
Seol Jadan was crying.
From far away like that, unable to come closer, unable to make a sound…
He was just silently crying.
For a long, long time.
Then quietly, he opened the door and left.
His cautious footsteps faded into the night, and only when all traces of him disappeared did Unyeong finally take a deep breath.
It was a night of deep sorrow for everyone in the Seol family.
