Return of the Murim was a novel that had achieved unprecedented popularity. During its serialization, it was famously unbeatable in the rankings, never once relinquishing the number one spot.
There were many interviews with the author because of that. As a self-proclaimed and widely acknowledged devoted reader, I never missed a single one.
I still remember this clearly:
Q: Return of the Murim has a vast number of characters. Which one is your favorite?
A: It would have to be Saweol. She's my own creation, but… she's just so pitiful. (laughs)
Q: I recall the comments going wild when Saweol died. To think she got consumed by demonic cultivation and died! (angrily)
A: That’s why I couldn’t read the comments for a while. But actually, Saweol’s keyword wasn’t revenge. It was warmth.
The “unofficial” setting about Saweol’s fog phobia also came from that interview. That’s why I hadn’t remembered it right away.
In the original story, Saweol is thoroughly used and then killed.
She failed to protect Sado Hwan and spent a year imprisoned in the disciplinary chamber.
There, Saweol encountered Do Il-gwang, the previous Heavenly Demon, who immediately recognized her talent.
"You've already reached qi and body refinement, haven’t you…?"
Saweol was taught martial arts by Do Il-gwang. As a genius, she may have realized it was demonic cultivation. No—she likely did, with high probability.
That’s why she didn’t learn it immediately. She must have kept it as a last resort.
But time ran out.
Sado Gwang was dying due to the Heavenly Punishment he bore. He likely had a year left at most.
Saweol had to take revenge. She couldn’t let Sado Gwang die peacefully. Everything he had achieved had to be torn down.
That’s why Saweol reached for the demonic cultivation that Do Il-gwang had passed on.
Burning all her heart as fuel for vengeance and sorrow, Saweol became a Transcendent Peak expert. However, the mental landscape that took form was like a living hell.
As a revenant of vengeance, Saweol lost her reason and turned the First Magyeong into a wasteland with her mental projection and intent alone.
And then—
"She is killed by the Heavenly Demon."
Saweol died just like that—emptily, meaninglessly.
So I twisted her fate. This time, Sado Hwan wasn’t kidnapped, and in the disciplinary chamber, I was the one who met Do Il-gwang.
And the author once said:
Q: An extra chapter? If I were to write an IF (What if) side story, I’d like to tell Saweol’s story. One where she learns the truth—not burning herself in vengeance, but coming to understand her true heart and becoming a master. She’d even meet her lost brother again.
If Saweol had given up on revenge, she would’ve truly reached the Transcendent Peak.
And if the unofficial setting of her fog phobia was accepted—
"Then it means the idea that she’d reach Transcendent Peak by letting go of vengeance is valid too."
Which means the author—the creator of this world—has certified Saweol as a potential Transcendent Peak master.
“It’s a gamble.”
If I misstep, I might provoke her vengeful heart and be killed on the spot. But if I do nothing, death awaits all the same.
It was time to bet, even on a slim chance.
I had to believe in the words of this world’s creator. If Saweol learns the truth, she might overcome her hatred.
[What are you talking about, monster?]
“What do you mean by that?”
Skybreaker Sword and Saweol simultaneously showed signs of disbelief. Naturally, it was a ridiculous idea.
Transcendent Peak wasn’t something that could be artificially achieved. It was the culmination of tens, hundreds of thousands of temperings—a martial artist’s realization, solidified into will and mental form.
But if someone had already been set to reach Transcendent Peak, perhaps they could be guided there more quickly. Because it’s a setting!
“I mean it literally, Saweol. I will lead you to the realm of the Transcendent Peak.”
“What are you…”
“My brother will test me. If so, it will be a trial even I, a Transcendent Peak expert, can’t easily overcome. But what if there are two of us?”
“How can someone simply become Transcendent Peak at will?”
In response, I began to walk slowly as I answered.
“The realm of Transcendent Peak is where a person’s righteous intent aligns with the principles of the universe. It requires a powerful mental image or intent—and at the foundation lies perfect balance of mind, qi, and body. Like a flower blooming atop solid ground.”
“Are you referring to the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit?”
I nodded.
Once, a strange phenomenon had occurred when Yun Yeopja broke through to Transcendent Peak while speaking to me, receiving enlightenment on his own.
Qi had manifested into three flower buds above his head. That was called Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, each representing mind, qi, and body.
According to Do Il-gwang, Saweol’s qi and body were already complete. What remained was only heart.
“Your body is already complete. What’s left is your qi and heart.”
I stopped in front of a particular bookshelf and found the book I was looking for.
A thin book of only a few pages.
The title read: Records of the House of Radiant Star.
At the sight of the title, Saweol’s eyes widened in shock.
“And thanks to your family’s secret martial art, your qi is already complete as well. Isn’t that right, Saweol—no, Seong Hwayeon.”
“How do you…!”
The origin of the Divine Cult varies across martial arts novels, but in most, it’s rooted in the Cult of the Flame. Return of the Murim was no different.
The eternal flame, the Sacred Fire.
The clan that managed that fire was revered by the Divine Cult as the House of Radiant Star—called so for the brilliant light they carried.
Though later grouped with the Six Demon Families, they were actually considered to be of a higher lineage.
If the Heavenly Demon ruled the Divine Cult, the clergy who delivered the god’s words were from the Sacred House.
“How could you…”
“Do you really think my brother didn’t know your identity?”
Fury bloomed on Saweol—no, Seong Hwayeon’s face.
“Even knowing that, you dared… you dared…!”
“Read it.”
I handed the book to her.
“Inside is what you’ve always wanted.”
***
With trembling hands, Saweol accepted the book from Sado Hwan.
Records of the House of Radiant Star.
It was Sado Gwang’s diary.
[The hardening of the eight extraordinary meridians has become a minor issue. My legs are weakening, and I can barely walk on my own now. I must find a solution. Today, I obtained a miraculous elixir called Geumseondan.]
…skipping ahead…
[Geumseondan had no effect. I ordered the arrogant fools to be wiped out. With the clan leader isolated, it should be easy.]
Saweol’s hands flipped quickly through the pages, until they stopped.
[I may have found the answer! A nameless ancient text spoke of a constitution like mine—not from deviation, but a condition akin to a curse or restriction inflicted by overwhelming demonic qi. Yes, the answer is the Sacred Fire! The Sacred Fire is the most powerful curse-breaking object in existence. I must use it.]
Kkaduduk—
The sound of grinding teeth filled the air.
[I made an appointment with the head of the Sacred House. Arrogant to the end—I’ll have to wait another two weeks. But I can’t just wait. I’ll put a leash around their necks. I heard their direct descendants frequent to the Second Magyeong garden. If they resist cooperation…]
Saweol flipped to the next page.
[Fools! Even after I revealed my great vision, they clung to outdated beliefs! They say the Sacred Fire can’t be used personally? I am no ordinary person—I am a great man! With me, the Divine Cult wouldn’t be confined to the edges of the world—we could dominate the Martial World again! The rest of humanity is clearly filled with imbeciles!]
…skipping ahead…
[After further thought, I was furious. I treated them with respect because of their history—and they grew arrogant. I’ll just take it. First, I used the fools of the Remnant Blood Clan to forge false intelligence. The Sacred House is now a traitor to the Divine Cult. Once this goes up… the Sacred House is finished.]
Finally, Saweol reached the next page.
[I succeeded in wiping out the Sacred House.]
In that moment, Saweol felt the last thread of her sanity snap.
She had known.
She knew Sado Gwang was behind it all—that’s why she had sworn vengeance.
But she didn’t know why. Why had her family, her clan, been wiped out?
She had assumed it was some political power struggle among adults—some unknown interference. If that were the case, she could have told herself it was unavoidable, a tragedy of weakness.
Then, as a faithful member of the Divine Cult, she would simply carry out her revenge.
But it wasn’t that.
It was all due to one man’s extreme selfishness—a scheme, not righteous, not Divine Cult-like, but petty slander and treachery.
Kkaduduk!
“Sado Gwang… Sado Gwang!”
Terrifying energy burst from Saweol’s body. Her robes whipped violently, and the unleashed force swept through the library, shaking the shelves.
But it wasn’t the usual gloomy, deathly aura.
It was burning hot, as if it would incinerate everything.
She was ready to dash to Manghongok and tear Sado Gwang limb from limb.
“Stop.”
“Don’t you dare order me around with that filthy blood!”
She threw the book to the ground.
“Finish reading.”
She was about to shout that he shouldn’t give orders—but then she met Sado Hwan’s eyes and froze.
They weren’t eyes filled with martial pressure.
They were warm—just like the eyes of the one who had extended a hand when she was trapped in the fog of the Valley of Cloud and Mist.
Eyes like those of a brother she thought she would never see again.
“No…”
In an instant, Saweol drew her dagger and pressed it to Sado Hwan’s neck. Blood streamed from the cut, but he didn’t flinch.
Was it confidence?
“What’s the point of reading this? Do you just want to see me scream in pain?”
“No.”
“Then what, you want to say I’m not at fault? Is that it?”
“There’s only one thing I want to say.”
Even with a blade at his throat, Sado Hwan’s expression was calm, unwavering.
“Finish reading.”
“You…?!”
“I understand your pain.”
She wanted to shout at him to stop speaking nonsense—but she couldn’t. The emotion in his voice was genuine.
Sado Hwan slowly pushed the dagger away from his throat, then picked up the discarded book and offered it again.
Saweol, staring blankly at the gesture, accepted it and resumed reading.
[I succeeded in wiping out the Sacred House. But I couldn’t find the Sacred Fire. The crafty bastards must’ve hidden it. They probably entrusted it to their direct descendants. I’ll find it no matter what.]
Her hands began to tremble.
[I found traces of Seong Hwayeon. She hid in the slums of the Sixth Magyeong, where orphans with nowhere to go gather. I should find her within days.]
Upon reading the next line—
“Ah…”
Saweol collapsed on the spot.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
[I found traces of Seong Hwarang, heir of the Sacred House. He went into the Martial World. It’s Mu-rim Alliance territory, so I can’t pursue further… The plan to restore myself using the Sacred Fire has failed. I’ll need to find another grand method or elixir.]
“He’s alive… my brother… is alive…”
Sado Hwan approached the collapsed Saweol and knelt to meet her gaze. For some reason, she was reminded of the time she chased butterflies as a child.
It felt similar.
“What do you truly desire? To burn yourself with revenge—or to reunite and share warmth?”
“I heard those who bear the Sacred Flame exist not to hurt others, but to protect them.”
“Ah…”
The one who healed her scraped knee when she fell as a little girl—was the warm flame of the Sacred Fire.
And at that moment—
Ffwoosh—
A fire was kindled in Saweol’s shattered, battered, broken, crushed heart.