Seong Hwa-ryeon
Murim Returner was a novel that commanded unprecedented popularity. During its serialization, it famously never relinquished its spot at the top of the rankings.
As someone who fancied himself a devoted fan, I made sure to catch every author interview.
I still remembered it vividly.
Q:Murim Returner features a huge cast of characters. Who’s your favorite?
A: Probably Sa Wol. She’s a character I created, but she’s just so pitiful. (laughs)
Q: I remember the comments exploding when Sa Wol died. Consumed by demonic arts and dying like that! (scolds)
A: That’s why I avoided the comments for a while. But honestly, Sa Wol’s keyword wasn’t revenge. It was compassion.
The ‘unofficial’ backstory about Sa Wol developing a fear of fog and mist had come up in that very interview. That’s why it hadn’t clicked for me right away.
In the original story, Sa Wol was thoroughly used and then discarded, dying without ever getting her due.
After failing to protect Sado Hwan, she was imprisoned in the Punishment Cave for a year.
There, she encountered the former Heavenly Demon, Do Il Gwang, who immediately recognized her talent.
‘Your qi and body have already reached that level…’
Sa Wol learned martial arts from Do Il Gwang. As a genius, she might have realized they were demonic arts. No, she probably did with high certainty.
So she didn’t practice them right away. She likely kept them as a last resort.
But time was running out.
She was dying from Sado Gwang’s Heavenly Punishment. At most, she had a year left.
Sa Wol needed revenge. She couldn’t let Sado Gwang die peacefully. Everything he’d built had to be torn apart.
To that end, she turned to the demonic arts Do Il Gwang had given her.
Burning her entire heart in the fires of revenge and resentment, Sa Wol ascended to the Super Peak realm. But the mental image she manifested was akin to hell itself.
Transformed into a vengeful ghost, Sa Wol lost control, her mental image and intent turning the First Demon Realm into a wasteland.
And then—
‘She dies at the hands of the Heavenly Demon.’
Sa Wol met her end in futile emptiness.
That’s why I twisted her fate. The current Sado Hwan hadn’t been kidnapped, and I’d faced Do Il Gwang in the Punishment Cave myself.
And the author had said:
Q: Any side stories planned?
A: If so, I’d love to do an IF story for Sa Wol. One where she learns the truth, but instead of burning herself up with revenge like now, she awakens her true heart and becomes a master. She’d reunite with her long-lost brother, too.
If she abandoned revenge, she’d reach true Super Peak, the author claimed.
If that unofficial fog phobia setting from the interview held true here…
‘Then it means Sa Wol can reach Super Peak if she gives up revenge.’
So Sa Wol was a prospective Super Peak master, certified by the author—the creator of this world.
‘It’s a gamble.’
If I slipped up, it might ignite her revenge and cost me my head on the spot. But letting things continue as they were meant death anyway.
It was time to bet on those slim odds.
Time to trust the words of this world’s creator. Sa Wol, upon learning the truth, might overcome her thirst for vengeance.
[What do you mean by that, you demon?]
“What do you mean by that?”
Pa Cheon and Sa Wol both expressed their bewilderment in unison. It was only natural—they were baffled.
The Super Peak realm wasn’t something anyone could artificially induce. It was the crystallization of a warrior’s self-earned enlightenment—forged through millions of refinements—manifested as will and mental image.
But for someone whose Super Peak status was predestined, I could guide her there faster. That’s what ‘settings’ were for!
“Exactly what I said, Sa Wol. I will lead you to the Super Peak realm.”
“What do you…”
“My brother will test me. Even I, at Super Peak, might struggle against it. But what if there were two of us?”
“How can one reach Super Peak at will?”
As Sa Wol spoke, I slowly stepped forward.
“The Super Peak realm exchanges human justice for the principles of all creation. It requires an intensely vivid mental image or intent, built on the perfect balance of heart, qi, and body—like a flower blooming atop a solid foundation.”
“Three Flowers Gather at the Summit?”
I nodded.
It was the phenomenon Un Yeop Ja had shown during our conversation, when he broke through to Super Peak on his own whim.
Three flower buds forming above the head from qi—representing heart, qi, and body. That was Three Flowers Gather at the Summit.
As Do Il Gwang had said, Sa Wol’s qi and body were complete. All that remained was her heart.
“Your body is already perfected. What’s left is qi and heart.”
I stopped before a bookshelf and found the book I sought.
It was a thin volume with few pages. Its title:
Gwangmyeongseonggarok.
Sa Wol’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the title.
“And thanks to your family’s martial arts, your qi is perfected too. Isn’t that right, Sa Wol? No—Seong Hwa-ryeon.”
“……How?!”
The origins of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult varied across wuxia tales, but Murim Returner followed the common setup: the Baekhwa Church as its root.
The eternal sacred flame, Seonghwa.
The clan that tended it was reverently called the Radiant Star Clan by cultists—Gwangmyeongseongga.
Lumped among the Six Demonic Families, they were truly something loftier.
If the Heavenly Demon was the king ruling the cult, the Seongga were the priests conveying the divine word.
“How did you…”
“Do you think my brother truly didn’t know your identity?”
Fury blazed across Sa Wol—no, Seong Hwa-ryeon’s—face.
“He knew and still dared to use me—!”
“Read it.”
I handed her the book.
“Everything you want is inside.”
Sa Wol took the book from Sado Hwan with trembling hands.
Gwangmyeongseonggarok.
It was Sado Gwang’s diary.
The eight extraordinary meridians hardening became a minor issue. Now my legs grow weaker by the day; walking under my own power is getting difficult. I need a solution. Today, I obtained a spirit pill called the Golden Immortal Pill.
The Golden Immortal Pill had no effect. I ordered the destruction of those arrogant fools. With their sect leader felled by gu poison, it should end swiftly.
Sa Wol’s rapidly turning pages came to a halt.
I’ve found the answer! An unnamed ancient text mentioned a constitution like mine. It’s not deviation into devil, but akin to a curse or seal from overwhelming demonic qi. Yes—the solution is the sacred flame! The sacred flame is the strongest curse-dispelling artifact in existence. I must use it.
Grind—
The chilling sound of teeth gnashing echoed.
I’ve scheduled a meeting with the Seongga head. His arrogance means waiting another fortnight. I can’t just wait. I need leverage over them. I learned their direct descendants frequent the orchards in the Second Demon Realm. If they’re uncooperative…
Sa Wol’s hand flew to the next page.
Fools without vision! Even after hearing my grand ideals, they spout nonsense! The sacred flame can’t be used personally? I’m no mere individual—I’m a great man! With me, the cult wouldn’t rot in these hinterlands; we’d reconquer the martial world! Everyone else is just brainless!
I pondered more days, but they disgusted me. Treat them with respect for their history, and they get arrogant. Just seize it. First, I used the idiots from the Residual Blood Baek Clan to fabricate intel. The Seongga are now cult traitors. Push this agenda, and they’re done.
Finally, Sa Wol reached the next entry.
Successfully eradicated the Seongga.
In that instant, Sa Wol felt her rationality snap.
She’d known it, deep down.
That Sado Gwang was behind it all. That’s why she’d sworn revenge.
But she hadn’t known why—what reason demanded her clan’s, her family’s annihilation.
She’d assumed it was some inscrutable adult politicking over interests. If so, she could accept it as the way of the cult: they were weak, so it was inevitable. Then she’d revenge like a true cultist.
But no.
It was the work of one viciously selfish individual. Through vile slander unworthy of the cult or justice.
Grind—!
“Sado Gwang… Sado Gwang!”
A terrifying aura erupted from Sa Wol’s body. Her robes didn’t just flutter—they unleashed a qi wave that swept the room, shaking the bookshelves.
It wasn’t her usual gloomy, silent energy. This was scorching, as if it would incinerate all.
She had to charge into the Forgotten Soul Valley right now and tear that loathsome Sado Gwang limb from limb.
“Stop.”
“Don’t command me with your filthy blood!”
Sa Wol hurled the book to the floor.
“Keep reading.”
She opened her mouth to scream at him not to order her around. But seeing Sado Hwan’s eyes, she froze. They weren’t his usual piercing gaze.
……
Those eyes.
The warm eyes of the one who’d reached out to her, lost in the fog of Yunmujin amid the river mist.
Like gazing upon her brother, whom she’d never see again.
“No!”
In a flash, Sa Wol drew her dagger and pressed it to Sado Hwan’s throat. Blood trickled from the cut skin, yet he didn’t flinch. Confidence? Or something more?
“What good does reading this do… Do you want to see me writhe in agony?!”
“No.”
“Then you want to say I did nothing wrong?!”
“I have one thing to say.”
Even with the blade at his throat, Sado Hwan’s expression remained calm and composed.
“Keep reading.”
“You bastard…!”
“I understand your pain.”
She wanted to bellow nonsense, but couldn’t. That emotion rang true.
Sado Hwan gently pushed aside her trembling dagger, then picked up the discarded book and offered it again.
Sa Wol stared at his hand, then took the book and resumed from where she’d left off.
Eradicated the Seongga successfully. But couldn’t find the sacred flame. Those weaklings smuggled it out! Likely sent it with their direct descendants. I’ll find it no matter what.
Sa Wol’s hands began to shake.
Found traces of Seong Hwa-ryeon. She’s hiding in the slums of the Sixth Demon Realm, where orphans without a home dwell. Should track her in days.
The moment she read the next passage—
“Ahh…”
Sa Wol collapsed to the floor.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Found traces of the Seongga heir, Seong Hwa-rang. He… went to the martial world. Into the Murim Alliance’s territory—no further investigation possible… Plan to recover with sacred flame has failed. Must seek another great law or spirit pill.
“He’s alive… Brother… he’s alive…”
Sado Hwan approached the slumped Sa Wol and knelt to meet her gaze. For some reason, she recalled chasing butterflies. It had felt similar then, too.
“Is what you truly desire the revenge that consumes you… or the compassion of reunion?”
“……”
“I’ve heard the flame-bearing clan exists not to harm, but to protect.”
“Ahh…”
The scraped knee of a fallen girl had been healed by warm sacred flames.
In that moment—
Whoosh—
Fire bloomed in Sa Wol’s shattered heart—scraped, wounded, crushed, broken, and fragmented.