The Cunning Treasure Hunter

"…A Black Cherry Blossom, you say?"

"Since when did Mount Suncrest Sect have something like that?"

"I thought the Cherry blossoms of Mount Suncrest Sect were known for their vibrant crimson hue…"

This was no mere result of the Clear Mind Technique.

It was the manifestation of energy cultivated through the Soul-Harmony Realm, resulting in a blooming black Cherry blossom.

The dense fragrance of Cherry blossoms filled the air, tickling the noses of all present.

Vera felt the black dragon coursing through her veins, surging along her entire meridian system.

The power of the mythical beast surged wildly, yet her body bore no strain, no matter how much energy she summoned.

With a calm motion, Vera sheathed her sword.

The illusory images, brought to life through her inner energy and intent, dissipated one by one.

Among the crumbling petals of the black Cherry blossom, Kyun looked up at Vera, who extended her hand to him.

"Stand up, Senior Brother," she said softly.

"…You…" Kyun's voice faltered, words caught in his throat.

To see the Elegant cherry Sword Technique, not its final form but mere initial techniques, bloom into a Cherry blossom—such a feat was extraordinary.

But a Black Cherry Blossom?

And this fragrance, rich and sweet, was unlike anything else. Even amidst the fields of blooming Cherry blossoms that adorned Mount Suncrest, this scent stood distinct.

"It was a good duel. Truly," said Vera, her tone sincere.

A duel wasn't just about martial prowess; it was about resolving a contest.

Thus, she held no disdain for Kyun despite not fully utilizing the might of her Elegant cherry Sword Technique.

If anything, she admired his strategy and resourcefulness.

Kyun scratched the back of his head awkwardly and sighed heavily.

Then, with a small smile, he grasped her petite hand firmly.

* * *

Kael, wielder of the Breaker Sword, had always been a man of pride.

Once, that pride had burned fiercely.

Now, it was but a shadow of its former self.

Long ago, Aetheris, his senior brother, had surpassed him and ascended to the realm of the Peak Masters, leaving Kael forever halted at the wall of that same peak.

How pathetic his struggles had become.

They had both learned from the same master—so why was there such a gap between them?

It was unacceptable.

And so, he resolved to raise disciples who would outshine him, to cultivate a legacy stronger than his own.

But now, even his best disciples—Jace and Dylan, under Aetheris's guidance—remained at the level of first-rate martial artists.

Meanwhile, the disciples of Aiden, such as Ethan, Noah, and even Marcus, had also not surpassed the realm of first-rate martial prowess.

The Wall was a gate that tested talent, just as it had tested Kael, blocking him from the peak.

Perhaps his disciples would remain forever barred by their own walls.

Thus, he had taught them tirelessly.

He had not only trained their martial arts but also instilled in them the virtues of righteousness and chivalry.

For years, he had worn the emblem of Mount Suncrest Sect's Cherry Blossom Order on his chest, teaching what it meant to be human, what it meant to act with honor.

He hoped none of his students would suffer the near-death madness he had endured in his pursuit of martial perfection.

But today, for the first time in years, Kael felt the pangs of jealousy.

Not for his fellow masters, but for the tiny girl raised under Aiden's tutelage.

"…To have such a disciple fills me with envy. To see such accomplishments at that age—it's nothing short of incredible," he murmured.

His voice was heavy with a sigh, a lament born from years of bitterness.

He had never crossed the wall to the realm of the Peak Masters.

Even his master, Magnus, had long abandoned him, leaving him to languish in mediocrity.

Kael took a deep breath.

He couldn't fall into the madness of inner turmoil again.

This time, there would be no redemption.

His master would not come to save him again.

"Master, your lacking disciple has returned… Haha, I lost," said Kyun, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

His clear, pure eyes held no trace of despair.

Neither consumed by defeat nor struggling against feelings of inferiority, he remained at peace.

"…How was it?" asked Kael after a pause.

"How was it? She's ridiculously strong. Haha! It's not like when I sparred with Ethan in the training grounds."

"Well, Ethan is a genius, but…"

He's not a monster.

That word—monster—nearly escaped his lips, but he swallowed it back.

It was not a term to be uttered about one's disciple, especially not as a master striving for clarity.

"…That girl seems to be on a higher level," he admitted.

"Exactly. Even Ethan can't manifest sword light like that."

"A master at the peak of perfection… At the age of fourteen…"

Kael stared blankly as Vera descended from the Arena.

Kyun shrugged nonchalantly before adding with a grin, "Master."

"Speak," said Kael.

"I don't think I'll ever be as strong as those monsters over there," he admitted with a laugh.

His master's gaze turned to him, and Kyun gave a bright smile, raising a thumbs-up.

"But still, I'm confident I'll be a disciple you can be proud of!"

Kael silently stared into his student's clear, unwavering eyes.

How could a soul shine so brightly?

In terms of character, no amount of cultivation or refinement could rival the purity of this child.

He reached out and embraced his young disciple, patting his back gently.

"You," he whispered softly, "will always be a better disciple than I could ever hope to be."

"How was it?" Aiden asked with a smile, looking at Vera.

By this time, Marcus's face had already turned pale.

The ultimate move of the Elegant cherry Sword, Blooming Ten Thousand Petals, was said to produce Cherry blossoms only at its peak.

But what Vera had used was merely the First Form, The Flower Branch Greets the Sun.

"It was a splendid move," Aiden continued.

"Thank you, Master," 

Marcus Reid replied. "It's a technique I can't even fathom, let alone replicate."

Her words were true.

Had she not reached the level of a peak martial artist capable of summoning sword light, the duel would have been far more grueling.

"How did you do it, Vera? That was clearly Flower Branch Greets the Sun," Marcus finally asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

After some thought, Vera offered a strange yet profound answer.

"Who said an bloom must remain unbloomed?"

"…What?"

"You could call it a bud," she said softly, her voice steady, "but you could also see it as a small flower."

As she spoke, Vera gently swept back her disheveled hair from the duel, tucking stray strands neatly behind her ears.

She tied her hair back with a simple white ribbon, her demeanor calm yet captivating—like a single, small flower in bloom.

It was an enlightenment, an insight born of seeing the person before her, someone who resembled the Cherry blossom more than anyone else.

A young blossom.

A small flower.

To illustrate an unmastered concept with a sword's edge was impossible.

But in that moment, Marcus understood what Vera's blade had drawn.

Her Elegant cherry Sword was fundamentally different from his.

"Ah… Ah…"

"Senior Brother?"

"…So that's it. That's what it was all along…"

A shiver ran down his spine.

His hands trembled from the sheer realization.

While all of Mount Suncrest Sect painted clumsy buds with their blades, this girl had, by her own will, drawn a small but blooming Cherry blossom.

Shing!

Before he realized it, Marcus had drawn his sword.

With a pleased smile, Aiden pulled Vera to a corner of the tent, out of harm's way.

And then, Marcus's blade began to trace the trajectory of the Elegant cherry Sword, his movements deliberate and measured.

At the end of each stroke, small and delicate petals appeared, each one vividly etched in the air.

They were much smaller than the fully bloomed blossoms of the Nine Heavens Cherry Blossom Sword Style, yet that was precisely what made them an early Cherry blossom—young and fragile, yet blooming in their own right.

The tent gradually filled with the soft pink hue of Cherry blossoms.

Watching the scene unfold, Aiden smiled and gently patted Vera's head, as though proud of her.

"You've helped your Senior Brother," he said warmly.

"Not at all," Vera replied, shaking her head gently.

She turned her gaze toward Marcus, who was still performing his sword dance.

When it ended, Marcus let out a heavy breath and sank to the floor, his body drained.

The tent was saturated with the thick fragrance of Cherry blossoms.

"Senior Brother, you've always struggled," Vera said, stepping forward from Aiden's side to stand before Marcus.

She extended a small hand toward him.

"How much effort have you poured into blooming even a single Cherry blossom at the tip of your blade?"

For a moment, Marcus stared at her hand before finally grasping it.

Vera gently pulled him up.

Marcus chuckled faintly.

It was such a small hand, incapable of pulling him up on its own.

And yet, that same hand, when imbued with energy, could destroy even the greatest of forces—a hand that wielded miracles.

"Thank you," he said, rising to his feet.

Ignoring the goodwill of a junior would not have been right.

Even in that small hand, calluses had formed—proof of countless hours spent gripping both ropes and swords.

In that moment, Marcus realized something.

He had reached the very edge of first-rate martial arts.

The path to the Peak Realm stretched before him.

He could feel the unyielding wall at the edge of his fingertips.

"…That wall won't be easy to overcome," said Vera, her eyes meeting his.

Her black, hollow gaze was like a bottomless abyss—unfathomable yet calm.

"A word of advice from someone experienced?" he joked, ruffling her hair with a faint smile.

The warmth radiating from her small hands was not unwelcome.