Seven Years Ago — Flashback
It had only been a few days since Jang Hyun looked Eun Sook in the eye and asked her a question that would change her life forever — to become an assassin.
One evening, he called her into his study. The fire in the brazier was burning softly. Its warmth didn't reach his eyes. He stood by the window, looking out as if the world outside held answers he couldn't find.
"Get ready," he said without turning around. "We're leaving for the North. Hwaju."
She blinked. "Why?"
"There's something I need to show you."
That was all he said.
The next morning, their bags were packed by Maidservant Shin, the quiet woman who had served in the Jang residence for years. Gwang Woo would accompany them. He didn't say much either — just gave a stiff nod.
The journey lasted seven long days. At first, the weather was bearable. The roads were flat, and their horses moved at a steady pace. But the closer they got to the North, the colder it became. Each day, the wind bit harder at their skin. They had to wrap themselves tightly in thick coats and scarves, and Eun Sook could feel her fingers growing stiff even inside her gloves.
On the fifth day, they reached a point where the road forked. The left path went through the mountains — the shorter way. The right path curved around the rocky terrain, adding at least two days to their trip. Jang Hyun didn't even hesitate. He pulled his horse toward the longer path.
Eun Sook frowned. "Why aren't we going through the mountain pass? Isn't that faster?"
He looked at her sharply. "Never take that path," he said firmly. "It's dangerous. That place is crawling with wild animals and worse barbarians. If you ever travel to Hwaju alone, avoid it at all costs."
She nodded and fell silent, but as they rode on, she kept glancing back at the mountains, her eyes lingering on the snowy peaks and dark shadows between the trees. His warning echoed in her head.
Two days later, they finally arrived.
Hwaju wasn't a busy town. It was a wide, quiet land, covered in snow and ice. Only a small number of people lived there, all in small homes built close together for warmth. The sky above was pale gray, and the cold felt heavier than any place she had ever been. Their horses kicked up thin clouds of snow as they rode past the quiet village.
Then she saw it.
In the valley below, spread out like something from a dream — or a nightmare — was a field of red.
At first, she thought it was blood. That someone had spilled an ocean of it across the ice. But as they got closer, she saw they were flowers. Dozens and dozens of them. Deep red. The color of blood. The petals curled and dripped like something alive. It was beautiful… but also scary. The sight made her shiver, and not just from the cold.
"That's the blood blossom," Jang Hyun said, pointing. "The flower we use to make poison. And sometimes… sleeping tonics."
In the middle of the plantation, only four people worked. Two were bent low, tending to the flowers with gloved hands. The other two sat inside a small wooden hut, grinding petals into powder and boiling mixtures over fire. The smell in the air was strong and sweet.
He turned to her. "You'll stay here for four months. Learn everything. How to harvest it, how to make the poison, how to handle it without dying. Only then will I give you your first mission."
Then he handed her something — a falcon, perched calmly on a leather glove. It was already trained, its sharp eyes studying her carefully.
"This bird knows the way between Hwaju and the capital. If you ever need to contact me, send it. Don't lose it."
She took the bird silently. Something inside her shifted. There was no turning back now.
---
The Present
Years had passed. Now, Jang Eun Sook and Gwang Woo were back in those same mountains — but this time, they were not taking the safer path.
The wind howled louder with every step. The cold wrapped around them like chains, making it hard to breathe. Both had to wrap scarves around their noses and mouths to keep the freezing air from burning their lungs.
Neither of them had said a word in hours. They kept riding higher and higher in the mountains paths.
She was still angry — not because of the cold, but because of the truth. Gwang Woo had been following her, spying on her under her father's orders. She should've expected it, but it still stung.
Finally, Gwang Woo broke the silence.
"Why did you take this path?" he asked, annoyed. "You of all persons know it's dangerous. Are you trying to get us killed?"
Eun Sook stopped her horse for a brief moment and glared at him. Her eyes were sharp.
"You knew it was dangerous, and you still followed me," she shot back. "So if we die out here, at least I won't have to see your annoying face again."
He grumbled something under his breath, but didn't respond.
The path was narrow, and ice clung to the rocks like claws. They moved slowly, leading their horses carefully over frozen ground of the mountains. Somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed. The sky above was darkening. The sun had begun to set. It created a reddish glow over the snowy peaks.
---
Elsewhere — Safe Path
On the safer path, Seo Jin and Go Nam were also making their way through the cold. The road wasn't easy, but it was nothing compared to the harsh mountain terrain. It was cold, but not deadly.
After hours of riding, they reached a river. The surface was frozen solid, but with some effort, they broke through the ice and scooped out some water. Go Nam even managed to catch a few fish with his spear.
As the sun rose lower, they decided to camp for the night. They fed their horses and started a small fire with dry wood they had gathered earlier.
Go Nam sat beside the fire, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
"My lord," he said, "I've followed you for days, but you still haven't told me what we're doing in the North. What exactly are we looking for?"
Seo Jin was quiet for a moment. Then he looked at Go Nam and spoke in a low voice.
"A flower," he said. "A red one. The kind used by assassins."
Go Nam blinked. "What? Why?"
"I believe the assassin who killed Lord Baek used it. And that flower only grows in the North."
Go Nam stared at him in shock. "I thought Lord Baek died by accident."
Seo Jin nodded. "No he didn't. He was assassinated. This flower is our only clue to find out who this assassin is and what they are after. Don't tell anyone. Not until we're sure."
Go Nam slowly nodded. "I understand."
---
Back in the Mountains
Meanwhile, Eun Sook and Gwang Woo were still walking. The sky had gone dark now, and the cold felt like knives against their skin. The wind had picked up, and in the distance, they heard something.
A howl.
Wolves.
"We need to camp," Gwang Woo insisted. "We can't keep going like this."
"No," Eun Sook replied quickly. "We're already deep in the mountains. If we stop now, we'll die. The animals come out at night. If we don't reach Hwaju, we won't survive."
They kept moving.
Their legs ached. Their hands felt numb. Even their breaths came out in painful gasps now. The horses were tired and were struggling because of the cold. The only sound was the crunch of snow beneath their horses hooves and the distant, haunting calls of the wild.
Then, just as they were about to lose hope, they saw something.
Smoke.
A thin trail of it, rising into the air.
Eun Sook pointed. "Look."
Gwang Woo squinted. "Is that…?"
She nodded. "The village."
They both picked up speed. The smoke came from the huge fire in the village. Small houses covered in snow. They were almost there.
They had reached the outskirts of Hwaju.
The moment they saw into the familiar cold village, both of them exhaled in relief. Their bodies were tired, frozen, a
nd sore… but they had made it.
They were home. Or at least, the closest thing they had to one.
And the blood blossoms were waiting.