A heavy atmosphere hung over the headquarters of Jeongsayeon. Tension, uncertainty, and anger were thick in the air. As Cheonuhoe's influence spread—bolstered by the support of various Sapa sects and regional Gae-bang—Jeongsayeon's core members convened an emergency meeting to address the growing threat.
A senior elder from the Hwasan Sect slammed his fist on the table, his voice raised in agitation.
"If we let Cheonuhoe be, the order of Murim will collapse! Rumors are already spreading that the Sapa and Gae-bang support them. We must act now and suppress them before it's too late!"
The acting head of the Wudang Sect responded calmly.
"A direct attack on Cheonuhoe would cost us dearly. Hwasan and Kunlun have already suffered greatly in clashes with the Magyo. This is the time to conserve strength. We should use smaller factions as proxies to restrain them from the shadows."
The head of the Ami Sect fixed a sharp gaze on the Hwasan elder.
"So you're suggesting we send weaker Sapa sects to strike first? If they fail, it will be our credibility that suffers."
The Hwasan elder nodded grimly.
"I acknowledge the risk. But if we can convince the rest of Murim that Cheonuhoe is colluding with the Magyo, we won't stand alone. This is the time to take bold risks."
Ultimately, Jeongsayeon leadership agreed to deploy lesser Sapa factions to confront Cheonuhoe. Their intent was not only to provoke conflict but to use the potential failure to further cement the narrative of Cheonuhoe's alleged alliance with Magyo.
But the mid-tier Sapa factions, upon receiving Jeongsayeon's orders, erupted in protest.
The leader of the Chilseongmun frowned as he looked at the dispatch.
"What do they take us for? Their servants? They throw down orders as if we owe them loyalty."
A deputy from the Maengho-dan sneered.
"They want to use us as bait—to draw out Cheonuhoe and Magyo together. It's obvious they expect us to be the sacrificial lambs."
The Chilseongmun leader slammed the table.
"If Jeongsayeon treats us this way, we'll eventually collapse from within. But if we disobey, they'll retaliate harshly. What choice do we have?"
The deputy answered firmly.
"There's a way to survive without obeying them. Let's consider reaching out to Cheonuhoe. At least they don't treat allies like pawns."
After a moment of silent contemplation, the Chilseongmun leader made a decision.
"Alright. We won't follow Jeongsayeon's orders. But openly opposing them is still dangerous. Let's try to establish unofficial contact with Cheonuhoe."
When a spy from Chilseongmun approached Cheonuhoe, Lee Do-hyeon reviewed the matter cautiously. Chunhyang, Baek Wol-hee, and Jeong Ho-rim joined him in discussion.
Baek Wol-hee smiled slyly.
"Captain~, this is a great opportunity. If Sapa starts siding with us, Jeongsayeon's coalition will fracture."
Chunhyang, ever pragmatic, responded coldly.
"Their motives aren't noble. They're reaching for us because they resent Jeongsayeon—not because they see us as real allies."
Jeong Ho-rim spoke with measured caution.
"Still, aligning with them now works in our favor. Weakening Jeongsayeon gives us space to solidify our position."
Lee Do-hyeon nodded.
"Good. We'll accept their offer—but only as a tactical cooperation, not an alliance. Keep a close eye on Jeongsayeon's movements."
News that Chilseongmun and Maengho-dan had defied Jeongsayeon and begun cooperating with Cheonuhoe quickly spread—and Jeongsayeon was enraged.
The Hwasan elder exploded in fury.
"The Sapa dares betray us?! We must crush them and set an example!"
But the Wudang representative answered coolly.
"Fighting them now would be unwise. The Magyo may exploit this chaos to become an even greater threat."
The Ami Sect's head, deep in thought, added:
"If the Sapa oppose us, it may cause fractures within their own ranks. Let's find a way to exploit this—use it to keep both Cheonuhoe and Magyo in check."
Jeongsayeon began drawing up a new plan to manipulate the divisions within the Sapa sects and regain control, even as the landscape shifted rapidly around them. But what Cheonuhoe and the Magyo would do next remained unclear.
With four powers now in play—Cheonuhoe, Jeongsayeon, the Sapa, and the Magyo—the whole of Murim was descending deeper into a vortex of scheming and strife.
Lee Do-hyeon and the leaders of Cheonuhoe began preparing new strategies, determined to turn the chaos to their advantage.
As the web of conflict widened, tension surged toward a breaking point.
***
Chapter : The Approaching Storm
Jeongsayeon's large-scale mobilization sent a wave of tension rippling through all of Murim. With plans to annihilate Cheonuhoe once and for all, they gathered a massive force, aiming to wipe out its stronghold completely. Their formations were tightly organized—masters and warriors from various clans converged under a single purpose.
At a strategic meeting, an elder from the Hwasan Sect stood at the front and declared resolutely:
"We can no longer allow Cheonuhoe to plunge Murim into chaos. They must fall for order to be restored!"
The acting head of the Wudang Sect nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. This time, we crush them thoroughly. The Sapa factions that have sided with them must be eradicated along with them."
Determined to establish their dominance, Jeongsayeon began marching toward Cheonuhoe with an overwhelming show of force.
When the Magyo's leader, the Celestial Sword Demon King, learned of Jeongsayeon's movement, he summoned his elite warriors at once.
"Jeongsayeon moves against Cheonuhoe. We'll use this chaos to our advantage."
The Magyo's elite operatives moved covertly, heading toward the expected battlefield between Jeongsayeon and Cheonuhoe. The Demon King's strategy was simple—wait until both sides had worn each other down, then strike at the most opportune moment and reshape the balance of Murim.
Inside Cheonuhoe, tension was at a boiling point. Lee Do-hyeon gathered his leadership to analyze the situation and prepare defenses.
"Jeongsayeon and the Magyo are both on the move. Whatever their real intentions are, our first priority is to fortify our defense."
Han So-yeon responded calmly:
"Jeongsayeon seeks our destruction, but the Magyo aims to escalate the chaos. We must prepare to face both."
Baek Wol-hee gave a playful smile, though her tone remained sharp:
"Captain~, it's time to show them just how strong we are. But we can't afford to drop our guard—not for a moment."
Jeong Ho-rim rallied local Gae-bang members to construct defensive perimeters.
"With Cheonuhoe, we'll hold this ground again. Let them pay the price for underestimating us."
Meanwhile, Chunhyang was using Pungwolru's intelligence network to track Jeongsayeon and Magyo's movements in real time.
"Captain, they're moving faster than expected. But through Hwanggeumhoe, I'm working to reestablish contact with Miryeong. Her support is critical."
The head of Hwanggeumhoe swiftly relayed the message to Miryeong. Upon hearing it, she quietly closed her book inside the imperial palace and rose from her seat.
"Jeongsayeon and Magyo moving against Cheonuhoe… This threatens the entire peace of Murim. It's time for me to act."
She summoned trusted individuals from within the palace and issued discreet orders:
"Prepare the necessary forces. If we don't intervene now, Murim will descend into total chaos."
Elsewhere within the royal court, another figure also responded to the alarming news. Determined to preserve Murim's stability, he began organizing imperial troops under his authority.
"This won't be just another clash. If the storm gets out of hand, even royal authority could collapse."
Cheonuhoe kept close watch on all movements—Jeongsayeon, the Magyo, and now, the potential involvement of the royal court. In a high-level meeting, Lee Do-hyeon spoke with firm resolve:
"We must survive this. Whether Jeongsayeon, the Magyo, or even the palace steps in, our priority is protecting our own."
Baek Wol-hee gave a confident grin:
"Captain~, if we hold steady amidst this chaos, we might just become the pillar of Murim's future."
Chunhyang nodded and added:
"If we can secure cooperation with the palace, we'll gain the upper hand in steering the conflict."
Now, Cheonuhoe braced itself for the storm on the horizon. With Jeongsayeon, the Magyo, and the royal court entangled in an ever-growing conflict, the fate of Murim stood on a knife's edge.
As each faction watched the others with growing suspicion, Cheonuhoe began crafting new strategies—strategies not just for survival, but for a decisive turn.
In the eye of the storm, Cheonuhoe stood poised at the brink of transformation.