Among the core figures of the regional Gae-bang, Jeong Ho-rim could not hide her confusion amidst the heavy tension. News that the main branch of the Gae-bang was descending to suppress them filled her with both anger and fear. Unlike the regional Gae-bang, the main branch was more fixated on preserving order in the Murim than on helping the weak. To Jeong Ho-rim, they were walking an entirely different path.
The main Gae-bang considered the actions of the regional branch a threat to the orthodox order and launched a large-scale crackdown. Their goal was to subdue the regional Gae-bang by force and sever its alliance with the Cheonuhoe, thereby reorganizing the Murim order. Though Jeong Ho-rim was enraged by this, she couldn't help but feel daunted by the overwhelming martial might and sheer numbers of the main branch.
Determined, she sent a request for aid to the Cheonuhoe. Informing its leader, Lee Do-hyeon, of the situation, she asked for support—and the Cheonuhoe responded without hesitation.
Upon hearing the news, Chunhyang acted immediately. She temporarily closed Pungwol-ru, the courtesan house she managed, and began devising a plan to support the regional Gae-bang. Pungwol-ru wasn't just a pleasure house; it was a hub of intelligence and influence—Chunhyang's domain of power. Through her network, she gathered information on the main branch's movements while preparing to assist both Jeong Ho-rim and the Cheonuhoe.
Chunhyang sought out Jeong Ho-rim directly and said,
"If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. Pungwol-ru is ready to act."
Jeong Ho-rim shook her head, replying,
"Chunhyang, it's dangerous for a woman to involve herself in such matters. I appreciate your intentions, but the regional Gae-bang and the Cheonuhoe will handle this."
But Chunhyang's response was firm.
"I may be a woman, but I'm also connected to the Cheonuhoe. We have our part to play. Now is the time for all of us to stand together."
The Cheonuhoe began devising a defensive strategy against the main branch's advance. After listening to both Jeong Ho-rim and Chunhyang, Lee Do-hyeon analyzed the situation and said,
"The main Gae-bang isn't just trying to suppress the regional branch—they want to dismantle the very alliance we've built. Their actions are no warning—they're a declaration. This will be a true trial for all of us."
Chunhyang added quietly,
"Commander, Pungwol-ru is ready to support the effort. Our strength lies in intelligence and logistics. We can contribute."
Lee Do-hyeon nodded at her determination.
"Good. Then focus on gathering information and tracking the movements of the main branch. We'll reinforce the defenses with Jeong Ho-rim's group."
Though under heavy pressure, Jeong Ho-rim did her best to remain steadfast. With support from the Cheonuhoe and Chunhyang, she rallied the members of the regional Gae-bang and prepared them for the battle ahead.
Gathering her key people, she declared,
"If the main Gae-bang seeks to destroy us, we will fight in our own way. Our alliance with the Cheonuhoe was a decision made to protect the weak of the Murim. If they try to silence us, we will stand our ground for what we believe in."
Her words inspired courage among her people. With the Cheonuhoe's support, Chunhyang's resolve, and Jeong Ho-rim's leadership, their forces began to build the strength to resist the looming threat.
As the main branch's troops neared the outskirts of their village, the tension mounted. The Cheonuhoe and regional Gae-bang fortified their defenses, ready to confront the invaders. At the same time, Chunhyang and her Pungwol-ru agents gathered intelligence, identifying the weaknesses and force composition of the main branch, relaying everything to Lee Do-hyeon.
With the Cheonuhoe at her back, Jeong Ho-rim vowed silently,
"We cannot retreat from this fight. If they seek to crush us with their arrogance, they must pay the price."
As the vanguard of the main Gae-bang appeared at the edge of the village, the confrontation escalated. The cooperation between the Cheonuhoe, regional Gae-bang, and Pungwol-ru would become the heart of this conflict—one that would open a new chapter in the Murim's turbulent future.
***
Chapter : An Unexpected Strategy
As the forces of the main Gae-bang approached, tension crackled through the Cheonuhoe's defensive line. Lee Do-hyeon and his comrades in the Cheonuhoe were bracing for a clash with elite martial artists of the orthodox faction. Jeong Ho-rim and the regional Gae-bang, too, had gathered their strength in preparation. But Chunhyang was contemplating a different kind of response—one rooted in their own style and psychology.
In a meeting room where leaders from the Cheonuhoe and the regional Gae-bang had gathered, Chunhyang quietly raised her hand and said,
"I have a plan. It might be a little unconventional, but it could buy us some time by exploiting the psychology of orthodox martial artists."
Jeong Ho-rim tilted her head.
"Chunhyang, what exactly is your plan?"
With a resolute expression, Chunhyang replied,
"Orthodox masters place great value on honor and the Dao of the Murim. Especially when it comes to facing women, they hesitate. I propose that I and the women of Pungwol-ru stand at the front to create confusion."
Han So-yeon's face showed alarm.
"That sounds far too dangerous. What if they decide to attack?"
Chunhyang gave a soft smile.
"Then our mission is to make sure they don't. Most of these men won't know how to respond when we confront them in a way they don't expect."
Soon, the main Gae-bang's forces appeared before the defensive lines of the Cheonuhoe. They came with fierce determination, seeking to crush the regional Gae-bang and dismantle the Cheonuhoe's influence in order to restore what they saw as Murim's rightful order.
But what they found was not armed soldiers or hardened martial artists.
Instead, standing tall in front of the defenses were the women of Pungwol-ru. Dressed in vibrant garments and exuding confidence, they stepped forward—radiant, proud, and calm. Their sudden appearance left the warriors of the main Gae-bang visibly unsettled.
Leading them, Chunhyang approached the front ranks of the opposing force. She bowed gracefully and spoke,
"Honored warriors, may I ask—have you come all this way to trample upon those weaker than yourselves?"
The martial artists were baffled, caught off guard by her unexpected poise and tone. Their sense of orthodox dignity wavered in the face of this unforeseen situation.
And then—it happened.
The women of Pungwol-ru shed their outer garments in a symbolic, provocative gesture. The orthodox warriors, bound by their strict code of honor and moral restraint, froze. To strike a woman—especially one who stood unarmed—was not something their pride allowed so easily.
That hesitation was all the time the Cheonuhoe and regional Gae-bang needed.
In a flash, both forces launched a surprise flanking attack. The stunned main Gae-bang was thrown into disarray, their response sluggish, their ranks crumbling under the unexpected assault.
Chunhyang and her companions, having fulfilled their part, swiftly retreated from the battlefield. Though they had not thrown a single punch, their plan had already changed the course of the battle.
Lee Do-hyeon, watching the chaos unfold, stepped forward with his sword drawn.
"Today, the hypocrisy and arrogance of the main Gae-bang are laid bare. The Cheonuhoe and the regional Gae-bang will fight—for the sake of the powerless!"
Jeong Ho-rim shouted alongside him,
"We will not yield to their oppression. We will prove our convictions in this fight!"
Though the main Gae-bang tried to regroup, the damage had been done. Outmaneuvered and outpaced, they were driven back. In the end, it was the Cheonuhoe and regional Gae-bang who emerged victorious.
After the battle, Chunhyang smiled and turned to Lee Do-hyeon.
"Commander, did Pungwol-ru manage to be of some help today?"
He returned the smile.
"Without your courage and quick thinking, this would've been far harder. Thank you, Chunhyang."
She replied with a playful grin,
"Then, Commander~ perhaps you should stop by Pungwol-ru sometime. We can't have you owing us forever."
Lee Do-hyeon laughed.
"I'll take you up on that. I promise."
But the joy of victory was short-lived. From a captured warrior of the main Gae-bang, Lee Do-hyeon learned something troubling: the Magyo had been watching everything. And now, with the main Gae-bang in retreat, they were planning to exploit the chaos for their own ends.
The Cheonuhoe and regional Gae-bang began preparing for what lay ahead. Though the immediate threat had passed, the shadow of a greater enemy loomed behind them.
This was no longer just a civil conflict—it was the prelude to a war that could decide the fate of the entire Murim.