While the main Gae-bang retreated after their defeat at the hands of the Cheonuhoe and the regional Gae-bang, a deeper crisis was beginning to take root in the Murim. Though the Cheonuhoe had claimed a hard-earned victory and reaffirmed their ideals, the aftermath rippled through the ranks of the Jeongsayeon—the fragile alliance between the orthodox and unorthodox factions. And lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment, was the Magyo.
In her private chamber, the Heavenly Sword Demon Queen (Cheongeom Mawang) observed the situation with quiet satisfaction, her inner circle of strategists gathered around her.
"The Jeongsayeon is already cracking," she murmured. "The orthodox and unorthodox never truly trusted each other. The failure of the main Gae-bang will deliver a serious blow to their alliance."
One of her aides nodded.
"Shall we begin the operation to heighten the confusion, my lady? Let the Jeongsayeon crumble under its own weight."
She raised a hand.
"Sowing mere chaos won't be enough. This time, we must make both the Jeongsayeon and the Cheonuhoe suspect each other."
Another strategist spoke carefully.
"Then we'll attack one side and make it seem like the Cheonuhoe was behind it. At the same time, we'll strike the Cheonuhoe while disguised as Jeongsayeon forces. The result—mutual hostility."
The Demon Queen smiled, cold and pleased.
"Perfect. Focus on dismantling the trust between the orthodox and unorthodox factions. Let them tear each other apart."
Back at the Jeongsayeon headquarters, news of the main Gae-bang's failure spread quickly, prompting an emergency meeting. The major sects began turning on each other, their fragile unity unraveling.
The Grand Elder of the Ami Sect slammed his fist down.
"We underestimated the strength of the Cheonuhoe and the regional Gae-bang—because of the main Gae-bang's poor judgment! Their reckless advance brought this shame upon us!"
The leader of the Wudang Sect responded coldly.
"They only acted because sects like yours hesitated. Where were you when Mount Hua and Kunlun suffered heavy losses?"
A representative from the unorthodox side sneered.
"This is always the way with you orthodox hypocrites. You flaunt your righteousness and treat us like criminals. If this is how you assign blame, then perhaps this alliance should end here."
Amidst these bitter exchanges, the Magyo moved swiftly.
Their first strike targeted a major Jeongsayeon supply base. Disguised with stolen banners of the Cheonuhoe and regional Gae-bang, Magyo agents launched a sudden raid. The defenders, caught off guard, believed it to be an actual attack by their supposed allies.
"It's the Cheonuhoe and those damned rebels!"Panic erupted, and word of the attack spread like wildfire. Fury toward the Cheonuhoe intensified.
At the same time, another Magyo unit assaulted a small Cheonuhoe outpost, this time bearing the flags of the Jeongsayeon. The defenders, unable to discern the attackers' true identity, assumed betrayal.
Back at Cheonuhoe headquarters, confusion and suspicion grew.
Han So-yeon spoke with fury,
"It's them—the Jeongsayeon. They came at us waving their flags. This wasn't just a warning. They're preparing for full-scale war."
Baek Wol-hee scoffed.
"Then we make it clear: we're not so easily broken. Let's remind them who they're dealing with."
But Cheong Un-jin interrupted with a calmer voice,
"Wait. If we react rashly, this will spiral into real war. It could be a misunderstanding—"
Lee Do-hyeon raised his hand.
"Everyone, stand down. First, we need to confirm whether this was truly the Jeongsayeon's doing. If someone is manipulating the situation, we must uncover who."
He suspected that this was no mere inter-faction conflict—but a scheme from the shadows. He postponed any immediate retaliation and instead began investigating the possibility of Magyo involvement.
Meanwhile, the Demon Queen received reports of their scheme's success.
"They've begun turning their blades on each other," she said, her voice laced with satisfaction. "Now, amidst this chaos, we can seize control of the Murim."
But she had underestimated one critical factor—Lee Do-hyeon's insight, and the Cheonuhoe's superior intelligence network. It wouldn't take them long to connect the dots and expose the Magyo's plot.
Tensions between the Cheonuhoe and the Jeongsayeon rose dangerously. Distrust poisoned every word. But Lee Do-hyeon, determined to preserve what little unity remained, began forming a new plan.
The Murim was plunging deeper into disarray. The battle lines were no longer drawn simply between power and rebellion, but between truth and manipulation.
The conflict was no longer about territory—it was about the fate of the entire Murim.
***
Chapter : In the Rift of Chaos
At Cheonuhoe headquarters, the air in the meeting room was heavy with tension. Lee Do-hyeon stood at the center, his expression a complex mix of gravity and contemplation. Seated before him were Chunhyang, Jeong Ho-rim, Han So-yeon, Baek Wol-hee, and Cheong Un-jin—each lost in deep thought. What they discussed now would determine the future—and the survival—of the Cheonuhoe.
"Our situation is clear," Lee began, his voice calm but resolute. "Jeongsayeon has fallen into the Magyo's scheme and now sees us as their collaborators. Magyo is using this chaos to drive a deeper wedge between us and Jeongsayeon."
Han So-yeon nodded with a grim look.
"Magyo's goal is unmistakable—chaos. They pretend to support us but are actually provoking conflict between us and Jeongsayeon. Jeongsayeon already believes we've sided with them."
Baek Wol-hee leaned back with a half-playful, half-serious smile.
"Captain~ If they're going to attack, it's just a matter of time. If we sit on our hands, both sides will come for us. So why not make the first move?"
Chunhyang placed her hand calmly on the table and spoke in a cool tone.
"Jeongsayeon is already ensnared in the Magyo's trap. Exhausted from their war with Magyo, they'll look to us as a convenient enemy to unify their factions and recover their pride."
Cheong Un-jin, arms crossed, added in a heavy voice,
"Then our course is obvious. We must pit Jeongsayeon and Magyo against each other. In that chaos, we'll carve out space for ourselves."
Jeong Ho-rim finally spoke, quietly but firmly.
"But to make them fight, we'll have to plant real distrust between them. That's not something we can achieve with a single rumor."
Wol-hee smirked.
"Ah, Captain~ If it's about planting distrust, leave that to me. I've made a career out of it. A few choice leaks in the right ears, and they'll be at each other's throats in no time."
Lee Do-hyeon nodded, smiling slightly.
"Very well, Wol-hee. I'm counting on you. But be careful. One slip could cost us dearly."
Jeong Ho-rim added with a cautious tone,
"I'll use my network in the regional Gae-bang to spread those rumors quickly. We'll keep our justifications intact while making sure Jeongsayeon and Magyo turn on each other."
The conversation naturally shifted to Mi-ryeong's whereabouts. Lee exhaled deeply.
"Our biggest concern now is losing contact with Mi-ryeong. She's a key figure connected to the Imperial Court. If we re-establish that link, we could shift the balance—perhaps even bring an enemy greater than Jeongsayeon or Magyo."
Chunhyang nodded gravely.
"Captain, if we succeed in connecting with Mi-ryeong, it could redirect Jeongsayeon and Magyo's attention to the Imperial Court instead of us. But we should prepare for that scenario ourselves."
Han So-yeon spoke evenly.
"The Imperial Court is a double-edged sword. If we can harness that power, it becomes a shield. But if we misstep, it could turn into our worst enemy."
Tension in the room grew thicker. After a pause, Lee Do-hyeon gathered his thoughts and spoke.
"Alright. Our goals are clear. First, we sow distrust between Jeongsayeon and Magyo. Second, we provoke further disorder within Jeongsayeon using Magyo's involvement."
Wol-hee grinned and raised her hand.
"Leave it to me, Captain~ I have the perfect plan to turn them against each other."
Jeong Ho-rim nodded.
"I'll use the regional Gae-bang's communication channels to spread the word quickly. We maintain our honor—and let them clash."
Cheong Un-jin added in a low voice,
"And if they both come for us, we need a solid defense plan. Prepare for that contingency."
Lee gave the final orders.
"Wol-hee, handle misinformation and spread it with precision. Jeong Ho-rim, disperse it through the regional network. So-yeon and Un-jin—track Jeongsayeon's movements and ready our defenses."
Then he turned to Chunhyang.
"Chunhyang, monitor external activity through Pungwolru. Keep tabs on Jeongsayeon's internal information and shifts."
Chunhyang smiled lightly.
"Understood, Do-hyeon. I'll do my best. Just don't forget about me."
Lee concluded with quiet determination.
"And I will attempt to re-establish contact with Mi-ryeong. If successful, the tide may turn drastically in our favor."
As the meeting adjourned, each member moved swiftly to their respective tasks. The Cheonuhoe's strategy was now clear: ignite the conflict between Jeongsayeon and Magyo, then exploit the resulting chaos to survive.
But whether their plan would succeed remained uncertain.
Jeongsayeon, Magyo, Cheonuhoe—three powers, entangled in schemes and conflict. The Murim stood on the brink of a storm, and no one knew which side would survive its coming.