In the face of threats from both the Cheonuhoe and the Magyo, the internal fractures within Jeongsayeon deepened further. A state of uproar erupted at the emergency meeting held at the Jeongsayeon headquarters. Under the pretense of an alliance between the orthodox and the unorthodox factions, voices were now being raised, splitting the gathered forces into hardliners and moderates.
A grim-faced elder of the Hwasan Sect stood at the center of the chamber and shouted,"We can no longer sit idle! The Cheonuhoe has shaken the balance of the Murim, and the Magyo still seeks to destroy us. We must strike both forces simultaneously and restore order to the Murim!"
His voice thundered through the hall, drawing agreement from other hardline leaders.The leader of the Gonryun Sect also spoke firmly,"The Cheonuhoe are agitators, and the Magyo are our ancient enemies. If we fail to suppress both at once, the authority of Jeongsayeon will collapse."
One elder interjected with a wary expression,"But if we recklessly confront both sides, we may suffer heavy losses ourselves. Jeongsayeon is already weakened."
The Hwasan elder slammed his hand on the table and roared,"Then are we to sit quietly and wait for the Cheonuhoe and the Magyo to swallow us whole?"
The acting leader of the Mudang Sect raised a hand, calming the room with a composed yet weighty tone."Let us recall why we came into conflict with the Cheonuhoe in the first place. It was the result of misguided decisions by certain sects, and now that conflict endangers the entire Murim. We must first deal with the threat of the Magyo and set aside our quarrel with the Cheonuhoe for now."
When the hardliners grumbled in protest, he continued,"Is the Cheonuhoe truly the enemy of the Murim? If we fail to unite now, it is the Magyo who will benefit from this chaos. They are the greatest threat."
Then, an elder from the Amipa offered a bold new suggestion that shifted the course of the meeting."Then what if we consider cooperating with the Cheonuhoe? If we exclude the sects that triggered this conflict and work with them instead, we may contain the Magyo more effectively."
The hall fell into stunned silence. This suggestion was radical. For Jeongsayeon, who had long treated the Cheonuhoe as an enemy, to now propose an alliance—this struck at their pride.
The Hwasan elder rebuked angrily,"Amipa! Have you lost your mind? To cooperate with the Cheonuhoe is to trample the dignity of Jeongsayeon. Such an alliance is unthinkable!"
The Gonryun sect leader also shook his head in agreement,"The Cheonuhoe caused this disorder. Cooperating with them will only weaken us further."
But the Amipa elder stood firm,"If this conflict deepens, we'll collapse from within. The Cheonuhoe has already established itself as a major power in the Murim. If we join hands and first eliminate the Magyo, we can still preserve Jeongsayeon's authority."
The strongest opposition came from the Gaebang. Their leadership rose in outrage, voices raised in fury.
A representative elder of the Gaebang stood up and shouted,"Cooperate with the Cheonuhoe? That's an insult to the pride of the Gaebang! Are you suggesting this whole mess is our fault?"
He slammed his palm on the table."Why is Jeongsayeon's turmoil being pinned on us? Those who speak of cooperating with the Cheonuhoe are no different from those who abandon the order of the Murim!"
The Mudang leader responded calmly,"It's undeniable that the Gaebang played a part in igniting this issue. But if we do not resolve our conflict with the Cheonuhoe, this chaos will only continue."
The Gaebang elder refused to yield."We have no intention of cooperating with the Cheonuhoe! Ever since they encroached on our territory, we've been enemies!"
The meeting ultimately ended without resolution. The divide between hardliners, moderates, and the Gaebang only deepened.The hardliners, led by the Hwasan and Gonryun sects, continued to call for open conflict.The Gaebang firmly rejected any talk of cooperation and began suggesting an independent path.The moderates insisted on addressing the Magyo threat first, but their voices lost strength in the face of fierce resistance.
Meanwhile, the Magyo watched Jeongsayeon's inner turmoil with growing anticipation.Receiving the report, the Magyo's leader, the Heavenly Sword Demon King, chuckled softly.
"Jeongsayeon is collapsing from within. The more they fall into discord, the more favorable it is for us. Let them break apart fully… and when they do, we will devour everything."
The Cheonuhoe, upon hearing of Jeongsayeon's division, observed cautiously.Lee Do-hyeon gathered with his allies to discuss strategy.
"Jeongsayeon is crumbling. This is a great opportunity—but we must not act rashly. Let their conflict fester."
Chunhyang smiled and added,"Captain, all we need to do is stay quiet while they tear each other apart. Sometimes waiting is the best strategy."
Han Soyeon nodded,"Let them come to us. Until Jeongsayeon reaches out first, it's best we maintain our position and let their rift grow."
Lee Do-hyeon nodded,"Agreed. We wait for them to ask for our hand. We need to make them realize that they need us."
**
The Rally of the Hardliners and the Cheonuhoe's Response강경파의 결집과 천우회의 대응
Under the banners of the hardliners, thousands of martial artists formed a massive force and began advancing toward the Cheonuhoe. Centered around the Hwasan and Mudang sects, the Gaebang's upper leadership also joined the formation, committing their strength to the cause.
An elder of the Hwasan Sect stood before the crowd and cried out before the battle,"The Cheonuhoe has disrupted the order of the Murim! Today, we shall crush them completely and restore balance!"
The acting leader of the Mudang Sect added in a cold, resolute voice,"The imperial court's warnings do not intimidate us. We will prove that we are the true masters of the Murim!"
Ignoring the imperial warnings, the hardliners moved to strike the Cheonuhoe, brandishing the tradition and pride of the Murim as their justification. They intended to assert themselves as the core of Murim authority.
The Gaebang's upper echelon, now aligned with the hardliners, attempted to justify their decision. However, the regional branches of the Gaebang fiercely opposed the move. Jeong Ho-rim, standing on the side of cooperation with the Cheonuhoe, condemned the hardliners' actions.
Together with regional Gaebang leaders, Jeong Ho-rim shouted,"The Gaebang stands to protect the weak and pursue freedom! Marching under the hardliners' banner into a reckless war is a betrayal of everything the Gaebang stands for!"
A Gaebang leader from the upper echelon scoffed and replied,"Jeong Ho-rim, you've sided with the Cheonuhoe. You no longer have the right to speak in the name of the Gaebang. Those who betray us must face the consequences."
But Jeong Ho-rim did not back down."Then we sever ties with you. We will stand with the Cheonuhoe to stop this senseless war!"
His declaration sent shockwaves through the Gaebang. The rift between the upper echelon and regional factions widened dramatically.
Meanwhile, the Cheonuhoe was closely observing the hardliners' movements and formulating a defense strategy. Lee Do-hyeon, examining a map alongside Jeong Ho-rim, spoke.
"The hardliners have superior numbers, but internal fractures have already begun. The conflict within the Gaebang, in particular, is a vulnerability we can exploit."
Han Soyeon offered a tactical suggestion."Captain, if we want to splinter the hardliners' formation, Jeong Ho-rim's faction needs to take the lead in destabilizing the upper echelon. If we sow confusion within, their power will weaken."
Baek Wolhui added with a sly smile,"And while we strike their flanks, we should leave room for potential imperial intervention~. Even if the court doesn't support us directly, they might pressure the hardliners."
Chunhyang, with a worried tone, interjected."But Captain, the Hwasan and Mudang sects—the backbone of the hardliners—won't falter easily. They're among the most structured powers in the Murim, even more than we are."
Lee Do-hyeon sighed deeply and concluded,"You're right. But we can't avoid this fight. Let's work with Jeong Ho-rim to exploit the hardliners' inner discord, hold our defensive lines, and strike back when the time is right."
At the same time, the imperial court was monitoring the hardliners' large-scale mobilization and made a new decision. The emperor issued a discreet command to his aides.
"The hardliners have defied our warning. They claim tradition to challenge our authority. If we let this stand, the entire Murim may turn against us."
A close advisor bowed deeply."Your Majesty, just give the order, and they will be dealt with."
After a moment of deliberation, the emperor spoke,"Direct intervention would provoke the entire Murim. Instead, move our troops slowly toward the front lines. Let our presence be a warning. Show them what imperial wrath truly means."
Imperial forces began to move quietly, positioning themselves near the confrontation line between the hardliners and the Cheonuhoe. Through this unfolding crisis, the court sought to establish a new method of control over the Murim.