At the Mu-rim Alliance headquarters—newly established around the caves of Cheonuhoe—the leaders of each clan had gathered once more. Though the exposure of imperial spies had caused an uproar, the underlying distrust between the radical and moderate factions had yet to be resolved.
A fiery voice rang through the council chamber."The removal of a few spies doesn't mean our problems are solved! The imperial forces still press in on us. We must strike first!"It was the elder of Hwasan Clan, one of the radicals, who had spoken.
The acting leader of the Wudang Clan, representing the moderates, calmly shook his head."If we move first, the imperial court will use that as a pretext to annihilate us with even greater force. This is a time for strategy, not rashness."
Lee Do-hyeon watched the quarrel in silence, a deep sigh escaping his lips."What matters now is how the imperial court views us. They want to see us divided and in chaos. Every crack between our factions brings them one step closer to victory."
But while the arguments raged, Lee Do-hyeon had already begun moving on his own, in secret.
That night, he slipped quietly into the outer forest beyond Cheonuhoe's grounds.Chun-hyang caught sight of him and called out, puzzled,"Commander, where are you going? It's dangerous to move alone at a time like this."
He gave a faint smile."Don't worry, Chun-hyang. There's something I need to take care of. I'll be back soon."
Donning a black cloak, he disappeared into the darkness. Deep within the woods, he stood alone, waiting. Eventually, a powerful wave of internal energy swept through the trees—and a woman cloaked in black stepped into view. The leader of Magyo, the Demon Sect: the Sword Demon Queen herself.
She regarded him with a sly grin."So, you've called me out here. Bold of you. But if you've come this far, I suppose I should listen. What's so urgent?"
Lee Do-hyeon gave a formal bow and got straight to the point."The imperial court is accelerating its moves. If we're to stop them from seizing all of Murim, I need your help."
She folded her arms, letting out a soft chuckle."Help? That's interesting. But don't you already have the full might of the Mu-rim Alliance? Why come to me?"
Lee Do-hyeon's tone sharpened."The empire isn't relying on military strength alone. They're exploiting our internal divisions, driving wedges where they can. As the leader of Magyo, you hold sway over a powerful force. If we join hands, we can block their advance."
The Sword Demon Queen appeared to ponder his words."Interesting… But why should I trust you? Cheonuhoe and Magyo have never walked the same path. Are you truly willing to cooperate with me?"
"I'll be honest," he replied. "You and I are not allies. But we don't have the luxury of trust right now. If the empire takes over, you'll lose your freedom too. We are like lips and teeth—if one is lost, the other cannot survive."
Her grin deepened."Very well. But remember, Lee Do-hyeon—I am not your comrade. I will help only when it serves my interest."
She reached out and briefly took his hand."I'll lend you my resources and intelligence. But if you grow weak, or try to deceive me… I'll crush you myself."
He nodded without hesitation."That's exactly what I expected. Thank you for your cooperation."
Returning to the Mu-rim Alliance, Lee Do-hyeon kept the meeting with Magyo a secret from the greater council. Only a few close confidants were informed.
Han So-yeon approached him, concern in her eyes."Commander, isn't this alliance with Magyo too dangerous? It might deepen the mistrust within the alliance."
He sighed."I know. But to stand against the empire, we must gather all possible strength. Magyo faces the same threat we do. Even if we're using each other… it's a necessary move."
Chun-hyang offered a wry smile."Commander~, it's a risky play—but it might be the only one left. Let's keep a close watch on the Sword Demon Queen. She's not the type to be predictable."
Lee Do-hyeon gave a grave nod."Exactly. We must stay alert. Magyo may be helping us now, but their betrayal is always a possibility."
The Mu-rim Alliance continued to rally against the imperial threat. Yet tension lingered. Internal fractures remained, and new dangers loomed on every side. The secret pact with Magyo had shifted the board once more, and the path forward grew ever more treacherous.
Back in her stronghold, the Sword Demon Queen muttered to herself,"Lee Do-hyeon… You and I walk separate paths, but for now, we face the same enemy. Let's see how long you can endure."
***
Chapter : The Secret Missive, Mireyeong's Encrypted Letter
Late that night at the Cheonuhoe headquarters, a lone hawk drifted down through the darkness, alighting on the courtyard walls. Tied to its talons was a small, tightly bound scroll. The scroll's seal was intricate and unbreakable by ordinary means—only its intended recipient could ever glimpse its contents.
Baek Wol-hui accepted the scroll and examined the seal."Commander, this looks like it came from the imperial court—but it's no ordinary letter. Look at these unique glyphs and the encryption pattern. It must be from Mireyeong."
Lee Do-hyeon stepped forward and studied the seal."You're right. If Mireyeong resorted to such measures, it means the imperial surveillance has grown even more intense. They must be watching every move we make."
Han So-yeon spoke cautiously,"How can we decrypt it? These aren't simple ciphers—they're coded so only she could have crafted them."
He sighed."Mireyeong and I devised a secret code in our earlier days together. She's now using it to evade imperial scrutiny. I'll decrypt it myself."
The scroll contained three brief lines—each written in Mireyeong's private cipher known only to the Cheonuhoe.
Lee Do-hyeon took up a brush and began decoding, his brow furrowed in concentration. Baek Wol-hui and Han So-yeon watched in silence.
He read the first line aloud:
"The Empire has revealed its ambition to seize absolute control over the Murim. They are preparing a simultaneous strike against both the Murim Alliance and the Cheonuhoe."
Baek Wol-hui's eyes widened.
"This is dire. I never imagined the Empire would be so blatant. If we remain idle, we'll all be captured."
He moved on to the second line:
"They've likely planted spies within our own ranks. The imperial court intends to sow discord among us."
Han So-yeon's voice turned urgent.
"If they have moles inside, our secrets are already compromised. We must begin an internal purge immediately."
Finally, he deciphered the third line:
"Troop movements are already underway. The Empire will first strike the Murim Alliance, then set its sights on the Cheonuhoe. Prepare accordingly."
Cheong Un-jin spoke gravely,
"Then we must act preemptively. If we do nothing, we'll simply be caught in the Empire's trap."
With the decryption complete, Lee Do-hyeon summoned Baek Wol-hui, Han So-yeon, and Cheong Un-jin to a private council—while the rest of the Murim Alliance slept, unaware of this new intelligence.
Baek Wol-hui broke the silence.
"Commander, we have little time before the Empire moves. We must do something."
Han So-yeon added,
"But a direct assault on imperial forces is suicide—their numbers and discipline are beyond us. We must disrupt their plans and disperse their strength."
Cheong Un-jin folded his arms in thought.
"And we must root out the spies. No matter how clever our strategy, if our secrets leak, it will be meaningless."
Lee Do-hyeon's expression was steely.
"Exactly. First we cleanse our own ranks, then we find ways to sabotage the Empire's movements. Mireyeong's warning is priceless. We cannot ignore it."
The small council concluded their meeting, each acutely aware of the narrow window before them.
He exhaled slowly.
"Our time is short. The Empire intends to dominate the entire Murim. If they strike both the Alliance and the Cheonuhoe at once, we must respond before they can redeploy."
Han So-yeon nodded resolutely.
"Commander, we stand with you. Let's do everything in our power."
Baek Wol-hui smiled—albeit tensely.
"It's been a while since we faced such a thrilling crisis. We can pull this off. We all believe in you."
Cheong Un-jin's voice carried steel.
"Everyone is putting their faith in your leadership. We cannot afford any mistakes."
Feeling the trust of his comrades, Lee Do-hyeon nodded firmly.
"I will not let Mireyeong's sacrifice be in vain. If we unite our strength, we can thwart the Empire's plans."
Thus, under the cold gaze of the stars, the Cheonuhoe and the Murim Alliance steeled themselves for the coming storm—resolute to defend their freedom against the empire's onslaught.