The air inside the meeting room of Cheonuhoe was tense.Lee Do-hyeon sat at the center with his eyes closed, retracing the contents of books he remembered—wuxia novels, fantasy stories.Han So-yeon, Baek Wol-hee, and Cheong Un-jin were beside him, exchanging their thoughts.
"Captain, I don't think these five recovery sites are just for restoring mana,"Baek Wol-hee said cautiously."There's chatter across Murim suggesting they're all connected. Whether the rumors came from the Heavenly Sword Demon King or not, I believe they serve a greater purpose."
Han So-yeon nodded and added,
"Yes. Captain, something from the books you read in the real world might relate to this. Fantasy and wuxia may differ, but your memories might help us find a clue."
After a moment of silence, Lee Do-hyeon opened his mouth.
"In the fantasy novels I remember, these recovery sites weren't just healing spots—they often sealed great powers or served as keys.And in wuxia stories, each site would gather a unique energy to create a larger force."
Cheong Un-jin crossed his arms and said in a heavy tone,
"Then you're saying these five sites might be keys to opening a dimensional gate?"
Do-hyeon nodded.
"Exactly. When the five sites are linked, something will likely open. The question is how we connect them."
He recalled hints from stories he had read.
"In wuxia, it's common for sites to be activated from a central point, or by gathering the unique energy of each location.In fantasy, such power is often triggered through rituals or specific devices."
Baek Wol-hee tilted her head and asked,
"Then, Do-hyeon~nim, would those settings work in Murim too?"
Do-hyeon smiled.
"If you call me that, I can't give a serious answer."
She grinned teasingly.
"Fine, I'll go back to 'Captain.' But sometimes calling you that helps lighten the mood, doesn't it?"
Han So-yeon stifled a laugh.
"Wol-hee, the Captain's just concentrating. Ease up on the teasing."
Do-hyeon raised a hand to quiet them.
"Wol-hee, you can call me whatever, but no jokes during important talks. What were you going to say?"
She chuckled and continued.
"I think we should examine each location one by one while monitoring the sword's response.If we connect your memories with how the sword reacts, we might find our clue."
Cheong Un-jin let out a deep sigh.
"The problem is, the Heavenly Sword Demon King already knows about these places.If we start moving to explore them, she won't sit back and watch."
Baek Wol-hee nodded.
"Right. She could be using us. Maybe she already knows everything and spread those rumors just to make us do the legwork."
Do-hyeon narrowed his eyes.
"Even so, uncovering these sites and their purpose is necessary—for both Murim and Cheonuhoe.Whatever her intentions are, we must confirm it ourselves."
Han So-yeon smiled softly.
"Then let's take turns accompanying you, Captain. It's too dangerous for you to go alone.We'll analyze the clues from each site and move quickly."
Do-hyeon nodded.
"Good. I'll revisit the first site with the Ego Sword.Depending on the reaction, we'll plan our next move."
After the meeting, the team divided their tasks.Han So-yeon stayed behind to manage internal operations.Baek Wol-hee gathered outside intelligence and tracked the Heavenly Sword Demon King's movements.Cheong Un-jin prepared to accompany Do-hyeon to the first site.
Just before departure, Baek Wol-hee joked,
"Do-hyeon~nim, return safely. If not, I'll stop calling you 'Captain' and just keep using your name!"
Do-hyeon chuckled.
"Make sure you're ready too. I won't be long."
Cheong Un-jin added with a mock-serious look,
"Little brother, while you're at it, fix this one's sharp tongue."
Baek Wol-hee feigned outrage.
"Cheong Un-jin! Don't you know how vital I am to the Captain?"
Han So-yeon ended the chatter with a warm smile.
"Let's not waste time. Focus on the mission. Captain, please stay safe."
Thus began their journey to uncover the secrets of the five recovery sites—and the true intention behind the Heavenly Sword Demon King's schemes.
***
Chapter : Alliance Between Justice and the Outcasts
The shadows of war loomed over the entirety of Murim.
The Heavenly Sword Demon King had struck violently, dealing devastating blows to both the Hwasan and Kunlun sects. As a result, the central pillars of the Justice Factions had been severely weakened. The head of Hwasan was gravely wounded, and Kunlun's elite warriors had been crippled—both sects now fallen far from their former strength.
With the collapse of these two key sects, the rest of the Justice Factions grew anxious. Urgency and dread spread like wildfire. Leaders across the righteous sects convened in haste, desperately seeking a solution.
Sects such as Sungsan, Hyeongsan, and even the esteemed Shaolin gathered for an emergency meeting. Elders from Hwasan and Kunlun, still nursing wounds, struggled to attend.
One Hwasan elder slammed the table and cried out,
"If we continue like this, the entire Justice Faction will fall into the hands of the Magyo!The Heavenly Sword Demon King is far stronger than we expected—she's tearing us down one by one!"
The acting head of Kunlun replied with grim composure,
"Now is the time to unite. Hwasan and Kunlun have already tasted the Magyo's threat.If the Nine Great Sects don't stand together, we'll all be destroyed."
The leader of Sungsan folded his arms and nodded solemnly.
"The Nine Great Sects alone are no longer enough.To fight the Magyo, we must even reach out to the Sects of the Outlands.They must understand our sincerity."
A hesitant elder from Hyeongsan interjected,
"But isn't it dangerous to work with the Outcasts? They'll be waiting for the right moment to betray us.If we join hands, we must be prepared for treachery."
The Hwasan elder gritted his teeth and said,
"If betrayal is a concern, then we give them no room to betray us.We lead. We make it clear: if the Justice Faction falls, they're next."
The Justice leaders dispatched envoys to the major factions of the Outlands, delivering a clear, uncompromising message:
"If the Justice Faction collapses to the Magyo, then you are next.Remember the proverb: when the lips are gone, the teeth freeze.Without us, all of Murim will fall under the Magyo's rule.Stand with us—or suffer greater losses when it's your turn."
The message spread swiftly across Murim, reaching the core leaders of the Outland Sects.The tone was unmistakable: a proposal for alliance—backed by an implicit threat.
Leaders of the Outlands gathered in secret to discuss the offer.
The head of the Windwheel Sect scoffed,
"Now they come to us? After treating us like heretics for years, they expect cooperation?"
The Tiger Brigade's leader grumbled,
"But they're right. If the Justice Faction is defeated, we won't be spared.The Heavenly Sword Demon King isn't targeting just them—she aims to rule all of Murim."
The leader of the Seven Stars Sect, deep in thought, said,
"Working with them might limit our freedom. But rejecting this now might be a worse mistake."
The Windwheel leader snapped,
"So we become their lackeys? They don't see us as allies—they see us as shields to hide behind."
The Tiger Brigade leader shook his head,
"No one said we had to be shields.But if we ally with them temporarily, we can use the situation to strengthen our own position."
The Seven Stars Sect leader added quietly,
"Then we ally with conditions. We must ensure our autonomy isn't compromised."
After lengthy debate, the Outland leaders reached an agreement:They would cooperate—but only under terms that preserved their independence and strategic interests.
The Windwheel leader concluded,
"Fine. We'll cooperate. But we won't be pawns.If they break their promise, we'll walk away. They need us more than we need them."
The Tiger Brigade leader nodded.
"Agreed. We're not here to be used."
The Seven Stars Sect leader smirked faintly,
"And we'll use this opportunity to elevate our place in Murim."
This union between the Justice Faction and the Outlands was almost unheard of in Murim's long history.Yet under the looming threat of the Magyo, the two forces resolved to stand together.
What none of them realized was that while they debated and aligned, a third force—Cheonuhoe—was quietly expanding its influence.
Under Lee Do-hyeon's leadership, Cheonuhoe was steadily growing.While Justice and Outcast factions scrambled for survival, Cheonuhoe moved with clarity and purpose, prepared to shape a new order in Murim.
The fate of the martial world had just entered an entirely new phase.