The sky above Wolseong was painted in deep shades of violet and black, an ominous prelude to the storm that was about to break. In the heart of Blackfire Market, Nam Gong-Wook, now known as the Divine Dragon, stood amidst a gathering of warriors from the unorthodox factions. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and sharpened steel, tension crackling like lightning before a storm.
At the center of the chamber, a large map of Murim lay spread across a wooden table, its edges pinned down by daggers. Nam Gong-Wook's piercing gaze roamed over the map before settling on a marked location.
"The Hollow Bamboo Sect has chosen a side," he said, his voice calm yet razor-sharp.
A murmur rippled through the gathering. Baek Mu-sang, a former Mount Hua warrior and now a devoted follower of Lucian, clenched his fists. "Those hypocrites… They were supposed to be neutral."
"They were," Lucian replied, "until Mount Hua and Wudang offered them something better—a future without us."
The gathered warriors bristled at the words.
Seo Hwanjin, the Demon Sage of Azure, leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Tch. So much for their 'balanced philosophy.' Seems they're just like the rest of the so-called righteous sects."
Lucian's eyes darkened. "Hollow Bamboo has betrayed their neutrality. They've allied with Mount Hua and Wudang and are preparing to move against us."
Baek Mu-sang slammed his fist onto the table. "Then we take the fight to them before they strike first!"
Lucian's smirk was chilling. "That was always the plan."
The room fell into silence as Lucian pointed at the map. "Tonight, we remind them what it means to stand in our way."
Hollow Bamboo Sect – The Night of Betrayal
The winds whispered through the bamboo groves of the Hollow Bamboo Sect's mountain sanctuary. The jade-green stalks swayed gently under the moon's glow, their rustling leaves disguising the movement of hidden figures.
Nam Gong-Wook and his warriors moved through the shadows like silent phantoms, their eyes fixed on the large monastery standing at the heart of the grove.
Inside the monastery, Chae Seon-woo, the sect's leader, stood in solemn conversation with two guests—Baek Ji-hwan, Grand Elder of Mount Hua, and Zhang Yucheng, the Sect Leader of Wudang.
"We appreciate your decision," Baek Ji-hwan said, his voice laced with false humility. "Aligning with us ensures your sect's survival."
Chae Seon-woo exhaled deeply. "Do not mistake our decision as an act of subservience. We only move against the unorthodox factions because we cannot allow Murim to descend into chaos."
Zhang Yucheng smiled knowingly. "A wise choice. The era of demons and assassins must end."
But before another word could be spoken, the air suddenly grew thick with killing intent.
A gust of wind extinguished the lanterns, plunging the hall into darkness.
Then—
BOOM!
The front doors of the monastery exploded inward, sending splinters flying like deadly shrapnel. The startled elders barely had time to react before figures emerged from the darkness—Nam Gong-Wook and his warriors.
Baek Ji-hwan's face twisted in rage. "You dare—!"
Lucian moved like lightning. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Ji-hwan, his blade streaking toward the elder's throat. Ji-hwan barely managed to block, but the force of the impact sent him staggering back.
Chaos erupted.
Lucian's warriors stormed the monastery, cutting down Hollow Bamboo disciples who had drawn their weapons in defense of their sect.
Seo Hwanjin unleashed a vortex of azure Qi, his presence like a storm incarnate as he tore through the ranks of orthodox warriors.
Baek Mu-sang faced off against a group of Mount Hua disciples, his sword dancing in a flurry of lethal arcs.
And Lucian…
Lucian hunted down Chae Seon-woo.
The Duel – Divine Dragon vs. Chae Seon-woo
Chae Seon-woo stood amidst the chaos, his flute gripped tightly in his hands. His bamboo-green robes, once a symbol of peace and balance, were now soaked in the blood of his own disciples.
"You should have remained neutral," Lucian said, his sword dripping crimson.
Chae Seon-woo raised his flute to his lips. "And let Murim be overrun by demons like you?"
A haunting melody filled the air. Violet Qi surged from Seon-woo's flute, twisting into deadly waves of sound.
Lucian's eyes sharpened. Sound-based Qi techniques.
The air vibrated violently as the sonic waves rippled toward Lucian, cutting through the ground like invisible blades.
Lucian moved.
He disappeared in a blur, reappearing behind Seon-woo in an instant. His sword slashed downward—
CLANG!
Seon-woo spun, his flute blocking the attack like a steel rod. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield.
"You're fast," Seon-woo admitted, stepping back.
Lucian smirked. "You're already dead."
A flicker of confusion crossed Seon-woo's face.
Then—blood sprayed from his shoulder.
Lucian had already cut him.
"Your sound techniques are useless against me," Lucian said coldly. "You were never my equal."
Seon-woo staggered, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You… monster…"
Lucian's blade pierced through his chest.
The Hollow Bamboo Sect Leader gasped, blood trickling from his lips. His flute slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a soft clink.
Lucian leaned in, whispering, "Let this be a lesson to the rest of Murim."
With a final twist of his blade, Chae Seon-woo fell.
The Aftermath – Mount Hua's Disgrace
As the monastery burned, the last remaining orthodox warriors fled into the night, their morale shattered.
Lucian stood at the center of the battlefield, his presence alone enough to freeze the survivors in terror.
Baek Mu-sang wiped the blood off his blade. "Hollow Bamboo's fall will shake Murim to its core."
Seo Hwanjin chuckled. "Mount Hua just lost a valuable ally. This is worse than a battle loss—this is a political disaster for them."
Lucian turned to the gathered warriors. "This is only the beginning."
Baek Mu-sang smirked. "Then what's next?"
Lucian's gaze darkened. "We burn Mount Hua to the ground."
The warriors roared in agreement.
And so, the first true war between the orthodox and unorthodox sects had begun.