The wind was thick with the scent of rain and old blood. From the highest ridge of Mount Liang, the world below looked deceptively peaceful, rivers glittered like veins of silver, and the banners of the Murim Alliance fluttered faintly in the distant horizon. But for Kang Jinhyuk, peace had become a ghost he could never touch.
He sat in silence beneath the jagged cliff, sharpening his blade. The rhythmic shhkt of steel against whetstone echoed in the twilight. Each scrape carried the weight of memory... his wife's final breath, his son's cry, and the cold ashes left behind by betrayal.
And now, the puzzle of his life's ruin was finally beginning to fit together.
[Flashback – A Week Earlier in Moryang City]
Inside a dimly lit tavern, the air hung heavy with smoke and secrets. Jinhyuk leaned against the wall, eavesdropping on two traveling merchants who were more than they appeared.
The Murong clan's envoy left the Namgung estate just yesterday, one whispered.
A political marriage, the other said lowering his voice... Namgung Yura and Murong Baek-Ho unify both clans' power against the Murim Alliance's central control.
The name Yura cut through him like a blade.
For a brief moment, Jinhyuk forgot to breathe. The memories surged again... her soft smile beneath the spring blossoms, the warmth in her eyes when she whispered, I'll wait for you.
Now she was to be used like a pawn, the woman he once loved, entangled in the same web that had murdered his family.
It's said the Namgung patriarch himself, Namgung Wi-Guk, sealed the deal, the man continued. With Murong Baek-Ho's influence in the northern sects, they'll control both trade and intelligence networks. No one will challenge them.
Jinhyuk left before his rage burned the tavern to the ground.
[Present – Mount Liang Camp]
The campfire flickered against the cold mist. Dan Sae-Ryeo approached, arms folded, her sharp eyes studying him.
You're sharpening that blade like you plan to stab the heavens themselves, she remarked dryly.
Jinhyuk didn't look up. If the heavens were guilty, I would.
Sae-Ryeo sighed, crouching beside him. What did you hear this time?
He glanced at her, the edge of his voice hard as tempered steel. Yura. Namgung Wi-Guk. Murong Baek-Ho. A political marriage.
Her brows furrowed. The same Yura… your...
He cut her off with a faint nod. Yes.
A silence hung between them, heavy, aching. The flames crackled, reflecting in his distant gaze.
She's not like them, he muttered. At least… she wasn't.
People change, Sae-Ryeo said quietly. And in Murim, they don't have a choice.
[Meanwhile – Namgung Clan Estate, North of Luoyang]
The grand hall of the Namgung Clan gleamed with gold and frost. Intricate jade pillars carved with dragon motifs lined the chamber where Namgung Wi-Guk sat on his elevated seat, radiating authority.
Across from him stood Murong Baek-Ho, tall and composed, his eyes glinting with the calm of a man used to getting what he desired.
Between them stood Namgung Yura, dressed in elegant azure robes, her face a mask of serenity, but her fingers trembled ever so slightly, hidden beneath her sleeves.
Wi-Guk's tone was smooth and deliberate. The Murim Alliance is growing bold again. With this marriage, our two families will not only secure the northern provinces but also control the iron trade routes. The orthodox sects will bow whether they wish to or not.
Baek-Ho inclined his head. It's a wise move, Patriarch. Together, our clans will dictate the balance of power. Even the Heavenly Pavilion will think twice before acting.
Yura's voice was soft yet defiant. And what if I refuse?
A chill filled the room.
Wi-Guk's eyes hardened like steel. You will not. You are a daughter of Namgung not a child of fantasy. Your duty is to the clan.
Baek-Ho smirked faintly. Lady Yura, this is no punishment. You'll be at my side, commanding wealth, power, and status unmatched by most.
Yura's gaze turned cold. Power without freedom is a gilded cage. And I've lived in cages long enough.
Wi-Guk's expression darkened. Enough, Yura. The past you cling to, that man is gone... You will not dishonor this family for a ghost.
Her breath hitched, but she said nothing. Deep inside, she still felt it... that faint, unyielding warmth that belonged to Jinhyuk. The memory of their laughter beneath spring petals refused to fade.
She lowered her head, concealing the tear that threatened to fall.
I understand, Father, she whispered. But I will never love this man.
Wi-Guk's voice was final. Love has no place in Murim politics.
[Back at Mount Liang]
Jeok-Ma's spirit materialized as a red aura around Jinhyuk's meditating form.
You see it now, boy. The game isn't fought with swords, but with marriages, alliances, and bloodlines. You're not just fighting warriors... you're fighting dynasties.
Jinhyuk's breath was slow and controlled. Then I'll cut through dynasties.
And what of her?
He paused.
The image of Yura appeared again... her smile, her voice, her hand reaching for him across years of silence.
I don't know, he admitted. I hate her family. But her… I can't decide if I hate her or still—
...love her? Jeok-Ma's tone was sharp. That emotion will be your undoing.
Maybe, Jinhyuk whispered. But without love, I wouldn't remember why I started fighting.
[Scene – Namgung Inner Courtyard]
Yura sat alone beneath the magnolia tree where she and Jinhyuk once carved their initials as teenagers. The faint scars of their mark still glowed on the trunk... Y + J...
She touched it with trembling fingers.
Are you truly gone, Jinhyuk? she murmured. Or did they make me believe that you were?
Her maid approached softly. Lady Yura, it's time for the banquet.
Yura rose, her eyes cold now, her heart hidden behind layers of duty. Then let's attend this farce. The Murong family will see the daughter of Namgung not as a bride… but as a storm waiting to be unleashed.
[Later That Night – Murim Underground]
Jinhyuk and Sae-Ryeo sat across a crude map drawn in charcoal on the table. Dozens of small sects and territories marked in red ink sprawled across the parchment.
Sae-Ryeo pointed to two locations. The Murong family controls the Northern Iron Route, and Namgung oversees the Southern Trade Line. Their alliance would seal half of Murim's economy.
Jinhyuk's tone was low, dangerous. So that's why they burned my village. They were clearing routes, removing anyone who opposed their monopoly.
He traced his finger over the ruins marked on the map, his hometown...
Sae-Ryeo looked at him with quiet sympathy. What will you do when you face them?
He didn't answer immediately.
Then, slowly, he smiled... a sharp, cold expression that didn't reach his eyes. I'll attend their wedding.
Her eyes widened. You can't..!!
I can, he interrupted. And I will. They think Kang Jinhyuk is dead. Let them toast to their victory… and choke on the taste of it.
[Closing Scene – Dual Reflections]
Far away, Yura stood at her window, looking at the same moon that hung above Mount Liang.
She whispered softly, Jinhyuk… if you're still alive, please… don't come back. If you do, they'll kill you.
At that very moment, Jinhyuk whispered into the night wind, his voice cold but resolute.
Yura… if you're still alive, stay away. The next time I step into the Namgung halls, I'll be bringing hell with me.
The moon bathed the land in silver light...one side filled with sorrow, the other with vengeance as the storm between love and hatred began to brew once more.