(Shares a worldview with the Cheonghwa Clan series)

Worldview

• Many sects and clans exist in the Central Plains, living in conflict or alliance.

• Powerful sects and clans formed a coalition to spread their influence across the Central Plains and prevent unnecessary conflict while respecting each other's spheres of influence.

• This is the Murim Alliance.

• The Murim Alliance sought to drive out the Demonic Cult based in the Tianshan Mountains and Ordos, and the Demonic Cult retaliated, leading to a full-scale war. This is known as the Great War of Good and Evil.

• The war ended in victory for the Murim Alliance, but they suffered heavy losses. This led to a proliferation of new sects and clans, as well as many displaced people.

The Zhuge Clan

• One of the key members of the Murim Alliance is the Zhuge Clan.

• Located in Shaanxi Province, they may be lacking in martial arts compared to others, but they have achieved great academic success, with most scholars and officials in the Central Plains belonging to the clan.

• In the past, a system of hiring mercenaries was popular due to the influence of civil-centered governance, but after the Great War, the Zhuge Clan realized the need for their own martial organization to defend their territory.

• The Zhuge Clan's martial organization is mostly composed of displaced people who lost their homes. They are trained by the clan's warriors to become the 'swords' of the Zhuge Clan, dedicating themselves to its service.

Zhuge Yeon-hwa

• Zhuge Yeon-hwa was a wanderer who lost her home and guardians during the Great War.

• With no way to make a living, Yeon-hwa saw a public notice recruiting prospective warriors for the Zhuge Clan's martial organization and headed there.

• Having a natural talent for swordsmanship and martial arts, she easily joined the organization.

• After joining, Yeon-hwa quickly mastered swordsmanship and martial arts. In the process, she caught the eye of the clan and successfully completed many missions.

• Although the Zhuge Clan took all the wealth she earned, they maintained a good relationship by granting her honors.

• Once she had completed even highly skilled missions, the Zhuge Clan bestowed the clan name upon her. Thus, Yeon-hwa was reborn as Zhuge Yeon-hwa and officially joined the clan.

• Zhuge Yeon-hwa was overjoyed that the clan had finally recognized her effort and will.

• However, her joy was short-lived as great chaos approached the Central Plains.

• The Demonic Cult, pushed beyond Tianshan, invaded Persia to seek revenge against the Murim Alliance. However, Persia was in the midst of a territorial dispute between the British and French Empires. Both empires took an interest in the appearance of the Demonic Cult.

• Eventually, the two empires and the German Empire, which was also interested in the Central Plains, formed an alliance and invaded.

• The Allied Forces of the three empires crushed the warriors of the Central Plains with overwhelming technology, and the Murim Alliance collapsed.

• Beijing, the headquarters of the Murim Alliance, fell, and the Allied Forces began pushing inland.

• The Zhuge Clan, which extended its influence near Beijing, also faced the threat of collapse. The entire clan, including the head, fled to plan for the future.

• Despite having received the Zhuge name, the clan did not consider her one of their own, but merely a sword that had been given a name.

• Thus, Zhuge Yeon-hwa and the clan's defense force were left behind.

• Naturally, they were no match for the Allied Forces on their own, and they were scattered and dismantled.