At the heart of Songrim, the atmosphere buzzed with tension. In the healer's quarters, Master Lee and Master Heo Yeom bent over the lifeless body of a servant discovered earlier. Dark, ominous markings on the corpse suggested the use of forbidden soul shamanism—a dangerous practice that struck fear even among seasoned mages. 

Master Yeom's brows knitted in concentration as he traced the markings with a finger.

"This isn't ordinary magic. These are signs of soul tampering. If Cheonbugwan is involved..." 

Master Lee straightened, his usual calm replaced by a grim expression.

"The servant's identity alone is telling. A low-ranking worker from Cheonbugwan... It's too convenient to ignore." 

Park Jin, the head of Songrim, stood silently nearby, absorbing their conclusions. His gaze darkened.

"We'll investigate Cheonbugwan discreetly. If this is their retaliation for old grievances, it's a spark we cannot allow to become a flame." 

A familiar, calm voice broke the tense silence.

"The grudge of Cheonbugwan isn't new," Hae-rin observed as she stepped forward, her presence commanding attention.

"The death of Seo Hye-jin, Naksu's mother, marked the beginning of this animosity. The constellation recorder's murder made it personal." 

Park Jin regarded her thoughtfully. "That death fractured trust among the families. If Cheonbugwan is reviving old wounds, we must tread cautiously." 

The meeting dispersed, leaving Master Lee lingering outside. His thoughts remained on the strange energy he had sensed earlier radiating from Mu-deok. 

"The soul inside her isn't ordinary," he mused to himself, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"Naksu. How curious fate can be." 

Hae-rin was overseeing the young mages training in Songrim's courtyard when Yul and Dang-gu returned, their horses' hooves echoing across the stone paths. 

"Master Park will want your report immediately," Hae-rin said, walking toward them, her expression calm but her eyes searching for any sign of trouble. 

Dang-gu dismounted first, his grin wide as usual. "Uk's doing fine—alive, training, and, believe it or not, fishing!" 

Hae-rin raised a brow at that. "Fishing?" 

Yul's soft chuckle was barely audible as he slid off his horse.

"It's part of his Ryusu training. He's improving, but slowly." 

At Danhyanggok, Jang Uk swung his sword in wide arcs, frustration etched across his face. Water droplets fell from suspended bags, their steady rhythm taunting him as he failed to strike a single one. 

"Precision over brute force," Mu-deok said firmly, her arms crossed as she watched his sloppy movements. 

Uk huffed, his grip on the sword tightening.

"How is this supposed to help me?" 

Mu-deok didn't flinch at his frustration.

"It's Ryusu. Focus and control, not strength." 

Determined to prove her wrong, Uk tore the energy-restricting bracelet from his wrist. The air around him pulsed with wild energy as he swung his sword furiously. The result was chaos—uncontrolled strikes that accomplished nothing. 

From a distance, Master Lee watched silently. He shook his head, muttering to himself, "Recklessness will lead him to ruin." 

Stepping closer, he addressed Mu-deok.

"He can't master this alone. If he continues like this, his energy veins will rupture." 

Mu-deok met his gaze, unyielding. "He won't fail." 

Master Lee raised a brow.

"You underestimate the danger. Without proper guidance, his energy will destroy him. Only a true master can guide him. A maid cannot." 

Back at Songrim, rumors about Cho-yeon's marriage to Jang Uk spread like wildfire. Despite the arrangement being previously called off, word of its revival had reached nearly everyone. 

Dang-gu walked alongside Hae-rin, who was silent but observant.

"Cho-yeon's thrilled," Dang-gu said, breaking the quiet.

"She's already planning the wedding like it's tomorrow." 

Hae-rin's lips twitched into a faint, unreadable smile. "And Jang Uk?" 

Dang-gu shrugged. "Less thrilled. But you know Cho-yeon—she's stubborn when she wants something." 

Meanwhile, Mu-deok confronted Jang Uk about the consequences of the impending marriage. 

"If you marry Cho-yeon, we can't stay here," she said bluntly. 

Uk sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"You think I want this? It's not my choice." 

Their argument was interrupted by the arrival of Cheonbugwan mages. Despite the Crown Prince's sachet hanging visibly from Mu-deok's waist, they ignored it and dragged her away without explanation. 

Mu-deok was brought before the Crown Prince, who was visibly irritated. Dressed in fine silk, she looked out of place and uncomfortable. 

"Filthy Mu-deok," the Crown Prince sneered. "You're as brazen as ever." 

Mu-deok said nothing, keeping her eyes averted. 

The Prince leaned forward. "You will convince Jang Uk to withdraw from the duel. If he proceeds, his death will humiliate not only me but my entire lineage. Do you understand?" 

Mu-deok's silence spoke volumes, her mind racing.

At Songrim, Jang Uk returned to his quarters, only to be met with Kim maid's stern gaze. 

"Why won't you accept the marriage? Is there... someone else?" she asked pointedly. 

Uk hesitated, his silence confirming her suspicions. With a heavy sigh, Kim turned away, muttering about his stubbornness. 

Later, Cho-yeon approached Mu-deok, her jealousy poorly concealed behind a polite smile. 

"You'll be my maid soon," she said sweetly, placing a box on the table. "Take this to my family's estate." 

Mu-deok complied without question, unaware of the broken yin-yang jade inside—a deliberate ploy by Cho-yeon to cause trouble. 

Upon entering the Jin family's house, Mu-deok felt a wave of powerful energy overwhelm her senses. Staggering forward, she found herself drawn deeper into the estate, eventually standing before Jinyowon. 

The mysterious mirror inside emanated a strange, beckoning light. As Mu-deok reached out to it, the surface rippled. Before she could react, the mirror pulled her inside, her scream echoing in the empty chamber. 

At Songrim, Hae-rin, Yul, and Dang-gu gathered with Park Jin upon hearing of Mu-deok's disappearance. 

"This isn't a coincidence," Hae-rin said, her voice steady but urgent. "Cheonbugwan is moving against us." 

Yul clenched his fists. "Then we act now. Mu-deok's life may depend on it." 

Park Jin nodded grimly. "Prepare the mages. We'll uncover the truth and bring her back." 

As the mages prepared for action, the bonds between the Songrim allies tightened. The mysteries surrounding Cheonbugwan, Naksu, and the fractured relationships between the great families loomed ever larger, threatening to consume them all.