Life at the Qingfeng Society headquarters brought more turmoil than Kang-hyuk had anticipated. At first, his decision to join was driven by a longing for a new opportunity—a chance to find his own strength. Yet, as time passed, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was veering off the path he had intended.
One day, Yu Cheon-rin summoned him. Kang-hyuk was just finishing a training session with the Qingfeng Society's masters when he received the call. Yu maintained a gentle expression, but a sharpness lay hidden in his gaze.
"Kang-hyuk, you've been working hard. I'm glad you're here. I wanted to have a little talk with you, along with Jang Young-hwa here."
Yu gestured toward the meeting room. Inside, Kang-hyuk found not only Jang Young-hwa but several other core members of the Qingfeng Society. They greeted him with light smiles, but Kang-hyuk sensed the underlying tension.
"We'd like to discuss a bit more about the Chunwoo Association," Yu said with a smooth voice. "Specifically, things like the layout of their headquarters and its defenses. If we end up cooperating—or clashing—with them, we need to be prepared."
Kang-hyuk sighed inwardly, wrestling with his conscience. He knew the Chunwoo Association's headquarters inside out, but sharing that information here, in this hostile atmosphere, felt deeply wrong. Yet Yu's smile never wavered as he gently pressed for answers.
To buy time, Kang-hyuk spoke at length about the Chunwoo Association's daily training routines and their focus on defensive sword techniques, as if their ideals of helping the weak were embodied in their fighting style. He deliberately avoided sensitive details, but Cheongpunghoe leaders kept probing.
"What about the main entry routes into their headquarters?" Jang Young-hwa asked, her voice laced with subtle intent.
Kang-hyuk hesitated for a moment. "Well... there are hidden pathways, but they're not easily accessible."
His answer was vague, but the Cheongpunghoe members continued to press for specifics. Despite himself, Kang-hyuk found that he had let slip small, seemingly trivial details. They might have seemed harmless, but in the hands of Cheongpunghoe strategists, they were becoming crucial puzzle pieces.
A few days later, Kang-hyuk realized the information he had inadvertently shared was being woven into Cheongpunghoe strategic planning. He watched in shock as his words were used to shape offensive tactics against the Chunwoo Association. His heart grew heavier by the day, and guilt gnawed at his soul.
One night, sitting alone in his room, Kang-hyuk sank into deep thought. What was it that he truly wanted? He had left the Chunwoo Association because he believed their ideals were too naive for the harsh realities of the martial world. But Cheongpunghoe methods seemed even more corrupt, relying on the strong while exploiting the weak. And Kang-hyuk himself felt like a pawn in their hands.
The guilt began seeping into his daily life. In training, he found it harder to focus. His movements lost their sharpness, weighed down by the growing burden of doubt and regret. Even during sparring matches, his heart wasn't in it.
Yu Cheon-rin, for his part, acted as if he hadn't noticed, continuing to treat Kang-hyuk kindly. But Kang-hyuk saw through the facade. He realized how Yu was using him, turning the information he'd let slip into weapons against the Chunwoo Association. And those plans were never truly about helping the weak—they were about seizing power.
One night, Kang-hyuk, tipsy and alone, muttered to himself in anguish, "This... this wasn't what I wanted. Can I ever go back to the Chunwoo Association? If they get hurt because of what I said... how can I ever face them again?"
The guilt was crushing him, sinking deeper by the day. He was losing faith in the Cheongpunghoe and doubting his place among them. A strong pull tugged at his heart—he felt an overwhelming urge to return to the Chunwoo Association. Yet the fear held him back: if he did return, would that not give Cheongpunghoe the very justification they needed to attack?
His inner conflict remained unresolved. What he should do for the Chunwoo Association, and what consequences his choices would bring—those answers still eluded him.
****
Chapter : In the Name of Justice
Cheongpunghoe began to make its presence known in the murim with bold moves. Although they claimed to stand for the weak, much like Cheonuhoe, their true goal was expanding their influence. They aimed to fill the power vacuum between jeongpa and sapha, establishing a new order under their banner of justice.
One night, Yucheonrin, the leader of Cheongpunghoe, called a secret meeting with his inner circle."This is the moment we make the world recognize our justice," he declared. "We've received information that a branch of the Magyo has been exploiting and terrorizing the people in this region. If we take them down under the name of Cheongpunghoe's justice, our standing in the murim will be greatly strengthened."
Following Yucheonrin's orders, Cheongpunghoe's elite were dispatched to gather intelligence on the Magyo's activities. The branch was hidden deep in the mountains, far from the eyes of jeongpa and sapha alike. The Magyo had been extorting local merchants and commoners, taking their goods and enforcing their own brutal laws.
With their mission clear, Yucheonrin led a strike team consisting of top warriors—Jang Yeonghwa, several other key figures, and Ganghyuk. Though Ganghyuk followed, he was torn by conflicting emotions. Was this truly justice? Or just another power play by yet another group seeking dominance?
When they arrived at the Magyo branch, they were met by armed guards blocking the entrance."What business does Cheongpunghoe have here?" a Magyo officer sneered. "Are you meddling in our affairs?"
Yucheonrin replied calmly, yet with authority."We don't stand idly by when the innocent are oppressed. The Magyo's actions here won't be tolerated. We've come to uphold justice."
The Magyo officer laughed, unsheathing his blade."Justice? That nonsense won't work here. This is our territory. You'll regret crossing us."
A fierce battle erupted. The warriors of Cheongpunghoe unleashed their techniques, cutting down Magyo fighters one by one. Jang Yeonghwa's agile swordplay overwhelmed his opponents, while Yucheonrin's formidable inner energy held the enemy commander at bay.
In the midst of the chaos, Ganghyuk fought too, but his heart weighed heavy. Was he truly standing for justice—or simply helping Cheongpunghoe establish itself as a new tyrant under a righteous name? As he swung his blade, the faces of the innocents suffering under both the Magyo and Cheongpunghoe flashed through his mind.
Eventually, Yucheonrin defeated the Magyo branch leader, forcing him to the ground."This ends here," Yucheonrin declared, pointing his blade at the defeated man. "The Magyo's evil won't be tolerated."
The leader glared back defiantly."Cheongpunghoe… You claim to fight for justice, but in the end, you're no different. It's all just another game of power."
Yucheonrin paused for a moment, then smiled coldly."Regardless of your beliefs, there's no place for you in this world."He knocked the man unconscious, marking the end of the battle.
With their victory, Cheongpunghoe took control of the Magyo's base and widely publicized their success as an act of righteous justice. Their name quickly spread throughout the murim as a new force to be reckoned with. Yet in the midst of this triumph, Ganghyuk's guilt gnawed at him. Was this truly justice, or just another lie dressed in noble words?
The day's victory cemented Cheongpunghoe's status, but inside Ganghyuk, the seeds of doubt continued to grow. He questioned whether leaving Cheonuhoe had been the right choice, or whether he had simply traded one flawed organization for another.
Cheongpunghoe's name echoed louder in the murim—but in Ganghyuk's heart, the shadows of regret and moral conflict loomed ever larger.