As the name of Cheongpunghoe began to spread throughout the Murim, they were emerging as a new force. Particularly after subduing a branch of the Magyo, they became known as a rising group advocating justice for the weak. Their rise wasn't merely due to their martial prowess—it was because they proclaimed new ideals that stirred fresh winds among the various factions of the Murim.
The growth of Cheongpunghoe sparked diverse reactions within the Jeongpa and Sapa. Leaders of the Jeongpa acknowledged Cheongpunghoe's slogan of aiding the weak on the surface, but they couldn't let go of their vigilance over the possibility of Cheongpunghoe encroaching upon their territories. The Sapa likewise sensed that the growing power of Cheongpunghoe could soon become a threat to their own positions.
In a council where representatives of both Jeongpa and Sapa gathered, a heavy atmosphere prevailed.
A Jeongpa leader broke the silence."Cheongpunghoe—this fledgling group moves under the banner of helping the weak. But their activities are anything but pure from our perspective. It's clear they aim to expand their influence across the Murim, using their victories against the Magyo as leverage."
A Sapa leader responded with a sneer."Their ideals? Likely a façade. What matters is that they've already begun establishing a foothold in the Murim. They might not appear as idealistic and pure as Cheonuhoe, but they too could become a threat to us."
Another Jeongpa leader nodded."Indeed. The danger of Cheonuhoe lies in their unity. Cheongpunghoe—with many members drawn from both Jeongpa and Sapa—offers more room for manipulation. Their organizational integrity is still fragile; they merely uphold a banner of ideals, but they lack a structure that's truly in their control."
Jin Muryoung, the leader of the Sapa, smiled coldly."If Jeongpa and Sapa act directly, we'll face backlash. But if we move through Cheongpunghoe, the situation changes. They already have our people among them, making it easier to sway them toward our goals."
A Jeongpa leader raised a concern."But what if they don't follow our lead? Cheongpunghoe's leader, Yu Cheonrin, is known for upholding his ideals and is unlikely to submit willingly."
Jin Muryoung lightly tapped his fingers on the table, replying calmly."We'll simply plant more of our people within Cheongpunghoe. Slowly, we'll erode their core decision-making authority and turn them into our puppet. We'll make Cheongpunghoe attack Cheonuhoe and push them into an all-out war with the Magyo. As they deplete their strength fighting on both fronts, we'll pull the strings from behind the scenes."
The room fell into a tense, heavy silence. Some among them seemed cautious about the plan, but given the current state of affairs, they felt there were no other options. Both Jeongpa and Sapa recognized that Cheongpunghoe posed a growing threat to their influence, and thus, they were determined to act.
Another Jeongpa leader nodded."Very well. Let's send more of our people into Cheongpunghoe. Through them, we'll gradually seize control of its core. If we use Cheongpunghoe to keep Cheonuhoe in check, we can avoid a direct confrontation while still achieving the results we want."
Jin Muryoung smiled and nodded."We will slowly, but surely, bring Cheongpunghoe under our control. Through them, we'll dismantle Cheonuhoe and drain their strength in battles against the Magyo. Without dirtying our own hands, we can reshape the power structure of the Murim as we see fit."
Thus, the Jeongpa and Sapa solidified their plans to turn Cheongpunghoe into their puppet. They aimed to plant more of their operatives within the organization, gradually expanding their influence and steering Cheongpunghoe in the direction they desired. Ultimately, their grand scheme was to use Cheongpunghoe to dismantle Cheonuhoe and manipulate the battles against the Magyo to restructure the balance of power in the Murim.
Cheongpunghoe believed themselves to be the architects of a new order in the Murim, but in reality, they were becoming pawns in the hands of the Jeongpa and Sapa. Amidst this unfolding conspiracy, Kang Hyuk's sense of guilt and confusion grew ever deeper as he struggled with the choices before him.
The relationship between Cheongpunghoe, Jeongpa, and Sapa was growing increasingly tangled, and the conflict and intrigue among them were preparing to send shockwaves throughout the entire Murim.
***
Chapter : Shadows of Unease Amidst Triumph
Cheongpunghoe had recently become a rising force in the Murim, stirring a new wind of change. After subduing a branch of the Magyo and proclaiming themselves champions of justice for the weak, their influence grew rapidly. The wave of newcomers flocking to Cheongpunghoe was not merely a product of martial prowess, but the appeal of their ideals that resonated with various factions across the Murim.
Yucheonrin, buoyed by this momentum, believed that Cheongpunghoe now possessed the power to reshape the Murim itself.
"We will become the new bastion of justice in the Murim!" Yucheonrin declared boldly at a Cheongpunghoe leadership meeting. His words were met with enthusiastic cheers from the other leaders, their hearts swelling with anticipation that their fledgling faction was on the cusp of something monumental.
Indeed, every day brought new faces to Cheongpunghoe's headquarters—some were seasoned masters from the Jeongpa and Sapa who had abandoned their affiliations, while others were wandering warriors disillusioned by the old order, seeking a fresh start. As a result, Cheongpunghoe's strength swelled, positioning them as a major power in the Murim.
Yet among those drawn to Cheongpunghoe's banner lurked unseen darkness. As Yucheonrin reviewed the list of new recruits in the strategy room, a subtle unease crept over him.
"Wasn't this person once active in the Jeongpa?" Yucheonrin mused aloud, eyeing a name on the list. Standing beside him, Seol Yeonhwa nodded.
"Yes, that's correct. He reportedly left the Jeongpa after opposing their rigid hierarchy. He claims he wants to join us for a new path," she explained, seemingly confident in the information. Still, Yucheonrin's disquiet lingered.
Unbeknownst to Cheongpunghoe's leadership, the seeds of infiltration had already taken root. The Jeongpa and Sapa had quietly come together in secret, unwilling to let Cheongpunghoe's rapid rise go unchecked. In a covert agreement, they decided to plant spies within Cheongpunghoe to manipulate them from within.
These infiltrators were highly skilled warriors, capable of earning trust and rising through the ranks. They initially blended in seamlessly, enthusiastically adopting Cheongpunghoe's rhetoric and appearing to share their ideals. But their true objective was clear: to penetrate Cheongpunghoe's core, control Yucheonrin and his circle, and steer the organization according to the hidden agendas of the Jeongpa and Sapa.
Days later, at a gathering of Cheongpunghoe's key figures, Yucheonrin introduced the latest recruits. They hailed from various backgrounds, many claiming to have left the Jeongpa or Sapa behind, or to stand as neutral parties. Among them were those with exceptional martial skill, and Yucheonrin believed they would greatly bolster Cheongpunghoe's strength.
"Cheongpunghoe is ready to take its place at the heart of the Murim. We fight for justice and the protection of the weak, and countless masters are joining us in our cause," Yucheonrin proclaimed confidently.
But while he spoke, the infiltrators from the Jeongpa and Sapa were already laying the groundwork for their plans. They cultivated relationships with Cheongpunghoe's core members, gained access to sensitive information, and steadily built Yucheonrin's trust. Though they acted as if they shared Cheongpunghoe's ideals, their real aim was to manipulate Cheongpunghoe into a weapon—one they could aim at the Cheonuhui and the Magyo.
That night, in a shadowed grove near Cheongpunghoe's headquarters, two infiltrators—Seoryang and another agent—met in secret.
"Cheongpunghoe's defenses are weaker than we thought. Yucheonrin is eager to trust. If we gain a little more credibility, we'll have a voice in the key meetings soon," Seoryang said with quiet satisfaction.
The other agent nodded in agreement. "Yes, once we're in position, we'll steer them as we wish. They'll follow our lead, whether they realize it or not."
Their whispered words were the first drops of poison seeping into Cheongpunghoe's foundation. While the organization proudly held itself as a banner of justice for the weak, cracks were already forming—cracks that would widen over time, threatening the ideals they claimed to protect.
Cheongpunghoe wore an air of triumph, but an unseen shadow lurked beneath it all—one that would gnaw away at their core and test the limits of their resolve.