After the battle with the Magyo, the masters of Jeongpa and Sapa completed their takeover of Cheongpunghoe. The original ideals and goals that Yu Cheonrin and Seol Yeonhwa had established when founding the organization no longer held any weight. Cheongpunghoe had become nothing more than a tool for Jeongpa and Sapa's expansion, and they were now reorganizing it to suit their own interests.
Shin Ganghyeon, Jeongpa's elite master, was fully satisfied with the fact that they had taken full control."Cheongpunghoe has finally become part of the Jeongpa. Through this organization, we can restructure the order of the Murim as we see fit," he mused proudly.He had always believed that Jeongpa's ideals should dominate the Murim and saw Cheongpunghoe as a convenient vehicle for achieving that vision. He redirected Cheongpunghoe's resources and manpower to serve Jeongpa's goals, gradually erasing the organization's former independence and identity.
Meanwhile, Sapa's master Yu Rimha had a different mindset. From Sapa's more pragmatic perspective, the control of Cheongpunghoe was a strategic gain."With Cheongpunghoe, we now have a foothold to expand our influence in the Murim," he thought with quiet satisfaction.But he also harbored unease about the alliance with Jeongpa. Jeongpa and Sapa had always maintained a delicate rivalry, and it was clear both sides were trying to expand their spheres of power through Cheongpunghoe. Their so-called cooperation was little more than a façade. Yu Rimha kept one eye on Cheongpunghoe's growth and the other on Jeongpa's movements.
Cheongpunghoe was now completely restructured under new leadership backed by Jeongpa and Sapa. Shin Ganghyeon, newly appointed as its leader, originally planned to use Cheongpunghoe entirely as an extension of Jeongpa. But once he sat in the seat of command, he began to feel the weight of responsibility. He realized that the organization couldn't be sustained if it remained merely a puppet of Jeongpa and Sapa.
Late one night, alone in Cheongpunghoe's headquarters, Shin Ganghyeon reviewed paperwork and fell into deep thought."Cheongpunghoe has a considerable amount of people and resources… Simply following orders from Jeongpa and Sapa won't be enough to maintain this group."Though he was a Jeongpa master, the burden of leadership awakened something unfamiliar in him—a vague sense of obligation. Seeing the fading ideals of Cheongpunghoe's original founders gave him an unexpected sense of unease.
"So this is what they meant by ideals…" he murmured.He found himself recalling the organization's original purpose and autonomy, even wondering if it had held some meaningful place in the Murim. But those thoughts were quickly dismissed. As someone bound to Jeongpa, such doubts were dangerous.
After Yu Cheonrin and Seol Yeonhwa left Cheongpunghoe, the Jeongpa and Sapa masters decided to keep them tightly monitored, fearing they could tarnish the organization's new image or cause trouble in the Murim."If they start undermining our legitimacy from the outside, we'll be the ones under fire again," Yu Rimha warned the leadership council.Shin Ganghyeon nodded in agreement."They must be neutralized—or at the very least, rendered powerless. We cannot allow them any influence over Cheongpunghoe again."
They acted swiftly. Jeongpa assassins were dispatched to track Yu Cheonrin and Seol Yeonhwa. The moment the two disappeared from public view, information networks were activated to locate them, and various tactics were employed to put them under pressure. Yu Rimha also sent Sapa's own assassins to restrict their movements.
Yu Cheonrin and Seol Yeonhwa had been moving covertly through the outskirts of the Murim, fully aware they had become marked targets. Their lives were in constant danger. Yu Cheonrin masked his identity and minimized contact with the outside world, sheltering with Seol Yeonhwa in seclusion.
But their refuge did not last long. One night, Yu Cheonrin sensed something off. He quickly alerted Seol Yeonhwa, and the two gathered their things and fled. Not long after, Jeongpa assassins stormed their hideout."They've tracked us this quickly... Faster than expected," Yu Cheonrin muttered through gritted teeth.
They fought their way through and narrowly escaped. But the incident made one thing clear—they were no longer safe anywhere."They're not going to stop. We need to find a way to strike back," Seol Yeonhwa said between breaths, her eyes steely with resolve.
Hiding in a remote forest, the two pondered their next move. With Jeongpa and Sapa hunting them relentlessly, survival alone would not be enough. They needed a powerful ally."There's only one path left for us," Yu Cheonrin said firmly. "We need to align with the Cheonuhoe. With them, we might finally have the strength to stand up to Jeongpa and Sapa."
Seol Yeonhwa nodded."Cheonuhoe might be our last hope. If they accept us, we can fight for our ideals again."Her words were a mix of hope and fear. But they made their decision. They would go to Cheonuhoe—not just to survive, but to revive the dream they had once tried to build through Cheongpunghoe.
Together, they set off, determined to reclaim their cause through this new alliance. They had lost much—but not their ideals. Joining Cheonuhoe was their final stand, and they could sense that their choice would once again shift the tides of the Murim.
***
Chapter : A New Leader Rises in Cheongpunghoe – And the Vow of Revenge by Yu Cheon-rin and Seol Yeon-hwa
Cheongpunghoe was undergoing rapid transformation under a newly appointed leader. Now fully dominated by the Just and the Dark Sects, the organization's ideals had been discarded in favor of sheer pragmatism. The new leader laid out concrete plans to mold Cheongpunghoe into a dominant force, with targeted assaults on both the Magyo and the Cheonuhoe. Orders were issued to sever the two factions' supply lines and infiltrate their territories, as Cheongpunghoe prepared to reassert itself within the murim as a newly rebranded power.
Regardless of the original mission, the leadership had clearly embraced an aggressive and antagonistic posture. They no longer sought balance—they sought control. And in doing so, Cheongpunghoe had become nothing more than a vessel for the interests of the Just and Dark Sects.
Meanwhile, the two ousted founders—Yu Cheon-rin and Seol Yeon-hwa—stood at a crossroads.
Betrayed by the very factions they'd sought to escape, the two had once created Cheongpunghoe with a vision: a sanctuary for the marginalized, a challenge to the rigid order imposed by the dominant sects. But now, their creation had strayed so far from its founding spirit that it had become nearly indistinguishable from the very forces it once opposed.
Desperate but not broken, they made a decision that would've once been unthinkable.
They would go to the Cheonuhoe.
Under the muted moonlight of Pungwollu, the two sat in silence until Yu Cheon-rin finally spoke, his voice heavy with regret.
"We formed Cheongpunghoe after the Just and Dark Sects betrayed us. I never imagined we'd one day question the very ideals we fought for."
Seol Yeon-hwa met his gaze, calm but resolute. "We didn't create it for power. We did it for those who had nowhere else to go. But look at it now—it's no different from the old sects. We no longer belong there."
Yu Cheon-rin nodded slowly. "We were betrayed twice. And now they've turned Cheongpunghoe into another extension of their system. We fought so hard to escape their control… and in the end, they took everything from us, even what we built with our own hands."
Seol closed her eyes, breathing out a long, silent sigh. "We hated the Cheonuhoe. Their structure, their methods—it all felt so foreign. But now I wonder... if allying with them might give us a better chance. Against the Magyo, at least, they may offer more than the hollow alliances we've had so far."
Yu Cheon-rin didn't answer immediately. He stared off into the darkness, lost in thought. "Even so, I can't pretend I'm comfortable with it. We stood against them for a reason. Joining them now… it doesn't sit right. But we may not have a choice. We won't survive against the Magyo on our own."
Seol's voice was firm. "What I fear most isn't betrayal. It's becoming someone's pawn again. Like we were in Cheongpunghoe. The Cheonuhoe might use us, sure—but at least we know the game this time. And if we're careful, we might be able to turn the tide."
Yu Cheon-rin clenched his jaw, then gave a grim nod. "Then we don't yield. Not to them, not to anyone. We walk into this alliance with eyes open—and with our purpose intact. If we play it right, maybe we can reclaim what was lost. Maybe we can shape the game instead of being shaped by it."
Seol smiled faintly. "Then this is our second beginning. When the alliance ends, we'll take back the purpose Cheongpunghoe was meant to fulfill."
With their resolve forged anew, the two prepared to approach the Cheonuhoe for talks. It was a temporary solution, perhaps even a risky one—but in their current position, it was necessary.
Leaving behind the betrayal and bitterness, Yu Cheon-rin and Seol Yeon-hwa stepped toward a new alliance, uncertain of the cost—but determined not to lose themselves again.