As news of Cheonwoohoe's founding spread across the murim, former trainees from the days of Heukwoon-gwan (Black Cloud Hall) began returning one by one. Some came with trust and high hopes for the new organization, while others returned out of sheer loyalty to their past.
"The trainees return"
A group stood before the gates of Cheonwoohoe. Their martial uniforms were worn and their faces tired, but their eyes shone with determination.One stepped forward and knocked."Is the master of Cheonwoohoe present? We are former trainees of Heukwoon-gwan. May we return?"
Lee Do-hyun opened the door himself to greet them."Of course. Thank you for coming back."
The trainees bowed deeply."When we heard Heukwoon-gwan had fallen, we still held onto hope that you were alive. Now that you've restarted as Cheonwoohoe, we want to help."
Lee Do-hyun replied calmly,"What you learned at Heukwoon-gwan wasn't just martial arts. Cheonwoohoe is no longer the past. We are here to embrace the weak and the lost, and forge a new path in the murim. You must be ready to walk that path."
One by one, the trainees nodded in solemn agreement.
The news of Cheonwoohoe's founding spread not just to former members but also among wandering martial artists who hadn't found a place in either the orthodox or unorthodox sects. Intrigued by the new name, many began making their way there.
"Is this really Cheonwoohoe?"A martial artist in a tattered uniform asked hesitantly at the gate."It is. What brings you here?" Lee Do-hyun greeted him personally."I was rejected by both orthodox and unorthodox factions. I came here seeking a place to belong."
Do-hyun studied him carefully and responded,"Cheonwoohoe's doors are open to all. But if you've come here, you must be ready to walk our path with us. Are you prepared?"The man answered without hesitation,"I am."
The growing gathering at Cheonwoohoe caught the attention of both the orthodox and unorthodox factions.
An elder of the orthodox sect, feeling uneasy, said:"Cheonwoohoe is clearly just a renamed Heukwoon-gwan. We must eliminate them before they grow."
But another elder urged caution."The unorthodox sect is watching us closely. If we act too soon, they may exploit the situation. It's wiser to observe until Cheonwoohoe grows larger."
Similar discussions were unfolding among the unorthodox factions."Cheonwoohoe isn't just a band of drifters. They have the foundation built by Heukwoon-gwan. If we leave them alone, they could become a threat."
Their leader, however, shook his head."Let the orthodox sect and the demonic cult pressure them for now. We don't need to act directly yet. If their power grows, we'll reassess then."
News even reached the demonic cult. In fact, during Heukwoon-gwan's collapse, they had already sent their elite unit, the Seven Shadows, to investigate Lee Do-hyun. Their conclusion was that he wasn't just a skilled martial artist—he was someone who understood the inner workings of the murim from a modern, analytical perspective.
The cult leader recalled that analysis with a faint, intrigued smile."So he survived and founded Cheonwoohoe. Just as expected."
A subordinate asked,"Shall we eliminate him now?"The cult leader slowly shook his head."Destroying him while Cheonwoohoe is weak isn't interesting. Let the others press him first. We'll watch how he handles it. And from there... we'll seize our opportunity."
The subordinate bowed."As you command."
The cult had reached its judgment on Cheonwoohoe and Lee Do-hyun, but for now, they chose to remain passive—quietly devising a scheme to exploit the shifting balance of power.
Following Cheonwoohoe's founding, Mi-ryeong began drawing attention throughout the murim. Though previously overlooked during her time at Heukwoon-gwan, word had spread that she was the one who brokered alliances with the Golden Society and Hongyu Escort Bureau.
"I heard that woman, Mi-ryeong, was the one who rebuilt Cheonwoohoe.""She's no ordinary martial artist. To move the Golden Society and the Escort Bureau, she must have talents beyond martial prowess."
Mi-ryeong remained composed despite the rumors. But Lee Do-hyun noticed the growing weight of her role."Mi-ryeong, you're no longer just a member of Heukwoon-gwan. It's time you take on a greater role in Cheonwoohoe."
She nodded calmly."I've only done what was needed. But if more is needed, I'll be ready."
***
Chapter : Internal Conflict Within Cheonwoohoe
As former Heukwoon-gwan trainees and wandering martial artists gathered under Cheonwoohoe, subtle tensions began to rise. Outwardly, they had come together for a common purpose, but their backgrounds, experiences, and values were vastly different, making mutual understanding difficult.
The trainees from Heukwoon-gwan still trusted in the martial arts and philosophy taught by Lee Do-hyun. Heukwoon-gwan was never just a place to become stronger—it emphasized human connection and martial arts to protect the weak.
Its training was based on universally accessible techniques, designed so that even the physically weak could learn to defend themselves through effort. This brought a sense of security and camaraderie, but their lack of master-disciple-style training meant they could be weaker in actual combat.
On the other hand, the wandering martial artists had lived a different reality. They had grown through traditional apprenticeship or by surviving the harsh ways of the murim. Their experience had taught them to prioritize power over relationships, hardened by seeing the strong crush the weak time and again.
Naturally, friction between the two groups began to grow.
Soon after training began, the first clash surfaced.One Heukwoon-gwan trainee criticized a wanderer's training method:"If you keep doing that, you'll wreck your body. You should slow down and focus on building fundamentals."
The wandering martial artist scoffed in response:"If you learn slow in the murim, you die. Your precious fundamentals? They won't keep you alive in real fights."
Their argument escalated quickly."At Heukwoon-gwan, we were taught to respect others. I don't need to preach justice to someone like you, but at least show some respect here.""Respect? That won't help you survive in the murim."
The conflict was barely defused by bystanders, but the spark had been lit.
In the middle of the training grounds, Lee Do-hyun gathered both sides. His voice was firm:"Cheonwoohoe is in crisis."
Everyone looked up in surprise."We made it this far through everyone's effort. But hear me clearly—if this division continues, we won't last much longer."
The trainees and wanderers exchanged uneasy glances, falling into silence.
Then, Cheong Un-jin broke the silence. Fiddling with his sword in his usual relaxed way, he spoke:"Do-hyun's right. This is serious. To survive in the murim, it's not just about martial skill. We need trust and solidarity. But right now? All I see is mistrust and rivalry."
He let out a deep sigh."Here's my word—if you want to stay, start by learning to trust one another. If you can't, maybe it's better you leave."
Han So-yeon spoke in a calm voice:"No one survives the murim alone. We created Cheonwoohoe to build unity. But right now, you're failing to grasp that value. If you want to stay, learn to stand together."
Baek Wol-hee added coldly:"Cheonwoohoe may welcome the weak and the lost, but that doesn't mean we accept everyone blindly. If you want to remain, you need to change."
She continued, firm and unyielding:"If not—leave. Cheonwoohoe isn't here to satisfy personal ambition."
The stern warning from these leaders struck hard. The trainees began reflecting, swallowing the discomfort they felt toward the wanderers. Meanwhile, the wanderers realized they needed to adapt if they wanted to belong.
Thanks to Lee Do-hyun and the others' firm stance—and Mi-ryeong's quiet mediation—a shift began within Cheonwoohoe. The trainees started training alongside the wanderers, learning from their combat experience. In turn, the wanderers began to appreciate the camaraderie and relational strength the trainees had cultivated.
The conflict hadn't completely disappeared, but small efforts to understand each other had begun to take root.