The martial world is, indeed, a strange place.
For ordinary people, even being targeted by just one of the great powers—Jungpa, Sapa, or the Demonic Sect—would be enough to drive them into hiding in fear. But Cheonwoohoe was different. Even after withstanding simultaneous attacks from all three factions that rule the murim, they did not falter.
On the contrary, after the incident, Cheonwoohoe became the talk of the entire martial world.
"Have you heard of Cheonwoohoe? They survived simultaneous attacks from Jungpa, Sapa, and even the Demonic Sect."
"If they managed that, they must hold some kind of secret. Don't you want to know what martial arts they use?"
Rumors spread like wildfire. Curiosity, suspicion, and interest all converged on Cheonwoohoe. They were no longer mere survivors. Having endured assaults from all directions, they became both a haven for the weak and a tempting challenge for the strong.
As Cheonwoohoe began to rise as a new power, reactions flared across the murim.
A Jungpa elder remarked,"They're a group who doesn't even understand the essence of martial arts. But the fact they survived... cannot be ignored."
A veteran Sapa master, recalling Cheonwoohoe's resistance, smiled bitterly."I thought they were just remnants of Heukwungwan, but now I see—they're people dreaming of a new order. A haven for the weak? Laughable, yet… there's something appealing about it."
Even the Demonic Sect kept an eye on them. The leader of Chilheukhwe reported to the Demon Lord:"Cheonwoohoe is not simply a group that runs or hides. They differ from us, but like us, they dream of a new order."
Cheonwoohoe was drawing attention from all three factions—not just curiosity or wariness, but something deeper. Even within those factions, cracks were beginning to form. Those who resonated with Cheonwoohoe's ideals, or found their vision intriguing, began drifting toward them.
Cheonwoohoe's doors were open to all."Here, no one will call you weak. You are simply someone walking your own path."Lee Dohyun's philosophy transformed Cheonwoohoe from a mere organization into a movement.
The training grounds were always alive.From beginners learning martial arts for the first time, to seasoned warriors disillusioned by the current order—they all came, dreaming of a new murim, placing their hopes in Cheonwoohoe.
"Dohyun-nim… is it really okay for someone like me, from Jungpa, to be here?""I trained in the ways of Sapa. Is it acceptable for me to stay?""This place isn't about factions. Not Jungpa, Sapa, or the Demonic Sect—just people walking their own path."Lee Dohyun's answer was simple, but it resonated with people's hearts.
Cheonwoohoe gradually became a proving ground for the strong as well.
"If it's as great as they say, I'll defeat them to prove my strength.""I want to see with my own eyes what kind of 'new martial world' this Dohyun speaks of."
Footsteps heading to Cheonwoohoe weren't just from the weak—the strong were coming too.
This growth became a threat to the Three Great Powers.Within Jungpa, concern grew that Cheonwoohoe might replace their teachings as the new standard."If Cheonwoohoe continues to grow, Jungpa's doctrine may no longer define the murim."Their elders viewed the rise of Cheonwoohoe with seriousness.
Sapa, too, began to fear them."They gather the weak and forge them into the strong. If their way conflicts with ours, they'll paint us as mere oppressors."Sapa's leadership started to consider Cheonwoohoe a new enemy.
The Demonic Sect didn't dismiss them as a weak gathering either."They are creating a new kind of power. If they continue to grow, a clash with our ideals is inevitable."The Chilheukhwe leader monitored them closely, anticipating the change they might bring.
But Cheonwoohoe didn't stop at mere survival.
They embraced the weak, offered challenges to the strong, and presented a third path—beyond Jungpa, Sapa, and the Demonic Sect.
"A new path, neither Jungpa, nor Sapa, nor the Demonic Sect—that is the path of Cheonwoohoe."
A young man training in the courtyard once said,"No one here asks if I'm from Jungpa, Sapa, or the Demonic Sect. What matters is who I am right now."That statement embodied Cheonwoohoe's spirit.
On the platform, Lee Dohyun addressed his people:
Lee Dohyun's Speech
"There is no such thing as a perfect paradise. No world like that exists.
We are all human. We envy one another, love one another, sometimes resent, and sometimes hold hands with smiles.
But one thing is certain:If we want to make this world a better place, we must be willing to take even a single step toward each other. Not a world where we live only for ourselves, but one where we take that step for someone else. Isn't that the very difference between the animal kingdom and the path of humanity?
If the strong crush the weak, and the weak only retaliate, then this world will never improve.But if the strong extend a hand, and the weak take it… perhaps that is what brings us closest to the paradise we all dreamed of.
Paradise is not something someone else creates. It is something each of us builds together.Cheonwoohoe is ready to take the first step toward that paradise. Join us.Not as the strong or the weak, not as Jungpa, Sapa, or the Demonic Sect—but as one murim."
*****
Chapter : New Martial Arts, New Path
At the crack of dawn, Cheonwoohoe's training ground was already buzzing with life. Amid the morning mist, dozens of people moved through various stances, learning the basics of martial arts. These were not the famed masters who dominated the murim. Most were beginners—some of whom had never even heard the word martial arts before arriving here.
"Lower the angle of your arms a bit more. Otherwise, your center will falter."
Lee Dohyun gently, yet firmly, offered guidance to a middle-aged man struggling with his posture.
"Captain, do you really think a stance like this would help in a real fight?"The man wiped the sweat from his brow. He was one of the many who had fled to Cheonwoohoe after losing his family to a Sapa raid.
Lee Dohyun smiled."This movement isn't meant to defeat an enemy. It's designed to help you block an attack long enough to escape. Martial arts aren't just for fighting. Survival matters too. And... without building the foundation, there is no strength."
Encouraged, the man nodded and corrected his stance. Cheonwoohoe's martial arts were built on practicality—simple, effective techniques that anyone could learn. That was the first principle of Cheonwoohoe's universal martial arts.
At the heart of Cheonwoohoe, the development of these new arts was ongoing.
Baek Wolhui and Han Soyeon worked together to simplify the complex techniques they had once mastered, removing unnecessary or overly difficult movements to create a beginner-friendly system.
"Wolhui, isn't this move a bit too complicated?"Han Soyeon frowned as she observed one of Wolhui's suggested techniques.
Baek Wolhui paused, then nodded."You're right. My swordsmanship focuses on exploiting an opponent's weakness. That's too difficult for a beginner. Let's simplify it."
Through countless trials and failures, they gradually crafted a martial art for everyone. Under the banner of universal martial arts, the gates to the martial world began to open for even the most ordinary of people.
As Cheonwoohoe grew, the process for selecting instructors became more systematic. Abandoning the traditional apprentice system, they adopted an open, merit-based selection combining peer reviews and external reputation.
"Who are the new instructor candidates?"Cheong Unjin asked Lee Dohyun.
"Recently, Yusanbaek and Pungwolgeom have joined us. Their reputations are solid."Baek Wolhui opened the files. They detailed the candidates' histories, reputations in the murim, and evaluations written by Cheonwoohoe's members.
Yusanbaek had once been a Sapa master, renowned for his unorthodox sword style. Disillusioned by Sapa's cruelty, he defected and joined Cheonwoohoe.Pungwolgeom, a former Jungpa swordsman, was known for his elegant techniques that inspired hope. He joined Cheonwoohoe after resonating deeply with its philosophy.
Members of Cheonwoohoe voted and submitted evaluations to help determine the final selection.
"Master Yusanbaek is a bit strict, but his lessons are really effective.""Pungwolgeom is gentle, but the techniques he teaches might be too advanced for beginners."
Lee Dohyun appointed both as instructors."Cheonwoohoe is not for the exceptional few, but for everyone. A teacher's value lies not just in their skill, but in how they teach—and the beliefs they stand by."
Some trainees began advancing to intermediate martial arts.The universal martial arts had served to build foundational self-defense and survival skills. But moving beyond that required greater effort and discipline.
"Next is the stamina test. You'll pass through obstacles while maintaining your defensive stances."Cheong Unjin led the test.
Though simple in design, the course was intense."Believe in yourselves. Martial arts are etched into your body through repetition."Lee Dohyun's encouragement drove the trainees forward. One stumbled and knocked over an obstacle—but quickly recovered and completed the course. Dohyun smiled proudly.
"Martial arts are not about perfection. They are about what you learn from failure."
News of Cheonwoohoe's universal martial arts began spreading across the murim.
"They say anyone can learn what Cheonwoohoe teaches—even without talent.""It's just basic self-defense, isn't it? Still, for beginners, it sounds quite useful."
Even some Jungpa and Sapa factions began paying attention.Some Jungpa elders realized that Cheonwoohoe's teachings weren't so different from their own core techniques.
"We mocked them for being naive, but perhaps Cheonwoohoe is actually leading more people into the martial world than we ever did."
One evening, after training, Lee Dohyun stood before the members and gave a speech.
Lee Dohyun's Address
"We are walking a new path now.
Jungpa, Sapa, and the Demonic Sect have long ruled the murim with their own philosophies. But do you know how many were abandoned along the way? The weak were never protected—only the strong survived.
We are different.Cheonwoohoe gives hope to the weak and purpose to the strong.Martial arts are not just for the chosen few—they're for everyone."
He looked around at the training ground as he continued.
"Our universal martial arts, our way of teaching, and our way of choosing leaders—these are not just technical innovations. They are the first steps toward a new murim where both strong and weak can coexist."