Lee Dohyun was deeply troubled by the rapid rise of Cheongpunghoe. Their influence was quickly solidifying within the Murim, and they had subtly begun encroaching on the border areas of Chunwoohoe's territory. Though they publicly proclaimed themselves as protectors of justice and advocates for the weak, it was evident that they were expanding their power with the backing of Jeongpa and Sapa. Cheongpunghoe operated with a different approach than Chunwoohoe, and Lee Dohyun couldn't shake off the sense of threat emanating from them.
Chunwoohoe wasn't a massive faction like Jeongpa or Sapa. Their strength came from a network of grassroots support—ordinary people and weaker martial artists banding together. But as Cheongpunghoe grew more aggressive, Dohyun worried whether Chunwoohoe could stand against them with their strength alone. He felt an urgent need to understand Cheongpunghoe's movements and identify their weaknesses.
To that end, he summoned Yoo Yeonhwa, a trusted ally of Chunhyang. Yeonhwa was an informant at Pungwolru, known for her deep network and long-standing connection with Chunhyang, and she was highly trusted within Chunwoohoe. She had been gathering information on Cheongpunghoe as well as Jeongpa and Sapa, and Dohyun hoped she could shed more light on Cheongpunghoe's hidden strategies.
"Captain, here's the latest information on Cheongpunghoe," Yeonhwa began, her voice calm yet confident. "Cheongpunghoe started as a group of martial artists disillusioned by Jeongpa and Sapa. They claimed to follow Chunwoohoe's ideals, helping the weak. But over time, they've shifted toward aligning with the powerful. They're actively seeking Jeongpa and Sapa's support, and in the process, they're losing their own identity."
Yeonhwa's words gave Dohyun a critical insight. The fact that Cheongpunghoe was diluting their ideals to gain backing from Jeongpa and Sapa was a potential weakness. The gap between their proclaimed ideals and the reality of their actions was sowing internal discord, and that could be the key for Chunwoohoe to counter their influence.
Dohyun exhaled deeply. "So Jeongpa and Sapa might be using Cheongpunghoe as their puppet to attack us. They probably find it too burdensome to confront us directly, so they're sending Cheongpunghoe instead."
Yeonhwa nodded. "That's the word going around at Pungwolru. There are reports of power struggles within Cheongpunghoe, and they're at risk of becoming little more than a proxy for Jeongpa and Sapa's ambitions."
Dohyun pondered. Cheongpunghoe's rise wasn't just a matter of growth—it was part of a larger scheme. They were after something more, with Jeongpa and Sapa pulling the strings from behind. Dohyun realized that to defend Chunwoohoe's ideals, he had to act. The best strategy was to strengthen Chunwoohoe's unity and demonstrate their true strength.
After Yeonhwa left, Dohyun immediately reached out to Hong Yusang, a key ally from Hongyu Pyo-guk, a trade guild with strong ties to Chunwoohoe and a wide network for gathering intelligence across the Murim. Yusang was already monitoring Cheongpunghoe's movements and confirmed that they were actively courting Jeongpa and Sapa for resources and martial arts techniques, showing increasing dependence on their support.
"Dohyun hyung, Cheongpunghoe is trying to secure funding and martial arts secrets from Jeongpa and Sapa. They claim they're growing independently, but their foundation is entirely dependent on Jeongpa and Sapa's resources. That's their critical weakness—they're not free to act on their own," Yusang explained calmly.
Dohyun nodded as he listened. This information would be crucial in devising a strategy to counter Cheongpunghoe. They claimed they were the future rulers of the Murim, but in reality, they were still trapped in the shadows of Jeongpa and Sapa. Dohyun resolved to share this truth with the members of Chunwoohoe, strengthening their unity and preparing them for what lay ahead.
"We must walk our own path, not theirs," Dohyun muttered. He knew Cheongpunghoe's provocations would intensify, but he was determined to protect Chunwoohoe's place in the Murim by standing firm in their values. With a renewed sense of purpose, he set out to forge a stronger, more resilient Chunwoohoe, ready to face any challenge that might come their way.
****
Chapter : Cheonwoohoe's Economic Pressure Strategy
Miryung's departure from Hwanggeumhoe had slightly weakened the bond between Cheonwoohoe and Hwanggeumhoe, but Cheonwoohoe still maintained support and trust through its relationship with the royal family. Especially among the newly settled merchants in the area, some had cooperated with Hwanggeumhoe and pledged their support for Cheonwoohoe, and their capital power was no small force. These resources and merchant support became a significant advantage for Cheonwoohoe.
Lee Dohyun decided to respond to Cheongpunghoe's aggressive expansion and provocations not with direct confrontation but by targeting their funding channels through economic pressure. He judged that now was the moment to strike—before Cheongpunghoe's internal structure fully solidified. With Miryung's departure weakening their link with Hwanggeumhoe, he planned to exploit new merchant alliances to undermine Cheongpunghoe's financial base.
Lee Dohyun arranged a meeting with key merchants. This gathering included representatives from the merchant alliance, who had maintained their ties to the royal family and were deeply connected with Cheonwoohoe. At the meeting, Lee Dohyun laid out his plan to cut off Cheongpunghoe's funding and destabilize their foundation, appealing for the merchants' cooperation.
"Cheongpunghoe's structure is still unstable. Cutting off their funding and creating chaos is the most effective way to weaken them. We need your support," Lee Dohyun explained. The merchants nodded in agreement, sharing concerns about Cheongpunghoe's aggressive actions and indiscriminate use of force. They were confident that Cheonwoohoe's stable leadership would provide a better environment for trade and security.
Within days, following Cheonwoohoe's instructions, the merchants began to halt supplies to major Cheongpunghoe-affiliated trade hubs. They pressured other merchants who had dealings with Cheongpunghoe to sever ties, leading some to cancel their contracts under Cheonwoohoe's influence. As a result, Cheongpunghoe's funding pipeline began to collapse rapidly.
Cheongpunghoe struggled to respond to this economic pressure. Without a solid internal system, they were caught off guard by the sudden financial crisis. Yu Cheonrin hastily gathered his core members to discuss countermeasures, but amidst the chaos, they struggled to find a viable solution. They tried to secure external funding, but Cheonwoohoe and the royal family-aligned merchants had already blocked most channels.
Dissatisfaction erupted within Cheongpunghoe. Some leaders criticized Yu Cheonrin for poor management, as even basic resources for martial training were running scarce. The relentless spending on aggressive expansion had created cracks, and the economic pressure only worsened the internal turmoil.
Lee Dohyun carefully observed Cheongpunghoe's disarray, preparing his next moves. Beyond the merchants' cooperation, he secured support from Hongyupoguk as well. In a meeting with Hong Yusang, Lee Dohyun requested assistance in gathering intelligence on Cheongpunghoe's internal movements. Hongyupoguk, with its extensive network across Murim, agreed to monitor and report on Cheongpunghoe's activities.
"Cheongpunghoe is in chaos. We must exploit their internal weaknesses to the fullest," Hong Yusang advised. Lee Dohyun nodded in agreement—this information would be critical for devising strategies to counter Cheongpunghoe. Despite Cheongpunghoe's public image as a new force in Murim, they remained shackled to the influence of the established powers.
Lee Dohyun decided to share these insights with Cheonwoohoe's members to strengthen their unity and morale.
"We must walk our own path, not theirs," Lee Dohyun muttered to himself. Cheongpunghoe's provocations would undoubtedly intensify, but Cheonwoohoe would stand firm, building true strength through solidarity and authenticity. Lee Dohyun resolved to continue reinforcing Cheonwoohoe's foundations and prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Cheongpunghoe.