** DarkActionGirl: Julia, Ji-Woo the Black Princess and Ha-ru aka. Chunmyungrang.
* AdultsAreUseless: Well any adult that isn't a Murim. Shi Woon is tormented endlessly by Chang Ho at school, [[spoiler: at one point being beaten by a bat in the middle of the hallway]] and the teachers are nowhere to be found. Not even his own mother notices any of attacks and beatings prior to this.
** Explained by the mother's long work hours caused by his father being absent and possibly dead.

* AntiVillain: Hyuk So Chun and Kangsung, among others. One of the things that sets this series apart is how most enemies are not presented as evil, even if they may seem to be at first. Instead, they're just people, [[PunchClockVillain who sometimes have to do unpleasant things in the course of their work]], and if they act like jerks it's more bravado than actual hatefulness.

* BelligerentSexualTension: Chun Woo and Shiho.

* BerserkButton: Chun Woo may act like he doesn't care about Shi Woon, but if you touch his disciple you're ''dead''. Talking shit about his master's death will also get him very mad. Also, [[spoiler: seeing Shiho badly hurt makes Chun Woo [[CurbStompBattle one-hit]] that cheap old bastard! Thank God for that, finally.]]

*** At this point disgracing the Sun-Woo or threatening innocents probably qualify as well.

* BettyAndVeronica: Yoon Ji and Shiho, respectively.

* BigDamnHeroes: Chun Woo, ''all the time''. May be justified, since his apprentice is always getting into trouble with guys way out of his league.

* CantCatchUp: The bullies.

* TheCavalry: [[spoiler: The Sunwoo Clan arriving in several helicopters to the island where Shi-woon is being held by Jung Lae Won]].

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: The SUC code card Shi-Woon was given back in chapter 35 of New Waves finally is used over 30 chapters later. ]]

* ChekhovsGunman: [[spoiler: Hyun Tae]], who went crazy after [[spoiler:the deaths of his master Song-Hak-Jang and Gijuu's]] and tried to get revenge on Chun Woo only to get badly beaten when they first meet.

* CurbStompBattle: Mamungi and his gang, who'd absolutely brutalized Shi-Woon, don't do so well against Chun Woo.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Shi-woon is at the receiving end of this just for being Chun Woo's disciple. Jinnie is also at the receiving end of this, because her mother, Lady Hae-jin, ran away to the United States and breaking the arranged marriage that Elder Kwon had set up for her and the previous head of the Sunwoo Clan.

* DramaPreservingHandicap: Played straight with Chun Woo being drained of ki already during his fight with Gijuu.

* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Elder Kwon. He eventually changes his mind and devotes himself to Shi-Woon and comes to accept Jin-le. But he still doesn't face much punishment or even apologize for attempting to kill Shi-Woon several times, exiling his own daughter over an arranged political marriage, and emotionally abusing his own orphaned granddaughter, deeming her a useless foreigner.]]
** [[spoiler: Somewhat justified. His daughter well knew the risks and became scapegoat willingly to protect the dignity of previous clan leader. Attempting to rectify Elder Kwon's behavior might expose the ruse making her sacrifice meaningless. Shi-Woon didn't even notice those murder attempts and/or didn't associated them with Elder Kwon to the point that even when Jinny told him, he dismissed her words. Telling Shi-Woon can only endanger a newly formed and quite delicate relationship. Bonus points for Elder Kwon for substituting his apologizes with UndyingLoyalty. ]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Yong-Hyun expresses disgust at [[spoiler: Sung-Jae bragging about hospitalizing Shi-Woon's mother.]]

* EvilOldFolks: Chief of the Alliance in Part 1, [[spoiler: Sun Woo clan elder, Kwon Jae Kyu assumes that role in New Waves.]]

* {{Fanservice}}: Mostly [[MsFanservice Shiho]], though Yoon Ji and even Sae He have their moments. In New Waves Jin-le provides most of it, as she frequently wears clothing that shows off [[ShesGotLegs her assets]]. Taken UpToEleven at one point, where she's stuck in a skimpy maid outfit.

* GambitPileup: For the first half... Chun Woo, the Black Forest Defense Group and the Murim Alliance all have their own agendas and are poised to use each other to achieve them. All of which birth the conflicts of the story.

* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Delivered by [[spoiler: Shi-Woon]] to [[spoiler: Chun Woo while in Demon King mode]], no less!

* GoThroughMe: [[spoiler: Shi Woon]] invokes this trope trying to stop Chun Woo's [[UnstoppableRage murderous rampage]], but it doesn't work. Fortunately [[spoiler: Hyuk So]] pulls a DivingSave, barely just in time.

* HealingFactor: Thanks to his insane amount of ki, Shi Woon has a rather insane recovery rate. Lampshaded by Chun Woo, when he compares him to a planarian. And it seems most powerful martial artists, have a bit of it, since Chun Woo remarked that normally his broken arm would've healed within few days.

* HeroicSacrifice: Jung Jipsa, and [[spoiler: Chun Woo's master, Un-Wol]] in a flashback

* HopeSpot: While Chun Woo's getting trashed by the Chief of the Alliance, Shiho figures out a way to replenish his ki. It works... [[spoiler: but then ''Hyun Tae'' of all people comes out of nowhere and shoots at Chun Woo, prompting Shiho's HeroicSacrifice]].

* KickTheDog: ''[[spoiler: Chun Woo]]'' kicked the dog at the end of Part I. [[spoiler: ShootTheHostage was one thing, but disowning your own disciple and leaving him to die after that?]] Kangsung isn't pleased.[[spoiler: Of course, that's exactly what Chun Woo ''wants'' them to think.]]

* LetsYouAndHimFight: [[spoiler: Elder Kwon did this to Shi-Woon and Yong-Hyun]]

* LoveTriangle: Yoon Ji, [[BelligerentSexualTension Chun Woo]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey and]] [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend Shiho]] can be interpreted this way initially, but later it becomes [[spoiler: Chun Woo, Shiho, and (her ex) Wonjae]]. Shi Woon, Sae He, and Sosul is also a possibility, now that Sosul clearly has a crush on Shi Woon.

* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: [[spoiler:Shi-Woon when using the Black Origin Threshold while battling Ryu-Ji]]

* MalevolentMaskedMen: The {{Mooks}} of the S.U.C.

* MightMakesRight: Chun Woo frequently claims that in the Murim-in the strong makes the rules and whatever they do is right. If he really believes this or not is up to you.

* MisplacedRetribution: A lot of the people who were actually wronged by Chun Woo seem to find it easier to get their revenge on Shi Woon instead.

* PreAssKickingOneLiner: Jin-le to [[spoiler: Li Jioo. It is incredibly satisfying.]]

* OhCrap: Practically anybody who realizes just who Chun Woo is mid-battle. Shi Woon also has a big one when he encounters Hyuk So Chun.

* OnlyMostlyDead: [[spoiler: Shiho. Wonjae appears to be keeping her in a state of suspension and is trying to revive her]].

* PutOnABus: Many major characters from Part 1. Justified, since now they are on the run from the Alliance.
** TheBusCameBack for most of them although at different stops

* RaceAgainstTheClock: Chun Woo's battle against Gijuu

* SadisticChoice: Given to Chun Woo by the Chief. [[spoiler: Give up the Black Heaven and Earth technique, or let Shiho die?]]

* ShipperOnDeck: Chi Woon believes Chun Woo likes Shiho, and keeps offering to give them privacy. Chun Woo, of course, yells at him for [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend thinking]] [[EveryoneCanSeeIt something]] [[BelligerentSexualTension so stupid]].

* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Both Chun Woo and Shi Woon have these moments.

** NoPronunciationGuide

* ThisCannotBe: [[spoiler: Shi Woon in New Waves when confronted with a video showing Chun Woo addressing the S.U.C. ]]

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Jin-le and Sae Hee, though they have not spent any real time together.

* TookALevelInBadass: Shi Woon, ''majorly.'' In-fact this seems to happen every time Shi-Woon gets beaten nearly to death.
*** [[spoiler: Chang Ho in New Waves as a member of SUC. It's still not enough for him to beat Shi-Woon though.]]

** [[spoiler: To be fair, Shi Woon was that desperate to get his ki center repaired and to trust a guy that has been doing nothing, but helping up him with that goal until the point of the kidnapping is reasonable. ]]

* UndyingLoyalty: Shi Woon develops this toward Chun Woo well into Part 2 of the series.

* KiAttacks

-> ''"Isn't it better to fight and lose than not fight at all?"''

* {{Antivillain}}: Hyuk So Chun and Kangsung, among others. One of the things that sets this series apart is how most enemies are not presented as evil, even if they may seem to be at first. Instead, they're just people, [[PunchClockVillain who sometimes have to do unpleasant things in the course of their work]], and if they act like jerks it's more bravado than actual hatefulness.

* BadassGrandpa: Elder Kwon, the Murim Alliance Head, Kang-sung De-hyung, Ghost Hands Doctor.... Fitting as except you are extraordinarily talented, you will need decades to be that badass.

* {{Tsundere}}: A few. There's Chun Woo, [[LittleMissSnarker Sosul]], [[TheLadette Jin-le]] and [[spoiler:[[BadassGrandpa Elder Kwon]]]].

* FacelessGoons: The S.U.C. {{Mooks}}. They're kind of useless against actual trained Murim-in though, and if they're fighting a {{MainCharacter}} expect them to be literally sent flying in groups.

** [[spoiler: Somewhat justified. His daughter well knew the risks and became scapegoat willingly to protect the dignity of previous clan leader. Attempting to rectify Elder Kwon's behavior might expose the ruse making her sacrifice meaningless. Shi-Woon didn't even notice those murder attempts and/or didn't associated them with Elder Kwon to the point that even when Jinny told him, he dismissed her words. Telling Shi-Woon can only endanger newly formed and quite delicate relationship and agreement. Bonus points for Elder Kwan for substituting his apologizes with UndyingLoyalty. ]]

* GondorCallsForAid: Ji-Gun do this after [[spoiler: his frist BadassCrew annihilated by SUC.]]

* LetsYouAndHimFight: [[spoiler: Elder Kwong did this to Shi-Woon and Yong-Hyun]]

* MeditationPowerup: Shi Woon [[spoiler: while his Ki Center is shattered]] uses this to train. Subverted in that he actually does meditate for long periods, but the effects are decidedly abnormal.

* {{Tsundere}}: A few. There's Chun Woo, [[LittleMissSnarker Sosul]], [[TheLadette Jin-le]] and [[spoiler:[[BadassGrandpa Elder Kwong]]]].
* UndyingLoyalty: Shi Woon grows this for Chun Woo well into Part 2 of the series.

* BadassGrandpa: Elder Kwon, Murim Alliance Head, Kang-sung De-hyung, Ghost Hands Doctor.... Fitting as except you are extraordinarily talented, you will need decades to be that badass.

** For Elder Kwong anything related to Sun Woo clan.

Compare with ''{{Veritas}}'' which has a similar set up, but sets off in a completely different direction.

* PrimalScene: [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Narrowly]] [[MoodWhiplash averted]].

* GratuitousGerman: Chapter 86 of ''New Waves'' has the line "du armer Freund" (You poor friend) which not only plain wrong grammatically but also not something an actual native speaker would say in that situation, even if the grammar were correct.

[[quoteright:350:[[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-breaker-couv-12_5034.jpg]]]]

* BadassGrandpa: Elder Kwon, Murim Alliance Head, Kang-sung De-hyung, Ghost Hands Doctor.... Fitting as except you are extraordinarily talented, you will need decades to be that {{Badass}}.

** Elder Kwon seems to have a thing for these. So far he's Jumped out of a Helicopter and on several different occasions his arrival is ''preceded'' by a group of enemies being sent flying without anyone seeing him do it. He's [[Badass:just that fast]]

* GunsAreWorthless: Partially subverted but mostly played straight. Guns are a threat to most normal Murim-in, unfortunately the people using them are [[{{Badass}} rarely facing the normal Murim-in]] and the result is generally [[CurbStompBattle fairly predictable]].

* MookHorrorShow: Pity the poor bastards who [[CurbStompBattle go up against]] [[{{Badass}} Chun Woo.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: As {{Badass}} as the protagonists may be, they do still screw up.

* {{Tsundere}}: A few. There's [[{{Badass}} Chun Woo]], [[LittleMissSnarker Sosul]], [[TheLadette Jin-le]] and [[spoiler:[[BadassGrandpa Elder Kwong]]]].

[[quoteright:350:[[{{Badass}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-breaker-couv-12_5034.jpg]]]]

* {{Badass}}: If you have a name and is Murim denizen, you probably this. Of course, some people like Han Chun Woo and Elder Kwon stands out.
** BackToBackBadasses: Chun Woo and Shiho in the Koa Tower fight.
** BadassCrew: Ji-Gun the Smiling Sword forms one of this to combat SUC with his friends. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, SUC bombed their base and Smiling Sword is the only survivor of them. He immediately forms another BadassCrew with disciples of multiple schools [[GondorCallsForAid who answers his call.]]]] Chun-woo's group in New Waves also counts.
** BadassGrandpa: Elder Kwon, Murim Alliance Head, Kang-sung De-hyung, Ghost Hands Doctor.... Fitting as except you are extraordinarily talented, you will need decades to be that {{Badass}}.
** BadassNormal: Shi Woon during the period [[spoiler: between having his Ki center shattered and getting properly integrated into the murim world.]]
** TookALevelInBadass: Shi Woon, ''majorly.'' In-fact this seems to happen every time Shi-Woon gets beaten nearly to death.
*** [[spoiler: Chang Ho in New Waves as a member of SUC. It's still not enough for him to beat Shi-Woon though.]]
** WorldOfBadass: The Murim itself.

* ActionGirl(s): Jinni and any female martial artists on the good guys' side.
** DarkActionGirl: Ji-Woo the Black Princess and Ha-ru aka. Chunmyungrang.

* AttemptedRape: [[spoiler: Poor Sae He.]]

** BadassCrew: Smiling Sword forms one of this to combat SUC with his friends. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, SUC bombed their base and Smiling Sword is the only survivor of them. He immediately forms another BadassCrew from disciples multiple schools [[GondorCallsForAid who answers his call.]]]]
** BadassGrandpa: Elder Kwon, Murim Alliance Head, Kang-sung De-hyung, Ghost Doctor.... Fitting as except you are extraordinarily talented, you will need decades to be that {{Badass}}.