Cheong was a ronin who alongside his leader Itto, and his mates Bunta, Koitsu and the woman Yasha, were hired by Daidoji Iyashi to pose as bandits. The Crane merchant ordered them to attack a jade mine near Kalani's Landing, to seize it from his competitor and owner of the mine Yasuki Kappako. They fled after a group of samurai intervened in favor of Kappako.