Chapter 180: Miscalculation
Behind the Righteous Alliance Elders' Hall.
Inside a private chamber where outsiders were strictly forbidden from entering, Heo Seongbaek sat alone, staring at a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.
Officially, the chamber was said to be a place where the elders of the Righteous Alliance discussed important matters.
In truth, very few people were ever allowed inside.
But today, Heo Seongbaek was not alone.
A man dressed in black sat across from him.
The windows were tightly shut.
Outside the door, Heo Seongbaek's trusted subordinates stood silently on guard.
Heo Seongbaek finally spoke.
“Still no word from Shaolin?”
The black-clad man kneeling across from him lowered his head.
“No. The contacts throughout Henan have not reported anything unusual either.”
Heo Seongbaek's eyes narrowed.
“And the Commander of the Demon Expulsion Unit?”
“After heading to Shaolin, there have been no confirmed movements.”
Heo Seongbaek fell silent.
Something was wrong.
By now...
Shaolin should have been drowning in blood.
Abbot Gonghyeon should have collapsed.
The maddened monks confined inside the Cave of Repentance should have gone berserk.
The elites of the Dharma Hall should have been swept into the same madness.
Then word that even Shaolin had fallen victim to the Demonic Cult should have spread throughout Henan.
And Han Mujin, the Commander of the Demon Expulsion Unit who had gone to investigate...
should either have died there...
or suffered injuries severe enough that he would never again rise under his own power.
The tragedy of Shaolin.
The death of the Commander.
The martial world's rage toward the Demonic Cult.
That was the picture his lord had intended to paint.
And yet...
Shaolin was far too quiet.
There was no news at all from the place where a storm of blood should have erupted.
That silence itself began to gnaw at Heo Seongbaek.
Did something go wrong?
Then—
“Elder! I have an urgent report!”
A subordinate's voice came from outside.
“Enter.”
The door opened.
A Righteous Alliance martial artist stepped inside and dropped to one knee.
“One member of the group that went to Shaolin has returned.”
Heo Seongbaek's gaze sharpened.
“The Commander?”
“No. Taoist Myeongjeon of Kunlun.”
Heo Seongbaek's expression shifted.
“Myeongjeon?”
Then—
“What about the others?”
“I don't know the details, but it appears Taoist Myeongjeon returned alone.”
"..."
Heo Seongbaek remained silent for a moment.
Han Mujin had not returned...
but Myeongjeon had?
Hmm.
He immediately rose.
“Where is Myeongjeon now?”
“He went straight to the Demon Expulsion Pavilion.”
Heo Seongbaek started toward the door.
“We're going there.”
“Yes.”
His steps were calm.
His eyes were not.
A short while later, Heo Seongbaek arrived at the Demon Expulsion Pavilion.
The place was unusually chaotic.
As he entered, the gathered members of the Demon Expulsion Unit hurriedly greeted him.
“Elder Heo.”
He passed them without stopping and headed deeper inside.
Soon...
he found Myeongjeon.
Myeongjeon was slumped in a chair.
His Taoist robes were covered in blood and dust.
His face was almost completely drained of color.
Dried blood clung around his lips.
Heo Seongbaek looked around.
Just as his subordinate had said...
there was no sign of Han Mujin or any of the others.
He stopped in front of Myeongjeon.
“Taoist Myeongjeon.”
Myeongjeon weakly raised his head.
“E-Elder Heo....”
“What happened?”
Myeongjeon's eyes trembled.
His lips moved several times before he finally managed to speak.
“Something terrible... happened at Shaolin.”
Murmurs erupted from those nearby.
Heo Seongbaek asked quietly,
“What kind of incident?”
Myeongjeon swallowed.
“The Cave of Repentance...”
His breath shook.
“Inside Shaolin's Cave of Repentance....”
He paused.
“Shaolin had been hiding warrior monks corrupted by demonic qi inside.”
Heo Seongbaek said nothing.
Myeongjeon continued.
“We followed Master Baekheo and Shaolin's elders there to investigate.”
“Continue.”
Myeongjeon's fingers tightened around the armrest.
“But even the Dharma Hall monks guarding the Cave of Repentance had already been consumed by demonic qi.”
The pavilion erupted again.
“Even the Dharma Hall?”
“Shaolin's elite monks were corrupted by demonic qi?”
Heo Seongbaek raised a hand.
“Quiet.”
The room fell silent.
Myeongjeon's trembling hand remained locked around the chair.
“They suddenly attacked.”
His voice was weak.
“Martial Uncle Han held them back, and Master Baekheo and the Shaolin elders helped.”
Then his face twisted.
“But the situation kept getting worse.”
He swallowed hard.
“There was blood... everywhere....”
He couldn't continue.
His hand flew to his mouth.
“Cough!”
Fresh blood ran from his lips.
A nearby martial artist hurriedly grabbed his shoulder.
“Taoist Myeongjeon!”
Heo Seongbaek leaned forward.
“Stay with us.”
Then urgently asked,
“What happened to the others?”
“What happened to the Commander and First Elder Jin Gwangung?”
Myeongjeon barely managed to raise his head.
“They stayed... inside the Cave of Repentance.”
Heo Seongbaek's eyes sharpened.
“They stayed inside?”
“Yes.”
Myeongjeon breathed heavily.
“They were trying to stop the corrupted monks from escaping.”
Then—
“Master Baekheo and the Shaolin elders stayed as well....”
His eyes squeezed shut.
“The entrance to the Cave of Repentance collapsed.”
Heo Seongbaek's gaze shook.
“Collapsed?”
His voice sharpened.
“What do you mean?”
Myeongjeon shook his head weakly.
“I didn't see everything clearly.”
“But... I think they were trying to stop the corrupted monks from getting outside.”
Heo Seongbaek immediately asked,
“And Abbot Gonghyeon?”
Myeongjeon's expression stiffened.
“It seemed... something had happened to him too.”
“What do you mean?”
Myeongjeon hesitated.
Then lowered his voice.
“I think Abbot Gonghyeon was also consumed by demonic qi.”
The entire Demon Expulsion Pavilion froze.
The Abbot of Shaolin.
If even Gonghyeon had been consumed by demonic qi...
then Shaolin had effectively collapsed from within.
Heo Seongbaek slowly inhaled.
He kept his face composed.
But inwardly...
he couldn't help smiling.
Everything Myeongjeon described...
the Cave of Repentance.
The Dharma Hall.
Gonghyeon's condition.
It all matched the picture his lord had prepared.
Myeongjeon forced himself to speak again.
“We have to... tell the Alliance Leader.”
His voice trembled.
“You must send the Demon Expulsion Unit to Shaolin as soon as possible.”
Then—
“The people still inside...”
His expression twisted.
“Martial Uncle...”
“We have to save them....”
His body swayed violently.
“Cough!”
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Then he collapsed sideways.
“Taoist Myeongjeon!”
The martial artists rushed to catch him.
Heo Seongbaek immediately ordered,
“Take Taoist Myeongjeon to the Jesaeng Pavilion at once.”
“Yes!”
They supported Myeongjeon and hurried outside.
An uneasy silence remained.
Heo Seongbaek watched Myeongjeon disappear.
His face looked grave.
But deep in his eyes...
something else had begun to shine.
A faint smile passed across his lips.
That night.
Six masked figures gathered inside the secret underground chamber of the Righteous Alliance.
Five wore black masks.
One wore blue.
They sat around the round table.
One of the black-masked figures lowered his head first.
“We just received a report from our contact on the outskirts of Henan.”
The blue-masked man remained silent.
The black-masked man continued.
“Shaolin is controlling passage through its mountain gate and restricting outsiders from approaching.”
Then—
“There are also witnesses who heard several large explosions from the direction of the Cave of Repentance.”
He paused.
“Rumors are beginning to spread that numerous Shaolin warrior monks were injured.”
Another masked man added,
“Taoist Myeongjeon of Kunlun also returned to the Righteous Alliance and gave a similar account.”
He lowered his head.
“According to him, the Dharma Hall monks inside the Cave of Repentance were consumed by demonic qi.”
“Han Mujin's group, Master Baekheo, and Shaolin's elders also appear to have suffered severe losses.”
Only then did the blue-masked man speak.
“What about Gonghyeon?”
The masked figure answered,
“According to Myeongjeon's testimony, Gonghyeon also appears to have been consumed by the Origin Demonic Qi.”
The blue-masked man's voice turned cold.
“Appears?”
The masked man's shoulders stiffened.
“We were unable to confirm it directly.”
He hurriedly continued.
“However, if everything proceeded according to plan, the Origin Demonic Qi planted inside the Abbot should already have taken root.”
"..."
The blue-masked man tilted his head slightly upward, lost in thought.
Silence filled the underground chamber.
A moment later, another masked figure spoke carefully.
“My lord.”
He lowered his head.
“Everything is unfolding exactly as you intended.”
The blue-masked man said nothing.
“Shaolin has been shaken.”
The masked man continued.
“And by now, the Commander of the Demon Expulsion Unit should also have lost his life.”
His voice carried growing excitement.
“This is the perfect opportunity to begin the great undertaking.”
The lamp on the round table flickered uneasily.
Within its light...
the blue-masked man's eyes flashed briefly.
Vertical pupils.
They looked like the eyes of a serpent watching prey in the darkness.
At last, he spoke.
“If Shaolin has fallen...”
His voice was slow.
“then the rage of the righteous martial world will gather in one place.”
Then—
“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
The blue-masked man finally rose from his seat.
“Mobilize the Demon Expulsion Unit.”
All five black-masked figures bowed at once.
“By your command.”
The blue-masked man slowly raised one hand.
“I will personally take the first step of the great undertaking.”
One of the masked men looked up in surprise.
“You will go yourself, my lord?”
“Yes.”
His voice was perfectly calm.
“The great undertaking we have waited hundreds of years for...”
His eyes narrowed.
“will now be completed.”
Five days later.
The banners of the Righteous Alliance appeared before Shaolin's mountain gate.
Moyong Cheonhwi stood at the front.
Behind him were elite warriors of the Righteous Alliance...
the Demon Expulsion Unit...
and martial artists drawn from numerous sects.
It was an army numbering several hundred.
Heo Seongbaek silently followed at Moyong Cheonhwi's side.
From the moment they reached Shaolin's gate...
a heavy concern had settled across his face.
Something is strange.
He stared toward the mountain gate.
Contrary to the rumors that Shaolin had sealed itself off...
the gates were open.
Shaolin disciples stood guard as usual.
And their expressions...
were far too calm compared to what he'd heard.
That bothered him.
What happened?
If Shaolin had collapsed...
the atmosphere shouldn't look like this.
There should have been the smell of blood.
Crying.
Wailing.
The sounds of mourning should have leaked from beyond the gates.
Instead...
everything was too peaceful.
Then—
an elderly monk emerged from inside Shaolin.
Heo Seongbaek's eyes widened.
H-How...?
It was Master Gonghyeon.
His hands were clasped together as he slowly walked forward.
His complexion was slightly pale...
but his eyes were clear.
Completely normal.
The smile on Moyong Cheonhwi's face stiffened ever so slightly.
Only for less than a single breath.
Gonghyeon slowly approached him.
Moyong Cheonhwi dismounted from his horse and offered a martial salute.
“Master Gonghyeon.”
His tone was warm.
“It is truly fortunate to see you safe.”
Gonghyeon returned the greeting with his palms together.
“Alliance Leader.”
His voice was calm.
“What brings you all the way to Shaolin with so many martial artists?”
The words were polite.
But there was a sharp edge beneath them.
Moyong Cheonhwi answered smoothly.
“Taoist Myeongjeon, one of the members sent to Shaolin with the Demon Expulsion Unit, returned to the Righteous Alliance.”
He continued,
“He informed us that a grave incident had occurred here.”
Then—
“We also heard that Shaolin had sealed its gates.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's expression turned serious.
“So I concluded that Demonic Cult forces had made their move and came personally to confirm the situation.”
“...I see.”
Gonghyeon nodded.
“I heard that the missing Taoist Myeongjeon was at the Righteous Alliance.”
Then he added,
“That is fortunate.”
Gonghyeon's calm response made Moyong Cheonhwi unable to suppress his curiosity.
“What is Shaolin's current situation?”
Gonghyeon remained silent briefly.
Then answered.
“The incident in the Cave of Repentance has been resolved.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
“Resolved?”
“Yes.”
Gonghyeon's gaze passed slowly over Moyong Cheonhwi...
then Heo Seongbaek.
“There was some disturbance.”
“But it was something Shaolin was able to handle internally.”
He continued calmly.
“We only closed the mountain gate briefly to put our affairs in order.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“It seems rumors spread that we had completely sealed the sect.”
“We appear to have caused the martial world unnecessary concern.”
Moyong Cheonhwi maintained his smile.
“Were there no casualties?”
Then—
“No one seriously injured?”
“Fortunately, there were no major losses.”
For the briefest moment...
Moyong Cheonhwi's expression shifted.
Gonghyeon quietly watched his reaction.
Then continued.
“Several Dharma Hall disciples were injured.”
His tone remained calm.
“But no one lost their life.”
Heo Seongbaek's lips trembled.
Impossible.
How can everyone still be alive?
Moyong Cheonhwi remained silent for a moment before asking again.
“...That is fortunate.”
Then—
“Where is the Commander of the Demon Expulsion Unit?”
Gonghyeon did not answer immediately.
A brief silence passed.
Then he said quietly,
“He left.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
“Left?”
“Yes.”
Gonghyeon kept his palms together.
“After Shaolin's crisis was resolved, he said there was still work he had to do as Commander.”
Moyong Cheonhwi stared at him.
“What kind of work?”
“He said he would investigate whether the Demonic Cult was making any other movements.”
"..."
For a moment...
Moyong Cheonhwi seemed to lose his words.
Heo Seongbaek swallowed.
Han Mujin was alive too?
What the hell had happened?
Then—
a Righteous Alliance martial artist suddenly came running toward them.
Heo Seongbaek sharply turned.
“The Alliance Leader is speaking. How dare you interrupt!”
“F-Forgive me!”
The warrior dropped to one knee.
“But I judged this to be an urgent report....”
Moyong Cheonhwi looked at him.
“What happened?”
The man's voice trembled.
“There has been an incident at the Righteous Alliance.”
For the first time...
Moyong Cheonhwi's face truly hardened.
“An incident?”
The warrior swallowed nervously.
Then answered in a shaking voice.
“The Righteous Alliance has been engulfed by a great fire.”
