Chapter 181: Unease
“Did you say a great fire?”
At Moyong Cheonhwi's question, the Righteous Alliance warrior delivering the urgent report bowed his head deeply.
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“Explain in detail.”
“A large fire broke out inside the Alliance early this morning.”
Heo Seongbaek, standing beside Moyong Cheonhwi, frowned.
Before the Alliance Leader could speak, Heo Seongbaek snapped at the subordinate.
“Are you saying the martial artists left behind at the Alliance couldn't even deal with a single fire, so they had to send an urgent report all the way here?”
“T-That is... it wasn't just one fire.”
Heo Seongbaek's expression hardened.
“What do you mean?”
“Flames rose from several places inside the Alliance at almost the same time.”
The warrior swallowed nervously.
“Because it happened before dawn, the fires were discovered late. And with our forces scattered, we weren't able to extinguish them in time.”
The martial artists standing nearby began to murmur.
Heo Seongbaek released a short breath.
“Where did the fires begin?”
The subordinate hesitated.
“...The first locations confirmed were the Jesaeng Pavilion and Azure Pine Garden.”
The moment he heard the name Azure Pine Garden, Heo Seongbaek's face stiffened.
Azure Pine Garden.
That was the name of the rear garden behind the Alliance Leader's Palace.
It was where Moyong Cheonhwi often rested...
or held secret discussions with his closest confidants.
And that place had caught fire?
Heo Seongbaek hurriedly checked Moyong Cheonhwi's expression.
There was no visible change.
On the surface, he looked completely calm.
But Heo Seongbaek knew.
He knew just how much rage was hidden beneath that expressionless face.
Swallowing inwardly, Heo Seongbaek asked the subordinate,
“The damage?”
“It took a long time to suppress the flames...”
The warrior lowered his head further.
“The Jesaeng Pavilion and Azure Pine Garden were both almost completely reduced to ashes.”
Everyone's gaze turned toward Moyong Cheonhwi.
At last, his lips moved.
“If it happened suddenly before dawn, they likely had little time to respond.”
His voice was unbelievably calm.
But Heo Seongbaek, who had served him for years, could hear the fury beneath it.
Moyong Cheonhwi asked without revealing any emotion,
“Were there casualties?”
“None confirmed so far.”
“That is fortunate.”
Moyong Cheonhwi nodded.
“Understood. You may leave.”
Just as he was about to look away—
“Alliance Leader... there was one more place.”
The warrior spoke hesitantly.
Moyong Cheonhwi's gaze returned to him.
“Another?”
“Yes.”
The warrior's voice trembled.
“It suffered the greatest damage in the fire.”
Moyong Cheonhwi asked,
“Where?”
The warrior swallowed once before answering.
“The Demon Expulsion Pavilion.”
The atmosphere around them instantly grew heavy.
This time...
even Moyong Cheonhwi fell silent.
Heo Seongbaek stared in disbelief.
“The Demon Expulsion Pavilion caught fire?”
“Yes.”
“The flames began in one of the annexes and spread through the entire complex.”
Heo Seongbaek's face drained of color.
“How bad is it?”
“Most of the Demon Expulsion Pavilion was destroyed.”
Heo Seongbaek's expression turned blank.
The Demon Expulsion Unit was meant to become the spearhead of the coming conquest of the Demonic Cult.
And the Demon Expulsion Pavilion had been built as the headquarters where the young martial artists selected for the unit would stay, train, and prepare for operations.
It was one of the largest complexes inside the Righteous Alliance.
It contained accommodations, training grounds...
even elixirs and weapons.
An enormous amount of wealth had been poured into it.
And it was the symbol of the Demon Expulsion Unit itself.
Now that symbol had been swallowed by fire.
“How could something like this...”
A groan escaped Heo Seongbaek.
Then—
a short voice reached his ear.
“We're returning.”
It was Moyong Cheonhwi.
Heo Seongbaek looked at him in surprise.
“A-Alliance Leader. But the matter with Shaolin is still—”
“Enough.”
The voice wasn't loud.
But Heo Seongbaek couldn't continue.
Moyong Cheonhwi's gaze was icy.
“Do you not understand what we must inspect first?”
Heo Seongbaek immediately lowered his head.
“...Forgive me, Alliance Leader.”
Moyong Cheonhwi turned away from him and faced Gonghyeon.
“Abbot.”
Gonghyeon brought his palms together.
“Please speak, Alliance Leader.”
“A serious incident has occurred at the Alliance.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's tone was perfectly composed.
“It seems I cannot remain here any longer.”
Gonghyeon nodded.
“Naturally. You should return at once.”
Then—
“I sincerely hope the damage to your Alliance is not severe.”
Moyong Cheonhwi offered a martial salute.
“Thank you for your concern.”
Gonghyeon returned it with his palms together.
Moyong Cheonhwi was about to turn away...
when he suddenly seemed to remember something.
He studied Gonghyeon's face.
“Before I leave, there is one thing I would like to ask.”
“Please do.”
“I heard that you briefly suffered from a heart demon.”
A faint smile appeared on Gonghyeon's lips.
“Hahaha. The Righteous Alliance truly has sharp eyes and ears.”
He looked mildly amused.
“To think the news reached you already.”
Moyong Cheonhwi asked,
“Is what I heard true?”
“It is true that my mind and body wavered for a short while.”
Gonghyeon answered calmly.
“But it did not last long.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's gaze remained on his face.
“I have heard that falling into a heart demon can bring all manner of hallucinations and voices.”
He added casually,
“Sometimes even false whispers commanding one to harm others.”
To everyone else, it sounded like nothing more than concern over the dangers of a heart demon.
But Gonghyeon understood the meaning beneath the words.
Their gazes met in midair.
“It was only a momentary disturbance.”
Gonghyeon answered evenly.
“By the Buddha's grace, I was able to cast aside those improper thoughts almost immediately.”
“...I see.”
Moyong Cheonhwi smiled gently.
“It is truly fortunate for both Shaolin and the martial world that you are safe.”
But his eyes weren't smiling.
A brief silence passed.
Then Moyong Cheonhwi spoke first.
“I hope Shaolin's peace continues for a long time.”
Gonghyeon studied him for a moment before lowering his head.
“And I hope the name of the Righteous Alliance remains untarnished for just as long.”
Moyong Cheonhwi immediately offered another salute.
Then he turned toward the horses waiting behind him.
After mounting, he looked over the Righteous Alliance martial artists.
“We withdraw.”
The Alliance banners began to move.
“Return to the Righteous Alliance!”
Hundreds of martial artists turned around.
Gonghyeon remained standing before the mountain gate, watching the procession disappear into the distance.
