Hwi turned the carriage around.

The carriage, which had been heading to leave Junggyeong, now returned toward the city center.

“First, we’ll go to Anga.”

During the journey there, his father did not utter a single word.

Geom Mugeuk also remained silent. This was no time for jokes or banter. He could feel his father’s anger, unmistakably.

Normally, his father did not show his emotions toward enemies. Even when confronting assassins recently, he despised them yet did not particularly express his feelings while dealing with the Assassin King.

But this time was different. If it were merely news of someone impersonating Cheonma Shin-gyo, his father would have simply returned to the main school.

The problem, however, was the message left behind.

Madou Cheonha.

Words that should never be spoken lightly. Moreover, his father must have been considering various thoughts regarding his own demonic path and that of his son.

The carriage arrived at a special residence among Junggyeong’s inner homes. The most secure location, accessible only via hidden ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) paths and protective formations—the Grandmaster’s private residence.

Upon arrival, Geom Woojin went straight into his quarters.

Geom Mugeuk helped Hwi unload the carriage.

“Let me carry it in, I’ll handle it.”

“No, I should carry my own belongings.”

Together, they moved Geom Mugeuk’s luggage and the items from the reports into the room.

He carefully organized them, keeping on the previously worn Black Dragon Armor and Twin Wolves wrist guards.

Defying his father’s instruction to pick items for himself, he had packed several sets for others. Out of guilt, he intended to wear them until they returned to the main school.

After unpacking, Geom Mugeuk went directly to his father’s room.

Meanwhile, a new report from Tongcheongak had arrived. Geom Mugeuk read what his father had already examined.

“The Martial Alliance is considering the Celestial Net, focusing on Junggyeong.”

Deploying the Celestial Net is no trivial matter. It requires numerous martial artists and immense expense.

It also risks provoking two other factions, given the movement of troops and experts. Yet, considering the Celestial Net so urgently implied…

“This means they consider this matter extremely important,” Geom Mugeuk remarked.

Geom Woojin nodded.

“How do you view this situation?” his father asked.

Geom Mugeuk shared the thoughts he had formed during the carriage ride.

“As you know, there have always been those who slander and impersonate our school. But this case gives me pause.”

“Why is that?”

Geom Mugeuk tilted his head, answering as if to himself.

“Why Yunmyeong Manor, of all places?”

Had his father thought the same? Or had he noticed what Geom Mugeuk had overlooked? Something flickered in his father’s eyes.

“I don’t know much about Yunmyeong Manor, but I know its master is respected by Junggyeong’s righteous martial artists.”

Though modest in size, Yunmyeong Manor’s master was highly renowned, always taking the lead in cooperative efforts rather than expanding his own influence.

“Thus, attacking the master of Yunmyeong Manor is effectively attacking the entire righteous faction in Junggyeong.”

Hence, the Celestial Net was already being considered. The Martial Alliance intended to capture the culprit at all costs.

Even in this urgency, his father did not rush.

He had long led the school with Sima Gunsa and understood that acting hastily in anger would play into the opponent’s hands.

His father summoned Hwi with a command.

“Alert all branches and sub-branches in Junggyeong, and instruct Tongcheongak to concentrate all intelligence networks on this matter.”

“Yes, understood.”

His father’s anger was cold, and Geom Mugeuk knew that beneath this chill lay molten fury. Only those who could endure and melt this cold would witness the true anger.

That evening, his father, Hwi, and Geom Mugeuk were dining at the largest inn in the busiest marketplace.

An inn is traditionally the source of all rumors. Sometimes, the gossip there proves more useful than information purchased from expensive informants.

As they ordered simple dishes and alcohol, conversations around them focused solely on Yunmyeong Manor.

Most discussions started with nostalgic tales of the master’s cooperative acts and ended with curses against the demonic cult.

Among the ordinary chatter, Geom Mugeuk noticed one fact.

“The rumors are spreading far too fast.”

Given Yunmyeong Manor’s fame in Junggyeong, it was natural to be the topic of discussion, but the real issue was this:

“The Martial Alliance must have kept the message on the wall as secret as possible during the investigation.”

Because it involved Cheonma Shin-gyo, they would handle it cautiously.

“Yet rumors have already spread this widely, meaning someone is deliberately circulating them. Very intentional, very calculated.”

At that moment, Hwi cautiously asked. Normally, he never intervened in their conversations, but as the responsible escort, he needed to confirm this.

“Could it be that they’re targeting the Grandmaster?”

Geom Mugeuk first looked at his father, who silently sipped his drink. Comfortable, yet without a single flaw.

Even with his own martial insight, Geom Mugeuk could detect no weaknesses—which meant there were none.

Finally, he answered Hwi.

“If it were a reckless person, they would be easier to handle.”

This implied a far more calculated conspiracy.

“I have a feeling this won’t end with just one act.”

And indeed, that premonition became reality faster than he expected.

A man entered the inn, announcing to everyone:

“This time, Daejeongmun has been attacked by the demonic cult!”

The patrons murmured, the inn erupted into commotion. Daejeongmun was another symbol of righteous power in Junggyeong.

Angry voices called to eradicate the cult, joining together with the warlords’ shouts.

The intent was clear: to provoke conflict between the main school and the righteous faction.

Geom Mugeuk carefully spoke to his father.

“Shouldn’t we notify the Martial Alliance?”

He meant they should inform the Alliance Master directly that this was not their doing.

Geom Woojin drained his cup and rose.

“First, we must confirm the facts.”

Jeonha-gun entered Daejeongmun with a stern expression.

The area was tightly controlled by Martial Alliance fighters, but the smell of blood from inside could not be blocked. Righteous martial artists were already gathering, having heard the rumors.

The gossip was spreading alarmingly fast, heightening tension among Junggyeong’s martial artists.

Entering the building, Jeonha-gun paused, letting out a deep, involuntary sigh.

The scene before him was a true disaster.

The Daejeongmun fighters were slaughtered, their bodies torn and mutilated.

Previously, at Yunmyeong Manor, there had been no bodies, leaving some hope they might have survived. Seeing these corpses, that hope vanished.

Carefully navigating among the corpses, Jeonha-gun entered the Lord’s office.

The Daejeongmun Lord was slumped against the wall, chest ripped open—a death too horrific to behold.

On top of the body, words were written in blood:

Madou Cheonha.

The same phrase as left at Yunmyeong Manor.

As he silently stared at the message, Juwol, head of the Junggyeong branch, entered.

“They killed every person belonging to Daejeongmun. The cleaning staff and kitchen cooks were all murdered too.”

Jeonha-gun clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

Even in a world of killing and death, there are minimum boundaries. Revenge should be limited to the enemy alone. Today, those boundaries had been crossed.

‘I will never forgive this.’

They existed to prevent such acts and punish those responsible.

Juwol, standing nearby, wanted to claim this was the work of demonic martial artists but restrained himself.

“Master Seong is arriving now.”

Master Seong, a lifelong martial arts researcher of the Alliance, could determine the type of martial energy used in a fight just from bloodstains, fight marks, and wounds on corpses.

Juwol resolved to wait until Master Seong reported the findings. Even seeing the blood message, he did not yet assume this was the work of demonic martial artists.

‘He won’t doubt Master Seong’s findings.’

Perhaps sensing Juwol’s thoughts, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“A few years ago, I might have believed this to be the work of demonic martial artists, like Master Juwol.”

“What has changed since then?”

Jeonha-gun, staring at the blood-written words, replied:

“I have changed.”

Juwol understood the meaning. Normally, he wouldn’t have said this, but with two righteous factions in Junggyeong already attacked consecutively, he broke his usual restraint.

“I’ve heard about the relationship between the Great Master and the Little Pill Master of the demonic sect.”

Recently, the most talked-about figure was undoubtedly the Little Pill Master. Rumors also suggested concern among high-ranking Alliance members about Geom Mugeuk’s friendship with Jeonha-gun.

“You cannot trust the demonic martial artists.”

After a pause, Jeonha-gun responded:

“Neither do I trust them.”

Two thoughts crossed his mind simultaneously.

‘As long as he is the Little Pill Master, there’s no way he committed this.’

The second thought:

‘If this truly was the work of the demonic sect… was everything just a façade to cover up this act?’

Considering his relationship with Geom Mugeuk, the second thought was an unthinkable suspicion. He knew he must not harbor it, lest he later feel deep guilt toward Geom Mugeuk.

Yet, seeing the Daejeongmun Lord’s horrendous corpse and the words Madou Cheonha, he could not help but think it.

Then, a voice came from the entrance.

“Master Seong has arrived.”

Turning, they saw an elderly man with white hair entering.