The children exchanged looks. Fear, excitement, and confusion danced in their eyes, but they didn't argue.
"I want all of you to be ready," Heuk Cheon said, his tone firm but not harsh. "The Redwood Estate is where we make our stand. No matter who comes next."
Seo Ryung snorted. "You're sounding more like a general than a hermit master these days."
"I was never just a hermit," Heuk Cheon said with a faint smile. "I just didn't like the paperwork."
Chul-woo grinned at that. Even Dae-hyun cracked a small smile.
Suddenly, the doors burst open again, this time with more urgency. A younger guard, barely older than Seo Ryung, stumbled in, bowing quickly.
"Master Heuk! Riders from the Murim Alliance have arrived. They bring word, and reinforcements."
Everyone tensed. Even the children instinctively reached for whatever weapons they could find.
"Let them in," Heuk Cheon said calmly. "Let's hear what the Alliance has to say."
