A New Day's Resolve

For a long, tense moment, quietness crammed the room. Finally, Heuk Cheon broke the silence, his voice got a bit softer but it was still filled with determination. "Then help me understand. Who are these employers? Do they serve anyone?"

The look on her face softened, and for the first time, she looked a bit remorseful. "I am afraid I cannot give you a direct name," she replied back. "However, if you search the very dark corners of the Murim underworld, you may find the clues that you need. They are broken pieces of the past era, old grudges that refuse to die."

Heuk Cheon let out a deep sigh. "I appreciate your honesty, though little it may be. I promise you this, if you reveal a bit more, you may earn mercy. But if you decide to fool me... you will leave Redwood Estate in ruins."

Her eyes brimmed with defiance. "I dare not lie. I only wish that I could help you see the bigger picture."

He stopped, his mind was racing with contemplations. "What is it that you see?" he pressed on.

The old woman looked at his eyes, her voice was shaking in fear. "I see a young man trying to change his destiny, but he is still not able to escape the chains of his past. I see his enemies gathering, waiting for him to mess up, for you to show weakness." She let out a low but bitter sigh. "I wish you strength, Demon Lord. Not for your family's sake, but for your own wellbeing."

Heuk Cheon's expression was unreadable. "Strength is not only measured in the category of brute force, Halmeoni." he said silently. "It is also measured in the ability to protect those who cannot defend themselves. I am not the type of person to fail these children, not anymore at least."

She was looking at him with both pity and respect. "Then go and be the man that you know you can be. I will only report what I see."

After a long pause, Heuk Cheon decided to stand up. "Seo Ryung will be the one in charge of you for further questioning in the morning. For now, rest Halmeoni. You shall not trouble us anymore tonight."

The old woman hesitated, but still nodded. "As you command, Demon Lord."

Heuk Cheon turned around to leave, his footsteps was resonating in the quiet room. Outside the door, Seo Ryung was waiting. The old woman was locked in a corner with rope, she was bowing. Seo Ryung gave her a mean look. "Do not think for a single second that I will let you slip away again."

The old woman looked at his eyes with silent defiance. "I am nothing more than a messenger, dear." she answered back, her voice was a bit husky.

Seo Ryung's jaw tightened, but he did not say anything more as Heuk Cheon was exiting the room, he left the interrogation, and its unsolved problems, behind him.

As the beams of daylight began to envelop the Redwood Estate once again, the manor was being stirred to life with a new sense of purpose. The children was now more careful and curious than ever, they gathered in the dining hall to eat breakfast. Their voices were light and respectful, they were affected by the events of the previous night, even if they didn't fully comprehend them.

Han-ju glimpsed at Chul-woo's eye as they were passing each other in the corridor. "Did you hear what the Master said? That we should always remain vigilant?" he whispered at him.

Chul-woo shrugged. "All I know is that Master doesn't like surprises. I wonder what he heard last night from the old lady."

The children's innocent chatter was filling the air with both hope and peace, a subtle reminder that Redwood Estate was a place where even fear could be met with resilience.

In the small kitchen, Lee Jin-Ho and Seo Ryung swapped a few silent words as they were preparing tea. "It seems that our guest has more secrets than we initially expected." Lee Jin-Ho gave his thoughts.

Seo Ryung let out a sigh. "Her scars, her words, I feel there is something much darker behind them. I am not quite sure we are done with her yet."

On the other hand after breakfast, Heuk Cheon was walking through the manor's courtyard, stopping at each child's side to give a word of encouragement or a quick lesson in martial arts stances. His demeanor was a bit stern but it had a hint of genuine care, a big contrast to the ruthless character of his past. The children, in their own way, were starting to see him not as a scary Demon Lord, but as a guardian and, maybe even a teacher.

In the afternoon, the adults gathered again in the silent alcove. "We must continue to be careful, I have heard from Halmeoni." Heuk Cheon stated while his voice was steady. "Halmeoni's words suggest that the enemies from my past are starting to stir. We must be prepared, both in spirit and in action."

Seo Ryung answered, "I will make sure that our estate's perimeter is guarded and that our shifts are doubled. We absolutely cannot let any threat come near the kids."

Lee Jin-Ho nods in agreement. "And we should start to educate the kids on caution. They are young, but at the same time they are smart. They need to come to learn that safety comes from both knowledge and unity.

A wave of assent was felt through the entire group. Even the usually reserved Do-won and Jung-soo were looking fired up.

Later that night, as the kids were settling into their beds after a day of tiring chores, lessons, and a silent, uncomfy peace, Heuk Cheon was sitting at the window, staring out onto the horizon. The events of the past few days had shaken him, but also managed to fortify his resolve. The old woman's message was echoing in his mind, it was a reminder to him that enemies was lurking in the shadows, waiting to exploit any signs of weakness that he might show.

He started to whisper lightly to himself, "I will not fail these brats, this new family deserves more than my legacy of bloodshed that I had left behind." His voice was low, but it was brimming with conviction."

In the corridors, whispers of reassurance was hovering over the orphans. Han-ju, with eyes that were heavy but resolute, spoke to his bunkmates, "Tomorrow, we will train harder. We really have to be ready for any trouble." Even Chul-woo who was the one that usually jokes and laugh, was sitting quietly, as if he was making sure to absorb every word.

And in the small secured storage room, Halmeoni was still laying bound but she was still defiant. Her eyes, even though were tired, was still shining with secrets that she might be ready to reveal one day, secrets that could perhaps change the destiny of Redwood Estate and everyone within it.

Back in the main chamber, Lee Jin-Ho was preparing his lesson for the morning, maybe a mix of martial arts philosophy and practical skills. "Discipline, unity, and vigilance," he would state, resonating the ideals that now had defined Redwood Estate.

As midnight gave way to the promise of a new dawn, Heuk Cheon closed his eyes, promising that no matter what shadows lay ahead, he would face them head on to keep his new family safe. In that quiet moment of reflection, the Demon Lord that was now standing guard for measly brats found peace in the chaos. A resolve that, even if there were a bunch of danger lurking around in every corner, tomorrow would be a better day... or will it?

Redwood Estate was now standing as both a fortress and a home, a safe haven that was built from unlikely bonds, their shared struggles, and the promise of redeeming one's self. The mysteries of the past might continue to haunt its corridors, and rivals might still be watching in the dark, but for now, the children were sleeping with peach, and their guardian was still watching over them with a resolve that is unshakeable.

Heuk Cheon has now more than ever, understands that real strength was measured not by how many battles he was won, but by the willingness to stay and protect for those who could not do it for themselves. And as the moonlight was drowning the Redwood Estate, he starts to whisper to himself, "Once daylight hits the estate, we will all rise again."

And with that, a new day would begin, it would be a day filled with tiring chores training, hope, and the vow of unraveling the tangled web of secrets that was threatening to break the fragile peace of Redwood Estate.

The future was not set in stone, but as long as they choose to stand together and face it, there was nothing they could not handle.