Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 165

Slowly, he reached out and grasped the Crimson Dew and Azure Dew.

*Whoosh.*

The two swords resonated, their sounds almost like a competition. The Crimson Dew, in particular, seemed to cry out incessantly, perhaps overjoyed at returning to its master’s hand after centuries.

However, Kang Jin-ho’s attention was more drawn to the Azure Dew than the Crimson Dew. The moment he had drawn the Azure Dew from his side was still vivid in his mind.

‘Cheongma.’

Even though he had ended his own life, his connection with Cheongma was extraordinary.

“Whatever the reason… you did something you shouldn’t have. And… because of that, you will die.”

Those were the words Cheongma had left him with.

Something he shouldn’t have done?

Kang Jin-ho slowly shook his head.

‘That’s in the past.’

Recalling old memories was pleasant, but being bound by them was not. This was merely a ritual, a ritual that solidified the intuition that he would once again spend his days in battle.

*Swoosh.*

Kang Jin-ho carefully placed the two swords into their scabbards and fastened them to his waist. The heavy sensation filled his heart with a sense of satisfaction.

“It’s been a while.”

*Whoosh.*

The Crimson Dew and Azure Dew seemed to respond to his words. Swords couldn’t possibly have a will of their own, but Kang Jin-ho wanted to believe they did.

On the altar lay the Crimson Dew and Azure Dew, two identical swords. Kang Jin-ho quietly surveyed the area before turning around.

Beyond this point was the forbidden area, accessible only to the leader of the Demonic Cult. However, since his Asura Energy [a unique martial energy] had not yet reached maturity, it was a place he could not yet enter.

The lineage of the Asura Energy would have ended with him, so the forbidden area would have remained untouched since he entered it, preserving its past state.

‘Then that’s enough.’

The past is the past, and the present is the present. There was no need to connect the two. These two swords were sufficient.

Without any lingering attachment, Kang Jin-ho turned and left the cave.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Jo Gyu-min felt his heart sink.

‘Why am I the only one left alone with that guy?’

Did they not consider how a person would feel being left alone with such a weirdo in these mountains?

He was scared and wanted to follow Kang Jin-ho into the cave, but the weirdo glared at him, and he couldn’t even make a peep, forced to sit still.

‘Oh, what a life I have.’

He felt something sparkling in his eyes.

Even though he was Jo Gyu-min, a successful elite young man on a fast track at a well-known company in Korea, how did he end up in this situation?

They say that leaving home means suffering.

Jo Gyu-min vowed never to go abroad again as he anxiously stared at the entrance of the cave.

“Ah!”

When Kang Jin-ho emerged from the cave, Jo Gyu-min’s face lit up, and he stood up from his spot.

“Mr. Kang Jin-ho!”

As Jo Gyu-min rushed over, Kang Jin-ho turned to face him and nodded.

“It seems you found what you were looking for.”

He didn’t know what Kang Jin-ho was looking for, but judging by the long object attached to his waist, it seemed he had found something.

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He hadn’t come here specifically to find these swords. He had simply wanted to confirm whether the traces of the Demonic Cult from the past still remained.

Now that he had confirmed that the time he had lived in the past existed here through the weirdo, the Azure Dew, and the Crimson Dew, that was enough.

“Demon Lord.”

As the weirdo prostrated himself again, Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brows.

“Get up.”

“Yes.”

“Speak, tell me the reason you were waiting for me here.”

“I will do as the Demon Lord wishes.”

The weirdo nodded without hesitation.

“Hmm…”

Jo Gyu-min made a sound of contemplation as he looked at the weirdo’s dwelling.

‘It’s subtle…’

Considering the weirdo’s appearance, it could be said that his hut was very well-organized. It was even relatively clean, which didn’t match the image of a weirdo who looked like he could tear apart a live boar.

But if he had to live here until he looked like that?

‘I couldn’t do it.’

He could understand how much the weirdo had suffered while guarding this place.

“My name is Jang Min (長民).” The weirdo offered Kang Jin-ho a tea made from an unidentified dried herb and slowly began to speak.

“I am a descendant of the Azure Faction of the Demonic Cult. My father has been guarding the Heavenly Demon Cave since before I was born.”

“Azure Faction…”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

He had sensed the aura of the Azure Flame Energy, so it seemed he was a successor of the Azure Faction that Cheongma had belonged to.

Kang Jin-ho’s Crimson Flame Energy and Cheongma’s Azure Flame Energy were not unique martial arts of the two of them. To be precise, those who were recognized as the strongest in the Crimson and Azure Factions earned the right to be called the Crimson Demon and Azure Demon.

Kang Jin-ho had thrown himself into endless battles, rising above the Crimson Demon, and had obtained the titles of Asura Energy and Crimson Heavenly Demon Lord.

Therefore, even if it wasn’t Cheongma, there could be someone who would pass on the Azure Flame Energy to future generations.

However…

If they couldn’t inherit Cheongma’s true martial arts, they could only learn a half-baked Azure Flame Energy. It seemed that this incomplete Azure Flame Energy had faded over time and declined to this point.

“Who told you to guard the Heavenly Demon Cave? And who placed the Azure Dew and Crimson Dew here?”

“I do not know that either.”

“You don’t know?”

“Demon Lord, too much time has passed. Our clan has only lived with the duty of guarding the Heavenly Demon Cave until the Demon Lord manifests again someday.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho made a sound of contemplation.

‘Someday the Demon Lord will manifest?’

Who was it that left those words?

Perhaps it was just a legend created to give hope to the descendants of the declining Demonic Cult.

Legends like the Maitreya belief [a belief in a future Buddha] that someone would come in the future were always present whenever a great nation or organization rose and fell.

However, even if he tried to dismiss it that way, the reason why the Azure Dew and Crimson Dew were placed here bothered him.

The Crimson Dew and Azure Dew were his sacred objects, but they were not the sacred objects that the previous leaders had used.

Then, was the reason for keeping the Azure Dew and Crimson Dew really to wait for him, or was it simply because these were the only sacred objects left that could symbolize the position of the leader?

Kang Jin-ho shook his head, feeling confused.

‘I don’t know.’

He had come to organize and solve something, but it felt like he had only created more questions.

“You said your ancestors have been guarding this place?”

“Yes, Demon Lord.”

As Kang Jin-ho was lost in thought, the weirdo prostrated himself again.

“I know that Cheongma and the Azure Faction committed an unforgivable sin against the Demonic Cult. I beg for forgiveness from the Demon Lord to atone for that sin.”

“Get up.”

“This sin is eternal…”

“I said get up.”

The weirdo trembled and then stood up abruptly. The dignity in Kang Jin-ho’s voice was something he could not dare to defy.

“Foolish. If the descendants must atone for the sins of their ancestors, then there would be no one free from sin.”

Kang Jin-ho continued without delay.

“Whatever guilt you feel, that sin has already been forgiven. Now you are free.”

“D-Demon Lord.”

Heavy tears began to flow from the weirdo’s old eyes.

‘It feels like we’re communicating well?’

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

Come to think of it, the weirdo in front of him seemed to understand him better than the Chinese people he had met so far. Not in the sense that they understood each other’s intentions, but that the language was more familiar.

And this reaction was also a bit strange.

Was there a need for him to be so moved just because the sins of his ancestors had been forgiven?

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth, a bad feeling flashing through his mind.

“By the way, how long have you been guarding this place?”

“I have been waiting for the Demon Lord’s descendant to appear for one hundred and fifty years.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho blinked.

“How long did you say?”

“One hundred and fifty-two years.”

“Huh?”

So, one hundred and fifty-two years meant…

“What is your current age?”

“I will soon be one hundred and eighty-two.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly brought his hands together.

“I-Is that so?”

Jang Min tilted his head at Kang Jin-ho’s reaction.

“Why do you ask, Demon Lord?”

“Ah, no.”

Cold sweat began to trickle down Kang Jin-ho’s forehead.

‘If it was someone around Hwang Jeong-hu’s age, I could try to match up with him…’

If he combined all three of his lives, his age would be close to that, so even if he was actually old, he could still match up to some extent.

But one hundred and eighty-two years old…

There was no way he could match up with that.

“A-Are you really one hundred and eighty-two years old?”

“When I was first born, the name of the country was Qing [the last imperial dynasty of China].”

“Hahaha…”

Kang Jin-ho failed to regain his dignity.

“Waiting for the Demon Lord’s descendant was a very painful and arduous journey. Still, I am truly fortunate that I was able to fulfill my long-cherished duty before this old body dies.”

Seeing the tears streaming down his wrinkled face, Kang Jin-ho felt as if he had committed a sin.

If he was a descendant of Cheongma, his seniority would be much lower. However, the fact that the descendant was much older than the Cheongma of his time made him feel a sense of incongruity.

“Anyway, I understand. You are now free.”

“…Did you say free?”

“Yes.”

“But Demon Lord, I have become someone who can no longer live without this duty. Please allow me, as a descendant of the Demonic Cult, to follow and assist the Demon Lord’s descendant.”

Kang Jin-ho let out a soft sigh.

Of course, it was true that he felt happy to have met a descendant of the Demonic Cult from the past. But if he stayed with this old man, he might end up taking care of him instead of being assisted.

“Let’s talk about that later.”

“What do you mean?”

Without saying anything, Kang Jin-ho raised both hands and placed them on the handles of the Azure Dew and Crimson Dew.

*Whoosh!*

The two swords began to vibrate.

At the same time, Jang Min instantly changed his kind expression and hardened his face.

“How dare you!”

It seemed he had also noticed that there was an intruder in the forbidden area.

“It seems they came looking for me, so I should greet them. Wait here.”

“Demon Lord, I will take care of it!”

“I told you to wait, didn’t I?”

As Kang Jin-ho’s voice seemed to change slightly, Jang Min immediately prostrated himself on the spot.

“I obey the command of the great Demon Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked down at Jang Min before turning and slowly walking forward.

The sun was setting.

Night was coming.

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

‘I still hate the night.’

The night sky here was the same as before.

The night sky, where it seemed like stars would pour down, brought back memories of painful moments.

Kang Jin-ho smiled as he felt the ferocity he had suppressed within his heart slowly awakening.

“You chose the wrong time.”

At least those who faced him should know.

Facing him in the dark was no different than facing a shark with bare hands in the water.

Kang Jin-ho slowly walked into the forest as darkness fell.