Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 530

The sound of a sword being thrust into a neck wasn’t quite right.

Lee Hyun-soo thought to himself.

If this situation were a game, the sound effect designers would be fired without a second thought. Regardless of the quality of the game, the sound was so jarring that it would make anyone cringe. Who would play such a terrible game?

As if to prove that reality always surpasses fiction, Bator’s neck resisted the sharp blade of Kang Jin-ho’s sword.

Both Kang Jin-ho, who was casually stabbing a sword into a neck, and Bator, who was surviving despite having a sword in his neck, were equally remarkable.

“Kuh-uk!”

But surviving didn’t mean the pain went away.

What must it feel like?

Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t even begin to imagine Bator’s feelings.

His body was completely helpless. And above him, Kang Jin-ho, with a face like a demon, was driving a sword into his neck.

As if determined to kill him.

But…

This damned body was so tough that his neck wouldn’t sever in one go. A body perfected through external training, not internal energy, maintained its strength regardless of the depletion of internal energy.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

With each strike, his neck was slowly splitting open, accompanied by a sound like someone biting their nails.

What was he looking at down there?

Sometimes, during an execution, things go wrong. Normally, the trapdoor would open, and the condemned’s neck would snap instantly on the rope. But sometimes, the trapdoor wouldn’t open even when the button was pressed, leaving the condemned alive after thinking they were about to die.

The mental stress a condemned person experiences at that moment is said to be indescribable. Their face might age decades in an instant, or their hair might turn gray rapidly.

So, what about Bator right now?

It wasn’t even a failure.

What must it feel like for Bator, who had to feel his neck being pierced deeper and deeper, moving step by step towards death?

Even if Bator had a strong mind, could he endure such a situation?

Could anyone in their right mind accept a demon, who showed no trace of human emotion, repeatedly striking them with a sword to kill them?

“Huuu… uhh…”

Lee Hyun-soo turned his head away.

‘Damn it.’

He understood.

What Kang Jin-ho was saying.

Certainly, from Kang Jin-ho’s perspective, Bator had crossed a line. Bator might have thought that the duel and the fight were everything, but that wasn’t the case for Kang Jin-ho.

His death would shatter his world. The lives of those who lived because of him would all change drastically. The risks they bore were different. So, even if it was the same defeat, they shouldn’t bear the same price.

He understood.

But…

‘Isn’t that too much?’

No matter what, he couldn’t agree with killing someone in such a torturous way.

He, too, was called a demon by others, but he wasn’t this bad.

It wasn’t just a feeling of being filled with hatred or making someone pay a just price; it was to the point where he wondered if something was wrong with his head.

Because…

‘He could just kill him.’

If he were determined to stab him, there was no reason for it to take this long, no matter how strong Bator’s body was. It had already been proven that Kang Jin-ho could pierce Bator’s body if he focused his energy.

But why did he have to inflict such extreme fear?

Even Lee Hyun-soo, who considered himself understanding of Kang Jin-ho, had to turn his head away from the sight.

“Ki… kill…”

“I can’t hear you.”

“Kill… kill me.”

“Sorry, but I’m Korean, so I don’t understand Chinese.”

“…Please.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Bator.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes grew colder.

Now, they were so cold that it felt like blue flames were flickering within them.

“The loser deserves whatever they get. Isn’t that what you thought when you challenged me?”

“If not, you should have thought about what it meant to attack someone you had no connection with and try to take their life. If that rotten brain of yours could even think.”

Kang Jin-ho was genuinely furious.

They were so selfish.

These martial artists.

He now understood why the common people in the Central Plains [a region in China] treated martial artists like demons, regardless of whether they were righteous or evil.

These madmen obsessed with martial arts didn’t look around them.

They didn’t realize how much impact their actions and choices could have on those around them.

Yes, just like…

‘Like I used to be.’

There was a time when he wasn’t much different from Bator. No, he was probably several times worse. He had destroyed the lives of countless people for the sake of his own survival.

Of course, he didn’t regret it.

Even if he went back to that time, Kang Jin-ho would make the same choices. Survival was the most important task for him, and that wouldn’t change.

Nevertheless, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t shake off a sense of disgust because he was aware that he had committed unnecessary acts under the guise of upholding the absolute principle of survival.

Things he wouldn’t do now.

He had distorted the lives of others for his own convenience and purpose without any hesitation or anguish, as if it were natural. And he took it for granted.

What would the current Kang Jin-ho think if he saw the Kang Jin-ho of the past?

He would think he was a demon.

No, he would despise him as if he had seen something filthy.

The realization that the object of his contempt was himself, an inseparable part of him, was what Bator had conveyed to him.

When he saw Bator, he was disgusted with himself for briefly enjoying the encounter with a worthy opponent.

Maybe.

This was just a release of anger.

An outpouring of emotions he couldn’t direct at himself.

It was truly unfortunate for Bator, who had become the target… but what did it matter? He had lived that way too.

If the strong think they can do anything, then he would just return the favor. At least here, Kang Jin-ho was the strong one.

Bator’s eyes began to cloud over.

More than the blood flowing from his neck, saliva was dripping from his mouth.

Even Bator’s strong spirit couldn’t withstand the current pressure.

“S-stop!”

A desperate voice burst out. Not from Bator, but from someone else.

Jang Da-jing.

Jang Da-jing, who had been accompanying Bator, rushed forward and prostrated himself before the fallen Bator.

“Please, spare him!”

Kang Jin-ho’s head turned towards Jang Da-jing.

“K-Kang Jin-ho-ssi.”

Jang Da-jing’s jaw was trembling.

His face was as pale as if he had seen a ghost. It was a testament to the great mental anguish he had endured before stepping in front of Kang Jin-ho.

The fear of Kang Jin-ho.

The fear that he might die instantly if he stepped forward.

He had even overcome the fear that he might end up like Bator, not even being able to die, and stood before him.

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“I know… I know Bator-nim’s sins. I also know that a martial artist who loses in a fight where everything is at stake cannot complain about whatever happens to them. But… but Bator-nim has already paid the price enough. Please, spare his life…”

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to Jang Da-jing.

A faint hint of doubt appeared on his somewhat indifferent face.

“Is he your superior?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Do you have a reason to risk your life for your superior?”

“I also…”

Jang Da-jing paused slightly. Then, he bit his lip and said,

“I thought I didn’t have such loyalty. But… it seems I was wrong. Even if I die here, I think I’ll feel better if I say this before I die.”

Jang Da-jing looked awkward.

He, too, seemed to not understand why he was risking his life for Bator. He had rushed out impulsively. His heart had told him to. But his mind couldn’t comprehend why he had to take such a risk for Bator, whom he had only met a few days ago.

There was only one reason.

Bator had treated him like a human being.

Being an informant stationed in Korea was a dead-end job even within the Hongwang Group. If an informant was capable, they would be investigating other factions within the Central Plains, not being sent to Korea.

And China was a place where treatment varied drastically depending on one’s rank.

China, where people believed that their position was their honor and power, looked down on and ignored those of lower rank. Everyone took it for granted. Jang Da-jing, who had no one of lower rank than himself within his faction, was naturally ignored by everyone.

Only those who were dispatched here with him, in the same situation, comforted each other.

In the midst of all that, Bator did not look down on him. Rather, he treated him like a human being.

He didn’t know if it was that first gaze without contempt that had pushed Jang Da-jing forward.

“Please!”

Jang Da-jing slammed his head on the ground.

“He is from the Hongwang Group, but also not from the Hongwang Group. He has nothing to do with the Hongwang Group’s plan to conquer Korea. He only came to Korea because of a personal matter with Hongwang. So… so please forgive him. As it is…”

“Can you die in his place?”

Kang Jin-ho interrupted Jang Da-jing.

“I mean it literally. Can you die in his place? Then I’ll spare him. I’ll kill you instead.”

Jang Da-jing couldn’t answer.

His shoulders were trembling.

Could he die in his place? For Bator?

Kang Jin-ho chuckled as he watched Jang Da-jing hesitate to answer.

“Life is precious.”

“…K-Kang Jin-ho-ssi.”

“Don’t worry. If you had said you would die in his place, I would have cut your head off and made this guy the same way. I don’t like guys who act emotionally for no reason. I should reward an honest guy. I’ll spare him.”

Jang Da-jing raised his head abruptly.

But Jang Da-jing’s face, which was about to be filled with joy, was instantly dyed with despair.

The face of Kang Jin-ho, who was looking at him, was more evil than ever.

“I wasn’t going to kill him in the first place.”

Kang Jin-ho reached out and grabbed Bator’s head. Then, he lifted it up and pulled it right in front of his face. Blood gushed from his neck, but Kang Jin-ho didn’t seem to care.

“Death is too comfortable an end. I’m not that merciful.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes turned red, even redder.

His pupils, dyed a complete blood-red, became redder and darker than blood. Just looking at them felt like falling into a fiery pit of hell, an ominous red color.

“Now, look at me, Bator. Look at me!”

A grotesque voice, as if seeping from the depths of his stomach, flowed from Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.