Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 606

Lee Hyun-soo watched the men disembarking the bus one after another, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

‘At least pretend to hesitate, you bastards.’

No, they probably did think about it. They just made their decisions.

The footsteps of those leaving the bus showed not a hint of doubt. Just as Lee Hyun-soo had predicted, they were exiting the bus as casually as middle schoolers on a field trip.

The men who had sauntered out roughly formed a line.

That crooked line seemed to mirror their identities and mental states.

‘Will the day ever come when that line straightens out?’

No matter how much he pondered it, it seemed impossible. If Kang Jin-ho were the type to be bothered by such things, perhaps, but seeing Kang Jin-ho leaning with one leg propped up, smoking a cigarette, it seemed like the day their line would straighten out would never arrive.

“Looks like everyone’s off,” Lee Hyun-soo commented.

“Hmm.”

“Should we do a headcount?”

“Why bother?”

“No need, I guess.”

There was no need to verify how many were missing. It would only sow distrust.

‘But it looks like everyone got off?’

Even with a quick glance, he couldn’t detect anyone missing. If anyone was absent, it would be one or two at most.

Lee Hyun-soo forcefully suppressed the urge to check who remained on the bus.

It would be ideal if no one was left on the bus, but there was no need to give the impression that he wouldn’t keep his word for that fleeting moment of satisfaction.

However, Kang Jin-ho didn’t seem to share that sentiment.

“Looks like everyone got off without anyone missing.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyebrows twitched at Kang Jin-ho’s nonchalant remark.

“You shouldn’t check that.”

“You see the numbers, and you want me to pretend I don’t?”

A person needs to have a good boss.

Lee Hyun-soo was once again reminded of that simple truth.

“If even one person had remained, I wouldn’t say anything, but it’s strange not to mention it when everyone got off.”

“That’s true.”

As Kang Jin-ho nodded, Lee Hyun-soo quietly whispered.

“We should move out now. Say something.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho seemed to consider it for a moment before stepping forward. It was just one step, but everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to him.

‘Ah, my heart is going to drop.’

Lee Hyun-soo clutched his chest, feeling as if the Mado [Demonic Path] were all glaring at him at once. Even though he knew their eyes weren’t hostile, his heart was pounding.

Magic wasn’t a martial art that focused on the eyes, but looking at those red-tinged eyes made him feel like he was facing beasts.

“If you’re ready…”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“Let’s have a smoke before we go.”

“Yes.”

The sound of people taking out cigarettes filled the air.

“Um, Kang Jin-ho…”

“Hmm?”

“If we all smoke here, the smoke and the lights might…”

Kang Jin-ho stared blankly at Lee Hyun-soo before turning his head towards the bus. The bus headlights were glaring intensely.

“Lights?”

“You know, you seem to have a bit of an old man’s mentality.”

“I am an old man, you know?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“You don’t have to worry about that. They already know.”

“I guess.”

Lee Hyun-soo agreed with Kang Jin-ho. They had parked the car here to avoid being detected, but there was no way the Double Crossers wouldn’t know they were coming.

By now, they would have realized that something was wrong on the other side. Besides…

‘The spy we planted on our side must have reported our movements.’

It was hard to believe there wasn’t a spy. He didn’t know who it was, but there must be someone among them who was taking orders from the Double Crossers. They could catch them if they wanted to, but there was no need to.

They were gaining something from it anyway.

“So, that place is the Dragon’s Lair, I guess.”

A faint light could be seen inside the large forest. Lee Jung-geol would be there now.

“But why are the General Assembly and the Yeongnam Association always in forests like that?”

“Korean martial artists originally lived in the mountains. Haven’t you heard of the Jirisan hermits? [Jirisan is a famous mountain in Korea known for its hermits and spiritual significance.]”

“Times have changed.”

“Still, there are some advantages. The reason they’re in the mountains is simple. Once they buy the surrounding forest and make it private property, they can block the eyes of others. This whole area is Lee Jung-geol’s private property.”

“All the forest in front?”

“No. The entire mountain.”

Kang Jin-ho looked around the mountain again, dumbfounded by the scale.

“This mountain?”

“Everything you see is Lee Jung-geol’s private property.”

“Everything I see…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled in disbelief. He understood what it meant when they said Lee Jung-geol’s wealth was enormous.

‘Amazing.’

What was truly amazing wasn’t that he had that much wealth, but the audacity to use that much money for his privacy.

Even if Kang Jin-ho had a fortune, he wouldn’t be able to do that. When he was the leader of the Demonic Cult in the past, he was the richest man in the Central Plains, but he had never actually used that money for himself. It wasn’t that he was frugal or had a spirit of loving the people, he just didn’t know what to do with the money. To Kang Jin-ho, a modern man, the luxuries of the Central Plains didn’t mean much.

But even if there was something he wanted, he wouldn’t have the confidence to do what Lee Jung-geol did. This was beyond extravagance.

“This area is also scheduled for development, so the land prices have skyrocketed, but Lee Jung-geol is holding onto it. He would make a fortune just by selling this land.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

Lee Hyun-soo was just stating the facts, but it felt strange, as if they were invading to take away this land. Come to think of it, the Demonic Cult’s money in the past was ultimately created by plundering the wealth of others.

As a former barbarian, he felt like he was returning to his old profession after a long time.

He could see buses lining up behind them. It seemed that they couldn’t help but mobilize manpower since this was the main base.

‘Not that they’ll be of much use.’

Other personnel had followed to handle the aftermath on the other side, so that was probably enough.

“Are you going in right away?”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly. There was no reason to hesitate.

“Be careful.”

Lee Hyun-soo said in a serious tone.

“Even a dog has an advantage in its own home. And that place is Lee Jung-geol’s home… as you can see, it’s half a fortress. Breaking through there won’t be as easy as you think.”

“Are you saying that from your experience of breaking through the Yeongnam Association?”

“…You really have a bad personality.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled bitterly.

Kang Jin-ho, who had a history of pushing through the Yeongnam Association without any problems, was unlikely to have any trouble in a place like this.

‘He used to be more direct with his words, I think?’

Not only him, but Kang Jin-ho had changed a lot. He seemed more relaxed than before. The fact that he was showing such a gentle side even before a battle was something unimaginable until recently.

“The other side should be fine, right?”

“It would be stranger if there were problems.”

“It’s a little bittersweet.”

“Bittersweet?”

“Yes. After all, those people are from the outside, and the people they’re fighting are Korean martial artists. No matter how I think about it, it seems like they won’t even be able to put up a proper fight.”

“Why is that bittersweet?”

“I just feel that way.”

It was a little embarrassing to say it out loud. In the past, Lee Hyun-soo had done his best to defeat the General Assembly under Kim Seok-il. He had devised all sorts of schemes and used every method to grow the Yeongnam Association.

Was it as fierce as now?

It was probably even fiercer back then. Because back then, there was no one to support him.

‘I was a frog in a well.’

He had fought for the hegemony of Korea, risking his life, but now that he realized that Korea was just a big well, he felt drained.

“Isn’t it a good thing that you’re playing in a bigger pond now?”

“That’s true.”

He would be playing in a bigger pond.

If everything went well today, the General Assembly, or rather, Kang Jin-ho, would completely dominate the Korean martial arts world. Until now, he had only nominally controlled Korea, but today, he would completely secure the right to command the Korean martial arts world.

And then?

‘It’s only overseas.’

Kang Jin-ho had already declared that he would no longer be satisfied with Korea. He had declared the principle of attacking rather than being attacked. Everything that was happening today was just a process of solidifying the inside in preparation for war with the outside.

‘To think that eliminating Lee Jung-geol has become a prerequisite.’

It was a moment that made him realize how much the Korean martial arts world had changed in just half a year since Kang Jin-ho’s appearance.

And today was the day to reap the rewards.

“What are you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“How are you going to enter?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

He just seemed to be smiling brightly, but to Lee Hyun-soo, it felt strangely eerie.

“It’s not perfect yet, but there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at the Mado.

“Are you all done smoking?”

“Yes.”

He could see them putting out their cigarettes everywhere. Kang Jin-ho raised his hand and pointed to the faint light visible inside the forest, looking at the men who had finished realigning.

“Can you see it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s the target.”

A quiet tension filled the air.

There was no need for any other words.

If there was a target, they would charge. That was why they were here today.

“It won’t be easy, but if they don’t resist, spare them.”

“What if they resist?”

“Do as you please.”

Low laughter could be heard from all around.

It was the sound of beasts being unleashed.

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard.

‘How strong have these guys become?’

He didn’t know. Because they were stronger than Lee Hyun-soo from the start.

He didn’t have the ability to gauge their strength.

So he had to watch.

How strong they were.

That way, he could make perfect plans for whatever he did in the future. That was why Lee Hyun-soo had followed them all the way here.

Kang Jin-ho looked up at the moon.

“It shouldn’t take too long. And…”

Kang Jin-ho, who seemed like he was about to give the order to charge at any moment, put his hand in his pocket and took out his cell phone. Then, he started making a call.

[What is it?]

The voice coming from the cell phone was clearly audible to everyone, as the surroundings were so quiet.

“We’re going in now.”

[…What did you say?]

“No need to play dumb. You’re at the bottom now. We’re going in now. So listen carefully.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face turned pale.

“That, that, Lee Jung-geol…”

No, a person should have common sense!

Why would you tell the enemy that you’re attacking while you’re attacking? Why!

Kang Jin-ho’s voice was clearly heard in Lee Hyun-soo’s ears, who was in shock.

“I’m going to unleash the dogs now. These dogs don’t discriminate. If you want to live, tell them to run away right now.”

The dogs who didn’t discriminate grinned, baring their teeth.