Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 675

‘No matter how I look at it, he’s not my type.’

Bator went up to the hotel rooftop and looked down. The night view of Chengdu was quite beautiful, but there was no space in Bator’s mind to take in the sight of Chengdu right now.

Of course, he had no intention of pretending to be virtuous.

Most martial artists are murderers.

Even if they are beginners in martial arts, those who have mastered it to some extent inevitably enter the path of murder. After all, martial arts are ultimately a form of assassination.

But…

Kang Jin-ho was a little different from other martial artists.

‘He’s out of sync.’

Perhaps it was disrespectful to evaluate his master in this way. But in order to properly serve him, wouldn’t it be necessary to accurately grasp his master’s tendencies?

Kang Jin-ho was definitely different from ordinary people.

He didn’t know what kind of life he had lived… no, he didn’t even need to know what kind of life he had lived.

Humans do not react the same way even when placed in the same environment.

There are those who grow up righteously even in hardship, and there are those who cannot hide their innate malice even in the best environment. No matter what kind of life Kang Jin-ho had lived, if there wasn’t a twisted part inside him, he wouldn’t have become the way he is now.

Kang Jin-ho is a born villain. And at the same time, he is a demonic master.

‘And ridiculously, he draws people in despite that.’

When he lived in the Assembly, Bator felt a strong sense of incongruity. The people around Kang Jin-ho clearly recognized that he was an incorrigible villain, yet they did not guard against him.

It was like watching people reach out, believing they could control a beast that had devoured countless people.

Perhaps they can live together when the beast is not hungry. But when the beast gets hungry, where will its teeth ultimately point?

Bator, who had lived his whole life as a righteous martial artist, followed Kang Jin-ho, but he did not trust him. Even if those with righteous Qi [life force or energy] practiced demonic arts, they would not become like Kang Jin-ho. He is a born killer, a born demon.

Even now, it’s the same.

If those being interrogated by Kang Jin-ho in the hotel room right now had been caught by Bator, would they be going through the same ordeal?

They wouldn’t.

Bator would have either listened to what they had to say and let them go, or given them a clean death. But unfortunately, they got entangled with Kang Jin-ho instead of Bator, and they were paying the price for their misfortune.

He knew.

Kang Jin-ho’s words were not wrong.

The world is too harsh and cruel to discuss compromise and humanity.

But if you give that up, what is the difference between humans and beasts?

“…Bator-nim.”

Bator turned his head. Jang Da-jing was approaching him hesitantly.

“It must have been hard to watch.”

“There’s no need to be ashamed. A martial artist’s quality is not determined by how accustomed they are to the pain of others. It is also a great quality of a martial artist to feel pain for the suffering of their enemies.”

“Do you think he would think so too?”

“I don’t know about that.”

Jang Da-jing sighed quietly.

It was a fresh reminder that Kang Jin-ho and Bator himself were truly incompatible. He was a person who pursued the soul of a martial artist, but Kang Jin-ho was extremely selfish and cruel.

‘Like water and oil.’

But the water and oil were now mixed together. To be precise, rather than mixed, it was more like one was being unilaterally suppressed.

“Are you alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you might be confused.”

Bator chuckled.

“You’re mistaken, Jang Da-jing.”

“Yes?”

Bator looked down. Countless neon lights were shining.

“Look. There are countless people living down there. Each of them lives with different thoughts. Yet, they live together in harmony.”

“That’s right.”

“Martial artists have strong egos. They believe their path is right and try to enforce their beliefs. That’s why there are constant conflicts. But martial artists also need to learn how to live together. They must accept that their path is not the only truth.”

“Do you acknowledge his path, Bator-nim?”

“It’s not for me to dare to acknowledge or deny it. My master is proving his own path. My disapproval does not negate his path.”

“However.”

Bator turned his head and looked at Jang Da-jing.

“The fact that you’re asking me such a question means that something inside you is wavering, right?”

“I don’t know.”

Jang Da-jing hesitated and let out a deep sigh.

“I believe that martial artists should have a sense of justice. I also think that they should sometimes pursue romance.”

“It sounds plausible when you say it.”

Bator smiled.

Jang Da-jing had stood in front of Kang Jin-ho to save him. Even though he hadn’t done anything for him, he was a person who risked his life to repay a small favor.

There was weight in such a person’s words.

“But listening to his words makes me wonder if I’m really living properly. Sometimes I wonder if I should be selfish, or if I’m not walking properly because I’m clinging to the value of justice. If he was just a little… a little less cruel, a little less vicious… I might have already been influenced by his ideology.”

“I see.”

Bator shrugged.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Yes?”

“You’re confused because you think your master’s path is wrong. You can’t understand yourself for constantly trying to walk a wrong path. Isn’t that right?”

“Jang Da-jing, let me tell you as a senior who has lived a little longer than you. There is no wrong path in this world.”

Jang Da-jing’s eyes trembled.

“Right and wrong arise when there is a goal. The reason you’re confused is because you haven’t set your goal.”

“Ah…”

“If you want to become stronger than anyone else, then following your master’s path is right. But if you want to uphold justice, then your master’s path will be against you. Rightness is relative. The world is divided into extremes depending on the perspective. If you want to walk your path properly, you must know where you are heading before you take a step.”

Jang Da-jing nodded quietly.

“You are right.”

“If you still don’t know, just watch. You are lucky. You can see someone you wouldn’t dare to even look at from your position.”

Jang Da-jing smiled.

“Are you talking about Bator-nim?”

“You cheeky brat.”

Bator turned away with a wry smile.

These words were also for himself.

‘Following my master and becoming the best, I won’t miss either.’

As someone subordinate to Kang Jin-ho, he would follow him. But as a martial artist, he had no intention of continuing to lag behind him.

‘I need to tighten my reins a little too.’

Bator, having regained his resolve, began to walk towards the lower floor.

“Let’s go back. Ignoring it won’t solve anything.”

“Yes.”

Jang Da-jing followed Bator with a slightly uneasy look.

Bator entered the hotel room and frowned at the damp atmosphere emanating from within.

Kang Jin-ho was sitting in a chair. Two people were kneeling in front of him.

Their eyes looked as if their souls had left them.

Bator sighed softly as he looked at their eyes.

They would never be able to live as martial artists again. Even if Kang Jin-ho let them go, they would never think of fighting anyone again.

Their souls had been completely broken.

And that was a punishment worse than death for a martial artist.

“Is it over?”

“More or less.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded indifferently.

“But you don’t seem very refreshed, Master.”

“It’s just the same old story.”

“They’re just small fry from the start. There’s no way they would have any great information. Isn’t that obvious?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if agreeing.

“So, what are you going to do, Master?”

“At first, I was going to go looking for them, but I don’t think I need to.”

“Hmm?”

“They’re coming this way. To catch me.”

“Like moths to a flame.”

“Hmm.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth curled up.

Bator was feeling a strange sensation as he watched that scene.

‘He’s different from when he was facing me.’

In the past, when Bator had drawn Kang Jin-ho out to kill him, Kang Jin-ho had shown deep anger. He was the type to show immense hatred towards those who attacked him and those who tried to ruin his life.

But what should he call that smile now?

‘He looks like he’s having the time of his life.’

A sudden curiosity arose.

He already knew why Kang Jin-ho looked different.

The Assembly, family, or friends, acquaintances.

Kang Jin-ho, who had completely broken free from those ‘things to protect’ called by such names, had no reason to be angry at those who attacked him. He just needed to show them what it meant to provoke him.

“Master.”

Bator expressed his concern.

“I understand that you feel liberated in China. But conversely, you don’t seem to be considering the dangers of being in China at all.”

“Danger?”

“Yes, danger. You haven’t forgotten, have you? This is China. Their land. The ones rushing at you now are just small fry, but if you defeat the small fry, the real ones will come out. The organizations in China are intricately intertwined like a spider web. If you keep defeating those who come, your existence will eventually reach the ears of the Hongwang Group.”

“So?”

“Shouldn’t we avoid it? Of course, I know that you are not afraid of the Hongwang Group. But it is foolish to fight a large number with a small number in the enemy’s territory.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator quietly and opened his mouth.

“Hey, Bator.”

Bator looked at Kang Jin-ho with questioning eyes.

“Are you afraid of dying?”

“Are you insulting me?”

“I am afraid.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“I have too many things I don’t want to lose to die quietly. So, I’m going to struggle once. In this land.”

“Master, could it be…”

Bator’s eyes trembled.

Could it be that the reason he came to China was?

“I’ve left behind the cumbersome things, so let’s go wild.”

“…You’re crazy.”

Bator laughed.

He thought that the reason he came to China wasn’t just to meet a woman, but he never thought he would be thinking of such a crazy thing.

“Are you trying to buy time? Time for the Assembly to grow?”

“It’s greedy to expect that much. For now, just diverting their attention is enough. And in the meantime…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

“It would be nice if I could get something else too.”

Bator shook his head.

He couldn’t handle it, this human. He thought he had no thoughts, but that wasn’t it. He was out of his mind, and he couldn’t keep up.

“If that’s what you want, Master, I’ll follow you. Honestly, I was itching for it too. Besides…”

Crack.

Bator clenched his fist.

“I also have some pent-up feelings in this land.”

Bator and Kang Jin-ho’s gazes met in the air. The two men smiled at each other. There was someone who was despairing as he watched that scene.

‘No, wait, why am I…’

He was told to watch, but wouldn’t he end up in the afterlife if he kept watching?

A shrimp caught between two monsters, no, Jang Da-jing covered his face. There was always a price to pay for watching monsters.