Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 711

Kang Jin-ho immediately ordered the gathering of the Demonic Cult members.

There was no point in dragging things out. If something needed to be done quickly, it was best to handle it swiftly.

With matters like these, even a slight delay could cause time to slip away endlessly.

However, Jang Min seemed to have a slightly different idea.

“My Lord, wouldn’t it be better to have a meal first?”

“There’s no time for that.”

“My Lord, you may not need time, but the others do. They are currently in a state of confusion due to your appearance. They need time to talk amongst themselves and accept the situation.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho was not entirely pleased, but he had to admit that Jang Min was right.

“I can’t give them too much time, though. Three hours. Everyone needs to sort themselves out within three hours.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As soon as Kang Jin-ho made his decision, Jang Min left to spread the word. Then, Bator and others, who had been out of sight until now, entered the office.

“Where were you?”

“We were just standing outside while the master was striking a pose.”

“Even a dog kept at home wouldn’t be left like this. Isn’t that a bit much, Master?”

“I didn’t know.”

“Tsk.”

Bator clicked his tongue.

“It seems you’re excited after meeting the Demonic Cult members after so long.”

“I wish that were the case.”

“Well, looking at their level, it’s enough to make you sick. But don’t worry, Master. You have Bator here. Why would you need those people when I’m here?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“That’s true.”

It wasn’t just a casual agreement; it was genuinely true.

A single absolute master could sweep away hundreds of ordinary martial artists. Hadn’t that already been proven? As of now, Bator’s value was higher than the entire Demonic Cult, excluding Jang Min.

Even if Bator couldn’t defeat the entire Demonic Cult, his utility was different. There was a vast difference in value between a group that needed a thousand people to do something and an individual who could handle it alone.

“For now, anyway.”

Bator didn’t argue any further.

It was something that was impossible according to his common sense, but Kang Jin-ho had always transcended his common sense. It would probably be the same this time. If he made a rash promise, he would only be humiliated.

At that moment, the door opened, and food was brought into the office.

“Let’s eat first. My stomach is about to stick to my back.”

“…I don’t think that’s likely.”

The distance between Bator’s stomach and back was too far to be understood as an idiom. It felt like it could be used as a soccer field.

“Anyway, let’s eat, Master.”

“Alright.”

Watching the others pick up their chopsticks, Kang Jin-ho also picked up his.

“…Jang Min.”

Kang Jin-ho grabbed his face.

“Cough.”

At the same time, Bator covered his mouth.

“No…”

Kang Jin-ho groaned as he looked at the changed Jang Min.

Until a moment ago, Jang Min had looked familiar. He was wearing the hemp clothes that Chinese people often wore in the past, and his hair was neatly tied up.

Unlike the beggar-like appearance he had seen before, he looked neat and elegant. He was dressed in a way that conveyed the dignity and gentleness of an old martial artist.

Kang Jin-ho scanned Jang Min’s appearance from head to toe.

‘No, it’s not bad. It’s really not bad.’

What is it?

This subtle sense of incongruity.

A sleek black suit. And it was a slim fit. Of course, Jang Min was a martial artist, and his body was far superior to that of any young fitness trainer. Practical muscles for martial arts filled his entire body. It meant that he had a perfect fit. From the back, he looked like an idol.

‘No, why is that floral shirt always a thing in this kind of situation?’

The shirt visible inside the black suit was somewhat colorful.

Well, that could happen.

A person could live young. There was no reason to criticize that.

The problem was Jang Min’s hair.

A two-block haircut with shaved sides and short top hair.

Even for someone in their thirties, it would look burdensome, but a 180-year-old man was pulling off the stylish two-block perfectly. Just looking at it made him feel like his mind was taking off to Andromeda.

“…Did you shave your head in the meantime?”

“Are you talking about my hair from earlier? It’s a wig.”

“A wig?”

“Yes, my Lord. I wanted to pay attention to formality since it’s a meeting to welcome you. I feel much better now. Why were the old clothes so uncomfortable? Tsk.”

He had to admit that.

That man was younger than Kang Jin-ho. He didn’t know his age, but his consciousness was much younger than Kang Jin-ho’s.

“But… isn’t it a bit too much?”

“Huh?”

Jang Min’s eyes became subtle.

It was like a new employee looking at a manager who was pointing out their hairstyle.

‘Am I, am I acting like a꼰대 [kkondae – an older person who is condescending or acts like a know-it-all]?’

That was the situation.

He was the boss, and Jang Min was his subordinate. It was true that the boss was pointing out the subordinate’s style, but it was really true…

‘No, this is a bit different!’

Kang Jin-ho, who didn’t want to be called a 꼰대 (kkondae) and was trying to live young, was beyond his common sense.

“What’s wrong?”

“It, it seems excessively young?” He could be mistaken for a celebrity.

“Ah, you’re talking about my fashion.”

Jang Min proudly scanned his clothes.

“I really like these clothes these days. They are more practical and prettier than the old ones.”

“…Is that so?”

If that was the case, then it must be so.

Kang Jin-ho, who knew he was a 패알못 [paalmot – fashion illiterate], had nothing to say.

“But, still, the kids are watching.”

The best course of action was to bring in someone else. But Jang Min widened his eyes and asked back.

“But isn’t this the tradition of the Demonic Cult?”

“Tr, tradition?”

“Yes. Hasn’t the Demonic Cult always been ahead of its time? Everyone was sensitive to fashion, wasn’t it?”

“…Ah!”

Now that he heard it, it was true.

The Demonic Cult members’ attire had always been excessively ahead of its time. Even now, skinheads and bald heads, which were frowned upon, were in vogue as if they were natural, and they were the kind of crazy people who would casually do things like carving letters on their shaved heads or tearing up perfectly good clothes to create a damaged look.

“Wasn’t it because they were crazy?”

“Hahaha, are you joking?”

He was serious.

Should he not say that he was serious?

Jang Min smiled and continued his explanation.

“The Demonic Cult has always been a place where people from different ethnic groups gathered. It was a place where all kinds of cultures mixed. The more diverse a place is, the more sensitive it is to trends and fashion. It was common for the fashion that was popular in the Demonic Cult to spread to the Central Plains over time. Isn’t that right?”

He thought that the madness was contagious.

It was strange that the guys who used to curse at it were now wearing torn clothes themselves.

Kang Jin-ho grabbed his head.

He couldn’t adapt to it, then or now.

“…The attire doesn’t matter.”

“I thought you would understand since the attire of the guy you brought was quite something?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head with a sulky look.

Bator, who was wearing a topless and pants-only exhibitionist fashion, protested as if he was wronged.

“My clothes were torn while fighting. Unlike others, I can’t get clothes anywhere!”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head forward again.

‘I want to go back to Korea soon.’

Being around these guys made him realize how normal the martial artists in Korea were. He knew how much he missed them.

‘When I go back to Korea, I should treat Lee Hyun-soo and the others better.’

They were people he was grateful for being normal.

“Then, I will escort them.”

“Ummm.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Ah, and…”

“Hmm?”

Jang Min bowed his head deeply towards Kang Jin-ho.

“Please forgive me for not being prepared. My Lord, from now on, I will also prepare your attire…”

“St, stop it!”

It was the first time since coming to China that Kang Jin-ho was genuinely serious.

‘I can’t digest this.’

Ju Gang pressed his stomach.

The lunch box was satisfactory. It was not easy to procure food for so many people. He was prepared to accept just edible food, but a pretty decent lunch box had come out.

However, Ju Gang could not enjoy the taste of the lunch box.

He was just forcing it down as if he was chewing sand.

‘What are they trying to say?’

The Lord had ordered everyone to gather. The meaning of those words was a bit special. It was the first order that came from the Lord’s mouth.

Was that why?

A moment ago, when they were lined up to greet the Lord, they were busy suppressing their complaints, but now they were maintaining their posture with great tension.

It was a change that had occurred in just a few hours.

‘Is the difference between meeting him once and not meeting him that big?’

It could be called overwhelming charisma.

There were times when he couldn’t understand it.

The Demonic Cult of the past was said to be powerful. It was said that if one was among the top ten masters of the Demonic Cult, they could compete with the best masters of the Central Plains.

But why did those who were so strong pledge absolute loyalty to the Lord?

The answer to that unsolved question seemed to be appearing.

It was not a matter of being strong or weak.

Even if the Lord was weaker than them, they would have been loyal to him. They followed not the strength of martial arts, but the strength of a person.

“He’s coming.”

At that moment, a low voice reached Ju Gang’s ears. The Lord appeared towards the grand chair placed on the platform in front.

Gulp.

As the Lord’s figure came into view from afar, Ju Gang swallowed.

This tension just wouldn’t go away.

The Lord, who slowly ascended the platform and examined the grand chair, stepped forward instead of sitting on it. Then, he looked around at the people lined up.

“I am Kang Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had simply opened his mouth, spoke in a monotone voice.

“There are many things I want to say, but I’ll stop all the unnecessary words. I’ll just get straight to the point.”

Everyone’s gaze followed Kang Jin-ho.

“I heard that those of you here believe that I will revive the Demonic Cult. It has been said that I will lead you to a new world, right?”

A slight murmur leaked out.

Due to the free atmosphere of the Demonic Cult, a unified voice did not come out at once.

When Kang Jin-ho slightly raised his hand, the area became quiet in an instant.

“In conclusion, I have no intention of doing that.”

Silence.

A silence that felt like you could hear a pin drop. Kang Jin-ho, as if he liked the atmosphere, scanned the surroundings once and opened his mouth.

“I am not your savior. I have no intention of leading those who want to be saved by others, and I have no intention of taking on such troublesome tasks. If you are martial artists, save your own lives.”

It was a harsh statement.

While everyone was confused as to why that person was saying such things, Kang Jin-ho drove the point home.

“What I need is power. I don’t need followers like lambs. Only those who want to get stronger by learning demonic arts under me should follow me. I will lead them to Korea.”

A cold silence flowed.

Before their minds could even accept what was just said, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

“Questions?”

One thing was certain.

That person was the Lord. But he was not the Lord they had been waiting for.

Now, everyone was beginning to realize that fact.