Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 844

Cheon Tae-hoon looked at the stack of A4 papers that Bang Jin-hoon had handed him with a strange expression.

“So, this is…”

“Yeah!” Bang Jin-hoon’s face was full of fervor.

Fervor. Yes, that was fervor.

But that fervor was a bit…

‘He looks pissed?’

He didn’t look like someone who had created a new martial art after much thought and effort.

That face was more like, well…

Like a team leader in a college group project.

The kind who had assigned tasks and rallied everyone to do their best, but on the eve of the presentation, some had gone silent, and others had handed in kindergarten-level materials.

He looked like a team leader who had stayed up all night overcoming all those setbacks and was finally heading to the podium to present the completed project.

Seeing that mix of pride and deep frustration, Cheon Tae-hoon opened his mouth hesitantly.

“Did something not go well?”

“It went well.”

“Yes?”

“It went too well, that’s the problem, too well.” A sound of teeth grinding could be heard.

“Too well, that’s the problem! Damn it! Too much!”

It seemed like he had a rough idea of what had happened.

“Tae-hoon.”

“Yes.”

“You know, people need to be flexible.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s not like I’ve created a martial art once or twice, how could I make something perfect from the start, that’s what I’m saying!”

Cheon Tae-hoon quietly closed his mouth.

When a superior badmouths an even higher superior, there are two ways to respond. Either wholeheartedly agree and create a perfect connection, or…

‘Stay quiet, fearing the repercussions.’

If it were Bator or Wiggins, he would have joined in somehow. After all, Cheon Tae-hoon was Bang Jin-hoon’s direct disciple. When his master was cursing, he should be dancing and agreeing.

But badmouthing Kang Jin-ho was too much of a burden.

“Isn’t it good if the result is good?”

“…Hey.”

“Yes?”

Bang Jin-hoon turned his body without a word. Then, he ran his hand over the back of his head.

Cheon Tae-hoon’s eyes trembled. He could see a clear white patch on the back of Bang Jin-hoon’s head. There were not one, but two circular bald spots the size of five-hundred-won coins [about the size of a US quarter].

“Can you see it?”

“No, Master. How did this…”

“It’s stress-related hair loss.”

Bang Jin-hoon lowered his hand and covered his head.

“In the world, a martial artist with circular hair loss… I’ve never heard of it.”

Cheon Tae-hoon was speechless. He had certainly never heard of a martial artist getting circular hair loss. How extreme must the stress have been for this to happen?

“I’m going to be ruined trying to make a good result!”

“Please calm down.”

Cheon Tae-hoon squeezed out words to comfort Bang Jin-hoon.

“What’s so important about circular hair loss? It’ll get better soon anyway. Actually, your crown is quite bare…”

“What, you little punk?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes blazed. Cheon Tae-hoon quietly lowered his gaze. There was no one as terrifying as a balding person who had been pointed out for their baldness. Just as a dragon whose reverse scale had been touched would destroy the world, a balding person who had been pointed out for their baldness would go berserk.

“Watch your mouth.”

“Yes.”

Bang Jin-hoon gestured with his chin at the stack of A4 papers Cheon Tae-hoon was holding.

“So, what do you think?”

“No, it’s not a matter of what I think…”

Cheon Tae-hoon clicked his tongue.

“Even so, there’s a certain formality that people should have. This is supposed to be a secret manual, but it’s like you’re scribbling on scrap paper, if you print it out like this…”

“Then what? Should I ask a publisher to publish it? As the Assembly’s basic martial arts theory?”

“At least get it bound…”

“It’s a prototype, that’s why, you idiot!”

Cheon Tae-hoon sighed deeply.

Bang Jin-hoon had always been reckless. That was why he was able to fight against Lee Joong-geol, who had been in control of the Assembly. But lately, that recklessness seemed to have gotten worse.

‘This is why people need to choose their friends wisely.’

It seemed that his personality had changed as the people he associated with had changed.

“I’m not sure.”

“Look at it carefully.”

“…No, if I had the ability to look at a secret manual and analyze it, why would I be living like this?”

“I’m not asking you to analyze it, I’m asking if it looks easy for you to learn, that’s all.”

“Ah!”

Just as Cheon Tae-hoon was about to look at the secret manual again, as if he understood, Bang Jin-hoon added something he didn’t need to say.

“The Assembly Leader has already verified it. Do you think I’m crazy enough to entrust that to you?”

Cheon Tae-hoon raised his head slightly and glared at Bang Jin-hoon with a subtle gaze.

“Lower your eyes.”

“Yes!”

His eyes lowered.

Muttering, Cheon Tae-hoon looked at the secret manual… no, the stack of A4 papers called a secret manual, and after some thought, he opened his mouth.

“There are some parts that I don’t quite understand, but I think I can learn them with guidance… It’s not completely incomprehensible.”

“It’s difficult to learn on your own, but it’s possible to learn with instruction?”

“Yes. I think that’s about it.” Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply.

The evaluation Cheon Tae-hoon had just given was the evaluation he had wanted the most.

Cheon Tae-hoon was a prodigy.

Lately, he had been overshadowed by others, but originally, Cheon Tae-hoon was a talent who would have competed with Lee Sung-hwi for the position of the next Assembly Leader.

For someone like that to find it difficult meant that if the secret manual were leaked, most people wouldn’t dare to learn it on their own. It was possible to learn, but only within the Assembly.

That was the level of difficulty Bang Jin-hoon had wanted. With this, the final check was complete.

“Finally…”

Bang Jin-hoon slumped onto the sofa.

It felt like he had passed the final test. Now, he just needed to bind the secret manual and distribute it.

“But Master.”

“What?”

“Is this really necessary?”

“…What?”

“No, I mean, is it really necessary? We already have martial arts we’re learning…”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Cheon Tae-hoon with slightly raised eyes.

Was it because he was lazy? Because it was hard?

That wasn’t it.

‘This punk.’

Bang Jin-hoon bit his lip.

“Hey, Cheon Tae-hoon.”

“…Yes.”

“Straighten your shoulders.”

At Bang Jin-hoon’s angry voice, Cheon Tae-hoon straightened his shoulders. It seemed he had shrunk back without realizing it.

“Why are you acting so defeated, you little punk? Is that how I taught you?”

“I’m sorry.”

Bang Jin-hoon clicked his tongue as he looked at Cheon Tae-hoon, who had lowered his head.

‘I knew it.’

The Assembly was developing. It was also getting stronger at a rapid pace. But in that process, there were bound to be side effects. Bang Jin-hoon was now facing those side effects.

The Demonic Flames were learning demonic arts from Kang Jin-ho. And Bator was teaching the Demonic Flames while also selecting and teaching those who would specialize in external martial arts.

Wiggins had selected those who would teach magic and Western swordsmanship, and the Demonic Cult members would now also be taught demonic arts.

And the others were left behind.

It was just a matter of selecting people based on their characteristics. But those who were left behind couldn’t think that way. They couldn’t help but feel a sense of self-loathing, as if they had become the rejects who had failed all the tests.

“Hey, you little punks, are you losers?”

“…No, we’re not.”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s a martial art that you can learn moderately and become moderately strong, I can make it in one night. What do you think is the reason why I went through that hellish time and made such a fuss? Even bothering the Assembly Leader.”

Cheon Tae-hoon looked at the secret manual with a new perspective.

The secret manual didn’t look that special. It didn’t seem like much would change if he learned it. But Bang Jin-hoon was saying otherwise.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“No, it’s not that, Master. How could I dare?”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean, you little punk. I knew you’d be like that, so I’ve already finished verifying it.”

“Yes?”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled and said,

“If you learn it properly, it’s a martial art that can even make those who have learned demonic arts look like steamed buns.”

“…Who?”

“Who else but the great Assembly Leader?”

Kang Jin-ho?

Cheon Tae-hoon’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Is that true?”

“Ha, this punk, really.”

Judging by Bang Jin-hoon’s reaction, it seemed to be true.

If that was the case, then things were different.

Because Kang Jin-ho, as he knew him, was not someone who would give empty praise. He would rather torment people by telling them to create a martial art from scratch than give a high evaluation to a martial art that didn’t meet his standards.

‘This is it?’

It didn’t look that special.

“Orthodox martial arts are originally like that. Have you forgotten?”

Cheon Tae-hoon nodded.

Yes, orthodox martial arts.

Orthodox martial arts were martial arts that built a foundation. It was a martial art that built a tall tower when the foundation, built by stacking and stacking, was perfectly completed.

More about consistency and effort than efficiency.

“It’ll take a lot of time.”

“They said they’ve somehow taken care of that too. I don’t know much about that part. This is the martial art I created, but the really core and important parts were created by that guy.”

“Then it’s reliable…”

“This punk?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Cheon Tae-hoon clenched the secret manual tightly.

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled as he looked at Cheon Tae-hoon, who was slightly agitated.

‘He’s so happy, he’s so happy.’

Well, whatever.

Whether this martial art was created by him or Kang Jin-ho, that wasn’t important. What was important was that this martial art would allow the young martial artists of the Assembly, the young martial artists who were feeling alienated, to rise again.

There was a limit to change through partial changes. If he really wanted to strengthen the Assembly, he had to bring them up.

“When do we start?”

“It’ll take some time.”

“Is there anything that will take time?”

“Hey, you idiot! How can I teach all of this to the kids by myself? At least ten people are needed. We need to recruit about ten elders who can become instructors, teach them, and then teach the kids.”

“Why can’t you teach them?”

“Where do we gather? And no matter how loud my voice is, I can’t make them all hear.”

“Then it’s not a problem. Let’s start tomorrow.”

“…Did you not understand what I said?”

“No. I understood everything.”

“Then?”

“I can solve all of that.”

“Huh?”

Cheon Tae-hoon grinned.

“Isn’t it enough if each person can see and hear properly? The parts that cause problems can be corrected by the elders who learn quickly in their spare time.”

“Is that so?”

“Then it’s simple!”

Bang Jin-hoon tilted his head as he looked at Cheon Tae-hoon, who was smiling brightly. He couldn’t understand what this guy was saying since a while ago.

“What are you going to do? Grab a microphone or something?”

“Master.”

Cheon Tae-hoon said firmly.

“It’s not that kind of era anymore. You need to get used to the world now, Master.”

“Huh?”

“Have you ever heard of online lectures?”

“Huh?”

Cheon Tae-hoon grinned.

“That will solve everything. You can lecture as if you’re breathing right in front of them, and you can show them demonstrations. They’re not beginners anyway, so they’ll all follow along.”

“The first video lecture in the martial arts world. I’ll give it a try. Let’s create a business. How about ‘Ki Martial Arts Study’?”

“…What the hell are you talking about since a while ago, you crazy bastard?”

And so, BJ Bang Jin-hoon’s debut was decided.

Reform and innovation always torment the old people.