Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1311

Fortunately, the procedures went smoothly.

Whether it was because the forged passport provided by the National Intelligence Service was so flawless, or because the Chinese public security officers were lazy, no particular issues were found during immigration.

It was possible that they were fully aware and trying to trap Kang Jin-ho, but this time, that possibility was ruled out. If they were acting, there was no way Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t have noticed.

Anyway, Lee Hyun-soo, having exited the airport, shouted with a delighted expression,

“Ah, this crazy fine dust! It’s killing me!”

Visibility was terrible.

Not that he wanted to defend China, but it didn’t seem like China was sending fine dust to Korea out of spite.

In Korea, at least it was bearable to breathe, but in Beijing, it felt like being in a chemical warfare training room, to exaggerate a bit.

“Masks! Masks!”

Lee Hyun-soo hurriedly handed out the masks he had prepared to Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha.

When Kang Jin-ho looked at the mask with a displeased expression, Lee Hyun-soo became serious.

“Put it on, Mr. Cheol-soo.”

He meant that since he was not the martial artist Kang Jin-ho but the businessman Kim Cheol-soo, he should just shut up and wear the mask.

“Must I?”

“It’ll also cover your face.”

Kang Jin-ho took the mask with a subtly displeased look and put it on. Choi Yeon-ha also snatched the mask Lee Hyun-soo offered and wore it.

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard, feeling a chill from her touch.

‘Still, I gave her a mask, so maybe she’ll hit me one less time, or curse me one less time.’

Since ancient times, bribery has been the best remedy for easing strained relationships.

“Don’t you have any for us?”

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face contorted as he looked at those who were subtly asking for masks.

“These bastards are out of line. You should be buying them and bringing them to me, yet you expect me to get masks for you? Did you leave your manners in Korea? Do you think your time as lackeys is over just because we’re in China?”

“Do you want me to shove a gas mask filter down your throats? Go get masks, now!”

“There seem to be a lot left over there…”

“No way. If we change them three times a day, this whole pack will be gone during your stay. We don’t have any for you.”

“Wow…”

It was impressive in many ways.

To be so thorough as to secure extra masks for his superiors while not even having one for himself, with fine dust penetrating his nose like this, was either admirable or foolishly stubborn, clinging to something that could be replenished later.

“It wasn’t like this even in North Korea.”

“It’s the same in China.”

“Then go back, you bastards.”

“…I never thought I’d see something worse than North Korea with my own eyes.”

“It’s the same in China, I said.”

“Ah, go back!”

Complaining voices were heard, but Lee Hyun-soo cleanly ignored them.

Anyway, these days, people lack grit.

“Instead of this, let’s move quickly.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

The airport was full of people coming and going. It was a long shot, but they shouldn’t stay here too long and risk running into someone who knew Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho shouldn’t expose his identity right now.

“Where should we go?”

“We need to go to the hotel first. Someone will contact us there.”

“Hmm, the hotel?”

“I made a reservation in advance. I canceled the hotel they had booked and made a new reservation. It’s about a 30-minute drive from here.”

“You rebooked it?”

Why bother?

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“Those guys booked a place as if it was their lord’s accommodation. I couldn’t stand that, so I used the card you gave me and booked a decent place.”

“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I’m a citizen of the Republic of Korea too. I booked a 5-star hotel, nothing excessive.”

5-star with a conscience?

Kang Jin-ho’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Are there hotels higher than 5-star?”

“Actually, 5-star is the highest official rating, but these days, top-tier hotels claim to be 7-star for advertising purposes.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s not exactly true, but it’s not a lie either.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

“With so many high-end hotels popping up, there’s often a huge difference even among 5-star hotels. Some of those claiming to be 7-star are just that in name only, but there are others that are too good to be lumped in with regular 5-star hotels. I wanted to book a 7-star, but I held myself back.”

So, it was a 5-star hotel, but one that was cost-effective among the 5-stars.

Was this being conscientious, or selling his conscience?

Anyway, he was a hard guy to define.

“Let’s go for now.”

“Yes.”

“Then, Ms. Choi Yeon-ha, or rather, Director Choi…”

“Ah, I booked Director Choi’s hotel too. You can go together.”

Kang Jin-ho’s expression became even more subtle.

“That’s company funds…”

“I charged it to MK Corporation.”

Thorough.

He didn’t give any room to attack. Kang Jin-ho, feeling a subtle surge of frustration, calmed himself with a deep breath. But with each deep breath, he felt the fine dust pushing in, making him more annoyed rather than calmer.

“Then, should we take a taxi for now?”

If it were just Kang Jin-ho, walking wouldn’t be bad, but Choi Yeon-ha was a concern.

“Hehehehehe.”

Lee Hyun-soo wore a wicked smile.

“What are you talking about? Taking a taxi after coming all the way to China? What do you think of my preparedness?”

Anxiety began to creep into Kang Jin-ho’s eyes.

Lee Hyun-soo was becoming more unsettling by the day. Was it Kang Jin-ho’s imagination that he was starting to feel like the man was going crazy, or was it….

At that moment, something strange caught Kang Jin-ho’s eye.

A car was entering the chaotic road in front of the airport. A car entering a road where cars were lined up endlessly was nothing to notice, but the reason everyone, including Kang Jin-ho, couldn’t take their eyes off it was one thing.

It was long.

The black sedan approaching them was only slightly wide, but it was strangely long from front to back.

A vehicle that had completely given up on driving performance, focusing solely on space and comfort.

In other words….

“Ta-da! I called a limousine.”

“You, you…”

You crazy bastard!

A headache began to throb. Seriously, Kang Jin-ho had a headache.

It was a great achievement, in a way. How many people in the world could make the back of the neck of a well-trained martial artist ache like this?

Watching the limousine slowly approach and stop right in front of them, he felt cold sweat running down his body.

“Let’s get in.”

“…This?”

“It’s because it’s your first time. You’ll get used to it soon.”

“Have you ever ridden in one?”

“Of course not. I’ll get used to it too.”

Kang Jin-ho’s lips trembled.

This was the first time since returning to the modern world that he had lost control of his expression this much.

“Director Lee.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“…You haven’t forgotten why we came here, have you?”

“No. Of course not.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled knowingly and put his index finger to his lips.

“So, let’s get in the limousine for now.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed and shook his head. As soon as Kang Jin-ho gave his permission, Lee Hyun-soo quickly ran to open the limousine door.

“Director first.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

As Lee Hyun-soo lowered his posture as if to escort her, Choi Yeon-ha looked at Kang Jin-ho with a strange smile.

“Not bad.”

“I’m getting this kind of treatment. I might be a little more lenient.”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled and got into the limousine.

Indeed, Lee Hyun-soo was trying his best to ease Choi Yeon-ha’s mood with the softest smile he could muster.

‘That sly fox….’

He had thought this many times before, but if Lee Hyun-soo hadn’t gone down this path, or if he had been born in the old royal era, he might have become a notorious historical figure.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t forget to glare at Lee Hyun-soo even as he got into the limousine. But Lee Hyun-soo was smiling as if he had expected that reaction.

Kang Jin-ho shook his head and got into the limousine.

As soon as Kang Jin-ho went inside, Lee Hyun-soo grabbed the door and was about to get into the limousine.

But at that moment, a hurried voice came from behind him.

“Um… just a moment, Director.”

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo turned his head. The group who had come on the plane with them were standing there with anxious faces.

“Don’t we have anything to ride in?”

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head.

“Didn’t I tell you where the accommodation is?”

“…You did.”

“You’re Chinese, aren’t you? You lived in Beijing, right?”

“Y-yes, I did.”

“Then why are you looking for a ride? Are there no buses or subways in Beijing? This is like a Seoulite asking for directions after landing at Gimpo Airport [a domestic airport in Seoul].”

“I’ll go check the accommodation in an hour, so don’t wander off and stay put. And you guys, you might have to hold out there for a few days, so stock up on food beforehand.”

“If I go to check and you’re not there on time, you’re all dead. If you want to become corpses in a foreign land… no, in your original land, go ahead and wander off.”

Lee Hyun-soo glared at them once and then coldly got into the limousine.

Brrr.

The limousine smoothly started moving.

The remaining people stared blankly at the receding limousine before quietly opening their mouths.

“That bastard.”

“That inhuman bastard.”

“They get to ride in a limousine while we have to take the subway. What a world.”

“Where’s our accommodation?”

“Some hostel, they said?”

“…Is it okay to have such blatant discrimination?”

Of course, they understood.

It was a common strategy to disperse the accommodation since a group of unsavory-looking people entering a hotel at once would easily draw attention.

They knew, but….

“Then he should have come with us!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“Disgusting, so disgusting!”

Everyone was complaining as much as they could, taking advantage of their superior’s absence.

There was one man who couldn’t sympathize with them.

“Um…”

Han Eun-sol opened his mouth with a slightly trembling voice.

“Why am I here…”

Those who had noticed Han Eun-sol’s presence tilted their heads.

“Why is he here?”

“Who knows?”

“Hey, you! He’s Director of MK! Watch your mouth if you don’t want to get your head chopped off.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know he was a high-ranking official because he’s so young. Guys, bow to him.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Director!”

“We’ll serve you well. Please speak well of us later. Hehe.”

“What should we do now?”

Han Eun-sol’s eyes trembled.

These people, who looked like they could automatically contract your bladder if you met them on a dark night, were all bowing their heads at once.

‘Sis, please take me with you! I’ll never complain about you working hard again!’

Han Eun-sol was realizing how precious Choi Yeon-ha was.