Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1326

“First, let’s correct a few things. Firstly, this isn’t dangerous enemy territory.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I had come here alone, it certainly could have been dangerous enemy territory. But as long as you are here, this place becomes the safest place in the world.”

“Ah!”

It wasn’t Kang Jin-ho, but Lee Hyun-soo who understood the Hong King’s words.

“Because there are two of us.”

“That’s right.”

The Hong King smiled. He seemed pleased with Lee Hyun-soo’s understanding.

“The Chang King is a cautious man. Excessively cautious. He doesn’t take risks, and he doesn’t create crises. There’s no way such a man would show himself in a place where there’s a variable like the Demon King.”

“If I were alone, he would have tried to eliminate me somehow. But he can’t ignore even the slim possibility that the Demon King is helping me. That’s the kind of man the Chang King is.”

“You speak as if you know him very well.”

“I’ve fought and fought again for over fifty years. We’ve checked each other, analyzed each other, and attacked each other. Sometimes, they feel closer to me than my own closest relatives.”

I felt like I knew what he meant.

After all, that’s why hatred can be the perfect opposite of affection. Obsession with the object of hatred is equal to obsession with the object of love.

“That’s why I was able to come to Beijing so leisurely. Thanks to that, I even got to eat good food.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

He was more easygoing than I thought.

“And secondly… there’s no need to think that I have some ulterior motive. The reason I came to meet you is very simple.”

The Hong King glared at Kang Jin-ho with eyes full of fervor.

“I just wanted to see with my own eyes. My nemesis, who made me feel defeated for the first time in my life, whether he had become stronger, and whether the Demon King had also become stronger like me, who had moved forward with that confrontation as a stepping stone… I just wanted to see it with my own eyes.”

“So, what’s your impression?”

“Satisfactory.”

The Hong King grinned, revealing his teeth.

“It’s terrifying. Honestly, it’s hard to maintain my composure. My whole body is trembling, and my heart is pounding. I feel like I want to risk my life and fight right now.”

“Same here.”

Kang Jin-ho also bared his teeth.

It was like a giant tiger and a bloodthirsty wolf growling at each other. The others couldn’t hide their discomfort at the momentary surge of energy.

“But unfortunately, the situation doesn’t allow it. As you know, I can’t fight you right now. If I were to fight you now, it would be the same as destroying all my great ambitions.”

The Hong King sighed deeply.

If he fought Kang Jin-ho and lost, everything would be over anyway. But the bigger problem was that even if he won against Kang Jin-ho, the result would be the same.

He was confident he could win.

But it was impossible to win against Kang Jin-ho without taking damage. If that happened, the other three kings would surely tear into the wounded Hong King like jackals.

If he couldn’t control his momentary impulse, his hundred-year ambition would crumble. That weight was pressing down on the Hong King right now.

“I need some alcohol. My stomach is burning.”

“I’ll pour you a drink.”

“Hahaha! The Demon King giving me alcohol… it’ll be the most precious drink in the world.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at the two men with strange eyes.

‘Their relationship is hard to understand from a common-sense perspective.’

They were growling at each other as if they would kill each other any second, but then they would suddenly act like the best of friends. I couldn’t figure out what kind of emotions were going on between them.

“Is it strange?”

The Hong King noticed Lee Hyun-soo’s expression and asked first.

“To be honest, yes, it is.”

“There’s nothing strange about it. The Demon King and I can certainly share a drink. Do you know why?”

“I don’t.”

“Because our relationship is already decided. The two of us can never coexist. One of us has to die for it to end.”

“Getting angry, cursing, and pressuring the other person is just an expression of the will to change the relationship. But we don’t need to do that. When the time is ripe and the situation allows, we’ll just kill each other. So, is there any need for us to be on bad terms?”

I don’t understand at all?

That guy has a strange way of thinking.

What’s even more chilling is that Kang Jin-ho was nodding as if he agreed with what he said. That guy is even stranger.

“Do men always have to fight like that?”

The Hong King smiled at Choi Yeon-ha’s question. It seemed he had taken the words about killing each other as a metaphor.

“It’s not because we’re men. It’s because we have different goals. In order for me to exist as myself, I cannot allow the existence of the Demon King. The Demon King must feel the same way.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back in his chair.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t have anything as clear as what the Hong King was saying. But what was certain was that the Hong King’s existence bothered him.

At the same time, he wanted to confirm it.

Whether his enemy’s blood could pierce the heart of this superhuman.

Just thinking about it made the cells in his whole body scream.

“To be honest, I just wanted to have a drink with the Demon King. You may not understand, but a nemesis with whom you can clash with everything you have is not someone you can easily meet. And as I said earlier, sometimes such a person feels like your closest friend.”

The Hong King turned to look at Kang Jin-ho.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Old-fashioned.”

“It’s obvious and boring. But I agree.”

“Hehehe.”

The Hong King picked up the bottle of alcohol.

“Will you give me the honor of offering you a drink?”

“As much as you want.”

Kang Jin-ho received the drink from the Hong King.

It’s old-fashioned.

The archaic language and way of thinking that I hear from time to time remind me of the old righteous sects [traditional martial arts schools].

It’s frustrating, but there were definitely some among them that I had to acknowledge.

The current Hong King is one of those people.

It’s clear that Kang Jin-ho and he are on different paths. The two of them can never walk the same path. But that’s why I can acknowledge him.

Pour, pour.

Kang Jin-ho emptied the drink that had been poured into his glass in one gulp, then took the bottle and poured a drink into the Hong King’s glass. The Hong King also emptied the drink that Kang Jin-ho had poured for him in one gulp.

“The next time we meet, I’ll have to offer you something other than alcohol.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded at the Hong King’s words.

“Don’t worry. I’ll kill you cleanly.”

“Hahahaha! That’s a really good thing to say.”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled and revised her impression of the Hong King that she had formed in her mind.

‘This guy is crazy too.’

It seems that trying to find a normal person around Kang Jin-ho is a futile hope.

This guy and that guy, there isn’t a single normal person.

“And…”

The Hong King opened his mouth.

“I’ll give you one warning. Demon King, be careful of the Chang King.”

“You need to be more aware of your position. It’s been a long time since East Asia was reorganized into a world of four kings, not three. The Chang King and the Black King are probably keeping you in check with the same weight as I am.”

“The Chang King is different from me. He is cautious and careful, but he is also extremely ruthless and cruel. He will not hesitate to use any means to kill you.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face hardened slightly.

There were too many things that bothered him about the words ‘any means’.

“I will not allow you to die in vain at the hands of another before we settle our life-and-death struggle. Demon King, you must die by my hand. That is the only way to complete your life.”

“…You talk a good game.”

“This much is okay, right? Hahahaha!”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled as he watched the Hong King laugh heartily.

The Hong King and he really didn’t match.

If Cha Yi-keo-chang and Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t acknowledge each other because they were too similar, then the Hong King and Kang Jin-ho couldn’t acknowledge each other because they were too different.

Nemesis.

That word suited them best.

Since Kang Jin-ho had never had a nemesis in his previous life, the Hong King’s existence was very special to Kang Jin-ho.

‘Will the other three kings make me feel this way?’

It would be difficult.

This wasn’t just a matter of strength. Even if the other three kings were stronger than the Hong King, Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t feel this way about them.

The difference in values, the difference in tendencies, and the difference in what they aim for.

Because they don’t match, they become more conscious of each other.

“It was a good meeting.”

The Hong King slowly got up.

“Let’s finish the meal. It’s polite to see my guests to the end, but honestly, it’s hard to endure any longer. I’ll leave before I lose control of myself.”

“You lack patience.”

“I can’t help but hear those words from you.”

The Hong King smiled as he looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“It’s a strange feeling. Demon King, I hate you the most in the world. But on the other hand, you make me feel as excited as a maiden on the Spring Festival [Chinese New Year].”

“…I wish you wouldn’t use such strange expressions.”

“…I’m sorry. It’s hard to fix.”

The Hong King smiled awkwardly and then changed his expression.

“The next time we meet, I’ll take your head. Until then, get stronger. Devour more, crave more. Get stronger so that you are not lacking as this Hong King’s nemesis.”

“When you speak…”

“It’s good to see who you’re talking to before you speak.”

Kang Jin-ho’s calm eyes pierced through the Hong King. The Hong King smiled with satisfaction.

“It was indeed a needless worry. It wasn’t something I should have said to the Demon King. That’s good.”

The Hong King turned around.

“Cha Yi-keo-chang.”

“Yes.”

The Hong King took out a large box from the floor and placed it on the table.

“This is a gift from the Hong King.”

“Then, may you be well.”

Cha Yi-keo-chang, who bowed deeply to Kang Jin-ho, looked at Lee Hyun-soo with a completely changed face.

“Be careful of the Chang King.”

“If the Demon King is defeated by the Chang King, it’s not the Demon King’s fault, but yours. The Hong King is looking forward to his match with the Demon King more than anything in the world. If you do something foolish and ruin that match, I will tear you into a thousand pieces and kill you.”

“Then give me some information. Don’t just run your mouth.”

“You bastard.”

Cha Yi-keo-chang glared at Lee Hyun-soo and turned around. The two of them slowly walked down the stairs.

As soon as the two of them had completely left the building, Lee Hyun-soo and Choi Yeon-ha sighed as if the ground had caved in.

“Why is it so hard?”

“…My underwear is wet.”

“What the heck, that’s disgusting!”

“…Sorry.”

Lee Hyun-soo wiped the sweat from his forehead.

It was a seemingly friendly atmosphere, but underneath, there was a nerve-wracking battle of wits. Even Lee Hyun-soo, the best of the best, would have lost his cool and done something if Kang Jin-ho hadn’t maintained his composure.

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho was silently staring at the spot where the Hong King had left.

‘What is he thinking about?’

“Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

Just as Lee Hyun-soo was about to open his mouth, Kang Jin-ho frowned and spoke first.

“By the way…”

“…Yes?”

“Did they pay the bill?”

Kang Jin-ho said, looking at the table.

“It looks expensive.”

It was the moment when the tense ending of the meeting went off the rails.