Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1681

Contrary to popular belief, people often judge others more by their impressions than by known information. This tendency is somewhat inevitable, even for someone like Chai Ke-chang.

Before arriving here and taking his seat, Chai Ke-chang believed that Lee Hyun-soo and Wiggins were the ones leading and managing the General Assembly.

In his view, Kang Jin-ho was the type to use his body, not his mind. He might make the most important decisions himself, but most of the decisions would be left to those two.

However, after experiencing the series of events during the war with Changwang, he realized that Kang Jin-ho was not just a combat-focused type as he had thought.

The one who made the most independent decisions at the most dangerous moments was, without a doubt, Kang Jin-ho.

However…

‘To think the Demon King would get involved in even this.’

This was purely about politics and contracts.

It wasn’t a battlefield where Kang Jin-ho could play around. Yet, Kang Jin-ho was showing his teeth as if this was also something he couldn’t afford to miss.

“Ahem.”

Chai Ke-chang, who cleared his throat loudly to calm his racing heart, tried his best to speak without his voice trembling.

“What do you want?”

“Such an obvious ploy.”

Kang Jin-ho continued, sounding indifferent.

“Ploys only work when both sides are on equal footing. I have no reason to be swayed by your rhetoric right now.”

“So, stop with the useless talk and lay out everything you can offer. I’ll listen and then decide.”

Right.

After listening, he would decide. Whether to cut their throats or not.

Chai Ke-chang found his situation absurd. He had barely escaped the threat of Changwang, only to find himself in the hands of the Demon King.

How did the Hongwang, who once ruled the Central Plains, end up in this position?

At that moment, the Hongwang, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“Demon King.”

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to the Hongwang.

“Why don’t you have a smoke and calm down? My subordinate can’t speak because he’s overwhelmed by the atmosphere.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and nodded. Then, he took out a new cigarette and put it in his mouth.

“One?”

“I’ll pass.”

The Hongwang waved his hand, and Kang Jin-ho shrugged before lighting his own cigarette. The smoke from the end of the cigarette spread out like a haze.

“I can’t tell if you’re trying to threaten me or have a conversation.”

“Let’s call it a conversation for now.”

“Then, have you ever considered that your basic approach to conversation might be a bit off?”

“Not really.”

The Hongwang shook his head as if he had a headache.

“Whatever. It’s something that needs to be resolved anyway.”

The Hongwang’s eyes gleamed.

“I’ll give you half.”

“Half?”

“Yes, half. If we unify the Central Plains, I promise you control over half of it. I swear on the name of this Hongwang.”

“Your Majesty!”

Chai Ke-chang, horrified, shouted without realizing it, but the Hongwang’s eyes didn’t waver even an inch.

“Quiet.”

“But that’s…”

“Chai Ke-chang.”

The Hongwang spoke as if spitting out the words.

“Don’t be stingy with conditions. We must win first. What could be more foolish than not being able to seize an opportunity because you can’t let go of something you don’t even have?”

“I have lost the right to unify the Central Plains with my own hands. With that being the case, I cannot afford to lose the last remaining opportunity by being greedy for something I cannot obtain. Your negotiations and ours cannot be the same.”

The Hongwang stared at Kang Jin-ho with heavy eyes.

“Isn’t that right, Demon King?”

Kang Jin-ho quietly exhaled smoke.

And Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard, watching the two of them.

‘They’re not backing down either.’

Half of China.

Those words came from the Hongwang himself. As such, this price would surely be honored.

Of course, it would depend on which area they controlled, but if they could get this, they could wield astronomical wealth and immense influence….

“It doesn’t seem to mean much, though?”

“No! Why not!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo, who had blurted out without realizing it, covered his mouth with both hands. A barrage of disapproving looks rained down on him.

‘Ah, a mistake.’

He had spoken before thinking because he was so surprised.

But wasn’t this inevitable? Where else could they find a better offer than this? Why would they turn it down?

“C-Chairman, being too greedy can make you sick.”

“No. It’s not that.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“It’s not about being greedy, it’s that it doesn’t mean anything. What are we going to do with that land?”

“Well…”

“China is China. It can’t become Korea. Unless we completely annex China or become Chinese ourselves, it’s bound to fall apart someday. And that collapse will push the relationship between China and Korea to the brink again.”

That’s how humans are.

“I can prevent that.”

“As if you’re going to live for a thousand years.”

Kang Jin-ho said indifferently.

“All we can get from that land is money. We’re not going to accept martial artists from China, and there’s no other way to use that land. And we have enough money right now.”

No.

We don’t have enough, Chairman. You’re mistaken.

The more money, the better! A billion is better than a hundred million, and a trillion is better than a billion!

Lee Hyun-soo desperately conveyed his opinion with his eyes, but unfortunately, his gaze didn’t reach Kang Jin-ho.

“Then what do you want?”

“What do you think I want?”

The Hongwang looked at Kang Jin-ho with narrowed eyes. After staring at him for a while, the Hongwang sighed and nodded.

“I knew it.”

“Actually, I knew from the beginning what you wanted. I just didn’t want to admit it. That’s why I thought you would become someone that even I couldn’t handle someday, and you would drive the people of the Central Plains into hell.”

“But now I have to admit it. Demon King, you are a human who desires battle as much as you crave tranquility. That contradiction must have made you who you are today.”

“Enough with the evaluations.”

Kang Jin-ho said indifferently.

“Now tell me. What can you offer me?”

“Peace.”

The Hongwang looked at Kang Jin-ho with eyes full of intensity.

“If you cooperate with me and help me recover the Central Plains, the martial artists of China will never set foot on Korean soil as long as you live. I promise you the complete peace you desire.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the Hongwang with strange eyes.

This offer was several times more appealing than his previous words. This proposal could resolve the chronic anxiety he had about China.

“It’s a good offer, but strangely, it doesn’t seem like it will be kept.”

“No. It will be kept. If one more condition is added.”

“What is it?”

“Fight me, Demon King!”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head at the nonsensical words.

Then, the Hongwang roared like a lion.

“The reason I tried to turn you into an enemy, and the reason you tried to kill me, is simple. You and I cannot stand each other without surpassing each other. And we cannot endure without confirming each other’s strength. That small competitive spirit is what brought the situation to this point.”

“But there’s no need to bet everything on that competitive spirit. I will face you as the Hongwang, not as the leader of the Hongwang faction. If we can throw away everything we carry and face each other as martial artists, that’s enough.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“You’re interpreting it as you please.”

“…This is all I can do. That duality within you will be satisfied with this as well. I will perfectly protect those around you while remaining someone you can face. How is that?”

Kang Jin-ho took a deep drag of his cigarette.

Then, he slowly began to exhale.

‘It’s ridiculous.’

He had felt it occasionally before, but sometimes, enemies understood him better than those he had befriended.

And now was exactly that time.

“Not bad.”

“…Are you accepting?”

“The details will be handled by them. But the basic framework isn’t bad. Above all, I have no desire to go back to China and manage that vast land.”

The Hongwang could do such troublesome things.

What Kang Jin-ho had to do was manage the General Assembly and use that as a foundation to elevate himself.

“Okay. Then I have only one condition.”

“Condition?”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

“You’re setting a condition? Are you not aware of the situation?”

“You’ll be satisfied with this too.”

“…Speak.”

The Hongwang smiled lightly.

“As soon as my body recovers, have a match with me. As allies, as comrades, and as friends, a clear line is needed to accept you. Whether you win or I win.”

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

He stubbed out his cigarette and put a new one in his mouth, lighting it with a flick of his finger.

Kang Jin-ho, slowly exhaling smoke, stared at the Hongwang with calm eyes and said,

“Two corrections.”

“First, just because we’re forming an alliance doesn’t mean I intend to become friends. In some ways, you understand me better than I do, but that doesn’t mean I want to share a drink with you.”

“Hmm.”

“And one more thing.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice became slightly rough.

“The clear line has already been drawn. You can’t beat me.”

The Hongwang bared his teeth.

“That’s something we’ll have to see.”

“Haha!”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“I accept. Do as you wish.”

“Good!”

The Hongwang jumped up from his seat.

“Then that’s settled. Now I will focus on recovering my body. You!”

The Hongwang pointed at Bang Jin-hoon.

“…Yes?”

“Show me to my quarters. I need a place to circulate my energy.”

“…Why me… Ha…” Bang Jin-hoon shook his head but got up from his seat.

“Yes, yes. I’ll show you the way.”

“Hmph!”

The Hongwang strode out of the room. The directors who witnessed the scene shook their heads.

“He really doesn’t have a place of his own.”

“I guess that’s what makes him the Hongwang.”

Bator chuckled.

In fact, if the Hongwang had shown fear or intimidation at the General Assembly, they would have been disappointed. It was that kind of ego that made him the Hongwang, and it was because he was the Hongwang that he had the right to act that way.

“Um…”

At that moment, a small voice reached their ears.

“…Can I go too?”

The directors smiled as they watched Chai Ke-chang awkwardly trying to get up.

“Sit down.”

“If you want to leave your head behind, go ahead.”

“Are you crazy?”

Chai Ke-chang squeezed his eyes shut and sat back down.

Chai Ke-chang’s chest was filled with frustration.

‘How can you leave me here alone, Your Majesty?’

The smug hyenas were slowly closing the distance.

“Now then…”

Lee Hyun-soo rubbed his hands together and smacked his lips.

“The higher-ups might be done with that, but we’re not. Instead of giving up half of that territory, we need to talk about how much you’re going to give us, right? Huh? Chai Ke-chang?”

“Are you hungry? How about some seolleong… no, a bowl of mala tang?”

Chai Ke-chang sensed that something was going terribly wrong.