Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1778

“Wow! The airport is huge!”

“…What’s so big about it? It’s not that big compared to Incheon Airport.”

“Have you been to Incheon Airport?”

“You… don’t tell me this is your first time on a plane?”

“Why would I have a reason to ride one? I’ve been busy training. I have taken a boat to Jeju Island once, though.”

“Big deal.”

The buses lined up and entered the airport.

“We don’t have passports, is that okay?”

“…Just sit down.”

“I can’t speak Chinese, what should I say?”

“I said sit down, you crazy bastards.”

Lee Hyun-soo pressed his forehead.

Of all the buses, the ones he was on were filled with the demonic followers. These guys had their heads filled with demonic energy; they didn’t seem to think at all.

“Why do you need Chinese! We’re going straight by plane!”

“Huh? Then, we’re not going inside the airport?”

“We’re not going into the building. We’re going straight to where the planes are waiting.”

At that, some sighed in relief, while others clicked their tongues as if they were disappointed.

‘What’s with the ones who are disappointed?’

It’s not like they’re on a picnic.

Basically, the reaction after a battle is one of two things.

Either they fall into lethargy and fight their fear, or they show excessive energy.

At first, Lee Hyun-soo thought it was better that the demonic followers were overly excited rather than lethargic, but at this point, things were a bit different.

“Calm down. There are still many who are hurt.”

“It’s not like we’re dying, what’s the big deal?”

“So what if a man inhaled some gas? You do that all the time in the army. Ah, did team leader not serve in the military?”

“What did you say, you little punks?”

Lee Hyun-soo glared at them, and the demonic followers flinched and turned their heads to look out the window.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed deeply as he sat back down.

‘Anyway…’

‘I understand how they feel.’

‘After all, they all came to China prepared to die. No one wants to die, but most of them came thinking they might not return to Korea alive.’

‘But now they’re going back to Korea safe and sound, how could they not be emotional?’

Lee Hyun-soo glanced back at the trucks following behind.

Seeing that made his heart heavy.

The damage isn’t great.

Compared to what they gained, the damage isn’t great. But even if it’s a small number, death is death. You can’t ignore that.

“Lord.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded slightly.

“Didn’t you meet Hong Wang briefly before you came?”

“I did.”

“…If it’s not too much to ask, may I ask what you talked about?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly.

“He said he’d come to Korea to fight me again once things in China are settled.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked dumbfounded. Do martial artists have conversations like that even in this kind of situation?

“Pointless.”

Lee Hyun-soo didn’t miss the way Kang Jin-ho’s lips curled up as he said that.

Anyway, their world was in a realm that Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t understand.

“It won’t be easy to settle things in China.”

“That’s not my problem.”

Lee Hyun-soo clicked his tongue slightly.

Talking to Kang Jin-ho, you realize that he really has no attachment to the land of China.

“Don’t you really have any desire for it?”

“Do I have to repeat what I already said?”

“People’s thoughts change depending on the situation and their position. You can’t have the same thoughts when things are difficult and when they are easy, can you?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Every time you say things like that, I think…”

“Yes?”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘taking over China’?”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned and said,

“You could dominate the martial world, and if you dominate the martial world, you could rake in a huge amount of money from the massive Chinese market.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“This isn’t a land grab.”

“Let’s say you dominate the martial world. It’s not easy, but let’s say you somehow manage it. Then, from now on, should I raise the Chinese martial artists?”

“Well…”

“Or? Should I weaken them appropriately and then try to use them for something?”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

He understood what Kang Jin-ho was saying.

“It’s just unnecessarily adding more work. There’s too much to sacrifice just for the pride of having China under my feet.”

“Usually, people sacrifice everything for that pride.”

“Not me.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head firmly.

The competitive spirit as a martial artist still remained. No, that might still be the principle that drives Kang Jin-ho.

But Kang Jin-ho has no desire for fame. No matter what others think of him, no matter what achievements he makes, it won’t change his life.

“It’s putting the cart before the horse.”

“Yes?”

“I started this to live comfortably, so there’s no need for me to cling to other things while giving up that comfort myself.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“Actually, I’m doing that now, but I should refrain from adding more.”

Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho quietly.

“Why?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth, looking slightly embarrassed.

“I was just wondering if you were always this good at talking.”

Kang Jin-ho, who couldn’t really deny it, smiled wryly.

“A little.”

“Yes?”

“I was just thinking about the past a little.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t say anything more and leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

‘Beginner’s mind…’

‘Maybe it was because of the dream of the past, but many thoughts came to mind.’

‘The first thought was that his life had become not so different from before.’

‘This war with Chang Wang was no different from when he led the Demonic Cult and roamed the Central Plains [a historical region of China] in the past. Back then, his opponents used all sorts of tricks to try and stop him. In the end, Kang Jin-ho broke through it all with force.’

‘The same war and the same life.’

‘The only difference is that now he’s not ruling, but going together with others.’

“A sword that has lost its sharpness…”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

The words of the Black King came to mind from time to time, making him think about him.

‘Sharpness…’

‘The former Heavenly Demon Lord was definitely a blade that was several times sharper than the current Kang Jin-ho.’

‘It’s not a matter of being stronger or weaker. It’s a matter of attitude towards life.’

‘But…’

‘There’s no need to be sharp.’

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

The sky was incredibly blue.

So clear.

The martial artists of the General Assembly, who had gotten off in front of the hangar where several planes were waiting, gathered in front of the planes.

“Don’t look around like country bumpkins, get on quickly!”

Although there was no one really looking around, Lee Hyun-soo was constantly running around like a teacher leading students.

“Why is he like that?”

“Leave him be. It’s a disease. It can’t be cured.”

Chun Tae-hoon and Bang Jin-hoon clicked their tongues as they watched him.

Since there was no need for check-in, boarding was done in an instant. It only took a little time to load the coffins of those who had tragically died.

“Boarding is complete.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled as he looked at the planes.

To return from China on a plane prepared by the Chinese government…

“It’s truly a triumphant return.”

“Actually, you more than deserve it, don’t you?”

“I guess so.”

“Our government also contacted us to send a chartered plane, but I declined it on my end because it seemed like a hassle.”

“Good job.”

Although there was no bad intention, right now, they just wanted to return to Korea as soon as possible.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and headed towards the temporary stairs installed at the entrance of the plane.

Kang Jin-ho, who was standing in front of the entrance of the plane after climbing the stairs, quietly looked back.

“…Is there a problem?”

“No.”

Even as he said that, Kang Jin-ho didn’t get on the plane easily.

Somehow, he had a feeling.

That if he went back to Korea like this, he wouldn’t set foot on Chinese soil for a while, that kind of feeling…

‘This isn’t the Central Plains.’

‘Even if it’s the same space, if they don’t share the same time, it’s a different world. Kang Jin-ho knew that much.’

‘But…’

‘Perhaps someone still lives here as if it were the Central Plains of the past.’

‘No.’

‘At least for him and Kang Jin-ho, this place might still be the Central Plains.’

‘Because they share the same time and space.’

“Go on ahead. I’ll have a smoke and go in.”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo went inside the plane without saying anything.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

The smoke that caressed his lungs slowly scattered into the air.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t bothered by it.

If he really is the Azure Demon, why did he only appear before him now?

And what does he want from him?

It’s still just a possibility.

But…

“How old-fashioned.”

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

It’s unfortunate, but even if the Black King is the Azure Demon, Kang Jin-ho can’t respond to his wish. No matter what that wish is.

Because Kang Jin-ho is no longer the Heavenly Demon Lord.

“The past is the past.”

Kang Jin-ho flicked the end of his cigarette to put it out, and then, with an embarrassed look, he shoved the butt into his pocket.

Then, without any regrets, he went inside the plane.

The plane, which had removed the temporary stairs and finished its preparations, headed to the runway without any waiting. Then, not long after, it took off and began heading towards Korea.

Top floor of the airport building.

A man sitting in a space only accessible to VIPs looks at the sky through the wide front window. His gaze was fixed on the back of the plane disappearing into the distance.

Clink.

The man reached out, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and poured it into a glass.

The man, who had filled the glass with whiskey, shook it a couple of times and then gulped it down.

Thud!

The man, who had put down the glass, had a subtle smile on his face as he followed the now invisible plane with his eyes.

Whirr.

The automatic door opened, and a man in a suit entered. He approached the man and bowed deeply.

“Shall we depart?”

The man nodded quietly.

“Now that my business is done, I should go.”

“How was the reunion?”

“Reunion…”

The man smiled faintly.

“He looked good.”

“It’s a face I couldn’t see before. He looked like a human.”

“Then I should have seen him a little earlier.”

The man smiled faintly and picked up the bottle of liquor.

“This liquor is aged for forty years.”

“Of course, everyone’s taste is different, so just because it’s aged for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better, but at least the flavor deepens.”

“That’s right.”

“People are no different.”

The man shook his head quietly.

“If I had met him right away, I would have only seen him as someone who hadn’t changed. That would be meaningless. Waiting for him to deepen, like aging liquor in an oak barrel, was also a pleasure.”

“Then is the wait over now?”

The man smiled lightly.

“I’m hoping so. Maybe not just me, but him too.”

The man got up from his seat without any regrets and walked outside.

In the place where he had left, only a half-empty bottle of liquor remained lonely.