Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1818

Suffocating (5)

A towering skyscraper.

From the top floor of an exceptionally tall building in Shanghai, a city famous for its skyscrapers, a man looked down at the city.

‘So small.’

The human gaze is a curious thing.

Buildings that seem incredibly tall when viewed from below look small and insignificant from up here.

That’s why he loved this view, one that only those who had climbed high could see. Countless people breathing beneath his feet wished to see this sight with their own eyes, but that privilege was not easily granted.

They could only catch a glimpse of this once-in-a-lifetime view. They could never experience this sight as part of their daily life, as he did.

“Like ants.”

It wasn’t just about climbing to a high place.

Those who climbed high were granted the right to look down. Climbing was a privilege given only to those who could endure the weight on their two legs.

Therefore, those who climbed high were more worthy of respect than anyone else.

In other words, he hated those who received respect without deserving it more than anything in the world.

“The Lord has commanded…”

At the voice from behind, the man slowly turned his head. Liu Yang, a subordinate of the Black King, was clearly visible in his eyes.

“He said he will not forgive those who act rashly.”

The man chuckled softly.

“It’s not like I don’t understand what he’s saying.”

“There was no need to come all the way here, you mutt.”

Liu Yang’s eyes narrowed at the word ‘mutt.’

“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have bothered to come and say a word.”

“I came because it’s you. Because it’s none other than you.”

The man chuckled softly.

“Looks like I’m not trusted much. My loyalty to the Black King should be beyond doubt, shouldn’t it?”

“I don’t doubt that.”

Liu Yang’s eyes turned cold.

“The problem is your methods. Your recklessness is definitely a problem. Sometimes following the Black King your way is helpful, but not this time.”

The man licked his lips slightly.

“I don’t understand.”

His gaze fixed on Liu Yang. The moment Liu Yang saw his beast-like, gleaming eyes, he felt a suffocating pressure.

“The Black King’s order to us is one. To push ourselves to become stronger. And never to do anything that hinders our goal.”

Crack.

The man’s hand clenched, making a strange sound.

“So, are you saying that touching that guy hinders our goal?”

“You don’t understand.”

Liu Yang said through gritted teeth.

“Whether it hinders or not is meaningless. The important thing is that the Black King gave the order, that’s all. Isn’t that right?”

The man, who had been silently meeting Liu Yang’s gaze, nodded obediently.

“That’s right.”

“I’m glad you understand. So, absolutely do not act rashly. This is not my warning, but the Black King’s.”

“No need to keep emphasizing it. It’s not like I have ten lives.”

“Anyone who knows him even a little wouldn’t want to incur his wrath. Especially me.”

“I hope that’s sincere.”

“Why? Don’t you want me to die?”

Liu Yang chuckled.

“Even if a dog doesn’t listen well, if it’s good at hunting, it’s too valuable to kill.”

“Good comeback, mutt.” The man waved his hand lightly.

“But don’t provoke me too much. I know you’re in his favor, but sometimes I wonder if he would really get angry if you weren’t in that position.”

“Do you understand, mutt?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Liu Yang bowed deeply.

“Then.”

“Let’s try not to see each other again.”

“I hope so too.”

As Liu Yang turned and left the room, the man, as if losing interest, approached the window again. The fantastic night view of the city came back into his sight.

‘It’s so twisted.’

It wasn’t that he was belittling Liu Yang’s abilities. The power that makes up the world isn’t just violence. Perfectly catering to the whims of a powerful person and using them as a backing is also a form of power. Just like Liu Yang right now.

What bothered him wasn’t that someone like Liu Yang was acting important, but that sometimes he acted as if he was above them.

‘Foolish bastard.’

It wasn’t them who didn’t understand the situation or the Black King, but Liu Yang. The Black King was incredibly generous to those who were useful, but colder than the north wind to those whose usefulness had run out.

He might be useful now. But that usefulness would soon be gone.

The man soon lost interest in Liu Yang.

Because there was something more interesting.

Turning around, he sat at a large desk. Then, he moved the mouse and opened the report that had come up.

“Kang Jin-ho…”

The man’s lips twisted.

Reading through the details about Kang Jin-ho in the report, the man leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling.

“Did he say he would punish me if I touched him?”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

He had never received such an order from the Black King before. Even the other three kings had only been told to refrain from touching them because there was no need to do so right now.

Although it was just a few words, those words clearly showed how much the Black King cared about him.

“It’s not appropriate for his station.”

The man’s face twisted horribly.

Of course, he knew. The Black King’s interest in Kang Jin-ho didn’t come from his strength, but from their connection.

But the man couldn’t stand that fact even more.

Then what did that make them, who had gone through hell for a hundred years to be recognized by the Black King?

Those who could attract the Black King’s attention had to prove themselves with their strength. It wasn’t attention that should be given to a nobody like him!

They had abandoned themselves to become the Black King’s limbs. Even though they were worthy of being called kings themselves, they had given up everything.

That’s why he couldn’t accept it.

Absolutely not.

“Kang Jin-ho… Jeokcheon Demon Lord.”

He had heard the name many times.

The man licked his lips.

The absolute ruler of the Demonic Cult that once dominated the world. A demon that would never exist again in the history of the martial world. And…

“The greatest of all time, is it?”

The man chuckled.

To those who had experienced the martial world, that name was too high and lofty. And for those in the same situation as him, that name was like a symbol of thirst.

‘What’s so great about being the greatest of all time?’

Sometimes, gaining fame was bizarre.

Some, despite having immense power, were born into a peaceful world and never had the chance to show their strength, while others, with less power, ruled in chaotic times and etched their names in history.

To prove and prove oneself to earn the title of the greatest in the world, and to hear the words that one must hear when standing in a position where there is nowhere else to climb.

– He is not as good as the Jeokcheon Demon Lord.

How much frustration those words had caused so many people.

Even if they shouted that they would cut off his head to prove themselves if they brought him before them, they couldn’t fight a dead person. A person who had died and become a myth could not be confronted with the power of a living person.

But finally, he was living in the same era as the Jeokcheon Demon Lord, breathing the same air.

‘He’s a bit out of shape now, but…’

Of course, the position of the greatest of all time was not something he could dare to aim for. That belonged to the Black King.

But proving that he was stronger than the Jeokcheon Demon Lord, and proving that his achievements were only possible because he was reborn in a lucky era, was a different matter.

“The joke is too much.”

How could he hold back when faced with such a tempting prey? Even if he was a well-trained hunting dog, this was beyond his patience.

‘How many will move?’

Surely, there would be others besides him who were aiming for the Jeokcheon Demon Lord. But the Black King’s warning would be enough to keep those people in check.

But he was different.

“There has to be at least one.”

A crazy bastard who would charge in without thinking.

“I can’t stand seeing someone who doesn’t deserve his position being treated well.”

The man slowly rose from his seat.

The blade that served the Black King.

Among them, the most ferocious, Bai Yan Hong, was baring his sharp teeth at Kang Jin-ho.

“I’ve returned from Shanghai.”

“You’re back quickly.”

Liu Yang sighed softly as he looked at Cheongma, who was wearing a gown and holding a glass of wine in one hand.

“I gave them a sufficient warning, but I’m not sure if they’ll listen. I apologize, but in my opinion, it would be better to gather them and warn them directly…”

“Looks like they weren’t in the mood to listen.”

“…Yes.”

“What a headache.”

Contrary to his words, Cheongma’s face looked quite cheerful.

“The world is such a troublesome place. The talented ones are hard to control, and the easy ones to control are incompetent.”

“Bai Yan Hong is special among them.”

“Especially bad at listening.” Cheongma chuckled.

It wouldn’t be too difficult to step in and make him kneel before he caused trouble.

“Shall I tell him to contact you?”

“Leave him be.”

“…Yes?”

“I said leave him be.”

Cheongma savored the wine and then opened his mouth.

“They are the ones who once ruled as kings of a world. The more you suppress them with force, the more they will rebel. Then they will cause even bigger trouble later.”

“If the Black King himself were to step in, they wouldn’t dare to rebel. I’m embarrassed to say, but the orders conveyed through me don’t carry even a fraction of the Black King’s danger.”

“It’s the same. And…”

Cheongma put on a strange smile.

“It’s also a necessary thing in a way.”

“…May I ask what you mean?”

“He’s not that smart either… No, to be precise, he’s smart, but he’s the type who is driven by instinct and emotion rather than reason, wouldn’t you say?”

“No matter how much I explain it or show him our power, he won’t realize it. He’s the type who isn’t very interested in things he hasn’t experienced firsthand.”

“To make him realize our power…”

“Good.”

“But what if he dies in the process…”

“Then that’s all he was worth.”

Cheongma put the wine glass down on the table.

“Don’t misunderstand, Liu Yang. Of course, he is my friend, and someone I miss dearly. He might be the person I respect and honor the most in the world.”

“But respect requires qualification. He is Jeokcheon, but also not Jeokcheon. So, it wouldn’t be bad for him to prove himself to me once again on this occasion.”

Liu Yang bowed his head deeply at the smile on Cheongma’s lips.

He couldn’t understand this person’s intentions at all. But that wasn’t wrong. There was probably no one in the world who could understand this person’s intentions.

“I will watch.”

“Instead…”

Cheongma instructed Liu Yang on something.

“As you command.”

“Good.”

“Yes, then.”

Cheongma smiled as he watched Liu Yang’s retreating figure.

“Bai Yan Hong…”

Kang Jin-ho also needs to know.

What Cheongma has created, and what he has accomplished.

With his own eyes and body.