Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1325

The term ‘feast fit for a king’ was an understatement.

Choi Yeon-ha, who considered herself a bit of a gourmet, was presented with dishes she had never even seen before. The only saving grace was that the slightly excessive dishes often accompanying such feasts were nowhere to be found.

“I thought there would be something like bear paws…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s mutterings caused the Hong King to frown.

“I apologize. I’m a bit weak when it comes to such things.”

“…Ah, no! I didn’t mean I was expecting them.”

“Oh?”

Lee Hyun-soo gave an awkward smile.

“Given the occasion, I thought we might have to eat something like that, even if we didn’t like it.”

“Haha, that’s a relief then. To be honest, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I’m a bit picky.”

“…Usually, that’s not what you’d call picky.”

Could not eating bear paws, not enjoying snake dishes, or not being able to eat centipedes really be considered picky?

Of course, the standards in Korea and China might be different, but usually, those wouldn’t fall under the category of picky eating.

“Eat comfortably.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at the food. Each dish looked incredibly appetizing, but he couldn’t bring himself to touch them.

‘Can my stomach even digest this right now?’

If he had known this would happen, he would have just stayed in the hotel room with Han Eun-sol and eaten porridge. He envied Han Eun-sol, who wasn’t here, more than ever.

However, it seemed that not everyone felt the same way.

Kang Jin-ho reached out and took some food onto his plate. Watching Kang Jin-ho casually taking food made Lee Hyun-soo feel a bit of a reality check.

‘What is that guy even thinking?’

The Hong King and Chai Ke-chang weren’t actively showing hostility. In fact, their attitude could only be described as friendly.

But that didn’t mean they could let their guard down in the middle of enemy territory.

‘Isn’t he lacking a sense of crisis?’

At times like this, Lee Hyun-soo really couldn’t understand Kang Jin-ho.

But whether he knew Lee Hyun-soo’s thoughts or not, Kang Jin-ho was calmly tasting the food he had taken.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“It’s fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

The Hong King smiled.

Then, Chai Ke-chang added,

“You’ve chosen the wrong time. The main chef usually leaves at this time. If you plan to visit again, I recommend coming during the day. This time, we called the main chef back from his day off to serve you good food.”

“That’s too much consideration.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at Lee Hyun-soo and Choi Yeon-ha.

“But if you’ve received consideration, it’s only polite to enjoy it.”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded and took some food. Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes widened as she put a piece of stir-fried meat with an unknown sauce into her mouth.

“Ah, this is really…”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“It’s more surprising that someone could eat this and just say ‘It’s fine’.”

Why is the stray bullet flying this way?

Kang Jin-ho made a disgruntled face, and when he met Choi Yeon-ha’s gaze, he subtly turned his head.

“China is vast and diverse, so there are many different flavors. But that also means there are many dishes that don’t meet the standards. It’s most unfortunate when people visit China and return home without having tasted proper Chinese cuisine.”

“Normally, I would have called that excessive confidence, but after tasting it, I have nothing to say.”

The Hong King smiled, seemingly pleased.

“Indeed, you are the Demon King’s lover.”

“Um… I’m sorry, but could you please not use that title? It’s a bit embarrassing every time I hear it.”

“Hmm, is that so? My apologies. I’m quite old, more than I look… Then, what should I call you?”

“Choi Yeon-ha is fine.”

“Then I’ll call you Ms. Choi Yeon-ha.”

Choi Yeon-ha couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Unlike Lee Hyun-soo, who was pale as a ghost, Choi Yeon-ha didn’t see the person in front of her as a bad person. It was more like she was facing a very wealthy and relaxed old gentleman.

‘This side is more like the villain.’

Choi Yeon-ha accurately saw the essence, but she didn’t realize it herself.

“This is really good.”

Lee Hyun-soo, who had tasted the food, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, also exclaimed in admiration.

“Eat a lot. It’s food you wouldn’t dare to eat in your position.”

“This guy, seriously.”

When Lee Hyun-soo flared up at Chai Ke-chang’s jab, the Hong King burst into hearty laughter.

“It seems Chai Ke-chang likes you.”

“…Yes?”

“He has a habit of putting down those he acknowledges. He shows excessive politeness to those he deems insignificant.”

“It’s not like we’re in elementary school…”

“It seems like you’re at a similar level.”

“No, seriously!”

Once they started eating, the atmosphere loosened up a bit. The subtle tension hadn’t completely disappeared, but it was impossible to improve the atmosphere any further.

“There are a few things I’d like to ask…”

“Of course.”

“How did you know we were here? Did you spot us at the airport?”

“The airport…”

The Hong King smiled and looked at Chai Ke-chang. Chai Ke-chang sighed.

“I don’t really want to tell you, but I’ll answer to convince you that we didn’t come with hostility. To be honest, the Demon King lacks a sense of crisis.”

“A sense of crisis?”

“We didn’t track the Demon King’s movements at the airport. We’ve been watching everything since the Demon King entered the airport in Korea.”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s brow twitched.

“You deceived my senses?”

That was impossible.

To track his movements, they would have to monitor Kang Jin-ho. But there was no one in the world who could monitor Kang Jin-ho. Deceiving his senses was something only someone like the Hong King could do.

“Of course, that’s impossible. But Demon King, even if we didn’t monitor you, it’s not that difficult to track your movements. There are eyes everywhere in the world, even in the sky.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Chai Ke-chang as if he had been outsmarted.

“CCTV?”

“That’s right.”

“But that’s…”

“You’re underestimating our power too much. You probably think we can’t access CCTV because it’s under the jurisdiction of the Korean government. That’s why you lack a sense of crisis. Governments are much more fragile organizations than you think.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

Those living in South Korea couldn’t avoid being captured by CCTV [Closed-circuit television]. The Hong King’s faction didn’t choose the troublesome task of placing monitors around Kang Jin-ho; instead, they obtained CCTV footage that monitored the streets in real-time.

Whether they bribed someone or hacked it.

“It’s true that I lacked a sense of crisis.”

“Of course, it’s not the Demon King’s fault. Monitoring people like this is our specialty.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Certainly, in that field, China was the world’s strongest nation.

“So, the moment I entered the airport, you already knew I was coming to China?”

“Yes. So, finding you wasn’t difficult.”

“I was played in your hands.”

Strangely, he didn’t feel unpleasant. It felt like he had been cleanly outsmarted.

“Actually, this is more of a failure of your aide than the Demon King’s carelessness.”

“I…”

Lee Hyun-soo, who was about to say something, closed his mouth without saying a word. There was no logic to refute Chai Ke-chang’s words. He had been hit so hard that his whole body was aching.

“Chai Ke-chang.”

“Yes, Hong King.”

“A cowardly dog barks. Don’t forget your manners.”

“I apologize.”

Chai Ke-chang bowed deeply. Then, he looked at Kang Jin-ho and continued.

“Not only us, but the other three kings’ factions will also know that the Demon King has visited China.”

“The other three kings’ factions? They too? Why?”

Chai Ke-chang made a dumbfounded expression.

“This expression might be a bit rude, but it seems that the person who values the Demon King the least is the Demon King himself. The movements of a strong person like the Demon King are naturally of interest to everyone.”

“After the Demon King fought a fierce battle with the Hong King and returned alive, the three kings’ factions have never lost track of the Demon King for a single moment.”

“I did a great job.”

The Hong King made a slightly embarrassed expression.

“If that guy hadn’t interfered, I could have cut off his breath.”

“No, you would have been the one to die.”

“Ahem, it’s shameful to discuss a battle that has already become meaningless. Yes, that could have been the case.”

The Hong King cut off the conversation decisively.

Watching that, Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“So, everyone knows, and I was just pretending to hide my identity for nothing.”

“It was meaningless.”

“I see.”

Kang Jin-ho made a slightly empty face. He had been trying to be careful, but it seemed meaningless.

‘I need to solve this problem when I return to Korea.’

Just hearing these words made his trip to China worthwhile. Being monitored in his daily life was never a pleasant thing.

But it was questionable whether he could solve the fundamental problem. Among the words Chai Ke-chang had said, the word ‘sky’ was bothering him. It certainly didn’t mean CCTV.

‘A satellite?’

He knew how absurd it was to use a satellite to monitor a person, but considering the power and capital of the Hong King’s faction, he couldn’t dismiss it as impossible.

“Something doesn’t add up. The three kings’ factions using CCTV…”

“Those who cannot accept the changes in the world will be left behind. I understand that it’s confusing because the times are different and you’re older, but it would be good for you to take an interest in modern technology.”

He had been criticized by Jang Min as well.

At that time, he had just felt a bit embarrassed, but now it was painful.

‘It’s not just the General Assembly that’s developing and advancing.’

It was obvious, but he was realizing it anew. Even at this moment, all the martial arts factions in the world, including the three kings’ factions, were exploring countless ways to advance further.

Those who fall behind will be left behind.

“Then a new question arises.”

Kang Jin-ho looked directly at the Hong King.

“I know that Beijing is not the territory of the Hong King’s faction?”

“That depends on how you think about it. In fact, territory isn’t a concept that’s divided by lines on a map, as the world accepts it. It’s more accurate to understand it as influence rather than territory. It’s not that the Hong King’s faction’s influence doesn’t reach Beijing. It’s just that the Chang King’s power is stronger.”

“In any case, it’s enemy territory.”

“You could see it that way.”

“Then I’ll ask…”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth with a slightly cold voice.

“What is the reason you came to meet me in enemy territory, which could be dangerous?”

The Hong King’s eyes slightly flared up.

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze and the Hong King’s gaze collided in the air.

The Hong King’s intense gaze and Kang Jin-ho’s cold gaze.

Two gazes that seemed incompatible did not back down an inch and pressed down on each other.

“Hmph…”

The Hong King quietly opened his mouth.