Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1339

“Well, I haven’t really thought about that.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes twitched slightly at that moment.

However, Chen Hui slightly avoided Kang Jin-ho’s gaze and filled his glass with liquor.

“Another drink?”

“Come on, let’s have a drink.”

As Chen Hui filled the glass and held it out, an attendant moved the glass to Kang Jin-ho’s table.

“Actually, when you think about it, we don’t really have to face each other and growl, do we? We haven’t been harmed because of the Assembly Head, and the Assembly Head hasn’t been harmed because of us. Isn’t that right?”

“Hmm.”

“The Assembly Head’s ill feelings towards China aren’t actually directed at China. It’s towards the Three Kings’ Faction.”

Chen Hui raised his glass.

“Cheers.”

Then, without waiting for Kang Jin-ho, he downed the drink.

“Ah.”

Chen Hui put down his glass and wiped his mouth.

Kang Jin-ho watched him, then picked up his glass and poured the liquor into his mouth. The strong whiskey stimulated his throat as it went down.

“Isn’t it like this liquor?”

“…What do you mean?”

“There are many kinds of liquor in China. Even if we don’t talk about famous liquors like Guizhou Moutai [a type of Chinese liquor], there are countless liquors. But do you know what the most sold liquor in China is?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s beer.”

Chen Hui chuckled.

“It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? There are so many liquors in China, but the proud Chinese people look for foreign liquor like beer. They even say strange things like, if it’s produced in China, it’s Chinese liquor. Isn’t this whiskey the same?”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at the whiskey bottle and then looked back at Chen Hui.

“In other words, no matter what ideologies people talk about, they are more sensitive to their own preferences and can’t let go of their gains. They talk about the glory of China in front of others, but at home, they prefer a can of beer to traditional liquor.”

Chen Hui rubbed his hands exaggeratedly.

“So, I haven’t really thought about refusing. This is an offer that has no reason to be refused. Where is the fool who would refuse an offer that has no losses and only gains? I don’t think the Assembly Head is such a fool.”

Lee Hyun-soo slightly distorted his face.

Something felt very unsettling, but he couldn’t find a flaw in those words.

‘This…’

It wasn’t wrong.

The Assembly was in a position where they had to settle things with the Three Kings’ Faction anyway. There was no way to turn back the relationship now.

The Crimson King had declared that the Assembly and Kang Jin-ho were his greatest enemies and left, and it was unlikely that the Azure King or the Black King would be friendly to the Assembly. In the end, whoever unified China would target the Assembly as the last remaining force.

In the end, the only options the Assembly had were to wait for them to exhaust their strength and then compete with the last remaining scarred victor, or to participate in the war when the three factions intensified their conflict, aiming to gain the most profit.

They had to fight the Three Kings’ Faction anyway.

‘In that situation, having allies is definitely a gain.’

Whether they could be trusted was not important. Had the Assembly ever had the concept of a completely trustworthy ally?

It would be a blessing if they could just hold each other back for their own benefit. In that situation, they even received an offer to guarantee business rights in China if they won.

‘The problem is that no matter how I think about it, there’s nothing bad about it.’

The conditions were too good, which made it suspicious.

But…

‘Looking at it, they have no reason not to make a deal either.’

If they were truly determined to break away from the influence of the Three Kings’ Faction and exclude the martial artists from the regime, the Assembly was the perfect partner. The Assembly had no intention of interfering in Chinese politics, at least. What if things went wrong and they didn’t gain anything in China?

It didn’t matter.

Just by removing the Three Kings’ Faction, the Assembly would have gained all the benefits. Just taking control of Korea and Japan without any interference would be enough.

“What do you think? Isn’t it a good offer?”

“I’m not asking you to answer right now. Actually, I would like to get a signature on the contract, but that would be too much. It’s a big deal, and it’s a decision that will determine the future, so please think it over carefully and contact us.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face became more and more puzzled.

Think it over carefully and contact them.

Wasn’t this what people who were making a fair contract would say?

‘Are they really going to join hands with us?’

Lee Hyun-soo’s mind was racing. No matter how much he thought about it and doubted it, there was no room for loss.

“Then, please take your time to consider it…”

“There’s no need for that.”

Kang Jin-ho said indifferently.

“The conclusion is already out.”

“Then, with us…”

“I have no intention of joining hands.”

Chen Hui’s eyes flickered slightly.

He had not expected these words to come from Kang Jin-ho’s mouth at all. Reflexively, his gaze checked Lee Hyun-soo’s face.

Seeing that Lee Hyun-soo was dumbfounded, Chen Hui let out a low sigh.

“It seems that even your adjutant doesn’t understand your decision?”

“Maybe so.”

“May I ask for the reason? If it’s a matter of conditions, we can negotiate.”

“Reason?”

“Yes. The reason for the refusal.”

Chen Hui still had a face that hadn’t given up.

In the practical stage, the process of negotiations breaking down and being readjusted was repeated countless times. There was no need to be disappointed.

However, Kang Jin-ho seemed to have a completely different idea.

“Is there a need for a reason?”

“Yes?”

“It seems like there’s no reason to join hands, so isn’t it stranger to look for a reason to refuse?”

“Did you say there’s no reason?”

Chen Hui’s words became slightly faster.

“I think I’ve given a lot of explanations so far.”

“It was a good offer.”

Kang Jin-ho said indifferently.

“But that’s all.”

It seemed like a little explanation was needed.

“A contract is made by holding onto reality, not by having dreams. Isn’t that right?”

“…Of course.”

“Where is the guarantee that we can subdue the Three Kings’ Faction by joining hands?”

Chen Hui smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Our power is…”

“If you were that strong, you wouldn’t have endured until now.”

Chen Hui closed his mouth.

“The reason is one of two. Either you are weak, or you can’t use your strong power properly.”

“That is…”

“Either way, it’s the same. Power that can’t be used is not power.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice had no inflection. Although he spoke indifferently, Chen Hui felt like he was being cornered every time Kang Jin-ho spoke.

‘More than I thought…’

He had never ignored Kang Jin-ho. If he had ignored him, he wouldn’t have created this meeting. But now, Chen Hui was discovering a completely different side of Kang Jin-ho than what was in the reports.

‘He’s cold.’

Usually, people would be excited when they heard such a story in front of them. That’s why they don’t bother to consider many things. People whose minds are full of hope and the future don’t look at their feet. Isn’t Lee Hyun-soo making a surprised face right now?

It wasn’t that Lee Hyun-soo was stupid. Kang Jin-ho was excessively cold.

“It’s not easy to prove, but our power is by no means weak. Basically, our military power…”

“If you could control martial artists with military power, you would have done it already.”

“Hey.”

Kang Jin-ho lowered his body slightly.

Then, Chen Hui unconsciously leaned back. It was just a slight lowering of his posture, but it felt like a beast crouching for a hunt.

It felt like he would pounce and bite his neck at any moment.

“Do you think you are above someone?”

Chen Hui swallowed hard.

‘The Crimson King acknowledged Kang Jin-ho as another king.’

A king who governs the demonic. [Referring to those who practice martial arts with demonic energy]

Kang Jin-ho and the Assembly seemed to take it for granted, but anyone who knew the Crimson King would know how huge this was.

The Crimson King, whose arrogance reached the sky and who considered himself the embodiment of China, had given the title of king to a mere barbarian.

The same Crimson King who hated the demonic and the martial arts so much that he would have a fit.

After facing him directly, he seemed to understand the reason.

This man was definitely a king.

Putting aside his personal martial prowess, he had the intuition to see through the situation accurately and the power to attract people.

More than anything…

‘The guts to raise his voice here.’

This was China.

And it was the deepest part of China.

If this negotiation broke down, it was obvious what would happen.

Yet, Kang Jin-ho maintained an indifferent attitude as if he didn’t care.

“Joining hands with you doesn’t guarantee the future. It might even give the Three Kings’ Faction a reason to join forces.”

“They will never join hands.”

“There is no such thing as ‘never’ in this world.”

Kang Jin-ho knew that better than anyone. He thought that it was ‘absolutely’ impossible for a dead person to come back to life.

He also believed that he would ‘never’ return to this world.

“I don’t know if you’re saying that knowing it, or if you really don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. Do you know what it’s called when you talk about an uncertain future as if it’s certain, and talk about ambiguous gains as if they’ve already been given?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Fraud.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly inhaled his cigarette and exhaled the smoke. The white smoke scattering in the air seemed symbolic.

“It seems like you tried hard, but I don’t have a hobby of going after rotten meat.”

Chen Hui no longer smiled.

“Is that the Assembly Head’s opinion?”

“Yes.”

“Then, the deal is impossible.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t bother to answer. He just pressed the cigarette he had in his mouth into the ashtray and put it out.

“Take the gift with you.”

“Are you leaving?”

Chen Hui bared his teeth.

“Where to?”

Seeing that, Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly.

“This is our territory. You can’t leave as you please when the negotiations haven’t ended.”

“A polite threat.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly got up.

“But you’ve chosen the wrong person.”

“We acknowledge you. We know that even if we are strong, there is a chance that we will lose you. Because kings are such beings.”

Those who are beyond the realm of common sense and calculation.

The kings that China refers to are ultimately beings outside of humanity.

“But others won’t be the same, will they?”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes took on a different hue.

“Ah, of course, I’m not talking about Lee Hyun-soo. You brought other people with you, didn’t you, Assembly Head? For example, um…”

Chen Hui smiled.

“The beautiful lady at the hotel, or something like that.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth slowly rose.

In the deep smile, Kang Jin-ho’s white teeth were revealed.

Chen Hui was reminded of a wolf when he saw that sight.

A wolf baring its teeth in front of its prey.

“This is…”

A sound like scraping metal pierced Chen Hui’s ears.

“You started this.”