Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1361

Looking at the lavishly set table, Lee Hyun-soo wore a strange expression.

‘This is unsettling.’

It wasn’t that he was worried about poison in the food. Nor was he concerned about the lack of hygiene.

“There isn’t much, but if you would eat even a little, it would be the greatest honor of our lives.”

Seeing them bow so respectfully, it felt like he was barging into a beggar’s den and stealing their food.

‘Why didn’t I think of this?’

The Demonic Cult.

The lower class, once called the garbage collectors of the Chinese martial world.

Many Demonic Cult members had crossed over to Korea with Kang Jin-ho and Jang Min, but many more remained in China. Unable to overcome the reality of supporting their families and their considerable age, they could only watch with bitter tears as others went to Korea.

Those remnants of the Demonic Cult were still living in China.

The people who had appeared before them now were those Chinese Demonic Cult members.

‘This feels very strange.’

The Demonic Cult members were as respectful as if they had met their great-great-grandfather. But Lee Hyun-soo soon understood their reaction. When you think about it, wasn’t Kang Jin-ho more than a great-great-grandfather to them?

Even if their great-great-grandfather came in person, they would have to prostrate themselves on the ground first.

“Oh, Demonic Lord, how can we express the emotion of meeting you here…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Kang Jin-ho and desperately grabbed his thigh, trying to hold back his laughter.

‘He’s having a hard time, this guy.’ It seemed he wasn’t used to seeing people with gray hair bowing their heads.

“More importantly…”

Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat a couple of times and opened his mouth.

“How did you find us?”

“Oh, Demonic Lord, all Demonic Cult members have already memorized your face. It is so that we do not commit any disrespect when we happen to meet you.”

Jang Min must have ordered it.

That man was more than capable of doing that.

“But you wouldn’t have known about Lee Hyun-soo, would you?”

“Oh, Demonic Lord, that face and name are also known to all Demonic Cult members.

This was Elder…”

“That’s enough.”

Kang Jin-ho squeezed his eyes shut and waved his hand.

“Jang Min must have told you.”

“Yes. Elder Jang Min said that since the man named Lee Hyun-soo is often by the Demonic Lord’s side, if you see Lee Hyun-soo, you should confirm that the Demonic Lord is with him.”

Kang Jin-ho’s cheek twitched slightly.

‘Can a person be this nosy?’

It was an illogical situation, but it was understandable in the face of the name Jang Min, which was driving him crazy.

“So, you recognized us?”

“That is correct, Oh Demonic Lord!”

“Uh…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head without realizing it.

‘Come to think of it…’

Wasn’t all that disguising and pretending to be someone else a waste of time? Even in Shenyang, far from Beijing, people were recognizing Kang Jin-ho on the street, so how many people in Beijing must have recognized him?

“CCTVs and all that, I shouldn’t even think about going undercover anymore.”

“I agree.”

While Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo were roughly understanding the situation and sighing, Jang Pil-jae had no idea what was going on.

“Who are these people?”

“…They’re Demonic Cult members.”

“So, why are these people calling Kang Jin-ho…”

“He’s their leader.”

Jang Pil-jae’s eyes shook.

“Are you also involved in a cult?”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes twitched.

Lee Hyun-soo whispered in Kang Jin-ho’s ear.

“Should we get rid of him?”

“He doesn’t seem to be in good shape, so I think we should give him a little education.”

“Leave him be. He’s a patient.”

“He’s much better now.”

“Leave him be.”

“Then next time.”

Lee Hyun-soo smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.

Jang Pil-jae should now be considered a member of the Assembly. Since Kang Jin-ho had publicly stated that he would accept Jang Pil-jae. Although he looked old, he was actually younger than Lee Hyun-soo. It was time to start understanding the atmosphere of the Assembly.

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and looked at the Demonic Cult members. At first, he thought they were sent by Jang Min, but they had come to find Kang Jin-ho on their own. It was absurd, yet also admirable… It was a strange feeling.

“So…”

“Wait, but!”

Jang Pil-jae raised his hand abruptly, stopping Kang Jin-ho’s words. When Kang Jin-ho turned to him with a questioning look, Jang Pil-jae said firmly.

“I feel like I’m going to starve to death, can’t we eat first?”

Lee Hyun-soo asked again in a soft voice.

“Should we get rid of him?”

“…Leave him be. He said he needs to eat to live, right?”

“Then can I eat too?”

“You can’t eat.”

Lee Hyun-soo wore a very wronged expression, but Kang Jin-ho chuckled and brushed off Lee Hyun-soo’s protest, then turned his gaze back to the Demonic Cult members.

“Just in case, did you receive any contact from Jang Min?”

“Elder Jang Min did not give us any separate instructions. We are not in a position to receive contact from Elder Jang Min.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded readily.

Looking at their martial arts skills, it seemed impossible for them to hold important positions.

“Is there a branch of the cult here?”

“There isn’t really a branch in Shenyang. But there is a place where the cult members gather.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

If there was no branch, it would be difficult to get help. Their situation was obvious.

‘Well.’

What kind of help could they get when they were about to enter North Korea? Considering the special nature of North Korea, there was nothing they could do.

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to open his mouth, it happened.

“Lord.”

“Huh?”

“From now on, I will speak. You should eat, Lord.”

“Huh?”

“You need to eat well. You need to eat well to be able to break through the harsh North. Now, everyone, please see me for a moment. This way. Come on, this way.”

Lee Hyun-soo pulled the Demonic Cult members away. While Kang Jin-ho was confused, Lee Hyun-soo took everyone outside.

“What the heck?”

Kang Jin-ho, not understanding Lee Hyun-soo’s actions, was about to get up from his seat when Jang Pil-jae slurped down his noodles and grabbed Kang Jin-ho’s clothes.

“You shouldn’t go.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re supposed to pretend you don’t know what’s going on in these situations. Don’t worry. He’ll be back soon after ripping them off.”

“…Huh?”

Ripping off?

What?

“Oh, Demonic Lord, please take care of yourself!”

“Be well! We are sorry that we cannot be of help.”

“Long live! Long live! Long live!”

Kang Jin-ho waved his hand at the Demonic Cult members’ enthusiastic send-off. But his face was half-dazed.

“Let’s go.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled with a greasy face. Then he grabbed Kang Jin-ho’s arm and pulled him.

“I…”

A hollow voice came out of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.

“The day has come when I’m ripping off my own cult members.”

“That’s life. And to be honest, what do you mean by ripping off? We’re just borrowing it for a while.”

That’s usually what people say when they’re ripping someone off.

“And we’re really going to pay them back, right? If we can just get back to Korea, we can pay them back tenfold.”

That’s called ripping them off, you idiot.

“Or should we pay them back now?”

“It’s money given with a happy heart, so use it well and pay it back.”

“Ugh.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed and nodded. Well, now was the time to borrow even a cat’s paw. The problem was that the people he was borrowing money from were not cats, but poor Demonic Cult members.

“But those guys seem to be richer than I thought. This is quite lucrative, isn’t it?”

“If you, Lord, were to raise your head and tour China, you could probably make enough money to build several buildings, how about…”

Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth when he saw Kang Jin-ho quietly clenching his fist.

‘I should stop being so cocky.’

He had been a little more reckless than usual to lighten the mood, but if he went too far, his back would break in an instant.

“So…”

Kang Jin-ho said in a slightly boiling voice.

“Can we go into North Korea now?”

Lee Hyun-soo seemed to think for a moment before opening his mouth.

“First, I think we need to buy a few necessary items. Once we enter North Korea, we will have to avoid villages as much as possible and go south only through mountain paths, so we need to have at least the minimum supplies.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

In fact, from his point of view, he didn’t understand why there would be any special items needed just for spending a few days in the mountains. But that was Kang Jin-ho’s point of view, and he could understand that other people’s points of view might be different.

“As quickly as possible.”

“Understood. Then, after purchasing the supplies, we will go straight into North Korea. And I will contact Wiggins to re-adjust the coordinates.”

“Okay.”

“Then please rest at that cafe over there. I’ll be back soon.”

Lee Hyun-soo walked away quickly.

Kang Jin-ho, who had been silently watching Lee Hyun-soo until he completely disappeared from his sight, turned his head slightly.

“A cafe…”

“I think they’re talking about that one over there.”

Jang Pil-jae asked for Kang Jin-ho’s permission and took the lead. Kang Jin-ho followed Jang Pil-jae without a word.

Although it was a small city far from Beijing, the downtown area was not much different from Korea. Especially in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes. Kang Jin-ho and Jang Pil-jae entered a rather quiet-looking cafe, ordered coffee, and then came back outside.

Kang Jin-ho, sitting at a makeshift table with a parasol, silently took out a cigarette.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who had lit the cigarette, leisurely looked around.

“Um… Kang Jin-ho-ssi. No, Lord.”

Jang Pil-jae corrected his title.

“Speak.”

“…Aren’t you nervous?”

“About going into North Korea?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know.”

Kang Jin-ho thought about it for a moment and then answered nonchalantly.

“Is there any reason to be nervous? It’s just as dangerous here as it is in North Korea. And now…”

Kang Jin-ho trailed off.

“Korea too?”

“That’s right.”

Jang Pil-jae nodded readily.

“That’s right. Korea is also dangerous.”

The weight of those words pressed down on Jang Pil-jae.

‘My country…’

The country he had devoted his life to no longer protected him. Rather, it was hell-bent on capturing and killing him.

It was only after coming this far that Jang Pil-jae realized how much of an umbrella the name of the Republic of Korea had been for him. Even while living the life of an intelligence agent who had to die stateless if his nationality was exposed, the fact that he belonged to the Republic of Korea had given him great comfort.

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“What?”

“What I’m doing right now.”

Jang Pil-jae smiled bitterly.

“My superior who pushed me into this doesn’t contact me, the country is openly hostile to me, and the people I’m with are the ones the country is trying to eliminate.”

Jang Pil-jae covered his face.

He hadn’t been aware of it when he was running away frantically. But as soon as he had a little time to breathe, he realized the reality. A reality he never wanted to know.

“How can you be so calm in this situation, Lord? I really… I don’t know anything.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been quietly looking at Jang Pil-jae, slowly opened his mouth.