Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1366

[You idiot!]

A deafening shout burst through the phone. It was amazing that a phone speaker could produce such a noise.

Wiggins covered his ears with his fingers. If he listened to this any longer, his eardrums would burst.

“Please calm down first.”

[Calm down? How can I calm down right now!]

You never calm down anyway. Wiggins sighed deeply.

It was fortunate that he was dealing with this over the phone. If Bator, who was yelling, were in front of him right now, his eardrums would not only burst, but he would probably be getting tossed around in the air.

[If that happened, you should have sent the master to Mongolia! I’m waiting in Mongolia for that! You need to stop doing stupid things!]

“That’s not how the situation is.”

[Situation?]

“Bator-nim is in Mongolia in case the Hong or Chang factions make a move. That’s not the situation right now.”

[What does that have to do with anything!]

Wiggins sighed. He wanted to be diplomatic, but Bator just wouldn’t listen.

“Can the Mongolian government withstand pressure from the Chinese government?”

There was no answer.

Wiggins smiled wryly.

‘There’s no way they could.’

The Mongolian martial artists would follow Bator’s orders without question. Bator was a warrior of the steppes, a mythical figure to the Mongolian martial world. But the Mongolian government’s position was different.

They had no choice but to cooperate with the superpower that shared their border. If Kang Jin-ho went to Mongolia carelessly, it would cause a direct conflict between the Mongolian martial world and the government.

That was something that should never happen.

Wiggins had no desire to complicate the situation further. And he didn’t want to cause any harm to Bator.

[Do you think I can’t handle that much?]

“Bator-nim, you could handle it. But would the Lord handle it? With his personality?”

[Ugh.]

“The Lord isn’t stupid, he must have thought of that. If he told you to go to Mongolia, would you follow him? And Chief Lee is right next to him.”

[Damn it.]

There was a sound of something breaking. Wiggins sighed deeply.

He fully understood Bator’s feelings. He felt the same way. The helplessness of not being able to help when it was clear that Kang Jin-ho was in danger. He never wanted to experience that again.

[So, where is the master now?]

“He’s entering North Korea.”

[Where in North Korea?]

“Huh?”

[There are Mongolians in North Korea. I can contact them. Is there anything I can do to help?]

Wiggins was impressed.

Just a moment ago, Bator was half out of his mind with anger. But he had regained his composure in an instant. Even Wiggins hadn’t been able to regain his composure until he returned to South Korea.

‘He really is amazing when you see him like this.’

“I don’t think North Korea is a threat to the Lord. Trying to do something might reveal to them that the Lord is in North Korea.”

[Hmm.]

“We’re trying to create a smokescreen as much as possible. We’re making it look like we’re moving towards Russia. If we buy some time, the Lord will take care of it.”

[Okay, I understand. Then I’ll return to South Korea as quickly as possible.]

“I don’t know if you’ll get an entry permit.”

[There’s no problem leaving Mongolia. If they block my entry at the Korean airport, I’ll just escape then.]

“Yes, I understand.”

[I’m hanging up.]

As soon as the call ended, Wiggins let out a deep sigh.

‘This is a mess.’

At least everyone was still holding onto their sanity. But what if something happened to Kang Jin-ho?

‘Then there might be a real war on the peninsula.’

Wiggins didn’t have the power to stop the rampaging Jang Min and Bator. If their anger was directed at China, that would be a relief, but judging by their reactions, their anger would be directed at the South Korean government.

If he did his best to mediate, he might be able to prevent the worst-case scenario, but…

‘If the Lord is gone, can I maintain that kind of momentum?’

He was skeptical.

Wiggins got up from his seat with a bitter expression.

‘Lord, you have to succeed.’

Kang Jin-ho’s death would not end with just Kang Jin-ho’s death. It could be a massive explosion that would shatter the fragile balance between the martial world and reality, beyond the collapse of the General Assembly.

Wiggins looked at the satellite phone with an anxious expression.

“This place feels a bit desolate.”

Lee Hyun-soo didn’t answer and ran forward.

“No, I said it’s desolate.”

“It’s a bit different from what you said…”

“Mr. Jang Pil-jae, please shut up and let’s go. Did you come for a picnic?”

Jang Pil-jae pouted.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed as he looked at him.

‘Did I know it would be like this?’

When he thought about traversing North Korea, Lee Hyun-soo imagined moving secretly and quickly through dense forests and mountains.

But as soon as they entered North Korea, a problem arose.

“There are no trees on the mountains!”

“…That’s what I’m saying.”

All they could see were bare mountains. The deep mountains were still covered with trees, but the places where people could walk were bare, with red soil exposed.

As a result, they had to keep going deeper into the mountains to avoid people’s eyes.

Naturally, it was taking longer.

“They still use wood for their stoves here, so I guess that’s why.”

“Tsk.”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned.

It was common for plans to go wrong in the field. The important thing was not to panic and to do the best…

“If things go according to plan.”

Kang Jin-ho threw out that one line and ran without even turning his head.

‘That guy, he’s holding a grudge.’

To bring that up here.

In an instant, perhaps because he was thinking about something else, he was out of breath.

“Let’s take a break here for a moment, Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho stopped in his tracks without a word.

Lee Hyun-soo unpacked his bag and took out water, handing it to Kang Jin-ho and Jang Pil-jae.

“I’m fine.”

“Give it to me.”

Jang Pil-jae took the water and gulped it down.

“Ahhh.”

It was as if he had just had a cold beer.

“…How much further do we have to go?”

“We have to run for another two days.”

“Two days…”

Jang Pil-jae sighed deeply.

As an overseas operative, he had gone through rigorous training, and he had been exercising regularly while in China. But the speed at which they were climbing the mountains was not just harsh, it was murderous.

“Too slow.”

Kang Jin-ho looked back at Jang Pil-jae with a dissatisfied look.

“Should I just carry you…”

“No, Lord.”

Lee Hyun-soo firmly objected.

“The reason we’re maintaining this speed is not for any other reason. It’s because we don’t know what kind of variables might occur. We need to conserve the Lord’s stamina as much as possible.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to break through quickly?”

“That would be right if the destination was a safe zone.”

Lee Hyun-soo made a bitter expression.

If everything would be solved the moment they broke through North Korea and arrived in South Korea, Lee Hyun-soo would have let Kang Jin-ho grab his collar. But that wasn’t the situation right now.

‘The real problem might be after we return to South Korea.’

It was a reality he didn’t want to admit, but it was a reality he couldn’t ignore. So, for now, they had to move slowly and keep Kang Jin-ho in top condition.

Of course, he seemed to be frustrated to death right now.

“But, it seems like there are fewer people than I thought?”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged at Jang Pil-jae’s words.

“Even in South Korea, people often get lost and die in the mountains outside of the city. That means that even in South Korea, which has a high population density, there are many places where people don’t live. How much more so in North Korea? The land is similar, but there are only half as many people.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

“And in South Korea, there are many people who hike for walks or as a hobby, but here…”

How many people would bother to climb the mountains when it doesn’t make them any money? And if they were in the mountains, they could spot Kang Jin-ho and his group and avoid them before they were discovered.

“It’s more boring than I thought.”

“I told you, it’s not what you think. Most of North Korea’s border security is concentrated on the armistice line [the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea]. If it was so impenetrable, the concept of North Korean infiltration agents wouldn’t exist.”

Jang Pil-jae nodded as if he understood.

“Still, it’s too slow.”

Kang Jin-ho said, looking at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Increase the speed. Reduce it to about a day.”

“Lord.”

“There’s no point in dragging it out. We can still pick up the pace now, but it will be slower during the day. We need to move as quickly as possible when it’s dark.”

Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho for a moment before nodding.

“Okay.”

It was when Lee Hyun-soo was about to give up and let Kang Jin-ho grab his collar.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his eyes.

“There’s something I’m curious about…”

“Yes.”

“What you said earlier.”

“What did I say?”

“That there are no hikers here.”

“Ah, that? Yes. That’s right.”

“Are you sure?”

“…How much would I know about North Korea? Logically, that’s how it is. Even if you look at interviews with defectors, it seems like there’s almost no culture of climbing mountains, except for gathering wild greens or mushrooms, or collecting firewood.”

“Is that so?”

Kang Jin-ho slowly got up from his seat.

“Then it seems like we have a welcoming party.”

“…Huh?”

“Something is approaching from the surroundings. There are a lot of them.”

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head.

“Wait a minute. That doesn’t make sense?”

No one knew that they had entered North Korea. They had avoided all eavesdropping, and the People’s Army hadn’t noticed. So how could the North Koreans know about it and prepare for it?

“Lord…”

“Martial artists.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“It seems like we underestimated this side. Or there’s something else we don’t know.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face contorted.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, Kang Jin-ho beat him to it.

“Things never go according to plan.”

Wow, he’s really holding a grudge. Seriously.

“Stay close behind me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Break through.”

Kang Jin-ho took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

“A light at night…”

“They already know we’re around here anyway.”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed and nodded.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho lit his cigarette and reached into his subspace. Kang Jin-ho, who had taken out Red Dew, grinned.

“Change of plans. Move to the destination at maximum speed.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at him with an indescribable expression, then sighed and approached Jang Pil-jae.

“Why?”

“Come here.”

“Yes?”

Lee Hyun-soo grabbed Jang Pil-jae tightly.

“I’m ready, Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho reached out and grabbed Lee Hyun-soo’s neck.

Lee Hyun-soo, who had already experienced it once, closed his eyes tightly and prayed to the heavens.

‘Please, just don’t let my neck break.’

It was a pitiful prayer.