Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1536

Confrontation (5)

Crack.

Crackle.

Kang Jin-ho slowly clenched and unclenched his fist.

He had become stronger.

He was getting stronger at an unbelievable rate.

It was natural that others couldn’t imagine it. Anyone with even a basic understanding of martial arts would call it impossible.

The problem was that even Kang Jin-ho himself hadn’t expected to get this strong this quickly.

Just a few years.

It had only been a few years since he returned to this world. Yet, the fact that he had recovered this much martial prowess was truly encouraging.

However…

‘It’s still not enough.’

Kang Jin-ho slightly bit his lip.

Despite his incredible rate of growth, he didn’t feel it was enough. More than anything, he hadn’t yet regained the confidence and fulfillment he had when he was the Heavenly Demon Lord.

O = = =

刀~1~厂=5三

Kang Jin-ho’s hand made a cracking sound.

‘Damn it, I was strong.’

It was ridiculous.

To feel inferior to his past self.

Kang Jin-ho rubbed his face lightly.

Of course, he was certain.

The path Kang Jin-ho was now walking was one that could take him further than the past. Perhaps he could even reach the ultimate state of martial arts, a level he hadn’t achieved in his previous life.

The problem was time.

‘I’ll surpass it someday’ wasn’t enough.

If he couldn’t surpass it when needed and didn’t have sufficient power, it would be meaningless.

The path he could take didn’t matter.

What mattered was the point he was standing on right now.

“Hoo.”

Kang Jin-ho took a deep breath.

Anxiety breeds impatience, and impatience breeds inner demons. There was a clear difference between having the will to get stronger and working hard, and being impatient and restless.

He knew that, but…

“Kkkkkkkkk.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head.

He saw Bator struggling to get up.

His reddened eyes and still flushed skin were proof that he had pushed his demonic energy to the extreme.

“…Damn it.”

Bator gritted his teeth.

Seeing Kang Jin-ho’s calm and collected demeanor made something boil inside him.

‘I couldn’t even touch him properly.’

Bator suppressed his rising anger.

The gap had widened.

And it was incomparable to the past.

‘How could this happen?’

Bator understood how strong he had become. If he was in his current state, proficient in demonic arts, he could turn ten of the Bators who had just arrived in Korea into mincemeat in an instant.

Yet, he couldn’t do anything to Kang Jin-ho.

Back then, he had almost defeated Kang Jin-ho, but now, the difference was so great that he couldn’t even leave a scratch on Kang Jin-ho’s body.

Anger.

Unbearable anger pushed his mind into a haze.

But Bator gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

If he could narrow the gap even a little by rushing at Kang Jin-ho and getting beaten to a pulp, he would have done it without hesitation.

But Bator knew that would never happen.

So, now was not the time to get excited, but to be calm.

“…Master.”

Kang Jin-ho met Bator’s gaze.

“Speak.”

Bator took a deep breath.

“How can I become stronger?”

Kang Jin-ho slightly narrowed his brows.

“You are already getting stronger at a rapid pace.”

“Let’s skip the obvious! You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Seeing Bator suppressing his anger, Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

‘Good.’

He looked like he would sell his soul to get stronger. Kang Jin-ho liked those with such desires.

“It’s a matter of method.”

“Method?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“What exactly is the strength you’re talking about?”

“Well…”

Bator frowned.

Yes, that would be good too. Once you reach a certain level, pushing yourself is definitely an important factor. But it didn’t feel right for Bator.

“Are you saying I need to meditate?”

“You’re learning demonic arts, and you’re saying that?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“I’m not asking for a Zen riddle, I’m talking about practical things. What is the stronger you that you’re talking about?”

“…It’s hard to understand.”

“A you with more power?”

“Or a you with more muscles? A you with more speed? Or a you more skilled in demonic arts? Or a you who has completed your original external martial arts?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

Bator stared at Kang Jin-ho with a blank look.

“Those who practice martial arts all want to become stronger. But most of them have a very vague concept of what that strength is. In other words…”

Kang Jin-ho gestured at Bator with his chin.

“You’re like running a marathon without knowing where the finish line is.”

“…Not knowing where the finish line is?”

“Yes.”

Bator tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.

“Master, isn’t that obvious? For a martial artist, the finish line can only be the completion of martial arts. But who knows what form the completion of martial arts takes?”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho readily nodded.

But what he said next was a little different.

“The problem is that you don’t just not know the finish line, you don’t even know the intermediate points.”

“You’re just running. You’re just training and training, pushing your body to its limits, barely pulling up your demonic energy and adapting… It’s just a simple repetition.”

“Isn’t that what training is?”

“That might have been enough until now.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“But not anymore.”

“It’s not the same to move knowing where the goal is and to just run without knowing where the goal is. You need to think about what kind of strength you want first.”

“Strength, you say?”

“It’s vague. To be more specific…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly.

“First, what do you need to land a punch on my face?”

“Well…”

Bator smacked his lips slightly.

“It’s not power.”

“That’s right.”

“Is it that I’m slow?”

Bator pondered and then opened his mouth.

“I understand what you mean, Master. But I’ve spent my whole life learning martial arts based on this body and power. I don’t think I can catch up to you by filling in other areas now, can I?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I’m not going to tell you to increase your speed now. You have your own way. The problem is that you’re just repeating the obvious training. You’re not going in with a clear concept of how to beat me, but just thinking that if you keep training, you’ll eventually get there.”

“That method is impossible.”

Bator shut his mouth tightly.

“Accurately recognize where you are now. And see clearly how far you have to go. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting your efforts.”

It was a fundamental concept.

But now, Bator understood that what he needed most was that fundamental concept.

“…Are you saying that I should set my goal as being able to punch you in that face and think about the best training?”

“Something like that.”

He couldn’t explain it any further with words.

If the method of getting stronger could be clearly explained in words, everyone in the world would be a master. Kang Jin-ho himself didn’t even know the principle behind his own growth rate.

“I understand for now.”

Bator would probably have to ponder this vague concept for a long time. But when that pondering was over, Bator would have a clue to become even stronger.

“The concept is like that, but realistically, your demonic energy training is too low.”

“Hmm, still?”

“Ask Jang Min for help. There’s no one who knows more about general demonic energy training methods than him.”

“Why go to that old man when I have you, Master? Is there a need for that?”

“According to Jang Min, I’m terrible at nurturing people.”

“Huh?”

“Like a coach who was a superstar player?”

“…I see what you mean.”

It meant a leader who would say, ‘I could do it this way, why can’t you do it?’

“I see. It’s not perfect, but my frustration has eased a little.”

Bator said, slightly raising his head.

“On the other hand, your face doesn’t look so bright, Master. You don’t seem refreshed even after crushing this Bator like clay? That’s insulting to my pride.”

Bator’s eyebrows twitched.

He had heard everything he needed to hear, and he looked like he was about to rush in again.

“It’s not that I’m not refreshed…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. It’s hard to explain.”

“Do you feel like you’re not strong enough?”

“I’ve felt that way ever since I returned to this world.”

It was like a person who had lost their limbs.

If an ordinary person had an accident and their athletic ability was reduced to 10%, they would understand Kang Jin-ho’s feelings. What if you could only go to the convenience store in front of your house, which used to take 5 minutes, in an hour?

Wouldn’t you lose your mind from that frustration?

He thought he had recovered quite a bit now, but he still felt like he was far from his past self.

“It’s hard to understand.”

Bator frowned.

“Didn’t you fight the Hong King to a draw even when you were much weaker than now? Now, even the Hong King wouldn’t be a match for you, would he?”

“That was a fight I lost.”

“No, you won. The conditions were different. In that situation, just coming back alive was enough to claim victory. If the situation had been reversed, it would have been the Hong King who fell.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“That doesn’t matter. That’s not the important thing.”

“Agh…”

M..•

“It’s not just me who’s getting stronger. The Hong King has probably become incomparably stronger than in the past. No, he’s already stronger.”

He had felt it when he saw him in Beijing. The Hong King had taken a step forward.

Overcoming a wall was like that.

A martial artist was not like a car stopped in front of a wall.

They were closer to water blocked by a dam.

The more they worked hard, the more they agonized, the more water filled the dam. And when the moment came to break that dam, the water that had been filled would rush forward like a tidal wave.

Until they met the next wall.

‘No one knows where the Hong King’s next wall is.’

Kang Jin-ho’s existence had stimulated the Hong King and led him to a higher place. So, he couldn’t easily say that he could win now just because they were similar in the past, as Bator had said.

“To the point where you can’t handle him, Master?”

“That’s unlikely.”

Kang Jin-ho twisted his lips.

He didn’t think he would lose. He didn’t think that way no matter who the opponent was. However, the current Kang Jin-ho knew that winning against the Hong King was not the end.

“There are other kings to deal with.”

“The Chang King and the Black King?”

“Yes.”

When Kang Jin-ho first saw the Hong King, he felt a terrifying joy.

He had confirmed that even in this world where martial artists had become weak, there was a martial artist who could make him go all out.

‘How strong are the Chang King and the Black King?’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes gleamed.

Seeing that, Bator sighed.

‘He’s been holding back well.’

To suppress that much competitive spirit.