Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1640

If it were the old Kang Jin-ho, his reaction would have been one of two things. Either he would have exuded fighting spirit, saying that they were no match for him, or he would have been itching to fight, his whole body trembling with anticipation. But what is this? ‘We’ll figure it out somehow?’ Somehow? ‘Is this guy serious? Is that all he has to say?’ Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho, his face looking like he was about to explode. ‘Did he overcome his inner demons and come back with a screw loose?’ Looking at Kang Jin-ho, who still had a blank expression, Lee Hyun-soo thought that the old him was better. They say that appropriate stress develops a person, and this was a perfect example of that. However, no matter what Lee Hyun-soo was thinking, Kang Jin-ho just stared at the video that was playing, looking like a reservist who had been dragged to a training camp, half-slumped. “That.” “Yes?” “It’s getting stronger, isn’t it?” Maybe I shouldn’t have shown it to him? But contrary to Lee Hyun-soo’s thoughts, Kang Jin-ho was just muttering while watching the video, as if he found it interesting. “He’s internalizing it. He’s definitely created something. But it hasn’t fully integrated into his body yet… It seems that the more the battle continues, the stronger Hong Wang will become.” “Even more than now?” “Probably.” “How much more?” “Well? I can’t know for sure.” Lee Hyun-soo’s body trembled. ‘Damn it, a Three Kings is a Three Kings after all.’ Being by Kang Jin-ho’s side, he sometimes forgot, but the Three Kings were also geniuses of martial arts, unmatched even if you searched the entire world. There was no way they would just stand still and wait leisurely for Kang Jin-ho. As Kang Jin-ho grew stronger, they would also grow stronger. To catch up with them, they had to grow at more than twice the speed. “Chief.” “Hmm?” “Excuse me for asking, but…” “Can we win?” “…Yes.” Kang Jin-ho chuckled. “We’ll only know after we fight.” When Lee Hyun-soo made a face like a freedom fighter who had lost his country, Kang Jin-ho added. “But nothing has really changed.” “Yes?” “I expected him to get this strong.” “…Really?” “Yeah.” Kang Jin-ho looked at Hong Wang with a nonchalant gaze. After annihilating all the enemies, he grabbed Chaikechang [a type of spear] with one arm and disappeared from the screen at an incredible speed. Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded. ‘He’s gotten stronger as expected.’ This was perhaps closer to a predictable outcome. Looking back at the history of the Central Plains [ancient China], it was not uncommon for unparalleled geniuses to appear at the same time. The historians of the Central Plains would gloss over this phenomenon by saying that the heavens were playing tricks, but Kang Jin-ho knew why such things happened. Those who would not be considered geniuses if they were born in different eras, become aware of each other and compete, creating a synergistic effect that raises each other’s levels. Military arts are like groping through the darkness. Just by existing in similar spaces, whether ahead or behind, one can find the way several times more easily. The Three Kings had developed in that way. In this era where martial arts are not as good as in the past, how could such monsters appear only in China? ‘That’s not it.’ Those three had reached this point after constantly struggling and striving while being aware of each other. Kang Jin-ho had fallen into that tense balance. And then, he had displayed martial arts that they had never seen before. It would be stranger if the flow didn’t change. “I broke the dam.” “The higher the dam, the more water accumulates, and the bigger the disaster when it collapses.” Kang Jin-ho shrugged. “Basically, it’s similar to that. They were people who couldn’t move for decades, checking each other before I appeared. In other words, no one could break through the wall for decades after they reached it.” “Hmm, I guess so.” “That accumulated power burst out at once. It will be impossible for ordinary people to understand how fast they are getting stronger.” “Then, among the Three Kings, is Hong Wang the strongest right now?” “Well.” Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek. “Do you believe in the arrangements of heaven?” “I’m an atheist. Where is heaven?” Kang Jin-ho laughed. “I don’t really believe in gods either. But there are coincidences in the world that sometimes seem like the gods are playing tricks. While Hong Wang was reaching his level, would Chang Wang or Heuk Wang have just been stagnant?” “We need to think about it. The reason why they moved first, and the reason why they are not appearing now. Maybe they have all broken through the wall by now. Now it’s a fight to see who can establish their martial arts completely first.” Lee Hyun-soo sighed. When the conversation went in this direction, Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t understand even half of what Kang Jin-ho was saying. Just hearing the words and knowing their meaning didn’t mean he understood them. If he didn’t know why such things were happening, he couldn’t carelessly use the word ‘understand’. “So, it means we still don’t know the outcome.” “I know one thing.” “Yes?” Kang Jin-ho, who had been staring at the screen with a calm gaze, opened his mouth. “Three days.” “Yes?” “This war will be decided within the next three days. Tell the US side to check how the troops that retreated are moving, instead of chasing Hong Wang. They’re probably gathering in one place. Chang Wang is there.” Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t say anything and just stared at Kang Jin-ho. ‘He’s sharp.’ Kang Jin-ho, who had seemed like he had a screw loose just a moment ago, was gone. The face that mentioned Hong Wang and Chang Wang was the very Kang Jin-ho that Lee Hyun-soo knew. Of course, that face didn’t last long. “So, we need to move too.” “So we can strike them from behind?” “Tell them not to chase Hong Wang unnecessarily.” “Yes?” “Heuk Wang is moving. If the Heuk Wang faction isn’t stupid, they’ll be thinking the same thing as us. If we get caught up with Hong Wang and miss the other kings, we’ll miss the chance to intervene. Finding the whereabouts of Heuk Wang and Chang Wang is the priority.” Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a renewed gaze. Even in the recent war with Japan, Kang Jin-ho had tried to jump into Japan alone and create variables to achieve victory. If it were the Kang Jin-ho from before, he would have gone to China alone through the gate, saying that the battle between Hong Wang and Chang Wang was about to start. But now, Kang Jin-ho was stopping Lee Hyun-soo and trying to lead the entire board. ‘He’s definitely changed.’ Of course, even if what Kang Jin-ho was saying was something that Lee Hyun-soo already knew, the fact that Kang Jin-ho was pointing out and thinking about such things was important. “I understand that this war is not an ordinary war. I can tell by how carefully you are approaching it, Chief.” Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth. “Life always continues.” “…Yes?” “But the moments that determine life don’t come often.” Kang Jin-ho said coldly. “Now is such a moment. This war will decide. Whether we gain everything or lose everything. There is no middle ground.” “…I will keep that in mind.” Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded. “Tell everyone to finish their preparations.” “Yes, Chief!” “What about the government side?” Lee Hyun-soo frowned. “They were supposed to give us an answer by today, but there’s still no reply.” “What do you think?” “It’s several times easier to move with the US.” Lee Hyun-soo said firmly. “But if possible, I want to move with the government. We need to think about what happens after the war. Of course, I know that what I’m saying might sound like a luxury to you, Chief. But I want to make this war the last war of my life, no matter what it takes.” “I don’t want to leave room for conflict by involving the US carelessly. I want to secure enough territory so that we won’t feel bad even if we give some away. To do that, we need the government’s cooperation.” Kang Jin-ho nodded. Just as Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t understand what he had said a moment ago, Kang Jin-ho also couldn’t understand what Lee Hyun-soo was saying. The areas they were good at were places where it was difficult to expect the other to understand. Then there was only one thing left. “Do as you wish.” “Chief.” “I always trust your judgment. It’s the same in this war. I’ll fight if you tell me to fight, and I’ll retreat if you tell me to retreat. I’ll give you my life, so use it as you see fit.” Lee Hyun-soo’s shoulders trembled. “Can you trust me?” “Since I decided to accept you, I have never not trusted you. So, nothing is different.” Lee Hyun-soo clenched his fist. Trust that was almost absurd. For someone leading the General Assembly, such reckless trust could be poison. But…. Lee Hyun-soo bit his lip and said. “Move as I say.” “Then I will offer the world at your feet, Chief.” Kang Jin-ho grinned, showing his teeth. “Not at your feet?” “Isn’t that the same thing? You don’t even plan to take on my role anyway.” They both knew each other well. What Kang Jin-ho wanted was only to survive and to fight. The reason he was involved in complex management was also to survive. When the moment came when his safety and the safety of those around him were completely secured, Kang Jin-ho would let go of everything and focus on his own life. It was Lee Hyun-soo’s role to manage everything that Kang Jin-ho had achieved. “We need to talk with the others too…” “It’s okay.” Kang Jin-ho put a cigarette in his mouth and snapped his fingers to light it. “It’s like we started this together anyway.” Lee Hyun-soo gave a subtle smile. “I know. You think of the other directors as pawns. You’ve never thought of them as true colleagues, not even once.” “…You know me too well, Chief. It’s a problem.” “That’s enough.” Kang Jin-ho narrowed his eyes. “Whatever the truth is, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is how you act.” “You don’t have to worry about that.” Lee Hyun-soo grinned, showing his teeth. “From the moment I joined you, Chief, I thought that this moment would come someday. It’s just that the moment has come now.” Lee Hyun-soo quietly looked at Kang Jin-ho. He had chosen Kang Jin-ho. But the truth hidden within was a little different. ‘It wasn’t me who chose the Chief, but the Chief who chose me.’ Thanks to that choice, Lee Hyun-soo had saved his life and found meaning in living. Just as Kang Jin-ho could not become the Kang Jin-ho of the past, Lee Hyun-soo could never return to being the demon of the Yeongnam Assembly [a regional organization]. “You should be prepared.” “…For what?” “When I pay back all my debts, I’ll be your equal.” Kang Jin-ho chuckled and raised his middle finger. “Go ahead and try, you bastard.” The two looked at each other and laughed. The time was approaching for each of them to prove their choices.