Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1642

A soft crack.

The tip of his finger bent slightly, and a sharp bone sound echoed.

Crack.

Kang Jin-ho, who had completely clenched his fist, opened his hand again and stared down at it.

Kang Jin-ho stared at his hand for a long time, then closed his eyes slightly.

‘It doesn’t smell.’

In the past, his hands always reeked of blood.

The smell of blood that had been ingrained from fighting too many battles and killing too many people.

It wasn’t an actual scent of blood.

It was a scent of blood created by Kang Jin-ho’s obsession.

But now, Kang Jin-ho’s hands no longer smelled of blood. It was proof that Kang Jin-ho had completely broken free from the obsession that had been with him for a long time.

However…

Kang Jin-ho wasn’t particularly happy about that fact.

No.

He actually felt a little guilty.

‘Is this okay?’

Just because the smell of blood disappeared didn’t mean that the blood on his hands had vanished.

Those who commit sins must be punished. But was it right for Kang Jin-ho to escape the punishment that had been given to him?

Kang Jin-ho sighed softly.

‘Let’s not think too deeply about it.’

Right now, he should just be happy that the shackles that had been binding him were being released. The more that happened, the lighter Kang Jin-ho’s body would become, and the more Kang Jin-ho would be able to run wild.

Crack, crack.

Kang Jin-ho clenched his fist and smiled.

Light.

His body felt so light that it felt like he could fly away.

Since returning to this world… no, in all of his previous lives, he had never felt this light before.

“Is this what it means to be in perfect condition?”

Kang Jin-ho said with a bitter smile.

No matter what his head thought, his body was creating a perfect state as the time for battle approached.

It was as if it was waiting for battle.

Kang Jin-ho shook his head a couple of times and left the training room.

Then, he faced Lee Hyun-soo, who was waiting in front of the training room.

“What’s going on?”

“We received a call from the government.”

“What did they say?”

“They’re asking for one more day.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“It won’t change anything by stalling for time, will it?”

“They’re probably gathering and analyzing all the information they can get right now. Trying to figure out who will win.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Discussing victory and defeat before a war… how rational and reasonable. But that’s not the way to win.”

“It’s not strange for them. Because even if we lose, it doesn’t mean that South Korea will lose the war. In fact, some extreme people are arguing that it’s just a change in the master of the martial world, so why should we care?”

“How foolish.”

“When people face a reality they can’t handle, they want to turn away. That’s the same for everyone.

It’s not that they’re weak. It’s just that the average person is like that.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

Lee Hyun-soo’s words weren’t wrong.

But wasn’t it ridiculous to make such claims when they were clearly seeing what was happening to Japan, where the martial world had collapsed?

“What do you think will happen?”

“They won’t help us.”

Lee Hyun-soo said firmly. Then, Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo with a glint in his eyes.

“If you look at it rationally, that’s right. If we only evaluate based on the power we have, we can’t beat the Three Kings even if we die.”

“That’s right.”

“So, they wouldn’t want to take sides and be retaliated against.”

“Are they only thinking about their own safety?”

“It might be better for the average citizen. Haven’t we experienced countless times what happens when we give them a cause? They might be thinking that they’d rather give up the substance than the cause.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

He didn’t want to criticize the government for whatever choice they made. In fact, it was the General Assembly that broke their laws and turned their swords against them. It was amazing that they had maintained this relationship so far, so what more could he ask for?

“What about the US?”

“We’re in contact. It seems that our demands aren’t that difficult for them. It seems that support will definitely be provided, but…”

Lee Hyun-soo trailed off slightly and gave an embarrassed smile.

“Every deal has a price. What they want from China will be the key.”

“Give them everything.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Give them everything they want.”

“…Master?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Do you know what the disadvantage of smart people is?”

“Hmm? They think too much?”

“It’s that they don’t want to lose.”

Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth.

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo quietly and said.

“Don’t forget what we’re trying to do. We don’t want to conquer China, and we don’t want to enslave the Chinese people. We’re not trying to infiltrate their business world and make money like Japan. What do we want?”

“Survival.”

“Yes, survival.”

Kang Jin-ho bared his teeth.

“If we can achieve that one thing, we can give up everything else. So, tell them to take whatever they want. But…”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes shone coldly.

“Tell them not to think about showing off by lending us a boat. Tell them clearly that they have to do everything they can.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Lee Hyun-soo trembled slightly.

‘He certainly hasn’t changed in this aspect.’

Kang Jin-ho had always been like that.

He usually followed Lee Hyun-soo’s and Wiggins’ opinions completely, but when a battle was near, he would quickly grasp the core of the matter. Kang Jin-ho was the kind of person who approached what he needed to do to win with a different sense than others.

“We’ve taken emergency measures. From today, all members of the General Assembly will be on standby within the General Assembly. And when the time is right, we will move to the West Sea and board ships to enter China.”

“Where in the West Sea?”

“Anywhere nearby is fine. We’ll control the access.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘This is convenient.’

In the past, when they didn’t have close ties with the government, moving as a group was a huge burden. But now, the state would step in to cover their tracks.

That alone would allow them to move twice as fast.

“I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“So, please return to the General Assembly as quickly as possible when you are called.”

“No. I’ll be on standby at the General Assembly too.”

“…Really?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head slightly and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“No, that’s… that’s not what I meant… um…”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched the back of his head and sighed deeply.

“To be honest, Master, even though we’ve made all the preparations, there’s no guarantee that we’ll win, is there?”

“Yeah.”

“Then maybe this moment is the last moment we’ll spend in Korea. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to spend it with your family or meet the director…”

“I don’t want to receive special treatment.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“If the members are on standby at the General Assembly, then I’ll be on standby here too. That’s what I have to do.”

Lee Hyun-soo narrowed his brow.

“I understand. Then we’ll start the standby tomorrow.”

Kang Jin-ho looked back at Lee Hyun-soo with a disgruntled look.

“We can’t move properly until the government makes a statement tomorrow anyway. So, let’s just wait until then.”

“Director Lee.”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Lee Hyun-soo waved his hand slightly.

“I was also wondering if we should give them one more day. And to be honest, I also want to see Hyun-joo’s face one more time.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched the back of his head with a slightly flushed face.

“If it weren’t for the war, I’d be getting married by now…”

“Don’t set up a death flag, you crazy bastard!”

Kang Jin-ho kicked Lee Hyun-soo in the side.

Lee Hyun-soo crashed into the wall and groaned.

“No, I mean, those kinds of superstitions…”

“I get it, so don’t do it!”

“…Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo rubbed his side with a face that was half pain and half pleasure and got up from his seat.

“Honestly, I used to not understand some aspects of you, Master. I wondered why you kept going to see your family or the director before a big event, but now I understand. That’s… yes. That’s how you prepare your mind.”

“So, let’s prepare our minds for just one day.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Lee Hyun-soo and nodded.

“Okay, let’s do that.”

Kang Jin-ho might not need more time.

But the members of the General Assembly wouldn’t be the same.

Even if they won a landslide victory, there would definitely be casualties. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to give them one last chance to see their families and friends.

“I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“How are you feeling right now?”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’ve rarely followed anyone’s orders while preparing for a war like this. So, I don’t really know what you guys are thinking.”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“If you ask me that…”

“…Right?”

There was no way Lee Hyun-soo would know that.

Kang Jin-ho, thinking he had asked a stupid question, chuckled and turned to leave.

“But I have a general idea. Everyone believes in you.”

“Believes in me?”

“Yes. In you, Master.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled brightly.

“No matter what each person is thinking, whether they usually follow you or dislike you… before a war, they just hope. They hope that you are incredibly strong and that I am incredibly capable.”

Because that’s the only way their chances of survival will increase even a little bit.

“All we have to do is live up to those expectations. I’m ready to be incredibly capable. How about you, Master?”

“You’re stating the obvious. I’m the strongest in the universe.”

“…You’ve become shameless.”

“That’s what I was going to say.”

The two men looked at each other and chuckled.

They were joking, but it wasn’t a joke. They believed in each other and were determined.

To win.

“I’m going to go see Hyun-joo and have some sweet time.”

“You saw her last time, didn’t you?”

“Meeting as three doesn’t count. What would I do in front of you, Master!”

Lee Hyun-soo grumbled.

“I even bought a ring to propose soon. I’m going to propose when the time is right, move to a new house for our honeymoon…”

“S-stop it.”

Kang Jin-ho broke out in a cold sweat as he watched Lee Hyun-soo set up death flags as if he was breathing.

“We’ll have two kids, a son and a daughter, and later we’ll have a dog in a house with a garden…”

“S-stop it, I said!”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

“I’m just kidding. I’m still a non-marriage advocate.”

“…You’re hopeless.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

Looking at Kang Jin-ho, Lee Hyun-soo said firmly.

“But it’s not just a joke. If we win the war, that might be the future we can have. But if we lose the war, the future itself will disappear.”

“I know.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his body.

“Don’t waste time, go on a date.”

“Where are you going, Master? Home?”

“I’ve seen enough of home.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled with a slightly awkward face.

“Now I have to go get nagged.”