Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1727

“So…”

*Thump.*

Kang Jin-ho, having placed a coffee cup in front of Lee Myung-hwan, began to speak, a slightly bewildered expression on his face.

“You want to know how to maintain your composure?”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face showed a hint of displeasure as he looked at Lee Myung-hwan.

They had been together for quite some time, but Lee Myung-hwan had rarely initiated a meeting.

And the purpose of this rare meeting was this.

“I’m asking for your help, Guild Leader.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly.

“I don’t know.”

“…Yes?”

“I said I don’t know.”

An awkward silence hung between them.

Lee Myung-hwan looked at Kang Jin-ho, a touch of displeasure in his eyes.

“No…”

Lee Myung-hwan hesitated, as if searching for the right words, then looked at Kang Jin-ho with a wronged expression.

“Aren’t you the calmest one before a war, Guild Leader?”

“Who says that?”

“…Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“I get nervous before a war too.”

“No, it’s not something you can just brush off like that. Actually, I’m so scared that I’m out of my mind.”

“…With that face.”

“Being expressionless is just my nature.”

Lee Myung-hwan looked at Kang Jin-ho, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. But this was not something Kang Jin-ho could help with.

“In the first place, it’s stranger if you’re not anxious when facing a life-or-death situation.”

“That’s definitely true…” Lee Myung-hwan sighed softly.

“I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t affect the others, but the atmosphere gets bad because of me.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho curled the corners of his mouth and sat across from Lee Myung-hwan.

“I’m sorry. You must be busy, and I’m bothering you with this useless matter.”

“It’s okay.”

Kang Jin-ho took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips.

“It’s kind of fun.”

Kang Jin-ho snapped his fingers to light the cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke.

‘Is it a demonic heart [a state of intense focus and power in martial arts]?’

No, it’s not at that level yet.

In the first place, a demonic heart is closer to a phenomenon where the gaps before completing martial arts are mentally concentrated. It was clear that Lee Myung-hwan had become very strong, but he was not yet at the stage to discuss a demonic heart.

Then…

‘Weakness. Or…’

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head slightly.

“Martial arts are…”

“Yes?”

“It’s no different from giving a knife to a child.”

Kang Jin-ho said, looking at Lee Myung-hwan calmly.

“Humans are not originally meant to wield that much power. Those who become martial artists by learning martial arts are no longer human.”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded.

In the past, he wouldn’t have particularly agreed with those words, but now he could clearly understand what Kang Jin-ho meant.

“In the past, I thought the righteous sects [traditional martial arts schools focused on justice and morality] were fools for practicing mind cultivation and mental training. I felt it was hypocritical to talk about justice and cultivation when they were just honing their skills to kill people.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and said.

“But now, I can’t agree with their intentions, but I do agree with the necessity of that training. And why the Demonic Cult [a martial arts faction often associated with dark or forbidden techniques] eventually declined.”

In the past, he thought his absence had caused the Demonic Cult to decline.

But thinking about it, this was a bit strange.

Even before Kang Jin-ho ruled the world under the name of the Heavenly Demon [a powerful and feared figure in martial arts lore], the Demonic Cult was just a peripheral force in the martial world. If the Demonic Cult’s martial arts were so outstanding and powerful, they should have shown clear strength even before that.

However, the Demonic Cult before Kang Jin-ho was just one of the forces threatening the Central Plains [the heartland of the martial world], not even a definite adversary of the Central Plains.

The perception that demonic arts were dangerous and the complete rejection of the Demonic Cult began after Kang Jin-ho’s death. In other words, until then, the people of the Central Plains did not consider the Demonic Cult to be that dangerous.

In other words…

“Demonic arts are fundamentally limited martial arts.”

He had no intention of denying its power. Kang Jin-ho still thought that demonic arts were twice as superior to orthodox martial arts.

But the problem was that it was humans who learned those martial arts.

“If a child carries a knife, someone will inevitably get hurt. It could be someone else, or it could be themselves. Orthodox martial arts are martial arts that create a sheath to put that sword in. But demonic arts sharpen that sword even more.”

In the end, demonic arts are martial arts that require the person wielding them to become a superhuman.

If an adult, not a child, wields a well-honed sword, it will unleash unparalleled power. But how common are such superhumans?

“Heavenly Beginning, Heavenly End. Yes, they call it Heavenly Beginning, Heavenly End. It starts with the Heavenly Demon and ends with me. In other words, it means that no one has been able to properly wield that sword for that long period. This clearly shows the limitations of demonic arts.”

“…I think I understand what you mean.”

Lee Myung-hwan bit his lip slightly.

He had thought that the thirst he was feeling now was a natural phenomenon that came with his martial arts level rising. But after listening to Kang Jin-ho, it seemed that there was a different cause.

“…But that doesn’t mean I can start mental training now, does it?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what do I do?”

“I told you, I don’t know.”

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a while.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking that disappointment is a surprisingly easy emotion…”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“It’s not like you need a solution.”

“Yes?”

“Just understanding what situation I’m in is half the battle.”

“Ah…”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded.

If it weren’t for Gong Young-gil, he wouldn’t have come to Kang Jin-ho and said all this. It was true that just knowing his condition made a difference.

“And we need to get to the root of the problem. Why are you anxious?”

“That’s…”

Lee Myung-hwan bit his lip slightly and answered.

“It’s because I’m afraid of dying in this war. I’m afraid of dying and not being able to reach the higher realms I could have reached.”

“The rest is just an excuse.”

“…Yes?”

“You’re just afraid of dying.”

Lee Myung-hwan’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s not true. I…”

“Then you’re not afraid of dying?”

“Yes. I’ve already proven it! I…”

“I’m scared.”

“…Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho said nonchalantly.

“I’m so scared that I might die in this battle.”

His energy drained away.

It was strange.

It was such an obvious thing to say. There was no need to ask why. Everyone was afraid of death.

But when those words came out of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth, it felt like he was seeing something absurd.

“Is that strange?”

“It’s not strange, but…” Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“I used to think like you. I didn’t have any attachment to life, and I thought it wouldn’t be bad to die fighting. I was more afraid of the people around me dying than me.”

“But it’s not like that anymore.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I’m not fighting to protect those around me. I’m fighting to live. Because I want to live.”

It had continued.

After returning to this world, Kang Jin-ho had lived for what could be considered a long time. In the process, he had made many connections and created relationships that he didn’t have before.

The world that had been faded in monotone was now shining in full color.

“I don’t want to lose my life.”

“Even the time I spend talking to you like this has meaning. The time I spend laughing and joking with Lee Hyun-soo has meaning. Every day is a meaningful life.”

A life that he could not have imagined in the past when he was the Heavenly Demon.

In this world, Kang Jin-ho had found the life he wanted. No, he had found a life beyond what he wanted.

“So I don’t want to lose it. And to not lose it, I have to live more than anything else.”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded blankly.

It was such an obvious thing to say, but hearing it from Kang Jin-ho felt different.

“What about you?”

“I…”

“Do you really just want to live to reach a higher realm?”

He didn’t answer.

It wasn’t that these words had given him a great shock. It was just that he felt a discomfort that made it difficult to answer easily.

“I said earlier, just knowing makes the situation better. Being honest with yourself also makes it better.”

Kang Jin-ho put a new cigarette in his mouth.

“I told you, in the end, martial artists are also human. It’s natural to be scared. It’s natural to be afraid of death. It’s also natural to want to run away.”

“But as I said, martial artists are treated as if they are not human. Those who feel fear in front of an enemy and cherish their lives are treated as half-wits. That wrong perception must be ingrained in you too.”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded without realizing it.

Until just now, he had definitely thought so. That it was more noble and right not to feel fear before a war. That’s why he had come to Kang Jin-ho.

“If you’re scared, just admit that you’re scared. The problem is that you’re desperately pretending to be okay.”

“…Have you admitted it, Guild Leader?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“What did you hear? I told you, I’m scared. I’m scared to death.”

“…But you’re confident of victory, aren’t you?”

“Who? The War King?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Of course, I won’t lose to anyone.”

“Then why…”

“You’re talking nonsense. Having confidence in victory and fear are separate issues. Does someone who can win not have fear? No. Even if I win against the War King, anything can happen in a war. So why shouldn’t I be afraid?”

Lee Myung-hwan looked like he understood something.

He thought that the fear he had came from his weakness. He was afraid because he wasn’t confident in winning the fight. He was afraid because he wasn’t confident in surviving.

But now, Kang Jin-ho was saying that even if he was confident in winning, fear was still the same.

“…You’re saying to admit it.”

“Yes. You’re a coward.”

“I am too.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not a big deal.”

“People will laugh at us.”

“Let them laugh.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

“It’s a hundred times better to be laughed at and survive than to die heroically. You have to survive even if you’re stuck in a dung heap. Those who are not afraid don’t deserve to enjoy life.”

“…You’re really pathetic.”

“What did you say, you little…”

Kang Jin-ho glared at him, then burst out laughing.

“So what about you? Are you going to die heroically and become a hero?”

“…No. Thinking about it, I think it would be a bit unfair if I died before you, Guild Leader.”

“…That’s strangely unpleasant to hear.” Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Okay. Then shall we cowards have a drink?”

“…Do we have time for that?”

“There’s always no time, and there’s always time.” Lee Myung-hwan stared at Kang Jin-ho for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Then please let me call the others too.”

Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Then you’re paying for the drinks.”

“…You’re trying to squeeze blood from a stone.”

“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

“…I’ll pay. But don’t even think about going home today.”

“As you wish.”

Lee Myung-hwan looked at Kang Jin-ho with a very distrustful expression. But his face had already become much clearer.

“I’ll have the kids prepare.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly as he watched Lee Myung-hwan’s back as he left the room.