Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1807

“I’m back.”

“You’re here?”

Baek Hyeon-jeong turned her head to look at Kang Jin-ho entering through the front door. Seeing the smile on his lips, Baek Hyeon-jeong tilted her head.

“Did something good happen?”

“Huh? Why do you ask?”

“No, you just came in grinning.”

Grinning at his own son.

It was the first time he had heard such a phrase to his face since being discharged from the military.

“I just met a friend.”

“Oh? Really? Yumin?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had taken off his shoes, smiled faintly.

“A friend who is older than Yumin.”

“That’s unusual. You meeting someone other than Yumin.”

“I guess so.”

Kang Jin-ho walked into his room.

“Did you eat?”

“Yes. I ate before coming.”

“Okay. Then, get some rest.”

“Yes.”

Baek Hyeon-jeong watched Kang Jin-ho enter his room and tilted her head slightly.

‘Something’s off.’

He’s smiling…

But it doesn’t feel like he’s smiling.

Kang Jin-ho, who entered his room, lay down on the bed without even taking off his clothes.

Kang Jin-ho, who covered his face with one hand, rubbed his face a little roughly.

‘Cheongma.’

Cheongma, whom he met again after a long time, was very different from the Cheongma he knew. But he was definitely Cheongma. There was no doubt about it.

Kang Jin-ho’s face contorted.

“…Cheongma.”

It felt like a fire was burning in his stomach.

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t tell if this feeling was because of Cheongma’s provocation, or because of Cheongma’s strength, which had grown to the point where even he was wary, or because of their twisted relationship.

“Please keep my words in mind. I do not wish to become your enemy.”

‘That arrogant bastard.’

Kang Jin-ho clenched his fist.

No one dared to say such words in front of him. And if it was Cheongma, if it was none other than Cheongma, he would know how much of a provocation those words would be to Kang Jin-ho.

Yet, he dared to say those words so confidently?

‘That’s ridiculous.’

“Please protect your world within the new cage I have prepared for you.”

His words and actions didn’t match.

Kang Jin-ho, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, lowered his gaze.

‘What the hell is he trying to do?’

He said that what he was about to do would not twist Kang Jin-ho’s life. The Cheongma that Kang Jin-ho knew was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to lie if necessary, but he wasn’t someone who would utter a lie in this situation.

Cheongma.

That very Cheongma was plotting something.

If it were the Kang Jin-ho of the past, he wouldn’t have paid much attention to that fact.

But now, Kang Jin-ho also knew.

Just how dangerous that Cheongma was.

‘If he moves…’

From a mere follower of the Demonic Cult to seizing control of the cult and trampling the entire Central Plains [a region in China], it was him and Cheongma. But Kang Jin-ho knew very well that it was Cheongma, not him, who had accomplished that great feat.

He had only fought when told to fight, and killed when told to kill.

He had just killed all those who opposed him like a madman. If he had been alone, no matter how strong he was, he would have been ambushed by those who feared him and died a miserable death.

His mind is genius. What’s even more frightening is that Cheongma never moves with a short-term view.

From the very first contact with Kang Jin-ho, he was a madman who had already planned to dominate the Central Plains. If he was really plotting something, there was a high probability that the plan was already nearing its final stages.

Kang Jin-ho slowly got up and sat on the edge of the bed.

He had fought against countless enemies so far.

Some of them had pushed Kang Jin-ho to the brink of death, and there were several terrible guys he never wanted to face again.

But…

If he had to choose just one person he didn’t want to face as an enemy in his entire life, Kang Jin-ho would choose Cheongma without any hesitation.

And…

That Cheongma had gained a power that he didn’t have in the past.

Moreover, an enormous power that even made Kang Jin-ho flinch for a moment.

Kang Jin-ho knew very well what that meant.

‘How ridiculous.’

Ironically, he was now keenly experiencing what those who had faced the Demonic Cult in the past must have felt.

The unknown force of the Demonic Cult.

A strategist with a demonic mind that manipulated humans.

And finally, a cult leader with overwhelming power that never lost to anyone.

The current Cheongma had all of that.

He would have grown the Black King’s Faction with the ability that had grown the Demonic Cult, and his mind was moving as brilliantly as in the past. On top of that, he had even gained power that surpassed the former Heavenly Demon Lord [a title for the leader of the Demonic Cult].

He let out a hollow laugh.

How was he supposed to face such a monster?

The fight with Hong Wang was difficult.

The fight with Chang Wang pushed him almost to the end.

But Kang Jin-ho had never been afraid of them while preparing for the war with them. He was only worried about those around him getting hurt.

But…

Kang Jin-ho raised his hand and rubbed his lips.

A dark emotion that he had never felt before was flowing through Kang Jin-ho’s body.

“Because I don’t want to kill the only friend I have left with my own hands.”

Those words…

The fact that it wasn’t just a bluff was turning Kang Jin-ho’s stomach upside down.

Gritting his teeth, Kang Jin-ho hurriedly suppressed the demonic energy that was unconsciously leaking out.

“…Damn it.”

Kang Jin-ho grabbed his cigarettes and went outside.

He saw Baek Hyeon-jeong and Kang Eun-yeong sitting on the sofa.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m just going out for some air.”

“You just came in.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Baek Hyeon-jeong looked at Kang Jin-ho with a puzzled expression before nodding.

“Okay. Don’t go too far.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly and went out the front door.

He knew that his mother might be worried about his unusual behavior, but he couldn’t help this suffocating feeling right now.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who had come outside, lit the cigarette in his mouth.

The bitter smoke swept through his lungs, and he felt his upset stomach calm down a little. He knew that such cigarettes were of no real help, but…

“Hoo.”

Kang Jin-ho exhaled the cigarette smoke and looked up at the sky.

The dark sky was looking down at him, black as ink.

Once.

He and Cheongma lived under a different sky, not this one.

But even though the world had changed and the sky that looked at them had changed, they still lived under the same sky.

“The current you are just a guard dog satisfied with protecting this much.”

“This…”

Kang Jin-ho’s teeth clenched, and the cigarette he was holding was torn and fell to the floor.

Every single word was turning Kang Jin-ho’s insides upside down.

But within that twisted emotion, Kang Jin-ho was feeling a contradiction.

‘I am…’

Kang Jin-ho silently looked at the sky.

What he couldn’t understand wasn’t Cheongma, but himself.

He had always said it.

That he wasn’t fighting to fight, but fighting to protect.

And he also thought.

That he was fighting now for a life where he wouldn’t have to fight anymore.

But…

‘Then why am I doing this now?’

Cheongma said he would protect his life. He said he would never step into his territory. That meant that those Kang Jin-ho was trying to protect would never be harmed by Cheongma’s hands.

Cheongma was not someone who would easily break his own words, and considering his pride, those words would definitely be kept.

Then, wasn’t that enough?

He could protect everything he had to protect, and he didn’t have to fight anymore. Now, he could escape from a life of killing people and fighting and live a better life.

Yes.

Wasn’t that enough?

But…

Why was Kang Jin-ho’s stomach boiling like this?

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who had put a new cigarette in his mouth, looked up at the sky with a lowered gaze.

‘Damn it.’

Having been reborn into this world, he had established something different from the past. It had taken quite a long time, and there had been many ups and downs, but he thought he had finally found the path he had to take.

But…

“Well, fine. If that’s the life you’ve chosen.”

Cheongma had shaken Kang Jin-ho’s thoughts from the root with just a few words.

With just a short conversation that didn’t even last an hour.

‘What am I anxious about?’

Was it because Cheongma wouldn’t leave Kang Jin-ho and his surroundings alone after achieving all his goals?

Or was it…

‘That’s absurd.’

Kang Jin-ho didn’t even know himself well, but Cheongma was acting as if he had Kang Jin-ho in the palm of his hand. What was even more infuriating was that Kang Jin-ho couldn’t even refute Cheongma’s words.

‘What do I want?’

That was the only thing he really needed to ask. What did he want to do? Kang Jin-ho leaned against the wall. Strangely, he didn’t have the strength to support his body with his two legs. It was as if he had endlessly traversed a battlefield where blood and death were rampant.

Kang Jin-ho stared blankly at the sky where not a single star could be seen. Even though he knew that the answer didn’t exist there.

And…

Uuuuuuung!

At that moment, his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket. Kang Jin-ho, who realized a little late that his cell phone was ringing, slowly took out his cell phone and looked at the screen.

Lee Hyun-soo.

The moment he saw the name on the screen, Kang Jin-ho’s face changed subtly. After staring at the screen for a while, Kang Jin-ho slowly connected the call and put the phone to his ear.

“What’s the matter?”

[I just called to check on you.]

“…What?”

[I just did, just because.]

A hollow laugh escaped from Kang Jin-ho’s lips.

It was strange.

It was a completely useless thing to say. But these meaningless words seemed to push his shoulders.

[If you have nothing to do, why don’t we order some chicken and have a beer? It’s a bit boring right now since Hyun-joo is not home.]

“…You crazy bastard.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly.

“Where are you?”

[I’m at my place. Should I come pick you up?]

“No. I’ll go.”

[Are you really coming?]

“You told me to come, didn’t you?”

[I didn’t think you’d actually come though.]

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I’m going now.”

[Okay. Then, please buy some beer when you come. You know my taste, right?]

“Hang up, you crazy bastard.”

Hanging up the phone and shoving it into his pocket, Kang Jin-ho let out a silly laugh.

‘How pathetic.’

The worries that had been driving him crazy just a moment ago disappeared like a lie.

‘While thinking that I was different from the past, I ended up trying to solve it alone after all.’

He was different from the past.

Now, he had people who would worry with him, and people who would worry about him. He didn’t need to carry the burden on his shoulders all by himself.

Kang Jin-ho, who had put out his cigarette, chuckled and headed for his car.

But…

“What kind of beer did he tell me to buy?” I don’t know. I guess he’ll eat whatever I buy.

Kang Jin-ho opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat with a slightly lighter movement.