Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1817

KWA-AAAAANG!

“What the hell!”

“Is that an earthquake?”

Members inside the building rushed outside. The sound of a mountain collapsing echoed, and the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.

“W-where…”

WHOOOOOM! WHOOOM!

The heads of those who had rushed out snapped back. Beyond the main building, a cloud of dust billowed from the direction of the mountain behind it.

“Is it an attack!”

“What attack? You crazy bastard!”

“No, unless it’s a bombing, how can that even be possible!”

The members of the General Assembly stared blankly at the rising dust cloud. But they all knew for sure that this scene was not caused by bombing or shelling.

The aftermath of an energy far more intense than the dust cloud was sweeping over them.

“Are they remnants of the Chang Clan?”

“Why would they come all the way here?”

“No, then is it another enemy…” It was then.

“Everyone, go inside. It’s nothing serious.”

One of the Flame Demons strolled over and waved his hand.

“Then what is it?”

“The Directors are having a sparring match.”

“What?”

The members’ eyes widened.

So, this explosion was caused by the Directors’ sparring?

“…Wow!”

It wasn’t exactly surprising. Having already seen Kang Jin-ho and experienced the Red King and the Chang King, their sense of the limits of human power had long been shattered.

In the past, during the General Assembly under Lee Jung-geol’s rule, everyone would have been shocked, but for them now, this level of explosion was not that surprising.

What was surprising was not the explosion itself, but that it was caused by the Directors.

“…They’re really strong.”

“Our Directors are no joke.”

Everyone was once again reminded of the Directors’ power.

The enemies they had faced so far were so enormous that it was easy to forget, but each of the Directors of the General Assembly was, without exaggeration, at the level of a master.

“Well, just look at Director Bang…”

In the past, Bang Jin-hoon had engaged in a fierce power struggle with Lee Jung-geol. Even if Bang Jin-hoon had won against Lee Jung-geol without Kang Jin-ho’s intervention, he likely wouldn’t have been able to defeat Kim Seok-il of the Yeongnam Assembly.

But what about Bang Jin-hoon now?

Without even considering power dynamics, Bang Jin-hoon’s individual strength alone would have been enough to wipe out both the General Assembly and the Yeongnam Assembly.

The fact that Bang Jin-hoon was considered the weakest among the Directors showed just how formidable the current Directors of the General Assembly were.

The problem was that the enemies they had faced so far were monsters who easily surpassed those Directors, so their strength was not really felt.

RUMBLE!

With a sound like thunder, the mountain began to shake again.

“…Is it really okay to just go inside?”

“It’s just sparring, what could happen?”

“No, isn’t that building going to collapse? It’s so old.”

Those who couldn’t bring themselves to go inside stared blankly at the dust clouds rising in the distance.

Bator’s fist energy flew like a fired cannonball. Bator was unleashing a series of intense fist energies that made one’s jaw drop, but his face showed no sign of composure.

With a face contorted like a demon, Bator roared like a beast.

“KRAAAAAAAAH!”

But the one who emerged from the pouring fist energy, unlike Bator, looked utterly relaxed.

“Pathetic.”

Jang Min, having dodged all of Bator’s fist energy with minimal movement, calmly approached Bator and struck him in the chest.

KWA-AAAAANG!

With a loud explosion, Bator’s body was sent flying backward.

“Ugh… You bastard…”

Bator’s eyes were filled with shock.

A deep, crimson handprint was etched into his chest where Jang Min had struck him.

‘H-how…’

The difference between him and Jang Min was definitely not this great.

Just a year ago, he and Jang Min were able to fight each other on equal footing.

Of course, he knew that Jang Min hadn’t given his all in their fight. But even considering all of that, this difference was unacceptable.

He was younger. And he had worked harder.

So why was the gap between him and Jang Min widening?

Seeing Bator’s shocked eyes, Jang Min twisted his lips.

“Why? Did you think you could surpass an old man like me anytime?”

“You foolish fool.”

Jang Min spat out the words.

“Martial arts only have meaning when they are in harmony. What’s the point of pursuing strength alone? Your martial arts don’t see the opponent. They only chase strength.”

“While you were looking at strength, I was looking at you. What your strengths are, what your weaknesses are. You who didn’t look at me can’t beat me, not even if you fight me a thousand times.”

Blood trickled from Bator’s tightly clenched lips.

It was humiliating.

Utterly humiliating.

“It’s the same for the others.”

Jang Min turned his head to look at Wiggins and Bang Jin-hoon, who were panting in front of him. Their faces also showed clear signs of dismay.

“If you could get stronger just by repeating the same training, then who wouldn’t become a master?”

Bang Jin-hoon spat out blood-tinged saliva and contorted his face.

“Then what do you want us to do?”

“You must seek.”

Jang Min looked at everyone with cold eyes.

“When was the last time you reduced your sleep to train?”

“When was the last time you even reduced your meal times because of your desire to get stronger?”

Wiggins couldn’t bring himself to meet Jang Min’s eyes.

“That big idiot has gone in the wrong direction, but he’s still the best among you. That’s why he’s still getting stronger. But you guys aren’t.”

Bang Jin-hoon let out a groan.

“The moment a martial artist seeks comfort instead of strength, their martial arts will regress, and their spirit will rot. No matter how difficult or challenging the situation, you must never neglect to hone yourselves.”

Wiggins sighed.

It was easy to say, but it wasn’t that easy to do. How much work did he and Bang Jin-hoon have to do at the General Assembly?

But the reason he couldn’t argue was that Jang Min was someone who had fully practiced what he preached his entire life.

He was the one who had desperately led the crumbling Demonic Cult [a martial arts sect].

No matter how much work Wiggins and Bang Jin-hoon had to do, how could they dare compare to Jang Min?

“Seek more, work harder. If you don’t want to be looked down upon by others who surpass you in the future. If you continue like this, it won’t be long.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s face twisted.

Because there were a few people who came to mind at those words.

‘Being caught up to?’

He had never thought about it.

He had already given up on catching up. He thought that with his abilities, he could never surpass someone like Bator or Jang Min. But not being able to catch up and being caught up to were separate issues.

“Old man.”

Bator said, grinding his teeth.

“You’re talking like it’s all over after using your strength once, but you should worry about how long those thin bones of yours can last.”

Bator pushed himself up from the ground. A red glow flickered in his eyes.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“Come on! You bull-like bastard!”

Bator roared and charged at Jang Min.

Slurp.

The ice americano, which had been filled with transparent ice, quickly dwindled down.

Kang Jin-ho, having taken the straw out of his mouth and put the cup down, had Lee Hyun-soo subtly slide the ashtray towards him.

“Thanks.”

Kang Jin-ho put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

He could see Bator and Jang Min fighting fiercely. Bator was raging like a wild boar that had been hit by a stray bullet, but Jang Min was handling Bator like a seasoned bullfighter.

“…Jang Min is doing a great job.”

“Elder is very thoughtful.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded emphatically.

“If it weren’t for Elder, there would be no one to push the Directors. It’s not yet certain that we will be in conflict with the Black King’s faction, but even in case of an emergency, the board of directors must become stronger.”

“…That’s right.”

“Elder Jang Min knows that. It’s something I would have a hard time asking for, but he moved on his own without me even having to say anything. That’s what you call experience.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Jang Min with admiration.

Kang Jin-ho, watching Lee Hyun-soo, smoked his cigarette and glanced at the sky.

‘That’s what I was going to do.’

He took the lead like that.

Like that?

“Ahem.”

Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat and chuckled.

‘It’s a good thing, though.’

People inevitably fall into a rut when the same thing is repeated. No matter how much Kang Jin-ho pushed them this time, it wouldn’t have had the same impact as Jang Min stepping up.

What’s important is the passion, not just the skill.

“But, Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“Can they really become strong enough to face the Three Kings?”

Kang Jin-ho’s brow furrowed slightly.

“…That’s a bit of a wrong question.”

“Yes?”

“It depends on how much time we have. If they had unlimited time, they would eventually reach the level of the Three Kings. Maybe even surpass it.”

“…But we don’t have time.”

“Right.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator and the others with serious eyes.

“It’s impossible within a limited time.”

“Is it difficult even if you step in, Lord?”

“I’m not a god.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“It took even Cheongma [a legendary martial artist] a hundred years. Of course, the starting point is different, but it’s impossible to bring them to that level in just a few months.”

“However…”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at the mountain behind him and said.

“There’s no need to do that. We’re not just raising them. We can raise their skills and create people who can support them.”

“Hmm, I understand what you mean.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed softly.

‘I don’t even need to whip them.’

He didn’t need to say anything, he didn’t need to scold them, the Directors knew what they had to do and were moving. And not only the Directors, but also the other members of the General Assembly would now start to find what they had to do on their own.

‘A small elite group…’

That would be a really ideal and excellent method.

However…

“That’s not all.”

It was the first time.

That he felt the General Assembly was supporting him.

“Even if I had the same opportunity, I wouldn’t choose a method like Cheongma. What I need is not just limbs that move at my command.”

They were more like comrades than his subordinates.

That was probably the biggest difference between Cheongma and Kang Jin-ho now.

“When the sparring is over, tell Jang Min to come see me tomorrow morning.”

“Yes? Not right away?”

“I would have if he could come right away.”

Kang Jin-ho got up from his seat and chuckled as he went down the building.

‘Pretending to be relaxed.’

No matter how skilled Jang Min was, it wouldn’t be easy to face Bator at full power. But right now, he had to somehow shock Bator and draw out his anger.

‘The General Assembly will become stronger.’

And…

That had to be the same for Kang Jin-ho as well.