Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1820

“Hold on a moment. What’s this?”

At the immigration checkpoint.

A customs officer, inspecting luggage, frowned as he picked up a long rod wrapped tightly in a pure white cloth. He then began to unwrap the cloth.

As the white cloth came undone, a long sword revealed itself.

The officer frowned at the sight of the sword.

His gaze shifted to the sword’s owner.

A man wearing jeans, a black t-shirt, and a slightly short jacket. His attire wasn’t particularly unusual, but his long hair, shaved into a one-block style with a braid on top, was quite striking.

“This is not allowed.”

“Pardon?”

The officer explained the situation in Chinese.

“Swords longer than 15 centimeters are prohibited. I’m sorry, but you cannot bring this item in.”

Upon hearing this, Baek Yeon-hong smiled faintly.

“If that’s the condition, there’s no problem. This is a decorative sword with no blade.”

“It’s the same.”

The officer shook his head.

“South Korea does not allow the import of decorative swords either. If it’s longer than 15 centimeters, it’s the same.”

The man sighed briefly, then reached out and snatched the sword from the officer’s hand.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

“Security! Security!”

Startled, those around him stepped back as the man grabbed the sword. However, the man paid no mind to their actions and leisurely drew the sword.

He then took one hand to the blade and pressed down on it.

“Huh?”

The officer’s eyes widened as he saw the tip of the pressed blade slightly retract.

“I assume that by ‘sword,’ you mean an object with a metal blade, right?”

“Yes? Ah… that’s generally correct.”

“This is plastic. Surely you’re not saying toy swords aren’t allowed either?”

The officer looked at the sword suspiciously, then reached out. Baek Yeon-hong calmly handed the sword to the officer.

The officer took the sword, felt the blade with his hand, and nodded.

“You’re right. This is fine.”

“Thank you.”

The officer put the sword back in its sheath and placed it back on the luggage. Baek Yeon-hong smiled at the sight.

“Quite thorough.”

Baek Yeon-hong, having passed through immigration, smiled at the sunlight.

“The airport is quite large.”

“Indeed. It’s excessively large for an airport in such a small country.”

Baek Yeon-hong, walking through the lobby, lightly rubbed his chin.

“Isn’t it time you changed your weapon? It’s cumbersome every time.”

“A weapon isn’t something you can change so easily. I’ve already made a big concession by changing the material.”

“Yes, you must be suffering, carrying around a toy sword.”

“Why are you so full of complaints?”

Baek Yeon-hong glared, and the man pulling the luggage sighed.

“Please reconsider, even now. The Black King will not simply let this go. Even if you are the Sword Sect, you cannot withstand his wrath, can you?”

“Is he going to kill me?”

Baek Yeon-hong said indifferently.

“You’ll understand if you live as long as I have, but the longer you live, the more you lose interest in the world. Stimulation, by its nature, has a decreasing threshold with repetition. No matter how good the wine, if you drink it a thousand times, it’s no different from water, and even the most stunning beauty becomes just another person after seeing her a thousand times.”

“You’ve lived too long.”

“That’s right.”

Baek Yeon-hong readily nodded.

“To me, that name is the ultimate stimulation. It’s not just a matter of strength or fame. You wouldn’t understand what the name of the Demonic Heavenly Lord means to us. It’s like ambrosia poured into a life that’s utterly boring.”

Baek Yeon-hong chuckled, and the man sighed.

“Not everyone is like the Sword Sect. If everyone were, I wouldn’t be surprised by everything the Sword Sect does. I’d already be numb to it.”

“That’s true. Then let’s just say I’m special.”

Baek Yeon-hong chuckled and looked at the man.

While there was a basic coldness, his attitude was quite different from when he faced Liu Yang before.

“For me, this kind of fun is hard to come by again. So, stop nagging so much.”

“You said the same thing last time. If the Black King had been in a slightly worse mood then, the Sword Sect would probably be dried squid by now.”

“You’re the squid.”

“That’s not what I mean! That’s not what I mean!”

Clack.

Baek Yeon-hong, having taken a pine-scented candy from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth, shrugged.

“Of course, I tried to hold back. But I can’t hold back when I hear the name of the Demonic Heavenly Lord. Can I?”

“Ugh, because of that demonic fiend…”

“Demonic fiends should have their heads cut off.”

“Um, I think the Sword Sect is mistaken… that guy is living a normal, good life in this world. After investigating, he’s a good son to his family, a good friend to his friends, and his girlfriend is beautiful. Very beautiful.”

“…Is that so?”

“And he’s even set up a welfare foundation to support orphanages! Orphanages! And he’s not just doing it for show, he’s pouring money into it!
While the Sword Sect is making money playing real estate, this guy is doing welfare work!”

“Then who’s the villain here, who? Honestly, we seem more like the villains!”

“…Not a facade?”

“Even if it’s a facade, if he can pour that much money into it, we have to acknowledge it.”

“That demonic fiend is doing all sorts of things.” Baek Yeon-hong shook his head.

It’s quite common for someone who has committed sins in the past to pretend to be a good person to hide their sins, but this was a bit much.

“Changing for the better doesn’t erase the past.”

“No, that’s…”

“No matter what you say, I won’t change my mind, so don’t waste your energy.”

The man sighed deeply.

He knew better than anyone that there was no way this man would listen.

‘How does the Black King control these kinds of people?’

It wasn’t incomprehensible.

In fact, Baek Yeon-hong, whom he served, was a bit more extreme, but all the so-called daggers of the Black King’s faction were like this.

Why were only twisted people gathered?

It wasn’t that only twisted people were gathered, but rather that all the qualified people were twisted.

The reason?

It was too simple.

‘How could the personalities of people who have never failed in their lives be properly formed?’

Humans are beings that move forward based on failure.

The pride of a haughty person is broken by failure, and the self-esteem of a proud person is crushed by frustration.

People who all thought they were the center of the world when they were young go through numerous frustrations as they grow older and become integrated into society.

But people like Baek Yeon-hong have never experienced frustration in their lives.

They may have been envied for being too outstanding, but they have never had to bow their heads due to a lack of ability. Even if they experience failure, they eventually succeed, so they think of that failure as nourishment for success.

This is why politicians who have repeatedly succeeded become less likely to listen to others as they rise to higher positions, or why they push forward with things that everyone else opposes.

‘There’s no reason for those who have lived a life of perfect success to change their ways.’

Because they have always been right in the end.

It’s impossible to reason with such people. Extreme arrogance and extreme self-confidence are as firmly rooted as diamonds.

Kwak So, the man who had sighed deeply, shook his head and opened his mouth.

“You’re really going to do it?”

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Don’t you think it’s a rather pointless question to ask after coming all this way?”

“Ugh, then if the Black King punishes you later, please say that I tried to stop you.”

“I’ll say it as much as you want. Though I don’t know if it will mean anything.”

Baek Yeon-hong said this and walked away with a smile.

“Let’s go together!”

Despite being nagged at, Baek Yeon-hong wasn’t particularly upset. In fact, he was in the best mood he had been in recently.

“So, the Demonic Heavenly Lord is here.”

He knew.

The Black King, or Cheongma, was stronger than the Demonic Heavenly Lord he was looking for. But for him, facing the Demonic Heavenly Lord had a slightly different meaning than simply seeking a strong opponent.

‘Demonic Heavenly Lord…’

Baek Yeon-hong licked his lips.

“It’ll be fun. It’ll be really fun.”

Baek Yeon-hong smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth.

He felt his heart pounding for the first time in a while.

The sensation of looking down at the humans crawling like ants from a high-rise was nothing compared to this excitement.

This must be what it means to be alive.

Kwak So, glancing at Baek Yeon-hong, said in a small voice.

“What are you going to do? The most certain way is to wait around his house, right?”

Baek Yeon-hong shrugged.

“It’s ridiculous to even consider someone’s background now.”

“Yes.”

“Still, I’m a righteous sect member, aren’t I?”

“You’re not just ‘somewhat’! As a member of the Sword Sect, you’re the most orthodox of the orthodox!”

“Right. I’m somewhat orthodox. Of course, I don’t blindly believe in the teachings of the Tao anymore, but I still have to keep some things. Even if it’s about dealing with a demonic fiend, you don’t mess with family.”

“Um, then I’ll try to find a way to contact him appropriately.”

“That’s good.”

Baek Yeon-hong nodded.

“Even if he’s a demon, you don’t show his corpse to his family. Let’s handle it as cleanly as possible.”

“Understood. Then please come this way.”

“Did you rent a car?”

“What car? We have to take a taxi, so come this way.”

“…Alright.”

“Seriously, it’s enough to sleep anywhere, but you had to find a high place and book a hotel on the opposite side of the city! We have to go all the way there again, all the way!”

Baek Yeon-hong closed his eyes tightly.

‘If it weren’t for my descendants…’

Who would have known that the only blemish of his past life would continue and lead to this?

“There’s no movement from the others yet, right?”

“No. The Black King gave strict instructions, so surely no one but the Sword Sect would be so bold as to disobey his orders? Even if they had the intention, no one would be as impatient as the Sword Sect.”

“Then it’ll be interesting to see.”

“Yes?”

“When I bring back the Demonic Heavenly Lord’s head, what kind of expressions will they make? Especially that middle-head guy, he’ll be spitting blood.”

“…I’ll admit, I’m a little excited about that too.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The two walked through the airport lobby towards the exit.

‘Demonic Heavenly Lord…’

A strange smile appeared on Baek Yeon-hong’s lips.

“It’s probably a misfortune that he returned to this era.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

The man walked out of the airport with a bitter smile.