Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1933

Crack.

Hong Wang quietly clenched his fist.

‘Blood King, huh…’

He called himself Hokbi, but the name Blood King was more familiar to him.

In the past, before the Demonic Cult [a powerful and often feared organization in martial arts stories], the sect that symbolized demons was none other than the Blood Sect. The leaders of the Blood Sect had always carried the name Blood Demon.

But among them, there was one who made his name known throughout the world, and that was the Blood King. He was the one who once stained the world with blood under the name of the Blood Sect.

‘The Emperor of Evil.’

Before the appearance of the Demon Lord, the Blood King was the one who represented the demons. Facing such a person, he couldn’t help but feel tense.

This fight would surely be completely different from the fierce battle he had with the Divine Spear.

“Hong Wang, is it…”

The Blood King’s eyes emitted a bloody light.

Seeing that, Hong Wang unconsciously opened his mouth.

It was a question he asked every time, but every time he learned who they were, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Is it possible that someone like you would bow your head to that Black King?”

The Blood King tilted his head slightly.

“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”

“…It’s a matter of pride.”

“Pride, huh…”

The Blood King’s mouth, wrapped in bandages, twisted.

“Pride is something only children show off. When you get older, it doesn’t matter that much.”

“You’ve lived too long.”

“Maybe so.”

The Blood King turned his head and looked towards the villa.

“But I don’t think you’re the one to say that. You are the emperor of this Central Plains [a term often used to refer to the heartland of China in martial arts stories]. Yet, you’ve given the initiative to someone from outside and are blocking me like a dog guarding a house.”

“You don’t seem to know…”

“Hmm?”

Hong Wang smiled.

“Pride is something only children show off. Adults prioritize purpose and practicality.”

“…Haha.”

The Blood King, having his own words thrown back at him, chuckled.

“Well, fine. Ask more. I’ll answer as much as you want.”

“…Ask more?”

The Blood King nodded.

Then, a deep wrinkle formed between Hong Wang’s eyebrows.

“Then let me ask one thing. What is your purpose?”

“You’re asking the obvious. Right now, it’s to kill the Chairman.”

“Next.”

Hong Wang frowned.

“I’m asking about your ultimate goal.”

“World domination. Next.”

“This guy…”

As Hong Wang was about to grind his teeth, the Blood King raised a finger and wiggled it.

“I’ve never lied even once.”

“If you want, I can explain in more detail. We are those who follow the Black King’s purpose. But the Black King’s purpose has no end.”

“…What does that mean?”

“It means our goal is not completed with the Black King. That’s why we can cooperate, and that’s why we can bow our heads to him. The goals that each of the Twelve Evils have can never be achieved as long as the Black King exists.”

“But we can’t eliminate him either. He’s a strongman that we can’t do anything about even if we all attack him. But… if we become the hands and feet to achieve his desired goal, then we will be given freedom. The freedom to do as we please in a world without that Black King.”

Hong Wang let out a hollow laugh.

“You believe that?”

“There’s no reason not to. Do you lie to others?”

“I don’t have a reason to. Don’t you think?”

Hong Wang silently stared at the Blood King.

“Even someone like you doesn’t try to deceive others. Because the pride that crumbles because of it is greater than the gain. In that sense, he is someone who doesn’t need to lie to us.”

“You don’t think that makes sense, do you? Seriously?”

The Blood King laughed, “Haha.”

“Even if he deceives us, what will change?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“We can’t escape his control anyway. Even if he achieves everything he wants and changes his words to control us, it’s no different from now. If there’s even a 30% chance that he’ll keep his word, isn’t that a good deal?”

Hong Wang frowned.

He couldn’t understand what kind of logic that was.

“Of course, this is just my opinion. We are not blind followers like you. Each of us serves him for our own reasons. If what he wants is achieved, we can become enemies again, or we can become brothers.”

Hong Wang shook his head.

It was clear that he couldn’t communicate with them.

“Then what about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes. What is your purpose right now?”

The Blood King started laughing again.

“That’s a difficult question to answer. But since I said I would answer, I will. My purpose right now is to stall for time by having as many conversations as possible with a fool like you.”

Hong Wang’s eyes narrowed.

Then, the Blood King shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s why I said it was difficult to answer.”

“…You’re incredibly wicked.”

“It would be nice if you called me clever instead. That’s why martial artists are so interesting. Even those who were once incredibly intelligent stop thinking as their power grows.”

The Blood King took a step forward.

“If I’ve stalled for this much time without using my hands, I can say I’ve made a good deal. So, what are you going to do now? If you want, I’m willing to have tea time while the people inside settle things.”

Hong Wang clenched his fist.

“I thought the Blood King would be a man of few words, but you’re more talkative than I thought.”

“That’s why images, preconceptions, and stereotypes are bad. I like to talk. Words convey my intentions to others. There’s no better way to shake someone else’s emotions.”

Hong Wang lightly shook his hand.

“If that was your intention, then you’ve failed. Thanks to talking with you, the respect I had for facing a martial artist who left his name in history has completely disappeared.”

“Respect, huh…”

The Blood King tilted his head slightly.

“I don’t think I need your respect. I already have enough.”

Hong Wang’s expression changed slightly.

‘When?’

Someone was approaching quickly.

‘Ten? Twenty? No… More than fifty?’

The energy each of them exuded was extraordinary. They were all top-tier martial artists.

Seeing Hong Wang’s changed expression, the Blood King chuckled lowly.

“Why? Did you think we wouldn’t have subordinates?”

“Do you know what they call me in China, Korea, Japan, and some other countries?”

“…What did they call you?”

“They usually called me that. The king of the returnees.”

Hong Wang’s eyes widened slightly.

“…Not the Black King?”

“He doesn’t care about such trivial matters. He believes that no matter how many useless things you gather, they won’t be of any help.”

“But I’m different. I know the greatness of numbers.”

Thud! Thud!

Warriors arrived one after another around them.

Warriors wrapped in black bandages, just like the Blood King. The gloomy energy emanating from them made Hong Wang’s hair stand on end.

‘Returnees?’

No, that’s not it.

Something was different.

The energy emanating from them was different, but also somehow connected. A subtle nausea was felt in common among the completely different energies.

“…What have you done?”

“Do you know why the Blood Sect became a cult?”

“…Because they did wicked things.”

“That’s right.”

The Blood King clapped lightly.

“More precisely, it’s because they raised the dead. I was called a demon who devoured human souls and turned the dead into zombies. But…”

The Blood King asked as if trying to persuade him.

“Is it possible for zombies to exist?”

“Of course, we are beings that defy science, and we cross the boundaries of life and death, but the resurrection of the dead is still in the realm of religion. You wouldn’t believe such nonsense, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“Yes, that’s right. If the ignorant people of that time had a little knowledge, they would have understood how absurd it was. But… at that time, such rumors spread. Do you know why?”

Hong Wang bit his lip slightly.

Even though he knew that all this conversation was just a means to stall for time, he couldn’t recklessly attack.

It was because he couldn’t figure out how many more tricks this guy had hidden.

“It’s simple. A monster that fights even when its arm is cut off. A monster that doesn’t care even when its stomach is torn and its intestines are dangling. A monster that has lost all humanity and is only focused on killing the living in front of it.”

The Blood King’s low laughter pierced Hong Wang’s ears.

“The old people called such people zombies. They said that unless a corpse was revived, it was impossible to fight without changing one’s expression even when an arm was cut off and white bones were exposed. Living zombies. Yes, that’s what they called them. Some called them blood zombies.”

Hong Wang’s face twisted horribly.

Now he understood what the Blood King was trying to say.

“You… what have you done to these people?”

“It’s nothing much. I just took away their fear. And I made them unable to feel pain. I just erased a bit of their cognition and made them absolutely obedient to orders.”

The Blood King’s hand caressed his face as if scratching it.

“People are stupid. Why do you need zombies? If you can’t raise corpses, you can just turn people into corpses.”

“You… you’re outrageous!”

“Ah, don’t make that face. I’m so glad to meet you. I’ve had the experience of trying to turn someone who had crossed the wall [a metaphor for reaching a high level of martial arts] several times into a living corpse, but failed.”

Crack!

The Blood King’s hand tore off the bandages around his mouth. His red tongue, like a snake’s, poked out and licked his lips, which were still not fully uncovered.

“Now that I’ve made some progress since the past, I want to try again. You’ll be the best living zombie. I guarantee it. Of course, the process will be a little painful…”

The Blood King chuckled.

“You guys live only to become stronger, right? I guarantee it! You’ll become several times stronger! And you won’t know what fear is! How about it? Isn’t it great?”

Hong Wang silently clenched his fist.

He had heard enough of this guy’s nonsense.

“I’ll make you pay the price.”

“…That’s a shame. I thought someone like you would understand. Well, it doesn’t matter. The result will be the same.”

The moment the Blood King’s finger flicked, the warriors wrapped in black bandages surrounding them growled like beasts.

“Try not to damage them too much… no, no. Kill them with all your might. Hold onto their ankles.”

As soon as those words were finished, the bandage men let out a scream and rushed towards Hong Wang.

Seeing the bandage men rushing towards him like a pack of wild dogs, Hong Wang’s whole body emitted a golden aura.

“The only thing I can give you is rest!” At the same time, his fist unleashed a terrifying force.