Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1959

As soon as the call connected, a cheerful voice burst out.

“[Did you see the broadcast?]”

It was like someone who had coincidentally appeared on TV was talking to a close acquaintance. Kang Jin-ho let out a hollow laugh and replied in a low voice.

“You looked good on screen.”

“[So you did see it. I put a lot of thought into it. I was thinking of going with a stronger concept, maybe wearing a mask like a villain. That way, people might be a little more scared.]”

“That’s a stupid idea.”

“[Yes. So, I went with my usual self. Thinking that the Lord might be watching, I couldn’t bring myself to speak informally. I believe you understand my feelings.]”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

He knew it from before, but this guy was truly out of his mind.

Because of this one guy, the world was now turned upside down. The place where they were gathered was relatively quiet, but outside was utter chaos.

The leaders of each country were holding endless overnight meetings, trying to figure out how to handle this situation. Journalists demanding the truth, as well as ordinary citizens, were storming the National Assembly and the places where national leaders were staying, staging protests.

In some countries, there were even signs of riots.

Yet, the guy who had caused all of this was as relaxed as could be. His audacity left even Kang Jin-ho speechless.

“You made quite a spectacle.”

“[It’s something I’ve been preparing for a long time. In my entire life, I’ve never planned and executed something for such a long time. Of course…]”

A low chuckle was heard.

“[Just when I was about to implement it, the Lord appeared, and I broke out in a cold sweat. It’s a bit of a burden knowing that the person who knows me best exists in the same world.]”

“Honestly, I never imagined it.”

“[If I had stayed still, you might have noticed.]”

“That damn bastard…”

Lee Hyun-soo gritted his teeth.

That meant that Cheongma’s actions, such as appearing before Kang Jin-ho and stirring up the world through the Twelve Flying Dragons, were also intended to deceive Kang Jin-ho.

He was burning with anger inside.

He was angry at the existence of the Black King, who had toyed with them with such a nonchalant face, and at himself for not noticing the plan at all.

“[So, what are your thoughts?]”

“It was like crap.”

“[I figured you’d say that.]” Just as Kang Jin-ho knew Cheongma well, Cheongma also knew Kang Jin-ho well.

“[But on the other hand, you must have felt a sense of exhilaration, didn’t you?]”

“What do you want to say?”

“[The Lord I know doesn’t like oppression. Even in the strict Demonic Cult, you were someone who lived as you pleased, even if it meant shedding blood.

As if you didn’t care if you died.]”

“[Someone like that couldn’t possibly not know that this world is suppressing him. If I hadn’t done it, the Lord would have done it someday. Rather, I couldn’t understand why the Lord hadn’t attempted something like this at all. Wasn’t it the Lord who tried to correct the twisted world by spreading the Asura Realm [a chaotic and lawless realm] in the past?]”

Kang Jin-ho bit his lip. Deep down, he knew that Cheongma’s words were not entirely wrong. If it were the Kang Jin-ho of the past, the moment he unified the Murim world [a martial arts world], he might have tried to lead the Murim people into the light, even if it meant going to war with the outside world.

Enduring this twisted world was not easy for him either.

But now, his thoughts were different.

“For what?”

“[Huh?]”

“What for? What’s going to be better because of it? What value is there in that position you gained by shedding blood and fighting? If we just give up being Murim, we can walk in the light even now.”

“[…….]”

“Not letting go of anything I have, and only trying to gain more, is just whining.”

A moment of silence passed.

The Black King’s voice, which was heard again, was a little calmer than before.

“[Wow, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect to hear those words from the Lord, of all people. The Lord I know was someone who took pride in being a Murim more than anyone else.]”

“You…”

“[No, no. Well, that doesn’t matter much. Anyway, the river has been crossed, and the arrow has been shot. Now, arguing about what is right is a useless thing to do.]”

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth.

That was also true.

These words should have been said before Cheongma started this. Now, there was no turning back. Whether what Cheongma had done was right or wrong, there was no way to stop it on his own.

And if it was the Cheongma he knew, he wouldn’t stop. If he had any intention of stopping, he wouldn’t have started in the first place.

“[Isn’t it interesting?]”

“What is?”

“[In the past, the Lord tried to change the world, and I stopped it. In return, I lost my life, but I still preserved the Murim world. If I had left it to the Lord, everything would have ended in ruin.]”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t refute that.

In the past, he didn’t care about others. And he didn’t particularly care about the flow of the world either. He was just doing what he wanted to do.

Now he understood how reckless what he had tried to do was.

“[But this time, I’m trying to change the world, and the Lord is trying to stop me. Our positions have completely changed. So, aren’t you curious about how the result will be different?]”

“I know one thing.”

“[May I ask?]”

“That you’re going to die, that won’t change.”

“[Hahahahahahaha!]”

Laughter burst out without hesitation.

It wasn’t a sneer, but laughter that seemed genuinely cheerful.

“[That’s why I like the Lord.]”

“Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. You didn’t call just to make small talk.”

“[Yes, I understand. The point is simple. Lord, the world has changed. No, it will change now. I intend to make it so.]”

“[If you saw the broadcast, you’ll understand, but I have no intention of dominating the Murim world or increasing my power through this. I just thought that if things continued as they were, the world of Murim would collapse someday, and everyone would be left behind.]”

Kang Jin-ho bit his lip.

Kang Jin-ho had come to the same conclusion. But their solutions were different.

Kang Jin-ho aimed for stronger control and a more perfect unity. Even if the Murim people had less and less place to stand, as long as the General Assembly existed and supported them, and if they could successfully support those who wanted to integrate into the world, he thought the Murim world could last longer.

But Cheongma twisted the very foundation.

There was no reason for them to change. It was this wrong world that needed to change. So, instead of them changing, they would change the world.

‘What was the right thing to do?’

He still didn’t know.

But Kang Jin-ho couldn’t agree with this radical conclusion.

“So?”

“[Come to me.]”

“[I made the offer first, Lord. I told you to just watch from behind, and I would change the world and protect your life as well. I kept my promise.]”

“This is it?”

“[Of course, it’s not perfect yet. But it will be. You know how I work, Lord.]”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back in his chair.

Then, he put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He couldn’t bear it without smoking one.

“[Unfortunately, I lack the power to lead people. The only way I can lead people is by suppressing them with fear and tempting them with visions.]”

“Seems like enough to me?”

“[Absolutely not. Even the Twelve Flying Dragons don’t completely follow me. That’s why I cleanly gave up on creating a vast organization. I can change the world, but I don’t know how to lead the changed world.]”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

He knew what Cheongma was going to say.

“[Come to me. No, that’s presumptuous. Please join me in what I’m trying to do, Lord. If you lead everyone from the front, and I support you, no one will be able to stop us.]”

“You’re overestimating me too much…”

“[Absolutely not. That’s just your own thought. In the past, you controlled the Demonic Cult [a powerful and often feared martial arts sect] like your own limbs. I, who was in charge of everything, had to avoid the eyes of other Demonic Cult members and bring in the righteous sects to plot a rebellion because you had such a firm grip on the Demonic Cult.]”

“[And now, in just a few years, you’ve taken control of an organization called the General Assembly. Others might think it’s possible because you’re strong, but that’s just the words of ignorant fools. It’s not something that can be done with mere martial prowess.]”

“Hoo…”

Kang Jin-ho exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke.

He felt suffocated.

His chest felt tight.

“[You know, this is not for my own selfish desires. And you know this is the right direction. Others may not know, but you, Lord, will know. So… join me. You are essential to lead the Murim Autonomous Region.]”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes. Cheongma’s voice kept ringing in his ears. Even though he had already given more than enough explanation, the fact that he kept talking meant that Cheongma was also desperately hoping for Kang Jin-ho’s participation.

“[If the Lord and I work together, we can solidify the changed world and regain the rights of the Murim people. And we can preserve the world of Murim, which is like our hometown.]”

Hollow laughter escaped from Wiggins’ mouth as he listened to those words.

The words the Master had said to him echoed in his ears.

That the idea that they were the righteous ones was blocking his thinking. That perhaps the ones they were fighting against were the righteous ones.

If the Black King was fighting solely to preserve the world of the Murim people and regain their rights, without thinking of his own gain, who among the Murim people could criticize him?

What if future generations were to evaluate this?

What would the Murim people of the future say when they looked back at this time?

No matter what the outcome, even if the radical nature of the method could be debated, there would be no problem in calling the Black King a revolutionary who fought for all the Murim people.

Then what about them?

What kind of evaluation would they receive for stopping such a Black King?

‘This is terrible.’

This situation was too much to handle.

“[Perhaps this should have happened back then. If a little more time had passed until the Lord unified and stabilized the Murim world, it should have happened in that era. But it’s not too late now. We still have one last chance.]”

“Cheongma…”

“[Let’s work together, Lord. Like before, let’s go back to when you led and I supported you. We can achieve what we couldn’t achieve back then.]”

That was….

It was more like a plea than a persuasion.

Even those who thought that the Black King might persuade Kang Jin-ho never imagined that the Black King would come out so submissively.

“I…”

Kang Jin-ho’s mouth slowly opened.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.