Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1960

“I don’t understand.”

Kang Jin-ho’s low voice trailed off.

“Do you need me? You’ve already done everything yourself. Looking at it objectively, you’re already shaking this world on your own. So why do you need me?”

[I am someone who excels at breaking things. I pride myself on being the best at dismantling, destroying, and redefining things. The results have already proven that.]

That was true.

With just one broadcast, he had shattered the established order of the world.

Neither the Chang King, the Hong King, nor even Kang Jin-ho himself would have dared to do what he did so casually—tying the hands and feet of the world’s ruling nations.

This was something that only the Black King could even attempt.

[But my abilities are limited to that. I don’t know how to smoothly lead a martial arts autonomous region. That’s not a matter of skill, but of disposition.]

“Disposition?”

[A monarch of a chaotic era is useless in an ordinary world. Conversely, a wise ruler of a peaceful era becomes nothing more than a desk-bound scholar in a chaotic era. I am someone who breaks things, not someone who leads.]

[I only recently realized that I have no support system. I need someone else for that. And… I’ve learned from experience that I’m not cut out to be the leader. My mind works best when I make the plans, but someone else takes the responsibility.]

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo, feeling the gaze, subtly turned his head to the side.

[What do you think, Lord? What do you think will be the result of what I’ve done?]

“It’ll fail. Miserably.”

[Haha, I think there’s a high probability of that too.]

An unexpectedly cheerful answer came back.

[But if you are there, Lord, and if those who follow you support me, then the world can change. If the powerful threat I now hold is combined with the power of the General Assembly [a major martial arts organization] and the Hong King faction, the world’s largest forces, we will become a powerful nation that no one in the world can ignore.]

Wiggins bit his lip.

‘He’s not wrong.’

The martial artists scattered around the world are few in number.

But if they are all gathered together, they become a considerable force. A nation with a military power so strong that no country would want to wage war against it alone would be born.

[They’re probably in the middle of discussing how to capture and kill me right now.]

“I won’t deny that.”

[We can change the direction a little, can’t we? There’s more than one way to resolve this situation. Of course, there’s also the option of killing me and then apologizing for this whole situation and seeking coexistence. But that’s just acknowledging their superior rights and bowing down in humiliation.]

[But if you are with me, we can guarantee our rights. So why do you say that you and I have to fight?]

A sigh escaped from Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.

He knew that the logic was a sophistry [a clever but false argument].

But it was also true that his words were shaking his heart.

Would it have been different if it had been someone other than Cheongma [the Black King’s name]?

Well, he didn’t know.

But what was certain was that Cheongma’s words were shaking Kang Jin-ho’s heart and twisting his thoughts.

Kang Jin-ho glanced around.

The atmosphere was subtle.

It seemed that Cheongma’s logic had shaken even them. They didn’t look completely in agreement, but they couldn’t help but feel their hearts wavering.

“Is it my turn to answer now?”

[Yes.]

“Cut the crap.”

[…….]

Kang Jin-ho bit his lip slightly.

“What you’re saying sounds plausible, but it’s just a shallow trick. Let’s say we gather all the people into the martial arts autonomous region. What are you going to do then?”

[What do you mean?]

“You said that it was difficult to lead the majority, so you only took a minority, right?”

[That’s right.]

“Then let me tell you. Martial artists are a bunch of guys who can’t even make a living on their own. They spend lavishly, and when they have time, they don’t earn money, they just train, and they can’t even go buy a new smartphone by themselves. In other words, they’re parasites of society, and they’re idiots with no productivity.”

Laughter burst out.

The people gathered here were all leaders of martial artists above a certain level. So they couldn’t help but completely agree with what Kang Jin-ho said.

“That’s true.”

“Honestly, it’s hard to deny.”

In particular, the directors of the General Assembly actively agreed. No, the one who agreed the most might be Chai Ke-chang, who was nodding his head so hard it looked like his neck would break.

“The biggest headache for me isn’t ‘how to hide the General Assembly from the world,’ but ‘how to feed these gluttons who eat ten times more than others in one meal.’”

No voice came from the other side.

Even the great Cheongma seemed flustered.

[No, that was the case for me in the past too…….]

“Don’t talk nonsense. In the past, you just had to destroy a suitable sect and take the wealth they had accumulated. That’s not production. That’s plunder.”

There was no answer.

“So, what are you going to do this time? Are you going to lead that powerful nation you talked about and plunder?”

[That’s…….]

“Or are you going to capture ordinary people and enslave them in that martial arts nation?”

Kang Jin-ho, with a faint sneer, chewed on the filter in his mouth and said,

“You seem to have forgotten one thing. We are people before we are martial artists. Before discussing our rights as martial artists, we need to find a way to live as people. The castle you’re building is just a castle built on sand.”

[Lord…….]

“You’ve always been like that. You don’t see people. You say you’re for the martial artists, but the martial artists you’re for are just a concept. You don’t have in your head what living, breathing people really want.”

Kang Jin-ho took a deep drag of his cigarette. The smoke stirred inside his lungs. At the same time, he felt like things were becoming clearer in his head.

“That’s why your logic is empty. You, the great one, lead as you please, and those who are just parts follow you. People have come this far to avoid that overly simple and seemingly correct conclusion.”

Lee Hyun-soo bit his lip and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

Even he hadn’t expected Kang Jin-ho to refute the Black King’s words so logically.

Kang Jin-ho sometimes hit the nail on the head, but this time, Kang Jin-ho’s words were completely collapsing the Black King’s logic.

[It’s a little interesting to hear.]

“What’s interesting?”

[Wasn’t it you, Lord, who didn’t see people as people?]

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho readily admitted.

“I was like that in the past. I was worse than you are now. I breathed, but I was a person who didn’t breathe.”

Kang Jin-ho took a deep breath.

“But not anymore. I’ve been given another chance to learn. I’ve had a chance to reflect on and undo the stupid things I’ve done. So I know what I missed, what I did wrong. That’s what it means to live. But……”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes sank.

“You haven’t changed at all.”

A long silence fell.

No one could open their mouths. Even Cheongma on the other end of the line responded to Kang Jin-ho’s words with deep silence.

How much time had passed?

[You’ve changed a lot.]

“Unlike you.”

[I thought there was an 80% chance of being rejected, but I never thought it would be for this reason. To be honest, I’m a bit speechless. And that what you said isn’t wrong…]

Cheongma’s voice, which had trailed off slightly, became cheerful again.

[But that’s just when you think about it negatively. If you think about it the other way around, that’s why I want you, Lord. In this world, you are the only one who can tell me that I’m going in the wrong direction and change it.]

“You crazy bastard……”

A rough voice flowed from Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.

As expected, it was like this.

This guy is like a black sun.

The sun doesn’t change. Even after ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years, a million years, the sun stays in the same place.

[Everything in the world has side effects. And everything in the world can be changed for the better. You say that, but even at this moment, you’re thinking about how to lead this matter in the best direction.]

“At least not your way.”

[Then let’s change that way. If you come, Lord, I will do that. If not, I have no choice but to do it my way.]

In the end, the conclusion was no different from the beginning.

[Come to me, Lord. If not, step back and watch. This is not a warning, but a request.]

“A request?”

[If I fail as you said, Lord, someone will need to clean up the mess. When the world is burning with hatred for martial artists, it will collapse if there is no center. The Hong King or the Master cannot play that role. You know that, right?]

People’s eyes unconsciously turned to the Hong King.

Despite being ignored, the Hong King’s face was surprisingly calm. He even waved his hand as if to agree with the Black King’s words.

“It hurts my pride… but it’s true. I’m barely able to handle the Central Plains [a region in China]. I’ve already realized that my capacity isn’t that great.”

[It’s good that you know your place.]

Cheongma chuckled softly and continued.

[It won’t be a difficult request. Either join me or step back. As long as you conclude that you won’t be hostile, either way, you won’t be harmed, Lord. You might even find yourself in a better situation than you are now.]

“I might be.”

Kang Jin-ho answered calmly.

“But others might end up in hell because of what you’ve done.”

[That’s not important. Either way, the only thing left is hell.]

[I want you to know one thing. All of this is for the future of the martial artists. It may be something I started with a narrow view and arrogance, but I believe it will bring better results than now.]

“You talk a good game.”

[So, Lord, please make a wise decision.]

The call ended.

At the same time, Kang Jin-ho also stubbed out the cigarette he was holding in the ashtray.

“That’s just….”

Kang Jin-ho, placing his phone on the table, laughed softly.

“He’s so self-centered. Just like before.”

But one thing was certain.

This self-centered guy was dragging the world as he wanted and wielding it.

And unlike the past, he had appeared before Kang Jin-ho as the strongest and worst enemy.

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes slowly sank.

‘Cheongma.’