Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1987

“Achen!”

The person who shoved the child under the bed frantically knocked down a pile of luggage, blocking the front.

“Ah, Father…”

“I have to go. Don’t make a sound and hide here. You must endure here for days until they leave!”

“Let’s run away together, Father!”

“No, I can’t.”

Yang Xu looked at Yang Chen with a stern face.

“Those bastards won’t stop until they find my corpse. If we run away together, you’ll be in danger too.”

“Ah, Father…”

“Achen, listen to me carefully. Never even dream of revenge!”

“…Why!”

Yang Chen protested desperately.

“I’m going to kill them. Those damn bastards! I’m going to kill all those dog-like bastards!”

“I said no!”

Yang Xu grabbed Yang Chen by the collar and pulled him close.

“Forget martial arts.”

“Forget everything you’ve learned, abandon your surname and name, and just live as a Yang person! There is no place for martial artists in this world anymore.”

“Did you see their weapons? Those guns and cannons! It might be manageable right now, but eventually, martial artists will disappear from the world. If you live as a martial artist, all that’s left is suffering.”

“Th, that’s… those Yang people and the Wae [Japanese]…”

“Qing [Qing Dynasty] is the same! Once weapons start spreading, there’s no way to turn back. Right now, only the Yang people use those weapons, but someday, Qing will also arm themselves with such weapons. Then, martial artists will have even less chance to survive.”

“Father…”

Yang Xu bit his lip tightly.

He fought with everything he had. He led the Righteous Harmony Society to protect this country against foreign powers.

Whether it was the ‘Overthrow the Qing, Restore the Ming’ or ‘Support the Qing, Destroy the Foreigners,’ it didn’t matter. What he wanted to protect wasn’t the country, but the people living on this land.

But in the end, he had come this far.

Those foreign powers had pushed into Beijing in an instant, turning this land into a hell. Even if he fought using martial arts, even if he mobilized all the country’s power, even if he had the support of the people…

There was no way to stop them.

‘The times have changed.’

Those who fall behind will inevitably face a miserable end.

The outside began to get noisy.

‘Is it too late?’

Yang Xu bit his lip tightly.

No, it was better this way. Rather than running away clumsily…

“You must never make a sound. No matter what you see!”

“Remember how I died. Don’t you ever face the same end as me. Live by tilling the land with those hands. That’s… that’s the right path. Remember that!”

“Ah, Fath…”

Yang Xu grabbed a piece of clothing next to him and shoved it into Yang Chen’s mouth.

“Don’t make a sound. Duck down!”

He pushed him further inside, and Yang Xu, who was blocking the front, bit his lip tightly.

“Those who lose their country become miserable. The people of the Central Plains will now experience the sorrow of being powerless. But…”

Yang Xu muttered bitterly.

“There’s no such thing as powerless for a martial artist.”

“Those who said to reach out when needed, now that we’ve lost, they’re abandoning us like we’re not even human.”

“Ugh…”

“There’s no place for us to rest in this world anymore. No one will protect us. We’ll just be used and thrown away. So… don’t become a martial artist. Forget what I taught you. Remember my death clearly and never pick up a sword again!”

“Ugh!”

“Quiet!”

Yang Xu quickly stood up and turned around.

Bang!

The door was smashed open, and armed soldiers poured in.

The muzzles of the guns they were holding were instantly aimed at Yang Xu.

Yang Xu closed his eyes as if resigned.

But that was just an outward appearance; his insides were burning black.

He had to remain calm.

He must never let them realize that his son was hiding here. No matter what he had to endure.

“So, this is where you ran to? Yang Xu, you’ve come to an end.”

Yang Xu opened his eyes and looked at the person walking in.

“Minister…”

Yang Xu clenched his fist so hard that his veins bulged when he saw Vice Minister Chen Chao.

The minister who came in with the foreign soldiers. Normally, this would be the moment to discuss treason. But the reason why Yang Xu was so angry was not because this man was a traitor, but because he was definitely not a traitor.

“As promised, I’ve handed over Yang Xu, so please ensure the Emperor’s safety.”

“Hmm.”

A man in Japanese military uniform nodded at those words.

“…Not only did you sell out all my comrades… now you’re selling me out too, Chen Chao! No matter how supreme the Emperor is! What kind of father sells out his people!”

“People?”

Chen Chao had a sneer on his face.

“How dare you, a bunch of thugs, call yourselves the Emperor’s people! You’re just an uncontrolled warlord.”

“You…”

“You were just enemies that had to be wiped out someday. It’s an honor to die for the Emperor’s safety.”

“…You used us like dogs, and now that you don’t need us, you’re going to boil us?”

“Shut up, you thug! The Emperor never trusted you in the first place! Would the word ‘people’ have come out of your mouths if it weren’t for this situation? You’re no different from armed robbers!”

“Still, my death will be worth something.”

Tears of blood flowed from Yang Xu’s eyes.

How many people had died?

How many people had fought against foreign powers to protect this country?

But they had all fallen before those guns and swords, and the country they tried to protect was abandoning them.

“The martial world is so fleeting.”

“Fire!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The guns aimed at Yang Xu fired all at once. Holes were pierced all over Yang Xu’s white clothes, and red blood splattered everywhere.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

It was excessive for the amount of bullets being fired to kill one person. But those here knew what kind of existence a martial artist was. The guns fired continuously as if they were going to fill his entire body with bullets.

Thud.

Yang Xu, his whole body stained with blood, slowly collapsed on the spot.

“Like a dog…”

“Ptoo!”

Chen Chao spat at Yang Xu.

The Japanese commander who was watching this clicked his tongue.

“Still, from your perspective, they would be patriots, wouldn’t they?”

“Would those bastards have fought for the people and the Emperor? They fought because they were afraid of losing their own benefits. That’s what martial artists are in the first place.”

“I agree with that. I also have a headache because of those samurai bastards. Thugs.”

“We must wipe them all out someday.”

“That day will come soon.”

“So, please ensure His Majesty’s safety…”

“Don’t worry about that. Other countries don’t want the imperial power to collapse right now either.”

Those who had finished with their guns turned around and went outside.

“What should we do with the body?”

“Tear it apart and hang it up.”

“No. Wait a moment.”

Chen Chao stopped them, and the commander frowned.

“Still, isn’t that too much?”

“That’s not it. If we tear his body apart and hang it up, he will inevitably be remembered as a patriot.”

“Oh?”

“Just leave it. So that he won’t leave even a single line in history.”

“…That’s a really cruel measure. Even his death has no value, and you’re even denying his life? Hahahaha!”

“Wouldn’t it be infuriating to think that such a thug fought for the Emperor?”

“Do as you please.”

The commander turned around.

Rustle.

But at the sound from behind, those who were heading outside turned back with sharp eyes.

“Who’s there?”

Chen Chao and the commander stared intently at the back.

That’s when they saw Yang Xu’s fingertips, which had fallen to the floor, trembling.

That trembling hand was desperately raised and waved in the air.

“That stubborn bastard.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The commander, who had pulled out his pistol, fired a few more bullets into Yang Xu’s chest and then fired a few more at the space under the bed behind Yang Xu.

Thud.

Yang Xu’s hand, which had been waving in the air, fell to the floor, and his head tilted to the side.

“That’s why samurai bastards are…”

“They’re as tenacious as rats.”

“Let’s go.”

Those accompanied by soldiers went outside.

“Are you going to the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. Please have mercy on the people.”

“There’s no way to stop the excited soldiers. However, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much. I will never forget this favor, even in death.”

The place where people had left quickly became filled with silence.

“Cough…”

A small hand emerged from among the piles of luggage, stained red with blood that had splattered from Yang Xu’s body. That trembling hand grabbed Yang Xu’s limp hand.

“…Fath, Father… Fath…” Yang Xu’s unfocused eyes twitched briefly as if searching for something.

“..Che… A..Chen…”

“Father! Ugh! Ugh!”

Yang Chen pushed his way out of the pile of luggage and hugged Yang Xu. His body was also quickly stained red with the blood that Yang Xu had shed.

No.

Most of his body was soaked with his own blood. But Yang Chen didn’t even feel the pain of the bullets piercing his body. Compared to this heart-wrenching pain, the pain of the flesh was nothing.

“…There…was…”

“Ah… Ah…”

“We…will…be…”

“D, don’t talk! Don’t talk, Father! Don’t…”

“Abandon…the sword…”

The light disappeared from Yang Xu’s eyes.

“Ugh…”

Yang Chen grabbed Yang Xu’s body and convulsed.

He mustn’t cry.

He mustn’t make a loud noise.

He didn’t even have the freedom to cry as much as he wanted.

‘What did we do wrong!’

Why did they have to be treated like this?

They were the same people, they were also people living on this land.

“Abandon the sword, Father?”

Yang Xu ground his teeth with a face like a Yaksha [a fierce demon]. The blood that flowed from his eyes soaked his entire face.

“…I won’t. I… I will never do that. I will never let anyone go through this.”

If there was no place to live…

He would create one.

If necessary, he would take it, if necessary, he would cultivate it.

If this world wouldn’t give them a place to be, he would destroy the world! He would find a place for them to live.

“Ugh…”

Yang Chen covered his mouth and sobbed, feeling his father’s body growing cold.

Like a beast.

Like a beast with nowhere to go.

The Black King slowly opened his eyes.

What he saw was a gray ceiling.

Only the white light that illuminated this underground where no light entered.

The Black King turned his head and saw those who were leaning against the wall and sleeping.

Warriors.

Warriors who had followed him here, not caring for their own lives.

‘Is all we’ve gained just this damp underground?’

That was all they had gained so far.

No matter how much wealth they obtained, no matter how much power they obtained, it was impossible to own land. Owning land was not for humans, but for the state. Even if they obtained that land, it didn’t mean they would have a place to live.

‘Teacher, I envy you so much it hurts.’

He was able to return in time.

He was able to return to before his life was twisted and fix everything.

But not everyone was given such luck.

He was curious.

If Kang Jin-ho had returned to the moment before his life was cut short?

If he had returned to the moment when he had lost everything and had no will to live, would he have been able to say that he believed in them and would live together like he did now?

‘I don’t know.’

If he had returned to the time before his father died, he might have lived a different life than he did now. Like Kang Jin-ho…

But…

‘I don’t have any regrets.’

He had no intention of turning away. That was just passing on what he had experienced to others.

‘Burn me.’

It didn’t matter if he was burned to ashes. If he could obtain a handful of land with the ashes left from his body.

However…

“…I agree with one thing, Kang Jin-ho. People… can’t live alone. It’s too lonely.”

So…

Stop making him wait…

Come quickly.

The moment of true reunion after hundreds of years…

He was desperately waiting.

“Hehehehehe.”

The Black King’s low laughter slowly spread through the deep underground.

Author’s Note