Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2020

“He’s coming out!”

“Finally…”

The members of the General Assembly clenched their fists as they watched Bang Jin-hoon walk towards the center.

Everyone fighting there was incredibly impressive to them.

But there were always those who were special.

The faces of the members watching Bang Jin-hoon began to stiffen with tension.

In fact, the directors of the General Assembly were like stars in the distant sky to them. Even though they didn’t create a barrier between themselves and the ordinary members, they couldn’t help but acknowledge the difference and keep their distance.

But Bang Jin-hoon was different.

Bang Jin-hoon was someone who had shared the ups and downs with them since before the General Assembly reached its current position, and he was also the master who had taught them their martial arts one by one.

To put it simply, Bang Jin-hoon was the last bastion of pride in the Korean martial arts world, which had changed so much.

“Master!”

“Oh, Director…”

The members swallowed hard as they watched Bang Jin-hoon walk out confidently.

“…Will he be okay?”

“Of course, he’ll be okay. What are you saying? That the Director might lose?”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”

The person who trailed off hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Actually, you all know. Compared to the other directors, Director Bang is a bit…”

“What, you little punk?”

“Ah, no, don’t get angry…”

The speaker flinched and lowered his head. As soon as he finished speaking, the other members around him glared at him with sharp eyes.

The reason for their anger was very simple.

It was because they knew that what he said wasn’t entirely wrong. If they truly believed Bang Jin-hoon was an unrivaled powerhouse among them, they would have all just laughed it off.

“…He’ll be okay, right?”

“Well…”

Those watching the screen in the front nodded.

“He looks good.”

“He always does his best when it matters.”

“He seems to be fully prepared.”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Bang Jin-hoon.

Bang Jin-hoon standing there held a special significance. Bang Jin-hoon was clearly a representative of the General Assembly, but he was also a representative of those who were there now.

‘Please, do your best, Director.’

It might be a difficult request.

But they wanted to see it for themselves.

They wanted to confirm that the martial arts they were learning worked in this arena, that they could stand tall against the powerhouses who dominated the world with just the martial arts they were learning.

Bang Jin-hoon, who carried that heavy burden, stepped into the center with a face that was as reliable as ever.

“It’s a needless worry. The Director actually looks refreshed.”

“Right?”

“No, it’s obvious. Director Bang is a powerhouse even the Guild Master acknowledged!”

Bang Jin-hoon, who walked forward confidently without a moment’s hesitation, stood with his shoulders squared. The members of the General Assembly, seeing Bang Jin-hoon’s determined face, sent their representative a look full of trust.

They knew it wouldn’t reach him through the screen, but they believed that their hearts would be conveyed.

“Shit.”

A curse word involuntarily escaped from Bang Jin-hoon’s mouth.

He tried to calm down, but all that came out were curses and sighs.

‘I’ve gone crazy.’

Why did he walk out here on his own two feet? What was he even thinking?

His legs were trembling.

His heart was pounding, and he felt like his vision was going dark.

Seeing the Blood Demon return in tatters had made his blood rush to his head, but now that he was standing here, his blood was rapidly cooling down.

‘This is why people should think twice before acting.’

Why did he just rush in without thinking? How much effort had he put in to fix this impulsive personality of his?

‘Mom.’

Tears welled up in Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes as he stared at the dark ceiling. But he couldn’t just turn tail and run now. Damn it, the whole situation was being broadcast on TV.

‘The kids are all watching.’

He could only hope that his trembling legs wouldn’t be caught on camera.

They were probably expecting something from their master, but if they saw him all scared and shaking, what kind of face would he have?

No…

Come to think of it, maybe it would be better to surrender quickly than to be beaten to a pulp and look like a mess…

‘I’m going crazy, really.’

His head was about to split in two because of the thoughts that were changing every moment.

“Hoo…”

Bang Jin-hoon took a long, deep breath.

‘I can’t do this, really.’

Why was he standing here?

He was just an ordinary martial artist.

Frankly, he didn’t have anything special. It was just that while others were openly double-dealing and engaging in tyranny, he couldn’t stand to watch it because of his bad temper.

That was why people who sympathized with him had gathered one by one, and after he was cleanly purged by the double-dealer Kang Jin-ho, he had taken a high position because there was a need for someone to represent the Korean martial artists who made up the majority of the General Assembly.

He knew best that he wasn’t qualified for it.

“Then you should have run away, you idiot, why are you still clinging to your pride… Ah, oh.”

As Bang Jin-hoon groaned, he saw a person slowly walking towards the center.

“Damn it.”

He looked strong.

He didn’t have any particularly striking features. He just looked like a middle-aged man of average build. But the heavy aura emanating from him made it easy to guess his skill.

Of course.

Who among the Twelve Evils would be weak?

Objectively speaking, there wasn’t a single person among them who was weaker than him. To be frank, the Master’s defense of his honor and the Blood Demon’s good fight were just luck.

It was a stroke of luck that happened because they didn’t know each other well.

But unfortunately, Bang Jin-hoon wouldn’t be given such luck.

He didn’t have unique magic like the Master, nor did he have the bizarre nature of the Blood Demon.

He didn’t have a sharp dagger to stab at the opponent’s weakness. He could only face them head-on with his steadfast and blunt fists.

Step, step.

The opponent who walked to the center smiled at Bang Jin-hoon.

“I am Jang Wang. And you?”

“…I am Bang Jin-hoon, a director of the General Assembly. I don’t have a special title.”

“A director…”

Jang Wang glanced back.

“So, you are one of those who represent the General Assembly.”

“I was very curious. I wondered what kind of place the General Assembly was that the Evil King, who doesn’t even care about the Hong Wang clan, was so concerned about, and what kind of martial arts the General Assembly had.”

Well…

I don’t think you should expect much.

“Although it is the same martial art, each region has its own characteristics. If it is the martial art of Haedong [Korea], not the Central Plains [China], it will surely have different characteristics from the Central Plains. I hope you can show me that.”

He was polite.

His attitude was impeccable.

But Bang Jin-hoon’s face began to contort at those words.

“What the hell is this guy…”

“Yes?”

It was difficult to fully understand the meaning with Bang Jin-hoon’s short Chinese, but one thing was certain.

“You, you’re looking down on us, aren’t you?”

“…Looking down?”

“‘Show me,’ and all that crap, you bastard. What, do you think Korean martial arts are just a spectacle?”

Even as he looked at Jang Wang’s bewildered face, Bang Jin-hoon didn’t relax his expression.

A subtle nuance.

But Bang Jin-hoon could feel a subtle disregard in it. Those were words that only someone who was sure that their martial arts were the standard could say.

“Anyway, those Chinese bastards are really… You bastard, is there an original and a fake when it comes to killing people? ‘Show me’? I’ll pluck your eyes out.”

Jang Wang couldn’t possibly understand the words that suddenly came out in Korean. But there were words in the world that could be understood even if they weren’t understood.

“He’s an opponent who doesn’t understand words. I thought he would at least have some dignity.”

“Dignity? Heh, look at this crazy bastard?”

Bang Jin-hoon clenched his fist.

“Do you think it hurts less when you die if you’re killed politely? It’s just a fight, what dignity are you talking about?”

Crack.

Bang Jin-hoon, clenching his fist, slowly took a stance.

“You said you wanted to see Korean martial arts?”

“Okay, I’ll show you as much as you want. But you’ll have to pay the price with your body. Come on, you bastard.”

Jang Wang’s face stiffened. He stared at Bang Jin-hoon for a moment before nodding.

“It’s not difficult to apologize if I was rude.”

“But.”

Jang Wang smiled.

“If what I said was rude, you must first prove yourself. If you can prove your martial arts, I promise to bow my head and apologize.”

“If your head is still attached by then, that is.”

“Hahaha!”

Jang Wang nodded as if he liked his spirit.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Jang Wang, one of the Twelve Evils. In my past life, I was called the Heavenly Palm King.”

“I told you I don’t have a title, why do you keep doing that?”

“Hahaha!”

Jang Wang smiled and lightly took a stance.

Watching him, Bang Jin-hoon swallowed hard.

He had rushed in because he didn’t want to lose in the battle of wills, but now that he was about to fight, his anxiety was growing more and more. Jang Wang’s relaxed attitude was also bothering him.

To be frank, he had completely failed to gain the upper hand in the conversation. Rather, Bang Jin-hoon was feeling burdened by Jang Wang’s composure.

‘Damn it, everything I do is like this.’

His heart was pounding like crazy.

‘Calm down, calm down.’

First, calm down…

“Now, let’s start with one move.”

At that moment, Jang Wang lightly extended his hand.

The palm force that emanated from his outstretched palm slowly flew towards Bang Jin-hoon.

‘I’ll just block it once… No!’

Bang Jin-hoon slightly moved his body to the side, avoiding Jang Wang’s palm force. Since it was certain that the guy’s inner strength was higher than his, there was no need to waste his strength.

“It’s so slow, who would get hit by th…”

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Bang Jin-hoon, who had closed his mouth, turned his head and looked behind him.

Krrrrrr!

The palm force that had passed by him and hit the wall had not only pierced the wall but had almost destroyed it. The wall, which had somehow maintained its shape even in this fierce match, was collapsing and creating a cloud of dust.

Unbelievable power.

He couldn’t even imagine how strong his inner strength had to be for such a sight to occur.

‘If I had blocked that?’

He would have been a bloody mess.

If he had faced it lightly, it would have probably ended with one blow.

“…Isn’t that a bit much?”

Bang Jin-hoon, whose tone had become polite, spoke with a very awkward face, and Jang Wang smiled.

“I’m sorry if you were disappointed. But don’t worry. This is just a greeting.”

“…Yes?”

“Now, I’ll go all out.”

Wait, what?

All out?

Jang Wang’s clothes began to swell like a balloon as he raised his inner strength. Bang Jin-hoon’s face began to turn pale as he felt the enormous inner strength closing in on him.

This…

He was in deep trouble, wasn’t he?