Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2024

Jang Wang turned away, leaving those words behind.

Bang Jin-hoon, left alone, stared blankly at Jang Wang’s retreating figure.

“Uh…”

He couldn’t quite remember.

How he had fought, and

how he was standing here now.

Flashes of memory came to him, but they were hazy, like looking through a fog.

More certain than his slowly clearing memories was one thing.

‘Why?’

The extent of his injuries was beyond comparison.

To fight again now?

Then the result would undoubtedly be Bang Jin-hoon’s defeat.

But why did he concede defeat and retreat on his own?

“No…”

He tried to say something, but no words came out. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to give up the victory. The intense pain surging through his body was preventing him from speaking.

“Ugh…”

He understood what it meant to say that winning would be meaningless if he sustained more injuries. If his injuries had been any worse, he would have been unable to recover as a martial artist. His internal injuries were more severe than his physical wounds.

It was a strange feeling.

He had won, but it didn’t feel like a victory, a strange, unsettling feeling.

But he couldn’t very well grab the person who had admitted defeat and was leaving and ask him to fight again.

“Ugh.”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply and turned his body.

Throb, throb.

Every time his broken leg touched the ground, it felt like his body was being crushed. It wasn’t the broken leg that hurt, but every time that leg touched the ground and his body slightly shook, it felt like a giant hand was squeezing his body like laundry.

As Bang Jin-hoon endured the pain and returned to his spot, the directors showered him with words.

“You did well.”

That was Jang Min’s voice.

“I can’t ignore him, after all.”

That was Bator’s voice.

“The injuries are severe. We need to treat them quickly.”

That was Wiggins’ voice.

But Bang Jin-hoon, having heard all those words, didn’t respond, keeping his mouth shut. He then slightly raised his head and looked at everyone.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just…”

Jang Min chuckled.

“It seems like you feel like you begged for the victory.”

Bang Jin-hoon didn’t answer.

Of course, he knew it was an absurd complaint. To achieve victory against someone like that was an incredible feat.

Yet, he felt strange.

“No, it’s not like… it’s not some nonsense like I won but feel uneasy.”

Jang Min smiled as if he understood.

“I know how you feel.”

“No, it’s just…”

“It’s strange to win when your skills are lacking.”

“Yes. That’s…”

“But if you think about it the other way around, it’s not that strange.”

“Huh?”

“Wasn’t your disciple’s name Cheon Tae-hoon?”

“…Yes, it is.”

“If you were in Jang Wang’s position and fought him like you did now, what would you have done? Would you have thought of defeating him at all costs?”

Bang Jin-hoon stared blankly at Jang Min.

Well…

No. He couldn’t have done that.

Absolutely not. Absolutely.

If they had to fight to the death, Bang Jin-hoon would have given his own life. Cheon Tae-hoon was his disciple, after all.

If Cheon Tae-hoon had pushed himself to the limit, even with a broken leg and a crushed body, he could have died smiling.

“But…”

“Right. Jang Wang isn’t your master.”

“But he might be my master.”

“Huh?”

“The foundation of your martial arts isn’t different from Jang Wang’s. Can you guarantee that the martial arts Jang Wang established long ago haven’t seeped into your martial arts?”

“Th, that’s…”

“In a broader sense, you are also Jang Wang’s disciple.”

Bang Jin-hoon stared at Jang Min with a bewildered expression.

“Does that make any sense?”

“It might not make sense from your perspective, but it does from mine. In a broader sense, all the members of the cult are my disciples.”

Hearing that, it seemed to make sense again.

“The day will come when you can understand this situation. Even Jang Wang wouldn’t have understood it when he was in your position.”

Bang Jin-hoon shook his head as if he understood but didn’t quite get it. Then, Wiggins approached Bang Jin-hoon and patted him on the shoulder.

“Ouch! Why are you touching me! It hurts so much.”

“You were amazing.”

“You were really amazing, really. Director Bang.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s lips twitched.

His gaze shifted past Wiggins to Kang Jin-ho. He wanted to see what kind of expression he was making.

Bang Jin-hoon flinched as his eyes met Kang Jin-ho’s.

Seeing Kang Jin-ho looking at him with a subtle smile made him feel embarrassed for no reason.

“…Well, it’s not like I did anything that great, why are you praising me so much?”

“No. It was great. It was definitely great.”

“Hmm, I…”

“You fought against the Twelve Flying Blades and came back alive. How great is that? I thought what I saw earlier was the last of you. You’ve got some serious bad luck.”

“…Is this guy?”

Wiggins laughed loudly and patted Bang Jin-hoon on the shoulder.

“That’s Director Bang for you. You’re a man I acknowledge.”

“What’s with the sudden acknowledgment? Ugh, it hurts, so please treat me.”

“Ah, unfortunately, that’s difficult. I don’t have enough mana to waste on you.”

“Huh? Weren’t you carrying around that battery or whatever, overflowing with mana?”

“I’d have to use that if necessary, but from the looks of it… it doesn’t seem like an injury that won’t heal if you don’t fight anymore.”

“My body is in tatters, though?”

“That’s how martial artists are. Now, now, go over there and rest. Rest comfortably.”

“No, I’m saying it hurts so much?”

“You’ve worked hard, you’ve worked hard.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Hahahaha!”

“No! Don’t laugh!”

Bang Jin-hoon, his face flushed red, shouted, and the directors all burst into laughter.

Watching them, Lee Hyun-soo shook his head.

‘I still don’t understand it.’ The world of martial artists was still too far away for him.

The Black King stared at Jang Wang without a word.

Jang Wang also didn’t seem to have any intention of making excuses. He simply faced the Black King with a calm expression.

Silence.

It wasn’t heavy, but it was a silence that no one dared to break. Finally, the Black King opened his mouth.

“I told you that defeat would be paid for with death, didn’t I?”

“Yes. I am aware.”

“You know that I don’t go back on my word.”

“Of course, Black King.”

“Then…”

The Black King leaned back in his chair and looked down at Jang Wang. After staring at Jang Wang silently for a long time, the Black King spoke in a low voice.

“It means you valued that man’s life more than your own, doesn’t it?”

Jang Wang didn’t answer.

But that wasn’t a denial. There was no need to put an obvious fact into words.

“What’s the reason?”

Jang Wang, facing the Black King, opened his mouth in a calm voice.

“Well, I don’t know how to explain it to you. Even if I did explain it, I doubt you would understand, Black King.”

Upon hearing those words, the Twelve Flying Blades were filled with anger. Defeat was unacceptable, but speaking to the Black King like that was even more unacceptable.

“I should still hear it.”

At the Black King’s words, Jang Wang readily nodded.

“I simply saw it.”

“Saw what?”

“The future.”

The Black King stared at Jang Wang as if he didn’t understand.

“Isn’t that the future you came all this way to create?”

“Yes. I thought so too. That I had to create a future for them.”

“And?”

“Black King.”

Jang Wang smiled wryly.

“We are the ones who have already given up on the future.”

“The future belongs to those who live. We are not among the living. We picked up lives we had given up on by luck, and now we are just breathing while clinging to the scraps.”

Jang Wang looked at the Black King and all the Twelve Flying Blades.

“Do we have the right to discuss the future?”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“Yes. It might be nonsense. But seeing that young martial artist, I realized. The ones who should decide the future are not old people like us. It should be those who will live that future.”

“It is also violence to decide the future that we will not live, and to tell our descendants to live that life. Perhaps it is even more violent than the oppression of the outside world.”

The Black King’s eyes darkened.

“Even though we stepped in because they couldn’t change the future on their own?”

“If their choice is destruction, that might not be a bad future either. And if they don’t choose destruction…”

Jang Wang’s eyes filled with determination.

“They will forge their own future.”

“Foolish…”

Jang Wang, seeing the Black King’s reaction, smiled faintly and asked calmly.

“Black King, may I ask you one thing?”

“…What is it?”

“You’ve never raised a disciple, have you?”

The Black King’s face momentarily went blank.

“What?”

“You’ve probably never raised a child either.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“That’s why it will be difficult for you to understand. Raising a disciple, raising a child… it’s like sending a toddler who has barely learned to walk into a raging river.”

“The anxiety never disappears, no matter how long it has been. It’s only natural. Children are weaker than their parents. Even if, at some point, the child surpasses the parents, the parents can’t stop worrying. They can’t erase the memory of looking at that small, weak child.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Even so…”

Jang Wang continued firmly.

“If I decide every path for that child, force them to follow that path to be happy, and only protect and care for them, the child will never grow.”

The Black King’s eyes flickered slightly.

“It is faith that allows you to send them into the river even when you know they are lacking. What you lack, Black King, is that faith. The most outstanding people tend to distrust everything in the world, and they think it’s right to decide the direction of the world themselves. But… the martial artists who live in the world you create will only become weaker.”

Jang Wang shook his head.

“That’s just delaying the inevitable destruction and facing a more certain destruction. I’d rather bet on their potential. I believe they can overcome this world.”

Jang Wang smiled gently.

“Isn’t that what adults should do?”

The Black King couldn’t say anything. Jang Wang looked at the Black King and smiled gently.

“I don’t expect you to understand. It’s just that our thoughts are different. Do what you must. Either way, I broke my own word, so I will accept the consequences.”

Having said that, Jang Wang quietly closed his eyes.

As if he wouldn’t avoid the death that the Black King would inflict.

Then, the Black King’s face slightly contorted.

“I am not one to go back on my word.”

“Yes. That is right.”

The Black King briefly clenched and unclenched his fist. The Black King, staring intently at Jang Wang’s face, which was accepting everything and smiling calmly, lightly swung his hand.

Whoosh!

The energy that shot out from his fingertips pierced through Jang Wang’s body.

Jang Wang slowly opened his eyes. A small question was floating in his eyes.

“Why…?”

“There’s no way that giving you what you want can be a punishment. It’s a reward.”

The Black King coldly retorted.

“If I kill you here, you can die in peace. That’s not a punishment. Live and see the world I create with your own eyes. Confirming that your last choice in life was completely wrong will be the real punishment for you.”

“Step back.”

Jang Wang rose from his seat.

If this was the punishment the Black King was giving him, he had to accept it, whatever it was.

Jang Wang quietly moved to the back, and the Black King sank deep into his chair.

‘Not believing…’

That’s ridiculous.

Because it’s too obvious.

In this hellish world, who can you trust?

‘He’s spouting naive nonsense.’

He had lost even though he wasn’t wrong.

What was the point of discussing right and wrong with the Black King?

Right is just the choice of the one who has power.