Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2055

In the beginning, there was only chaos.

Everything was mixed together, existing as one [—元, ‘yuan’, meaning origin or source].

Yet, nothing also existed [無極, ‘wuji’, meaning the limitless void].

In the beginning, there was oneness, a single origin (一元, ‘yiyuan’), but that oneness held no meaning; it was merely the void (無極, ‘wuji’).

Existing yet not existing, light yet darkness, alive yet dead.

Perfection, possessing everything, ultimately amounts to nothingness (無, ‘wu’). The myriad things of the universe only gain meaning when they are divided.

Therefore, the void can never be the beginning.

The beginning is the Taiji [太極, ‘taiji’, the supreme ultimate].

A single line (線) drawn through the space of perfection [圓, ‘yuan’, meaning circle or completeness].

The moment that line exists, the one becomes two, and finally, it becomes ‘something.’

Light and darkness are divided, gaining meaning.

Yin and yang are divided, creating all things in the world.

The boundary between heaven and earth is created, and the principles of the five elements bring life into existence.

Thus, Taiji is the beginning of everything.

It is also the true meaning (眞意, ‘zhenyi’) of all phenomena that are divided and intertwined.

Everything in the world begins with Taiji, flows according to the principles of yin and yang, and eventually reaches its end.

But an end can only exist if there is a beginning. The end creates a beginning, and the beginning creates an end, so Taiji begins in Taiji and ends in Taiji again.

In the end, everything is Taiji.

The black chases the white, and the white chases the black, eternally circulating and circulating again….

Baek Yeonhong’s sword points towards the sky.

Lightning strikes pour down.

The sword, a mere piece of metal, seemed too weak to stand against the terrifying lightning that seemed capable of burning and tearing the world apart.

But the sword calmly faced the lightning pouring down on it without wavering in the slightest.

‘Taiji.’

Yes, it is Taiji.

What his predecessors had tried to draw with this sword for countless years. What they had finally tried to reach beyond the sword.

It was simply Taiji.

It is not strange.

That his sword began in Taiji.

And that he had forgotten Taiji with the passage of time.

And….

That he is now trying to return to the teachings of Taiji, none of it is strange. All the flows of the world are different, but none of them deviate from Taiji.

‘Trying to reach Taiji?’

No. That is not it.

It is the effort of water to be water, the effort of a tree to be a tree.

Taiji requires no effort. It is enough to simply realize it.

Remember.

If all things in the world exist within the principles of Taiji….

‘Even at the tip of this mere sword.’

Baek Yeonhong’s sword slowly draws a circle.

A perfect circle that draws the boundary connecting time and time, and cuts the boundary connecting space and space.

“Taiji shall remain.”

*Kwarururururung!*

Dozens of lightning bolts simultaneously pour down on Baek Yeonhong. An explosion of intense light that seems to turn the world white.

But the tip of Baek Yeonhong’s sword flowed like water, without the slightest tremor.

*Kwarurururung!*

One lightning bolt rides the circle drawn by the sword and veers off to the side.

*Kwarururururung!*

Another lightning bolt draws a violent line that it should have drawn and slams into the ground.

The lightning that fell in the center mingled with Baek Yeonhong’s sword, drawing a clear picture on the canvas of the air.

One, and then another.

Dozens of lightning bolts all strike the ground intensely without missing a single one.

But….

Not a single one of those dozens of lightning bolts touched Baek Yeonhong’s body.

It was not cut off. Nor was it pushed away.

None of the dozens of lightning bolts showed any unnatural change. Yet, as if they had not been aimed at Baek Yeonhong from the beginning, they naturally veered away from him and fell to the ground.

*Sreuk.*

When Baek Yeonhong’s sword was naturally lowered.

The rain of lightning that had seemed to shatter the world had already disappeared.

*Pajik! Pajijijijik!*

Only the intense sparks jumping from the ground proved that the lightning was not an illusion.

Wiggins stared at Baek Yeonhong, speechless.

Baek Yeonhong stood with his sword lowered on the black ground. The concrete floor was charred black, unable to withstand the immense power of the lightning.

In a world shaking from the aftermath of the lightning, he alone seemed out of place. But strangely, that appearance did not feel out of place.

‘What happened?’

He could not understand.

His magic was perfect. Once the casting was complete and the lightning had fallen, he was confident that even Kang Jin-ho would not be able to escape this attack without any damage.

But… how could he have avoided all that lightning in place without any harm?

This was beyond his common sense.

“This…”

Wiggins frantically swung his rune sword again. The still not completely dissipated thunderclouds created three more lightning bolts and shot them towards Baek Yeonhong.

And at that moment, Wiggins clearly saw it.

In that extremely short moment when the lightning fell.

Following the tip of Baek Yeonhong’s sword, which was swung so leisurely, the lightning changed its direction and fell to the ground.

*Kwarururururung!*

The thunder that followed strongly struck Wiggins’ ears.

*Sseuk.*

Baek Yeonhong, who had slowly sheathed his sword, turned his gaze to Wiggins.

“Did you call me a mere human?”

Wiggins’ face contorted.

He could no longer think of any words to mock him. He had clearly ridiculed Baek Yeonhong as nothing more than a mere human. But the swordsmanship Wiggins had just witnessed clearly exceeded the category of a ‘human.’

“That’s right.”

But Baek Yeonhong’s next words were unexpected.

“Yes, that’s right. I am just a mere human. I thought I had never forgotten it, but it seems I had unknowingly forgotten.”

Baek Yeonhong shook his head slowly.

“Something I should not have forgotten.”

At that moment, Baek Yeonhong slowly raised the hand holding his sword.

Then….

*Pajijijijik!*

A large spark seemed to erupt from his arm, and soon, it emitted white steam.

His arm, which had turned bright red, was turning black again. As black as charcoal.

“…A human was someone who couldn’t even properly do what they knew. Yes, that’s right.”

Even though the arm holding the sword was almost burnt, there was no sign of pain on Baek Yeonhong’s face. He simply looked at Wiggins with a detached and calm expression.

Cold sweat ran down Wiggins’ forehead.

‘It’s not enough.’

That arm is still holding the sword. That means he can still swing it. The result he had achieved with an attack that had poured out almost everything he had was far too insufficient.

Because what he had consumed himself was greater than the injury he had inflicted on Baek Yeonhong.

*Tududuk.*

The skin that had turned to charcoal fell from Baek Yeonhong’s hand. Baek Yeonhong, who was looking at the scene with indifferent eyes, opened his mouth.

“As you said….”

A calm voice slowly flowed out.

“I am just a mere human. Inadequate, lacking, and flawed.”

“But after realizing that, I was able to understand one thing.”

“What?”

Wiggins asked without realizing it.

And Baek Yeonhong kindly answered his question.

“As a human, I cannot escape your attacks. Your world studies and explores humans.”

Their philosophy discusses humans. They grasp humans and contemplate humans.

To know and understand humans better.

“But….”

Baek Yeonhong shook his head.

“My predecessors were not like that.”

“My predecessors only wanted to overcome.”

Just because there is a deficiency does not mean one cannot reach the Dao [道, ‘dao’, the Way].

Just because there is karma does not mean one cannot attain enlightenment.

The phenomenon is not important. What is important is what one pursues and where one ultimately reaches.

“That is the difference between you and me.”

Wiggins stared intently at Baek Yeonhong.

“Heh.”

Then, he let out a low laugh as if he could not hold it in.

Baek Yeonhong, seeing that laugh, calmly asked.

“What is so funny?”

“No. It’s just….”

Wiggins said with a smirk.

“It’s a bit disgusting to see someone who was running around like a madman suddenly talking as if he has become someone great, so I was being rude.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in your philosophical ramblings. What’s certain is that you’ve become noticeably stronger than before, and that the injury to your arm is not insignificant.”

Baek Yeonhong looked at Wiggins with clear eyes.

And Wiggins also met Baek Yeonhong’s gaze with eyes that did not waver in the slightest.

“If you want to discuss the truth so much, let me tell you one truth.”

“I’m listening.”

“What is alive will eventually die.”

“That also means that anything that is alive can be killed. Whether it is a god, a Buddha, or even a god.”

“It doesn’t matter what you have realized. Even if you have attained enlightenment and become a god according to Eastern legends, it doesn’t matter. Whether you are a god or a demon, if you have a physical body….”

*Pajik!*

The mana flowing from the broken power cell was sucked into Wiggins’ body.

“Because I will surely kill you with the next move.”

Baek Yeonhong silently looked at Wiggins.

The trembling hands and the sweat dripping down his chin seemed to be telling his current state. But the unwavering gaze that was looking at him was also telling his state.

“Then we must prove it to each other.”

“Of course.”

Wiggins and Baek Yeonhong faced each other.

At that moment, Baek Yeonhong felt a strange contradiction.

They study humans, but their martial arts resemble nature.

They study nature, but their martial arts cannot begin without passing through the fingertips of humans.

They are different yet similar. Like yin and yang.

Baek Yeonhong unknowingly glanced back.

He saw the figure of the Black King, watching without moving.

His expressionless face made it difficult to guess what he was thinking at this moment.

‘Black King.’

Perhaps….

Opening the future for martial artists, leading them….

It might just be their arrogance.

Just as Baek Yeonhong, who had strayed from the path he should have walked, eventually found his way back, water, while meandering and bending, eventually flows towards the sea.

That is the natural order.

Even if one forcibly twists the water’s path and builds dams to block it, one cannot hold back the ever-flowing water forever.

‘How foolish.’

And yet, a Daoist is only realizing that now….

Baek Yeonhong’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho, past Wiggins.

‘Maybe once….’

A small smile appeared on Baek Yeonhong’s lips.

“I should have tried to have a conversation.”

Baek Yeonhong, holding his sword, slowly walked towards Wiggins.

To see with his own eyes where the great flow of the world was heading.