Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 213

Lee Sung-hwi couldn’t believe the situation he was in.

Who was he?

The second disciple of the chairman of the Korean Martial Arts Association.

Among the younger generation, he had never thought there would be anyone who could be his equal. But now, he was being subdued by someone much younger than him, his face being ground into the floor in front of other people, a humiliating experience.

‘I was careless.’

His master’s words automatically replayed in his head.

‘The world is vast, and there are many strong people. Even if someone isn’t stronger than you, all martial artists carry a blade. One moment of carelessness could cost you your head.’

He never thought those words would hit him so hard.

“Ugh.”

He tried to twist his body to escape, but he couldn’t move an inch, as if the energy coming from the hand holding his head was pushing him down.

‘What is this?’

There were people who could subdue him this easily. He could think of more than ten people right away. But none of them would be able to suppress him with their energy like this after subduing him, making him unable to move.

There was a difference that went beyond strength.

This seemingly frail young man was clearly different from the martial artists he had known until now.

Kang Jin-ho grabbed Lee Sung-hwi’s nape with his free hand and pulled him up. Lee Sung-hwi, forced to stand, looked back at Kang Jin-ho with eyes filled with a mix of bewilderment, resentment, and anger.

‘What is he going to do?’

He didn’t want to admit it, but he was completely subdued by Kang Jin-ho. Even if Kang Jin-ho were to break his neck right now, he wouldn’t be able to resist at all.

The unfairness and fear of that fact washed over him simultaneously.

But Kang Jin-ho’s response was unexpected. Kang Jin-ho let go of his head.

Bewilderment.

Lee Sung-hwi stared at Kang Jin-ho with questioning eyes at the unexpected reaction.

“Please leave.”

“I would appreciate it if you could leave before I call the police. This is a business, and you’re disturbing the other customers.”

Gritting his teeth.

Lee Sung-hwi ground his teeth quietly. But he couldn’t act recklessly. He wasn’t foolish enough to rush in with just anger, not knowing what method Kang Jin-ho had used to subdue him so quickly.

But if he left like this, what would become of his wounded pride?

At that moment, Lee Hyun-joo grabbed his clothes from behind and pulled him.

“…Let’s go.”

As he turned away, biting his lip, he heard a small voice that only he could hear.

“I’ll be waiting. I’ll deal with you after we close.”

Lee Sung-hwi glared at Kang Jin-ho with murderous eyes before turning and walking out. Lee Hyun-joo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a sullen expression, then quickly followed Lee Sung-hwi.

Clang.

The bell on the door rang as Lee Sung-hwi went outside, and suddenly applause erupted.

“Wow! That was awesome!”

“I didn’t think he was that tough!”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression. It seemed that the people in the cafe saw it as him subduing a thug causing trouble.

Kang Jin-ho bowed his head to the people applauding and turned to walk towards the pantry where Jo Gyu-min was standing awkwardly.

As he closed the pantry door and entered, Jo Gyu-min spoke with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

“Wasn’t it too easy to let him go?”

“It’s a business.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to cause trouble in the shop.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice was slightly stiff, unlike how he appeared outside.

“He said he’d wait, so he’ll wait.”

‘He’s pissed.’

Jo Gyu-min looked at Kang Jin-ho’s reaction and mourned for the big guy who had caused trouble earlier.

‘You shouldn’t be ignorant.’

The reason Kang Jin-ho was most angry with Lee Hyun-joo wasn’t because she tried to use him. It was because Lee Hyun-joo had suddenly barged into the cafe.

Kang Jin-ho was so particular that he could be called two-faced, separating his private and public life.

For so-called martial artists to come to the shop to meet Kang Jin-ho might be nothing to them, but for Kang Jin-ho, it was like an uninvited guest walking into his house with muddy feet.

And that guy didn’t just do that, he even caused a ruckus in the house.

‘He won’t kill him, will he?’

Jo Gyu-min started to worry sincerely.

“This won’t do.”

“Why?”

Choi Yeon-ha tilted her head at Kang Eun-young’s words. Just a while ago, she was saying she would at least try to talk to him, but why was she suddenly changing her mind like this?

“What don’t you like? What made you change your mind?”

“It’s not that.”

Kang Eun-young sighed.

Choi Yeon-ha frowned, seeing that Kang Eun-young was hesitant to speak. Girls of this age were fickle. So it wasn’t strange that she suddenly changed her mind.

She might not like Choi Yeon-ha approaching her brother, or maybe she was just in a bad mood today. There could be many reasons.

“My brother is in a bad mood.”

Choi Yeon-ha was a little taken aback.

“T-This is a business matter.”

“Well, I don’t know how to explain it.”

Kang Eun-young continued, looking sullen.

“My brother seems very rational and calculating to others, but he’s actually very hot-tempered.”

“Huh?”

He didn’t seem like that.

“See? You didn’t think so, did you?” Kang Eun-young chuckled.

“But my brother is really hot-tempered. Especially when he’s angry, you shouldn’t mess with him.”

“…Is that so?”

Kang Eun-young nodded.

“It seems like he’s angrier than ever because of something that happened. If anyone tries to mess with him right now, they’ll take the brunt of it. So let’s not provoke him by bringing it up now.”

“I don’t really understand, but I get it. But the casting for the male lead is still ongoing, so we can’t wait too long. When will he calm down?”

“Usually…”

Kang Eun-young seemed to ponder for a moment before opening her mouth.

“The timing is a bit vague. But if some clueless person messes with him in the middle, he might calm down faster.”

“What… what happens to the person who messes with him?”

“Hmm.”

Kang Eun-young said, as if she was thinking.

“You keep looking at me, so it seems like you think I’m talking badly about my brother for no reason. I’m not like that. Everything I’m saying is sincere.”

“I never thought that.”

“Anyway, to answer your question, hmm… they’ll regret it.”

“Regret?”

“Yes. Severely.”

Kang Eun-young shook her head as if she didn’t even want to think about it.

“He doesn’t seem like that kind of person?”

“Sunbae [senior].”

“Yes?”

“Honestly, do you think my personality is bad?”

“…Honestly?”

Choi Yeon-ha hesitated, wondering how to answer. If she just said what she saw, her personality wasn’t just bad, but she was reluctant to say that outright.

“Then why can’t I say anything to my brother? It’s because his personality is worse than mine. Simple, right?”

“I guess so.”

Choi Yeon-ha decided to slightly revise her image of Kang Jin-ho in her mind. She had some sense. She could feel the sincerity in Kang Eun-young’s words.

“Anyway, wait a little longer. Until my brother calms down or some thoughtless person messes with him.”

Kang Eun-young said regretfully.

“But those kinds of idiots aren’t common.”

Lee Sung-hwi was staring at the cafe with murderous eyes.

“How about requesting backup?”

“Backup?”

Lee Sung-hwi gritted his teeth as he looked at Lee Hyun-joo.

“You’re saying I can’t handle that punk myself, so I should call a bunch of people to come and beat him up with me?”

“That’s not entirely wrong.”

“Hey, Lee Hyun-joo. Watch your mouth.”

“You already got beaten once.”

“That’s because I was careless!”

Lee Hyun-joo looked at Lee Sung-hwi with a cold gaze.

“Are you sure it was just because you were careless?”

“Yeah. Keep scratching. Let’s see how far you can go.”

Lee Hyun-joo’s gaze at Lee Sung-hwi was filled with unease.

‘This doesn’t make sense.’

If it was said that Lee Sung-hwi was beaten by a young man he had never seen before at the Association, everyone would think it was a joke. Lee Sung-hwi was definitely recognized for his skills, even if not for his personality.

But it was also a fact that Kang Jin-ho had instantly subdued Lee Sung-hwi. She had seen it clearly with her own eyes.

‘Is this okay?’

In her position, she would inevitably have to manage people. She couldn’t crush the pride of someone who would lead the Association in the future. Her reason told her that she should call more people right now, but it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

‘I think I’m making a mistake.’

The look in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes that she had seen in that basement was still vivid in her mind.

The image of Kang Jin-ho that Lee Sung-hwi had seen was only half of the truth.

“I can’t do this. I’m going to call Grandpa.”

“Go ahead. Then you’ll never see me again.”

“What do I lose if I don’t see you?”

“Then go ahead and do it.”

Lee Hyun-joo sighed deeply.

Why do men have to be so needlessly prideful?

“And I think it’s too late now?”

“Huh?”

Following Lee Sung-hwi’s gaze, she saw the lights of the shop turn off, and Kang Jin-ho, his father, and Jo Gyu-min were coming out. After locking up, the three talked for a moment, and then Kang Jin-ho’s father got into his car and left first.

“It looks like they’re looking for us?”

Lee Sung-hwi clenched his fist and then released it before stepping forward and waving his hand.

“Hey.”

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned towards them.

“I waited because you told me to.”

Jo Gyu-min and Kang Jin-ho said something, and then Kang Jin-ho gestured towards them.

“He’s telling us to come?”

“I’m going. What about you?”

“…I have to go.”

He wasn’t someone she could run away from. And she also wanted to see it with her own eyes.

‘I can’t know with my own eyes.’

She couldn’t know how strong Kang Jin-ho really was. The difference was too great. If Lee Sung-hwi, who wasn’t being careless and was giving his all, could accurately gauge Kang Jin-ho’s current level.

Kang Jin-ho’s car pulled up in front of them. The passenger window rolled down.

“Get in.”

“…Are you offering us a ride? Fine.”

Lee Sung-hwi smiled wryly and opened the back door without hesitation and got inside.

“Aren’t you getting in?”

Lee Hyun-joo shuddered as she looked at the open car door.

The open door felt like a gateway to hell. She had a feeling that she should turn around and run away right now. Her instincts, not her reason, were screaming at her to run away without looking back.

“Get in.”

But she couldn’t run away.

The moment Kang Jin-ho finished speaking, she had already half-pushed herself into the car.

The door closed, and the car slowly started to move.

Kang Jin-ho leaned back in his seat and spoke softly.