Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 267

“I’m not sure if I’m on time. Saying ‘two days’ is a bit ambiguous when you think about it in terms of hours.”

“Let’s just say you’re not late.”

“That’s a relief then. How about this? It doesn’t seem like we can have a conversation here. Would you like to grab a coffee or something?”

His relaxed demeanor was impressive.

Kang Jin-ho quietly stared at Bang Jin-hoon for a moment before nodding. Bang Jin-hoon responded with a deep smile.

“My car is over there. I know a quiet cafe, so let’s go together.”

Without a word, Kang Jin-ho followed Bang Jin-hoon.

Bang Jin-hoon’s back exuded a sense of boldness as he walked ahead. Confidence, boldness, and a hint of arrogance.

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but smile.

A martial artist.

He was the first martial artist he had seen since returning to this era who actually seemed like a martial artist.

In the Central Plains [a fictional setting often used in martial arts stories, referring to the heartland of China], it was natural for such martial artists to exist, but in this era, they were all just martial artists in name only, lacking the proper attitude.

‘If you had to categorize them, would they be considered secular?’

Rather than the strict atmosphere of the Nine Great Sects [referring to traditional martial arts schools], they felt more like the free-spirited atmosphere of a noble clan. Those recognized within the noble clans were all filled with a confidence that carried a hint of arrogance, just like him.

In the past, Kang Jin-ho would never have tolerated such an attitude in front of him, but now he could simply accept it with amusement.

Just seeing that attitude, which strangely evoked a sense of nostalgia, made him want to give the man a reward.

“The ride might be a bit bumpy. I know it’s proper etiquette to offer a nice sedan, but I’m not in a position to have a chauffeur-driven sedan at my disposal.”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled as he thumped the hood of a large jeep.

It was a strangely fitting sight.

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, you appreciate the charm of off-roading. This meeting is going to be even more enjoyable. Hahahaha!”

Bang Jin-hoon laughed heartily and opened the car door. Kang Jin-ho got into the passenger seat without hesitation.

“Do you smoke?”

Bang Jin-hoon opened the front console and took out an ashtray.

Without a word, Kang Jin-ho took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

“I knew you smoked. It’s strange, but all martial artists seem to smoke. It’s not good for the body, and they should quit for the sake of their breathing.”

“Because it doesn’t have a big impact?”

“I don’t think that’s quite it. How should I put it? It’s like they can’t resist small desires because they sacrifice so much in other areas. In Korea, it’s cigarettes, but I’ve heard that many martial artists become addicted to marijuana or drugs when they go overseas.”

“Hmm…”

Come to think of it, there were quite a few guys in the Demonic Cult [a common trope in martial arts stories, referring to a villainous group] who would lock themselves in their rooms and smoke opium. Since they were demons anyway, he didn’t think it would make much of a difference if they smoked a little, so he just left them alone.

‘Martial artists are weak to desire?’

It was something that the monks of Shaolin [a famous Buddhist monastery known for its martial arts] or Wudang [another famous Taoist martial arts school] would scoff at, but it also felt strangely fitting.

In the past, in the Central Plains, the martial artists’ obsession with becoming the best in the world and the best sect was beyond imagination. It was to the point that the current world’s politicians and corporations fighting each other seemed like child’s play.

If you think of those things as a type of desire, even though the direction of desire is different… then perhaps martial artists really are weak to desire. Even the religious sects that pursued enlightenment couldn’t remain detached from the name of being the best in the world.

“May I have one?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I’m trying not to show it, but I’m a bit nervous.”

Bang Jin-hoon quietly put a cigarette in his mouth and subtly turned his gaze. He could see Kang Jin-ho’s profile as he calmly smoked.

‘He looks ordinary on the outside… but if you look closely, he’s incredibly handsome, enough to make you envious. But that’s it.

There’s no sense of pressure in his expression or demeanor. And more than anything…’

‘Is he really a martial artist?’

If Chun Tae-hoon was right, this guy was the one who turned twenty martial artists from the Yeongnam Association into meat patties in an instant yesterday.

At that point, it would be more accurate to call him a butcher than a murderer.

‘There’s no way he would lie to me.’

If that was a lie, then instead of punishing Chun Tae-hoon, he should be made to leave this world and become an actor. He would sweep up every award at every film festival.

He remembered Chun Tae-hoon, who was half out of his mind with fear, desperately repeating the words he had to convey, over and over again.

‘That wasn’t something you could fake.’

If that was the case, then this man really did do that last night…

The Kang Jin-ho he saw on the outside looked like any other young man you could easily find. There was no sign that he had learned martial arts. No matter how much you try to hide it, martial artists can recognize each other.

When you cultivate internal energy and circulate your qi [vital energy in traditional Chinese medicine], an external aura is created. No matter how much you try to suppress it, the energy naturally flows out of the body.

Just like how water forms rapids around a rock placed in a calm stream, a martial artist who has cultivated internal energy has much more energy than an ordinary person, so they disturb the surrounding energy more than ordinary people whenever they move.

But there was no such sign around Kang Jin-ho.

If he had to guess the reason…

‘Either he has mastered a special martial art, or his mastery of martial arts is so high that he doesn’t even agitate the surrounding energy.’

Both were possible.

If you only consider his age, the former would be more likely, but Kang Jin-ho was not just any martial artist. He was most likely a returnee. He had a young face, but inside was either a sly fox or a monster.

Bang Jin-hoon’s car arrived at the cafe.

“We’re here.”

Kang Jin-ho’s brow furrowed slightly as he got out of the car. The cafe seemed to be closed, with its doors shut.

However, Kang Jin-ho’s question was soon answered. As if they had heard the car, the lights in the darkened store turned back on, and someone opened the door and came out to greet Bang Jin-hoon.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yeah, thanks for doing me this favor.”

“It’s nothing. Please come in, Director.”

The man who greeted Bang Jin-hoon glanced at Kang Jin-ho and asked,

“Who’s this?”

“Huh? Who’s this?”

“…Yes?”

“Didn’t I come alone? Is there someone else?”

Only then did the man seem to understand Bang Jin-hoon’s words and nodded.

“I must have seen wrong. Please come in.”

“This way.”

As Bang Jin-hoon led the way, Kang Jin-ho naturally followed behind him. After confirming that Kang Jin-ho had entered, the man locked the door and turned off the lights in the hall. Then, he led the two men to a small conference room inside.

“Would you like a drink?”

“I guess I’m getting old. I’ve been liking bitter things lately.”

“Shall I prepare an espresso?”

“Strawberry shake.”

“…Yes.”

The man glanced at Kang Jin-ho and made a complicated expression. He had to ask what he wanted to drink, but he couldn’t ignore Bang Jin-hoon’s words to treat him like he wasn’t there…

“What would you like to drink?”

Fortunately, Bang Jin-hoon asked for him instead.

“I’ll have an orange juice.”

“Get him an orange juice.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The man shook his head as he went outside.

He had an atmosphere like he was about to go kill someone, but he ordered a strawberry shake and an orange juice.

‘It must be his taste. I respect it.’

Until the drinks came, Kang Jin-ho and Bang Jin-hoon didn’t say a word to each other. They just looked away and passed the time.

Only after the drinks came did the awkward atmosphere somewhat… not disappear. The strawberry shake and orange juice placed in front of them only added to the awkwardness.

‘I should have ordered coffee.’

Bang Jin-hoon regretted it too late, but it was already spilled milk [a common idiom meaning it’s too late to change something].

After clearing the awkwardness with a few coughs, Bang Jin-hoon opened his mouth.

“I heard you wanted to see me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“There’s no particular reason.”

Bang Jin-hoon realized that today’s conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

‘He’s not good at talking.’

Then Bang Jin-hoon had to lead the conversation.

“I heard you saved Lee Joong-geol, the head of the association.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t answer and just stared at Bang Jin-hoon.

“You’re an outsider. You might impulsively help someone in danger. But killing twenty people to help him is not a simple impulse. And then you want to meet me? What do you want?”

Bang Jin-hoon’s face was stiff.

His response would determine his course of action.

“First of all, one thing.”

“…Go ahead.”

“As I said before, there’s no particular reason. There was someone asking for help, so I helped them.”

“While making an enemy of the Yeongnam Association?”

“An enemy…”

Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

“I’ve already made them my enemy.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes narrowed.

‘That’s chilling.’

He had only smiled slightly, but it was shaking the composure of Bang Jin-hoon, who had been practicing martial arts for decades.

‘He has a grudge against the Yeongnam Association.’

A person with a grudge against the Yeongnam Association received a request for help from someone who was being targeted by the Yeongnam Association. Then there was not much to think about. He had to fight the Yeongnam Association anyway, and if things didn’t go the way the Yeongnam Association wanted, it would be to his advantage.

“…So, my back got broken in a fight between whales [an idiom referring to a conflict between powerful entities].”

However, the damage Bang Jin-hoon had suffered was too great to simply accept the truth. The opportunity he had prepared for years had been blown away.

The head of the association rarely acted alone, away from others. He had taken advantage of that rare opportunity, which only happened a few times a year, and had tried to strike in conjunction with the Yeongnam Association, but it had been crushed for an unexpected reason.

His goal of taking over the association was not completely shattered, but this incident would push his plans back by at least a decade.

He wouldn’t be able to prove that he was behind it, but the fact that the head of the association had been attacked by the Yeongnam Association would greatly increase the number of people who would support and unite behind him.

In that sense, Kang Jin-ho was no different from an enemy to him.

He was a guy he wanted to tear apart and kill right away, but the fact that he was looking for him was absurd.

The main reason he came here alone was to see what kind of person this guy who had caused all this trouble was.

And now that he had seen Kang Jin-ho,

‘He’s the worst.’

Bang Jin-hoon rubbed his eyes. He felt dizzy.

This guy was a force of nature.

He didn’t make big plans when doing something. He just acted based on his mood and impulses at the time. If such a person gained power, he would become a natural disaster.

Right now, Bang Jin-hoon had become a victim of a natural disaster, whose house had been blown away by a tornado that had suddenly appeared.

“Didn’t you already help the head of the association? Why did you ask to see me?”

“Wait.”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho interrupted Bang Jin-hoon and opened his mouth.

“Tell me why you want to take over the association first.”

His tone had changed.

And the atmosphere had changed too.

At the same time, Bang Jin-hoon’s entire body began to tingle with goosebumps.