Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 427

Bang Jin-hoon stared at the man lying behind bars, his expression hardened.

“What the hell happened to this guy?” The man who had been captured was someone he knew.

“Isn’t that Lee Sung-hwi?”

“Yes, it is.”

Chun Tae-hoon nodded.

“He was Chairman Lee Joong-gul’s disciple, wasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Then why is he in this state? Is this the guy who attacked Kang Jin-ho at the amusement park?”

“Yes.”

Chun Tae-hoon hesitated before speaking further.

‘Though Kang Jin-ho didn’t seem to care at all.’

He couldn’t tell if Kang Jin-ho was mentally strong or just plain crazy. Not caring who tried to kill him.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s face contorted as he watched Lee Sung-hwi, who was collapsed on the floor, letting out suppressed laughter.

“Ha, damn it. I went through hell to get this bastard out…”

Getting Lee Sung-hwi, who had been taken to the hospital as an injured person, was by no means an easy task. Only after Bang Jin-hoon personally intervened and made requests to various institutions was he able to get this guy out without any problems.

The institutions, having guessed that this incident was the work of a martial artist due to the General Assembly’s involvement, openly expressed their dissatisfaction with Bang Jin-hoon. However, Bang Jin-hoon couldn’t say a word, like a mute who had eaten honey [a Korean idiom for being unable to speak due to a guilty conscience or being in a difficult situation].

Because he had nothing to say.

It was his fault for not managing the martial artists properly, which led to this situation. What could he say?

However, if he were to say that they couldn’t monitor every single act of individual deviation, it would be like trampling on the very purpose and influence of the General Assembly.

In the end, Bang Jin-hoon’s anger could only be directed at Lee Sung-hwi.

“What crazy bastard taught this guy demonic arts?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Kim Seok-il? Kim Seok-il did this?”

“…There’s no one else in Korea who could spread demonic arts. Korea is a barren land for demonic arts. Unless he went to China to learn it, there’s no other way.”

“Then this bastard is also involved in Kim Seok-il’s disappearance?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“Ha, geez.”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Lee Sung-hwi with a very uncomfortable expression. Even before Lee Sung-hwi became Lee Joong-gul’s disciple, Bang Jin-hoon had been at odds with Lee Joong-gul. So, there was no real connection between them, but it didn’t feel good to see a bright young talent fall apart like this.

“You crazy bastard, why did you learn something like demonic arts?”

It was a pity.

The Lee Sung-hwi he had seen was a talent who could have achieved great things. Even if Lee Joong-gul’s management skills were questionable, no one in Korea would belittle Lee Joong-gul as a martial artist.

He was a disciple that Lee Joong-gul had carefully chosen. It was a rare case of good teaching meeting good talent, but…

“Why did that crazy bastard attack Kang Jin-ho? Did he have a grudge against him?”

“It seems they had a run-in before.”

“Ah…”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply and took out a cigarette.

“You stupid bastard. You should have a competitive spirit towards someone you can actually compete with. You should know that even grudges are selective, you moron.”

Lee Sung-hwi twisted his body.

“…Kang Jin-ho…”

“He’s gone mad.”

“Kang Jin-ho broke several of his major meridians. It seems the demonic energy is backfiring. I don’t know how long he’ll be able to stay sane.”

“That’s why you should pick your fights.”

Bang Jin-hoon clicked his tongue softly. Lee Sung-hwi’s mistake was antagonizing someone he shouldn’t have. From the moment he turned Kang Jin-ho into an enemy, this outcome was inevitable.

“Calm that kid down and find out where Kim Seok-il is.”

“Yes.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Think about it. If this bastard took Kim Seok-il, it means he’s planning something. But why would this bastard suddenly appear in front of Kang Jin-ho? Even if he’s a demon, he’s not brainless. That means he has some thoughts, and if he has thoughts, he knows that appearing in front of Kang Jin-ho with his current abilities is suicidal.”

“That’s right.”

“But if he still dared to do it, there must be a reason. I have a hunch, so try to reason with him. Got it?”

Chun Tae-hoon nodded.

There was no way to reason with a demon. Those words meant that he should find out the guy’s purpose by any means necessary. By any means.

“I’ll check around Kang Jin-ho again. Call me if you find anything.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“What a mess, really.”

Chun Tae-hoon bowed deeply towards Bang Jin-hoon as he left.

“Alright then.”

As soon as Bang Jin-hoon was completely out of the basement, Chun Tae-hoon sighed and picked up the keys.

‘It’s unsettling, but…’

To Bang Jin-hoon, Lee Sung-hwi was just a pitiful talent, but Chun Tae-hoon saw him differently.

Chun Tae-hoon, who held the position of Bang Jin-hoon’s favorite disciple, had felt a strange sense of kinship with Lee Sung-hwi from the beginning.

Of course, their positions were completely different, but if things had gone slightly wrong, he could have been in that position right now.

“Why did you learn demonic arts, you idiot?” If he hadn’t learned demonic arts, a new path would have opened up the moment Kang Jin-ho embraced Lee Joong-gul.

Chun Tae-hoon had often comforted himself by watching Lee Sung-hwi, who showed off his presence in the spotlight, thinking that one day he could be like that too. So, seeing Lee Sung-hwi in this state was not easy for him.

Chun Tae-hoon opened the bars and walked right up to Lee Sung-hwi, sighing.

“..Kaaang Jin-hoooo…”

Lee Sung-hwi was already half-unconscious, repeating only the name Kang Jin-ho. He was a demon who had almost completely lost his reason.

“Huuu…”

Chun Tae-hoon sighed softly and kicked Lee Sung-hwi, turning him over. Even if he didn’t feel good about it, he had to do what he had to do.

It was never okay to pity a demon.

“You idiot.”

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Lee Sung-hwi laughed softly.

“That’s why you shouldn’t have picked a fight. If you knew you couldn’t win, you should have just hidden. That person is not a problem if you don’t provoke him.”

“Why?”

Chun Tae-hoon’s eyes widened.

Lee Sung-hwi’s tone had changed. It was not the same hazy voice he had before. Sensing danger, Chun Tae-hoon jumped back.

Thud.

But Lee Sung-hwi was faster. Lee Sung-hwi grabbed Chun Tae-hoon’s neck as he tried to retreat and pulled him towards himself.

“Are you curious about the reason? It’s because I wanted to come here.”

“So, what should I do? If you hear more, you’ll have to die, but which will you choose, curiosity or your life?”

Chun Tae-hoon desperately tried to open his mouth. If he had to choose between the two, the answer was obvious.

“Oh, you’re choosing curiosity after all. You’re a man.”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

“Heh heh heh.”

Thud!

Lee Sung-hwi’s fist instantly pierced Chun Tae-hoon’s stomach.

“Ugh.”

Chun Tae-hoon’s eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.

“Tch.”

Lee Sung-hwi shook the limp Chun Tae-hoon from side to side. Chun Tae-hoon’s limp body swayed with his hand.

“I was told to kill everyone I encountered.”

That was what Kim Seok-il had repeatedly emphasized.

“There’s no reason for me to listen to that.”

It was just out of defiance. He and Kim Seok-il were equals, not in a relationship where one could control the other. He just didn’t want to listen to the guy who spoke as if he was giving orders, not because he wanted to spare Chun Tae-hoon.

“Let’s just say it’s a reward for being kind.”

Lee Sung-hwi threw Chun Tae-hoon to the floor, licked his lips, and walked out.

* * *

“It was fun.”

“…Yes.”

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“No, I mean, not with the kids, but I wanted to spend a whole day with you, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Consider this your wish fulfilled.”

“Well, it feels like I’m losing out a bit, but let’s just say that. Actually, using a wish as an excuse to drag you around isn’t really my style.”

‘It feels like you’ve already dragged me around enough…’

Kang Jin-ho sighed, having been tormented by Choi Yeon-ha all day, from morning until the sun was setting.

“What’s with that expression?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“I always think this, but you’re too passive, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Huh?”

“You just stay in one place, and whenever someone tries to do something with you, you always find it annoying. Are you some kind of shut-in?”

“Objectively, look at yourself. You’re annoyed when the kids want to play, and you’re annoyed to death when I want to play. You hate it so much, but you can’t help it, so you do it anyway. Stop making that face like you’re doing me a favor. It makes people lose their energy.”

“Did I do that?”

“Wow, look at you pretending you didn’t.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly.

Talking to this person made him feel like he was becoming an idiot.

“Now, think about it.”

“Yes?”

“Was today fun?”

“It was fun…”

“Don’t just give a half-hearted answer. Think about it. If I just wanted to hear a perfunctory answer, I wouldn’t have asked. Think back from this morning until now, and tell me if you were just putting up with it, or if you enjoyed it even a little bit.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth and fell into thought.

It wasn’t like he didn’t feel annoyed at all. But if he was asked if he didn’t enjoy it…

‘It was kind of fun.’

He hated crowded places, but the time he spent with her wasn’t so bad. There was a certain kind of enjoyment. It was a different kind of enjoyment than the time he spent with his friends or family.

“I think it was fun.”

“‘I think’?”

“It was fun.”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded in satisfaction at Kang Jin-ho’s answer.

“Good! Then let me say something.”

“Yes.”

“I really hate beating around the bush and hesitating.”

“Yes?”

“Listen!”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched at Choi Yeon-ha’s forcefulness.

He didn’t think he had seen this much forcefulness even from the Shaolin Abbot…

“So, I’m going to settle things clearly today. Cleanly!”

“Settle what?”

“Huuu…”

Choi Yeon-ha sighed softly. Her face was flushed with the sunset as it reflected off her face under the twilight sky.

Kang Jin-ho thought she looked beautiful at that moment.

“Hey, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“With me…”

“Yes.”

“The, the sunset is pretty, right? I think the sunset from the sea is the best.”

“…It is.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it!”

Choi Yeon-ha jumped slightly in place. Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, watching Choi Yeon-ha, who didn’t know what to do.

“I…”

“Don’t interrupt me! I’m serious right now! I’m in bold italics!”

“…Yes.”

“So, Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho, with me…”

Choi Yeon-ha’s face turned bright red, and she bit her lip slightly, just as she was about to speak.

Bwaaaaaaaang!

A rough sound began to echo across the beach.

“Kyaaak!”

“What is it!”

People screamed and scattered to the sides. A motorcycle that had cut through the crowd came towards Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha and stopped roughly.

Choi Yeon-ha’s face contorted.

No, why now! Why at this moment!

A woman with a slender figure, wearing a motorcycle suit, got off the bike and took off her helmet. Under the helmet, platinum blonde hair shimmered in the sunset like a scene from a commercial.

The blonde beauty, holding the helmet in one hand, smiled at Kang Jin-ho.

“Mr. Kang?”

“Yes?”

“Nice to meet you. I’ve come to find you.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s assessment of the whole situation was just one thing.

“Who the hell is this bitch!”

Choi Yeon-ha’s angry shout echoed across the beach.