Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 447

“Please don’t look at me like that. I’m not trying to provoke you. I told you, I want to live. I’m not stupid enough to think I can pick a fight with you, Kang Jin-ho, and survive.”

Choi Jin-young shrugged.

“Until now, I thought of myself as a martial artist, but I never imagined that martial arts could control life and death. Being in this world, I’ve seen a lot of death, but it was more like… well, it was closer to the realm of crime than martial arts.”

“Hmm…”

Bang Jin-hoon slowly nodded. He seemed to understand what Choi Jin-young was saying.

“But then I realized something.”

Choi Jin-young glanced at Kang Jin-ho. When their eyes met, Choi Jin-young couldn’t hold the gaze and quickly looked away.

“I felt a sense of deprivation, like my life wasn’t my own. The reason I survived that day was simple. It was because Kang Jin-ho didn’t swing his sword again. Others must feel the same. It ended there because Kang Jin-ho stopped, but if he had decided to kill everyone, who could have survived?”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Choi Jin-young with a strange expression.

‘From his perspective, it might feel that way.’

Bang Jin-hoon, who had watched from the back, was simply in awe of Kang Jin-ho’s martial prowess and trembled at his brutal actions. But those who were directly exposed to it must have felt a severe sense of powerlessness.

“I’ve never felt so strongly that I have to protect my own life. I realized that I’ve survived until now just by luck. And… I don’t think there won’t be any incidents around Kang Jin-ho in the future. Such things will naturally happen.”

Choi Jin-young chuckled.

“You told us to risk our lives, right?”

“Hmm…”

“In my opinion, that doesn’t mean much, at least not in the Yeongnam region [a region in southeastern Korea]. Those who have realized that their lives can be taken away at any moment don’t value their lives that much. Rather, if we train under Kang Jin-ho and survive, our chances of survival will be higher in the future. That’s why I applied. Because I want to get stronger, because I want to survive, and…”

Choi Jin-young hesitated before blurting out.

“I know it’s a pipe dream, but I want to stand at the same level as Kang Jin-ho, even just once. Not the relative superiority you feel when looking at those weaker than you, but I want to see the world through the eyes of a true powerhouse.”

Seeing Choi Jin-young bow his head as if he had said everything he needed to, Kang Jin-ho gave his honest opinion.

“You’re really good at talking.”

“In the end, you just want to get stronger, right?”

“Of course, that’s part of it. But it’s not everything.”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“That’s all it needs to be.”

“You don’t need any other reasons. You want to get stronger. You’re willing to die to get stronger. That’s enough. Anything else is just unnecessary.”

Choi Jin-young looked him straight in the eye.

“I want to get stronger.”

“Good.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded, as if he was pleased.

“I’ll make it happen.”

* * *

Booooooom!

Kang Jin-ho drove his car out of the General Assembly.

‘Hmm…’

Things didn’t go exactly as planned, but it wasn’t bad. The problem was that Kang Jin-ho didn’t accurately understand the difference between the martial artists of this era and those who followed him in the past.

It was a mistake to approach things the same way in this era as he did in that era, where everyone had to be desperate.

‘Well, that’s fine too.’

They would soon find out what Kang Jin-ho’s training was like. If they couldn’t understand it with their minds, they would have to understand it with their bodies.

Fortunately for them…

This wasn’t the Central Plains [a historical region in China, often used in martial arts stories as a setting for powerful clans and schools].

In the past, when Kang Jin-ho created the Demonic Flame, he would throw applicants into inescapable valleys and only pick those who survived.

Those who couldn’t endure the harsh environment and those who were eliminated in the competition where they targeted each other had to face the inevitable reality of death.

But this was 21st-century South Korea, and he couldn’t use such methods. So, he had to acknowledge the existence of dropouts.

‘Half of them will drop out in three days.’

Kang Jin-ho was curious how many of those swarming applicants would remain. He was going to have a preliminary round that wasn’t in the plan, but that was also something to look forward to.

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s phone started ringing.

“Yes.”

A low voice came through the speaker.

[Are you busy?]

“Well…”

[It sounds like you’re not busy, but you don’t particularly want to make time. Is that a ghost?]

Kang Jin-ho turned around without realizing it. It was as if someone was watching him right next to him. After confirming that no one was in the car, Kang Jin-ho sighed and said,

“It’s not like that.”

[I’ll believe that lie. I want to see you today no matter what, so please make some time.]

“Huh?”

[I said, I want to see you, so please make some time.]

“…Ah, now?”

[Yes, now.]

“Okay. Where should I go?”

After hearing the destination from Choi Yeon-ha, Kang Jin-ho glanced at the navigation.

“I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

[Looks like you were nearby.]

“Yeah, I guess so.”

[Then hurry up.]

The call ended, and Kang Jin-ho slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

Booooooom!

Kang Jin-ho’s sports car sped down the road. After accelerating aggressively for a while, the car suddenly slowed down as if it had hit something.

‘…I’m going to get a ticket.’

Kang Jin-ho looked left and right to check if there were any traffic police, sighed, and started driving at a normal speed.

‘It’s going to take more than 30 minutes…’

This is a headache.

“You said 30 minutes?”

“Something came up…”

“You said it was close!”

“Sorry.”

Choi Yeon-ha glared at Kang Jin-ho with narrowed eyes. Kang Jin-ho, at a loss for words, just smacked his lips. He shouldn’t have been so confident. Why did he have to say he would arrive in 30 minutes and stir up trouble?

“Don’t you know that people who don’t keep their promises are the worst?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmph.”

Choi Yeon-ha scanned Kang Jin-ho up and down and said,

“Well, I understand. It’s also my fault for suddenly calling you.”

“Huh?”

“…What’s wrong?”

“I’m just thinking, was she always the type to apologize?”

“Kang Jin-ho, have you ever been hit by a woman?”

“…My mom.”

“Ah…”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded as if she understood.

“You can’t win, can you?”

“Absolutely not.”

Choi Yeon-ha burst out laughing, then stood up and pulled out the chair for Kang Jin-ho to sit in.

“Etiquette for a pitiful man?”

“Should I say thank you?”

“Of course.”

“Then thank you.”

Kang Jin-ho sat down, and Choi Yeon-ha also took her seat.

After ordering some simple drinks, Kang Jin-ho asked,

“What did you call me for?”

“Do I need a reason to call you?”

“No. It’s just sudden.”

“And I already told you the reason.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha looked him straight in the eye and said,

“I called you because I wanted to see you.”

Kang Jin-ho looked dumbfounded, and Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“You’re really fun to tease. Has anyone been teasing you lately, Kang Jin-ho? I think there might be someone?”

Kang Jin-ho forced himself to erase the image of the hairy face that immediately came to mind and shook his head.

“No.”

“Kang Jin-ho, you weren’t like this before, but lately, you can’t hide your expressions very well. Before, what should I say? It felt like you were wearing an iron mask? Like this.”

Choi Yeon-ha made a mask shape with her hand in front of her face.

“Your tone was stiff, you had no expression. All you could say was ‘I won’t do it.’ Wow, thinking about it, you were a really boring character.”

Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat.

Being with this person made him feel like he was losing his composure. Things didn’t go as he intended. However, the problem was that it wasn’t a bad feeling. If he felt bad, he could just not meet this person…

‘This is a strange feeling.’

Come to think of it, he seemed to have felt this way before. No, it’s different from then. Back then, it was just comfort, but now…

“Why are you making such a serious face again?”

“It’s nothing.”

Choi Yeon-ha put her arms on the table and leaned forward.

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever thought about how often you say ‘it’s not’ when you talk to me?”

Choi Yeon-ha said with a subtle expression.

“Of course, I understand that you don’t want to reveal your true feelings. But it’s a little disappointing for the person in front of you to always have to accept it when they know you’re thinking something else. Do you understand?”

Kang Jin-ho’s expression slightly crumbled.

“I guess I should say sorry.”

He already knew that Choi Yeon-ha had a somewhat bold side, but today, that side was particularly prominent.

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“Because I like you like that, Kang Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho’s expression went blank.

Choi Yeon-ha also slightly lowered her head to avoid Kang Jin-ho’s gaze. Choi Yeon-ha leaned back and took a deep breath before opening her mouth.

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“Actually, I asked to meet because I had something to tell you.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha without saying anything.

Choi Yeon-ha hesitated for a moment before biting her lip.

“I…”

“Yes.”

After hesitating several times, Choi Yeon-ha finally blurted out.

“I’m going to China.”

“Huh?”

Neither Kang Jin-ho nor Choi Yeon-ha could say anything.

A low silence settled between them.

* * *

“Is this Korea?”

Saito Genryu frowned as he looked around after leaving the airport.

“Was the last time I visited thirty years ago? Compared to then, it’s like a different country.”

“It’s just a peninsula, isn’t it?”

“Fool.”

Saito Genryu said with a look of disdain.

“Don’t belittle them, don’t ignore them. It’s right to fully celebrate the growth of your opponent.”

“…My thoughts were short-sighted.”

Saito Genryu’s eyes slowly calmed down.

‘After all, this will be our land.’

The die had been cast.

Giving up all territories in the mainland and moving here was not an easy decision. It was a choice that determined not only that but also the fate of the Nanahoshi Group.

Therefore, he had a duty to make this choice the best it could be.

To do that…

‘Kang Jin-ho.’

Saito Genryu’s eyes gleamed ominously.

This land belonged to the General Assembly, which meant it was Kang Jin-ho’s land.

Even a stray dog gets a head start in its own territory, so it wouldn’t be easy to face Kang Jin-ho in Korea.

That’s why he had prepared.

“The arrangements are complete, right?”

“All the instructions you gave have been perfectly prepared.”

“Good.”

Saito looked around again with a meaningful gaze.

“This place will become the new land of our Nanahoshi Group. To do that, we need to take the head of the original owner. We will take Kang Jin-ho’s head and conquer the peninsula.”

It was the moment a new war began.