Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 539

“……It seems you’re quite popular with Westerners.”

Lee Hyun-soo asked, barely holding back a laugh, as they moved to the training grounds. Kang Jin-ho frowned at Lee Hyun-soo’s reaction.

“It just happened that way.”

“Still, it seems you have a way with people. To see them wanting to stay here of their own accord.”

“……A way with people, you say.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

‘If that had been said in the Central Plains [a region in ancient China], that guy’s tongue would have been cut off.’

By the hands of those who hated Kang Jin-ho, not Kang Jin-ho himself.

The words ‘Demonic Heavenly Sovereign’ and ‘a way with people’ were as incompatible as oil and water.

To the Demonic Heavenly Sovereign, who crushed and beheaded all who opposed him, ‘a way with people’ was absurd.

‘Even now, it doesn’t seem much different.’

Basically, Kang Jin-ho’s actions were no different from the past. So why was he getting this kind of reaction?

He couldn’t help but wonder where the difference lay.

“For our side, it’s beneficial to have even one more person stay.”

“I suppose so.”

“It’s a bit bitter to have to pay a fair price to those who could have been controlled with just a baguette.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled silently.

It was indeed a bit bitter. But in return, he had gained a powerful ally in Knight Wiggins.

“Bang Hwe-ju seemed quite displeased.”

“It won’t be easy for him to accept. He is, after all, a successor of traditional Korean martial arts.”

“Hmm…”

“But he has to accept it. If there’s something better, refusing to accept the superior aspects of others is like saying we’ve been using landline phones all this time, so we’ll stick to that tradition and not use cell phones.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

In the end, traditions and such were bound to change. Humanity was evolving. If one couldn’t accept that flow, they would be left behind.

“There will surely be grumbling from other places as well. But change always comes with pain, whether it’s for a person or an organization.”

“That’s true.”

“If we can take the advantages from their martial arts, we can increase the overall power of the General Assembly. For now, we should only think about that. If there’s any interference, we’ll crush it.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

It was convenient to have someone who clearly guided the direction. If Kang Jin-ho were alone, he wouldn’t have been able to think so concisely.

“They seemed to have a lot of complaints, though.”

“They still have complaints now. But it’s not about the direction, it’s about the method. Please, next time, consult with me a little. I wouldn’t stop you from doing what you want to do, would I? Even if we’re going in the same direction and with the same goal, there are ways that are less shocking and have fewer side effects. That’s why I’m here, to discuss those things.”

“My apologies. I’ll keep that in mind next time.”

“That’s all I need to hear.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled gently.

He knew it too.

This matter had progressed too urgently to be discussed with him.

From Kang Jin-ho’s perspective, it was inevitable that things would proceed this way. When that was mentioned, some would say it couldn’t be helped, while others would say they’d be careful next time.

‘It’s a relief that Kang Jin-ho is the latter.’

Following someone who accepts the words of others and has the heart to care for them was a blessing for a subordinate. It was something unimaginable when he was with Kim Seok-il in the past.

He was someone who lived with the belief that everything he did was the truth. In terms of attitude, Kang Jin-ho and Kim Seok-il were not even comparable.

‘And his mind too.’

Although he often asked others for advice, Kang Jin-ho’s mind was by no means bad. No, sometimes he had flashes of brilliance that even surprised Lee Hyun-soo.

“The General Assembly will eventually have to endure change.”

“That’s right.”

“Then what about them?”

Kang Jin-ho opened the door in front of him and went inside.

Then he stopped.

‘This feeling is familiar.’

Demonic energy.

He could feel a thick demonic energy.

Demonic energy was a very peculiar force. Even though it didn’t contain any hostility towards him, it still irritated people’s nerves. The subtle, dense killing intent felt like needles pricking at him.

He used to feel this often in the past.

But it was a feeling he couldn’t experience in this world. The only one he had seen properly using demonic energy was Jang Min in China. The other so-called demons he had met were not even worthy of being called demons.

The energy they emitted was so crude that he didn’t even want to call it demonic energy.

Kang Jin-ho took a deep breath.

But the demonic energy he thought he would never feel again was filling this place.

It was as if he had instantly returned to a moment in the past.

When the demons of the Demonic Cult trained, these kinds of energies would fill the entire cult.

“I feel strange.”

At Lee Hyun-soo’s words, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but smile. Lee Hyun-soo, who was not used to demonic energy, was feeling discomfort.

“Haven’t you seen it many times?”

“From you, Mr. Kang Jin-ho?”

“Yes.”

“……It’s different from that. Just because a person has seen the ocean, does that mean they’ll be used to a spring?”

“That’s a subtle analogy.”

But it was also an appropriate analogy. A match flame and a wildfire were both fire, but they were completely different. Even if it was the same demonic energy, the feeling would be completely different depending on how refined and how strong it was.

“Attention!”

As Lee Hyun-soo spoke loudly, the gazes of those who were training all turned towards them.

Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth and took a step back.

It wasn’t that he was making way for Kang Jin-ho. The combined gazes and energy had made him retreat without him even realizing it.

‘To this extent?’

Of course, demonic arts were said to have attribute effects, but he never imagined they would have developed to the point where he would be intimidated by their aura.

Lee Hyun-soo’s face flushed red with humiliation and anticipation.

He was ashamed that he had been intimidated, but he was also excited by the fact that those who had previously had no effect on him had developed this much in such a short period.

“You’ve arrived.”

Lee Myung-hwan, who had become their leader for no reason other than his supposed friendship with Kang Jin-ho, stepped forward.

“What’s the problem?”

“……There are many. It seems that accepting and internalizing a different system of martial arts is not easy.”

“I suppose so.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if he understood.

It was only relatively easy, but it was impossible for them to easily accept a martial art that was different from what they had learned so far.

“Nevertheless, there are visible results.”

“It seems so.”

“I’m also confident that we won’t be easily defeated like before.”

“Is that so?”

As Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth, Lee Myung-hwan waved his hand.

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean to challenge you.”

As Lee Myung-hwan panicked, Lee Hyun-soo chuckled and chimed in.

“If a kid comes home bragging about getting a perfect score on a test, you just accept it. Don’t try to check how well they’ve actually learned it.”

“If they want to, it might be a good idea to let them.”

“We don’t want to. At least not yet.”

“That’s a shame.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly gazed at the people filling the training grounds.

The demonic energy emanating from them felt like it was pricking his skin.

‘Good.’

It wasn’t just because it was demonic energy.

Those who were previously just a ragtag bunch were growing into a definite force.

“It’s time to change the training method.”

“Yes?”

“In the end, demonic arts are bound to be practical martial arts. Maybe that wasn’t the initial intention… but basically, it’s a domineering martial art.”

“It seems so.”

“There also needs to be a way to soothe the boiling blood. If we keep training like this, they’ll eventually lose control of themselves and cause an accident.”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded quietly.

He could feel it too.

That he himself was a little different from before.

Even in small troubles that occurred during training, he would lash out with excessive anger, unlike before. To the point where he didn’t understand why he was so angry.

It was something unimaginable for him in the past.

The problem was that he wasn’t the only one showing such behavior. Most of the people here were showing such symptoms. They had become more aggressive and sharp.

That was why everyone was focused on Kang Jin-ho’s words.

They couldn’t completely shake off the worry that they were becoming demons who had lost their reason and were only driven by the urge to destroy.

“It’s something that happens as demonic energy increases. You become more violent than before. It’s something we have to endure.”

“……Will it continue like this?”

“Do I look violent?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, should I have said no?”

As Kang Jin-ho seemed a little dejected, Lee Hyun-soo quickly gave Lee Myung-hwan a look.

“Ah, no, of course, you’re not usually like that. If we’re not usually like that either, there’s no problem. When we fight, we naturally have to be violent.”

Lee Myung-hwan blurted out whatever came to mind.

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“I think we’ll need some medical staff.”

“Are you going to hit someone! You can’t beat people for saying something like that.”

“It’s not that……”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

What kind of image did they have of him?

“Because there will be quite a few injuries.”

“Ah, training!”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded as if he understood.

“How many do we need?”

“Half of them… no, more than that will get hurt, so wouldn’t we need a few?”

“……I’ll arrange it. But what kind of training are you going to do… is it very dangerous?”

“It is dangerous.”

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

“It’s bound to be dangerous when beasts are fighting each other.”

“S-surely?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Beasts who can’t release their anger have to release it by fighting each other. The boring training is over. Now, let’s fight. We also need to sort out the hierarchy.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho and the others with a slightly horrified expression.

It was bizarre that Kang Jin-ho was telling them to release their violence and bloodlust by fighting each other, but what shocked him even more was the reaction of those who heard it.

Despite hearing such absurd words, they didn’t object at all. Rather, they were looking around at each other, as if they had already picked out who they wanted to fight.

‘They’re all out of their minds.’

Only now did Lee Hyun-soo realize that they were demons who had learned demonic arts.

Even though they had learned a relatively refined orthodox demonic art, demons were still demons. They couldn’t be thought of in the same way as ordinary people.

A chill ran down his spine as he imagined them turning their fangs towards enemies, not allies, someday.

‘It’s poison.’

Uncontrolled power is poison. It can only be poison. Because it will destroy itself someday.

As if sensing Lee Hyun-soo’s worries, Kang Jin-ho smiled.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve never been bitten by a beast.”

“……”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes caught Kang Jin-ho’s broad back.

‘I suppose so.’

This man was the king of these beasts.

‘Kang Jin-ho alone is so scary, what will happen if this man leads subordinates who are on his level?’ Lee Hyun-soo shuddered. Perhaps…….