Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 594

Where did it all go wrong?

Perhaps it’s foolish to ponder such things now.

Reflecting on the past and learning from it is for those who have a future. Unfortunately, at this moment, Lee Sung-taek had no future.

The only future he could choose was death.

Death was standing before him, clear and resolute.

In the form of a man named Bator.

‘Only death, huh…’

Lee Sung-taek bit his lip.

Come to think of it, his life had always been like this. He never made proactive choices. The best he could do was assess the situation and find the least problematic path.

He never took the initiative to change his circumstances or strive for something that seemed impossible.

And this was the result.

The price of delaying choices was all too clear. As a result, Lee Sung-taek couldn’t even choose his own death.

It was all so futile.

And…

What should he call this feeling?

His heart had been pounding since earlier, screaming something.

His vision was hazy, detached from reality.

The world, painted in monotone, was pressing down on him.

‘If it was going to end like this anyway…’

That meager bit of power.

If he was going to end his life like this, without even enjoying it, he should have lived as he pleased.

That was the only thing he regretted.

Lee Sung-taek stared intently at Bator.

‘Don’t be foolish.’ What would change by regretting it?

It was only at the last moment that Lee Sung-taek realized one thing.

No matter how much he regretted the past, it was useless. What he needed to worry about wasn’t what he should have done in the past, but what he would do in the future.

And now, there was only one future he could choose.

‘How to die.’

Yes, he knew.

It was meaningless.

No matter how he died, no one would remember his death.

In the end, he would just be a part of the rumor that the elders and directors were massacred by Bator.

So, that Director Lee Sung-taek, how did he die?

No, that wouldn’t happen.

Who would be curious about his death?

The only ones who might be saddened by his death would be his children. No, he couldn’t even be sure of that.

“Heh heh.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

He had always thought things would get better. He believed that if he lived this way, he would eventually reach a point where he could look back and nod in satisfaction.

That was his mistake.

If a warrior’s life meant not knowing when you would die, then he should have lived a life without regrets, even if he died today. He shouldn’t have lived with the complacent thought, ‘It’s not good enough now, but it’ll get better later.’

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

It didn’t matter if no one acknowledged him.

It didn’t matter if no one applauded his death as a noble one.

This was just for his own satisfaction.

Even if the outcome of death was the same, the process could be different.

Lee Sung-taek turned his head to look beside him.

Song Young-moo.

Song Young-moo was clinging to the half-collapsed wall, looking completely out of it.

It was a good thing it was raining.

Otherwise, his wet pants would have been obvious.

Lee Sung-taek turned his head away with a bitter expression.

He didn’t want to die like that. No, he didn’t want to survive like that either.

Having realized that a cowardly life led to a cowardly death, Lee Sung-taek wanted to be dignified, at least for this moment.

Then, he could face the King of the Underworld with his head held high.

He could say that he had lived a cowardly life, but his last moment was dignified.

Crack.

Lee Sung-taek’s fist made a cracking sound.

It was a shame he didn’t have his cherished weapon. But that was proof that Lee Sung-taek hadn’t been a true warrior all this time. How could a warrior who didn’t carry his cherished weapon call himself a warrior?

So, there was nothing to regret.

If he didn’t have a sword, he would fight with his fists, and if he didn’t have fists, he would bite with his teeth. That’s what a warrior was.

Lee Sung-taek’s eyes narrowed.

“Hmm?”

Bator saw the life returning to Lee Sung-taek’s eyes and smiled meaningfully.

‘Yes, there should be at least one.’

Even if the Korean martial arts world was so low and the people were all rotten, there should be at least one person with the soul of a warrior.

Even in a box full of rotten apples, there was always one good one.

‘Good.’

Lee Sung-taek’s eyes were cold.

That was the look of someone who had let go of everything and was preparing for the end.

Bator didn’t say anything.

Resolve wasn’t something you declared with words.

“Come.”

He didn’t doubt that his intention was conveyed. Sometimes, things were conveyed beyond words.

And Lee Sung-taek, as if it were natural, charged towards Bator.

He put all the strength he could muster into both fists. And with everything he had, he threw a punch.

His clenched teeth couldn’t hold on and broke with a snap. Lee Sung-taek was certain.

This was his best punch.

In his entire life, he had never thrown such a perfect punch.

Boom!

Lee Sung-taek’s fist struck Bator’s left chest. And then, Lee Sung-taek realized what kind of body Bator had that was taking his attack.

The moment his right fist touched Bator’s body, an unimaginable, enormous rebound force hit him.

Crack, crack, crack.

The sound of bones breaking.

It wasn’t just a sound.

The bones in his right hand, which had struck Bator’s chest, were completely crushed. The bones up to his wrist were shattered into pieces, and an indescribable pain washed over him.

‘So what!’

He was going to die anyway. So what did pain matter?

Lee Sung-taek poured all his energy into his good left hand and jumped up. His posture was broken, but thanks to Bator not dodging, his left hand accurately struck Bator’s jaw.

Crack!

He could see it.

Like slow motion, he could see his fist shattering.

“Haha.”

He laughed.

Serves him right.

He was no match for him.

But this was good enough. Now he would have something to say when he met the King of the Underworld. He would say that he was the man who punched Bator in the jaw. Yes, that was enough.

“Hoo…”

Lee Sung-taek, who had landed on the ground, raised his head and looked at Bator.

‘Don’t waver.’

There was only one thing he was afraid of.

His eyes, his legs…

He was afraid they might be trembling. He was afraid of showing a pathetic side of himself.

Being remembered as a coward was more frightening than dying.

Lee Sung-taek straightened his chest and glared at Bator. He had done everything he could. All that was left was to face death with dignity.

Bator quietly lowered his head and looked at Lee Sung-taek.

The two men’s eyes met in the air.

Bator mumbled something and then pulled his arm back.

Lee Sung-taek clearly saw the fist extending behind Bator’s back. Now, that fist would lead him to death.

‘That was the first thing I learned.’

The first lesson his master, whose face he could barely remember, had given him.

– Don’t close your eyes.

– A person who wants to learn martial arts shouldn’t close their eyes because they are afraid of getting hit. Such a person doesn’t deserve to learn martial arts.

‘That’s right.’

He was able to learn martial arts because he didn’t close his eyes to his master’s fist.

He had lived with martial arts for his entire life since then.

Having devoted himself to it for so long, he should be able to face death without closing his eyes. If not, his life would have been too pathetic.

With calm eyes, Lee Sung-taek stared at the ‘death’ that was flying towards his face with the force of a gale. He would never close his eyes.

But something was strange.

Death was clearly approaching him. But the fist that had been flying so fast was noticeably slowing down as it neared his face.

‘Is this what they call a life review?’

They said that when a person was in a life-threatening situation, they felt like time was slowing down. He seemed to be having a lot of strange experiences today. It was good that the density of his dying day was high, but it was a shame that the experience would be meaningless.

‘Huh?’

That was strange.

Was it… stopped?

Lee Sung-taek’s fingers twitched.

Time wasn’t slowing down.

Bator had stopped his fist right in front of his face.

The solid fist that could break a mountain was opened wide. And then, it slowly brushed past his face and landed on his shoulder.

Thud!

Bator, who had lightly tapped his shoulder, walked past him.

“……”

Lee Sung-taek couldn’t say anything.

His extremely tense brain was unable to properly grasp the situation.

It was Jang Da-jing who helped him.

“This way.”

Jang Da-jing reached out and grabbed Lee Sung-taek’s shoulder, pulling him away.

Even though he knew they were enemies, Lee Sung-taek couldn’t resist and was dragged away by Jang Da-jing.

“What…”

Jang Da-jing smiled at the bewildered Lee Sung-taek.

“Lord Bator has recognized you as a warrior.”

“…A warrior?”

“Yes, a warrior. A fighter.”

Jang Da-jing shrugged.

“Lord Bator’s theory is that everyone who is an elder of the General Assembly should be a warrior. I’ve told him several times that it’s impossible, but he doesn’t listen.”

What was he talking about?

He couldn’t tell if Jang Da-jing was talking nonsense or if his mind was blank and he couldn’t understand.

One thing was certain: Lee Sung-taek had survived.

Without realizing it, Lee Sung-taek raised his hand to touch his face. But Jang Da-jing stopped him.

“Don’t move. You might not be able to use your hand forever if you’re not careful.”

At Jang Da-jing’s words, Lee Sung-taek lowered his head and looked at his hand. His arm, with its crushed bones, was hanging limply. He was worried if it would ever return to its original shape.

‘What if it doesn’t?’

Lee Sung-taek had a premonition.

As a warrior, he was finished. He would never fight anyone again. Having seen such an overwhelming martial art, a martial art he could never reach, he knew it was over.

“Of course, don’t think this is the end.”

Jang Da-jing sneered, as if he knew what Lee Sung-taek was thinking.

“The final decision is up to Kang Jin-ho. Well, I don’t think that guy would kill someone who doesn’t resist. A normal person in a strange place…”

Lee Sung-taek, who had taken his eyes off the chattering Chinese man, looked at Bator.

He could see the large back of a man who didn’t seem human.

That man was consistently threatening, whether seen from the front or the back.

“…What about the others?”

“Well, maybe…”

Jang Da-jing shrugged.

“It seems the others didn’t pass Lord Bator’s test. Well, the conclusion is obvious.”

Yes.

It was obvious.

Lee Sung-taek stared blankly at Bator’s advance.