Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 626

“No…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the man kneeling on one knee before him with a somewhat uncomfortable gaze.

It was subtle.

Very subtle.

Normally, someone kneeling before you would be a sign of respect and loyalty. Of course, the person in front of him now was clearly kneeling with that intention.

Nevertheless, the reason Kang Jin-ho felt uncomfortable was because the gaze of the kneeling man was higher than his own eye level.

It was as if an adult was trying to match the eye level of a child.

The only person who could maintain the same eye level as Kang Jin-ho even while kneeling was one person in the entire world.

Bator.

He was now in front of Kang Jin-ho.

“Where did you hear that?”

“My Lord!”

Bator’s voice boomed loudly. Kang Jin-ho squeezed his eyes shut and deployed his barrier. If this voice leaked out a couple more times, the neighbors would think a train’s boiler had exploded and come running out.

“China is dangerous.”

Bator’s eyes were lowered. It wasn’t just a casual remark, but rather, he was saying it while maintaining his composure.

Then Bator’s words must be correct. Nevertheless, Kang Jin-ho still felt uncomfortable.

The difference between nagging and scolding was whether the person doing it had affection for the person receiving it. Scolding with the desire for the other person to do well was nagging.

People are truly complex beings. They know that most of the nagging is done with the hope that the listener will become a better person and be in a better situation, yet they don’t want to hear it.

Kang Jin-ho was exactly like that right now.

“The Hongwang Clan is still after you, my Lord. If they find out that I haven’t returned and have joined your ranks, they will become even more hostile. In this situation, walking into their territory is like offering them your neck.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

The most uncomfortable situation in the world is when what the other person is saying is absolutely correct.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“China is not an option.”

“But I have to go.”

“…Is there a reason?”

“Well…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

Then Bator rolled his eyes. From that expression, Kang Jin-ho read, ‘Hey! I heard you’re going to China because of a woman, but it doesn’t seem polite to mention it in front of you and embarrass you, so I’m holding back.’ He cleared his throat.

“I don’t know what you heard, but it’s not like that.”

“If it’s not like that…”

“It’s literally not that. It’s not for that reason.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“I can’t go into details, but I have a reason to go to China right now. It’s something I have to do once. The longer I wait, the more dangerous it will become. So, I need to hurry as soon as possible.”

“Hmm…”

Bator studied Kang Jin-ho’s expression. Reading sincerity in his face, Bator nodded his head firmly.

“If it’s something that must be done, then it must be done. A bigger problem than danger to you, my Lord, would be the collapse of your ambition.”

Was it something so grand that it could be called an ambition?

Kang Jin-ho was having trouble managing his expression.

What should he say?

It was like a three-year-old child building a sandcastle, and next to them, a daycare teacher was clapping, taking pictures, and preparing to upload them to social media.

Of course, it was a natural phenomenon, but if the three-year-old child’s mind was that of an adult, things would be different.

‘Was he always this kind of character?’

When he dominated Bator’s mind and brought him to his side, he didn’t want this result. He was a warrior of the plains, someone who hated being tied down. So, he thought that even if he suppressed his mind, they would have a distant relationship.

To think that Bator was this kind of loyal subject.

‘This has become troublesome.’

However, he couldn’t release Bator now. The Assembly was suffering from an extreme lack of experts, and there was no way to find an expert like Bator anywhere.

“I must go to China. But China is dangerous. A dilemma. Then, hmm…”

Bator seemed to be pondering, then nodded. He then slowly stood up.

“There’s no choice but to compromise. Instead of going to China alone, take a guard with you, my Lord.”

“Guard me?”

Kang Jin-ho said, as if dumbfounded.

“A guard isn’t there to protect the weak from the strong. Even if you are my Lord, you know that numbers can’t be ignored, right?”

Kang Jin-ho had no choice but to nod.

How could he not know? That was how Kang Jin-ho died in his previous life.

He was confident that he had no equal in the world, but against a coordinated attack, there was no answer, not because he had no equal.

The reason Kang Jin-ho was trying to develop the Assembly in Korea was, in a way, an extension of that.

“A guard…”

However, Kang Jin-ho’s face showed that he was not keen on the idea.

He basically didn’t like having people trailing behind him. The Flame Demons of the past were not his guards but his personal troops. He only brought them when needed, not always with him. But a guard?

“That would be difficult.”

At Kang Jin-ho’s firm answer, Bator raised his head.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not ignoring your suggestion to form a guard. However, those who can be called my personal troops are still weak. Against the martial artists of China, they might only be a hindrance.”

“That’s true.”

Bator also nodded, as if agreeing.

“But you’re wrong, my Lord. I never told you to take those nobodies with you. No matter how much you teach them directly, growth takes time. I also oppose taking them to China.”

“Hmm?”

At the unexpected words, Kang Jin-ho looked directly at Bator.

“Then who?”

“Of course, it’s me!”

“What?”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t it obvious? Where are you going now, my Lord? China. Who in the Assembly knows as much about China as I do?”

No one, right?

Of course, there wouldn’t be. You came from China. You’re a Mongolian who lived in China, so of course, you know China well. But…

“You’re saying I should take you as a guard?”

“That’s right. And!”

Bator turned his head and looked at Jang Da-jing, who was standing hesitantly at the far end.

“Since we’re going to China, it would be good to take that guy too. He’s a genuine Chinese person.”

“Wait, Bator.”

Even Kang Jin-ho, who rarely panicked, couldn’t hide his bewilderment now.

“You’re saying I should take you to China?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it the most logical thing to do?”

Bator shrugged as if wondering what the problem was.

Kang Jin-ho said, as if dumbfounded.

“The moment you step into the airport, all the martial artists in China will know that you’ve entered China, right?”

“And even if we somehow get through the airport, wouldn’t everyone in the world recognize you if you’re with me?”

“It would be better to carry an advertisement board on my body. You’re saying I should take you?”

Kang Jin-ho, who usually didn’t talk in circles like this, had no choice but to do so now.

If he entered China with Bator, the news that Kang Jin-ho had entered would spread throughout China the moment he stepped into the airport. The Hongwang Clan, who were grinding their teeth at Kang Jin-ho, would cheer and run to the airport.

“Hmm, I’ll find a way.”

“I don’t think there is a way?”

“There’s always a way!”

“No, it’s not something that can be done by insisting…”

“Don’t worry, my Lord. Jang Da-jing and I will find a way. So, don’t think about anything else and make sure to take me with you.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes twitched. “Let’s discuss it first, just for now.” He would absolutely not take him. Absolutely!

“All related matters have been taken care of. You don’t have to worry.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled gently.

“If there was such a problem, you could have just told me. It’s a problem that’s difficult to solve within the Assembly, but if we work with the financial world, it’s a very simple problem. You can go on a cargo plane. We can handle the airport security issue. A van will be waiting for you when you arrive at the airport, so you can skip the security check and leave the airport through the VIP zone.”

He was competent.

Very competent.

Lee Hyun-soo was smiling innocently, unaware that his competence was tightening the noose around his own neck.

“…You handled it well.”

“Hehehe, my job is to eliminate inconveniences.”

“But it created one instead.”

“Pardon?”

“No.”

That inconvenience, that is.

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head.

Last night, Bator, who had barged into his office, had told him to find a way for him and Kang Jin-ho to enter China without being detected by the Chinese. Bator seemed to have thought of a smuggling ship, but there was no need to use such a cumbersome method. One of Kang Jin-ho’s strengths was that he could utilize both the martial and financial worlds at the same time. By combining areas that each could not handle, they could solve almost any problem.

But unfortunately, that infinite ability was now holding Kang Jin-ho back.

“…Is it okay to enter illegally?”

“Chief Jo Gyu-min said he gave you an airline ticket anyway. Please consult with me about these kinds of things in the future. You’re not naive enough to think that the Hongwang Clan’s influence doesn’t reach the airport, are you?”

“Ah, no.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled awkwardly.

“The moment you board a plane under Kang Jin-ho’s name, the Hongwang Clan will be all over the airport before the plane even lands. You weren’t thinking of using this to board a plane, were you? You just accepted it because they gave it to you, right?”

“Of course.”

Sometimes, shamelessness is necessary.

Kang Jin-ho nodded repeatedly with a very calm face. As if it was absolutely not the case.

“When should we schedule the departure?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“Then I’ll schedule it as soon as possible. We need to arrange the airport, so please wait a little longer.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho ended up asking something he shouldn’t have.

“By the way…”

“Yes?”

“Are we really going together? With Bator?”

“That’s what Bator-nim said?”

Kang Jin-ho’s head slowly dropped.

‘This doesn’t seem right….’

He kept feeling that something was wrong, but it felt like he had already reached a point of no return.

“Okay. I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly got up. Then he walked out, shuffling his feet.

‘Is there a problem?’

Lee Hyun-soo strangely felt that Kang Jin-ho’s shoulders looked small.

Kang Jin-ho, who had opened the door, couldn’t help but see Bator waiting outside with a beaming smile.

Bator opened his mouth with a face that showed he was having the time of his life.

“It will be a fun trip, my Lord.”

“……”

Ah, please, just please!