Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 633

Behind Kang Jin-ho, Bator and Jang Da-jing appeared. Following them, a flight attendant, looking relieved, bowed deeply.

“Please be careful on your way.”

“Thank you.”

As Kang Jin-ho greeted them, Bator and Jang Da-jing also bowed.

Then, as soon as he turned around, Bator grumbled.

“The master is excessively polite. Considering his position, he needs to handle people more easily.”

“They’re not my people.”

“Everyone will become the master’s people.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly.

He didn’t even intend to go that far.

Bator was a difficult person to understand. Sometimes, unlike Kang Jin-ho, who was still fumbling in this world, he seemed very modern. Despite his massive size.

But sometimes, he seemed to be stuck in the past.

‘Maybe everyone is like that.’

Perhaps modern martial artists are bound to be dualistic. They have to maintain both their identity as someone who adapts to society and their identity as a martial artist.

They can’t help but have dual aspects, whether big or small.

“Mr. Kang Jin-ho?”

As they came down the stairs, a man in a black suit greeted them.

“I’m Jo Yong-hwan from the Sichuan branch of Jae Kyung China. I heard that the manager met you before.”

The man who introduced himself as Jo Yong-hwan bowed ninety degrees. Kang Jin-ho also bowed in return.

“This way, please.”

“Yes.”

Jo Yong-hwan led them to a black van.

“I was told there was someone with a large build, so I prepared…”

Bator nodded confidently.

“Normal vehicles are too small for me.”

Jo Yong-hwan, having seen Bator’s physique, was speechless.

‘Is he even human?’

There was a time when martial artists over two meters tall were quite famous. Jo Yong-hwan had seen them a few times back then. But next to Bator, they would look like children.

‘His height is similar to that basketball player, but…’

The difference in shoulders and build was too extreme.

“I wonder if the seat will fit.”

Jo Yong-hwan’s observation was very realistic.

“It’s fine. I’m used to being in tight spaces.”

That’s probably true.

In fact, everything would be narrow and small for Bator. Unless it was a place specially made for him.

“Come to think of it, Mr. Bator.”

“Hmm?”

Jang Da-jing asked to satisfy her curiosity.

“Does Mr. Bator have a house in China too?”

“I do.”

“Are all the things there made to fit Mr. Bator’s body?”

“Yes. I ordered everything. I even designed and built the house.”

“…I see.”

Jang Da-jing’s face flushed slightly.

‘I want to go there.’

It would be like a giant’s castle. Wouldn’t it be like a fairy tale world existing in modern times?

She didn’t want to live there, but she definitely wanted to visit.

“Is it close?”

“Unfortunately, it’s a bit far from here. I don’t like humid and hot areas, especially. It’s up north.”

“That’s a shame.”

Jang Da-jing clicked her tongue.

“You ordered everything custom-made?”

Kang Jin-ho interrupted their conversation. It was a rare occurrence.

“That’s right. I had it made to fit my body.”

As Kang Jin-ho nodded, Bator tilted his head.

Usually, the conversation doesn’t end like this?

“Is there something you’re interested in?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

“Speak up, master. It’s not good to make someone curious and then back out.”

Kang Jin-ho seemed to ponder for a moment before opening his mouth.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but I was just thinking that if the toilet is made to fit your body, most people could probably swim in it.”

Jang Da-jing and Bator were speechless and looked at each other. Bator opened his mouth a few times and then said,

“Do you want to try?”

“…I’ll pass.”

The three of them got into the van with subtle expressions.

“Well, this is good enough.”

Bator got into the van safely, making Jo Yong-hwan’s worries about whether he should have rented a small bus seem unnecessary. His head was almost touching the ceiling, but at least he could get in.

Once all three were in the van, Jo Yong-hwan, who was in the driver’s seat, slowly started the car.

As the car moved, Bator opened his mouth.

“Did you say your name was Jo Yong-hwan?”

“Yes, that’s right. You seem to be Chinese.”

“I’m Mongolian.”

“Ah…”

“Are we leaving without going through airport security?”

“Yes. We’ll be going out the back way.”

“Is that possible?”

Jo Yong-hwan smiled.

“Since you’re Mongolian, I’ll be honest with you. In China, there’s nothing that money can’t do. If something can’t be done, it’s not impossible, it just means there’s not enough money. Smuggling three people out is nothing in China.”

That’s probably true.

But it’s not like they’re sneaking in through the coast. It’s unusual to smuggle people in so openly through the airport.

“And this isn’t smuggling. The three of you have separate identities prepared, and soon there will be a record of you passing through airport security. Didn’t you bring your IDs from Korea?”

“I did.”

Kang Jin-ho took out his ID from his pocket.

“Yes. Actually, if you were to be smuggled in, there would be many inconveniences. You can use that ID.”

Bator gave a subtle smile.

“If you have money, there’s nothing you can’t do… That’s quite convenient. I didn’t know things like this were possible.”

The car stopped at a vehicle checkpoint.

Jo Yong-hwan lowered the window, said a few words, and handed over an envelope. The public security officer glanced inside and let the car pass.

“Corrupt.”

Jo Yong-hwan shrugged at Bator’s honest observation.

“I’m not Chinese, but I feel like I should defend it a bit. Actually, this is a sight you can see anywhere in the world. If you think that’s not the case in some countries, it’s because things are done more discreetly there.”

“Hmm, does that mean people are the same everywhere?”

“There are differences in degree, though.”

Bator nodded.

In fact, if he hadn’t experienced this, he wouldn’t have thought such a thing was possible in China. Isn’t that the difference between vaguely imagining something and experiencing it firsthand?

“Shall I take you to the hotel?”

“Yes, please.”

“But the hotel you’re going to is very far from the downtown area. Is there a reason why you’re going to such a place? If you’re going to do business or enjoy sightseeing in China, it would be better to go to a different hotel.”

“Please go to the destination.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jo Yong-hwan didn’t ask any more questions.

He had already received a warning from the Korean headquarters that the people he was taking were people he couldn’t dare to deal with. He shouldn’t be interested in what their circumstances were, nor should he try to find out.

“Then it will take some time. China is so vast that one province is as big as Korea. It will take about two or three hours, so it would be good to rest a bit.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

Seeing this, Bator sneered.

“Master.”

“…Hmm?”

“I think there’s a saying in Korea called ‘actions speak louder than words’?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You said you came to China for other business, but as soon as you arrived, your purpose changed. That’s very interesting.”

“It’s just that it’s close, so I want to take care of that first.”

“I trust you, master. Very much so.”

“Ugh…”

Kang Jin-ho raised his hand and rubbed his face.

‘Should I suppress him again?’

The soul binding wasn’t undone. But the way Bator treated him was strange. Perhaps because his ego was too strong, even though he recognized him as his master, he was a bit too casual.

Thinking about those who were soul-bound in the Central Plains [ancient China] in the past, he was almost a free man.

There must be many influences. His level had also dropped, and Bator was very strong.

In fact, Bator was at the borderline of being able to suppress a soul. If Bator were just a little stronger, it would have been impossible for Kang Jin-ho to suppress and control him.

“Whatever. I want to enjoy China a bit, since it’s been a while.”

“That’s not something a Mongolian should say.”

“After growing up, I spent most of my time in China. My soul is in Mongolia, but my body was in China. It wouldn’t be strange to call it my second home.”

“Hmm…”

“And for someone who says that, your face also looks nostalgic? Were you in China in the past?”

“In my previous life, yes.”

“Hehe, I figured. You were a demon, after all. How is it, China, after visiting it again after thousands of years?”

“First of all, it’s not thousands of years ago, and I’ve been to China once before. So I want to say that it’s nothing new, but…”

Kang Jin-ho stopped talking and looked out the car window.

‘It definitely feels strange.’

When he lived in China, he suffered from deep homesickness for Korea. He was sure that if he had forgotten the past and focused solely on martial arts, he would have reached a higher level.

But now that he was living in Korea again, he felt a strange nostalgia for China.

Maybe Bator felt the same way.

“Even so, it’s not like I’m particularly happy or excited. The Central Plains where I lived and the China of today are more different than Korea and China.”

“Because it was a long time ago.”

Bator smiled and said.

“The master can enjoy his feelings. The important thing is not to forget what needs to be done.”

“Yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back in his seat and looked at the rapidly passing scenery.

He said he didn’t feel anything special, but that wasn’t true.

‘It feels like something is being released.’

He felt it last time too, but when he comes to China, he feels free. Unlike in Korea, where he has to desperately maintain his current life, in China, he can do whatever he wants without worrying about such things.

Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth at the strange sense of liberation.

And…

‘Are they crazy?’

Jo Yong-hwan stepped on the accelerator with a face as if he had seen a ghost.

What? A past life? Thousands of years? What?

Did these guys come from some occult club?

He was already uneasy from the moment he saw their visuals, which would make anyone avoid them from 100 meters away if they met in society. But after listening to their conversation, it was beyond that level.

‘I should never get involved with them.’

It seemed like they weren’t in their right minds, so Jo Yong-hwan decided to just do his job and get away from them quickly.

The van driven by Jo Yong-hwan sped along the national highway. Towards the place where Choi Yeon-ha was.

“By the way, master.”

“Then should we just book two rooms for today?”

“Two? I have no intention of sharing a room with you guys.”

“Hehe, what do you mean? My room and Jang Da-jing’s room, two are enough. The master is going to do breeding activities anyway…”

Kang Jin-ho suddenly sat up straight in the car.

Then, Jo Yong-hwan’s sad voice echoed mournfully from outside the car.

“You can’t do that in the car! I’m driving right now! Mr. Kang Jin-ho! Mr. Kang Jin-ho!”

There are people in the world who are just tiring to get involved with.