Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 712

“Any questions?”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked down.

They were overwhelmed by confusion.

The eyes of those staring blankly at him were filled with unconcealed bewilderment.

Perhaps that was to be expected.

Those who had sought salvation had finally found their savior, but if that savior declared he was not a savior, if he said all the legends were false, then such a reaction was only natural.

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

‘Salvation…’

‘What a ridiculous notion.’

No one can save another’s life. Salvation is not something to be waited for, but something to be seized.

‘They’re rotten.’

What the Demonic Cult had lost was not their demonic arts.

The Demonic Cultists of the past were also persecuted. They were persecuted even more severely than now. The current Demonic Cultists were merely treated as inferior martial artists who had learned demonic arts, but the Demonic Cultists of the past were treated as foreigners who practiced heresy.

Considering that foreigners were not treated as equals in the Central Plains [ancient China] at that time, their current situation was not even comparable to that of the Demonic Cultists of the past.

But the Demonic Cultists of the past did not give up.

They were persecuted, ostracized, and driven to barren lands where no one lived to survive. Yet, they did not give up, cultivating the land, building structures, and creating villages.

No one sought salvation. They knew that if they could not save themselves, no one else in the world would help them.

But what about these people?

They sincerely believed in the foolish notion that the Demonic Lord would save them.

Sister Superior had told him to be the first to reach out. But there was no hand to offer to these people.

He thought that the Azure Demon coming to this era would be more helpful than Kang Jin-ho coming. But looking at how things were turning out, it seemed that his idea was wrong.

If the Azure Demon saw this state of affairs, he would have torn the elders to pieces.

Losing the demonic arts was forgivable.

But losing the soul of the Demonic Cult was unforgivable.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t have much affection for the Demonic Cult, but the Azure Demon was a Demonic Cultist to the bone. Even in his last moments, he was more concerned about the safety of the Demonic Cult than his loyalty to Kang Jin-ho.

If the Azure Demon saw these people now?

‘He would go on a rampage.’

There would be a bloodbath. Killing enemies was Kang Jin-ho’s forte, but the Azure Demon was particularly skilled at managing and punishing the cult members.

“Any questions?”

Kang Jin-ho asked again, but no one readily opened their mouth.

“Then, that’s all for now…”

“Wait, please wait a moment! Demonic Lord!”

A desperate voice burst out.

“Why Korea? Why are you going there?”

“Because it’s safe.”

Kang Jin-ho answered calmly.

“I will give demonic arts to those who are willing to risk their lives to follow me. I will open a path for you to become stronger. But it is impossible here. Before you can even learn demonic arts and become strong, those who seek to kill you will appear. I am going to Korea to buy you some time.”

“Ha, is Korea safe?”

“There is nothing absolute in this world. But it will be better than here. At least there, I can create an environment where you can focus on your martial arts without worrying about other things. That should be enough, don’t you think?”

The one who asked the question nodded as if he understood.

Regardless of whether he agreed with his intentions, he could understand what he meant.

“Any other questions?”

“What will happen if we don’t go?”

“What will happen…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“It’s not a matter of what will happen. You will just live as you do now. I will take those who follow me to Korea. The rest will just live here.”

“Then, what about the name of the Demonic Cult?”

“Take it.”

The murmuring grew louder.

“If you want the name of the Demonic Cult, take it. I will give you that shell. Whether you keep the name of the Demonic Cult or discard it, that is your business. I will not force you.”

“But Demonic Lord, this is the land where we have lived for generations.”

“Then I would have said not to follow me, wouldn’t I?”

Kang Jin-ho slightly narrowed his brow.

“I am not forcing you. I am just giving you choices. Let me make it clear. Those who follow me will go to Korea and learn demonic arts. Those who do not follow me will remain here. It’s simple, isn’t it?”

Kang Jin-ho took a slight breath and continued.

“I will also give a choice to those who remain here. If you want to live as demons as you do now, that’s fine. If you want to abandon your life as a demon, I will remove your demonic arts.”

“Then, wouldn’t you have to remove our dantian [energy center]?”

“I said I would remove the demonic arts. It may be impossible for you, but I can do it. I can return you to being ordinary martial artists.”

Everyone held their breath.

This was an unprecedented offer.

How many people wanted to become ordinary martial artists? But once you learned demonic arts, it was impossible to escape the path of a demon unless you closed your dantian.

That was why they had to walk the path of a demon, even if it was against their will. But now, Kang Jin-ho was saying that he would return them to being ordinary martial artists.

How could they not be tempted?

But no one dared to speak up.

“Just to be safe…”

Kang Jin-ho declared first, as if he understood why they were reacting like that.

“Those who choose to leave the path of a demon will not be subjected to any retaliation. I will also remove you from the Demonic Cult’s records. I will make sure that the fact that you were a demon will not be revealed from this side.”

“Th, then…”

“However.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice lowered.

“Those who choose that path must never utter the word ‘demon’ again. That is the only condition.”

It was chilling.

Everyone felt it. The coldness in Kang Jin-ho’s words made them tremble.

He was saying that he would open a new path. But within that, there was pride in the demonic arts. It was clear that he could not walk together with those who did not share his pride.

“You can choose one of the three. It’s not difficult.”

“Demonic Lord.”

Someone else raised their hand.

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Speak.”

“If we follow the Demonic Lord to Korea, can we become stronger?”

“Hmm…”

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to answer, he quickly continued.

“Of course, I am not doubting the Demonic Lord. What I doubt is myself. I am weak. And I am old. Even if I am like this, can I become stronger if I follow the Demonic Lord?”

“Of course.”

It seemed like a little explanation was needed.

“Demonic arts are originally such martial arts. Whether your bones are stiff or you are old does not matter. You have been practicing demonic arts consistently. Although it is so crude that it does not even deserve to be called demonic arts, it is still different in that it uses demonic energy. Therefore, it is definitely possible. I will make it so.”

Kang Jin-ho’s majestic voice filled the chamber.

In that heavy atmosphere, in that oppressive atmosphere, everyone held their breath.

“I have no intention of sugarcoating things. I will not make any promises to you. I have no intention of giving you wealth or glory. Even if you become stronger, you may die fighting enemies. Nevertheless, only those who want to become stronger, who want to know what demonic arts are, will come with me. That’s all.”

“Why!”

A furious voice echoed through the chamber.

“Why won’t you save us!”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at the one who shouted.

He looked familiar.

Li Xiaowei.

The elder who led the demons to support Kang Jin-ho. He was trembling all over as he shouted.

“Demonic Lord! Demonic Lord! We have waited! We have waited for the Demonic Lord to save us for years, decades, centuries. But how can you abandon us! How can you force such a cruel choice upon us! Then what was the meaning of our waiting! Demonic Lord!”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Li Xiaowei.

He could feel it.

That desperate emotion.

Was this how a believer who had been betrayed by their god would feel?

Perhaps Li Xiaowei was experiencing a shock as if the world was collapsing.

It was pitiful and pathetic.

But there was only one thing Kang Jin-ho could say to Li Xiaowei.

“You pathetic fool…”

Demonic energy rose from Kang Jin-ho’s entire body.

It was not demonic energy released for intimidation. His demonic energy was responding to his anger. Black smoke-like demonic energy enveloped Kang Jin-ho’s body.

“There is no such thing as salvation.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice was low. It was not a loud voice. But it was a voice that felt as sharp as a razor blade.

“Salvation is not given to those who wait without doing anything themselves. You waited for salvation? What is that different from just spending time without doing anything?”

“Bu, but…”

“I am not your savior. Even if I were, I would refuse. What I need is not someone who waits for salvation. It is someone who tries to climb up, even if they have to grab onto a rotten rope.”

Kang Jin-ho looked around with a chilling gaze. Those who met his eyes could not dare to raise their heads and lowered their gaze.

“Those who are willing to risk their lives to climb up, follow me. I will open a path for you. But walking that path is also up to you. I will not walk it for you. Let me tell you in advance. What those who follow me will see is hell. Only those who are prepared to jump into that hell with a smile should follow me. Otherwise, you will regret it.”

“…Demonic Lord.”

“I’ll say it again…”

Kang Jin-ho’s demonic energy surged like a storm.

“It’s better to stop with the dreamy talk. There is nothing in this world that can be achieved without the determination to squeeze yourself dry.”

Kang Jin-ho scoffed as he looked at the subdued atmosphere of the chamber.

‘The revival of the Demonic Cult?’

What a joke.

Whatever happened to that was none of Kang Jin-ho’s business. Kang Jin-ho was not one to be swayed by the lingering sentimentality of the past.

“Choose. I will give you time to think. This is the salvation I am giving you.”

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to turn around, someone called out to him desperately.

“Demonic Lord! Just one more thing…”

“I said that the only thing left was to choose, didn’t I?”

“There is something I must know. Absolutely!”

“What is it?”

Kang Jin-ho said, sounding annoyed, and the man shouted loudly.

“Fa, family. What about family? Can they come to Korea with us?”

Everyone frowned.

Was that something to say when facing a life-or-death decision? Family, of all things…

But Kang Jin-ho’s reaction was a little different from everyone’s expectations.

“Uh… I hadn’t thought about that?”

“Should we discuss it and let you know? There are some practical issues with this.”

…Ah, yes.

Do as you please, Demonic Lord.