Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 716

“Ugh, my bones are aching.”

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh, I should have been the one to beat that guy down.”

Li Xiaowei couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

‘To think there’d be someone who could leave Elder Jang Min in this state.’ The sight of Jang Min was truly pitiful.

His neatly combed hair was a mess, tangled with dust, and his lips were split in several places. Just a while ago, he looked like a refined old man, but now he looked exactly like a homeless person.

His clothes were torn in many places, and the skin visible through the tears was covered in dark bruises.

‘No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t look like he won…’

‘Then, could it be that Jang Min lost?’

Li Xiaowei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Of course, the Demonic Cult members were generally weak.

But Jang Min wasn’t just any Demonic Cult member. While other members had gradually weakened due to the loss of practical application of Demonic Arts, Jang Min had received proper training in Demonic Arts before they were completely lost.

Due to the nature of the method called ‘Transfer of Power’ [a technique where one’s power is passed on, often at the cost of the original user’s strength], he couldn’t pass on his Demonic Arts to others, but Jang Min himself could be considered a complete Demonic Cult member.

That’s right.

A complete Demonic Cult member.

The only remaining true Demonic Cult member in the current Demonic Cult.

The comfort Jang Min’s existence gave to the Demonic Cult followers was immense. He had been an unwavering guiding point for a long time.

But even more comforting was the fact that they could see with their own eyes how strong a Demonic Cult member who had mastered proper Demonic Arts could be.

Jang Min was strong.

Even if all the other elders of the Demonic Cult joined forces to fight Jang Min, they couldn’t be sure of victory. It wasn’t a difference of one or two moves. Jang Min possessed a different level of strength than other Demonic Cult members.

And yet, Jang Min was in this state.

‘Just how strong is that guy?’

Of course, he knew that the man was strong.

Bator.

If he couldn’t recognize who he was just by looking at his physique, he might as well give up his position as an elder of the Demonic Cult. To survive in this harsh world, one had to be sharper than anyone else.

Bator was strong.

He was someone who had been recognized for his strength alone, even in this brutal martial world. No one would deny his strength.

‘But to this extent…’

He had been thinking that, deep down.

There were countless strong individuals who had made a name for themselves in the world, but if Jang Min revealed his true form, he would never be inferior to them.

No, to be honest, he thought Jang Min could overwhelm them all. Even if he couldn’t reach the level of the Three Kings [likely referring to the top three martial artists], he believed he could easily occupy the rank just below them.

But…

‘Even if he won, it wouldn’t be an overwhelming victory.’

They probably didn’t fight to the death, so this should be considered a draw.

The strongest of the Demonic Cult was equal to Bator?

If Bator wasn’t as strong as he was known to be, this was not good news.

“Stop rolling your eyes and bring me some clothes, you rascal.”

“Yes, Elder.”

As Li Xiaowei hurried to get the clothes, Jang Min smiled wryly.

‘He’s stronger than I thought.’

Especially his physique was beyond anything he could handle. On their side, even a light tap could break bones, while on his side, even a full-force strike would barely leave a mark. How could such an unfair thing exist?

It was a little unpleasant to have fought an equal match with someone who was not even half his age, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

He was especially pleased that the Demonic Lord had such a person under his command. It made the Demonic Lord’s majesty feel more real.

“Here are the clothes.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Min took the clothes and got up.

“Um… Elder.”

“How did the fight go?”

“We couldn’t reach a conclusion.”

Jang Min said casually.

“To fight that guy, we would have to aim for each other’s lives. But that would be disloyal to the Demonic Lord. It’s better to finish it without hurting each other.”

“It seems like you’re already hurt enough…”

“I got a little heated.”

Li Xiaowei’s lips twitched. No matter how gentle he was, Jang Min was still a Demonic Cult member. When their blood rushed to their heads, they couldn’t see anything, which was a common trait of all Demonic Cult members.

Jang Min coughed.

“Is he that strong? Enough that you couldn’t guarantee a victory, Elder?”

“Who said I couldn’t guarantee a victory!”

“Didn’t you say it was a draw?”

“It wasn’t a draw, we just couldn’t reach a conclusion. There was no way to win without killing him. But you fool, what is Demonic Arts? Demonic Arts is not about having a method to subdue the opponent. If we had entered a life-or-death battle, the result would have been obvious.”

“Indeed.”

Li Xiaowei nodded.

That’s right, there was no way Jang Min would be pushed back by Bator.

“However…”

Jang Min smiled faintly.

“In a month, I can’t guarantee a victory, and in a year, I won’t be able to defeat him anymore.”

Li Xiaowei’s eyes widened.

“H-How can that be?”

“It’s obvious. He will become stronger based on today’s fight with me. He’s still at an age where he can grow much stronger. But I’m getting weaker day by day.”

“Elder.”

“You can’t go against the heavens, and you can’t avoid the passage of time.”

“But your inner energy…”

“Inner energy isn’t omnipotent. No matter how much inner energy you accumulate in your body, it’s useless if you don’t have the physical strength to use it. I’ve lived too long.”

Jang Min quietly shook his head.

“Originally, my role was to wait for his Lordship’s descent. Now that I’ve fulfilled that calling, it wouldn’t be strange if I died right now.”

“Please don’t say that, Elder.”

Li Xiaowei’s voice became agitated.

“Even though the Demonic Lord has descended, he and the followers don’t know each other well yet. We need you here, Elder.”

“Who said I’m going to die tomorrow, you fool!”

“No, you’re talking as if you’re about to return to the Holy Flame…” [a euphemism for death within the Demonic Cult]

Jang Min clicked his tongue.

“And what you said is wrong. The Demonic Lord doesn’t need to know what we are. He will simply carry out his will, and we just need to follow it.”

Li Xiaowei didn’t answer.

He couldn’t completely follow Jang Min in this regard. His faith and belief in the Demonic Lord were close to madness. From Li Xiaowei’s perspective, who couldn’t 100% trust the Demonic Lord, it was too much faith.

“Elder.”

“What?”

“Are we just supposed to follow the Demonic Lord?”

“Hmm?”

Jang Min’s eyes became a little sharper.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’ve also heard that. That we just need to follow the Demonic Lord. That everything will fall into place when he returns.”

“That’s right.”

“But doesn’t he tell us to choose?”

“You pathetic fool.”

Jang Min frowned.

“Is the Demonic Lord your parent?”

“Huh?”

“Do you think the Demonic Lord came back after all those years just to clean up your mess?”

“What do you mean…”

Jang Min said with an angry face.

“You’ve met someone you should believe in and follow, and yet you’re whining about why he’s not doing what you want. I don’t know where you’ve been wasting your time. My choice to leave the cult and wait for him has led to this result. I don’t regret it, but I’m angry.”

Demonic energy began to seep out of Jang Min’s body.

It meant that he was genuinely angry. In the face of Jang Min’s anger, Li Xiaowei had no choice but to lower his head.

“He doesn’t exist for us. We exist for him. The Demonic Lord is too gentle. The Demonic Lord is the rightful master of the Demonic Cult, and your owner. Even if he told you to give your lives for him, you should throw your lives away without complaint. Do you not know how merciful it is that he has given you a choice?”

“Elder…”

Li Xiaowei sighed deeply.

Rightful master.

Yes, perhaps that was true. The Demonic Lord was the rightful master of the Demonic Cult. But the people who were currently supporting the Demonic Cult were just ordinary people who had no interest in the history of the Demonic Cult.

What good was that to those who were barely surviving day by day?

If the Demonic Lord had said that he would give them wealth and glory if they followed him, the reaction would not have been the same. But he was saying that he would make them strong even if they went to hell.

‘That might be something that would make a martial artist’s blood boil.’

But now it was the 21st century.

Practicality was more important than honor, and reality was more important than dreams. There were many who were more desperate for a single coin than for useless martial power. How could he explain this situation to them?

“Elder.”

Li Xiaowei sighed and said.

“I will follow. What else can I do if I leave the Demonic Cult with so little time left to live? It is my last wish to be buried in the Demonic Cult. But the children are different. How many of them will abandon everything and follow us to Korea, believing in empty words without any certainty?”

“You fool!”

“Elder, you need to see reality. Those children didn’t want to learn Demonic Arts, nor did they come to the Demonic Cult to harbor grudges. They just walked that path because their parents were Demonic Cult members, and they became Demonic Cult members because no one else would accept them. You can’t expect unconditional loyalty from them.”

“Then tell them to stay.”

“Elder!”

“You fool!”

Jang Min shouted with a stern face.

“Yes, you’re right. Reality isn’t like that. To bring even one more person and make the cult prosper, we have to adapt to them. But is that truly the way to serve the cult?”

“Is it truly for the sake of the cult to gather those who are called followers but cannot believe in the Demonic Lord and only pursue their own interests with sweet talk? No, no! The Demonic Lord does not want such chaff. What he wants are Demonic Cult members who can truly follow him.”

“Is the Demonic Lord the Demonic Cult?”

“What?”

“Please answer me, Elder. Is the Demonic Lord more important than anything else in the cult?”

“Yes.”

Jang Min said firmly.

“Don’t forget why we abandoned the name of the Divine Cult and called ourselves the Demonic Cult. A cult without power is just an illusion. If the Demonic Lord is the power of the cult, then the Demonic Lord is everything to the cult.”

At his firm words, Li Xiaowei lowered his head.

‘He is so upright.’

Jang Min had to be like this.

Even if others discussed reality, Jang Min had to pursue ideals. That way, those who were worn down by reality could find comfort through him.

But…

‘Fish cannot live in water that is too clear, Elder.’ [a proverb meaning that people cannot thrive in an environment that is too strict or idealistic]

Li Xiaowei closed his eyes.

The Demonic Cult, which had lasted for a thousand years, was facing a great upheaval at this moment.