Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 805

“You look terrible,” Lee Sung-hwi sneered, his lips curling into a mocking grin.

“…I suppose you’d like to laugh. And I’m in a position where I can’t say anything even if I’m mocked,” the one being mocked retorted, glaring at Lee Sung-hwi with chilling eyes.

“But it’s a bit funny that you’re saying that. My state is pathetic, but not as pathetic as yours.”

*Crack.*

Lee Sung-hwi gritted his teeth, his eyes turning bloodshot as he glared back.

“You better watch your mouth, Kim Seok-il. If I wanted to, killing you would be nothing.”

“Of course, it would be. But there’s no need to make it sound like such a big deal. Even a three-year-old could kill me in my current state. No, no. I guess it’s okay to make it sound like a big deal. It’s a perfect boast for your level,” Kim Seok-il sneered from his wheelchair.

Even though he was a cripple, unable to use his arms and legs, Kim Seok-il wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.

Lee Sung-hwi stared at Kim Seok-il for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“Your temper hasn’t died down.”

“There’s no reason for it to. The reason people suppress their temper is because they’re afraid. They hold back what they want to do and restrain their desires because they’re afraid of the consequences of acting on their temper. But I…”

Kim Seok-il bared his teeth.

“I have nothing left to lose anymore. So, there’s no need to hold back.”

It was a chilling voice, and Lee Sung-hwi knew that Kim Seok-il’s words weren’t just empty threats. For a martial artist to become a cripple was an unimaginable tragedy, far worse than an ordinary person becoming disabled. How could one even express that sense of loss in words?

Moreover, Kim Seok-il was a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle of Korea. Such a person had become a cripple and plummeted to the very bottom of the world. Lee Sung-hwi himself would never have been able to endure it.

He was certain that for Kim Seok-il, death was more comfortable than life. Ending his life would be much better than living and going insane.

The only thing that sustained Kim Seok-il was one thing.

Revenge.

The never-ending desire for revenge against Kang Jin-ho was what was barely keeping Kim Seok-il alive.

‘I’m no different.’

Lee Sung-hwi chuckled as he looked at Kim Seok-il. Kim Seok-il was a mirror, reflecting Lee Sung-hwi. The feelings he had looking at Kim Seok-il were likely the same feelings Kim Seok-il had looking at him.

“The preparations?”

“Don’t be so presumptuous, Lee Sung-hwi. How dare you ask me such a question?” Kim Seok-il snapped.

Lee Sung-hwi nodded.

Even in the past, Kim Seok-il was a difficult person to deal with. Lee Sung-hwi still vividly remembered the feeling he had when Kim Seok-il had first approached him. Even in his current state, Kim Seok-il hadn’t lost his sharpness. No, he was even sharper than before. Just looking at him, one could feel a blade-like aura emanating from him, as if he could cut you.

“Luring those morons is nothing.”

“The Japanese aren’t that easy to deal with, are they?”

“Being strong and being smart are two different things. And the smart ones are actually easier to manipulate. Smart people never think they’re being used. Even if they realize they’re being used, they’ll rationalize it as something they had considered.”

“Why?”

“It’s cheaper to accept a bit of loss in reality than to endure the humiliation of being used. That’s why those with pride are easy to play with,” Kim Seok-il let out a low chuckle.

“So, does that mean the preparations are all done?”

“It takes time,” Kim Seok-il said firmly.

“The Japanese don’t know the meaning of unity. It takes time to unify the opinions of the organizations that are divided on their own.”

“For someone who was boasting so much, the results aren’t very impressive.”

“…Lee Sung-hwi.”

Kim Seok-il glared at Lee Sung-hwi with murderous eyes.

“Don’t provoke me too much. Just keeping my sanity is hard enough. If you provoke me any further, I don’t know what I might do.”

“Ah…”

Lee Sung-hwi raised both hands and stepped back.

“And you still need me, don’t you?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m keeping you alive. I hate Kang Jin-ho the most, but you’re a close second.”

Lee Sung-hwi gritted his teeth.

“Because you made me like this.”

“Puh!” Kim Seok-il made a sound like air escaping.

“I made you like this? Hahahaha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard recently. Look, Lee Sung-hwi. You seem to think you’re like this because of the demonic art, but don’t be ridiculous. You didn’t become hostile to Kang Jin-ho because of the demonic art. Rather, it’s because you had the demonic art that you could even be hostile.”

Kim Seok-il latched onto the topic as if he had found a good opportunity.

“If I hadn’t taught you the demonic art, you would be a cripple without any martial arts, unable to even touch Kang Jin-ho. If you’d prefer that, I’ll apologize. How should I apologize? Should I cut off my tongue and offer it? Hahahaha!” Kim Seok-il laughed loudly, even coughing.

Lee Sung-hwi’s eyes were bloodshot as he watched him.

A wretched companion.

He hated him enough to want to twist his neck right away, but he had no choice but to go along with him out of necessity.

A relationship where they despised each other but had no choice but to seek each other out.

That was the relationship between Kim Seok-il and Lee Sung-hwi.

‘We’re rotting together.’

Lee Sung-hwi laughed hollowly.

“Whatever. So, if you have time, you can produce results, is that it?”

“You’re asking the obvious. It’s not a matter of whether I can produce results. I must produce results. Otherwise, there’s no reason for me to hold onto this tenacious life.”

“I don’t want to hear your will. I want to hear the reality.”

“Reality?” Kim Seok-il sneered.

“If the Hongwang Group’s conditions are what they proposed, there’s no way we can refuse. Those Japanese bastards have been eyeing Korea anyway. The reason they’ve been holding back is because the internal factions haven’t been completely settled. And they didn’t know how the Hongwang Group would react when they extended their reach to Korea.”

Kim Seok-il shrugged.

“But now, the Hongwang Group is not only acknowledging their takeover of Korea but also offering support. If they don’t take this, then there’s no need to use the Japanese in the first place. We can’t use those who have udon noodles instead of brains [a metaphor for being stupid].”

Lee Sung-hwi quietly nodded.

He had thought the same thing, but the process of confirming it through Kim Seok-il was necessary. Even though he was in that state, Kim Seok-il’s mind was still sharp.

In terms of intellect alone, Lee Sung-hwi couldn’t dare to compare to Kim Seok-il. Even in all of Korea, there wouldn’t be many people who could boast of having a faster mind than Kim Seok-il, except for maybe Lee Hyun-soo.

‘In this kind of field, that is.’

Kim Seok-il had a demonic mind when it came to trapping and tormenting people.

“You better do it properly,” Lee Sung-hwi said in a low voice.

“This is our last chance. We’ll never get another chance like this again. If we can’t seize this opportunity, we might as well hold hands and jump into the sea and die.”

“Hehehe.” Kim Seok-il twisted his body as if having a seizure.

“I’ll kill him, definitely. I’ll kill Kang Jin-ho no matter what. Even if I have to sell my soul! Even if I have to offer my body as dog food, I will definitely kill that bastard. My life exists solely for that purpose. I will definitely produce results.”

It was a terrible obsession. Even Lee Sung-hwi frowned at it.

Lee Sung-hwi, who had been quietly watching Kim Seok-il, nodded.

“I hope it goes as you say.”

Lee Sung-hwi turned around. He didn’t want to stay in this gloomy space any longer. If the business was over, it was better for them to part ways cleanly. They had to be together, but they were in a relationship where they tormented each other by being together.

Lee Sung-hwi, who was slowly trying to get out, stopped in his tracks. After being lost in thought for a moment, Lee Sung-hwi opened his mouth without turning his head.

“There’s one more thing I want to ask.”

Kim Seok-il sneered.

“Since when did you need to ask for permission? You’ve become quite polite, haven’t you? I’ll make an exception and let you go to the bathroom without my permission.”

“Shut your crap,” Lee Sung-hwi turned around nervously. Then, he glared straight at Kim Seok-il and opened his mouth.

“If the Japanese invade Korea and take Kang Jin-ho’s head, the control of the Korean martial arts world will eventually fall into the hands of the Japanese.”

“Oh, you’re smart? I’d say you’re at least five years old now. If I had hands, I’d clap for you.”

“Then what will happen to the Korean martial arts world?”

“Do you not know?” Kim Seok-il let out a sneer.

“Is it hard for that brain of yours to think? If so, I’ll tell you. They’ll all die. Just like we did in the past. Those who cooperate will survive as slaves, but those who don’t will become fertilizer. But if there’s any good news, it’s that they won’t be able to openly exploit them like in the past? But you know what it means to control the underworld, right?”

Lee Sung-hwi couldn’t say anything.

“So? Are you going to become a patriot? That’s a bit much, isn’t it? Are you going to stop here?”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

Lee Sung-hwi turned around again and went outside.

Everything was neatly organized, and the path ahead was starting to become clear. Nevertheless, Lee Sung-hwi’s mood didn’t improve at all. It felt like something sticky was stuck all over his clothes, a disgusting feeling that wouldn’t go away.

It was as if he could hear Cha Yi-keo-chang’s sneer in his ear.

‘Damn it.’

Kim Seok-il was right.

If he was going to hesitate because of such things, he shouldn’t have started in the first place.

Now that he had already started, there was no turning back. Having boarded a train with broken brakes, he had no choice but to open his eyes wide and look ahead.

But….

Lee Sung-hwi, who had come out of the building, raised his head. The densely packed buildings were shining in various colors. The flashy and dazzling neon lights pierced Lee Sung-hwi’s eyes.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

Lee Sung-hwi wore a bitter smile.

The world might remember him as the worst traitor. He would go down in history as an even bigger bastard than those who had sold out the country before.

He had no intention of seeking understanding.

Others could never understand the volcano of hatred burning in his heart. Therefore, they couldn’t understand Lee Sung-hwi’s actions either.

But….

*Thud!*

A person walking down the street bumped into Lee Sung-hwi’s shoulder. Curses flew out. Lee Sung-hwi smiled bitterly as he looked at the person who was cursing in unintelligible words.

*Crack!*

Lee Sung-hwi grabbed the person’s neck, preventing them from cursing any further, twisted it, and threw the person away like trash before turning around.

‘I’ll make sure no one dares to curse in front of me.’

If he had to be called trash, he would become trash completely. That was the path Lee Sung-hwi had chosen.