Descent of the Demon Master

oment there, Kang Jin-Ho ’s glare resembled the one from last night while mouthing the name of Martial Union.

’He…
I don ’t think it ’s the case of dual personality. ’

That monster yesterday was Kang Jin-Ho, and so was this one sitting before her.
There was no clear boundary separating two different personalities, like in the case of a split personality disorder.
If she were to get more technical about it, then maybe, it was closer to the…
territory of hypocrisy?

Even though he was hiding a monstrous beast in his heart, Kang Jin-Ho was displaying his ’human ’ side to other people.
That thought sent a deathly chill down her spine.
Just how calculating and cautious did he have to be to successfully hide his true nature?

A slight misunderstanding was developing here, but no one had a quick-fire way to fix the incorrect evaluation of others in their heads.
Even if that was Kang Jin-Ho.

“Could it be Wu Yuan…?” Kang Jin-Ho briefly recalled Wu Yuan ’s face.
That martial artist told him about the Martial Union back then.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn ’t even kill that man, so why did the Martial Union dispatch a hitman to Korea to take his life? This kind of response didn ’t make much sense to Kang Jin-Ho.

The folks back in Zhongyuan that tended to bang on and on about justice and righteousness would have come after him to settle the score.
However, trying to kill him over a matter like that still seemed too over-the-top, even by Zhongyuan ’s standards, where blood had to be repaid with more blood.

’I ’ll get to find out eventually. ’

Just as Kang Jin-Ho decided to focus on the current issue, Lee Hyeon-Ju suddenly raised her voice.
“And…
We believe we know the reason for the Yeongnam Group targeting you, Mister Kang Jin-Ho.
It ’s because of the Martial Union ’s master.”

’

***

“A serial killer, and a martial artist to boot…” Hwang Jeong-Hu held his head as if a migraine was haunting him.
“…Not one single peaceful day, huh?”

It hadn ’t been that long since Kang Jin-Ho ended his mandatory military service, yet every incident imaginable seemed to be happening around him.

Since he knew that Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t really the type to go around causing problems everywhere he went, Hwang Jeong-Hu began suspecting that he had a trouble-attracting magnet attached to his back or something.

“For now, the situation has been dealt with, more or less…” Jo Gyu-Min finished his report and sighed deeply.

Thanks to his diligent reporting over the years, Hwang Jeong-Hu willingly accepted the existence of ’martial artists,’ which, in turn, made it easy for Jo Gyu-Min to explain the situation.
Then again, Hwang Jeong-Hu already had some ideas about their existence, anyway.

“So, what did Jin-Ho say he ’ll do next?” Hwang Jeong-Hu asked while massaging his temples.

“Well, he said he ’d like to catch the bastard, sir.”

”You mean…
the serial killer? ”

“Yes, sir.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu wordlessly mouthed a cigarette.
He had a feeling that Kang Jin-Ho might respond that way, but hearing it from Jo Gyu-Min caused some level of anxiety to bloom in his mind.
“…What does he think the police are for?”

“…Sir, from what I ’ve observed so far, ’regular ’ cops won ’t even be able to lay a hand on the killer.”

Indeed, they should consider themselves lucky if the killer didn ’t beat them up to death.
Jo Gyu-Min finally understood why all those Wuxia novels talked about the imperial forces holding non-aggression pacts with gangho ’s people.
Well, one would probably need ten-plus lives to capture such crazy-powerful martial artists now, wouldn ’t they?! Even if pistols were allowed, Jo Gyu-Min would just throw the gun away and run for his life instead.

“Mm…
Jin-Ho won ’t listen even if I try to talk to him, anyway.
Bloody hell, why do I have to deal with a troublesome young man like him in my old days and go through this nonsense?” Hwang Jeong-Hu grumbled.
Despite his unhappy-sounding words, an amused expression was clearly etched on his face.

’He ’s definitely rejuvenated. ’

Jo Gyu-Min inwardly noted.
Aside from regaining his health thanks to Kang Jin-Ho ’s powers, Hwang Jeong-Hu had become far more active than even before he got sick.
Even his graying hair had regained a lot of its previous black color, too.
Some people were even suspecting that he had recently received stem cell injection treatments.

“So, that means Jin-Ho has decided to concentrate on that matter, then?”

“Yes, Chairman.
That ’s why I was hoping to discuss something with you, sir.”

“Discuss?”

“Yes, sir.” Jo Gyu-Min gravely nodded.
“The truth be told, Mister Jin-Ho is finding himself more and more entangled with the other side, sir.
We ’ve been trying to find some kind of balance, but…
I must admit that I ’m feeling rather lost, sir.
I ’m not sure just how far I ’m supposed to assist Mister Jin-Ho.”

“…Mm? It seems you ’re worried about something unnecessary there.”

“Sir? I don ’t follow?” Jo Gyu-Min blinked his eyes in a daze.

’

Hwang Jeong-Hu tutted.
“They say you get more worrisome with age.
However, it ’s not me but you who has gotten older here, it seems.
After all, you ’re busy worrying yourself to death over something useless, aren ’t you? Tell me, don’t those martials have social lives? Do they have no need for money?”

“I, uh…
I don ’t think that ’s the case, sir.”

Hwang Jeong-Hu tutted again.
“Since so many of such people managed to stay under the radar, it could only mean that they are putting on a facade of normalcy during their daily lives.
In that case, we only need to protect Kang Jin-Ho ’s day.”

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“…Day, sir?”

Hwang Jeong-Hu nodded briefly.
“We can ’t control Kang Jin-Ho during the night, anyway.
Nothing will change even if we ’re newly reminded of this fact.”

Jo Gyu-Min sucked in a deep breath and nodded in understanding.

Hwang Jeong-Hu took a deep drag of his cigarette.
“So, don ’t pay much attention to that side of things, Gyu-Min.”

“Sir, I think I understand what you mean.”

Jo Gyu-Min figured out what Hwang Jeong-Hu was telling him.
Even if he tried to pay attention, the world of martial artists and Kang Jin-Ho weren’t something he could easily understand, anyway.
In that case, it would be wiser to focus on the surface ’world ’ instead.
That was what Hwang Jeong-Hu was saying.

Rather than an order, this sounded more like considerate advice meant to lessen Jo Gyu-Min ’s turmoil.

’So, he does care about me…! ’

The important point about that advice was that it was meant for Jo Gyu-Min, rather than Kang Jin-Ho.
In other words, Hwang Jeong-Hu was worried about Jo Gyu-Min ’s welfare, not just Kang Jin-Ho ’s!

Powerful emotions welled up from deep within Jo Gyu-Min ’s heart.

“It seems you ’re too focused on unnecessary things, causing the really-important matter to grind to a halt, Gyu-Min.
Tell me, what ’s going on with the opening of the store? You haven ’t reported anything regarding that matter for the past two days.
Surely you ’re goofing off after doing your job?”

“I, uh… My apologies, sir.”

It seemed Jo Gyu-Min was deluding himself.

Hwang Jeong-Hu tutted loudly.
“Don ’t you have anything to report?”

“Sir, I ’ll finalize everything as soon as possible and report back to you on the progress.”

“Are you having a vacation or something at the company ’s expense?! Is that it?!” Hwang Jeong-Hu unhappily roared while slamming his palm on the armrest of his couch.

Jo Gyu-Min looked up at the ceiling as a depressed expression quickly filled his face.
Worried? Who was worried about him?