Descent of the Demon Master

of despondency after a stern scolding from Kang Jin-Ho, but there was not a hint of that in her this time.
It was as if—as if she had predicted this outcome.
In that case, why did she bring this matter up in the first place?

“So, like, Orabi? Can I say something else…?”

“Mm?”

“If you don ’t feel like making another appearance in the show, can ’t you at least have a meeting with my manager? That ’s not so hard, right?”

So, here it was; he had a feeling that his little sister was a crafty little fox, and now, she was even trying to lead him on with a cunning plan.
Kang Jin-Ho couldn ’t help but chuckle at her brazenness.
”Why should I meet him? ”

”You know you ’ve caused one hell of a mess, right? But you ’re not signed up with any agency, and we haven ’t released any PR stuff at all, so it ’s not easy for our side to use your image and control the narrative in the media, you see? ”

“Control the narrative? What do you mean?”

“I ’m your little sister, aren ’t I? Since you got famous, I have to get some spotlight on me as well.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

Kang Eun-Yeong seized this chance and clung dearly to Kang Jin-Ho ’s arm.
”Orabiii~! Do some interviews and let them write articles about you, please? I ’m focusing so hard on wrapping up the production, but no one is paying attention to my performance, and I barely have any motivation, you know? ”

Kang Jin-Ho groaned loudly.
“Interviews, you say?”

’

”Yeah! They say just one interview would be enough for you to end up on the main pages of entertainment news sites! By letting a publication on friendly terms with my agency interview you, you won ’t get asked leading questions.
Better still, they ’ll package everything nicely for you, too.
So…
Orabiii~, pretty please? ”

Kang Jin-Ho lightly shoved Kang Eun-Yeong ’s head down.
“How could you have fallen so low to sell out your own oppa?”

“Ehehehe~.”

“…If it ’s only that much, I ’ll think about it.”

”Yeeeees! I knew I could count on you, orabiii! ”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled while pushing away Kang Eun-Yeong trying to cling to him.
“Go and wash yourself up, will you?”

”Huh? Are you implying that I ’m dirty or something? Orabi, how could you say that to me! ”

”Mm? You want me to tell you the honest truth, then? ”

“…No, it ’s fine.
You can stop riiiight there.
It ’s my fault…” Kang Eun-Yeong helplessly shook her head before getting up.

Kang Jin-Ho watched as his sister trudged toward her room.
Afterward, he also headed back to his own room—only for his phone to ring and stop him in his tracks.
”Mm? ”

Who could be calling him so late in the night? Kang Jin-Ho checked the caller ID on the phone ’s screen and immediately frowned because it said, ’Lee Hyeon-Ju ’.

That woman from the Korean Martial Assembly was calling him all of a sudden.
Kang Jin-Ho answered the call in a flat voice.
“Hello.”

– Mister Kang Jin-Ho, I ’m sorry for calling you out of the blue.

“Apology accepted.
What is your business this time?”

– May I ask you for a favor? I ’m really sorry about this.

“Hmm…
I ’ll hear it out first.” Kang Jin-Ho tutted inwardly while replying.
His relationship with this woman didn ’t extend as far as him humoring her requests, but listening to her wouldn ’t hurt anyone.
Besides, he did owe her for the last incident, too.

– Can we talk in person for a little bit? I ’m in front of your place at the moment.

In front of his place? Kang Jin-Ho ’s frown got even deeper.
His place, his home, was a territory he had to protect no matter what.
Obviously, he would never accept a martial artist daring to raise a fuss in his sanctuary.

“It seems you forgot my warning about not showing up near my family.”

– N-no, it ’s not that, but…!

”For now, let ’s continue this conversation face-to-face.
Where did you say you were? ”

– Right in front of your family residence, Mister Kang.

“I ’ll be right out.” Kang Jin-Ho ended the call and headed to the exit.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong saw him putting on his shoes and tilted her head.
“Where are you going, son?”

“A friend called to say he ’s right outside, so I ’ll pop out for a minute, Mother.”

“Mm? Don ’t be late, son.”

’

“Yes, Mother.” Kang Jin-Ho replied in a gentle, friendly voice, but his eyes were cold.

He had issued a clear warning about leaving his family alone, yet that woman actually dared to show up in front of his house.
That was basically the same as disrespecting Kang Jin-Ho to his face.

’She dares to pull this stunt after experiencing me? ’

Kang Jin-Ho couldn ’t understand it.
However, did that matter? No, it didn ’t.
If she still didn ’t know what kind of a man he was, Kang Jin-Ho simply had to brand the knowledge in her soul.

He emerged from the house and into the street.
Lee Hyeon-Ju standing alone there hurriedly bowed her head at him.
Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow and silently stared at her.
Her face was ever so slightly cramped in fear while her hands were imperceptibly trembling as well.
It seemed that she didn ’t just decide to show up for a laugh, then.

“What brings you here?” Kang Jin-Ho flatly asked.

”I, uh… ” Lee Hyeon-Ju stared at him as her quivering intensified more and more until she suddenly kneeled in front of him.

Kang Jin-Ho was taken aback and blankly stared at her.
For the second time tonight, he had failed to figure out what was inside this woman ’s head.
”What are you doing, Miss Lee? ”

”I ’m really, truly sorry about asking you for this favor.
But I didn ’t know who to ask other than you, Mister Kang! ”

“Let ’s skip the preamble, shall we? So…” Kang Jin-Ho quickly regained his coldness.
“Get to the point.
I need to go back inside in a minute.”

“I-I need your help!”

“…Excuse me?”

“My grandfather is in danger! But I don ’t know anyone who can help him.
Please, I beg of you, Mister Kang! Please help my grandfather!”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head, wondering what this woman was even saying.
“Okay, so…
Your grandfather is in danger, and you need my help?”

“Yes, and that ’s why I—”

“Why should I?”

“I ’m sorry?”

Kang Jin-Ho coldly explained, ”Why should I help you? No, help your grandfather? I don ’t see why I need to inconvenience myself for someone I haven ’t even met before. ”

”I-I know I ’m asking for something unreasonable, Mister Kang.
But— ”

“Since you know it ’s unreasonable, I ’m sure you won ’t be too aggrieved about getting rejected, then? Drive home safely, Miss Lee.” Kang Jin-Ho finished what he wanted to say and turned around to go back inside.

However, Lee Hyeon-Ju urgently reached out and grabbed his arm.
“I-If you save my grandfather, we can do…
we can do many things for you! My grandfather is the Assembly Master of the Korean Martial Assembly, you see!”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head.
“I want nothing from you people, though?”

“Please, Mister Kang! I beg of you!” Lee Hyeon-Ju broke down and cried.

Kang Jin-Ho could only sigh at that.
All stories had their own sequences and details to consider.
How was he supposed to respond when this woman decided to omit everything, though? If it had been the old version of Kang Jin-Ho, he wouldn ’t have cared even if Lee Hyeon-Ju was crying in front of him.
But now…

’…You told me to become someone capable of reaching out, didn ’t you? ’

Kang Jin-Ho kept recalling the orphanage director ’s face for some reason.
She asked him to take the initiative to reach out to those in need.
As such, what would she say if she saw Kang Jin-Ho drive away someone pleading for his help?

’How tiring… ’

As he had expected, it would take enormous work for him to become the kind of man Sister Yi wanted him to be.
Having been freshly reminded of this sad fact, Kang Jin-Ho sighed again and asked Lee Hyeon-Ju, ”For now, why don ’t you tell me the details first? ”