Descent of the Demon Master

f Kang Jin-Ho ’s overwhelming and oppressive aura!

Bang Jin-Hun could only mutter, “I ’ll engrave that to my heart.”

Kang Jin-Ho confirmed Bang Jin-Hun ’s new attitude and snorted in satisfaction.
”No need to get agitated over something so minor.
If you want the Assembly Master ’s position, I can give it to you. ”

Bang Jin-Hun ’s eyes powerfully quaked.
Was that even possible? Was that truly possible…?

’Wait.
It is possible! ’

He suddenly became confident of it.
The influence Bang Jin-Hun had managed to build until now still wasn ’t as vast or impressive as the Assembly Master ’s achievements.
On the surface, at least, Bang Jin-Hun seemed to be suppressing the old man ’s faction, but that didn ’t mean he could afford to underestimate the hidden forces the Assembly Master had built over several decades.

If an open confrontation was to break out, people Bang Jin-Hun was counting on as his allies would quickly leave him and side with the Assembly Master.
The hidden forces of the Assembly Master would start making their appearances as well.
Bang Jin-Hun was hesitant to directly pressure the Assembly Master precisely because he didn ’t want to go against them.

However, what if this returner stood by his side? Bang Jin-Hun could already see the completed big picture.

’I guess I should correct my assumption, then. ’

As it turned out, this returner was not a maverick or some hippie.
Even though impulses seemed to be the driving force behind his actions, he had already calculated the gains and losses before making his move.
In other words, Kang in-Ho had already mapped out a potential future by the time he revealed his intention to meet up with Bang Jin-Hun.
So, in that case…

Bang Jin-Hun cautiously asked, ”…If you help me, what will you gain in return? ”

“A soldier.”

’

Bang Jin-Hun ’s eyes immediately became bloodshot.
”Are you saying that I, Bang Jin-Hun, must become your dog?! ”

“If your voice had been any louder just now, you would have lost your vocal cords.”

“…!”

”You ’re too quick to lose your temper, I see.
Or are you simply faking your agitation? You should choose your opponent wisely first before using that act of yours, wouldn ’t you agree? ” Kang Jin-Ho coldly grinned.

Bang Jin-Hun saw that chilling grin and sensed the air suddenly getting colder as well.
He got a feeling that, ever since they had entered this room, he had been dancing on this returner ’s palm.

Kang Jin-Ho clarified himself.
”I never told you to become someone ’s dog.
You don ’t even need to follow me.
All you need to do is remain enemies with the Yeongnam Group.
Just like what you have been doing until now. ”

“…However, while standing in the same corner as you, yes?”

”Indeed.
An enemy of my enemy is a friend, isn ’t it? ” Kang Jin-Ho laughed while baring his fangs.
That unhesitant laughter that hid nothing only made Bang Jin-Hun feel a different type of fear from before, however.

This returner, he…
was thinking of utterly, completely obliterating the Yeongnam Group! And he would stop at nothing to achieve that goal.
Such as…
handing over the Korean Martial Assembly on a silver platter to a complete stranger like Bang Jin-Hun!

After his laughter had subsided, Kang Jin-Ho became serious once more.
“However, something is still bothering me.
You joined forces with the Yeongnam Group, didn ’t you?”

”Of course! The end justifies the means! ” Bang Jin-Hun ’s glare became sharper and seething.
”If you come to an understanding with the bitter enemy you ’ve been fighting with your life on the line, you stop the hostilities and join hands.
That is the rule of this world, or am I wrong? Once the Assembly Master is dead, we would go our separate ways anyway. ”

”Hmm.
Wouldn’t the Yeongnam Group have known that as well? ”

“Of course, they would have known it.”

”Even then, they still tried to help you.
Doesn ’t that mean you ’re easier to handle than the Assembly Master from the Yeongnam Group ’s perspective? Or am I overthinking things? ”

For a moment there, Bang Jin-Hun became dazed and lost for words.
He hadn’t thought of that.

“Hmm.
What a cruel quandary this is—to support a dimwit even the enemy underestimates.”

Bang Jin-Hun growled like a wounded beast.
“…It ’s not that I look like a weakling to them.”

“Oh? What then?”

“It ’s simple! They haven ’t analyzed me properly, that is all! I ’m their strongest enemy after all!”

’

“Kekekeke…” Kang Jin-Ho let out a low chuckle.
How delightful—how incredibly delightful!

It even almost felt like he had traveled back in time…
Back to Zhongyuan! That feeling was so strong that the modern interior fittings and tables in the cafe seemed so wrong and out of place right now!

”Well, a dimwit will operate on dimwitted methods, won ’t he? Very well, ” Kang Jin-Ho addressed Bang Jin-Ho, who still hadn ’t gained control over his emotions yet, in a still voice.
”I will help you as long as your desire to fight the Yeongnam Group remains unchanging.
If you wish for the Assembly Master ’s elimination, I ’ll get rid of him.
As for my compensation, you shall get your people ready as quickly as possible to attack the Yeongnam Group. ”

”Your conditions sure sound truly enticing.
However, you don ’t want anything else besides that? ”

“Yes.
Nothing else.”

“Fufufufu…!” Bang Jin-Hun chuckled meaningfully.
“Good.
Very good.
However…”

Bang Jin-Hun ’s eyes blazed like the midday sun.
Those eyes burning in passion locked on Kang Jin-Ho.

”This negotiation can only move forward after we discuss whether you are worthy or not, wouldn ’t you say? In other words, shouldn ’t you be trying to prove your worth first before we join hands? ”

“Mm.
You ’re not wrong.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded.
After all, he also preferred a fair trade.
“So, how do you want me to prove my worth?”

“To prove a martial artist ’s worth—what has to be done is obvious, isn ’t it?”

“Kekekeke…!” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled ominously.
He wanted to be neutral in all this, but he couldn ’t help himself.
He was really beginning to like this fool before his eyes.
The way he passionately charged forward without looking back reminded Kang Jin-Ho of someone from the past.

“Yes, I like you.
I really do.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded away slowly, oh-so-very slowly.
“So, I shall let you keep your life.”

Bang Jin-Hun failed to understand what Kang Jin-Ho had just said.
Let him keep his life? What on Earth was he even saying?

”I shall forgive you this once for demanding me to prove my strength.
Maybe it ’s just a whim of mine, but it doesn ’t change the fact that I like you, you see?”

Bang Jin-Hun almost ended up yelling.
He wasn ’t being overly proud here.
What Kang Jin-Ho did was an act of completely disrespecting Bang Jin-Hun as a martial artist.
And a martial artist should never accept such humiliation even at the cost of their life! However, he didn ’t have the chance to yell because…
Kang Jin-Ho slowly got up from his chair.

Crackle, pop!

Bizarre noises then entered Bang Jin-Hun ’s ears.
Those noises sounded like bones being ground or bones clashing against each other.

He needed several moments to realize that those noises were coming from his own jaw.
Even before his head could figure out what was going on, his body reacted by breaking out in incessant tremors.

Like a huge boulder weighing dozens of tons, the presence of the returner standing up bored down on Bang Jin-Hun.

“If you wish to see, I shall show you.
I shall show you…
what kind of a person I am.”