CH 465

“...Did you really offer the kids the option to cultivate demonic arts?” Bang Jin-Hun asked.

Kang Jin-Ho replied nonchalantly. “Yes.”

Bang Jin-Hun couldn't help but frown at that unperturbed attitude.

'Still, demonic arts...?'

The difference between merely knowing something and actually experiencing it could be sizable. Absolutely humongous in some cases. Bang Jin-Hun was fully aware of Kang Jin-Ho being a demonic cultivator. However, he still couldn't help but be taken aback whenever the truth was shoved in his face like this.

And Kang Jin-Ho didn't help things either by not matching the image of a demonic cultivator. Anyone who had spent any amount of time with him would easily forget that he was a terrifying demonic cultivator.

“Will it be alright?” Bang Jin-Hun asked again, his voice tinged with worry. Of course, he believed Kang Jin-Ho wouldn't be irresponsible enough to show the younger generation martial artists the demonic arts without a plan. Well, the 'Kang Jin-Ho' Bang Jin-Hun knew wasn't really a reckless person, after all.

Even if Kang Jin-Ho's actions seemed reckless and spur-of-the-moment, his calculations and schemes had been informing his decisions until now.

“Yes, it will be fine,” Kang Jin-Ho replied in his usual cool, unperturbed manner.

However, that was still not enough to assuage Bang Jin-Hun's anxiousness.

'Demonic arts...'

Bang Jin-Hun only knew demonic arts as a way to enhance a martial artist's cultivation by a great deal in a relatively short period but at the cost of one's humanity. If it hadn't been for Kang Jin-Ho's existence, Bang Jin-Hun wouldn't have even acknowledged demonic arts as another type of martial art cultivation technique.

But now, to think such demonic arts would now be taught to the younger generation...!

“Can you reconsider this decision, Mister Jin-Ho?” Bang Jin-Hun asked in a grave-sounding voice. “Yes, I get that our men can become much stronger by cultivating demonic arts. However, their lives will no longer be the same.”

“That is the price they'll have to pay.”

“Mister Jin-Ho!” Bang Jin-Hun's expression grew stiffer. Today must be his first time opposing Kang Jin-Ho's opinion to this degree since they became allies. However, that was how important this matter was, something Bang Jin-Hun simply could not afford to back down. “Mister Jin-Ho, you've witnessed what happened to those who dared to cultivate demonic arts, have you not?”

“Not really. I can tell you that I have not yet met any demonic cultivators in South Korea.”

“What do you even mean by that...? According to the reports I received, you've already encountered a demonic arts practitioner working under Kim Seok-Il, have you not? Do you wish to see our younger generation end up like that murderer?”

“I've already said this before,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered quietly but firmly. “I have not met any demonic cultivators in South Korea.”

“...I'm sorry?” Bang Jin-Hun blinked his eyes in confusion and stared at Kang Jin-Ho.

The story of Kang Jin-Ho butchering the demonic arts practitioner 'raised' by Kim Seok-Il was famous among those in the loop. However, why did Kang Jin-Ho keep saying he hadn't encountered any?

'And he's not doing it just for the sake of argument, either.'

Bang Jin-Hun realized that there was a hidden meaning in Kang Jin-Ho's words and racked his brain to find the answer here. “...I see. You're saying that that bastard wasn't a... 'real' demonic cultivator.”

“Correct,” Kang Jin-Ho reached for his cup and took a relaxed sip of his coffee. After putting the cup down, he smiled softly and explained himself. “Calling someone a demonic cultivator when all he learned was some shabby, trashy remnant of a technique is an affront to all demonic arts, Assembly Master Bang.”

Bang Jin-Hun dazedly stared at Kang Jin-Ho. “Are you saying the genuine demonic arts... are something else?”

“Calling it 'genuine' isn't quite correct, actually. It's not like there are genuine and fake demonic arts doing the rounds in the wild, after all. Let me correct you by saying that it all depends on how much has been lost.”

“How much... has been lost?” Bang Jin-Hun's confusion intensified.

“That doesn't only apply to demonic arts, Assembly Master Bang. Even the cultivation method you've mastered has many missing parts. I can't be sure if this phenomenon is unique only to Korea or is endemic in other nations as well, but... It's rather unfortunate that the cultivation methods the Korean martial artists cultivate are incomplete, with many missing parts. And that murderer's cultivation technique was a crude junk that didn't even deserve to be called demonic arts.”

'Missing parts?'

Bang Jin-Hun sucked in a deep breath. He never thought that way about his cultivation technique. After all, he inherited it as-is from his master. So, to say it was missing several pieces...!

“Mister Jin-Ho, do you think my cultivation technique is also incomplete?”

“Yes.”

“H-how can you tell? It's not like you read through my technique's secret manual.”

“I don't really have to. It's easy enough to spot the incomplete parts without looking at the manual, you see.”

“...!” Bang Jin-Hun gasped softly.

He was freshly reminded of the fact that judging Kang Jin-Ho via today's common sense was a meaningless endeavor.

There must be an enormous difference between how Kang Jin-Ho viewed the world and what Bang Jin-Hun could perceive. After all, Kang Jin-Ho should be able to see those things Bang Jin-Hun wasn't even aware of due to his lack of strength.

It'd be similar to how the world seen through the eyes of a three-year-old would differ from an adult's. The difference must be like heaven and earth.

'Right. I should just stop myself...'

A child was not supposed to criticize what a grown-up was doing. In that case, Bang Jin-Hun could do only one thing.

“How bad will their side effects be?” Bang Jin-Hun asked after clearing his throat. “Of course, I understand that the demonic arts you've given to our younger generation are different from the previous demonic... Let me revise that. I get that your demonic arts cultivation method is different from the trashy incomplete crap, as you put it. Even so... I'd like to ask you for your understanding on my skepticism regarding the side effects as I've seen far too many concerning things.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded, finding Bang Jin-Hun's question reasonable. “Mm, I can't say for sure. Maybe they'll become a little more violent? And their thirst for improving their cultivation might grow a little more pronounced. There could be other minor issues besides those, but... I don't foresee anything that will prove to be a great concern to us.”

Bang Jin-Hun's expression as he listened was furrowed. Still not convinced. Since Kang Jin-Ho was the one saying all these things, Bang Jin-Hun should believe them, but that didn't mean he could understand. That was what his expression implied.

'This is so weird...'

Kang Jin-Ho rubbed his chin. Why did Bang Jin-Hun automatically believe practicing demonic arts always came with serious issues and side effects? Logically speaking, the legendary demon cult couldn't have existed in the past if the demonic arts really caused a series of concerning side effects.

Lunatics thirsting for bloodshed and human flesh couldn't have gathered to form a sect like that, after all. According to the popular belief of what demonic arts practitioners were like in the modern era... The concept of the demon cult would be like psychopaths being drafted into the military and obeying the commands of their higher-ups.

'Now that is some fantastical imagination.'

If they didn't know about the existence of the demon cult, this misconception could've made more sense, but Kang Jin-Ho was pretty sure that the history passed down to the modern era featured 'a' demon cult, so...

To Kang Jin-Ho's logic, it was inconceivable for the concept of history's strongest sect consisting of demonic cultivators, the demon cult, to coexist in the minds of modern-era martial artists with the images of crazed, mindless demonic arts practitioners.

“Mister Jin-Ho, did you say the younger generation might become more violent?” Bang Jin-Hun asked worriedly.

“Yes,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded slightly.

“That is... I have to say, I'm worried about that. Those kids are already on the violent side, so...”

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but chuckle hollowly at that. Violent? Those martial artists were what now?

It seemed Bang Jin-Hun had no idea how the actual violent people behaved. Compared to the savages of Zhongyuan, the younger generation of the Martial Assembly was a group of well-behaved kindergartners always obeying what their teacher told them. Kang Jin-Ho wasn't exaggerating that, of course. The martial artists of Zhongyuan were the type of people who, even in the midst of a booze-fueled celebration in a marketplace, would yank out their axes and sabers to crack some skulls because someone dared to bump into them!

“Assembly Master... What you're worried about won't happen.”

“...Of course I believe you, Mister Jin-Ho,” said Bang Jin-Hun.

'Huh. He doesn't believe me.' Kang Jin-Ho sighed under his breath. He could see all the distrust hidden within Bang Jin-Hun's eyes. 'Even though he said he'd follow me... This level of distrust will cause an issue in the long term.'

Kang Jin-Ho pondered how to resolve this situation. However, the solution this time didn't come from him but from someone else.

The office door was suddenly pushed open, and a man brazenly stepped inside the office. “Assembly Master, sir. If you can't trust him, you can just walk away from this.”

Bang Jin-Hun frowned unhappily. “Don't you know how to knock, fella?”

“I'm not interested in useless formalities, sir.”

“Useless formalities?”

The man, Lee Hyeon-Su, explained without missing a beat. “Yes. The concept of knocking came about as a way to inform the people inside a room that a visitor is outside their door. However, the people in this room should've been aware of my presence as soon as I stepped inside the corridor. In that case, is there a reason to knock on the door and announce myself? That'll be a waste of our time.”

Bang Jin-Hun held his head.

'Right... Every bloody martial artist is crazy in some way.'

Besides, this punk before his eyes was only a 'half' martial artist but even crazier than most other people, to boot!

Bang Jin-Hun groaned. “Fine, fine. What brings you here?”

“I had something to discuss with Mister Kang Jin-Ho, sir. And I thought I might as well take this chance to get your permission on some other things, too.”

“My permission...?” Bang Jin-Hun sensed an onset of a powerful migraine and massaged his temples in irritation. Even he couldn't help but tense up when Lee Hyeon-Su started scheming something. “Oii, Lee Hyeon-Su.”

“Yes, Assembly Master,” Lee Hyeon-Su beamed brightly.

'...What a hateful bastard.' Bang Jin-Hun groaned inwardly while barely managing to hide his discomfort. Lee Hyeon-Su had been accepted into the Assembly's fold since Kang Jin-Ho wanted that to happen, but that did not mean one should forget that he used to work for the villainous Kim Seok-Il.

Working with his former enemy wasn't exactly Bang Jin-Hun's style. This was a different situation from Lee Jung-Geol since they were already affiliated with the Martial Assembly, to begin with, and Bang Jin-Hun always thought they would have to work together someday, anyway.

However, during the Assembly's conflict with the Yeongnam Group, just how many people had to suffer because of this hateful man's insidious plots? To Bang Jin-Hun, Lee Hyeon-Su was still one of those bastards he wanted to rip apart into tiny little pieces.

'...Man, what a crappy deal this is.'

Now that the Yeongnam Group had been absorbed into the Assembly and became the Yeongnam Branch, Bang Jin-Hun knew he needed to treat Lee Hyeon-Su fairly. He was basically that branch's head, after all.

However, Bang Jin-Hun was also aware of the fact that the Yeongnam Branch martial artists weren't fully assimilated with the Martial Assembly just yet. And he was also aware of Kang Jin-Ho's charisma suppressing their desire to raise a flag of rebellion, at least for the time being.

While Kang Jin-Ho's influence was still keeping the Yeongnam people docile, Bang Jin-Hun needed to quickly make them understand they were now also a part of the Assembly. For that purpose, the Yeongnam people should not be discriminated against, and the former higher-ups of the Group should be treated fairly and with enough respect.

The core of that goal was undoubtedly Lee Hyeon-Su, but...

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

'Bloody hell. I guess I'm really not cut out to be the Assembly Master...'

...Since merely looking at Lee Hyeon-Su's face was boiling Bang Jin-Hun's blood!

Bang Jin-Hun groaned deeply before shaking his head. “Not sure what you want to say to us, but can you be quick about it? I gotta finish my discussion with Mister Jin-Ho here, you see?”

“Understood. No need to worry about that, sir,” Lee Hyeon-Su sucked in a quick but deep breath before shifting his attention to Kang Jin-Ho. “Excuse me, Mister Kang Jin-Ho?”

“Yes? How may I help you?” Kang Jin-Ho politely asked back.

“...Uhm, do you mind dropping the pretense of politeness like last time? If I'm being honest, watching you being all polite and nice to me is giving me the creeps to the point of having a seizure, sir. People should be consistent in how they behave, you know? Even if you're courteous during 'normal' times, not a single person who knows about your true self will think you're a courteous, well-behaved person.”

“...” Kang Jin-Ho's expression stiffened ever so slightly.

Almost at the same time, Bang Jin-Hun felt like the heartburn irritating him for the past ten years had been suddenly washed away, replaced by a wonderfully refreshing sensation. 'Huh. I guess even Lee Hyeon-Su can be useful sometimes...'

Kang Jin-Ho cleared his throat. “Kuh-hum. Got it. What did you want to talk to me about?”

“It's nothing serious, sir. I...”

Before Lee Hyeon-Su could start explaining his business here, Bang Jin-Hun's phone rang first to interrupt him.

“Tsk...!” Bang Jin-Hun grunted in irritation and tried to turn the phone off. However, the name appearing on the screen stopped him, and he answered the call. “What is it?”

Bang Jin-Hun listened to Cheon Tae-Hun's voice coming from the phone's speaker, his brows progressively furrowing deeper and deeper.

“Say what? ...Fine, I got it. I'll try to find a way.” Bang Jin-Hun groaned and ended the call. With a very complicated expression, he looked back at Kang Jin-Ho next. “Uhm... Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Yes?”

“It's about the secret manual you gave to our younger generation earlier.”

“Yes?” Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly. Was there some kind of an issue with the manual he had failed to spot?

“W-well... That phone call was about how our boys can't understand a word from the secret manual since it's all written in Chinese. What should we do about this problem?”

“...?!” Kang Jin-Ho's cheeks twitched in shock. “A-are you telling me that... Young people nowadays can't read Hanja?”

“Yes, something like that.”

“Wait, are all Korean secret manuals written in Korean?”

“Isn't it obvious? I mean, we're taught in school that our neighbor's language is not the same as our Hangul[1] and thus gives rise to confusion, after all…”

Kang Jin-Ho momentarily couldn't think of anything to say. “Uh, that, ah...”

Droplets of cold sweat quickly formed on Kang Jin-Ho's forehead when a totally unexpected hurdle rained on his parade. What should he do about this? Translate it for the younger generation martial artists? However, was his translation skill good enough to perfectly translate the entire manual into Korean?

That was when Lee Hyeon-Su smirked and joined the conversation.

1. This “Not the same as our Hangul” bit is actually an extract from “Hunminjeongeum.” ☜