Chapter 714. Squashing (4)

Chapter 714. Squashing (4)

Kang Jin-Ho immediately issued an order for the demonic cultivators to assemble. He figured that dragging this matter out wouldn't do anyone any good. If something needed to be done urgently, one should not dilly-dally and get right to it.

Besides, things like this tended to take forever to finish if a delay occurred somewhere.

However, it seemed Chang Min had a slightly different idea.

“My liege, how about taking a break first by having a fulfilling meal?”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. “We don't have the time for that.”

“My liege... Yes, you certainly don't need the time, but your children do. Even now, they are stewing in confusion and uncertainty born out of your sudden entry into their lives. They need time to discuss among themselves and accept their new reality.”

“Hmm...” Kang Jin-Ho frowned a little. He wasn't sure about this, but at the same time, he had to admit that Chang Min had a point. “However, I can't grant them all the time in the world. Three hours. They need to settle their confusion in three hours.”

“Yes, my liege. Your wish is my command.”

Chang Min quickly left the office to convey Kang Jin-Ho's decision to everyone. That prompted Vator and Zhang Dajing, who had been AWOL for a while now, to enter the office instead.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Where have you been?”

“Master, we've been standing outside like a pair of dummies while you were getting your ego stroked,” said Vator.

“...”

“Not even unloved pets wouldn't be abandoned and forgotten like us. Don't you think that was uncalled for, master?”

“...I had no idea.”

“Tsk...” Vator loudly tutted. “It seems you got overly excited by the prospect of encountering your fellow demonic cultivators after such a long time.”

“It would've been nice if that was the case,” Kang Jin-Ho ruefully shook his head.

“Well, that reply doesn't surprise me. I'm sure you've died a little inside at the pathetic martial prowess of these folks. However, there is no need to worry, master. I'm here, aren't I? Who needs them when I'm around?”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled at that. “Indeed. You're right.”

He wasn't trying to make Vator happy here. Kang Jin-Ho was actually serious. Just one top-tier expert could brush aside hundreds of average martial artists. Vator had amply proven that already. On the basis of the current power level, one Vator was worth far more than the entire demon cult minus Chang Min.

Even if Kang Jin-Ho's evaluation was wrong and Vator couldn't actually win against the entire demon cult, the big man's usefulness was still in another dimension altogether. If a lone individual could handle a job requiring the mobilization of thousands... Well, how could anyone dare question that individual's worth?

“...At least for now, that is,” Kang Jin-Ho smirked meaningfully.

Vator chose not to retort to that. His common sense said what Kang Jin-Ho hinted at could never happen. However, Kang Jin-Ho always managed to surpass all common sense until now. In that case, the situation this time should largely be the same. Confidently boasting something now would only get eggs on Vator's face later down the line.

That was when the office door opened again, and people began bringing in plates of food inside.

Vator glanced at them. “For now, let's fill our bellies first. It feels like the skin on my stomach will kiss my spine from how starved I am.”

Kang Jin-Ho looked at the big man weirdly. “...I don't think such a thing will happen any time soon.”

Even as a figure of speech, Kang Jin-Ho had a hard time accepting that notion since the distance between Vator's stomach and back was far too great. So much so that even a game of football could be played in there!

“Whatever. Let's dig in for now, master.”

“Sure. Let's.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded and picked up his chopsticks when others picked up their utensils.

***

“...Chang Min,” said Kang Jin-Ho while facepalming. At the same time...

“Kuh-huph!” Vator hurriedly covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.

“Why...?” Kang Jin-Ho could only groan while checking out Chang Min, who had switched his attire during the trio's mealtime.

Before the meal, Chang Min was in a familiar set of duds: hemp clothes that the Chinese of the yesteryear often preferred to wear, with his hair neatly bound into a bun above his head. This neat and graceful attire presented an entirely-different image to Chang Min's previous cave-dwelling pauper cosplay from their first encounter. Anyone who saw Chang Min in those duds would have sensed the dignity and elegance of an old expert from Gangho. But this...!

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly scanned Chang Min from head to toe.

'Well, it's... not bad. Yes, it really isn't bad, but...!'

What was this? This subtle yet undeniable disharmony?

Chang Min's current attire? It was a set of pitch-black gentleman's suits. Not only that, but a slim-fit, too! Obviously Chang Min was a martial arts expert, which meant his physique would embarrass some of the hottest, fittest young fitness trainers out there. Muscles shaped for practical purposes, in this case martial arts, densely packed his entire body. So, the slim-fit had resulted in ‘drip’ that was just about picture-perfect. So much so that people might mistake Chang Min for an idol if they saw him from behind!

'Okay, I can get on board with all that. Fine. However! Why... Why can't the people in this line of business stop wearing that floral shirt?!'

Under Chang Min's slick black jacket, Kang Jin-Ho could see a colorful shirt. Of course, he had no problem with that. It was all good as far as he was concerned. A man could try to relive the glory of his youth. And no one should criticize him for that. Not really.

Chang Min straightened his jacket. “Then, allow me to guide you, my liege.”

“M-mm, sure.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then got up.

“Oh, and by the way, my liege...”

“Mm?”

Chang Min apologetically bowed deeply at Kang Jin-Ho. “Please forgive this servant for not making prior preparations. From now on, I shall ensure that your attires are ready before...”

“T-that's enough! Stop it!”

For the first time since arriving in China... Kang Jin-Ho put on the most serious face he could make. With all of his heart, no less!

***

'Urgh... This indigestion is killing me...!'

Zhu Gang rubbed and massaged his tummy.

The distributed lunchbox was quite satisfactory. Obviously procuring enough food to feed these many mouths couldn't have been easy. So, Zhu Gang would have understood if the provided meal was only on the level of 'edible'. However, the food he got turned out to be pretty good.

Unfortunately, he simply couldn't enjoy the flavors offered by the lunchbox. All he could remember was everything tasting like sand and forcing it down his gullet for the sake of filling his tummy.

'What does he want to talk about, then?'

The demon emperor ordered everyone to assemble. The implication behind this development was significant since it was the very first command coming straight out of the demon emperor's mouth.

Was that why? The demonic cultivators, who had barely suppressed their dissatisfaction while standing in line and waiting for the demon emperor's arrival earlier, now stood in anxiety and nervousness, again waiting for the demon emperor to show up.

This transformation happened in the span of only a few hours.

'The difference between never meeting the demon emperor and encountering him just once is this big? Is that it?'

One could say that this was the power of absolute and overwhelming charisma at work.

Zhu Gang used to have a hard time wrapping his head around some things in the legend of the demon cult.

The demon cult was supposed to be a powerhouse in the past. Zhu Gang heard that the top-ten-ranked experts in the demon cult could evenly compete against the best experts from Zhongyuan's orthodox factions.

If so, why did such powerful experts offer their absolute loyalty to the demon emperor? That question always burned in the recess of Zhu Gang's mind, but now, he felt like he found his answer.

This wasn't the issue of strength or the lack of it. Even if the demon emperor was weaker than those top-ten experts, they would've still sworn their loyalty. That was because what those people followed wasn't the superiority of the cultivation realm but the strength of the man holding the demon emperor's title.

“Here he comes!”

Zhu Gang was woken up from his thoughts by a hushed whisper coming from somewhere nearby. He focused his attention on the distant raised platform up ahead. The demon emperor was heading toward the taishi armchair.

Gulp!

Zhu Gang nervously swallowed his saliva at the distant figure of the demon emperor. This tension gripping him still didn't want to let up.

The demon emperor leisurely stepped on to the platform and wordlessly studied the taishi armchair. Then, he didn't bother to sit on it and instead turned around to scan the rank and file of the demonic cultivators.

“Kang Jin-Ho. That's my name,” said Kang Jin-Ho in a still, flat-sounding voice to break the ice. “I have many things I want to get off my chest. However, I will spare you from unnecessary babble. Let's get to the main topic.”

Everyone's gaze was intently fixed on Kang Jin-Ho.

“All of you present here today believe that I'm here to bring prosperity back to the demon cult. Apparently, you all heard that I'll be guiding you to a new world. Is that right?”

Hints of confused, worried murmurs could be seen rising from the crowd. As the demonic cultivators were free-spirited and independent folks, speaking in a unified voice was a rare occurrence for them.

Kang Jin-Ho slightly raised his hand, instantly summoning eerie silence in the underground space once more. “Simply put... I have no thoughts of doing that.”

The silence grew heavier! The large underground space became so quiet and still that the sound of a pin dropping would've proven thunderous.

Kang Jin-Ho seemed satisfied by this tense atmosphere while scanning his audience once more. “Make no mistake, I'm not your savior. I do not wish to lead fools who are meekly waiting for someone to swoop in and solve their problems for them. And I'm not interested in taking on such annoying matters. If you see yourselves as martial artists... You should try to save yourselves.”

What sharp, biting words those were! Just as the crowd fell even deeper into the pits of confusion, wondering why their demon emperor would even say such a thing...

Kang Jin-Ho drove further nails into this coffin. “What I need right now is a combat force. I don't want meek little lamb following me around. Only those who want to cultivate in demonic arts and become stronger under my watch will be permitted to follow me. And my plan is to take you to South Korea.”

The silence became icy-cold in an instant.

Before the demonic cultivators could process anything, Kang Jin-Ho raised his voice again. “Any questions?”

One thing seemed certain now. That young-looking man was the demon emperor. However, he was not the demon emperor they had been waiting for.

Only now did they finally begin to realize this crucial fact.