Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1302. Devoting (2)

Chang Min cocked an eyebrow.

“Why do you still look unconvinced?”

“...That’s not true, sir,” said Yi Myeong-Hwan.

“Tsk!”

Chang Min shook his head, evidently not impressed.

“Don’t tell me, you think I’m saying all this to paint my liege in a positive light? If not, do you think I can’t think straight when it comes to all things related to my liege?”

“...” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“What’s your answer?”

“N-no, well, it’s, uh...”

Yi Myeong-Hwan could only internalize his monologue just then. Elder Chang? I don’t think I can say what I think aloud, sir. Some things aren’t supposed to leave a person’s mouth, you see?

“You pathetic fool...” Chang Min tutted loudly. “Then again, a frog in a well can’t fathom the vastness of the ocean.”

“I, uh, that doesn’t make much sense...?”

“I could show you the way not because I’m an amazing teacher. No, the reason is more like I’m not smart enough.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan was genuinely confused just then. “I don’t understand, sir.”

“You think I’d become better than everyone at math if my teacher was Von Neumann?”

“Who’s Fon Newman, though?”

“...” Chang Min faltered ever so slightly just then. “T-that’s John Von Neumann. A mathematical genius.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan tilted his head. “But, uh, wouldn’t you get better at something if your teacher is a genius?”

“Tsk. Try teaching martial arts to someone who doesn’t even know the basics. You think that will be easy?”

“No, sir.”

“That’s the situation my liege finds himself in. From his perspective, it’ll be like the world’s greatest mathematician who researched profound mathematical equations his entire life suddenly needing to teach the basics of math to a bunch of kindergartners.”

“...Oh!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan finally thought he could understand it.

“My liege exists in a different world compared to ordinary people. At least in martial arts and demonic cultivation, no one possesses a better understanding than my liege! However, such a thing can have an adverse effect at times. My liege’s dilemma is that he must methodically explain and teach something he had comprehended instinctively, not logically.”

“Ah! Like when playing online games...”

“Yes, like that.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan animatedly nodded as if he had finally understood it.

If one asked an esport athlete how they could improve their gaming skills, the replies would be in the vein of...

-Try to be thorough. And do your best.

Expecting anything more than that was unrealistic.

People who had broken past a certain wall and entered a different realm tended to act on their instincts or gut feelings rather than logic. That was why the idea of former top athletes making terrible coaches had proliferated in sports.

Those born with heaven-defying talent had a hard time understanding the ordinary people’s point of view. Even if the geniuses wanted to explain and offer their help, they just couldn’t understand what troubled ordinary people.

“However, I’m not like that. I’m different from my liege, and that is why I can lower myself to your level.”

“So, it’s like... Between a university professor and a schoolteacher, the latter is a better option when teaching a bunch of elementary school kids.”

“That’s right,” Chang Min nodded. “However, that doesn’t mean the school teacher is more exceptional than the professor.”

“I understand now, sir.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan was freaking out about two things right now. First, it was learning about how enormous the gap between Kang Jin-Ho and himself was. Even though he considered himself fairly average in the world of martial artists! And secondly...

How can an old, nay, ancient dude like Elder Chang know about computer games?

Yi Myeong-Hwan thought he made a mistake after mentioning games, but Chang Min still understood his intentions just fine. Should he get shocked by Kang Jin-Ho’s lofty martial prowess or this old fart’s seemingly inexhaustible pool of knowledge? He couldn’t figure it out.

Chang Min grunted. “So? Have we apprehended their mastermind?”

“I’m not sure if he was the mastermind or not, but we did capture the man the Japanese had been trying their best to protect.”

“Capture? As in, alive?”

“Yes.”

“You’re wasting your time,” Chang Min shook his head. “No need to keep someone like that alive.”

“I was thinking of extracting info from him, Elder.”

Chang Min narrowed his eyes a little. “Should I take that as your intention to torture that captive?”

“...If it’s necessary, yes.”

“Do you understand the implications of what you just said?” Chang Min asked, his eyes more withdrawn than before.

“Yes, Elder. I do.”

“Very well. I’m not going to try and talk you out of it. Pretending as saints at this point in our lives is a laughable matter, after all. For both you and I.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan wordlessly bowed his head.

“However, do remember this. What you are about to stain your hands with... Nothing in this world can excuse it.”

“No, I understand, sir.”

“Don’t try to avoid the subject by saying you won’t let emotions get in your way.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan’s expression stiffened a little.

“Even if you tell yourself that no personal feelings motivate you, that your actions are for the sake of the Assembly and the cult, the blood staining your hands won’t wash away.”

“Elder, why are you telling me all this...?”

“Many evils in this world are disguised as necessary acts for the greater good. Tell me. Do you know why the Japanese invading Korea and China had been so barbaric and cruel toward the native populace?”

“I... don’t know.”

“That’s because they didn’t know they were committing evil, vile acts.”

“I don’t follow?”

“It’s as I said. They weren’t aware that their actions were evil.”

“...?”

That made no sense. How could the Japanese not be aware when countless people had died at their hands?

Despite his confusion, Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t argue back, because Chang Min was a living witness from that blood-soaked era.

“The greater good, a worthy cause... Such a thing can give you motivation. A noble goal greater than yourself to work towards. However, it can sometimes swallow people up, too. The excuse of the noble cause can make everything else look insignificant in your eyes.”

“...”

“It was the same story for the Japanese back then. They brazenly murdered people, but to them? It was not murder. No, it was merely a means to an end. Namely, their great cause.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan subtly bit his lower lip.

“They killed a thousand to create a country where hundreds of millions could live prosperously. The Japanese used to yap on and on about that ideal back then. Of course, you and I know how much of nonsense that is now. But the bastards in that era did not doubt their righteousness. They believed in what they were doing.”

...And that was why the Japanese back then could be so cruel and savage. And never question what they had done.

Just like how a zealot, blinded by their own faith, would never doubt the sins committed in the name of their religion, people finding themselves going all-in on the ‘great cause’ would justify their actions with said great cause.

That was what Chang Min was warning Yi Myeong-Hwan about.

“Whether it’s the Assembly or the cult... We never asked you to sacrifice yourself. No, all we asked from you is your loyalty. Loyalty is all-encompassing. Unquestioning. However, you should also question it. Remember that loyalty cannot absolve you of all the things you do in its name.”

“...Yes, sir.”

Although Chang Min spoke about it in a roundabout manner, when summarized? He basically told Yi Myeong-Hwan not to blame the Assembly Master for the bad things he might do in the future.

A man should hold himself responsible for their actions.

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t help but look back at his actions.

What if he couldn’t use the excuse of loyalty toward Kang Jin-Ho and must take responsibility for everything he had done? Would he be able to repeat himself without hesitation and shame?

He couldn’t say yes right away.

Chang Min spoke again. “Fools believe loyalty is something you mustn’t question.”

“...Yes, they do.”

“However! True loyalty is all about polishing yourself. It’s not about dedicating your current self, but offering up an even better version of yourself. Now that is true loyalty! Therefore, you must keep pondering. Keep polishing yourself.”

“I’ll engrave your teaching to my soul, Elder.”

Chang Min nodded while rubbing his beard.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

This Korean brat proved himself a fairly smart man. Although Yi Myeong-Hwan’s talent in martial arts fell a little short, such a thing wasn’t a deal-breaker for a future Elder candidate. No, what mattered more was the unshakable loyalty and the discernment to notice the wider trend.

Yi Myeong-Hwan possessed both things.

How unfortunate that he’s not a cult believer.

Of course, that could be remedied at any time. Thanks to Kang Jin-Ho’s involvement, Yi Myeong-Hwan had the potential to become much stronger than now. In fact, if his current rate of improvement persisted, he could become a martial artist strong enough to represent the Martial Assembly in a few years.

Chang Min had zero plans to let the Demon Flames remain as the Martial Assembly members. He obviously couldn’t read Yi Myeong-Hwan’s thoughts on the matter. Even so, Kang Jin-Ho’s personal troops that had mastered demonic cultivation not being the part of the demon cult was unthinkable. Even if the individual members originally came from the Martial Assembly’s ranks!

Indeed, this... ‘oversight’ must be fixed sooner rather than later! The demon emperor’s safety was at stake, after all.

“By the way, what’s the update on the Elders teaching others?”

Yi Myeong-Hwan politely replied, “It sounds like they have begun in earnest only recently.”

“Hmm. Is it?”

Chang Min slowly nodded.

Indeed. Occupying Japan isn’t our only goal.

Fools who only did what they were told and nothing else were no good. Chang Min was no fool, and that was why he aimed to achieve three things during this Japanese trip.

One was obviously the complete subjugation of the Japanese martial society. Secondly, a complete takeover of the Japanese underworld by working together with the Korean organizations, as suggested by Lee Hyeon-Su. And finally... It was to re-educate the Demon Flames currently in Japan and turn them into true elite combatants.

Chang Min couldn’t help but smirk just then.

Looks like I’ve got my priorities mixed up.

No matter what anyone said, Chang Min’s priority should always be demon cult-related. But he was putting the Assembly’s matters first and foremost.

Even if Kang Jin-Ho had ordered him to do it, Chang Min still wouldn’t be here without all the subtle changes that had happened to him. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but he viewed the cult and the Assembly as one big family these days.

“Humans can be such amusing creatures,” Chang Min muttered.

Yi Myeong-Hwan tilted his head. “Sir?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Chang Min casually waved his hand.

This change in mindset made sense, though. The one who accepted the demon cult and granted a new life to its believers was undoubtedly the demon emperor. However, it was the Martial Assembly and Lee Hyeon-Su who ensured that those things became reality.

Thanks to their help, the cult believers didn’t have to worry about putting food on the table and could focus on their cultivation.

The Assembly also brought the family members of the cult believers to Korea. That act of goodwill even caught Chang Min off-guard.

Maybe the cult believers had finally understood that goodwill too, because they had stopped making trouble for the Koreans these days.

One big family, is it...?

What an amusing concept that was. To think that the cult, routinely looked down on by the denizens of Zhongyuan, would find new brothers and sisters in this distant land! This was why life could be such an entertaining ride sometimes.

“Time to repay the favor, then?”

“...?”

“Yi Myeong-Hwan.”

“Yes, Elder?”

“Leave the captured Japanese to me.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan tilted his head. “...Sorry?”

“I’ll do a better job than you.”

“B-but, sir...”

“No need to fret. I’m fully aware of the meaning of my actions, after all,” said Chang Min with a deep smirk.

Being evil, eh...?

That didn’t sound so bad.

The reason for Chang Min issuing that warning, the one about Yi Myeong-Hwan not letting himself get blinded by the pursuit of a great cause, was pretty simple enough. Because Chang Min was the prime example of what would happen.

If it was for the sake of the cult, Chang Min wouldn’t hesitate to slather himself in oil and jump into the flames of hell. In fact, even the threat of burning in flames of hell for all eternity for his sins still wouldn’t deter him from committing those sinful acts if doing so could benefit the cult.

Chang Min’s goal was extremely simple. To serve the demon emperor, and to bring prosperity to the cult, as per his liege’s command!

Also...

I must ensure the cult doesn’t need another monster like me in the future.

He had no choice but to become a monster in order to bring the light of hope to the cult mired in the era of suffering. That was why he wanted to give his descendants a chance to escape from that wretched fate.

It’s an old fool being greedy, isn’t it.?

Chang Min was well aware of his age. No matter how fast he worked, the odds of him passing on before achieving his goal were uncomfortably high.

However, so what?

If the day of the cult believers enjoying a good life could finally come many years after his passing...

Chang Min would gladly walk into the pits of Hellfire with a hearty laugh.