Descent of the Demon Master

Chapter 737: Colliding (2)

A massive eighteen-wheeler threateningly bounced around as its speed went out of control. What if you were staring at an out-of-control massive truck careening straight toward you?

"D-duck! Now!"

Who cared about if they were martial artists or not? Any human being getting hit by an object possessing such kinetic energy would be disintegrated into particles instantly. Martial artists weren't made out of pure tempered steel, after all. And even tempered steel would not survive in a collision of such nature, anyway.

The martial artists hurriedly scattered, and the eighteen-wheeler viciously charged at the barricade.

POOOOW!

The loud noises from the stingers puncturing the tires rocked the world like thunderclaps. The truck completely lost its control with its front tires gone. However, did any of that matter? When its original plan was never about fleeing?

Despite precariously swaying about, the truck didn't slow down at all and slammed straight into the barricades.

KA-BOOOOOM!!!

An eardrum-rupturing explosive noise resounded out as the eighteen-wheeler truck rammed viciously into the barricades. The barricades bucked and got pushed back. But that wasn't the end!

More eighteen-wheelers following from behind slammed into the barricades and the truck one after the other. The truck chassis danced around violently. Some flew up in the air, then crashed back to earth after failing to deal with gravity and momentum.

'You insane sons of b*tches!'

Cai Kechang watching this scene gritted his teeth.

Using vehicles to ram into targets was one of Cai Kechang's favored methods. Even if martial artists were tough, they would still experience a tough time trying to survive a collision against fast-moving cars weighing well over a ton.

A top-tier expert at the peak of their cultivation could deal with moving vehicles like toys, but not every martial artist was an expert like that. Indeed, a car crash could cause an impact severe enough to kill an average martial artist.

Especially when the vehicle in question was a huge eighteen-wheeler! No human could survive such a truck crashing into them at full steam. And the truth was... Crashing a truck like that was cheaper than nurturing a martial artist into a half-decent prospect. So, ramming the enemies with vehicles was a very logical method of attack.

However, this... What Kang Jin-Ho did wasn't that at all!

Rather than a method of attack, wasn't this more like a kamikaze bombing raid?! If it was Cai Kechang, he wouldn't have wasted so many cars ramming into the barricades. There was nothing to gain by doing so, after all!

'No, wait. There is something to gain, actually.'

While making a stiff expression, Cai Kechang scanned his surroundings.

BOOM! KA-BOOOOOOM!

He could see his subordinates looking rather stiff and scared at the terrifying spectacle of vehicles continuously slamming into the barricades. By now, the barricades no longer looked like their former selves. What was more ironic in this situation was, though... The vehicles ramming in and piling up like that created an even larger wall than the barricades themselves.

In other words, this tactic was totally useless. And the cost to execute this tactic must be enormous, too. Anyone with half a brain should know that this was a meaningless struggle. However...!

'That's why people are getting scared by it instead!'

Cai Kechang's expression grew even stiffer. Surely, Kang Jin-Ho and his people should know what Cai Kechang knew. The demonic cultivators executing Kang Jin-Ho's orders must know how foolish and time-wasting their actions were. They had functioning brains, after all!

Even then, they still rammed unhesitantly against the barricades.

Being a martial artist didn't guarantee one's survival inside the shipping containers when the trucks carrying them slammed into immobile objects at high speed. Bones breaking and flesh exploding should be an obvious end result.

Even then... None of those vehicles slowed down!

Blind loyalty! Yes, this was a display of blind and unquestioning loyalty.

'What the f*ck?! What kind of nonsense is this...!'

Cai Kechang gritted his teeth. What flustered him right now was the identity of the ones carrying out this reckless suicidal assault. Weren't they supposed to be demonic cultivators? The ones known for being disorganized and weak?

Not once in his life did Cai Kechang feel wary of demonic cultivators before. Even if they boasted cockroach-like tenacity to cling to life, and even if they were like cancerous growths that popped up seemingly everywhere... Cai Kechang believed they could be wiped out if he got serious.

The only reason they were left alone was because of their usefulness, not because they were difficult to deal with!

In Cai Kechang's common sense, all demonic cultivators were trash. Despite their large numbers, they couldn't even exercise the power of a unified organization.

This wasn't the issue of one's martial prowess or not. A large number would always have a formidable presence. Even if an individual demonic cultivator was weak, they could have come together under one banner and resisted other factions, which would have turned them into a very cumbersome opponent to deal with.

However, the demonic cultivators couldn't even do that. They might be tied together under the identity of people cultivating demonic arts, but they still lacked a sense of belonging with one another. That was how Cai Kechang viewed them. To him, demonic cultivators were like grains of sand who lacked the will to better their lives.

That was why Cai Kechang failed many times to understand why the one-and-only Crimson King was so wary of these demonic cultivators.

But now... Were those men really the demonic cultivators? The ones Cai Kechang thought he knew?

Those who unhesitantly executed the nonsensical order of ramming the trucks into solid barricades? Were they really the demonic cultivators Cai Kechang was familiar with?

Cai Kechang's body suddenly shuddered. How was he supposed to describe this emotion?

He powerfully bit his lower lip. The soft skin burst, and a drop of blood trickled out from the wound.

'Dammit!'

This assault wasn't the one unleashing the ruthless pressure crushing down on Cai Kechang and his men. None of them were weak-kneed enough to get scared by a non-threatening attack which was only good for a spectacle.

No, what pressured them was the intent, the will, contained within this nonsensical attack. And the blind loyalty of the demonic cultivators!

'How... How did Kang Jin-Ho manage to do this in only a couple of days?'

Cai Kechang was aware of how long Kang Jin-Ho had been in Beijing. And it hadn't been all that long, so the window of time Kang Jin-Ho could use should be only a few days at most. In that case, how did he bring together the disorganized weaklings and turn them into such loyal subjects?

No, such a thing should be impossible! Cai Kechang's common sense screamed that it should not happen. Unfortunately, that impossible thing really was unfolding right before his eyes.

'Just how much more am I supposed to acknowledge you, Kang Jin-Ho?!'

By his own admission, Cai Kechang had already acknowledged Kang Jin-Ho. As a matter of fact, excluding the Crimson King, Cai Kechang probably acknowledged Kang Jin-Ho the most out of everyone he knew. He couldn't think of anyone besides the Crimson King who would have achieved feats similar to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho knew when to be bold and daring and when to be patient and hidden. Even then, he also knew how to stab the opponent's blindspot accurately.

Cai Kechang wasn't simply acknowledging Kang Jin-Ho's martial prowess here. He genuinely acknowledged the Korean demonic cultivator as an excellent human being.

But now, he needed to revise that assessment and acknowledge Kang Jin-Ho even more? Even though he had no yardstick to base his new assessment?

If he were to evaluate Kang Jin-Ho even higher, what other criterion should he use? Cai Kechang couldn't think of any since evaluating Kang Jin-Ho even higher would mean he was equal to...

'…! No! That's absolute horsesh*t!'

Cai Kechang clenched his teeth hard.

No! There was simply no way!

No matter how accomplished Kang Jin-Ho might be, how dare Cai Kechang compare him to the Crimson King? Or, for that matter, the other two Kings?! The Three Kings were gods that had descended to Earth in the form of mortal men, after all! They were existences far beyond comparison to someone like Kang Jin-Ho.

Still, who was Cai Kechang supposed to compare Kang Jin-Ho with? Unable to find an easy answer, Cai Kechang resorted to glaring at Kang Jin-Ho instead. Looking at Kang Jin-Ho standing on the van, which had come to a stop before Cai Kechang had the time to notice it, relaxedly smoking away was like... It felt like Cai Kechang's blood grew colder simply by looking at that figure.

How... arrogant! Even though Kang Jin-Ho wasn't even trying to act haughty and the like, just looking at him was enough to get a good sense of how arrogant and prideful he was.

His subordinates were risking their lives to execute his command to assault the enemy barricades. Despite knowing this, Kang Jin-Ho just stood there and silently spectated as if he were watching a movie.

What was this subtle sense of disharmony washing over Cai Kechang? As if he was far removed from reality?

'I... I've been wrong all this time!'

Cai Kechang finally acknowledged his short-sightedness. That man, Kang Jin-Ho... He was not someone who could be placated.

Even though Cai Kechang was confident of knowing Kang Jin-Ho better than anyone, the truth was the polar opposite. He didn't know anything about that Korean demonic cultivator! As it turned out, that bastard was not a man who'd obediently listen to someone's orders!

Kang Jin-Ho was a born ruler. If he had been born in the era of peace, Kang Jin-Ho would've been branded as a dangerous rebel. If he had been born in the era of chaos and war, he could have become a conqueror!

'Just like the Three...!'

Cai Kechang tightly clenched his fists. Not even the Crimson King could turn so many people into blindly loyal subordinates in a matter of days who'd risk their lives to fulfill his commands. As far as the ability to dominate and command his subjects was concerned, Kang Jin-Ho was clearly ahead of the Crimson King.

Such an ability was the most important trait to anyone aspiring to lead an organization.

'We must kill him!'

Cai Kechang had never once looked down on Kang Jin-Ho. And he never underestimated the danger Kang Jin-Ho posed. However, from this moment on... Cai Kechang unhesitantly discarded all of his previous evaluations and preconceived notions regarding Kang Jin-Ho. All of them were meaningless right now.

It didn't matter who Kang Jin-Ho was. It also didn't matter whether Kang Jin-Ho was friendly or not...! None of that really mattered anymore. Regardless of what, Cai Kechang simply had to kill that man. And he must resort to every trick at his disposal to do so!

Cai Kechang's bloodshot eyes grew larger.

KA-BOOOOOM!

Yet another truck slammed into the mountain-like pile of destroyed trucks. Almost at the same time, flames erupted from the engine bay and engulfed the truck in the blink of an eye.

Black smoke billowed from the wreckage as flames danced all over it.

Hell on Earth. That seemed the most appropriate description for this spectacle.

Injured demonic cultivators crawled out from beneath the roaring flames. Then, they gathered to circle around the black van Kang Jin-Ho stood on.

'So red...'

Cai Kechang noticed the blood those demonic cultivators had bled was red in color. Something that should've been obvious seemed so foreign to Cai Kechang.

Once this commotion had finally ended, Cai Kechang realized their kamikaze attack wasn't some thoughtless and reckless action after all. The barricades hadn't been rendered completely useless, but the roaring flames in the middle meant Cai Kechang's men couldn't maintain their formation anymore. Breaking through the center was out of the question, but the defensive line certainly had gotten thinner now.

When Cai Kechang recognized that fact, goosebumps suddenly broke loose on his skin.

'None of this was a waste!'

From Kang Jin-Ho's perspective, those trucks were expendable goods he couldn't take with him. In that case, wouldn't it be beneficial to sacrifice dozens of such trucks to push back the enemy's defensive line, at least by a little bit?

Indeed, it would be advantageous. Even Cai Kechang would have chosen to do something similar. The only thing separating him from Kang Jin-Ho was that Cai Kechang didn't have subordinates loyal enough to blindly risk their lives executing a reckless operation like this!

That was more the reason why Kang Jin-Ho had to die! Cai Kechang couldn't remember if he wished for someone's death this ardently before. And he wasn't doing that out of sheer malice. No, he felt genuinely threatened right now.

This sense of crisis was something Cai Kechang had never felt before in his life. And as this feeling angrily swirled within his mind, Cai Kechang silently licked his lips.

A weird atmosphere had suddenly descended on the surroundings. No one wanted to raise their voice right now. Other than glaring sharply at each other, not one person dared to break this weighty silence.

What a strange thing this was, silence amidst the chaos!

This bizarre situation only made everyone even more tense than before, though.

The man who shattered this silence was Cai Kechang. "This will be my first time offering you my greetings."

After he said that, Cai Kechang subtly gripped his throat. His voice came out a lot lower. It sounded more withdrawn, which wasn't what he intended. He slightly massaged his neck a little to lessen the tension, then glared straight at Kang Jin-Ho.

"It's finally good to make your acquaintance, Kang Jin-Ho. I greet you on behalf of the Crimson King."

Kang Jin-Ho's gaze shifted toward Cai Kechang. The mention of the Crimson King seemed to have attracted his ire somewhat.

"While greeting you, allow me to bid you farewell as well. You will not leave this place alive, after all! I will bet everything of mine to kill you tonight!"

Cai Kechang's cold voice containing his killing intent echoed in the night sky along with the dancing flames.