Descent of the Demon Master
Chapter 1149. Recommending (4)

Chapter 1149. Recommending (4)

‘Man, I’m so tired.’

Han Jin-Seong dragged his weary feet toward the orphanage. It felt like he was carrying a ton of stuff on his back.

Other kids went home right after their classes in the special cram school ended, but not Han Jin-Seong. Since he was a high school senior, regular classes weren't enough to help him.

That was why he voluntarily remained behind to study some more.

Although the orphanage also had a dedicated study room, it unfortunately wasn't suitable for focused studying. This story was probably the same in other orphanages with study rooms, though.

Besides, maybe because he wasn’t used to it or something, Han Jin-Seong found it hard to concentrate when in the orphanage, too.

“Urgh...” Han Jin-Seong barely raised his arm to massage his shoulder. He could actually feel the tense, cramped muscles.

‘Still one more month left, eh...?’

Of course, he meant one month until the damn National University Entrance Exam!

Everyone was supposed to take it at least once in their lives, so why did it feel especially tough for Han Jin-Seong?

Before he started studying in earnest, he believed studying diligently should gradually decrease the amount of things he needed to learn. But he didn't expect studying to have this weird quirk—the more you study, the more there is for you to learn!

At this rate, Han Jin-Seong might not even reach the study target within the month!

“Fuu-woo...”

Han Jin-Seong looked up at the distant Seongsim Orphanage building.

‘Am I doing the right thing, though?’

The choice to go to a university might come naturally for other kids his age, but not to Han Jin-Seong. He had to resolve himself first.

‘I can get a student loan to cover my tuition, but...’

Other prospective university students might worry about where their tuition might come from, but for Han Jin-Seong? That was a secondary issue. No, the real problem was finding enough money to sustain himself while attending university!

His friends, who still had families, not worrying about that aspect left Han Jin-Seong with this comparative sense of loss, but what could he do about it now? Not much, really.

‘But not going to university is a problem, too.’

He knew he’d regret it for the rest of his life, after all!

Maybe he'd also regret going to university later in life. But that regret should be far less intense than not trying his luck with tertiary education.

Since that was the case, it made sense to choose the option with potentially less regret.

‘I’m sure it’ll work out somehow.’

Han Jin-Seong told himself to focus on what he could do right now. Studying already sapped a lot out of him, after all!

He opened the orphanage’s entrance, climbed up the stairs, and entered the living area. “I’m ho... Huh?”

“Wooooooooah!”

“Ahhhhhjaaaaaah~!”

“...?!”

Han Jin-Seong's eyes powerfully rocked at the sight of the pandemonium unfolding right before his eyes!

‘What’s going on? Did I get the time wrong?’

But that couldn't be it? Han Jin-Seong's head snapped powerfully toward a clock mounted on a nearby wall. The needles pointed at half past eleven at night.

‘So, I was right?’

In that case, why were these little critters, otherwise known as elementary school rugrats, still running around causing havoc? Instead of tucked into their beds, fast asleep? And in someone else's living space, no less!

“W-what’s going on here? Did something happen?”

Han Jin-Seong's flustered voice managed to draw everyone's attention to him, but that was only temporary. Kids promptly stopped caring about him and resumed playfully running around.

“J-Jo Mi-Hye! Where is she?”

“What's the matter, oppa?” Jo Mi-Hye emerged from one of the rooms at the perfect timing and asked Han Jin-Seong. Her expression was rather serene in spite of all the chaos happening around her.

Han Jin-Seong asked in confusion. “What’s this? Why aren’t these kids asleep?”

“They don’t want to go to bed yet.”

“...And why not?”

Rather than a verbal answer, Jo Mi-Hye simply shrugged.

Han Jin-Seong hurriedly scanned the surroundings. “What about caretaker aunties?”

“They all went home.”

“All of them?”

“Yeah.”

“H-how? Why?”

Jo Mi-Hye’s gaze drifted in a certain direction. Naturally, Han Jin-Seong followed her gaze, and then...

“...Eh?”

He caught the sight of a familiar person who had grown a bit unfamiliar lately. And this person was leaning against a wall while watching TV. Not only that, but he was also pacifying a complaining child with one hand and feeding snacks to other kids with his other hand!

“Jin-Ho hyung? What is he doing here?” Han Jin-Seong asked weirdly.

Jo Mi-Hye explained the situation. “He's the one who sent the caretaker aunties home, saying he'd be staying the night and looking after the kids.”

“Hang on a minute. Is that even allowed?”

“Who can stop him?”

“W-well, I guess.”

Jo Mi-Hye was right. Kang Jin-Ho was effectively the director of this orphanage, after all! Yes, another person was nominally the director, but everyone here already knew who was in charge.

Since the real director told them to retire for the night, who were the caretakers to argue back?

Han Jin-Seong grimaced deeply. “Is that why everyone has gone crazy?”

“Well, yeah. They have no one to tell them no, after all. It must be a paradise for them.”

Stompstompstomp, tadatadatadatadata!

Han Jin-Seong grew paler and paler as the raucous noises of kids running around assaulted him mercilessly.

‘I just can’t figure this out!’

Young kids had this inexplicable power to shatter common sense.

Logically, a person’s stamina should increase as they grow older. As in, the stamina level of a child should be low, but it’d grow to a peak level once the person reached their twenties and thirties before gradually declining in their later years.

But that logic didn’t apply in real life! Any parents who cared for a bunch of little devils should agree with that assessment.

Kids seemingly had infinite stamina. They rampaged around with a scarcely believable level of energy, only to suddenly collapse like a robot with flat batteries. But then, they’d finish recharging not too long afterward and resume rampaging around at the top speed once more!

“T-this is too much!” Han Jin-Seong gasped in despair at the kids and their hellish stamina level. “H-Hyung! Jin-Ho hyung!”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Han Jin-Seong. “Oh, hey, Jin-Seong.”

“These kids! Please do something about them! They gotta go to bed, you know!”

“Why?”

“They are supposed to go to school tomorrow! At this rate, they might doze off during class!”

“Is that so?” Kang Jin-Ho put the snack down and lightly snapped his fingers. “Okay, everyone. Time to go to bed.”

“Okay!”

What was going on here?! Han Jin-Seong’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets just then.

One command from Kang Jin-Ho, and all the rampaging kids obediently trotted into their rooms. It was as if they were under a spell or something!

Shouldn't they whine and grumble about wanting to play for a bit longer?

‘Holy cow. That’s actually scary.’

Now that Han Jin-Seong thought about it for a second, didn't he also try to obey Kang Jin-Ho religiously when he was much younger? He had no idea why that was, though.

At least the chaotic revolt of the young critters had been suppressed in the blink of an eye, which was a good thing!

Han Jin-Seong watched half-dazedly at the kids filing out of the living room, then shuffled toward Kang Jin-Ho. “When did you arrive, hyung?”

Kang Jin-Ho casually replied, “Earlier in the evening.”

“What brings you here, though?”

“...I’ve already gotten an earful from Mi-Hye earlier, okay? You don’t need to lecture me.”

Jo Mi-Hye nodded assertively. Since she was involved, Kang Jin-Ho must’ve been already punted around to the point of his flesh separating from his bones!

How did Han Jin-Seong know that? Because he was also a victim of that little witch’s lectures!

Han Jin-Seong put his school bag down, then plopped down next to Kang Jin-Ho with a grand sigh.

Kang Jin-Ho stared openly at the boy before flatly commenting, “You look exhausted, Jin-Seong.”

Han Jin-Seong sighed again. “It’s the same story for all high school seniors, though. Want some coffee, hyung?”

“Mm? Sure, why not.”

Han Jin-Seong was about to get up, but Jo Mi-Hye pushed his shoulders down firmly. “It's fine, oppa. I'll get the coffee.”

“...Hey, you,” Han Jin-Seong glared sharply. “Didn’t you tell me to go jump in a lake when I asked you to get me a cup of coffee in the past?”

“That’s because you are not the same as Jin-Ho oppa.”

“...”

Jo Mi-Hye playfully stuck her tongue out at Han Jin-Seong before heading to the kitchen.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled and addressed Han Jin-Seong again. “How is your studying going?”

“Mm, well, I’m trying my best, but...” Han Jin-Seong roughly scratched his head. “I think I’m just not as smart as you or Mi-Hye, hyung. I’m trying, but I think I’ve reached my limit.”

“Hmm...” Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes and studied the boy from top to bottom. He could sense that turbid qi had accumulated within Han Jin-Seong's body.

That made sense, though. Turbid qi like this would naturally accumulate in a person as they interacted with the world, after all.

Once accumulated, turbid qi would muddle a person's thinking. And it'd result in fatigue. People who never cultivated would resort to sleep and rest to enter a relaxed state to subconsciously expel as much accumulated turbid qi from their bodies. Of course, this method was not perfect.

The problem with Han Jin-Seong was that he desperately needed to rest and get some good night's sleep. If it hadn't been for the boy's current academic situation, Kang Jin-Ho would've offered the advice of, 'Get some rest, right now.'

Unfortunately, that option was too unrealistic for a high school senior preparing for one of the most important exams in his life. Besides, Han Jin-Seong wouldn't have listened no matter how valid the advice was, anyway.

Kang Jin-Ho reached out and grabbed Han Jin-Seong’s head.

“Eh? What’s up, hyung? I’m not a little kid anymore, you know?”

“...Be still for a second, okay?”

“Eh?”

Whoosh.

Kang Jin-Ho instantly extracted the accumulated turbid qi from Han Jin-Seong’s body. In the past, he’d have to make a few preparations first before attempting to do this. Or even cause a bit of a scene during the process.

However, in his current cultivation realm, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have to worry about any of that.

“What did you do, hyung?” Han Jin-Seong confusedly looked at Kang Jin-Ho.

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho remained mum, choosing not to explain himself.

He wanted to avoid any potentially annoying or awkward situation, so his extraction had been stealthy and careful. Han Jin-Seong shouldn't have felt anything, but by tomorrow morning, he should be fully re-energized and raring to go.

This was all Kang Jin-Ho could do for Han Jin-Seong right now.

If he taught the boy a simple mind cultivation technique, Han Jin-Seong might be able to maintain the best-possible condition at all times and even improve his ability to study.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn't want to see that happen. After all, 'strength' was always accompanied by 'responsibility.'

It was impossible to predict how Han Jin-Seong's life might change by mastering the so-called simple little cultivation technique. Kang Jin-Ho wanted to avoid the possibility of the boy's fate irrevocably changing if he could help it.

Besides...

‘Even without cultivation techniques, Jin-Seong can do this.’

It wasn't as if a cultivator was superior in every aspect compared to non-cultivators. As proof, one should remember that humanity's progress and the management of society were done not by cultivators but by ordinary people.

Cultivators like Kang Jin-Ho were more like parasites leeching off the world those people had created.

Since that was the case, Kang Jin-Ho wished for the orphanage's kids, as well as his acquaintances, to enjoy a life as far removed from martial arts as possible. Didn't he also want nothing to do with martial arts in the past? Back when he first returned to the modern era?

He had no desire to debate about stuff like fair competition or special privileges or anything like that. After all, there was no such thing as a truly fair competition in this world, to begin with.

Instead, Kang Jin-Ho wished for his acquaintances to live their lives without interference from the martial world. That was all.

Han Jin-Seong cocked his head this way and that. “Huh?”

Kang Jin-Ho subtly narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

“N-no, mm... It’s nothing, hyung.” Han Jin-Seong looked even more confused. Judging from his expression, he must’ve sensed that something in his body had changed.

Kang Jin-Ho patted the boy on the shoulder. “You should take regular breaks, Jin-Seong.”

“Easier said than done, hyung,” Han Jin-Seong grumbled. However, he soon clamped his mouth shut despite clearly wanting to say something else. He instead sighed deeply, then suddenly apologized. “I’m sorry, hyung.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Why are you apologizing?”

“People get irritable when they are tired, right? It feels like I'm being rude to you for no reason. I know I shouldn't, and that's why I'm sorry.”

It was now Kang Jin-Ho’s turn to sigh as he studied the boy’s face.

‘Even Jin-Seong’s like this.’

At least on the surface, everything seemed fine. In fact, it looked better than fine since these kids understood social etiquette. And polite, to boot. Jo Mi-Hye also behaved similarly not too long ago.

However, from Kang Jin-Ho’s point of view? None of what they did warranted an apology like this. Kids from ordinary households would’ve exploded in irritation instead.

Yet these orphans apologized first.

Was it because they were mature? Because they had to grow up more quickly than other kids their age?

‘I don’t think that’s the case.’

Even if that was indeed the case, wasn’t that a problem in itself? Kids should act like kids, after all.

A child should not be forced to grow up too quickly. Humans were usually the happiest when their behaviors and thought patterns matched their age. Being mature for their age and all the edges rounding off so early could only mean the child got mercilessly pummeled by life's headwinds.

“How have you been doing, though?” Kang Jin-Ho calmly asked. “Any troubles worrying you?”

“Nothing at all, hyung,” Han Jin-Seong hesitated for a second before shaking his head. “You really have done so much for us. Way too much, I should say. The cram school is great, and even things at school have been plain sailing.”

“Speaking of which, what about the bullying in school?”

“Everything has been peaceful after that incident. Very peaceful.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. That was good to hear. Things being peaceful meant Han Jin-Seong would get to focus more on his studies for the upcoming entrance exam.

Han Jin-Seong spoke again. “All I gotta do now is give it my all. So that I can attend a university somewhere near or in Seoul. It'll be too difficult for me to travel to somewhere out in the sticks, you see.”

“Mm...”

“My goal is to enroll in one of the unis on the outskirts of the capital. Yes, I know. I know that will only happen if I study my butt off.”

“Outskirts, you say? Wouldn't that make commuting to school every day much harder?”

“Oh, that. Since we’re on this subject...” Han Jin-Seong frowned slightly while scratching his head. “I was thinking of moving out of Seongsim once I get accepted into the university.”

“Huh?” Kang Jin-Ho’s brows rose up in surprise.

However, that was when Jo Mi-Hye carrying a tray of coffee cups suddenly yelled in unhappiness. “Hey, you! Are you still saying that nonsense?”

Han Jin-Seong tutted. “What the...! I’m still older than you, so what’s up with ‘hey, you’?”

“It’s fine for you to get yelled at, oppa!”

She put the tray down a bit harder than usual, causing several droplets of coffee to splash outside the cups and land on the tray.