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Humans never were objective creatures, especially when it came to themselves. Seeing themselves in an objective light was never going to happen. Even if they thought they did, some form of ‘correction’ would still be added to this so-called objective self-evaluation.

Didn’t men usually stand before the mirror and declare, ‘Yes, I’m also a bit of a hot stuff,’ at their own reflection? No one would admit to being a squid\'s cousin, even if that was what everyone viewed them as!

Everyone always viewed themselves through the rose-tinted filter, after all.

That was why other people’s evaluation was crucial if you wanted to know where you stood in the world. What if the people around you kept praising you? Saying you were amazing and all that? And the number of people saying that was a lot?

You would naturally grow confident about yourself.

Some people would try to express how confident they were. Meanwhile, some others would try to mask their confidence with awkward chuckles. Regardless of how they chose to respond, though, humans would be overflowing with confidence by that point in time.

What about the second option of accomplishing a feat that no one could belittle, then? After all, there was no room for ‘emotions’ in something as objective as accomplishments, now was there?

Even if you detested someone and wanted to belittle them, you couldn\'t do the same to their noteworthy accomplishments. Something objectively noteworthy was still noteworthy regardless of what you felt, after all!

A person would naturally grow confident without other people\'s acknowledgment by having achieved grand feats they could proudly trot out at any given moment.

Yi Myeong-Hwan recently met both of these conditions. People around him had acknowledged him, which included the Assembly Master, too. Even Lee Hyeon-Su, who could be seen as the strictest and hardest to please in the Assembly, trusted Yi Myeong-Hwan enough to assign important tasks.

No one in the entire history of the Martial Assembly would have received as much acknowledgment in such a short time as Yi Myeong-Hwan had. Better still, his accomplishment was nothing to scoff at, either.

One could accomplish many feats for the Martial Assembly. For instance, expanding the organization’s business and directly improving the bottom line would be seen as an invaluable contribution. Training like there’s no tomorrow and improving your strength would also be seen as a contribution.

However, none of these contributions were as significant as rescuing the Assembly Master from the clutches of death.

Such a feat would still be seen as awesome and praiseworthy even if the rescued person was someone ordinary. But Yi Myeong-Hwan had rescued none other than Kang Jin-Ho! Now that was one heck of an accomplishment, alright.

So, Yi Myeong-Hwan was acknowledged by everyone and had an awesome accomplishment to back him up, too. It would only be natural for his confidence to soar through the heavens. And it’d be well-justified, too.

No one in the Assembly was in a position to rebuke Yi Myeong-Hwan for being too confident. After all, he passed the difficult test to become Kang Jin-Ho’s disciple. And not long afterward, he accomplished many major combat-related feats.

Not only was Yi Myeong-Hwan the leader of the violent Demon Flames, but he had already accomplished enough feats and contributions by now, too. With such history, not many would be dissatisfied by the sight of Yi Myeong-Hwan strutting around like a big shot.

That should’ve been the story. Yes, that was how Yi Myeong-Hwan’s situation should have played out, but…

“I’m not like that,” said Vator in a menacing growl.

‘Uh… I haven’t said a single thing, though?’

Yi Myeong-Hwan’s head was filled with so many colorful thoughts while staring at Vator’s face mere inches away from his. One of them was…

Did Vator’s head look big because it was so close? Or was it simply as gigantic as Yi Myeong-Hwan previously thought? It was most likely the latter. Otherwise, how was he supposed to explain the humongous size of the fist grabbing Yi Myeong-Hwan’s collars?

“Yi Myeong-Hwan?”

“Yessir!”

“Yi Myeong-Hwan.”

“Yes, sir!”

Vator\'s face began distorting. The bit between his nose and upper lip tightened ever so slightly as his eyes shifted lower. Meanwhile, his cheekbones rose up. Usually, this kind of facial expression would be labeled as a \'scowl.\'

However, Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn\'t call Vator\'s expression a scowl at all. That was because he was having an epiphany about human expressions right now. His sudden realization told him that the description of an expression would change depending on the creature. Could he say a lion scowling its face… was merely scowling?

Probably not.

A facial expression that should\'ve been nothing too alarming suddenly became a threat more frightening than anything in this world when Vator made it. Thanks to the close proximity of this threat, Yi Myeong-Hwan felt his family jewels tighten instinctively. If it hadn\'t… Something could have leaked a little downstairs!

“I see how you’ve become so full of yourself,” said Vator.

Yi Myeong-Hwan ever so carefully shifted his gaze to the side. That prompted the gently smiling Zhang Dajing standing next to Vator to kindly offer his translation services free of charge.

‘Yup, I hate that f*cker more than Sir Vator!’

The contents of his words clashed so much with how \'kind\' Zhang Dajing sounded. It was as if a professional-but-soothing subway announcer declared, \'Any and all motherf*ckers daring to get a free ride would be hunted down, and their skulls will be split open!\' over the subway speakers.

“A bunch of weaklings dare to slack off like mutts on a hot Summer’s day just because you’ve done something nice for a change?! With such risible mindsets, you wish to receive my master’s guidance! You arrogant bastards!”

As he listened to the real-time translation, Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t help but smile brightly. It seemed one more truth had been revealed today.

‘What was that about mastering demonic arts worsening your violent tendencies?’

What a load of crap that was!

Over a hundred demonic cultivators were present in this place, yet not a single one dared to reveal their \'violent tendencies\' right now! Then again, they were confronted by the \'cure\' that could fix the inability to control one\'s rage, so their calm behavior could be more or less explained away.

In that sense, Vator was a truly skillful doctor.

The Demon Flames had been pleading for help as their blood boiled in rage, and their urges to murder nearly overwhelmed them from even the most trivial things. However, look at them now! They were all behaving exceptionally well, with their eyes sparkling brightly, like a bunch of kindergartners!

Even the freshest recruits spending their first day in their assigned military bases wouldn\'t be as stiff and disciplined as these folks!

In that regard, Vator indeed was a gifted doctor worthy of a place among history\'s greatest. However, if Yi Myeong-Hwan were to point out a slight problem with this scene, that would be…

‘Our dear doctor is giving us an excessive cure for some reason!’

Even though patients had no time to express their rage (they probably wouldn\'t have dared to, anyway), many of them still received the Vator-special \'preventive\' care and got drilled into a wall. As a result, they would surely become wonderful patients who considered three hundred and twenty times first before losing their temper in the future, which should be a net positive, but…

What would be a correct comparison for this situation? It was like watching a treatment that involved deliberately breaking human bones and then mending them so they could become even stronger than before. Why? Well, those bones were bound to break sooner or later, anyway! So, why not do it now?

At least the end result should be spectacular, no?!

“You dare look away?” Vator growled even louder.

Yi Myeong-Hwan\'s gaze hurriedly returned to the front, at Vator\'s face. It seemed his balls had been recast in solid steel recently. Who did he think was holding him by his collars, anyway? How did he allow himself to get distracted like this?!

Yi Myeong-Hwan focused his entire being on Vator.

“You are supposed to be my master’s… No, the Assembly Master’s personal guards! In other words, your role is to protect the Assembly Master from right by his side! But now… You weaklings are supposed to protect him?”

‘Yes, sir. Even I find that notion hilarious, sir!\'

A dragon receiving protection from eels would\'ve sounded more realistic than this situation. The Demon Flames were \'personal guards\' in name only, as they were no better than Kang Jin-Ho\'s gophers at the moment.

Vator continued to growl away. “How dare you skimp on training as if you\'re all some hotshot who has achieved something important?!”

Hotshots? As in… full of confidence?

Yi Myeong-Hwan suddenly remembered when he was overflowing with confidence. It seemed like a lifetime ago, back when he was stepping through that doorway. Or was it just before that? In any case!

Back then, even Yi Myeong-Hwan felt just a tiny bit confident about himself. But the threshing tool named Vator made sure to beat all semblance of confidence out of Yi Myeong-Hwan in the blink of an eye!

“However, I come to you with joyous news,” said Vator, a suspicious smirk spreading on his face. “You\'re the Assembly Master\'s personal guards. In other words, your job is to assist the Assembly Master from his side. However, only one person in the entire Martial Assembly fits that description perfectly. Who do you think that is?”

‘Yessir. I can definitely think of a name. I have to say, though, I’ve never wished to be wrong this badly in my life, sir!’

“It is… none other than me!” Vator roared loudly.

...And Yi Myeong-Hwan’s expression became even more cramped.

‘Yup, I was on the money, then. Goddamn it.’

“Now, rejoice! You stinking pile of trash! From today on, I shall take over your management and turn you into proper warriors!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan broke into fearful shivers before urgently raising his voice. “S-Sir Vator!”

Vator glared back. “What now?”

“S-sir, don’t you already have disciples you teach? But you also want to teach us as well?”

“I never said I’d teach you.”

“...Eh?”

Vator loudly tutted. “No, I’m not going to teach you anything. I merely said I’d turn you trash into proper warriors! I will rip out the rotten mindset stinking up your brain and cleanse you from top to bottom!”

Hah. Haha. Hahaha…

Something had definitely gone wrong here, it seemed.

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t process this situation. At all. Why did Vator invade this sanctum and mercilessly thresh them like this? Even if the big man enjoyed absolute and unquestionable authority within the Martial Assembly, weren’t the Demon Flames Kang Jin-Ho’s exclusive personal guards? His people?

Even Vator shouldn’t have the right to do this!

‘At least, that’s the theory, but…’

Unfortunately for the Demon Flames, the protection of the law was far away, while the threatening fist was right in front of their faces!

Voicing his grievances now would mean he might not have any teeth left after all was said and done! Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn\'t get over his desire to chew delicious steak with his own teeth.

“Now, repeat after me! I\'m trash!”

“I, I’m trash!”

“Louder!”

“I’m trash!”

Vator smiled in satisfaction. “Good! Do not forget that mindset. To you bunch of trash, my master’s cultivation technique is too much of a luxury. Nothing is as disgusting as lucky bastards mastering cultivation they don’t deserve and strutting around as if they own the world! I only acknowledge those who put in the requisite effort to become stronger. Those who are too arrogant for their own good will pay the price. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir!”

Just as tears of sorrow were about to flood out of everyone’s eyes…!

Creaaak…

The door slowly opened to reveal an unmistakable visage of their potential savior.

“A-Assembly Master!”

“My liege!”

“Boss!”

“Big broooo!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan nearly blurted out in anger at that last call.

‘Who the hell is your big bro?! Which bastard failed to read the damn room?!’

The Demon Flames stared at Kang Jin-Ho like a kid being bullied by the local hooligans who spotted their father coincidentally walking past the scene of the crime. Their gazes were filled with heart-wrenching sorrow and anticipation.

If it was Kang Jin-Ho, he\'d surely say some stern words to Vator for going overboard. And sure enough…!

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. Since someone famous for not showing a lot of emotions on his face frowned like that, didn’t it indicate he was rather unhappy with what he could see? Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t help but high-five himself in his mind.

The stiff-faced Kang Jin-Ho took in the sight of the poor people still buried in the wall, the Demon Flames fearfully standing at attention like statues, and Yi Myeong-Hwan captured in Vator\'s large mitts before locking his gaze on Vator.

‘We’re saved!’

Yi Myeong-Hwan\'s complexion quickly regained its lost color. Didn\'t Kang Jin-Ho bow his head to express his thanks not long ago? There was no freaking way he\'d sit back and watch Yi Myeong-Hwan being manhandled this way!

Kang Jin-Ho raised his voice. “Vator?”

“Yes, master. I’m listening.”

“I see that some people are still standing.”

“…!”

“Didn\'t I tell you to deal with this situation?”

“...It seems I was being too soft in my approach. Master, if you give me one more chance…!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan’s jaw nearly fell.

‘What the f*ck…? Why is this conversation heading that way?’

Unable to process this super-rapid change in the situation, Yi Myeong-Hwan began lashing out… Actually, never mind lashing out, the only thing he could do within Vator\'s grip was urgently look around for help.

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “I shall return a little later. I want you to finish everything by then.”

“Understood, master!”

Kang Jin-Ho expertly slid rearward to retreat beyond the doorway. Yi Myeong-Hwan reflexively reached out to his Assembly Master Moonwalking out of the training hall.

Creaaak…!

Too bad, the door couldn\'t care less about their plight and closed shut without mercy. That was when Yi Myeong-Hwan was afforded a brief glimpse of something. Before the door was fully closed, he saw Kang Jin-Ho looking back at him… while smirking!

“…”

While Yi Myeong-Hwan wordlessly stared at the firmly shut doorway, Vator began gritting his teeth loudly. “It seems I was being too lax in my ways, gentlemen! Our Assembly Master wishes for an even more robust set of changes!”

“…!”

“First order of business! I shall personally show you what your current strength amounts to. Now… learn the truth with your body and soul!”

Uhm, Sir Vator? Isn’t that basically the same as you beating us up?

Yi Myeong-Hwan wanted to ask. He was dying to ask, yet couldn’t bring himself to do it.

After all, he was already flying through the air while spinning dizzily around by then. The only thing he could do now was clench his teeth to avoid biting his tongue when gravity inevitably pulled him down mercilessly to the hard, cold floor.

‘Right, I forgot. That damn Assembly Master of ours is also a demonic cultivator, isn’t he!’

The reward for his loyalty, for being ready to throw his life away… slammed into his face with white-hot ferocity he couldn\'t handle. Yi Myeong-Hwan\'s tears containing his sorrow left lengthy trails in the air before scattering away into the ether.