100 Floors All Master - Chapter 136

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 136

27th Floor. Murim (5)

As they stepped outside, Pungheoldo also seemed to notice the presence and was standing guard. Pungheoldo muttered as if surprised.

“…You have good instincts. The opponents hid their presence quite well.”

“Seven people. Three from the east. Four coming from the west.”

“I’ll take the west. You handle the east.”

Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.

Pungheoldo’s body disappeared with the wind.

Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward.

His body entered the forest. The masked people in black who had been approaching while holding their breath were startled at the sight of Kang Jun-hyeok appearing through the darkness.

“…!”

“Even when surprised, you don’t scream. You’re not ordinary guys, are you?”

Swoosh!

Poison needles and blades came flying. Kang Jun-hyeok lightly moved his fingers.

He caught the poison needles and threw them back. The blades bounced off with a harsh sound.

“Trying to kill me means you don’t mind dying either.”

Crack.

A dagger was already in Kang Jun-hyeok’s hand. He pierced through the throat of the foremost masked person and kicked at the one charging toward him. The man coughed up blood and collapsed to the floor.

The remaining one realized he couldn’t win and tried to flee, but was grabbed by the collar before he could even turn around.

The opponent who had been gasping for a moment suddenly convulsed as if having a seizure, then went limp.

“Did he commit suicide?”

[Very well trained indeed.]

When he opened the mouth, an elixir pill was broken inside. He examined the corpses but found no particular items that would reveal their identity. When he returned, Pungheoldo was waiting.

“Did your side also commit suicide?”

“Yes.”

“Ruthless bastards. Their movements had no unnecessary motions and their decisions were quick. They were very well trained.”

Pungheoldo frowned.

Who sent these people? It wasn’t difficult to guess.

“The Murim Alliance Leader’s son. Geukji Hak.”

“He didn’t seem like the type to give up easily. How troublesome.”

Pungheoldo clicked his tongue.

“What do you plan to do?”

“There’s no evidence. Even if we bring the corpses, he’ll just play dumb.”

Swish-

Pungheoldo wiped the blood off his blade.

“What I must do doesn’t change. Protect him, and kill those who target him. That’s all.”

“If that’s what you decide.”

Kang Jun-hyeok smiled faintly.

“I’ll cooperate as well. Please take care of me from now on.”

“…Hmph.”

Pungheoldo turned around without answering.

After that, spies continued to come, and Kang Jun-hyeok and Pungheoldo dealt with them all without a sound. Taesaek Jicheon was able to focus completely on understanding Manbyeonggi’s martial arts.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

Taesaek Jicheon, who had been watching Kang Jun-hyeok handle martial arts, suddenly coughed violently. His withered body trembled like an aspen tree hit directly by the wind. Pungheoldo hurriedly approached.

“Taesaek Jicheon!”

Pungheoldo’s face hardened as he checked his pulse. The energy in his pulse was far too weak.

“…You need to rest. Taesaek Jicheon. If you continue like this, your body will be in danger.”

“I’m fine.”

“Your pulse is too weak. If you continue like this, you might suffer permanent damage…”

“Chicheon.”

Taesaek Jicheon called Pungheoldo’s name. Deep determination was contained in his eyes.

“I will understand this martial art. I will touch a fragment of something that has reached the extreme, something that transcends categories. So please, I ask of you.”

“…I understand.”

In the end, Pungheoldo had no choice but to back down before Taesaek Jicheon’s strong will.

That night, spies came again. The level of the spies increased day by day. They were skilled enough to sense Pungheoldo’s presence in advance and scatter in all directions to confuse his senses.

“These bastards!”

Swish swish swish!

Wind blades swept through the forest. Trees were cut down in chunks and countless bushes scattered. Several were cut down by the blades, but one managed to escape. He ran past Pungheoldo toward the house where Taesaek Jicheon was staying. Pungheoldo’s face became urgent.

[Stealth.]

[Instant Acceleration.]

Crack.

At that moment, Kang Jun-hyeok suddenly appeared and pierced through the spy’s chest.

The spy, who felt nothing, died with his eyes wide open.

“…You use strange techniques.”

Even he couldn’t sense Kang Jun-hyeok’s presence just now. Pungheoldo tried to hide his surprise and maintain his composure. Kang Jun-hyeok wiped his sword and asked.

“It’s hard to get even one night’s sleep. Did this kind of thing happen regularly before?”

“It did. There were plenty who coveted his talent and tried to kidnap him. But elite forces of this caliber are a first. Geukji Hak. He’s made up his mind. If he wastes talent of this level, the Murim Alliance Leader won’t stand for it.”

“If you weren’t here, Taesaek Jicheon would already be dragged off somewhere by now.”

Kang Jun-hyeok asked with a curious expression.

“Why are you volunteering to be Taesaek Jicheon’s dharma protector?”

At first, he thought Pungheoldo was receiving martial arts teachings from Taesaek Jicheon.

He thought he was serving as dharma protector in exchange for that.

But during the two weeks he had stayed here, Pungheoldo asked nothing of Taesaek Jicheon. He took care of his weak body and served as his protector. It was far too trivial a task for a renowned member of the Ten Great Masters.

“It’s none of your concern.”

Pungheoldo cut him off sharply.

He showed no sign of wanting to answer. Kang Jun-hyeok shrugged his shoulders. He was curious, but he couldn’t force someone to talk if they didn’t want to.

From the next day onwards, the spies who had been coming daily stopped visiting. Pungheoldo, who had found some respite, muttered.

“They’ve consumed a lot of valuable manpower. The Murim Alliance Leader might have noticed and put a stop to it. That’s good news.”

Thanks to this, Pungheoldo was able to focus on caring for Taesaek Jicheon’s body.

Color slowly began to return to Taesaek Jicheon’s face, which had been pale as if he might die at any moment.

A week passed like this.

And that night.

Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been sleeping with his back against the wall, opened his eyes.

[Someone is coming.]

Manbyeonggi spoke.

Kang Jun-hyeok could sense it too. They were emanating an intense aura as if they had no intention of hiding.

Strong.

Even stronger than Pungheoldo.

When he opened the door, Pungheoldo was standing in the courtyard with a hardened expression.

“…Well, it seems a distinguished guest has arrived.”

Perhaps sensing that energy, Taesaek Jicheon also sat down in front of the door.

In the brilliant time when the moon illuminated the world.

The opponent revealed himself. A middle-aged man with a long beard. Pungheoldo’s face hardened.

“…Murim Alliance Leader. Geukji Won.”

“Pungheoldo. It’s been a long time.”

“Why have you come to this place?”

“Isn’t the reason obvious?”

The Murim Alliance Leader leisurely stroked his beard.

“Since you all rejected my invitations, I came personally.”

“…Wasn’t it Geukji Hak’s independent decision?”

The Murim Alliance Leader himself had been targeting Taesaek Jicheon. Pungheoldo let out a groan. The Murim Alliance Leader chuckled.

“No matter how foolish that son of mine is, would he move independently on such matters? I’m already busy keeping the Evil Martial Alliance in check, but I had no choice but to drag my heavy body all the way here.”

“…”

Pungheoldo swallowed hard.

He was one of the Ten Great Masters.

He was a strong warrior counted among the top ten in Murim.

However, the Murim Alliance Leader was called the Greatest Martial Artist. There was a clear difference in class between their skills and standing. Seeing that tension, the Murim Alliance Leader clicked his tongue.

“Being so tense makes it seem like I’m here to do something bad. This is all for the greater good. Oh. You must be Taesaek Jicheon. Nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you.”

Taesaek Jicheon spoke leisurely. The Murim Alliance Leader then looked at Kang Jun-hyeok.

“…Who might you be?”

“I am Kang Jun-hyeok.”

“A name I haven’t heard before. Are you Taesaek Jicheon’s servant?”

The Murim Alliance Leader showed no further interest in Kang Jun-hyeok.

“Taesaek Jicheon. I am the Murim Alliance Leader. I go by Geukji Won. I’m busy, so I’ll get straight to the point. Do you have any intention of joining the Murim Alliance and working for the peace of Murim?”

“I do not.”

Taesaek Jicheon smiled faintly and answered. When he cut straight to the point, the Murim Alliance Leader’s expression stiffened slightly. But soon he chuckled.

“Don’t be so harsh. I apologize for showing a coercive attitude. I also apologize for secretly calling people. Wouldn’t it be better if we left room for mutual understanding?”

The Murim Alliance Leader clapped and took a step back.

“I’ll give you time to think while the sun rises seven times and sets seven times. If you don’t come to the Murim Alliance by then… we’ll have no choice. I’ll send people. I hope you make a good decision.”

With those words, the Murim Alliance Leader slowly departed.

Kang Jun-hyeok and Taesaek Jicheon were utterly calm, but Pungheoldo’s entire body was drenched in sweat. After the Murim Alliance Leader left, Pungheoldo spoke with a groan.

“Taesaek Jicheon. This is… dangerous. If you refuse again this time, the Murim Alliance will move.”

Pungheoldo was strong, but ultimately he was just an individual. The Murim Alliance had those stronger than him. If they came, he couldn’t stop them.

“…Taesaek Jicheon. How about bending just this once?”

Therefore, Pungheoldo quietly suggested.

“For now, it would be good to go to the Murim Alliance and accommodate them. Once the Evil Martial Alliance matter is finished, you can return. Understanding this person’s martial arts will be delayed, but it’s not a big problem.”

For them, being a little late wouldn’t matter.

But not for Kang Jun-hyeok. Only one week remained until the 27th Floor Quest ended.

‘This is troublesome.’

He began to think of a solution.

But soon that thought became useless. Taesaek Jicheon slowly shook his head.

“I will not go to the Murim Alliance.”

“It’s dangerous. You might lose your life…”

“Do you think I would care about such things?”

Taesaek Jicheon smiled faintly. Pungheoldo couldn’t bring himself to argue back.

“To me, this world has no value whatsoever. I thought I was born into a meaningless world and would leave meaninglessly. But now, I have found the value of life.”

His eyes were shining brighter than ever.

“I will not leave this place. A life that comes and goes like duckweed. At least for the end, I will do what I desire.”

“…Taesaek Jicheon.”

“Pungheoldo. You may leave. You have sufficiently repaid the debt for healing your daughter’s severed meridians.”

‘So that was the reason.’

He had cured his daughter’s illness. Out of gratitude for that favor, Pungheoldo had voluntarily become Taesaek Jicheon’s Dharma Protection. Kang Jun-hyeok, whose curiosity was satisfied, showed a pleased expression. Pungheoldo bit his lip.

“…The debt I owe you cannot be repaid. I will stay with you until the end.”

“Thank you. Even though life is like duckweed, to have gained the heart of someone like you. It wasn’t in vain.”

Having said that, Taesaek Jicheon looked at Kang Jun-hyeok.

“I’m almost there. Just a little more, just a hint of enlightenment is needed. So please wait for me.”

Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.

The Murim Alliance Leader kept his word.

During the week, no one came to visit.

And after one week.

Exactly one day before the Quest ended, the opponents arrived.

“…Two strong auras.”

Two strong warriors were coming. One of them was definitely stronger than Pungheoldo himself.

“You can run away. You might die. No matter how precious martial arts are, they’re not more precious than life.”

“No.”

Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head at Pungheoldo’s suggestion.

“I can’t let such a good opportunity slip away.”

“…A good opportunity?”

Pungheoldo, who had been looking at Kang Jun-hyeok, hesitated. A smile was hanging on his face.

‘I can’t leave like this.’

He hadn’t achieved his purpose yet.

More importantly, strong opponents were coming to him.

Although he had sparred with Pungheoldo frequently, they weren’t life-or-death battles after all. There were limits to training his internal energy.

But now, formidable enemies who could kill or be killed, beings from whom he could obtain sufficient rewards, were coming to him on their own feet.

There was no reason to retreat anywhere. Soon the opponents showed themselves.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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