A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 11

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

Chapter 11
Inside the box he opened lay a bracelet.
A round jade pendant hung from a delicate golden chain, radiating an ethereal glow.
It resembled the bracelet my younger sister Ga Ryung had once received from Father.
“As you can see, it’s a gold bracelet adorned with jade. It’s been fashionable among young ladies of noble birth in the An Hui Province region for the past several years.”
What set this bracelet apart from ordinary ones was that the jade attached to it was one of the heirlooms passed down through the Nam Goong Family.
Lü Bao Qi Stone.
A treasure said to dispel fatigue merely by possessing it. After grueling training, a single night’s rest with it would leave one’s body refreshed—any martial artist would covet such a thing.
‘He’s bestowing the Lü Bao Qi Stone? Could it be that the Grand Patriarch intends to teach this child martial arts?’
Nam Goong Soo O examined Hong Seol carefully from head to toe.
‘She’s so gaunt she doesn’t even look capable of properly lifting chopsticks, let alone a wooden sword.’
I should instruct the kitchen at Chang Cheon Pavilion to prepare more nutritious meals. And I’ll have the Medical Pharmacy prepare a vitality-restoring tonic.
Without realizing it, Nam Goong Soo O was already formulating plans for Hong Seol’s wellbeing.
Hong Seol, noticing his contemplative silence, asked in disbelief.
“Can I… can I really have this?”
“Of course.”
With his permission granted, the attendant Mae Ran carefully lifted the bracelet.
Click.
Soon the jade gleamed beautifully on Hong Seol’s wrist.
“It suits you perfectly, Miss!”
“Indeed, the jade has finally found its true owner.”
As both adults offered their praise, Hong Seol sat in stunned silence.
‘Is this really mine?’
That I, who had played with nothing but scraps of rope and pebbles, now possessed a bracelet…
Hong Seol stared at her wrist for a long time, unable to believe it.
* * *
After Hong Seol’s arrival, Chang Cheon Pavilion witnessed the same scene repeated at every meal.
The Grand Patriarch Nam Goong Ho himself feeding Hong Seol with care, while his curious grandsons Black and Red eagerly craned their necks to catch a glimpse.
Today was no exception.
“Off to the Training Ground at once!”
Nam Goong Ho shouted and brushed off his hands as he closed the inner chamber door.
“I’ve chased away all those disobedient grandsons since this morning—finally, some peace and quiet.”
Before the spacious table in the inner chamber sat Hong Seol, dressed in silk robes and sitting demurely.
Nam Goong Ho, seeing her thus, asked with puzzlement.
“Seol, why haven’t you worn the bracelet?”
“Oh, that’s… it’s my first time owning something so precious.”
The mere thought of the bracelet being hers seemed to delight her. Hong Seol continued, her face flushed.
“I’m afraid it might get scratched, so I’m saving it for special occasions.”
“Special occasions?”
“Like your birthday, for instance…”
Upon hearing those words, Nam Goong Ho’s face crumpled as though the sky itself had collapsed.
Hong Seol, sensing something had gone awry, quickly corrected herself.
“No, Grandfather—it’s Grandfather’s birthday!”
She waved both palms open with evident urgency.
Witnessing her endearing gesture, Nam Goong Ho couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh.
“There’s no need to treasure it so carefully. You’ll see many finer things ahead.”
“Still…”
Feeling oddly embarrassed, I swallowed back the words: ‘Because Grandfather gave it to me.’
“Now then, have you finished your meal?”
“Yes.”
After each meal, feeding Hong Seol a piece of prepared ginseng had become Nam Goong Ho’s recent pleasure.
Seated across the table, he picked up his chopsticks with his weathered hands and spoke.
“Come now, open wide.”
“Mmm…”
Yet today, Hong Seol seemed hesitant for some reason. Nam Goong Ho urged the child forward.
“Go on, open up.”
“Ahhh…”
Finally, Hong Seol opened her small mouth as wide as she could. Nam Goong Ho then placed a piece of the precious ginseng directly onto her tongue with his chopsticks.
“Mmph.”
As Hong Seol chewed the ginseng, she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously. Witnessing this, Nam Goong Ho’s heart melted entirely.
‘She’s even learned to express that it tastes bitter now.’
Having stayed at the Nam Goong Family Estate for such a short time, Hong Seol had transformed into a cherished child. Color had returned to her cheeks, and she’d learned to laugh with genuine delight.
“Gwandpa, it’s bitter.”
Her speech slurred slightly as she spoke without swallowing the ginseng first. Even that imperfection was utterly adorable. Yet Nam Goong Ho steeled himself and spoke sternly.
“You must chew thoroughly before swallowing to grow healthy.”
After eating until her belly was round, she would chew a piece of the precious ginseng and receive a sweet. Then, with my assistance, she would circulate the ginseng’s essence through all the meridians of her body.
This was what Hong Seol did every single day in this place.
Thanks to this regimen, her body grew healthier with each passing day.
‘If this continues for just a couple more months, it should be safe to begin teaching her martial arts.’
Thinking of that approaching day, Nam Goong Ho’s chest would naturally grow warm.
“That’s right. You’re eating well.”
Watching her lips move up and down as she chewed, Nam Goong Ho picked up another piece of the precious ginseng.
“Come now, just one more piece today. Open wide.”
Hong Seol kept her mouth firmly closed and shook her head side to side.
“Didn’t I tell you that eating this makes you grow strong and tall?”
She was already smaller than her peers.
Nam Goong Ho’s face grew serious with concern.
To learn martial arts from me, she needed to become even healthier than she was now.
“No, that’s not it…”
Hong Seol shook her head once more.
“I’ll eat alone from now on.”
At those words, the chopsticks Nam Goong Ho held froze mid-air.
Hong Seol wanting to eat the stir-fried soo o by herself—what kind of sudden calamity was this?
“I’m grown now, and I’m embarrassed in front of the servants.”
The way she spoke with fresh lips, so resolute, showed her determination was quite firm.
“The servants whisper that feeding someone with chopsticks is something you only do for babies.”
What kind of fools were saying such things!
I wanted to shout loud enough to make the Oe Dang ring, but I couldn’t do that for fear of frightening Hong Seol.
Only then did Nam Goong Ho realize that this time spent with Hong Seol had become quite a great joy to him.
A melancholy shadow flickered across his eyes as he suddenly lost one of life’s pleasures.
“Well, fine.”
It seemed the rumor that the Grand Patriarch personally fed and raised Hong Seol on soo o had spread sharply among the servants.
‘Then the elders must have heard about it by now.’
That was when it happened.
Just then, an unfamiliar presence began to stir outside the door.
At that, Hong Seol’s body tensed sharply. Noticing this, Nam Goong Ho’s face darkened considerably.
“Who is it?”
“Chief Administrator Nam Goong Soo O reports to the Grand Patriarch.”
“What is the matter?”
“The elders of both the main and branch families have all come. They await you at the Patriarch’s Residence.”
“Tsk.”
So it had come at last.
Nam Goong Ho rose with an annoyed expression.
“Seol, I must be alone for a while. Will you be alright?”
At those words, Hong Seol’s face fell.
‘She seems worried that those rascals might burst in when I’m gone.’
For reasons I couldn’t fathom, Hong Seol showed an unusual fear of Huk and Jeok.
I was grateful to see her relying on me, yet at the same time felt sorry for her.
Nam Goong Ho spoke softly, as if to comfort Hong Seol.
“As for Huk and Jeok, there is nothing to worry about. I’ve instructed the Master of Chang Cheon Pavilion, so they should be training at the Training Ground by now.”
The child’s face brightened just a little.
“Play alone for a moment. I’ll be back within half a double hour.”
* * *
The atmosphere of the Patriarch’s Residence without its master had grown heavy. It was clear whose fault that was.
Nam Goong Ho, sitting in the highest seat and holding a teacup.
Unlike the elders, who at least maintained a respectful posture with hands clasped, he made no effort to contain his aura.
His displeasure was laid bare without filter.
The elders arrayed before him exchanged glances.
‘It seems the Grand Patriarch’s mood is particularly foul today?’
‘His aura is twice as fierce as usual.’
I had hurried over just half an hour ago after hearing reports that the Grand Patriarch was in good spirits.
‘Yet why does his expression seem so…?’
Everyone stood frozen in bewilderment, their eyes darting nervously about.
Among them, the eldest-looking man stepped forward.
Nam Goong Mu Young—a man of less than five feet in stature, his frame bent and weathered with age—was the most influential elder of the Nam Goong Family.
He wielded the greatest power among all the family’s elders.

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