A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 123

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 123
At those words, Nam Goong Ho, who had been lying down, grunted and pushed himself upright.
His expression made it clear he found it equally unbelievable.
“That old man came here? The last I heard, he was in Hefei?”
“What, am I supposed to spend my entire life rotting away in some corner of Hefei?”
Tian Tong Gai, the Beggar Sect Master, was the true identity of the ‘honored guest’ who had come to the Sichuan Tang Family.
Hong Seol struck her palm with her other fist.
‘Ah! So that’s why the beggars looked so busy when we arrived in Sichuan.’
Word of the Beggar Sect Master’s arrival in Sichuan Capital must have spread around that time.
“Master Tian Tong Gai, it’s been so long!”
Hong Seol quickly offered her respects.
But something felt off about Tian Tong Gai’s demeanor. He seemed reluctant to meet her eyes.
“Ahem, yes.”
Unlike their last meeting, when he had rambled on unprompted, his response was brief.
‘Does he feel apologetic about something toward me?’
Hong Seol tilted her head in confusion, but soon abandoned the thought.
A familiar face had appeared from behind Tian Tong Gai.
It was Yang Do Jin—a scruffy beggar boy with a green bamboo staff tucked into the rope at his waist.
As all eyes turned to Yang Do Jin, Tian Tong Gai spoke.
“This boy is my disciple. I brought him along to show him a bit of the wider world.”
Yang Do Jin, visibly nervous, cupped his fist in salute.
“Yang Do Jin, a humble student of the Martial Arts World, greets the Sword King and the Poison King!”
“Do Jin, you were Master Tian Tong Gai’s disciple?”
Hong Seol stepped forward eagerly, then hesitated.
Suddenly, she remembered what Nam Goong Baek had told her.
‘He said I shouldn’t smile at men. Right.’
Hong Seol tried to suppress the corners of her mouth.
But seeing a friend she hadn’t encountered in so long, she couldn’t help the smile that naturally bloomed across her face.
In the end, Hong Seol gave up and asked brightly with a warm smile.
“Why didn’t you send word that you were coming?”
That was when it happened.
“You two… have been exchanging letters?”
At that cold voice, Hong Seol nearly jumped out of her skin.
A boy with silver hair and blue eyes suddenly emerged from behind Yang Do Jin.
The moment she saw him, her heart began pounding wildly—though she had done nothing wrong.
“O-older brother!”
Nam Goong Baek’s face was filled with betrayal.
“Letters… ah, letters….”
How had I not thought of that?
Nam Goong Baek furrowed the bridge of his nose and bit his lip sharply.
But that wasn’t what mattered now.
“What has become of the Poison Sect Master?”
Nam Goong Ho asked urgently. Yet it was not Nam Goong Baek who responded, but Tian Tong Gai.
Whoosh!
He suddenly hurled a piece of silk cloth onto the table.
The dark green fabric was unmistakably the green robe of the Dang Family, still faintly carrying the scent of white jasmine blossoms.
Tian Tong Gai rubbed his knuckles as he spoke.
“Dang Song Baek proved to be quite meticulous. And clever besides.”
The people gathered in the Guest Hall listened quietly to Tian Tong Gai’s explanation.
While fleeing, Dang Song Baek had discovered white jasmine petals clinging to his sleeve and without hesitation cut away the fabric.
Had he stopped there, Nam Goong Baek would have immediately changed direction upon finding the cloth.
But Dang Song Baek tied it instead to the tail of a horse that was grazing, then struck the beast’s haunches with all his strength and sent it galloping away.
Until one of the Beggar Sect disciples managed to calm the rearing horse, it had been running in circles through the streets of Chengdu.
It was only natural that Nam Goong Baek, tracking the scent of white jasmine, had lost Dang Song Baek.
“The Fierce Snake Squad warriors who accompanied us reported that they would inform the Dang Family Master and deploy a Heaven and Earth Net.”
Nam Goong Baek spoke with composure.
The Heaven and Earth Net—a name meaning the net of heaven above and the net of earth below.
It signified that the Sichuan Tang Family would mobilize all their martial power to ensure Dang Song Baek could not escape.
Yet Nam Goong Ho did not seem satisfied.
Considerable time had already passed since Dang Song Baek’s flight. No matter how intricate the encirclement, there was a high chance it would prove useless.
“Hmm… If that man enters the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, there will be no way to find him.”
Nam Goong Ho sighed deeply.
The moment anyone from the Orthodox Martial World entered the Demonic Cult’s domain, it would become a declaration of war.
‘A war between Orthodox and Demonic sects…’
In that instant, the weight of those four characters pressed upon Nam Goong Ho’s chest.
If fighting was necessary, he could fight. It was what he had done his entire life. He harbored no fear of losing his life.
But…
Nam Goong Ho’s gaze fell upon Hong Seol and Nam Goong Baek.
For some reason, Hong Seol was striving to meet the eyes of Nam Goong Baek, whose face had grown stern.
‘If such a war erupts, these young ones will surely be wounded as well.’
In the Martial Arts World, death was as common as flowers blooming and leaves falling.
Yet Nam Goong Ho wished for these children to face their final moment peacefully in their own homes.
After they had grown to adulthood and undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies, married, borne children, and tasted all the joys and sorrows the world had to offer.
To depart as gently as falling asleep, surrounded by those they loved.
For this reason, he could not recklessly suggest launching an immediate assault into the Demonic Cult’s territory.
After much deliberation, Nam Goong Ho barely managed to squeeze out words laden with conflicting emotions.
“First, we must inform the Martial Arts Alliance of this matter.”
The Martial Arts Alliance was where all intelligence from the Central Plains converged.
If Je Gal Hyeop, the Thousand Schemes Scholar there, existed, perhaps he might have a clever means to extract Dang Song Baek without triggering a war between Orthodox and Demonic sects.
They would also need to discuss methods for rooting out any Demonic Cult agents who had infiltrated the Orthodox Martial World.
“I’ve already sent out a carrier pigeon.”
True to form, Tian Tong Gai’s words came swiftly—news traveled fast with the Beggar Sect Master.
“….”
Each lost in their own thoughts, silence settled over the Guest Hall for a moment. Then Dang Yi Mu spoke.
“So tell me, what brings the elusive Beggar Sect Master all the way to Sichuan?”
“I had business in Nam Man and stopped by on the way.”
“Then why of all places did you stop at the Dang Gate?”
Tian Tong Gai, irritated by Dang Yi Mu’s relentless questioning, suddenly bellowed.
“I didn’t come here to see you, so mind your own business!”
Hong Seol felt her legs weaken at the menacing tone in Tian Tong Gai’s voice.
She suddenly recalled the wooden puppet theater she’d seen in the Market District.
‘Ah, so these three were once called the Three Martial Oddities in their youth.’
And the old grudges from those days persisted even now that they’d become grandfathers.
Hong Seol let out a small sigh.
‘Our Pal Shin Woo should stay on good terms like this, without all this bickering.’
At that moment, Yang Do Jin seemed to share the same thought. The two exchanged glances and nodded to each other when the adults weren’t looking.
Dang Yi Mu, undeterred by Tian Tong Gai’s rebuke, pressed further.
“Don’t tell me you came to see Nam Goong Ho?”
“How could that be?”
Tian Tong Gai answered as if exasperated, then turned his body. His gaze fixed directly on Hong Seol’s bright face.
Unlike moments before when he’d subtly avoided her eyes, his expression now seemed resolute, as if he’d made a decision.
“I came here to meet you.”
“M-me?”
Hong Seol’s eyes widened like apricot pits, and she blinked in confusion.
Soon after, Tian Tong Gai spoke.
“I’ve heard the situation. I will perform the Yin-Yang Opening Acupoint Technique for you in place of Nam Goong Ho, that old man.”
As he said this, Tian Tong Gai’s gaze turned toward Nam Goong Ho—a look as if he were regarding some useless burden.
“At his age, acting recklessly like a rampaging fool and catching poison from mountain demons.”
“Tian Tong Gai, you…!”
Surprise flickered in Nam Goong Ho’s eyes.
Despite the barrage of insults, he felt no displeasure whatsoever.
If anything, he wanted to prostrate himself in gratitude.
It was no simple matter for a master from Hwagyeong to resolve to diminish his own cultivation and perform the Pursuit and Blood technique.
Especially when that person was the leader of an entire sect.
Nam Goong Ho eagerly grasped Tian Tong Gai’s hand.
“Thank you, thank you! If there’s anything you desire, I’ll even offer you a gratitude token…!”
Sigh. Again….
It was the moment Nam Goong Baek quietly furrowed his brow.
Tian Tong Gai, seeming deeply uncomfortable, twitched at the corner of his mouth before speaking as if spitting out the words.
“It’s unnecessary. I owe a debt to that child as well.”
“A debt…?”
Hong Seol puffed out her cheeks, lost in thought.
“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t recall owing Tian Tong Gai anything….”
“Regardless, such a debt exists. Simply accept it as fact!”
Tian Tong Gai spoke with a hint of irritation.
No one knew that he had been burdened by guilt ever since sending Hong Seol to Dok Bi Jo.
He had only recently learned that Hong Seol had been trapped in the Underground Chamber and nearly lost her life because of his actions.
Though unintentional, the weight on his heart was unavoidable.
Summoning Wan Li Yi Xian had eased his conscience somewhat, but he still remained indebted for the favor of saving his disciple Yang Do Jin.
“In any case, worry no more.”
Tian Tong Gai spoke with a solemn expression.
“I shall certainly ensure that you can harness your inner power alongside the old master of the Dang Family.”

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