A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 127

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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 127
Moreover, Hong Seol could now even use inner energy in combat.
That alone made her a daughter-in-law worthy of the Sichuan Tang Family’s desire.
Just then, Dang Yi Mu’s lips moved as he glanced toward Hong Seol.
‘Transmission of voice!’
Nam Goong Baek felt a chill run down his spine upon recognizing it.
‘What on earth is the Poison King discussing with Hong Seol?’
How the food tastes?
Or perhaps how she’s feeling?
Or maybe asking about Dang Yi Woon?
Or perhaps…
‘Come to think of it, the Poison King isn’t married either!’
That was it.
The anxiety settling in Nam Goong Baek’s chest grew ever larger.
His head felt as though it might burst.
Ugh.
Nam Goong Baek pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose and tilted his head back.
Then, naturally, the words Hong Seol had spoken before entering the Training Cave came to mind.
“I will return safely no matter what, and I absolutely… absolutely must obtain the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Pill to cure my brother’s condition.”
The worry etched on Nam Goong Baek’s lips deepened.
‘I was relieved when I heard that, thinking she wouldn’t immediately return to the Myo Family Estate.’
He had been a fool.
He had overlooked the fact that there would be many lurking about, coveting Hong Seol now that she could use inner energy.
‘If I never recover, could I keep Hong Seol by my side forever?’
It was a thought that flashed through Nam Goong Baek’s mind in that instant.
‘But that would be cowardly.’
Nam Goong Baek sighed where no one could see.
When one worry disappears, another wedges its way into the heart.
Such was the nature of life itself.
“…I can’t bear this.”
“Pardon?”
Hong Seol’s eyes widened as she placed grilled eel into her mouth.
She had heard Nam Goong Baek’s words that had escaped his lips unbidden.
“What did you say, brother?”
Just moments before, Hong Seol had received a voice transmission from Dang Yi Mu saying, ‘You must not eat peaches today.’
She had smiled brightly in response to the snake grandfather’s concern that she might develop a stomachache.
But Nam Goong Baek, completely unaware of the situation,
“No, it’s nothing at all.”
He was truly at his wit’s end.
* * *
The next day, Nam Goong Baek truly fell ill.
Poison King Dang Yi Mu clicked his tongue as if exasperated and prescribed herbal medicine.
“Tsk, a child of the Martial Arts World coming down with an illness.”
At those words, Nam Goong Baek regarded Dang Yi Mu with eyes as cold as frost.
His gaze was arrogant and disrespectful, as if asking who was responsible for this sickness in the first place.
Fortunately, since the boy’s eyes were never particularly respectful to begin with, Dang Yi Mu noticed nothing amiss and let it pass.
Of course, there was one silver lining to being ill.
“Are you feeling alright, brother?”
The moment Hong Seol finished her training for the Sect Leader selection tournament, she rushed to Nam Goong Baek’s side.
She brushed aside Yang Do Jin’s pleas to play and Dang Yi Woon’s suggestions to research methods of countering Dang Cheon Gang’s martial techniques.
“I’ve told you, if you kick off your blankets like that because you’re hot, they’re ruined!”
On that sweltering summer day, as Hong Seol’s small hands tucked the blanket snugly up to his neck, Nam Goong Baek’s heart melted away.
‘Perhaps… sometimes… being ill isn’t so bad after all.’
Satisfied with his feelings, Nam Goong Baek decided to indulge in a little childishness for the first time in ages.
“…I think I might have a fever.”
“A fever?”
Hong Seol reached out her small hand and pressed it simultaneously against Nam Goong Baek’s forehead and her own.
His forehead was cool to the touch.
It was only natural.
Dang Yi Mu had prescribed herbal medicine with uncanny precision to bring down the fever.
“Hmm… it seems fine, but…”
Hong Seol tilted her head in confusion and gently swept her small palm across Nam Goong Baek’s eyelids, closing them.
“Sleep now, brother!”
The soft touch of her palm against the tips of his long lashes felt wonderful.
From there wafted the fragrance of white peony, and somehow that scent eased his heart, causing Nam Goong Baek to act spoiled without thinking.
“I don’t think I can fall asleep unless you stay with me.”
At those words, Hong Seol giggled and settled herself beside his bedchamber.
“I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep.”
Shortly after, Nam Goong Baek’s breathing became rhythmic and steady.
The moment Hong Seol confirmed this, she hurried out of the Guest Hall.
After martial training and visiting her ailing brother.
It had been a long day, but Hong Seol still had tasks remaining.
* * *
“I’ve come to visit Dang Bo Young.”
Hong Seol peeked her head through the doorway, cradling an armful of peonies she’d had a servant purchase.
…!
A Ran, who had been guarding the Quarters, broke into an infinitely delighted smile.
A Ran sprang to her feet and guided Hong Seol toward Dang Bo Young’s bedchamber.
Dang Bo Young, with her neatly trimmed bangs cut in a straight line, still bore a pallid complexion.
Dang Yi Mu’s words that it would take a full year for complete recovery seemed to be proving true.
“So you’re Hong Seol.”
Dang Bo Young, seated on the bedchamber, gestured weakly for her to come closer.
“Here, please take this. It’s a gift!”
Hong Seol thrust forward a bundle of peonies, then flinched and stepped back.
‘Right, they said you shouldn’t keep flowers in the sickbed when someone’s been poisoned….’
The face of Dang Song Baek, the Poison Sect Master, who had spoken those words, surfaced vividly in my mind.
That expression of endless sorrow he’d worn.
Suddenly, fear gripped me.
‘Did I bring these flowers and inadvertently stir up painful memories for Dang Bo Young?’
Worried, Hong Seol’s words faltered.
“I, I… I’m sorry. I forgot about the flowers….”
Just then, the bundle grew light in my hands.
Dang Bo Young had taken the peonies from me.
Dang Bo Young gazed at my anxious face and smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry. The poison that afflicted me has already been identified. I know peonies pose no problem.”
At those words, Hong Seol nodded with a brightened face.
“Ah… yes!”
What a relief.
That Miss Dang Bo Young could smile.
Before I knew it, I was smiling alongside her.
“Thank you.”
A clear voice rang out. Hong Seol found herself responding reflexively.
“Yes?”
“I heard you’ve made great contributions to the Dang Sect.”
She must have been referring to exposing the crimes of Dang Song Baek, Dang Bo Young’s own father.
“Ah… that was….”
Hong Seol, at a loss, felt her face flush.
Watching her reaction, Dang Bo Young spoke.
“I heard you’re eight years old. Is that right?”
An unexpected question about age.
She was clearly changing the subject to put me at ease.
“Yes? Yes, that’s right. I’m eight years old.”
“I’m nine. So would you call me older sister?”
“Older sister…?”
This was the first time I’d ever called anyone older sister.
As the words left my lips, warmth bloomed within my chest.
Was this what it felt like to plunge frozen hands into hot water on a winter’s day?
Of course, Hong Seol had no memory of ever using hot water in the depths of winter.
Delighted, Hong Seol broke into a broad smile.
“Yes, older sister!”
The two of them laughed together for a while, sharing topics that only girls their age could discuss.
Whether she’d ever fought with a friend, what kind of hairpins would suit her green robe—that sort of thing.
How much time had passed like that?
Dang Bo Young spoke as Servant A Ran poured the tea she’d brought.
“I want to repay the debt I owe you. That’s why I’m asking….”
Hong Seol, who had been taking a big bite of the sweet red bean glutinous rice cake while Grandfather was away, opened her eyes wide.
It was because Dang Bo Young’s face looking at her seemed quite serious.
“You’ve only seen the successors of the Dang Sect—Dang Cheon Gang, his twin siblings, and Yi Woon, right?”
“Yes….”
At the words that followed, Hong Seol couldn’t help but tense up.
“Who do you think is the strongest among them?”
“Hmm….”
In that moment, what came to mind was Yi Woon’s image of boldly standing against the Ghost Soul Demon.
His quick reflexes in feigning a trembling hand to deceive the Ghost Soul Demon. And his judgment in coordinating attacks with Nam Goong Baek was remarkable to behold.
In contrast, I’d never witnessed Dang Cheon Gang’s abilities firsthand.
‘Since Young Master Dang Cheon Gang is rather stocky, his movements probably seem sluggish.’
Having finished her thoughts, Hong Seol declared confidently.
“Of course the strongest is Yi Woon!”
Before Hong Seol could even finish speaking, Dang Bo Young cut her off sharply.
“No, I think it’s Dang Cheon Gang.”
“What?”
At the unexpected answer, Hong Seol blinked her eyes.
Dang Bo Young spoke with a serious gaze.
“You know there was a selection tournament for the Young Master before you came to the Dang Sect, right?”
Hong Seol nodded.
“The abilities Yi Woon and Dang Cheon Gang displayed there were nearly equal, but… in my opinion, the one who stood out the most was Dang Cheon Gang.”
Dang Bo Young’s eyes deepened as he recalled the past.
“You see, Dang Cheon Gang is a genius at lightness of body.”
Lightness of body meant making oneself weightless.
‘I thought his agility might be somewhat lacking from what I could see….’
So that wasn’t it.
Hong Seol was startled to learn of Dang Cheon Gang’s hidden strength.
“He uses that to throw his blades from unexpected places. People call that technique the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Blade.”
A technique combining lightness of body and hidden weapons—the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Blade.
It meant a fierce rain of blossoms.
Hong Seol’s face darkened.
Despite its beautiful name, it was clearly a martial art not easily countered.
There was an enormous difference between dodging projectiles thrown from a stationary position and dodging them while the attacker moved.
“The sight of Dang Cheon Gang’s blades attacking from all directions is almost reminiscent of the Ten Thousand Flowers Falling Rain.”
The Ten Thousand Flowers Falling Rain was a secret technique of the Sichuan Tang Family.
It meant that countless hidden projectiles would descend from all directions like flower petals falling from the heavens.
To speak of a technique comparable to that.
‘I, I’m still not even accustomed to using inner energy—what am I to do?’
Hong Seol’s heart filled with worry as the match with Dang Cheon Gang drew near.
Seeing this, Dang Bo Young broke into a grin.
“That’s why I’m going to teach you the surefire method I’ve been researching all this time.”
As Dang Bo Young gestured, Servant A Ran came straining under the weight of something she carried.

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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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