A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 129

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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 129
* * *
A sunny afternoon.
Hong Seol and Nam Goong Baek were sipping tea after finishing lunch.
“I think… I’m going to lose, whimper…”
Hong Seol, sitting at the table, wore an expression of despair.
The martial contest with Dang Cheon Gang was now only four days away.
For days now, I had been waking before dawn to watch the stars and falling asleep to their light. Yet I still couldn’t properly wield the Binding Chain Whip.
The absolute quantity of my inner energy was insufficient, and my technique in channeling that energy remained clumsy.
Hong Seol released a heavy sigh and spoke.
“Perhaps I should abandon the Binding Chain Whip and stake everything on the Heavenly Wind Divine Method?”
If I focused my remaining time on intensive training in the Heavenly Wind Divine Method, I could evade five or six of Dang Cheon Gang’s hidden blades.
But dodging all the flying blades coming from every direction was impossible.
And I couldn’t create a blade barrier like Grandfather Nam Goong Ho either.
‘Young Master Dang Cheon Gang’s blade technique, the Torrential Downpour Blade…’
After days and nights of contemplating how to counter it, I was wasting away from worry with each passing day.
These past few days, I could barely bring myself to eat even the Sichuan cuisine I loved so dearly.
Exhausted from training, whenever I lay in my bedchamber, sleep paralysis seized me without fail.
Most of the dreams were of me suffering a humiliating defeat to Dang Cheon Gang in the contest.
In those dreams, after I lost, everyone in the world pointed fingers at Hong Seol.
“Whimper.”
Suddenly recalling last night’s dream, Hong Seol’s expression grew sorrowful.
Nam Goong Baek gazed quietly at the dispirited Hong Seol before speaking.
“You can lose.”
“I can’t!”
“Why not? I’m telling you it’s fine to lose.”
“It’s not fine!”
“It is, for you.”
Nam Goong Baek, speaking carelessly, furrowed his brows.
“Is it perhaps because of Dang Yi Woon?”
“Pardon?”
“Are you worried that Dang Yi Woon won’t become the family heir?”
“Ah, that too, but…”
Hong Seol lowered her gaze to her toes and hung her head.
“If the Nam Goong Family’s name is dragged through the mud because of me, that would be terrible.”
A memory I had tried to forget surfaced in my mind.
The days when I was treated as a disgrace to the Myo Ga Jang family.
‘If I’m treated that way again at the Nam Goong Family, what will I do…’
Even though two masters had each poured half a lifetime’s cultivation into correcting my Yin-Yang Severed Meridians, if I proved useless.
The very thought made my heart sink with dread.
Nam Goong Baek caught the hint and shook his head, speaking up.
“You’re fine as you are…”
Before he could finish, someone poked their head through the doorway.
“Seol Ah!”
It was the beggar boy Yang Do Jin. His dark eyes sparkled with excitement.
He called out Hong Seol’s alias once more.
“Seol Ah, let’s go have fun at the Market District!”
* * *
Yang Do Jin trudged along with his lips pouted.
“Why did the young masters of the Nam Goong Family have to tag along with us…”
My master clearly told me to lift Hong Seol’s spirits a bit.
And he even pressed several precious coins into my hand, telling me to go have fun at the Market District.
When I came to my senses, there were already four of us walking together.
“Sigh.”
Yang Do Jin exhaled as he surveyed the uninvited guests.
Nam Goong Baek’s gaze was cold as he clung to Hong Seol’s side.
Dang Yi Woon looked bewildered, as if he didn’t understand why he was here.
Someone had probably ordered him to follow Hong Seol.
That’s when it happened.
“Oh? Do Jin, come here for a moment!”
Hong Seol, her face bright, beckoned to Yang Do Jin.
Before her stood a cart selling candied hawthorn berries.
The red fruits, glazed with glistening sugar syrup, looked beautiful.
In that moment, Yang Do Jin felt lightning strike his mind.
‘That’s it!’
That would surely bring a smile back to Hong Seol’s face, worn out from training.
Yang Do Jin pulled out a coin he’d been saving from his feather-light coin purse and held it out.
“Two candied hawthorn berries, please.”
At that, Dang Yi Woon’s face fell. He had rushed out on Dang Yi Mu’s orders without bringing a single coin.
“…What about me?”
Yang Do Jin looked at Dang Yi Woon awkwardly.
No matter how much Tian Tong Gai was the leader of the Beggar Sect, a beggar was still a beggar. He wouldn’t have given Yang Do Jin generous spending money.
Yang Do Jin hesitated, swallowing his words.
“Well… a young master of the Sichuan Tang Family shouldn’t be thinking of mooching off a beggar.”
“Sigh.”
Dang Yi Woon’s feelings were hurt as his cheeks puffed out, when a quiet voice came from behind.
“Move aside.”
“Brother!”
So you’re planning to buy candied hawthorn berries for me!
Nam Goong Baek, carrying Dang Yi Woon’s hopeful gaze on his back, held out a silver coin.
“One Dang Ho Ro.”
Nam Goong Baek promptly took the Dang Ho Ro and popped it into his mouth.
“Brother!”
Dang Yi Woon, left empty-handed, wore a dejected expression.
Seeing his distress, Hong Seol rummaged through her belongings and produced the last small coin she had.
“P-please, one more Dang Ho Ro.”
At her words, Dang Yi Woon’s face brightened instantly.
Only then could the children peacefully suck on their Dang Ho Ros one by one as they wandered through the Market District.
Yet Yang Do Jin’s efforts to lift Hong Seol’s spirits did not end there.
The Beggar frequently asked her a question.
“Should I buy this for you?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine, really…”
“I’ll buy it for you!”
“I’m really fine…”
To Hong Seol, who stubbornly refused, Yang Do Jin offered a small wooden carving of a bear cub.
Hong Seol’s cheeks flushed crimson.
“It’s… it’s cute, but…!”
Hong Seol was deeply troubled that Yang Do Jin was squandering the coins he had painstakingly begged for.
‘Yang Do Jin, if you keep this up, you’ll end up with nothing…’
Wait, he’s already a beggar, so doesn’t he already have nothing…?
As Hong Seol tilted her head in confusion, her eyes met Nam Goong Baek’s.
A chill ran down Hong Seol’s spine.
‘Oh no, my brother said I should throw away any gift from a man!’
Remembering his words, Hong Seol flinched and looked at Nam Goong Baek.
‘Wait, something’s strange…?’
Her brother Nam Goong Baek, whom she expected to be angry, showed no displeasure whatsoever.
More than that.
He was speaking to her in an affectionate tone.
“I’m going to visit that shop over there for a moment. Rest here.”
‘Is it okay to accept gifts from men now?’
Hong Seol tilted her head in wonder.
A short while later.
Nam Goong Baek approached Hong Seol, who was resting with Dang Yi Woon and Yang Do Jin at a street corner.
“Take this.”
He handed Hong Seol something wrapped in silk cloth.
Hong Seol accepted the bundle in bewilderment, blinking her eyes questioningly.
“What is this, brother?”
“You’ll know once you unwrap it.”
Inside lay a bear cub carving crafted from precious white jade and black jade.
It was incomparably superior to the crude wooden carving Yang Do Jin had given her.
“Huh, what is this…?”
“A gift.”
Jade, no less?
A gift given on the roadside?
Hong Seol looked up at Nam Goong Baek with a bewildered expression.
With his arms crossed and wearing a triumphant smile, it was clear he believed he had won against Yang Do Jin.
“Th-thank you. But this is far too generous…”
At that moment, Yang Do Jin gritted his teeth and dashed off somewhere in a flurry.
“D-Do Jin!”
Hong Seol’s face fell.
“What should I do, brother? I think Do Jin’s feelings are hurt.”
“…”
But Nam Goong Baek merely stood there with a cunning expression.
Yang Do Jin soon reappeared and thrust a finely woven linen handkerchief into Hong Seol’s hands.
Then Nam Goong Baek vanished in turn, returning with a silk handkerchief adorned with embroidery.
That wasn’t all.
Wooden rings were countered with silver rings, plain hair ribbons with ones made of silk thread.
“W-what is all this…?”
Hong Seol was soon overwhelmed just trying to hold all the gifts she’d received.
“Sigh.”
Yang Do Jin exhaled heavily.
His purse, already light to begin with, was now completely empty.
Catching sight of it, Nam Goong Baek spoke with an indifferent face.
“Seol lacks nothing. Now that you understand, stop this.”
“…”
Instead of answering, Yang Do Jin scrunched up his nose bridge with all his might.
Yang Do Jin, who had lived his entire life proud of belonging to the Beggar Sect.
Never before had he felt such shame at being a beggar as he did in this moment.
Twilight was falling around them.
Nam Goong Baek, savoring his victory, was about to suggest they head back when Hong Seol stopped in her tracks.
She stood rooted to the spot, gazing around.
“What is that, Yi Woon brother?”
Where Hong Seol’s finger pointed, hundreds of mysterious lights sparkled beautifully.
“Ah, that. Once night falls, they launch pleasure boats on Gang Naru with lanterns lit.”
Yi Woon, who had been downcast due to his lack of funds, spoke with confidence.
“Since no ferries enter the wharf at night, they launch pleasure boats for tourists and light them up.”
Instead of paying a fare, visitors could view Chengdu from the river.
After hearing the explanation, Hong Seol gazed toward Gang Naru with dreamy eyes.
“Wow…”
As night fell completely, the lanterns hanging from the boat railings sparkled like starlight.
Hong Seol spoke as if entranced.
“I want to ride on a pleasure boat too.”
Nam Goong Baek chuckled softly and answered affectionately.
“Let’s do it.”
As the two of them, hand in hand, began walking toward the dock, two young men quickly followed behind them.
“Brother, what about me? You’ll take me too, won’t you?”
“Hmm, if the young master doesn’t mind, perhaps I could also….”
The two penniless fellows gazed up at Nam Goong Baek with desperate eyes.

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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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