A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 14

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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 14
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, Commander of the Changcheon Division.
A collateral branch member, he served as the head of the Changcheon Division under the Grand Patriarch’s direct authority, earning the epithet “Celestial Blade Immortal” for his formidable prowess.
The bear-like man swept his stern gaze across the Training Ground.
Without even radiating any discernible aura, the children felt their skin prickle with dread—as if even the invisible tails they concealed in human form instinctively curled inward.
“Today is my scheduled training session with Miss Hong Seol. I must ask you to vacate the grounds, Young Master Nam Goong Heuk and Young Master Nam Goong Jeok.”
Someone was missing.
Puzzled, I turned to look behind me.
‘Where did Senior Nam Goong Baek go?’
Nam Goong Baek had already vanished.
Only the wooden sword he’d been holding remained, leaning solitary against the wall.
The sight stirred a vivid memory—Nam Goong Baek wielding his blade like wind dancing across a clear blue sky.
I struggled to suppress the peculiar flutter in my chest.
It seemed it would take considerable time to forget that image.
* * *
Nam Goong Ho stared in astonishment.
Hong Seol had already emptied her second bowl of rice.
“I’m going to eat three bowls today!”
The way she stuffed rice into her mouth with bulging cheeks clearly showed she’d exerted herself considerably during training.
“Of course, eat as much as you like.”
Emboldened by his encouragement, determined Hong Seol pushed a piece of roasted duck into her mouth.
But it was short-lived.
The exhausted child began nodding off at the table, and soon her head drooped onto the surface.
“Ugh… I still need to eat more…”
Unfortunately, it seemed she wouldn’t manage three bowls after all.
‘It’s her first day of training, so it’s understandable she’s worn out.’
Nam Goong Ho chuckled softly to himself and called out in a low voice.
“Mae Ran.”
Mae Ran, who had been waiting outside, entered and lifted Hong Seol into her arms.
“One more thing—from now on, fasten the bracelet with the Lü Bao Qi Stone to Seol-ah every night before she sleeps.”
It was Nam Goong Ho’s thoughtful gesture to ease the fatigue of Hong Seol, who was just beginning her martial arts training.
“Yes, I shall remember.”
Only after Mae Ran departed did Nam Goong Ho usher in the awaited visitor.
“Come in.”
A large man standing outside entered and bowed his head.
“Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, Commander of the Changcheon Division, greets the Grand Patriarch.”
“Heh, yes. How was Seol-ah today?”
It was a trivial question, yet Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s expression hardened visibly.
“…Grand Patriarch, I humbly beseech you to withdraw your order for me to instruct Miss Hong Seol.”
He who had never once defied the Grand Patriarch’s command in all his years.
Nam Goong Ho’s expression grew grave.
“Why is that?”
“Hong Seol has no talent for martial arts.”
“….”
“First and foremost, her basic physical condition is the problem. At this rate, there’s no point in her participating in the martial tournament two months from now.”
“Ah, so that’s the reason.”
At those words, Nam Goong Ho felt his anxiety ease.
When Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had asked him to withdraw the order to teach Hong Seol.
I had secretly worried that his true reason lay elsewhere.
I had wondered if the pride of the Changcheon Division’s leader had been wounded by being ordered to teach a child who wasn’t even a direct descendant.
If that had been the case, I would have been deeply disappointed in Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s character.
‘If the problem is merely Seol’s lack of talent, then there’s nothing to worry about.’
“Don’t worry, Ui Gyeol.”
“But Elder! Teaching the young lady martial arts is merely…!”
“You were about to say it’s merely my selfishness, weren’t you?”
“I spoke out of turn! Please punish me.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol prostrated himself on the ground.
“Tsk, get up.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol rose to his feet, though his expression remained troubled.
“But if we continue teaching her martial arts like this, the young lady will surely only suffer.”
“Listen here, Changcheon Division Leader.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Have you asked Seol?”
“Pardon?”
“Whether she has any desire to learn martial arts, and if so, what her reasons are.”
“Ah!”
Now that I thought about it, I had never properly asked Hong Seol.
I had simply assumed she wouldn’t want to learn martial arts because it would be difficult.
Nam Goong Ho’s gaze drifted toward the distant horizon beyond the window.
“I have no intention of forcing that child into anything.”
Whether it be learning martial arts, remaining at the Nam Goong Family Estate, becoming my disciple, or….
Nam Goong Ho closed his eyes, his expression clouded with concern.
‘Yes, everything must be left to Seol’s choice. That is the natural way.’
“If you ask Seol and find she has interest in martial arts, then teach her the fundamental techniques of the Changgoong Great Flame Sword Method.”
“Pardon?”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s brow furrowed.
He could scarcely comprehend the Elder’s command.
To teach the Changgoong Great Flame Sword Method to Hong Seol, who didn’t even know the basic Three Talents Sword Method.
“But the young lady can’t even properly wield a wooden sword yet….”
“I’m not telling you to teach her how to wield it. I’m telling you to teach her how to evade.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s mind drifted to a thought that had crossed it moments before.
It was something Elder Nam Goong Mu Young had boasted about to me not long ago, as if it were merely passing conversation.
“Well, my Jong Woo has already begun learning the Changgunghyeon Sword Technique, you know.”
The Training Ground is where all eyes converge.
If he were truly one of the Eight Immortals, he would undoubtedly wish to flaunt his grandson’s rapid progress.
‘Two months ahead. Is the strategy simply to focus on evading Nam Goong Jong Woo’s sword path?’
Yet there was a flaw in that approach.
“One thing, Grand Patriarch—victory in a martial contest cannot be achieved without offense.”
“Heh heh, you needn’t concern yourself with that. Simply do as I say.”
This time, I nearly blurted out, “What sort of nonsense are you spouting?” But Nam Goong Ui Gyeol swallowed the words with effort.
“Yes, I shall remember your words.”
Though he had long since stepped down from his position as family head, the man before me was counted among the Five Heavenly Kings of Hwagyeong. There had to be a reason for him to speak with such certainty.
‘The Grand Patriarch surely has a deeper purpose in mind.’
To trust in that was the loyalty of Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, Lord of the Changcheon Division.
This very quality was precisely why Nam Goong Ho had commanded me to teach Hong Seol.
The next instruction would be even more incomprehensible to someone unaware of the circumstances.
“Ah, and one more thing—under no circumstances must you allow Seol to exert her inner energy, even by accident.”
“Pardon?”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol found himself uttering a loud exclamation without thinking.
* * *
The next day, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol arrived at the Training Ground with a troubled expression. Hong Seol, dressed in martial robes, trembled before me once again.
“P-please… be gentle with me…”
At Hong Seol’s ant-like voice, my lips tightened.
‘She was like this yesterday too.’
I wondered if perhaps my rough, stubble-covered face frightened her.
I suppressed my troubled feelings and tried to reassure Hong Seol.
“Sigh. There’s no need to fear based on appearance alone…”
“Oh my!”
Yet when I saw Hong Seol tense up at the sight of Nam Goong Heuk and Nam Goong Jeok peering through the doorway, I quickly understood the misunderstanding.
‘This child fears everything around her.’
A martial artist must possess fighting spirit.
Hong Seol had already hidden behind a chair far from the window where Heuk and Jeok were stealing glances.
“Sigh.”
My energy drained away completely.
‘A martial contest in two months… will it truly be alright?’
In fact, I wasn’t even certain whether Hong Seol learning martial arts in the first place was the right path.
But the command to teach Hong Seol came from the Grand Patriarch himself. I could not disobey his words.
‘Perhaps it would be better to discourage her here. That would be the better path for the child as well.’
Thus Nam Goong Ui Gyeol resolved to subject Hong Seol to deliberately harsh training.
With a stern expression, I placed both hands on my waist and spoke to Hong Seol.
“From now on, you’ll tie this log around your waist and circle the Training Ground a hundred times.”
After speaking, he watched quietly to see how Hong Seol would respond.
It was a kind of test.
Children learning martial arts for the first time rarely enjoy basic physical conditioning.
Even less so for the direct descendants of the Nam Goong Family. They had grown up watching Nam Goong Ho wield his sword as naturally as his own limbs.
After all, talented direct-line children had no problem beginning sword techniques immediately.
‘This child will surely pout when I mention physical training.’
After just one day of hardship, it was obvious she would claim she wanted to quit learning martial arts altogether.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol asked as if confirming something.
“You’re comfortable with this training?”
“Yes, yes!”
Hong Seol’s eyes widened as she answered with spirited enthusiasm.
The log Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had brought to the Training Ground was taller than Hong Seol and had a thicker trunk.
Yet Hong Seol offered not a single complaint.
She simply fumbled with the rope tied to one end of the log, wrapping it clumsily around her waist.
‘Why is she being so obedient?’
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol watched Hong Seol with confusion.
Unaware of his bewilderment, Hong Seol strained with all her might to move forward.
“Heave!”
But no matter how hard she grunted and pushed, the massive log wouldn’t budge an inch.
‘By tomorrow morning, she’ll give up. Her muscles will scream in protest after a night of soreness.’
But the next day.
Hong Seol appeared at the Training Ground without fail, dressed in a blue martial robe.

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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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