A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 140

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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 140
“We came here on the day we first met too. Do you remember?”
“Of course I do!”
Hong Seol nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed.
“The carp thrashed its tail so hard that water splashed all over my clothes.”
That’s when my brother gifted me the silk robe he’d been wearing.
Hong Seol broke into a bright smile at the memory.
“That’s right….”
Dang Yi Woon, recalling that day, laughed softly in response.
Now that he thought about it, that rude carp with its tail-thrashing habit was undoubtedly Nam Goong Baek.
‘Why didn’t I see such a simple answer back then?’
But it didn’t matter anymore.
His heart had already made its choice.
“I wish I could go to Nam Man with you and Seol too. It’s a shame.”
Even after learning Hong Seol’s true name, Dang Yi Woon still called her Seol.
Hong Seol’s round cheeks grew melancholy as she thought of the parting that would soon come.
“It can’t be helped. You must inherit the position of family head.”
For that reason, Dang Yi Woon and Dang Yi Mu couldn’t leave Sichuan for the time being.
“…Still, I’m sorry. I feel bad toward you.”
“What are you saying! The Snake Elder gave me an entire bundle of antidote pills.”
It was such an enormous quantity, as if he’d emptied the entire Medical Pharmacy of the Sa Cheon Dang Family.
Remembering that, Hong Seol smiled brightly.
In the afternoon, Dang Yi Mu had held Hong Seol and spent two hours explaining the efficacy of each antidote pill.
This one is for scorpion stings, and this one is for bites from yellowish snakes that cause swelling around the neck.
Among them were also items that Dang Yi Mu had obtained by pressing the Sam Dok Ro.
‘Thank you, Snake Elder.’
Hong Seol silently bowed to Dang Yi Mu once more in her heart.
Dang Yi Woon, watching the carp play in the pond, smiled at Hong Seol with his eyes crinkling gently.
“What did you like best about Sichuan, Seol?”
At his question, Hong Seol fell into thought.
I had truly loved Sichuan.
The food was delicious, the people were kind, and the scenery was beautiful.
“Hmm….”
After a long silence, Dang Yi Woon quietly lifted his eyes and stole a glance at Hong Seol’s face.
Her cheeks were flushed as she pondered. Hong Seol hesitantly spoke up.
“…I was happy to become someone who could use inner energy.”
Was that too obvious an answer?
Hong Seol laughed awkwardly, a bit embarrassed.
Using inner energy was as natural as breathing for children of ordinary Martial Arts Families.
She felt self-conscious for being so excited about it alone.
“Ah… yes, there’s nothing more important than being able to use my inner strength again, haha…”
Dang Yi Woon deliberately concealed his disappointment. His crimson eyes trembled noticeably.
“Wow, the moon is bright tonight.”
He pointed at the moon with his elongated fingers, feigning indifference.
‘What am I even doing!’
Internally, he cursed himself thoroughly for his cowardice.
But Hong Seol wasn’t listening at all.
“Now that I think about it, there’s one more thing I enjoyed in Sichuan!”
Hong Seol met Dang Yi Woon’s eyes and laughed brightly.
At those words and that smile, Dang Yi Woon’s mind went completely blank.
He pressed down on his heart, which felt ready to burst from his chest, and barely managed to speak.
“What is it…?”
“Actually, this is a secret from Baek oppa…”
“Hmm?”
Dang Yi Woon’s pupils dilated slightly.
A secret even from his older brother.
What could she possibly mean?
“The truth is, I…”
Hong Seol rose onto her tiptoes and whispered softly into Dang Yi Woon’s ear.
“The moment I saw the Wongmyo painting was the best.”
The instant Hong Seol’s breath touched the fine hairs at his ear, Dang Yi Woon’s heart actually stopped for a moment before resuming its frantic rhythm.
Pounding wildly, at that.
“I really wanted to see the Wongmyo in person… but I suppose that won’t be possible now?”
As Hong Seol spoke with downcast eyes, Dang Yi Woon replied.
“Let’s go see it someday. Together.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Men from Sichuan don’t make empty promises.”
At those words, Hong Seol smiled radiantly.
The two watched the carp swimming in the pond for a while longer.
“Will the elders stop by Sichuan again on their way back from Nam Man?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure about that.”
At her words, Dang Yi Woon bit his lip hard.
Then today might be his last chance to see Seol before becoming an adult.
He desperately wanted to say what he’d been hesitating to speak.
“You know, Seol Ah.”
Dang Yi Woon gathered every ounce of courage an eleven-year-old could muster and spoke.
“Yes?”
Splash!
Hong Seol, who had been watching the carp splash water with its tail, laughed brightly again.
Dang Yi Woon barely managed to hold onto his consciousness before it scattered completely.
But the words he truly wanted to say remained stubbornly lodged in his throat.
“…I was really grateful to you.”
What a fool I am!
Dang Yi Woon berated himself. But Hong Seol, bewildered, asked in return.
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“Because of you, it’s as if I’ve become the sect leader myself.”
“Oh, come now. That was something you accomplished on your own.”
Hong Seol answered, recalling words that Dok Bi Jo had once spoken to her.
“So what happened today—I didn’t help you. You helped yourself.”
The Yi Woon she knew was someone who genuinely cherished both Sichuan and the Dang Sect.
Moreover, with his dedication to cultivation, he would surely reach even greater heights in the future.
“You’ll be a wonderful sect leader. I know you will.”
“Haha.”
Dang Yi Woon laughed, biting his lip.
His gratitude toward Seol Ah was genuine, and it was true that her words had brought him comfort.
But…
‘That’s not what I really want to say.’
I hated myself for uttering such irrelevant words.
Hesitating, Dang Yi Woon gently bit his dry lips before gathering courage to speak.
“Seol Ah, have you ever heard of the Murim Five Family Banquet?”
Hong Seol shook her head.
“Once every five years, the Five Great Families hold a banquet. Since it was held at the Dang Sect this year, the Nam Goong Family will host it next time.”
“I see…”
Dang Yi Woon took a deep breath and spoke.
“I’m going to become truly strong. So I won’t be a disgrace to you.”
At those words, Hong Seol laughed softly.
“A disgrace? You’ve always been someone I’m proud of.”
With Hong Seol’s words, Dang Yi Woon seemed to gain even greater courage.
“So, if you don’t mind… would you be my partner for the Dragon and Phoenix Dance at the next Murim Five Family Banquet?”
Hong Seol blinked her round eyes, her lashes fluttering, before parting her lips.
“What… is that?”
Huh?
Dang Yi Woon paused momentarily, never having imagined that she wouldn’t know what the Dragon and Phoenix Dance was.
But he had already decided not to stop.
Dang Yi Woon met Hong Seol’s eyes directly.
“The Dragon and Phoenix Dance is a martial performance between a man and woman, choreographed like a dance. But that’s not what matters.”
His eyes, reflected in the moonlight, were infinitely sincere.
“What matters is that I want to spend time with you practicing it. Just the two of us.”
“Without anyone else?”
Dang Yi Woon gazed at Hong Seol’s face and nodded seriously.
“Yes. Just the two of us. That’s what I want. What do you think?”
Her already luminous crimson eyes sparkled brilliantly as they caught the moonlight.
* * *
About thirty minutes later.
“What?”
A sharp voice rang out from Dang Bo Young’s Quarters.
The owner of that voice was Dang Bo Young, her eyes now twice their normal size.
She was so startled that her gaze seemed ready to pierce through her neatly trimmed bangs.
“To prepare the Dragon Phoenix Dance of the Murim Five Family Banquet together? Dang Yi Woon, are you insane… Mmph!”
“Oh, Sister!”
Hong Seol hastily covered Dang Bo Young’s mouth with her maple-leaf-like hand.
“What are you saying in a place like this!”
Dang Bo Young finally managed to peel away the small hand that clung to her lips like an octopus sucker.
“It’s fine. I’m of the Dang Family anyway.”
No, that wasn’t quite right.
“Should I be more careful since Father is a criminal?”
Dang Bo Young, having spoken those words, fell into serious contemplation.
Hong Seol’s mouth fell open.
“Oh, Sister….”
Perhaps the detoxification hadn’t fully taken effect?
Or maybe there were side effects from the Thousand Flower Blooming Poison.
Whatever the reason, Dang Bo Young’s tongue had become quite sharp lately.
Dang Bo Young, meanwhile, looked at Hong Seol as though she were being dense.
“No, it’s because you don’t understand what the Dragon Phoenix Dance of the Murim Five Family Banquet is!”
“Come on, I know at least that much.”
“Then what is it? Let me hear it.”
“It’s turning martial combat into a dance, isn’t it!”
Dang Bo Young sighed deeply, as if she had expected exactly that answer.
“Right, that’s correct. It’s turning martial combat into a dance. The representative successor of whichever family hosted the last Murim Five Family Banquet personally selects their opponent.”
Of course, the meaning contained within it was far more than simply testing martial prowess.

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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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