A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 145

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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 145
Maeng Woo Hee bowed her head deeply.
“Valley Master!”
A cry of anguish burst forth. The voice belonged to a man who served as the leader of her guards.
With her head still bowed, Maeng Woo Hee’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“Hush, Ya Pae.”
“Yes.”
The warrior called Ya Pae squeezed his eyes shut, unable to bear the sight before him.
“So… you wish me to slay the Human-Faced Spider and avenge the previous Valley Master?”
Tian Tong Gai rolled his head thoughtfully.
Their purpose in coming to Nam Man was to locate the Twelve Beast Martial Art to verify Hong Seol’s bloodline.
But to obtain the Twelve Beast Martial Art, they would inevitably have to venture to the Human-Faced Spider’s lair.
If Nam Goong Ho and I combined our strength, the Human-Faced Spider would be no difficult matter to dispatch.
‘And establishing a cordial relationship with the Valley Master of O Dok Valley wouldn’t be amiss either.’
The thought flashed through my mind in that instant.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was now suspected to be stirring once more, spreading its wings.
Soon, not only would all the Orthodox Martial World need to unite, but we might require the strength of external forces as well.
‘The Valley Master of Nam Man, the ruler of O Dok Valley, could certainly become a dependable ally.’
Just as the Nam Goong Family and the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace had been in the distant past.
“This old man believes the Valley Master’s words carry sufficient merit.”
Tian Tong Gai was about to give his consent.
“Um, Elder! May I say something?”
Hong Seol, who had been hesitant, suddenly stepped forward.
At that, Maeng Woo Hee’s brows furrowed.
Once Tian Tong Gai gave his permission, Hong Seol spoke without pause or breath.
“I oppose going to eliminate the Human-Faced Spider.”
“Seol Ah!”
Nam Goong Ho cried out in surprise.
The usual Seol Ah would surely have suggested helping the lonely Maeng Woo Hee.
He couldn’t understand why she was bristling so defensively now.
“What is your reason for speaking thus?”
“Because you haven’t been honest. Valley Master Maeng doesn’t truly desire revenge!”
At Hong Seol’s sharp voice, Maeng Woo Hee’s brows twitched.
“Are all the girls from the Central Plains so ill-mannered?”
With those words, the warriors standing behind her struck their spear shafts against the ground in unison.
Boom!
A thunderous sound reverberated through the Pavilion.
That alone was enough to make ordinary people’s knees buckle.
“How dare you speak thus in this place!”
The killing intent burning in the warrior Ya Pae’s eyes seemed ready to devour Hong Seol at any moment.
Yet Hong Seol continued to stare at Maeng Woo Hee with blazing eyes, her voice cutting through the air.
“It’s not revenge you seek—you want to obtain the Twelve Beast Martial Art, don’t you? Am I wrong?”
In that instant, Maeng Woo Hee’s eyes widened.
“What did you just say?”
“The Valley Master surely intends to merge the Poison Techniques of O Dok Valley with the Twelve Beast Martial Art.”
Crash!
Maeng Woo Hee shot to her feet, and the chair behind her clattered loudly as it toppled backward.
Though young, her bearing was as sharp and commanding as befitted a valley master—her presence cutting like a blade.
But Hong Seol, who had undergone rigorous training under Dok Bi Jo, did not yield an inch, meeting Maeng Woo Hee’s gaze unflinchingly.
After a long moment of silence.
At last, Maeng Woo Hee’s eyes faltered and fell away.
And she laid bare her heart.
“Everything you said is correct. The Twelve Beast Martial Art can only be mastered by direct descendants of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, but it can be studied and merged with poison techniques. That is precisely what I have been pursuing.”
“My goodness!”
“Extraordinary.”
Nam Goong Ho and Tian Tong Gai clicked their tongues in amazement.
But their astonishment was not directed at the O Dok Valley Master’s cunning.
Nam Goong Ho turned to Hong Seol with a question.
“How on earth did you deduce this?”
“Well… I couldn’t understand why the previous Valley Master would go all the way to the Human-Faced Spider’s nest.”
“I see.”
“I had heard that the Twelve Beast Martial Art could only be mastered by direct descendants of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. If the O Dok Valley Master was searching for it, there could only be two reasons.”
Hong Seol continued her reasoning.
“Either she was seeking a method to counter the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace’s martial techniques, or she was seeking a way to enhance O Dok Valley’s own martial arts.”
Since the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace had already been destroyed and posed no threat to O Dok Valley, the second answer was undoubtedly correct.
By now, Maeng Woo Hee had bowed her head deeply.
Hong Seol spoke with a pointed tone.
“If you wish to form an alliance, shouldn’t you at least reveal your true intentions?”
“Sigh.”
Maeng Woo Hee exhaled heavily before speaking.
“You’re right. The truth is, I’m currently in quite dire straits.”
The situation she disclosed was as follows.
O Dok Valley was a sect composed of five tribes.
Until the previous generation, the Maeng clan had maintained overwhelming martial prowess, allowing them to pass down the position of valley master without major incident.
But young Maeng Woo Hee was different. She lowered her eyes helplessly.
“Even now, the Council of Elders, composed of representatives from each tribe, insists that a martial competition must be held to select a new valley master.”
O Dok Valley’s martial arts were characterized by their lengthy cultivation period before reaching mastery.
Maeng Woo Hee, who had unexpectedly assumed the position of valley master, simply lacked the time needed.
Yet she could not afford to leave the position vacant and spend years in secluded cultivation.
As a result, the desperate solution she had devised was to merge the Twelve Beast Martial Art with poison techniques.
“My late father often said that poison cultivation and the Twelve Beast Martial Art were excellently compatible martial techniques.”
If I could only command these tiny venomous creatures at will, infiltrating enemy territory and assassinating someone would no longer be a mere dream.
Nam Goong Ho spoke.
“Indeed, that’s a sound strategy.”
With that approach, Maeng Woo Hee could swiftly solidify her position as Valley Master.
“If you all help us defeat the Human-Faced Spider and obtain the Twelve Beast Martial Art, I shall never forget this kindness, not for generations to come.”
Maeng Woo Hee rose from her seat and bowed deeply.
Her small shoulders trembled slightly.
Unlike her scheming moments before, her demeanor now was genuine.
Yet Tian Tong Gai’s expression remained dark. His heart wished to help the young Valley Master and repay the debt, but he hesitated to step forward.
“I’ve heard the Council of Elders of O Dok Valley harbors a xenophobic sentiment toward those from the Central Plains. Will they simply stand by and watch us intervene?”
At those words, Maeng Woo Hee bit her lip.
Tian Tong Gai was right. If we weren’t careful, we’d only invite accusations of dragging in outside forces to resolve internal matters.
It was then.
Hong Seol, who had been listening to Maeng Woo Hee’s explanation, stepped forward.
“Since the Valley Master has opened her heart to us, I’m more than willing to help you.”
That’s what righteousness and loyalty mean, isn’t it?
As she spoke, Hong Seol glanced back at Nam Goong Ho, who nodded approvingly with a pleased expression.
“I have a good idea.”
Hong Seol smiled brightly, her dark eyes gleaming with brilliance.
“This task will require Elder Tian Tong Gai to take the lead.”
“What? You’re setting this old man aside?”
Nam Goong Ho’s expression was one of disbelief. Hong Seol furrowed her brows apologetically and murmured.
“I’m s-sorry. But truly, Elder Tian Tong Gai must be the one to do this.”
“Hah!”
Nam Goong Ho shook his head in exasperation, while Tian Tong Gai’s face broke into a radiant smile.
“Very well then. What would you have me do?”
* * *
Dawn broke.
The atmosphere within the Council of Elders of O Dok Valley was ominous.
News of Hong Seol’s party had spread throughout the night, and as soon as daylight came, everyone rushed to the Council chamber.
“What does this young Valley Master take us for!”
“She brings in these mysterious Central Plains people, and then allows them to lodge in the Guest Hall without permission overnight?”
“If she’s going to act so recklessly, we have no choice but to demand a martial contest for the position of Valley Master!”
The elders from tribes other than the Maeng clan each voiced their grievances, and the word “martial contest” kept repeating—their intentions were transparent.
Maeng Woo Hee sat calmly among them, seemingly unaffected.
Yet even from a distance, beads of sweat were visible on her forehead.
Her lips had turned pale, and her fingernails dug into her palms from clenching her fists so tightly.
All of this stemmed from the fact that Maeng Woo Hee had no elder to back her up.
Just then.
“Greetings to you all.”
Tian Tong Gai sauntered in casually, with Nam Goong Ho, Hu Gae, and the rest of the party trailing behind him in quick steps.
“How dare you! These presumptuous Central Plains people dare set foot in the Council of Elders of O Dok Valley without permission!”
One of O Dok Valley’s elders, a man whose sturdy frame rivaled that of any youth, spoke with sharp rebuke.
Yet Tian Tong Gai didn’t even bat an eye.

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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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