A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 152

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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 152
According to the text, internal strife had erupted in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace long ago.
It began when the Palace Lord’s young daughter collapsed after consuming poison.
The Ma Clan, a powerful tribe within the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, was identified as the culprit.
Though there was no clear evidence, that very absence only fanned the flames.
Fighting broke out among the prideful tribes of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
What had been a small snowball grew beyond anyone’s control, and ultimately….
“Does this story not sound familiar to you, Nam Goong Ho?”
“Hmm.”
In that moment, Hong Seol detected something peculiar in Nam Goong Ho’s expression.
‘Grandfather seems preoccupied with something other than Wu Hen Shen Tou’s final words.’
Tian Tong Gai continued reading the text left behind by Wu Hen Shen Tou.
Wu Hen Shen Tou had seized the Treasure Storage of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace amid the chaos.
And then made his way to a cave that would become his hideout for years to come.
This very cave was that place.
Tian Tong Gai furrowed his brow.
“So this cave originally had no Human-Faced Spider…?”
If that were true, it meant someone had deliberately released the Human-Faced Spider here.
“Should anyone in future generations read this, I beseech you to find whoever brought the Human-Faced Spider to this place and clear my name.”
After finishing the text, Tian Tong Gai lifted his head and surveyed his surroundings.
Throughout it all, Nam Goong Ho kept his lips pressed firmly shut in a thin line.
* * *
The sun was sinking toward the horizon.
The entrance to the O Dok Valley Estate was teeming with people.
Among them were Maeng Woo Hee’s honor guard warriors.
They waited with bated breath for Maeng Woo Hee to return from the Human-Faced Spider Lord’s Nest.
“….”
As the shadows lengthened, their anxiety deepened with each passing moment.
“Cursed old fools, throwing quite the feast.”
One warrior, his face rigid as stone, muttered while casting sidelong glances.
Among the elders gathered behind them, wine vessels and cups were being passed around.
“Ahhh!”
“Fine wine indeed!”
The sun was nearly gone, yet the Valley Lord still had not returned.
The elders were beside themselves with glee.
“Indeed. If even the previous Valley Lord could not overcome the Human-Faced Spider, what chance do these youngsters have?”
“It seems the Human-Faced Spider has once again filled its belly with human flesh.”
Upon hearing this, the warriors standing nearby flushed crimson with rage.
Sinews twitched in the hands gripping daggers and bows.
Oblivious to it all, the old men continued their idle chatter.
They were already certain that Maeng Woo Hee had perished.
“Then when shall we schedule the martial contest to select the next Valley Master?”
“Well, it seems wasteful to leave the Valley Master’s seat vacant for long. What of three days hence?”
“Hmm, is that not rather hasty?”
“Each tribe has already selected their finest warriors as candidates for Valley Master. Time should be sufficient, no?”
“Still, we ought to hold a proper funeral for the Valley Master first….”
“Will a funeral even be possible? We shall likely struggle to find even bones. Is that not so?”
At those words, one of the honor guard warriors could no longer contain his fury and shot to his feet.
“These cursed old fools, I won’t just—ugh!”
A thick, brown hand, broad as a bear’s paw, seized his shoulder and forced him back down.
The hand belonged to Ya Pae, the commander of Maeng Woo Hee’s personal guard.
“Restrain yourself.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Ya Pae’s eyes flashed like those of a predator, and the killing intent within them was palpable.
“The Valley Master instructed us to wait without worry. Do you mock the Valley Master’s command?”
The honor guard warrior fell silent. Yet Ya Pae did not stop there, his voice thundering forth.
“Any who dare insult the Valley Master shall have their hide flayed by my own hands this day!”
At that voice, even the seasoned elders present could not help but shudder.
“Sigh.”
Ya Pae’s gaze turned toward the path ahead, where no sign of movement yet appeared.
Though he had sternly ordered his warriors to wait, the truth was that Ya Pae’s own heart burned with the most anxiety.
‘Woo Hee….’
He quietly called out that name, which he had not spoken since becoming an adult.
His mother had been Maeng Woo Hee’s nursemaid.
Ya Pae’s younger sibling had been frail and died at birth.
Maeng Woo Hee, who likewise lost her mother at birth, was entrusted to Ya Pae’s mother.
A mother who had lost a child, and a child who had lost a mother.
It did not take long for a deep bond to form between them.
The previous Valley Master was consumed with managing O Dok Valley.
Thus, Maeng Woo Hee, left in her nursemaid’s care, spent her childhood living almost entirely with Ya Pae.
‘There were times I resented that, too.’
Ya Pae chuckled softly at the memory.
Once, the young Maeng Woo Hee, who could barely speak, had stolen his portion of rice and eaten it.
That day, Ya Pae had flared up in anger at the young child.
“Hey! That’s my rice!”
“Aba…!”
“What in the world are you saying!”
Seeing Maeng Woo Hee tilt her head as if she understood nothing, his anger surged within him.
“Oh my, the Young Valley Master is startled! My dear Young Valley Master, were you hungry?”
His mother came rushing over, cradling Maeng Woo Hee’s cheeks and cooing at her, and his irritation only doubled.
He had been robbed of his rice and his mother by that child.
Young Ya Pae cried out without thinking, his voice trembling with anguish.
“Who do you think you are! Why are you stealing my rice!”
Smack!
In an instant, young Ya Pae’s back burned with pain.
“Ow! Why did you hit me, Mother!”
“You fool, how dare you show anger toward the Valley Lord!”
“But she stole my sticky rice!”
“The Valley Lord is as good as your sister! As the older brother, you should be willing to give up that much.”
“Sister? What do you—”
At that moment.
“Oppa!”
Maeng Woo Hee’s voice, which had only sounded like babbling before, suddenly became crystal clear to young Ya Pae’s ears.
Ya Pae, who had been clenching his fists and defying his mother, lowered his gaze.
Round eyes met his, and they crinkled with laughter.
Ya Pae, dazed, crouched down to meet Maeng Woo Hee at eye level.
“You… what did you just say? Say it again.”
“Oppa!”
Older brother.
It was the first word Maeng Woo Hee had ever learned.
“Oppa… she called me oppa…! Mother! She called me oppa!”
“That’s what I told you. The Valley Lord is as good as your sister.”
In that moment, a strange emotion bloomed and tingled in young Ya Pae’s chest.
“So you must protect the Valley Lord by her side for the rest of your life. You are her older brother.”
“…Yes!”
From that day on, Ya Pae had never been separated from Maeng Woo Hee.
Except for today, when he refused to serve as her escort and ventured into the cave with the Central Plains people.
‘Woo Hee, are you alright…?’
He quietly spoke the name he had not called out in a long time, repeating it softly in his mind.
Once he spoke the name he had forcibly suppressed all this time, he found himself wanting to call it again and again.
‘Woo Hee, Woo Hee…’
Behind him, the oblivious elders were still chattering away merrily.
“What if, by some chance, the Valley Lord returns unharmed?”
“That’s unlikely, but…”
The elder whispered in secret.
“Then we’ll proceed with the plan we’ve already arranged.”
“Right, if we all insist on it together, what can that whelp do?”
“Yes, three days hence would be perfect for the martial contest to select the new Valley Lord, hehehehe!”
At those words, Ya Pae clenched his teeth.
‘Before you select a new Valley Lord, I will pluck out your necks myself.’
It was that moment.
“Ya Pae.”
At the sound of that voice reaching his ears, Ya Pae felt the same emotion he had experienced the day Maeng Woo Hee first called him brother.
“…!”
At the end of the path stood a familiar silhouette, alone.
He recognized her instantly.
A girl with a sturdy, compact frame of bronze hue.
The one I must protect yesterday, today, tomorrow, and perhaps throughout my entire life.
“…Valley Master?”
Ha.
Truly, how she made his heart race so.
A smile bloomed on Ya Pae’s lips as his strength returned in full.
Without turning to look back, he bellowed with a thunderous voice.
“…What are you all doing! Warriors of O Dok Valley, come forth and greet the Valley Master!”
“Waaaaaaaa!”
The roar shook the O Dok Valley Estate.
* * *
“Is it truly the case that the Valley Master avenged the former Valley Master’s resentment alongside the Central Plains warriors?”
The stubborn elders asked with wide, eager eyes.
“It is so.”
Maeng Woo Hee nodded and withdrew a cloth from her bosom, unfolding it.
“…!”
Within lay finger bones adorned with a familiar gold ring.
“Many remains were mixed together, so I could only bring this much… but once the situation is resolved, I intend to go with the warriors and collect all the remains of those who suffered at the hands of the Human-Faced Spider.”
“….”
For a time, all fell silent.
One of the elders asked with subtle anticipation.
“What became of the Central Plains warriors?”
“Ah, they….”
Maeng Woo Hee trailed off.
That was when it happened.
Thud.
From afar came the sound of something tremendously heavy being set down.
Then followed the cheerful voice of an old man.
“I had no idea the elders of O Dok Valley were craning their necks waiting for us like this.”
It was Tian Tong Gai, Master of the Beggar Sect.

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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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