A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 158

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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 158
Even after I said all that, Ya Pae remained silent.
His dark eyes held an indescribable conflict.
When he finally offered no response, Maeng Woo Hee’s lips pressed together with force.
“Ya Pae…!”
“…Fifteen.”
That was the moment.
Words that Ya Pae had been holding back burst forth from his lips.
“You must be at least fifteen years old before marriage. Otherwise, I cannot obey your command, even if it costs me my life.”
“Hmph, very well.”
Maeng Woo Hee laughed softly.
“And I have one request as well.”
“What is it? Speak.”
“Woo Hee, let me hold your hand just once.”
With those words, Ya Pae sprang to his feet.
As if emotions he had suppressed his entire life burst forth in an instant, his outstretched hand trembled violently.
“My, my.”
Maeng Woo Hee let out a soft laugh before extending her hand. And in the next moment, she threw herself into his arms with a radiant smile.
“Wh-what?”
“Unless you hate it, close that mouth of yours.”
“…!”
For a long while, all either of them could hear was the other’s heartbeat.
The merged shadow only parted after some time had passed. Reluctant, Maeng Woo Hee spoke pleadingly.
“Ya Pae, from now on, hold me like this every day.”
“That is not permitted. Today is the first and last time.”
“But I don’t want that.”
“Wake up from your dream. The next time will be the day you turn fifteen.”
“What kind of rule is that?”
“Once the Valley Master turns fifteen and we are married… I will hold you so tightly every single day that you won’t be able to breathe.”
“Tch.”
Though Maeng Woo Hee grumbled, her expression showed she was not displeased.
“It seems the meal preparations are finished. Everyone must be waiting for the Valley Master.”
The two of them, having noticed the smoke rising in the distance, soon departed.
And not long after.
“What… what did I just see…?”
A shadow behind the collapsed Stone Lantern revealed itself.
It was Nam Goong Baek, who had been hiding and suppressing his presence.
He barely managed to cover his mouth with one hand to stifle the gasp threatening to escape.
“Hu Gae mentioned there was a place for lovers… so I came to see…”
Nam Goong Baek, his face as red as a ruby, spoke in a trembling voice.
“I can’t believe it. I heard those two were like siblings…?”
* * *
That night, I slept under the stars for the first time in ages.
“Wow, the smell of rice is absolutely wonderful!”
Hong Seol bounded about excitedly alongside Yang Do Jin.
The warriors of Five Poison Valley were skilled with their hands.
In the blink of an eye, they kindled a fire with charcoal and set a pot atop it, cooking warm, fluffy rice.
To that they added grilled fish caught from the nearby river, and the aroma was absolutely exquisite.
The water buffalo that had carried Hong Seol lay contentedly on its side, chewing grass with satisfaction.
With my belly full and round, I sprawled out beneath the night sky.
Seeing this, Nam Goong Ho clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. A young lady from a prestigious family lying about anywhere like this. A beggar would ask to be friends with you.”
At those words, Yang Do Jin, who had been about to slip down beside Hong Seol, flinched and bolted upright.
‘Really, the Sword King himself. You’re friends with Master, yet why do you say such things?’
Yang Do Jin’s cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish in displeasure.
If discovered by any chance, he would be in trouble, but fortunately Nam Goong Ho seemed to have lost interest.
He appeared to have some other concern weighing on him.
As the campfire dwindled to glowing embers, the stars became brilliantly visible, pouring down from above.
Hong Seol lifted her plump fingers and pointed at the night sky.
“Look at that! It’s the Milky Way!”
Hearing this, Maeng Woo Hee sprawled out beside Hong Seol.
“Do you know the old story connected to the Milky Way?”
“No, I don’t! But I really, really want to hear it!”
Seeing Hong Seol’s sparkling eyes, Maeng Woo Hee became animated and began the tale.
“Long, long ago in the Heavenly Kingdom, there was a woman called the Weaver Maiden who wove the most beautiful cloth with incredible skill…”
Ya Pae, sitting in the corner, quietly followed the scene with his gaze.
Though his body was clearly exhausted, laughter kept leaking from the corners of his mouth.
Tap, tap.
Someone tapped Ya Pae’s shoulder.
It was Nam Goong Baek, the young master who had come from the Central Plains.
“Listen.”
Ya Pae, hearing the casual speech, opened his eyes with a fierce expression.
But Nam Goong Baek was unaffected.
He had lived his entire life as the eldest son of the Greatest Family Under Heaven.
“I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“But first, you’ll have to promise to keep this secret. Man to man.”
At those words, Ya Pae flinched.
There were three things Ya Pae loved most in the world.
They were none other than manhood, honor, and burning passion.
Ya Pae nodded heavily.
“I swear on the honor of the Namman Warriors that I will keep silent.”
Soon the two of them moved to a secluded place.
Nam Goong Baek hesitated before opening his mouth.
“About your relationship with the Master of Five Poison Valley….”
In that instant, Ya Pae’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head in shock.
“How could you possibly know that, Young Master!”
“Shh.”
Nam Goong Baek’s pale hand covered Ya Pae’s mouth.
“Keep talking if you want everyone here to find out.”
Ya Pae, barely regaining his composure at those words, struggled to calm his wildly pounding heart.
“How on earth did you find out?”
“That’s none of your concern. Just answer my questions.”
“What would you like to know?”
“…What’s the secret?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve heard you and the Master of Five Poison Valley are like siblings—that your mother was her nursemaid.”
“Yes, that’s true, but…”
“Then how could siblings suddenly become betrothed to each other?”
“Ah…”
Ya Pae’s words caught in his throat as he stared at Nam Goong Baek’s face.
His intentions were transparent.
‘That young lady Hong Seol called him older brother.’
Regardless of the circumstances, it was clear that this young master harbored feelings for her.
Just as he himself had once done in childhood.
‘But my situation is quite different.’
Ya Pae regarded Nam Goong Baek with a look of displeasure.
His refined features were like porcelain crafted by a master artisan.
Born as the eldest son of a Martial Arts Family, he would never have had to bow his head to anyone.
His wealth was obviously beyond measure.
And moreover… that aura.
‘Why must he excel in martial prowess as well.’
One could tell from Nam Goong Baek’s simple movements alone.
Ya Pae briefly resented the heavens.
But Nam Goong Baek gave him no time to breathe and pressed him further.
“Tell me now. What was the secret that allowed you to change from siblings to betrothed?”
“Tiger claw marks.”
A sudden surge of spite caused an absurd answer to escape Ya Pae’s lips.
“…What?”
“It’s true. She said she took a liking to the tiger claw marks carved across my chest.”
As he said this, Ya Pae lifted the beast hide covering his body and revealed his chest.
Four parallel white scars were etched across his muscular chest.
However, Nam Goong Baek was far from foolish.
‘I once overheard Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young speaking about this.’
Hong Seol favors men with refined features.
So just in case, he had his grandson Nam Goong Jong Woo apply a mixture of willow bark powder and honey to his skin every day.
‘It’s pointless.’
If appearance were all that mattered, I would have already won Hong Seol’s heart long ago.
Or perhaps that detestable Dang Yi Woon would have taken my place.
‘That bastard has a rather handsome face too. He must be relying on that as he pursues the Dragon Phoenix Dance with Hong Seol.’
Suddenly, Dang Yi Woon’s declaration of intent came to mind, and my chest grew unbearably tight.
Nam Goong Baek unconsciously muttered a curse under his breath.
“Damn that bastard.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
In any case, Hong Seol, who favored refined features and cute charm, would never be impressed by tiger claw marks.
“Is there anything else besides that?”
“Pardon?”
“Besides tiger claw marks, tell me another secret.”
Ah, he won’t let it go.
Ya Pae rubbed his nose and straightened his chest before speaking bluntly.
“Try drawing a line and treating her coldly.”
“What?”
What he had just said was half genuine.
“I did the same. Even though I was always by her side as her escort, I acted like an impenetrable wall. Her kind older brother suddenly treating her that way must have confused her greatly.”
Watching Nam Goong Baek’s composed face waver, Ya Pae continued.
“So perhaps you should also treat her differently than usual, acting cold and distant. You might even pretend to give your affection to another woman.”
Ya Pae delivered his final words bluntly.
“For what we can no longer have always feels more precious.”

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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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