A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 16

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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 16
A matchmaker—someone who arranges marriages between young men and women.
They typically frequented places where eligible young men gathered, though occasionally they would arrive early to make a favorable impression.
Much like the matchmaker from the Deng Family Estate who had come today.
In fact, Nam Goong Ho had rushed to see Nam Goong Baek upon hearing the news.
“To push forward their precious only daughter so eagerly. It seems the Deng Family Estate desires you greatly.”
He was no ordinary man—a direct heir of the Nam Goong Family.
His appearance was flawless, and his mastery of both the literary and martial arts was beyond question.
Moreover, he would almost certainly inherit this vast Nam Goong Family.
It was no exaggeration to say that every martial artist in the Central Plains with a daughter had their eyes on Nam Goong Baek.
“Her name was Deng Xiao Xiao, wasn’t it? They say she’s quite fond of you as well.”
Yet even at these words, Nam Goong Baek’s eyes remained hollow and distant.
Receiving affection from young women was something he had grown far too accustomed to.
There had even been an occasion when the Emperor’s Youngest Daughter, who had traveled to Anhui, saw the young Nam Goong Baek and became so infatuated that she pestered him to marry her.
‘My situation is quite different, isn’t it.’
Nam Goong Ho, whose expression was somewhat stern, spoke in a tone tinged with jest.
“If this is already happening, you needn’t worry about marriage prospects.”
In that moment, words that Nam Goong Baek had been suppressing and holding back suddenly burst forth from his tightly clenched jaw.
“Then what does it matter? I won’t even be alive by the time of the marriage.”
Nam Goong Baek turned away coldly, leaving only those words behind.
The more he spoke, the more turbulent feelings churned within him, making it impossible to remain still.
It was Nam Goong Ho’s desperate call that halted his steps.
“Baek.”
But Nam Goong Baek did not turn around. He simply stopped in place.
“…Will you not take breakfast at Chang Cheon Pavilion tomorrow?”
Nam Goong Baek gave no answer.
He merely bowed his head and quickened his pace.
Nam Goong Ho watched his grandson’s retreating figure, his fists clenched, his gaze turning toward the distant horizon.
Even he, one of the Five Heavenly Kings, was powerless against certain things in this world.
His grandson, who had built walls against everything outside, was one of them.
* * *
Horizontal slash, vertical slash, thrust.
The “Three Realms Sword Technique”—the foundation of all swordsmanship.
“Hiyah!”
Hong Seol struggled to control the wooden sword, attempting to follow the forms of the Three Realms Sword Technique.
The Nam Goong Family’s training wooden swords had iron cores embedded within them.
No matter how much Hong Seol’s health had improved, the years of poor nutrition had taken their toll. A child smaller than her peers still found it too demanding to wield.
Thud.
No matter how hard she tried, the tip of the sword soon dropped to the ground.
A look of sympathy crossed the face of the Changcheon Division’s commander as she watched.
‘She can’t even properly wield a wooden sword, so why is she so desperate to learn martial arts….’
“Miss, shall we rest for a moment?”
He dropped heavily to the ground and patted the spot beside him.
“Huff, huff. Yes.”
Hong Seol, catching her breath, leaned the wooden sword against the wall and trudged over to sit beside Nam Goong Ui Gyeol.
After sweating together for several days, they had grown noticeably closer.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, watching Hong Seol crouch down beside him, struggled to find the words.
“Um, Miss Hong Seol, you do want to learn martial arts, correct?”
“Yes!”
Her answer came without a moment’s hesitation. He asked carefully again.
“Why do you wish to learn martial arts?”
“To become indestructible.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol nodded.
I see.
Miss Hong Seol wants to learn martial arts to become indestructible.
But why is she training here at Nam Goong instead of Shaolin? Is it because they don’t accept women…no, that’s not it!
Why is her goal specifically to become indestructible?
“Grandfather said that if you master external techniques to their limit, you become indestructible.”
“And what will you do once you reach that state?”
“At that level… even with just external techniques, there would be ways to earn a living.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s mind went blank for a moment.
“I, I see, Lord Changcheon Division?”
The girl seemed to be seeking confirmation.
“Well, yes. At the very least, you could work as a courier or a wandering mercenary.”
“A courier?”
“Someone who is paid to transport goods or people. A wandering mercenary is like a drifter who works for employers whenever needed.”
“I see.”
Ui Gyeol observed Hong Seol nodding and asked gently.
“But would you really do such dangerous work later?”
Hong Seol laughed shyly, a soft giggle.
“I’m not really a member of the Nam Goong Family anyway.”
At those words, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s chest tightened.
“Miss….”
“There are probably many people who resent me for eating without doing anything….”
Besides, he didn’t know, but Hong Seol was a cat-human hybrid.
She couldn’t remain here forever while hiding that truth.
“So, someday I’ll have to leave this household… I’m preparing for that day.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s words caught in his throat.
Hong Seol was right.
The elders were already treating her like an eyesore.
“Miss.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol rose from his seat and bowed deeply.
“At the very least, I will ensure you can remain comfortably within the Nam Goong Family Estate until you reach adulthood!”
So that Miss Hong Seol could emerge victorious from this martial contest.
So that one day, under the guidance of the Former Patriarch, she might attain a realm as transcendent as Diamond Indestructibility.
‘I will teach Miss the sword path of the Changcheon Division’s ultimate technique perfectly.’
His eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve.
* * *
“Senior, haven’t you noticed something strange about the Division Lord lately?”
“Huff, huff. Strange? What do you mean?”
One of the men training in the Outer Courtyard Training Ground collapsed onto the floor.
Around him lay others scattered like empty sacks, utterly exhausted.
They were the Changcheon Division—the Nam Goong Family’s renowned elite warriors under the direct command of the patriarch.
Their training had always been notoriously grueling, but lately the intensity had grown increasingly severe.
The moment they tried to rest, the fierce, bear-like voice of the Changcheon Division Lord Nam Goong Ui Gyeol would echo through the training ground.
“Is this a time to rest? Even people born with bodies far weaker than yours work that hard! Tch.”
Along with a look of utter disdain.
Whenever he left, he invariably assigned them tasks before departing.
“I’ll return in two hours—maintain your horse stance.”
“It’s not strange—he’s practically lost his mind.”
The man who had just collapsed made a circular gesture above his head with his finger.
“Huff, Senior.”
The sprawled man covered the senior’s mouth.
“What if the Division Lord hears such disloyal words?”
The senior shook his head and brushed away the junior’s hand.
“Hear what? The Division Lord is probably teaching that little brat in the Inner Hall anyway.”
At those words, the junior’s expression shifted.
“Ah, now that you mention it… isn’t that when it started?”
“When what started?”
“The training becoming so brutal. It’s definitely been since the Division Lord took on that little brat…”
The senior suddenly sprang to his feet, checked the identification badge at his waist, and began striding purposefully toward the Inner Hall.
“Senior! Where are you going?”
“I need to see for myself. What exactly is the Division Lord seeing in the Inner Hall that makes him return so utterly furious?”
“Senior!”
The junior’s voice calling after him echoed through the Outer Courtyard Training Ground.
* * *
“Miss, try using this.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol held out something.
It was the object he had been wrestling with a short sword for every evening these past few days.
“A training wooden sword?”
“It is no mere wooden sword. Try swinging it once.”
The wooden sword in my grip was remarkably light—unlike other wooden swords reinforced with iron cores, it could be wielded without the slightest strain.
After confirming the comfortable feel in my hand, I turned to Nam Goong Ui Gyeol.
“Oh, could it be that you carved the wood and crafted this yourself, Lord Ui Gyeol…?”
At my question, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol scratched his head with an embarrassed smile.
“Well, yes, that is the case.”
It happened in an instant.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“My benefactor!”
I rushed forward and embraced him. My small stature meant I could only wrap my arms around one of his thick legs.
“Pardon? Your benefactor?”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol was utterly bewildered.
“Since you have given me a sword, you are surely my benefactor!”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol jumped back in surprise.
“To call me your benefactor for merely this—it is hardly fitting. If you form bonds of gratitude so carelessly when you venture into the martial world later, you will find yourself in grave trouble.”
“…?”
Seeing me still clinging to his leg-like limb, blinking my large eyes in confusion, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol let out a deep sigh.
“You know little of the martial world, do you?”
I nodded eagerly.
It seemed I would need to explain the ways of the martial realm as well.
“I shall tell you stories of the martial world during our breaks.”
“Yes!”
My face brightened.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol smiled awkwardly.
This young lady surely regarded explanations of the martial world as nothing more than tales of old.
In reality, it would be tedious talk of sects and political circumstances….
A small worry crossed his mind—what if the young lady grew bored?
But Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had something more pressing to address first.
“Now then, take up the wooden sword.”
At those words, I lifted the wooden sword with a determined gaze. By the intensity in my eyes alone, one might think I was ready to strike down even the Heavenly Demon himself.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol raised his wooden sword and assumed a ready stance.
“I shall teach you the first form of the Changcheon Division’s Sword Technique.”

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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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