A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 163

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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 163
Clap!
Je Gal Seon clapped her hands at Hong Seol’s declaration that she would return to the Myo Family Estate.
Je Gal Seon’s face brightened with joy as she rushed over and embraced Hong Seol with crushing force.
“What a wise decision! You are truly my Hong Seol!”
Held in that embrace, Hong Seol felt a peculiar sensation wash over her.
‘This is strange. I feel no joy at all….’
This was the embrace of a mother she had once yearned for so desperately.
The heavy fragrance of perfume emanating from her collar was only nauseating.
Hong Seol barely managed to lift her head from Je Gal Seon’s suffocating embrace and spoke.
“Um, M-”
In that instant, Hong Seol froze at the words tumbling from her own lips and shook her head frantically.
‘I can’t. If I call her mother, I’ll be punished!’
The terrifying memories of the past came flooding back, squeezing her heart with icy fingers. Hong Seol’s eyes widened involuntarily as she blinked several times.
“I, um, that is, no….”
At the sight of Hong Seol flailing like a fish skewered on a spear, Je Gal Seon let out a soft laugh.
Even dressed in the robes of the Nam Goong Family bearing their cloud emblem, the girl inside remained the small kitten she had always known.
The child who had been locked in the storage room, hugging her knees and whimpering, desperately calling for her mother.
“Hong Seol, why wouldn’t you call me mother? Go ahead, call me freely.”
Yet Hong Seol still could not bring herself to speak.
Then Je Gal Seon glanced around and spoke as if troubled.
“The child has such poor manners that I had to discipline her quite strictly, and now this….”
Of course, not a single fool in that place believed such words.
Everyone knew how courteous and considerate Hong Seol truly was.
They simply held their tongues because they could not presume to treat disrespectfully the one Hong Seol called mother.
“Come now, I said call me mother!”
Je Gal Seon laughed as if delighted. Then Hong Seol spoke in a trembling voice.
“Y, yes, Mother….”
“That’s right, just like that!”
“Actually, Mother, I have one request to ask of you.”
“Speak freely. There is nothing I cannot do for my precious daughter.”
It was a boastful declaration. Hong Seol seized the moment and whispered into her ear.
Then a small wrinkle formed on Je Gal Seon’s brow.
“What? That’s a bit….”
As Je Gal Seon hesitated, Hong Seol pleaded with a voice trembling with emotion.
“They are the ones who saved my life…. It was my fault for leaving home without permission, but if not for the Nam Goong Family, I would not be alive now.”
Hong Seol continued hesitantly.
“The precious heir of the Myo Family Estate, the Hong Seol you searched for so long.”
“Hmm, ahem.”
The wrinkle on Je Gal Seon’s brow vanished in an instant.
It seemed he had become conscious of the Nam Goong Family members surrounding them.
“Very well then. These are the people who helped our Hong Seol, so it’s only right that I repay their kindness.”
Hong Seol’s eyes sparkled as she bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you, Mother! But I have one more request.”
“…Another one?”
As Je Gal Seon’s expression grew reluctant, Hong Seol quickly continued.
“Please give me just a fortnight—only a fortnight.”
Je Gal Seon’s face immediately darkened.
“…You’re saying you won’t return to Myo Family Estate today?”
Hong Seol nodded, her face showing fear.
“I only just returned to Nam Goong Family Estate today after traveling all the way to Nam Man.”
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
“I wish to bid a proper farewell to everyone at Nam Goong Family Estate who has shown me kindness.”
Je Gal Seon’s expression showed clear displeasure.
Hong Seol quickly pressed on.
Her voice was noticeably louder than before.
“I’ve only just returned from Nam Man today. If I leave now, I won’t even be able to pay my proper respects to the elders of Nam Goong Family Estate before departing…and I don’t wish to hear that Myo Family Estate failed to teach me proper etiquette.”
Hong Seol lowered her gaze to the floor as she added.
“Myo Family Estate is just as renowned a noble house in Anhui Province as Nam Goong Family Estate. And Mother, you yourself come from the illustrious Je Gal Family!”
“Hmm, well, that’s true enough.”
Je Gal Seon, unconsciously straightening her shoulders, acknowledged Hong Seol’s words.
Then she added, as if suddenly startled.
“However, the deadline is precisely a fortnight. I will come to fetch you after that time, and you will return to Myo Family Estate without further argument.”
“Yes, of course!”
Hong Seol nodded, her smile radiant and genuine.
It was only quite some time after Je Gal Seon had departed that Hong Seol remembered Nam Goong Baek.
She had been too preoccupied with Nam Goong Ho’s bitter gaze and Bing Yu Hua’s sorrowful embrace.
“Elder brother…?”
But when Hong Seol searched for Nam Goong Baek, he was already gone from that place.
* * *
Hong Seol tilted her head as she recalled the afternoon’s events.
Since there had been no word of him leaving the Estate Grounds, Elder Brother Baek must have surely returned to his Quarters.
The darkness of the silent Quarters, devoid of even a single light, weighed heavily on her heart.
‘Should I tell Elder Brother the truth?’
That there was a traitor within Nam Goong Family Estate, and that from now on, she would be gathering evidence.
The thought had arisen unbidden.
Hong Seol suddenly shook her head vigorously.
‘Get a grip, Myo Hong Seol!’
If by any chance her careless actions revealed the plan to the traitor, everything would be for naught.
‘I just hope Elder Brother won’t suffer too much sorrow during these two weeks…’
Hong Seol cast one last regretful glance before quickening her pace.
Soon, she arrived at none other than the Patriarch’s Residence.
Whether forewarned or not, Wi Sa, who stood guard at the entrance, silently stepped aside to let her pass.
“Thank you!”
Hong Seol offered a polite bow before stepping inside alone.
In the soft amber glow cast by the oil lamp, a single shadow swayed gently in the stillness.
As Hong Seol drew near, a calm voice resonated through the chamber.
“I have been waiting for you all day.”
It was Nam Goong On, the patriarch of the Nam Goong Family.
As I suspected, the patriarch knew without me even telling him!
A wave of relief bloomed quietly in Hong Seol’s heart.
“I told the others that Hong Seol wished to share a final farewell with me.”
But that was not all.
To be safe, he had sealed off the Patriarch’s Residence with a barrier.
He had confirmed through his senses that not even a mouse could approach.
Only then did Nam Goong On ask Hong Seol.
“So, what shall I help you with?”
The small cat finally smiled brightly.
* * *
A fortnight passed like an arrow in flight.
At last, the day arrived for Hong Seol to depart for the Myo Family Estate.
The Estate Grounds of the Nam Goong Family, which had been shrouded in sorrow, bustled with unusual activity from early morning.
The reason soon became apparent.
Nam Goong Yeol, a young master of the Branch Family Residence, had arrived with his son, Nam Goong Do.
A group of elders from the Branch Family and the warriors of the Black Heaven Squad, of which Nam Goong Yeol was proud, accompanied them as well.
It was only natural that servants gathered in groups of three or four, whispering among themselves.
“Didn’t the Former Patriarch issue a ban on Nam Goong Do’s entry to the main estate?”
“Yet he forced his way in, claiming he had urgent matters to report to the Former Patriarch.”
“It’s just an excuse. Besides, the Former Patriarch is away.”
“Ah, because the young lady from Chang Cheon Pavilion is returning home? He must be quite worried.”
“He’ll return today. The Myo Family Estate will arrive soon.”
“Goodness! It was already shocking that the young lady was a cat demi-human, but to think she was the Myo Estate Girl!”
“What if, I mean, wasn’t the young lady a spy for those dreadful cat creatures? Ack!”
The servant who had spoken ill of Hong Seol grabbed her own foot and jumped back.
“What’s wrong?”
“A white mouse just bit my heel!”
The culprit at her heel was none other than Jjik Jjik, the mouse demi-human Seo Han Eol, baring his teeth for the first time in ages.
“Squeak! How dare you insult my lord!”
Seo Han Eol, having uttered his brave cry, dashed swiftly toward Chang Cheon Pavilion.
The injured servant rubbed her eye with one hand.
“Wait. That mouse—wasn’t it carrying something tied to its back?”
“Get a grip on yourself. Are your heels hurting so much you’re seeing things?”
“No, but… I’m certain I saw something rolled up like paper fastened to its back.”
That was indeed the truth.
Seo Han Eol had a letter bound tightly with silk thread secured to his back.
It was a fresh letter he had just retrieved from the abandoned Guan Yu Temple.
“Squeak (Master)!”
Seo Han Eol had just reached Hong Seol’s lap after running and running.
“Squeak (I have completed your orders and visited the young beggar with a knot in his belt)!”
“Thank you so much, sir!”
Hong Seol, who had given Jjik Jjik a slice of cucumber, hastily unfolded the paper.
It was a reply received from Yang Do Jin of the Beggar Sect.
Just as the saying goes—the lamp beneath the stand casts no light—she had just discovered the very person she had been desperately seeking in the back alleys of Hefei.

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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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