A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 179
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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 179
In the moment Je Gal Seon flinched at those eyes—eyes that seemed ready to carve through flesh itself with merciless precision.
“Mother, I’m scared of that person…”
Myo Ga Ryung whimpered softly.
At that, Dang Song Baek’s gaze shifted toward the child’s small head. Myo Ga Ryung, seized by fear, was on the verge of tears.
Moreover, Myo Ga Ryung, who had been raised as the heir to the Myo Family Estate, knew nothing of restraint.
“That person is strange, Mother!”
Dang Song Baek’s hand moved toward his sleeve.
He was reaching for a hidden blade—an instinctive gesture learned from the Dang Family.
“Wait, please!”
Je Gal Seon, suddenly gripped by terror, hastily dismounted.
In the same motion, she bowed deeply and pressed down on the back of Myo Ga Ryung’s head, forcing her to the ground.
“Ugh…”
Startled, Myo Ga Ryung could not utter a word.
“F-forgive our rudeness. The Heavenly Demon’s Consort and her daughter Myo Ga Ryung pay respects to Dok Ryung Ma Gun…”
Though the weather was not hot, beads of sweat fell from Je Gal Seon’s forehead, leaving dark marks upon the ground.
“…”
Whether satisfied with the greeting or not, Dang Song Baek—or rather, Dok Ryung Ma Gun—simply turned his horse’s head backward without further comment.
“Follow me.”
“Where… where are we going?”
“To one who shall grant you the strength and nobility you so desperately sought.”
“Yes…? What do you mean?”
A sinister smile played at the corners of Dang Song Baek’s mouth.
“Indeed. The Heavenly Demon shall soon awaken.”
“But Dok Ryung Ma Gun! Surely the supply of Improved Crimson Elixir is insufficient for the Heavenly Demon to awaken at this time…”
Improved Crimson Elixir.
It was originally a refined version of the “Crimson Elixir,” which was made by extracting human fingernails and toenails to alleviate the suffering of demonic cultivation.
However, in the past Great Demonic War, it proved useless against the mysterious poison that had intoxicated the Heavenly Demon, who was said to be immune to all toxins.
For this reason, the Heavenly Demon had slumbered for a long time.
In a deep ravine of Xinjiang, in a place called Cheon Ma Dae Chong.
The reason the Demonic Cult had not awakened the Heavenly Demon was simple: it was certain that upon awakening, he would suffer excruciating agony.
Pain so severe that upon opening his eyes, he would destroy everything around him.
Thus, records remained in the Demonic Cult of having awakened the Heavenly Demon several times, only to put him back to sleep.
Truly, this was the effect of the poison created by the poison masters of the Sichuan Tang Family, who had risked their lives for it.
But when the brilliant prodigy Dang Song Baek joined the Demonic Cult, a new path opened.
He had synthesized the knowledge of poisons from the Sichuan Tang Family, creating a powerful elixir called the Improved Crimson Elixir.
A terrible medicine made from children as its material.
“I heard that problems arose in Anhui and Ho Buk recently, making it difficult to procure materials for the time being.”
At Je Gal Seon’s words, Dang Song Baek burst into laughter.
“Hehe, that is true. But it seems the shortage shall soon be remedied.”
His narrowed eyes fixed upon Myo Ga Ryung’s frightened face.
The precious heir of the Myo Family Estate, raised on every elixir and tonic imaginable.
And Je Gal Seon’s only daughter.
Unaware of this, Je Gal Seon urged Myo Ga Ryung forward with a bright smile.
“Come now, Ga Ryung! Soon we’ll bathe in warm water and rest upon soft bedding.”
Clop, clop, clop.
The horse Je Gal Seon rode began moving again.
Behind them, the men’s eyes followed, mocking the foolish woman.
* * *
Flowers bloomed and leaves fell.
Snow came, and ice melted once more.
This cycle repeated five times.
Throughout it all, the Central Plains appeared utterly peaceful.
Hefei, where the Nam Goong Family had established itself, was no different.
The streets overflowed with people and goods, and even the beggars returned satisfied at dusk, their bowls brimming with alms.
Among all this, one place stood out as peculiarly prosperous.
It was the Wandering Minstrel Tavern.
One could hardly believe when Pal Shin Woo had lent their support—the Wandering Minstrel Tavern saw an endless stream of patrons.
They had even relocated to the Three-Story Pavilion.
When moving, they carried the blue cord that had hung upon the door as though it were their very life.
With more staff now, there were three Innkeepers and five Jeom So Yi.
“Welcome, honored members of Pal Shin Woo! We shall seat you in the finest spot on the third floor.”
Hong Seol, So So, and Yang Do Jin always received special treatment here.
Now, time had passed—they were no longer eight, but thirteen years old.
Well, except for Yang Do Jin.
Unofficially fifteen now, he had recently begun to show noticeably broader lines in his frame.
“Something’s strange.”
“What, what is?”
Deng Xiao Xiao’s eyes, sitting across from him at the table, narrowed.
“Yang Do Jin’s voice. Doesn’t it seem unusually hoarse lately?”
Cough!
Yang Do Jin gulped down the steaming leaf tea in an attempt to hide his embarrassment, the steam rising thickly.
“Phew!”
“Yang Do Jin, are you alright?”
Hong Seol asked, her eyes wide with concern.
“That’s incredibly hot.”
“Oh, well, now that you mention it, it is quite hot. That must be why my voice sounds so hoarse. Haha…”
“Your roasted chicken has arrived!”
Just then, Jeom So Yi rushed over with a plate, and the conversation came to an end.
But not long after, Deng Xiao Xiao tilted her head in confusion once more.
“Something’s definitely off.”
“W-what is it this time?”
“Yang Do Jin, no matter how I look at it, that’s not the body of a thirteen-year-old.”
I swallowed hard and shook my head vigorously.
“It’s just good development, that’s all.”
“No matter how well-developed, no thirteen-year-old has a body like that.”
My body was actually quite robust even for fifteen. My developed musculature couldn’t be fully hidden beneath the loose white robes.
Then Hong Seol came to my defense.
“No, I’ve seen people like that before.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I met someone like that at the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.”
Hong Seol gestured animatedly as she explained how much larger Ya Pae, the guard captain of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, was compared to his age.
“Hmm, I see….”
Deng Xiao Xiao’s expression showed reluctant acceptance, and I let out a silent sigh of relief.
It was just as I drained a cup of cooled leaf tea, my throat parched.
Deng Xiao Xiao dropped a bombshell.
“My betrothal has been arranged. To the second son of the Cheong Ryoo Moon in Ha Nam Province.”
Pfft!
I spat the leaf tea onto the floor, my eyes going wide.
Deng Xiao Xiao casually pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the tea splattered on her sleeve.
Hong Seol also remained frozen with her mouth agape for a long moment.
It was quite some time before Hong Seol finally managed to speak.
“But So So, you clearly….”
Deng Xiao Xiao stretched as if shaking off the past.
“Oh, I admired Young Master Nam Goong Baek. Quite passionately too!”
Then she sighed softly and slumped onto the table, her lips pouting like a duck’s beak.
“I pestered Father to arrange marriage talks five years ago, but he said he never intended to marry in his lifetime.”
“I see….”
Hong Seol nodded, feeling oddly reassured.
‘After all, knowing my brother’s condition and that his body isn’t sound, he would never promise a future like that.’
Meanwhile, Yang Do Jin, finally collecting himself, asked.
“But So So, you’re only thirteen?”
Deng Xiao Xiao shot back as if I were spouting nonsense.
“Only? Usually by now a betrothal is arranged, and by fifteen, one goes to her husband’s house.”
“Really?”
As a street beggar, I was ignorant of the ways of noble families and utterly bewildered.
“If you don’t arrange a betrothal early and let your age slip by, it becomes a serious problem in this world.”
“I see. So that’s how it is for young ladies of Martial Arts Families….”
As I murmured this while looking down, I suddenly turned to Hong Seol with a worried expression.
At the same moment, Deng Xiao Xiao also turned to look at Hong Seol.
“Huh…?”
Bewildered, I glanced back and forth between my two friends’ faces.
“Hong Seol, has there been any talk at the Nam Goong Family Estate?”
Deng Xiao Xiao’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, as if she were trying to pry something out of me.
“There’s no marriage proposal or anything like that… right? Right…?”
Yang Do Jin’s eyes held something far more earnest.
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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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