A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 184

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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 184
“Yes, I heard you.”
Hong Seol steeled herself and spoke.
“Something’s wrong with my brother’s body? Is it true?”
Nam Goong Baek remained silent for a long moment before exhaling his answer.
“…Yes.”
“Since when exactly…!”
“Not long ago.”
“Yet you still sparred with Yi Woon?”
Nam Goong Baek turned his head away, avoiding Hong Seol’s gaze.
“That snake had made a prior arrangement with me. Since we hadn’t met in so long, I wanted to test our progress against each other.”
His silver eyelashes trembled faintly.
“Though I’ve been coughing up blood for the past half-month.”
Cough, cough!
A fit of coughing suddenly seized him. Nam Goong Baek gripped the edge of the table with one hand and brought a handkerchief to his lips.
Soon, crimson stains bloomed across the fabric.
“Brother! Let me call someone….”
Nam Goong Baek waved his hand urgently. The coughing subsided quickly, but his face remained pallid.
“You know well enough that it’s pointless.”
He laughed weakly.
“When I turn twenty, the medicinal poison will devour my vital energy regardless. There’s nothing strange about some of it leaking out early. In fact….”
He drew a deep breath and forced brightness into his voice.
“Shouldn’t I be grateful that I’ve remained healthy until now?”
“You should show yourself to the Medicine Master right away…!”
“Enough. You know as well as I do, Seol.”
That there’s no other way to treat it even if they knew.
“I know my own body. For now…I’m still fine.”
When I turn twenty, I can’t make any promises then.
Nam Goong Baek rose from his seat with a bitter smile and gazed toward the distance.
It was merely a pretense to avoid Hong Seol’s eyes.
If he looked any longer, he feared Seol would cry again.
“I have no regrets. Thanks to this, I’ve created many joyful memories with you. So now, create many happy memories on your own.”
…So that even after I’m gone, you can live on through that strength.
Because I’ve been happy all this time because of you.
“…Brother.”
Rising from her seat, Hong Seol lifted her small hand and gently touched Nam Goong Baek’s gaunt cheek.
When she was younger, perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered.
But this was the first time she’d done this since growing older.
“…!”
Nam Goong Baek was slightly startled, but he didn’t pull away.
Due to the height difference, his silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, tickling my forehead.
I whispered softly to him.
“Do you remember? That day when my brother told me not to receive the Chasing Blood technique, what I said to you?”
“I desperately wanted to become someone who could use inner strength. So….”
In Nam Goong Baek’s mind, the image of a young kitten appeared.
That day when she held her tiny fists—weaker than cotton—and couldn’t finish speaking, her eyes glistening with tears just like now.
“The words I couldn’t finish that day, I’ll say them now.”
“….”
“I will absolutely cure my brother’s addiction. No matter what it takes.”
“Seol Ah….”
“So don’t suffer alone, brother. There’s always a way for everyone to survive in this world.”
Nam Goong Baek’s lips trembled slightly for a moment. Then, lowering his silver eyelashes, he smiled faintly.
“Yes, I will.”
Nam Goong Baek didn’t believe it.
But he wanted to believe it.
In this small kitten’s words.
Dawn was breaking in the distance.
* * *
After parting with Nam Goong Baek, I caught a brief moment of sleep, then awoke with a decision made.
‘There’s no other way now.’
Five years. A full five years.
For five years, the Young Rats had pursued every lead about the Golden Cat Sect with all their effort, yet nothing had come of it.
“Squeak (We don’t have enough of our own people, so we’ve been giving millet to other Young Rats in exchange for rumors)….”
“Squeak (The problem is, Young Rats from other regions have such thick dialects that we can barely understand them)….”
We continued searching for information, but now it was time to activate a ‘different intelligence network.’
I hurried toward the Patriarch’s Residence.
As it happened, Nam Goong Ho, the Estate Patriarch, and Nam Goong On, the Patriarch, were there discussing important matters over tea.
Normally, no one could enter such a place, but I was no ordinary person.
“Oh, Seol Ah has come.”
Nam Goong Ho greeted me with his characteristically benevolent expression.
“Why have you been visiting the Patriarch’s Residence so rarely these days?”
Patriarch Nam Goong On’s tone carried a hint of disappointment.
“Is Father perhaps pushing you too hard with your training? If so, tell me anytime.”
He was offering to exempt me from training using his authority as Patriarch.
Nam Goong Ho suddenly let out a hearty laugh.
“You cheeky brat!”
Hahahaha!
Since neither the one scolding nor the one being scolded meant it seriously, light laughter filled the air.
“By the way, do you know that the Murim Five Families Tournament will be held soon, Seol Ah?”
“Yes, Grandfather!”
Hong Seol answered with conviction.
Of course she did.
The reason I had come to the Patriarch’s Residence today was to make a request related to the Murim Five Families Tournament.
“By the way, who’s been chosen as Dang Yi Woon’s partner for the Dragon Phoenix Dance at this Murim Five Families Tournament?”
Nam Goong Ho asked.
“From what I’ve heard recently, it hasn’t been finalized yet.”
“I don’t know who that snake’s partner will be, but thanks to our great-grandfather Byeok Chang Ho, we’ll have quite the ordeal on our hands.”
Hong Seol, who had been blinking repeatedly, finally spoke up.
“Well, actually, I’ve taken on the role. As Dang Yi Woon’s partner for the Dragon Phoenix Dance.”
“What!”
“Is that really true!”
Nam Goong Ho shot to his feet. Nam Goong On remained silent, but the way his hand gripped the porcelain teacup revealed the turmoil churning within him.
“Yes, it was a promise I made five years ago…”
Five years ago—that had to be when I visited Chengdu in Sichuan.
“Father!”
Nam Goong On clenched his teeth and called out to Nam Goong Ho, his tone carrying an accusation of negligent guardianship.
“That blasted snake of mine showed signs of trouble even back then!”
Nam Goong Ho’s eyes flickered with agitation.
After a moment, once he had cooled down, he grasped both of my shoulders firmly and spoke with resolve.
“Seol Ah, that’s merely an outdated custom. If you wish it, I’ll tell them this Dragon Phoenix Dance simply won’t happen.”
Patriarch Nam Goong On nodded in agreement.
“Just say the word. We only need the consent of three of the Five Great Families—excluding the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“And if anyone dares object, they’d better not show their faces!”
Nam Goong Ho exclaimed loudly in his excitement.
The elders of the Nam Goong Family, who shook the Central Plains itself, were showing me such care.
Hong Seol smiled softly and shook her head gently.
“It’s a promise, after all.”
“But, Seol Ah!”
“But, Hong Seol!”
“If I break my promise, it would bring shame to the Nam Goong name.”
Nam Goong Ho snorted dismissively.
“That name means nothing. Come to think of it, when I was one of the Three Martial Oddities without the family name, those were my freest days.”
These were the words of the Nam Goong Estate Patriarch.
But the current Patriarch, Nam Goong On, could not speak with such radical conviction.
“The family’s reputation is important, but surely you wouldn’t leave for Sichuan without our permission, would you, Hong Seol?”
Hong Seol quickly shook her head.
“How could I possibly leave for Sichuan without the elders’ permission?”
“Phew, that’s right!”
“Our Hong Seol never disappoints, haha!”
Relief-filled sighs and hearty laughter erupted from the elders.
But I couldn’t laugh along with them.
It was painfully obvious that both of them would oppose what I was about to say.
“Well then, what brings you to the Patriarch’s Residence?”
“It’s about the Murim Five Families Tournament….”
“Why are you being so coy about it?”
I took a deep breath and spoke without hesitation.
“Please announce to everyone that I am a direct descendant of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.”
“Seol Ah!”
Nam Goong Ho shot to his feet.
“That cannot be! Did I not tell you? The forces that destroyed the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace still haven’t been properly identified. And those who harbor grudges against the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace—what of them? Someone could very well be plotting to take your life!”
“But, Grandfather….”
“Of course I understand your desire to reveal your true origins. I know it must gall you to be seen as the daughter of a woman from the decimated Myo Family Estate, one suspected of colluding with the Demonic Cult. But is that truly more important than your own life?”
Nam Goong Ho spoke with unusual urgency, his words tumbling forth so rapidly that I couldn’t find an opening to interject.
It was Nam Goong On, the Patriarch of the Nam Goong Family, who stopped him.
“Father. Compose yourself.”
“Tch, blast it!”
At Nam Goong On’s measured tone, Nam Goong Ho finally suppressed his anger and sat back down.
Nam Goong On’s expression was grave.
“You must have a compelling reason for this, Hong Seol.”
At those words, I nodded carefully.

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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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