A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 206

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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 206
Hong Seol’s large eyes trembled.
In that moment, Dang Yi Woon realized his mistake.
A blunder.
‘Seol Ah knows. She knows what became of the one who entrusted the Golden Cat Sect to her.’
And that tale was clearly far from hopeful.
Hong Seol’s already delicate shoulders were quivering visibly.
“My father has likely passed away. At the hands of that Jang Gyeong Hall Master Won Gwan.”
“What! How could that possibly be….”
“The Abbot interrogated Jang Gyeong Hall Master Won Gwan directly.”
Judging a monk’s transgressions was ordinarily the duty of the Precept Hall.
Yet this time, Won Gwan’s crimes were far too grave.
Because he had hidden the Golden Cat Sect, he had deceived not only the Nam Goong Family Estate but the Martial Arts Alliance as well.
As a result, the Abbot intervened personally, and Hong Seol was able to overhear the full account of events.
“…From the moment I heard that Won Gwan had hidden the Golden Cat Sect, I believed my father must have already passed.”
Her downcast lashes were heartbreaking.
“If my father had been kept alive, he would surely have come seeking to reclaim the Golden Cat Sect from Won Gwan someday.”
Silence fell over the table for a long moment.
Dang Yi Woon found himself troubled. The conversation had taken a melancholy turn contrary to his intentions.
‘I merely wished to meet Seol Ah’s father once….’
And perhaps obtain his blessing while I was at it.
‘What audacious thoughts I harbor about someone who has already departed!’
Dang Yi Woon shook his head, his jaw clenched tight.
“…I’m sorry.”
Dang Yi Woon barely managed to voice his feelings. If only he could, he would strike his former self.
“No, please.”
Hong Seol shook her head firmly.
“Are you truly all right?”
“Yes. Though I call him father, I have never even seen his face.”
As if to ease Dang Yi Woon’s heart, Hong Seol offered a gentle smile.
‘This little kitten is truly too kind for her own good!’
Yet Hong Seol’s next words did not sit well with Dang Yi Woon.
“Besides, I already have a family.”
Hong Seol turned her head aside, a hint of embarrassment crossing her features. Her soft cheeks flushed a delicate crimson.
Dang Yi Woon’s handsome brow furrowed slightly.
“I consider the people of the Nam Goong Family Estate to be my true family.”
“Seol Ah, that is not so.”
“Pardon?”
At Dang Yi Woon’s sharp words, Hong Seol’s eyes widened like apricot pits.
“…Not so?”
“There are only two ways for those without blood ties to become true family. One is to be formally adopted into the clan, and the other is….”
Dang Yi Woon, who had been explaining with such confidence, faltered.
“What is it?”
Hong Seol tilted her head curiously. At that, Dang Yi Woon drew a deep breath and spoke in one rush.
“…Marriage.”
“Pardon?”
The flustered Hong Seol blinked her wide eyes.
Though Dang Yi Woon felt his face flush with heat, he held her gaze without wavering.
“Master, the bill….”
Just then, Jeom So Yi approached but immediately leaped back, sensing the unusual atmosphere.
‘Ah, there it is—that very moment.’
The experienced Jeom So Yi had witnessed such scenes a handful of times before.
‘If he plays his cards right, he’ll earn my hearty approval. If he fumbles, that man will catch a slap across the face.’
Unfortunately, judging by the man’s frustrated expression, things were not unfolding as intended.
“Tsk, blown it, blown it….”
Shaking her head, Jeom So Yi began busily wiping the nearby table with her cloth.
Dang Yi Woon was still floundering.
“So you see, Seol Ah, what I meant was….”
Hong Seol bore a somewhat shocked expression, but with a pale face, she soon nodded.
“You’re right, brother. I was never formally adopted into the clan, nor did I marry anyone from Nam Goong, so…I suppose I’m not truly family after all.”
Though she spoke with composure, the sadness could not hide behind her drooping lips.
Frustrated, Dang Yi Woon ran his hand through his hair.
“…No, that’s not what I was trying to say…. Sigh.”
Dang Yi Woon was furious with himself to the point of despair.
He wished he could drive a poisoned needle through his own neck.
‘I just need to say that I want to be your true family for life. Why won’t my mouth open?’
He drank the now-cold tea repeatedly for no reason.
As the bitter taste lingered on his tongue, his dizzy head seemed to clear slightly.
‘That’s right—proposing marriage to Seol in this shabby inn makes no sense whatsoever.’
Today was simply not the right day.
‘First, I must obtain the Golden Cat Sect medallion, Father’s keepsake, and before I leave Deng Peak.’
I will choose a beautiful place that will remain forever in memory.
And ask her to become my true family.
Dang Yi Woon clenched his fist beneath the table.
Lost in his resolve, Dang Yi Woon scarcely noticed.
The troubled expression that had crossed Hong Seol’s face.
“Adoption or…marriage, you said….”
“What did you just say, Seol Ah?”
Startled, Hong Seol forced a bright smile as if nothing were amiss.
“Oh, it’s nothing, brother. I should be going!”
The two of them left the street after placing payment for their meal on the table.
Jeom So Yi came scurrying over, counted the coins, and let out a sigh.
“Tsk, just as I thought—not even a tip. Ah, if only some generous master from a prestigious household would walk through that door.”
The moment she began muttering her complaints.
Creak.
The sound of customers entering came through the inn’s weathered wooden door.
Soon after, several pairs of fine leather shoes pressed into the inn’s well-trodden earthen floor.
Jeom So Yi’s eyes widened to the size of fists as she cried out, spittle flying.
“Oh, welcome, sirs!”
The customers wore exquisite blue robes adorned with intricate cloud patterns.
They were unmistakably the group of ‘masters’ she had been so eagerly awaiting.
* * *
Hong Seol tilted her head in confusion.
“What on earth is this…?”
Upon stepping out of the inn, the atmosphere of the street had transformed entirely from moments before.
Arhat Monks with solemn expressions were stationed everywhere.
But that wasn’t all.
“Elder brother, did you see over there?”
“Yes, the Imperial Guard. I don’t know what’s happened, but we should hurry and slip away from the street.”
Only after entering the inn where they had stayed before could Hong Seol and Dang Yi Woon finally relax.
This inn was trustworthy, as it was operated by the Golden Silk Merchant Guild for gathering information.
“Here are the belongings you left with us!”
After receiving her clothes and travel pouch, Hong Seol asked the innkeeper.
“Has something happened outside?”
“Ah yes, it seems Shaolin had something stolen and is searching for it.”
The ‘something’ that Shaolin sought was undoubtedly the Golden Cat Sect.
Hong Seol and Dang Yi Woon exchanged knowing glances.
“Fortunately, it appears Jin Mok entered the Repentance Cave without speaking a word.”
“Of course. No matter what, Shaolin follows the Buddha’s compassion.”
We were not the sort to immediately interrogate Jin Mok about the whereabouts of the Golden Cat Sect while he suffered from the manifestation of demonic energy.
“Truly, righteousness and honor still live in Shaolin!”
As Hong Seol whispered this, Dang Yi Woon, already feeling guilty, clamped his mouth shut.
In that final moment, it was actually one of the interrogation techniques passed down through the Dang Family that had opened Mu Yeop’s mouth.
For Mu Yeop, it must have been no less painful than demonic energy forcibly opening his pressure points.
‘I must keep this secret from Seol forever.’
Meanwhile, Hong Seol pointed outside and asked the innkeeper.
“It seemed like the Government Office came out as well, not just Shaolin?”
At those words, Dang Yi Woon frowned.
“Have they all forgotten the principle of official non-interference….”
“Ah, the branch director here is a devout Buddhist, you see.”
“Ah!”
Hong Seol turned to look at Dang Yi Woon.
The innkeeper’s mention of the branch chief had to be Ha Dae In, whom we’d met at Shaolin.
“That’s right—the one who ate the tofu and dumpling dish!”
Only then did Dang Yi Woon nod in agreement.
If Ha Dae In possessed such deep faith, it wouldn’t be strange for him to move the Imperial Guard on Shaolin’s behalf.
“Shaolin must consider the Golden Cat Sect equally important.”
Dang Yi Woon whispered low.
“There are far too many rivals competing for it. I need to hurry. I must evade the eyes of the Demonic Cult, Shaolin’s eyes, the Government Office’s eyes….”
And there was one more.
I also had to avoid the pursuit of the Nam Goong Family, which by now must be closing in on my heels.
Only then could I obtain the Golden Cat Sect and spend intimate moments with Seol Ah.
“Is it really alright for us to move at such a leisurely pace, Seol Ah?”
“Of course, brother.”
Hong Seol smiled brightly.
“From what I’ve learned these past few days, the Golden Cat Sect isn’t something you can obtain simply by arriving early.”
“Still, if we wait too long it might become problematic. Shall we head to the Kiln Site now?”
That was right.
The location Jin Mok had identified as where the Golden Cat Sect was hidden was none other than the ‘Kiln Site.’
A place deep in a remote mountain where pottery was fired.
‘Why on earth would they hide the Golden Cat Sect in a kiln site?’
I could guess why Jin Mok’s accomplice hadn’t fled beyond Deng Peak with the Golden Cat Sect in hand.
‘Seeing as they managed to pass through the Geumgang Hangma Formation, they must not have learned demonic martial arts either.’
That meant there was a very high possibility of the Golden Cat Sect being stolen on the way.
Whether by those brutal Jang Gang Water Bandits, Nok Rim, or some other faction seeking the Golden Cat Sect.
‘Even if it takes time, they’d want to hand over the Golden Cat Sect to a reliable transporter.’
Who could this transporter possibly be?
Curious, Dang Yi Woon stole a glance at Hong Seol.
Hong Seol’s expression suggested she already had the full plan worked out.
Yet asking for the answer outright somehow felt beneath my pride as the young master of the Sichuan Dang Family.
‘Could it be a potter who works the clay?’
If so, handling heavy earth would mean they possessed considerable physical strength.
And if they’d also learned demonic martial arts…subduing them might not be easy.
“…Should I really wait until Nam Goong Baek arrives?”
By now he was surely tracking us down.
“Brother Yi Woon?”
“Ah, no. Just thinking aloud.”
“I see. Shall we depart then?”
“To the Kiln Site? Now?”
Without thinking, Dang Yi Woon checked the hidden blades concealed in my sleeves, preparing for a confrontation with the burly Demonic Cult transporters.
But Hong Seol shook her head with unmistakable certainty.
“No, there’s a place I absolutely must visit first.”

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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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