A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 210

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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 210
Unlike Hong Seol, who didn’t bat an eye, Potter’s bewilderment was plain to see.
“That… that won’t do.”
Potter shook his head decisively.
His demeanor had shifted markedly from before.
He’d assumed this sheltered young lady would simply browse out of boredom and leave in due time.
But to think she was a big spender willing to purchase a hundred acupuncture needles.
“Why not?”
“The truth is, there are already people who’ve bought the needles.”
“I know.”
“Pardon?”
“The trading company that just arrived at Deng Peak under the pretense of bringing in flour, correct?”
“How in the world did you…?”
“Break the contract with them. In exchange, I’ll pay double the price for the needles.”
With those words, Hong Seol withdrew her coin purse and emptied it onto the table.
Silver coins glimmered as they cascaded out.
It was the ransom she’d received for holding Dang Yi Woon as collateral.
‘I’m sorry, Yi Woon.’
Hong Seol offered a moment of silent prayer for Dang Yi Woon, who was still suffering.
A look of deep conflict crossed Potter’s face.
“No, I cannot!”
He suddenly let out a sharp cry.
And in the next moment.
Smack!
Potter raised his rough hands and slapped both his cheeks hard, then splashed cold water on his face.
“Huff, huff…”
He seemed to be steadying his resolve against the temptation of the silver coins.
“Trust is the lifeblood of commerce! No matter how much money one receives, one cannot betray a promise made first.”
Hong Seol’s eyes widened at those words.
‘I heard this kiln site was in difficult circumstances…’
Yet he was rejecting such favorable terms.
Aside from the rejection, she found herself genuinely impressed by the man.
But she couldn’t back down here. Hong Seol absolutely had to obtain the Golden Cat Sect.
‘A man who values honor… How can I sway him?’
As Hong Seol pondered, she noticed Potter taking a deep breath.
In that moment, she understood.
‘Could it be…?’
The next instant, Hong Seol was already rushing down the mountainside.
“Oh no, the money I got from selling my brother!”
She quickly returned and hastily gathered up the silver coins she’d spread across the table.
Without another glance behind her, she descended the mountain.
“What an unusual young lady.”
Potter shook his head and returned to his place by the kiln, tending to the fire.
* * *
Crackle, crackle.
How much time had passed?
Potter was nodding off, lulled by the sound of pine branches burning in the flames.
It was hardly surprising—he’d exhausted himself crafting a hundred acupuncture needles alone, mere days after his mother’s funeral.
“Excuse me!”
The unexpected voice startled Potter awake, his eyes snapping open.
Before him stood Hong Seol, her dark eyes gleaming brilliantly, holding out a snow-white puppy.
“Mother!”
He tumbled backward off his chair in shock.
“What, what is this!”
He rubbed his eyes repeatedly from that position on the ground.
“You’re… Baek Dol, aren’t you?”
The puppy he’d lost was wagging its tail with the gentlest of expressions.
Potter sprang to his feet, lifting baby Baek Gu high and embracing him tightly.
“You little rascal, where have you been! Do you know how much I’ve searched for you!”
Large tears streamed down Potter’s cheeks as he cried out.
The mole that had been hidden beneath clay was now exposed from where he’d hastily washed his face.
‘So Potter really was baby Baek Gu’s older brother.’
The moment I saw that mole, every clue fell into place like a perfect puzzle.
A sturdy frame and sun-darkened face.
The fresh scent of earth and rough hands perpetually caked with soil beneath the nails.
‘Those are the marks of both a farmer and a potter.’
I watched Potter embrace Baek Dol, weeping with joy.
The innocent Baek Gu licked away the tears from his eyes.
‘His mother had suddenly passed away, and even his beloved puppy had vanished—his heart must have been shattered.’
Just from seeing him like this, it was clear how much he cherished the dog.
It was a warmth-filled sight.
‘I was right to learn the Twelve Beast Martial Art.’
After Potter had spent some time reuniting with Baek Dol, he finally seemed to compose himself.
He immediately performed a deep bow to Hong Seol.
“Sniff, thank you so much, young lady! Baek Dol is like my own brother. Since you’ve found my brother, from this day forward you are my greatest benefactor!”
This was exactly what I had been waiting to hear.
Not that I’d found the puppy for that reason, of course.
‘Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young once said it—why not kill two birds with one stone?’
“Well, about that…”
I gestured shyly toward the storage house, where acupuncture needles still lay piled like mountains.
“…Would you be willing to sell those items to me?”
“Would it not be better if I made new ones for you?”
“No, it has to be those specific items.”
Potter gazed down at Baek Dol cradled in my arms.
As expected, he’d caught a cold somewhere along the way, with mucus dangling from one nostril.
Had that young lady not brought this child here, the outcome would have been far worse than a mere cold.
Seeing this, Potter spoke with quiet resolve.
“I cannot keep treasured possessions when there is a debt of gratitude for finding family.”
“…!”
“I shall sell all one hundred acupuncture needles to you.”
“Thank you so much!”
“I will tell the Taehwa Trading Company the goods will be delayed by about four days, and I shall work through the night to meet the quota.”
At those words, Hong Seol barely swallowed back what was about to spill from her lips.
‘Potter, those people won’t be coming….’
Or rather, they would never be able to come?
That was entirely thanks to Hong Seol’s ‘measures’.
* * *
At that very moment, at Shaolin.
The fragrant aroma of tea drifted through the austere yet orderly Inner Chamber.
The one who had just lowered the teacup from his lips after quenching his thirst was none other than Abbot Won Cheong.
“Hmm. So, how did the matter proceed?”
“We launched a surprise assault on the Taehwa Trading Company as you commanded, Abbot.”
One of the Arhat Monks standing beside him stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“As you said, that place was indeed a front for the Demonic Cult, Amitabha.”
“Hmm….”
Abbot Won Cheong sighed deeply.
“Moreover, that mute fellow who came to the Sect Grounds as a temporary laborer was there as well. Though he wasn’t actually mute—he was a stammerer, Amitabha.”
The Arhat Monks deployed the Geumgang Hangma Formation and annihilated the Demonic Cult members, who would be handed over to the Martial Arts Alliance, the monk concluded his report.
It was a brilliant victory, though there remained one regret.
“…We thoroughly searched the Inn where the Taehwa Trading Company had unloaded its cargo. However, we found no trace of that Golden Cat Sect item.”
“Very well. You may go now.”
As the Abbot waved his hand to dismiss the Arhat Monk, a sigh escaped his lips.
“Hmph, for a cat, that one was far too clever.”
The Abbot’s wrinkled hand set down the letter it had been holding onto the table with a soft thud.
The unfolded paper was filled with round, endearing handwriting.
The contents, however, were quite surprising.
[A word to the Abbot of Shaolin.
Not long ago, the storage warehouse of the Geumneung Trading Company, which supplies flour to Shaolin, burned down completely.
As you know, the Geumneung Trading Company is the only one licensed to conduct business on Deng Peak.
It was presumed to be arson using pine resin, but the culprit was never caught, I understand.
It so happened that during the Ullambana Festival, Shaolin faced a severe shortage of flour.
Thus, the branch manager hastily arranged for another trading company to supply flour to Shaolin.
But doesn’t something strike you as odd?
As if by design, there was a trading company that carried flour and remained stationed at Deng Peak.
I humbly beseech the Abbot of Shaolin to look into this matter with an open mind.
– From an Anonymous Cat. Meow!
P.S.: Oh, and the headquarters of the Taehwa Trading Company is said to be in Xinjiang. You know where that is, don’t you? It’s where the Thousand Ten Thousand Great Mountains are located.]
At the edge of the letter resting upon the table, a cat’s pawprint—clearly made with ink—was stamped with unmistakable precision.

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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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