A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 213

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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 213
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“Haah, haah….”
Nam Goong Baek, lost in the recollection of that agonizing scene, leaned against the window frame and caught his breath.
When that image first surfaced in his mind, he’d thought the fever was making him hallucinate.
What he found most incomprehensible was that there were three moles on Seol’s wrist.
He’d gone straight to Chang Cheon Pavilion afterward and discreetly examined Hong Seol’s wrist, only to confirm that the snowflake-shaped moles were undoubtedly two.
Then Nam Goong Baek recalled something Bing Yu Hua had once said.
“The child said so. Those snowflake-shaped moles are a mark of a mother’s love.”
In the past, he would have dismissed it as meaningless prattle from a child.
But after recalling ‘that scene’ countless times, his perspective had shifted.
‘What if Seol’s biological mother, separated in the past, used some great technique to protect her….’
And if that mark was those moles!
There could be only one conclusion.
Having reached that point, Nam Goong Baek closed his eyes, leaning against the window of the Inner Chamber.
‘That scene was our past life.’
In that past life, Seol had died.
At merely eight years old, more miserably and pitifully than anyone deserved.
She had met a lonely death, trampled like a small flower beneath a heel.
Nam Goong Baek stared at the wound on his own palm, then suddenly clenched his fist tight.
‘In this life, I will protect Seol no matter what.’
Nam Goong Baek made this vow to himself, again and again.
Never again would Seol face such a hollow death.
The shadow of misfortune and separation would never fall upon that child’s brow.
That small child would love and be loved, live a full life span.
Achieve everything she desired, and finally drift into sleep surrounded by those she cherished.
‘For that to happen, I cannot give my heart to Seol.’
Growing this close to her was already a mistake, if anything was.
Because whenever anything concerned him, Seol was always willing to stake her life without hesitation.
He could not bear to witness that any longer.
Moreover, he himself was a man with limited time.
‘Seol has already endured one terrible death. I won’t inflict more wounds upon her.’
Nam Goong Baek clenched his fist tightly.
Even if he managed to obtain the Golden Cat Sect with great difficulty, there was no certainty it would be effective.
Above all, if that came to pass, Hong Seol would undoubtedly spare no time in perfecting the Yin-Yang Divine Art.
‘I won’t allow Seol to waste her years like that.’
His role was to secretly protect Hong Seol from any unforeseen danger.
That was precisely where it should end.
Just as Nam Goong Baek reached this conclusion.
From beyond the door came Hong Seol’s voice, slightly animated.
A voice so pleasant to hear, as if shaking a clear bell.
“Yi Woon oppa, where are we going today?”
The low chuckle of a man also reached her ears.
It was Dang Yi Woon’s voice—excited yet somehow tense.
“Just… somewhere the two of us can enjoy ourselves.”
Moments later, the cheerful footsteps of a pair leaving the inn echoed through the air.
By then, the rain had stopped outside, and the sun had emerged.
Nam Goong Baek, in the Inner Chamber on the second floor, carelessly twisted up his silver hair and secured it with a hairpin.
Pulling a black hat low over his head cast deep shadows across his refined features.
His silver hair and blue eyes were no longer visible.
Only then did he leave the inn with heavy footsteps.
“Ah, Great Swordmaster! Where are you headed today?”
“….”
Ting!
A silver coin flew through the air with a clear sound, landing neatly in the innkeeper’s hand—payment for his silence.
“Thank you as always, Great Swordmaster!”
The quick-witted innkeeper’s mouth spread wide in a grin.
* * *
‘This is infuriating.’
Such was Nam Goong Baek’s honest sentiment after half a day of trailing Hong Seol and Dang Yi Woon.
He had long resolved to wish only for Hong Seol’s happiness.
He was certain of that resolve.
Yet watching Dang Yi Woon flaunt himself before her eyes made his insides twist.
‘Does that snake have his tail on fire? Why is he making such a spectacle of himself?’
Dang Yi Woon never rested, constantly discovering new amusements to present to Hong Seol.
He bought her a fan shaped like a cat’s face.
He flattened a street con artist’s nose and made her laugh.
And now, as a sudden downpour began…
He stripped off his outer robe and held it up high, shielding both his and Hong Seol’s heads from the rain!
Watching this, Nam Goong Baek’s eyes blazed with fury.
‘The Umbrella Merchant is right there!’
Seeing them splash and dash together toward the eaves, he was speechless.
He wanted nothing more than to buy two umbrellas himself and hurl them at Dang Yi Woon’s face.
To tell him to get away from Seol this instant.
‘I can’t even follow them properly like this…’
Nam Goong Baek, who had been trailing them from around the corner while concealing his presence, pressed his palm to his forehead.
Despite his throbbing headache, there was only one reason Nam Goong Baek continued to follow them.
In case remnants of the Demonic Cult targeted Hong Seol.
Had he not just recently dealt with those who followed them to the Kiln Site?
If Nam Goong Ho were here, such matters would be trivial, but the fact that he himself had come all the way to Deng Peak searching for Seol would also be revealed.
“Oh, there’s the Umbrella Merchant!”
Hong Seol pointed at just the right moment.
‘Perfect!’
Nam Goong Baek wanted to buy this clever little kitten a mountain of candy.
“I’ll go buy us an umbrella!”
But he hadn’t anticipated that Hong Seol would come running over herself.
‘Damn!’
For a moment, it seemed their faces would collide.
Nam Goong Baek quickly unfurled one of the umbrellas from the merchant’s stand and hid himself behind it.
“Customer!”
“Here’s payment for the umbrella!”
Coins flew through the air.
But that wasn’t the problem. The Umbrella Merchant had grabbed Nam Goong Baek’s sleeve as he tried to flee.
“No, sir! That umbrella has broken ribs!”
Without thinking, Nam Goong Baek unleashed the Nam Goong Family’s signature Nineteen Consecutive Strikes technique to shake off the merchant’s grip.
“Never mind, I rather like its unique appearance!”
“My, what an odd customer.”
“Sir! I’ll take two umbrellas. …Sir?”
“…Yes? Oh my, I apologize, miss!”
The Umbrella Merchant, who kept glancing backward, snapped to attention at Hong Seol’s urging.
“I tell you, some madman just bought an umbrella with broken ribs and took off running like his life depended on it.”
He handed Hong Seol two oiled paper umbrellas.
“By your accent, you seem to be from An Hui Province. What brings you to Deng Peak?”
“We stopped by Shaolin for the Ullambana Festival, and now we’re sightseeing around the area.”
“I see. Do be careful, though.”
The Umbrella Merchant lowered his voice and whispered.
“Recently, the Taehwa Trading Company—those vicious Demonic Cult bastards—were completely wiped out. Shaolin took care of them.”
“Ah….”
Hong Seol couldn’t find words to respond.
She couldn’t very well reveal that she was the one who’d orchestrated the trap that allowed those villains to be crushed.
“So then, where might you be heading next?”
“To the Dengfeng Bamboo Sea.”
It was Dang Yi Woon who suddenly interjected.
He seemed displeased that the conversation between this stranger and Hong Seol was dragging on.
The sharp-witted merchant quickly backed down.
“The Dengfeng Bamboo Sea is far from the Taehwa Trading Company’s headquarters, so there’s nothing to worry about! I wish you both safe travels, and please accept this.”
He offered a knot made by twisting bamboo leaves.
When fastened to the umbrella’s tip, the small chrysanthemum shape dangled quite adorably.
“Thank you!”
Hong Seol beamed with delight.
Dang Yi Woon and Hong Seol, adorned with chrysanthemum-decorated paper umbrellas that swayed gently, turned the corner with cheerful laughter and vanished from sight.
In that same instant, the Umbrella Merchant’s eyes shifted.
He hastily tore off the edge of the paper lying on his stall—the kind used for sketching before oil was applied.
Then he picked up his brush and hurriedly scrawled something.
Next, he beckoned to a Street Urchin passing by on the street.
“You there! Deliver this at once to the place I’m about to tell you. Be sure to mention that the target is wearing an umbrella decorated with chrysanthemums!”
The child, clutching the coin he’d received, bolted away in haste.
And not long after.
A dull sound.
“Gasp!”
Rough hands tightened around his throat from behind, and the Umbrella Merchant let out a strangled cry.
“Stay quiet.”
He barely managed to twist his neck to catch a glimpse of the man who had him in his sights.
“Y-you are!”

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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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