A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 22

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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 22
Hong Seol headed toward the Martial Arts Arena. Or rather, she tried to.
But there were no stairs.
“Oh?”
After all, this Martial Arts Arena had never needed to accommodate someone who lacked the strength to climb onto it themselves.
As Hong Seol stood there blinking in confusion.
“Pardon me, Miss!”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol suddenly reached for Hong Seol’s side to lift her up, but flinched at the sharp glance sent his way.
“…My apologies.”
The loyal Nam Goong Ui Gyeol stepped back. In the next instant, Nam Goong Ho swept Hong Seol into his arms and hoisted her onto the Martial Arts Arena.
“There we are.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Hong Seol clasped her hands together and bowed deeply.
That was when it happened.
Nam Goong Ho, meeting Hong Seol’s eyes, sent her a transmission.
– Remember this one thing, Seol.
His gaze burned with confidence—an uncanny certainty that I could not possibly lose today.
– When you spot an opening in your opponent’s defense, press both your palms together and push.
* * *
The first thing Hong Seol noticed on the Martial Arts Arena was the malice gleaming in Nam Goong Jong Woo’s eyes.
His already fierce gaze had grown even sharper after witnessing the Patriarch lift Hong Seol up himself.
“Can’t even climb onto the arena alone!”
Just then, the Elder Judge overseeing the match began the introductions.
“Nam Goong Jong Woo—grandson of Nam Goong Mu Young, third son of Nam Goong Mok and An Young Hwi!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd. Most of them were hired cheerers whom Nam Goong Mu Young had paid off in advance.
Of course, Nam Goong Jong Woo’s family was among them as well.
His grandfather, whose face bore a bitter expression yet whose eyes still burned with intensity; his father, clapping with reluctant approval; his mother, clasping her hands together with anxious hope.
Despite the deafening roar that seemed to shake the arena, Nam Goong Jong Woo still stood with his lips jutting out.
Hong Seol could not fathom him.
What was wrong with him? Why did he look so sullen?
What difference did it make whether he was truly a Nam Goong or not? He had so many family members cheering for him.
‘Compared to him, I….’
Suddenly, anxiety wrapped around Hong Seol’s small frame.
‘What if no one cheers when my name is called?’
Just then, the Elder Judge cleared his throat with a soft ahem before announcing loudly.
“And her opponent is… well, Hong Seol. Let the match between the two begin.”
A brief silence fell over the arena.
In that moment of disappointment, the corners of Hong Seol’s eyes drooped slightly.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
A thunderous roar erupted like lightning.
When Nam Goong Jong Woo was introduced, the cheers were no less thunderous.
Heuk and Jeok were the ones shouting their support at the top of their lungs.
Despite their small frames, their voices rang out with surprising resonance.
Jeok was even waving a scrap of plain cloth with a crudely drawn portrait of Hong Seol’s face.
“Hong Seol! You’re the best!”
Due to the crude artistry, the Hong Seol in the drawing looked like the leader of a bandit gang. At the sight of it, I burst into laughter, and my tension eased considerably.
Beside Heuk and Jeok stood Nam Goong Ho, the family patriarch, and next to him was Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, the Changcheon Master, both wearing satisfied smiles.
But that wasn’t all. Mae Ran, my attendant, had her hands clasped to her chest in nervous anticipation, and beside her…
“Do your best!”
“You can do it, Miss!”
A group of unfamiliar men with muscular arms raised them skyward, cheering me on.
‘That attire… the Changcheon Division?’
I tilted my head, recognizing the distinctive cloud pattern on their collars.
I had no way of knowing that they had occasionally watched my training in secret and been inspired by it.
I could only feel grateful.
‘There are people cheering for me!’
They weren’t my true family, but still…
Seeing the faces of those encouraging me, my resolve hardened.
This was sincere support I hadn’t received once since I was five years old.
‘Even if I can’t win, I won’t show a pathetic display.’
With my resolve set, I gripped the wooden sword with both hands and looked ahead. Nam Goong Jong Woo was doing the same, his wooden sword held firmly as he glared at me.
“Begin!”
“Here I come!”
With a shout, Nam Goong Jong Woo charged at me with terrifying momentum.
“Hyah!”
His movements were as sharp as concentrated fury unleashed.
But.
‘I… I can see it!’
His sword path was crystal clear to my eyes.
‘Changcheon Sword Technique, First Form. The direction is… overhead!’
Clack!
My raised wooden sword met his descending blade with a sharp block.
In that instant, Nam Goong Jong Woo’s eyebrows twitched in surprise.
“This lowly brat?”
But I had no time to respond.
‘His sword is cutting toward my exposed flank!’
All my focus was on evading Nam Goong Jong Woo’s diagonally descending blade.
“What? That didn’t work either?”
Nam Goong Jong Woo’s face flushed red as his attack aimed at my flank failed.
Meanwhile, I was exhilarated.
‘My training under the Changcheon Master wasn’t wasted!’
Though they performed the same technique, Nam Goong Jong Woo’s understanding paled in comparison to Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s mastery.
Even accounting for the fact that Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had been holding back when facing me.
‘It’s crystal clear.’
From my perspective, Nam Goong Jong Woo’s movements merely mimicked the form of the Changcheon sword technique—sluggish and riddled with openings.
“Hah!”
I effortlessly deflected Nam Goong Jong Woo’s blade once more.
“This wretched girl…!”
Whoosh!</
His sword strikes grew sharper as he gritted his teeth and pressed forward.
Twenty exchanges passed.
"Huff… huff…"
Beads of sweat dotted Nam Goong Jong Woo's forehead.
He couldn't comprehend this situation at all.
His opponent was merely a child who didn't even bear the Nam Goong name.
He'd expected an easy victory, yet here he was, struggling.
And naturally, a question arose.
'Why? Why isn't she attacking?'
She simply evaded and parried my wooden sword strikes.
A sudden hypothesis flashed through Nam Goong Jong Woo's mind.
'Could it be… she doesn't know how to attack?'
The moment that thought crystallized, exhilaration surged through his entire body.
She doesn't know how to attack.
Which meant he could press forward without worrying about defense.
'Of course. What could a pea-sized girl possibly do!'
Nam Goong Jong Woo's gaze fixed on the light sword I gripped as though it were my lifeline.
'That wooden blade.'
If he could just seize it!
On the next exchange, he'd thrust his sword forward with full speed, abandoning all defensive concern.
Victory would be assured.
Nam Goong Jong Woo's hand trembled with anticipation as he gripped his sword.
"It's over now."
A worthless opponent deserves nothing but a beating from my blade!
"Haaaagh!"
His charge was ferocious and relentless.
There was no room to evade.
Then!
"Hup!"
In that brief moment of decision, I marshaled every ounce of strength to block his assault.
Crack!
"Oops!"
The overwhelming disparity in power was to blame.
The wooden sword in my grip spun through the air and tumbled down below the Martial Arts Arena.
Nam Goong Jong Woo's eyes gleamed.
'An opening!'
The moment he stepped forward with his movement technique, rushing toward me with empty hands, his weapon raised high.
Flash!
A 'gap' appeared before my eyes.
The very 'gap' Nam Goong Ho had spoken of.
Nam Goong Jong Woo's left chest was exposed as he extended the wooden sword with his right hand.
– When you see an opening in your opponent, press both your palms together and push.
'Now!'
I pressed my palms together, then released them, pushing against Nam Goong Jong Woo's charging chest with a sharp thrust.
In that instant.
I felt the energy rising from my dantian flow through my palms and burst outward.
Boom!
Thunder crashed from the heavens.
Thud, thud, thud.
Nam Goong Jong Woo's body rolled several times before being sent flying to the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.
* * *
"Grand Patriarch!"
At the astonished voice beside him, Nam Goong Ho slowly turned his head. There stood Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, his mouth hanging open.
"Surely this, this, this isn't—!"
Nam Goong Ho smiled with the composure of one who had foreseen this outcome.
"It is exactly as you suspect."
Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm.
The signature palm technique of the Nam Goong Family, reminiscent of thunder and lightning.
"How could the young lady have mastered the Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm with such power? Moreover, she was never taught it in the first place…."
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, reeling from shock, could not finish his sentence.
"One must be capable of such feats to deserve being my disciple."
"But you instructed me to prevent Miss Hong Seol from using her inner energy!"

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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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