A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 239

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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 239
* * *
‘I made the right choice after all.’
Such were Hong Seol’s thoughts as she recalled the events of the day.
“Everything will proceed according to plan, won’t it, brother?”
“Of course. Everything will unfold exactly as you wish, Seol.”
Nam Goong Baek gestured toward the tents lined up behind them as he spoke.
“Look—everyone stands with you in purpose.”
At Nam Goong Baek’s words, Hong Seol turned to look behind her.
The golden light spilling from dozens of tents created a magnificent sight.
Each flickering glow felt to her like a star burning in the heavens for her sake alone.
The first tent to catch her eye was that of the Three Martial Oddities.
From within the tent, now quiet as if the earlier conflict had never occurred, the Three Martial Oddities were leisurely raising their cups together.
Nam Goong Ho’s voice emerged from inside, grown serious.
[“Our opponent is the Heavenly Demon. Until now, none of you have had true rivals in the Martial Arts World, but tomorrow—tomorrow you might truly face death.”]
Tian Tong Gai’s voice followed, undiminished in its cheer despite the specter of death.
[“It matters not to me! Hu Gae has already taken on more than half the Beggar Sect’s affairs. If Hu Gae falls, there is still Yang Do Jin after him.”]
Dang Yi Mu’s voice also drifted out, carrying the faint sound of quiet laughter.
[“A confrontation with the Heavenly Demon—not a bad place to complete the final chapter of the Three Martial Oddities’ tale.”]
At the grandfathers’ calm resolve, Hong Seol’s heart suddenly swelled with emotion.
From within came the urgent voice of Nam Goong Ho, responding to Dang Yi Mu’s words.
[“Are you planning to stage that wretched Sichuan opera again in Sichuan? Enough of that, enough!”]
‘Grandfather, you are something else.’
Just as tears threatened to spill, laughter burst forth instead. Thus Hong Seol’s expression became neither one thing nor the other as she moved her feet forward.
Next came Dang Yi Woon’s tent.
“Why is that snake fellow so quiet?”
True to Nam Goong Baek’s observation, Dang Yi Woon’s tent was silent.
Scrape, scrape.
The only sound was that of a blade being honed.
It was a sound that conveyed his sharp, cold resolve.
“….”
At Hong Seol’s silence, Nam Goong Baek suddenly felt a twinge of unease.
“Seol Ah, what are you thinking about?”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all. Let’s go, brother!”
Hong Seol grabbed Nam Goong Baek’s arm and pulled him along. At this, Nam Goong Baek’s brow furrowed.
‘There is definitely something between those two.’
He had already been troubled by something Dang Yi Woon had said not long ago.
“Did Seol Ah not tell you? The young master of the Dang Family has sent her a hairpin shaped like a peony flower without fail on every birthday.”
Now that he thought of it, a peony-shaped hairpin was glimmering in Hong Seol’s hair as she walked ahead.
“The peony is a flower that holds precious memories—memories shared only between Seol Ah and me.”
‘Surely Hong Seol isn’t really…!’
Nam Goong Baek, who had reached out to grab Hong Seol’s collar, froze mid-motion.
Even if he wanted to ask Hong Seol for the truth, now was not the time.
‘That’s right, everything after the final confrontation with the Heavenly Demon…!’
Nam Goong Baek silently resolved this and hurried after Hong Seol.
Next was the Shaolin tent.
[“This will not be an easy battle. Yet we must emerge victorious, Namo Amitabha Buddha.”]
[“Yes!”]
[“Should they resort to treacherous schemes….”]
What had begun as a solemn vow gradually accelerated into fervent exhortation.
[“Show them no mercy—strike them across the head without hesitation!”]
Abbot Won Cheong’s voice, directed at the Arhat Monks before him, seemed to steam with intensity.
‘The Abbot’s temperament remains unchanged.’
Hong Seol suddenly recalled old memories and let out a soft laugh. At that, Nam Goong Baek’s expression darkened beside her.
“…What could possibly be so amusing.”
“Nothing at all!”
“….”
Nam Goong Baek covered his eyes with his hand as if in agony.
He regarded the time when Hong Seol had run away with Dang Yi Woon to Shaolin as the darkest period of his life.
After all, it was he who had pushed her away with his own hands.
“Ah, shall we head over there next?”
Hong Seol led the dejected Nam Goong Baek to the tent of the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master.
The Master, who had traveled far without hesitation for his only granddaughter, was instructing his subordinate warriors.
[“Tomorrow, we must demonstrate the true spirit of Beihai to these Central Plains people.”]
[“Yes!”]
[“Any who show shameful conduct shall receive my personal ice technique training.”]
[“Gulp! Yes!”]
[“Understood!”]
Han Poong Geom and the Snow Wind Squad warriors responded with sharp determination.
And that was not all.
[“Ya Pae, tomorrow you must show Hong Seol the fruits of Five Poison Valley’s labor!”]
[“Yes! Valley Master!”]
The Five Poison Valley tent beside it seemed to burst with enthusiasm no less than A Pae’s rippling muscles.
[“I told you to call me by my name when others aren’t watching!”]
[“Yes! My love!”]
[“No, that’s not it either! Ugh.”]
Maeng Woo Hee’s exasperation seemed to overflow as well.
Finally, from the Nam Goong Family Estate tent.
[“Our objective is not victory.”]
Words somewhat different from all that had come before were now being spoken.
Nam Goong On was quietly instructing Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol.
[“The warriors of the Nam Goong Family will make it their objective to save Seol and Baek, no matter what happens.”]
[“Understood!”]
At those words, Hong Seol felt tears threatening to spill over.
“I should go now, brother.”
If I stayed any longer, I would surely become a weeping mess.
“Mm.”
Nam Goong Baek moved forward alongside Hong Seol. In truth, he was inwardly astonished.
‘Father was thinking the same way I was.’
Blood truly cannot lie, can it?
‘Tomorrow, no matter what happens, I will protect Seol. Even if it costs me my life.’
Nam Goong Baek gazed at the small cat trotting beside him with such thoughts.
Time had already passed the Hour of the Tiger—the pre-dawn hours of three to five.
Soon it would be time to unfold the final stratagem Hong Seol had prepared.
* * *
The morning of the wedding ceremony arrived.
Rather, the time had come, though the sky had not yet brightened.
“I have a terrible feeling about this. Should we postpone the ceremony?”
Je Gal Hyeop, the Supreme Commander of the Martial Arts Alliance and the Celestial Sage, stood tall atop a cliff, surveying his surroundings.
The fog was suffocating.
“It truly is inauspicious.”
In that moment, Je Gal Hyeop suddenly found himself desperately missing his wife’s face.
It had already been three months since he last returned home.
When he departed, his son—only six months old—could do little more than babble and roll over.
‘Perhaps he has begun to speak in my absence.’
By now, he might even be able to say the word “father.”
His wife must have spoken of him to their son every single day without fail.
If I do not finish this matter quickly and return, I will miss even his first steps.
The thought made his heart race with urgency.
“Indeed, the ceremony cannot be postponed. The little one insisted upon it, after all.”
It was something Hong Seol had impressed upon him repeatedly.
“Today, the ceremony must absolutely take place at the Ancestral Shrine today.”
A low groan escaped his throat.
Je Gal Hyeop raised the white feather fan that had been covering his mouth.
Beside him stood Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol and dozens of other martial artists.
The opposite cliff was no different.
Roughly a hundred warriors of the Demonic Cult, their numbers arranged beforehand, emanated a sinister aura.
‘I hope the little one’s plan unfolds flawlessly.’
Today, Je Gal Hyeop’s role was that of commander.
He waved the white feather fan with all his might, sending the signal.
Whoa, whoa.
At that signal, the procession halted at the valley entrance began to move.
They were today’s guests.
It had been agreed that only ten people from each side would enter the valley where the ceremony would take place.
‘They’ll probably send the Ten Demon Generals from their side.’
The guests entering from Seo Gwang Ryun’s camp had been carefully selected by Je Gal Hyeop and Hong Seol.
If necessary, they would be the ones to take the heads of the Ten Demon Generals.
They couldn’t just send anyone.
“As expected, the Martial Arts Alliance Master leads the way.”
Je Gal Hyeop gazed down into the valley.
At the front walked Eon Soo Ryang, the Martial Arts Alliance Master himself.
The Three Martial Oddities and Abbot Won Cheong of Shaolin were advancing toward the Ancestral Shrine with measured steps.
“Those three amusing elders will certainly do their part, and the hot-tempered Abbot of Shaolin will more than hold his own.”
Behind them came the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master, dressed entirely in pristine white.
And following him was Maeng Woo Hee, the Master of Five Poison Valley, clad in beast hides.
“Those two seem to owe the little one a debt, so they won’t hold back.”
The pride and stubborn nature unique to the Outside Territories would play their part as well.
“And the last position….”
Je Gal Hyeop let out a light sigh.
Surprisingly, the final seat remained empty.
“So it has come to this.”
The little one’s message hadn’t reached ‘that person’ in time.
“Not everything can always go according to plan.”
Even for Je Gal Hyeop, renowned as the Heaven’s Will Prince, such a thing was impossible.
Much less for that still-unripe little one….
“Hm?”
Then, an unexpected sight caught Je Gal Hyeop’s attention.

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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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