A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 25

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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 25
In a flash, she pressed her palms together against Nam Goong Jong Woo’s chest and pushed.
Or rather, pretended to push.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm!
The whites of Nam Goong Jong Woo’s eyes flickered wildly.
Nam Goong Jong Woo, remembering the pain he’d suffered on the Martial Arts Arena, leaped backward with a start. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving.
“S-stop! We’re not even on the Martial Arts Arena! Fighting like this violates the rules!”
Hong Seol, who hadn’t expected her threat to work so effectively, hesitated at his words.
Oh, was that so?
To Hong Seol, who knew nothing of the world’s ways, his words carried considerable weight.
Hong Seol tilted her head.
‘If I can’t hit him, then what would Nam Goong Heuk do…?’
Ah!
There was a way!
“This won’t do.”
“W-what now, what won’t do!”
“You shouldn’t have such wonderful family members.”
“S-so what are you going to do about it!”
“I’m going to strip you of the Nam Goong name.”
Hong Seol threatened Nam Goong Jong Woo without hesitation.
“What?!”
Seeing Nam Goong Jong Woo’s face turn ashen, the threat had clearly struck home.
Thanks to this, Hong Seol, who had been anxious, felt a surge of confidence.
‘Brother, I’m doing this right, aren’t I?’
To think I could corner someone without even striking a blow.
Nam Goong Heuk truly was a genius.
“Everyone I know from the Nam Goong Family has a warm heart. The Grand Patriarch who took me in, the Changcheon Master who taught me martial arts, Nam Goong Heuk who cheered me on, and youngest Jeok, and…”
I still don’t know him well, but Nam Goong Baek probably…
Hong Seol couldn’t finish her sentence and closed her mouth.
For some reason, Nam Goong Baek’s name wouldn’t come out easily.
“…and Nam Goong Mu Young as well. The way he looked at you was anything but cold.”
“What business is it of yours how my grandfather looks at me!”
“To hurt such a grandfather. You don’t deserve the Nam Goong name. So I’ll take it from you.”
Nam Goong Jong Woo, whose face had turned ashen moments before, shot back sharply.
“You, what could you possibly do!”
“You, the Grand Patriarch of the Nam Goong Family…”
After saying this much, Hong Seol paused and took a breath. Only after steadying herself could she continue.
“The Grand Patriarch loves me, you know that, right?”
I never thought the day would come when I’d call Nam Goong Ho grandfather in front of others.
It felt as though someone might burst through the door at any moment to scold whoever dared address Nam Goong Ho so casually.
‘But… but Grandfather truly treasures me!’
Hong Seol soothed her wavering confidence and forced herself to stand tall.
“Fine, I heard. So he’s decided to take you as his disciple?”
Nam Goong Jong Woo stared at Hong Seol with a resentful expression, his lips pouting.
Hong Seol continued her quiet threat.
“I’m going to ask the Patriarch to strip you of the Nam Goong surname. As my reward for winning this martial competition.”
“What, what!”
Of course such a thing would never happen, but Nam Goong Jong Woo, ignorant of the circumstances, went pale.
He didn’t know that Hong Seol was already facing him under the pretext of receiving a reward.
“You wouldn’t mind, would you? After all, you’ve always despised being a false Nam Goong.”
Hong Seol had played her trump card.
Her heart pounded fiercely, yet she desperately hoped this boy would acknowledge his wrongdoing and apologize to Grandfather.
The flustered Nam Goong Jong Woo opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish pulled from water.
“Then you’d have to beg in the streets. If you’re lucky, maybe you could even join the Beggar Sect?”
“….”
When he didn’t respond, Hong Seol grew concerned that perhaps he hadn’t understood, and asked carefully.
“You do know the Beggar Sect is a band of beggars, right?”
Hong Seol was skillfully weaponizing the martial world knowledge she’d learned from Nam Goong Ui Gyeol during recent training.
“…I know.”
“Right, and since you have talent in martial arts, you could certainly make a place for yourself in the Beggar Sect.”
“….”
Nam Goong Jong Woo fell into contemplation, gnawing anxiously at his fingernails.
“Then I’ll just go to the Patriarch and….”
“Wait!”
Nam Goong Jong Woo’s hand clutched at Hong Seol’s martial robe. His shoulders trembled with what seemed like grievance.
“Ah, fine. I’ll apologize to Grandfather like you said.”
Just then the door burst open, and a small shadow—perhaps five feet tall—rushed inside.
“Jong Woo!”
The figure was none other than Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young.
When his beloved grandson had been silent for so long, he’d grown worried something might have happened and rushed in.
“Elder, you mustn’t do this!”
The attendants tried to restrain his arm, but it was futile. Nam Goong Mu Young was already beyond reason.
“Jong Woo!”
“G-Grandfather!”
Seeing him, Nam Goong Jong Woo’s heart eased, and he sprang from his seat, rushing forward.
Then he embraced Nam Goong Mu Young tightly.
The attendants could only scratch their heads, unable to separate the two.
Nam Goong Mu Young’s voice grew hoarse as he wept.
“Yes, Jong Woo! It’s me, your grandfather! Tell me—did that child hurt you anywhere?”
As he glanced sideways at me, Hong Seol felt her knees weaken.
‘What a frightening grandfather.’
Yet the wrinkled hands that caressed Nam Goong Jong Woo’s face were suffused with profound affection.
“I’m fine, Grandfather.”
Nam Goong Mu Young spoke in a hoarse voice once he confirmed his grandson was unharmed.
“My poor boy. Grandfather is sorry. Because of my humble origins, you’ve had to endure such humiliation….”
His eyes glistened with tears, and even the whiskers at his mouth trembled with sorrow.
Looking up at that face, Nam Goong Jong Woo suddenly realized how grave his mistake had been. And so he burst into tears.
“I was wrong, Grandfather!”
“No, Grandfather is the one who’s sorry….”
This was no forced apology born of coercion.
Hong Seol had set the stage, certainly, but it was clear that Nam Goong Jong Woo felt genuine remorse of his own.
Watching the two embrace and weep, Hong Seol found herself rubbing the bridge of her nose, which had grown oddly tender.
She had won the Martial Arts match, yet she found herself envying Nam Goong Jong Woo intensely.
‘Nam Goong Jong Woo is fortunate. To have a family that loves him so deeply….’
For some reason, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the two of them as they held each other and wept.
* * *
What is the meaning of this?
I clearly saw Nam Goong Jong Woo go to his grandfather and apologize earnestly.
I thought everything had been resolved satisfactorily.
So why….
“…Ah, hello.”
Why would Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young seek me out for a private audience?
‘Is he coming to hold me accountable for knocking down his grandson in the Martial Arts match a few days ago?’
A frightened Hong Seol carefully rolled her eyes.
Nam Goong Mu Young, who had barely obtained permission from Nam Goong Ho to visit Hong Seol, simply studied her intently.
Only after the tea in the cup on the table had long since grown cold did he finally speak.
“Truly, it is a mystery.”
Here was a man who had clawed his way from the Back Alley to the position of Elder Judge of the Nam Goong Family with nothing but his bare fists.
I could say with certainty that his ability to sway people to his will had played no small part in securing his current position.
He prided himself on having an eye for people that was second to none.
“I cannot fathom how my Jong Woo lost to a weakling like you.”
At those words, Hong Seol’s spirit flagged and she lowered her head. Whereupon Nam Goong Mu Young suddenly clicked his tongue.
“Don’t you dare lower your head!”
“Yes, sir!”
At the sharp rebuke, Hong Seol snapped her head back up. Without thinking, she swallowed hard, her saliva sliding down her throat.
Nam Goong Mu Young furrowed his brow and spoke.
“You are the female martial artist who defeated my grandson. Yet if you lower your head so easily to just anyone, how can my grandson’s honor be upheld!”
In any case, Nam Goong Mu Young’s love for his grandson seemed to be incurable.
“Ahem, in any event, the reason I sought you out today is….”
At those words, Nam Goong Mu Young suddenly rose from his seat and offered Hong Seol a deep bow.
Startled, Hong Seol froze in place, her eyes blinking rapidly.
“Wh-what?”
Nam Goong Mu Young, his head bowed low, brought his hands together and spoke.
“Thank you.”
Hong Seol, taken aback by the unexpected gesture, found herself unable to respond.
“Thanks to you, our Jong Woo was able to learn humility. And I have as well.”

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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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