A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 252

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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 252
At that cry, hundreds of Changcheon Sword Masters hurled themselves forward.
Hong Seol could discern their approach merely from the sound of their footsteps.
‘They’ve come from the Nam Goong Family Estate! They’re here to crush the Myo Ga Jang for their collusion with the Demonic Cult!’
Which meant, in all likelihood, that Nam Goong Baek had escaped from the clutches of Dang Song Baek and Je Gal Seon.
“Elder Brother is alive. Thank heavens…!”
Recalling the long journey thus far, I felt tears welling up unbidden.
But that was when the true crisis began.
As the fighting intensified, the acrid stench of oil suddenly permeated the air.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted beyond the window.
‘This is catastrophic! I must escape at once!’
The moment I grasped the door handle.
“Huh?”
Click.
The door was locked fast.
“No, this can’t be!”
Panicked, I seized the door and shook it desperately. But a five-year-old child has only so much strength to offer.
No matter how hard I struck it, how violently I wrenched it.
The door remained stubbornly sealed.
Smoke had already begun seeping through the window and door cracks, filling the Storage Room with a suffocating haze.
“Cough, cough!”
Tears glistened at the corners of my scrunched eyes.
‘Am I truly to die without ever seeing Baek Elder Brother’s face again?’
How futile.
I could not end like this.
I resolved to hurl my small body against the door.
“It’s… it’s likely pointless, but…!”
Three, two, one!
The moment I clenched my tiny fists and charged courageously toward the door.
Creak.
The door blocking the Storage Room swung open.
“Ah, aah!”
Unable to arrest my momentum, I tumbled right through the doorway.
Just as I thought I would fall.
I found myself caught in the embrace of a boy standing outside.
The impact sent us both crashing to the ground together.
“Ow, ow, ow…”
I finally regained my senses.
In that moment, the fire caught hold and the smoke began to clear.
As the white smoke obscuring my vision dissipated, the boy who had shielded me from harm finally came into focus.
A blue martial robe embroidered with cloud patterns.
A face as delicate and refined as porcelain.
Silver hair like threads of moonlight, and eyes as crystalline and piercing as winter frost.
His identity was Nam Goong Baek—only eight years old.
“Oh, Elder Brother?”
My mind reeled in disbelief.
I had never imagined meeting him so soon.
And on top of that, young Baek Elder Brother was far too handsome!
I couldn’t tear my gaze from him.
“….”
But Nam Goong Baek said nothing.
Anxiety flooded my chest.
‘Could it be… does Elder Brother not remember me?’
If so, then I am merely his enemy.
The heir of the Myo Ga Jang, the daughter of Je Gal Seon who sought to harm the direct bloodline of the Nam Goong Family.
The fear of being despised froze me solid.
“I, I am….”
Just as I hesitated and began to rise, tears clinging to my lashes,
Nam Goong Baek wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Seol Ah, I’ve missed you. Desperately.”
I stood frozen, unable even to think of embracing him in return, blinking blankly.
I couldn’t believe it.
Baek Elder Brother, whom I thought I wouldn’t see for much longer, appeared before me like this.
And he was the only person in this world who remembered me.
‘It feels like a dream.’
I wrapped my arms tightly around Nam Goong Baek’s body.
From my tightly closed eyes, crystalline tears scattered into the air.
Then Nam Goong Baek whispered,
“Will you marry me, Seol Ah?”
“What?”
Startled, I pulled back and looked at his face.
His ears were flushed a deep crimson.
As if someone had painted only that spot red against his otherwise colorless visage.
“In this life, I wanted to be the one to propose marriage first.”
I laughed softly, tears still wet on my cheeks.
“So you’ve been holding onto that wish all this time….”
“So what do you think? Since I spoke first this time, you’ll forgive me, won’t you?”
I laughed lightly. Nam Goong Baek’s expression twisted with concern.
“Surely you’re not refusing to forgive me?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure…”
“What about marriage? You’ll permit the marriage, won’t you?”
“That is…”
Hong Seol was about to part her lips when—
“Don’t answer, Seol Ah!”
A thunderous voice shook the very foundations of the Myo Family Estate.
From the distance, an enormous silhouette approached across the estate grounds at an impossible speed.
“Your life stretches before you with infinite possibility! These days, one can live alone! Don’t bind your future with promises made in youth!”
The words came alongside a cry that seemed to transcend the era itself.
When the owner of that voice finally appeared before her eyes—
Hong Seol could not help but gasp in astonishment.
“G-grandfather…?”
“That’s right, your grandfather has come, Seol Ah!”
Before her stood Nam Goong Ho, the Sword King and former patriarch of the Nam Goong Family.
As always, his face wore an expression of boundless tenderness reserved only for Hong Seol.
“You… you remember me…?”
“Remember you? Of course I do!”
Hong Seol, bewildered, turned her gaze toward Nam Goong Baek.
The young Nam Goong Baek shrugged his shoulders, though he could not quite conceal the proud smile playing at his lips.
* * *
I could scarcely believe it.
Cradled in Nam Goong Ho’s embrace, the five-year-old Hong Seol entered the Nam Goong Family Estate, her mouth hanging open in wonder.
“This can’t be real…”
The one who came to greet Hong Seol at the gate with arms spread wide was the patriarch Nam Goong On.
“Hong Seol!”
“Patriarch? You remember me?”
“Of course! Seeing you in this small form again fills my heart with such profound emotion. Might I be permitted to embrace you?”
His manner of asking the young Hong Seol was remarkably formal and courteous.
“Yes…”
Hong Seol nodded, still dazed and bewildered.
Nam Goong On, delighted, lifted Hong Seol with the utmost care, as though handling the most precious jade in the world.
The way he swung his arms up and down made him look exactly like a father reunited with a long-lost daughter.
“Um, what about the Medicine Master…?”
“Ah, she’s carrying a full term and cannot move about. We’ll visit her together shortly. She’ll be overjoyed to see you, Hong Seol!”
It was then—
“Miss Hong Seol!”
A group of warriors from the Changcheon Division came rushing from afar.
Seeing them, Nam Goong On’s brow furrowed.
Ordinarily, he would have rebuked them for entering the Inner Hall without permission.
But not today.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, leading the group, had hurried over after settling matters at the Myo Family Estate.
With a flushed face, he bowed deeply before Hong Seol.
“Miss, if you would grant me another chance this time… I swear I will truly cultivate you into an Indestructible Diamond Body!”
“Oh.”
I used to dream of becoming an Indestructible Diamond Body.
Remembering that childhood aspiration I had long forgotten, I stuck out my tongue playfully and laughed.
At the sight of this, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s lips trembled as if he might weep.
“This time, I will never trouble you with something as trivial as a feather on a beam.”
“Oh, it was nothing to worry about…”
Before I could even finish my response, a gruff elderly voice rang out.
“Little one, you’ll help our Mu Young Merchant Guild in this life too, won’t you?”
It was Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young.
My eyes widened like lanterns.
“Elder, you… remember me?”
“Remember you? Of course I do!”
He cleared his throat and patted my shoulder affectionately.
“Once you’ve grown, help lighten my workload while I assist the Family Head.”
“Yes, gladly!”
I felt tears welling up.
Nam Goong On smiled warmly.
“I should send word to the Beggar Sect, the Dang Family, and the Martial Arts Alliance right away.”
“…?”
“There are quite a few people waiting for you—Master Tian Tong Gai and General Je Gal Hyeop among them.”
As Nam Goong On set me down, I scurried toward the silver-haired boy and asked.
“H-how did all this happen, Elder Brother?”
Baek Elder Brother was smiling knowingly.
It was clear he had orchestrated everything.

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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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