A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 271

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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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Special Side Story 2, Episode 4
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol suddenly sprang to his feet and seized his wife’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry, dear! I finally got a chance to go out and enjoy myself.”
“Go ahead. I’ll stay here and have a drink with my sister.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s Wife waved her hand dismissively.
After Nam Goong Ui Gyeol rushed out, she turned to Dok Bi Jo with a question.
“Sister, do you also believe in the old custom that a groom shouldn’t see the bride’s face before the wedding?”
“Not at all.”
“Then why did you hint at what just happened to him?”
“It’s amusing. I can already picture that white wolf getting flustered and jumping around in frustration.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s Wife burst into laughter at this.
“My goodness, we have excellent taste in humor!”
The joy of teasing the men of the Nam Goong Family—that was precisely why she had married Nam Goong Ui Gyeol and continued living with him.
“Here, have another drink!”
As the wine cups clinked together, the women’s night grew deeper and deeper.
* * *
Whoosh!
The white wolf’s nimble feet kicked off the ground and launched upward.
Nam Goong Baek soared over the tavern’s wall, which stretched more than five stories high.
His movement technique was so exquisite that not a single pebble scattered beneath his feet.
‘I made it!’
Nam Goong Baek concealed himself in the bushes near the wall and exhaled in relief.
‘Fortunately, there’s less surveillance than I expected.’
Yet the only quiet place was near the wall I had just scaled.
In the distance, an eight-story pavilion overflowed with people.
Some were sewing, while others were preparing food.
And that was far from all.
Even late into the night, porters and guests came and went without pause.
“Make way, make way! A carriage just arrived from Sichuan.”
“Have some water before you continue!”
“Leave the silk here, and take the gold ornaments over there!”
Everyone present was frantically busy preparing for Hong Seol’s wedding.
But Nam Goong Baek’s concern was singular.
‘Where is Seol?’
Using his senses to search for her would be impossible—there were far too many formidable martial artists here.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace Master had brought every skilled warrior at his disposal.
This wedding was also an occasion to display the Northern Sea’s prestige to the Central Plains.
‘It seems I have no choice but to search in disguise….’
Since this place was full of people with silver hair and blue eyes like mine, I might go unnoticed if I simply stole the right clothes.
It was at that moment when the Young Master of the illustrious Nam Goong Family was contemplating becoming a thief.
“Older brother!”
From afar came a voice I longed to hear—Hong Seol’s voice.
‘It’s Seol!’
Nam Goong Baek nearly stepped forward without thinking.
“Welcome! We received word of your arrival yesterday by letter.”
Had Hong Seol not spoken those words, I might have truly revealed myself.
‘Older brother…? What?’
The white wolf tilted his head in confusion.
‘Who has arrived?’
Was there anyone else besides me whom Hong Seol would greet as older brother?
I had to find out, no matter what.
I stretched my neck out from the bushes, but could barely glimpse the hem of Hong Seol’s robe.
‘Let me go closer.’
Nam Goong Baek’s feet halted abruptly as he rushed forward.
Thump, thump.
His keen ears caught the sound of footsteps.
They belonged unmistakably to a martial artist patrolling the wall.
‘Damn it—I chose the least guarded spot to scale the wall, and still…’
Nam Goong Baek’s blue eyes swiftly scanned the wall I had climbed.
If I fled, now was my only chance.
But my heart would not permit it.
‘Who could Seol be greeting as older brother?’
Curiosity and jealousy bound my feet to the ground inside the wall.
“A thief!”
A sharp voice pierced my ears.
Whoosh!
A martial artist’s fine leather boot reached my nose in an instant.
“What? It’s just a dog.”
The warrior’s keen gaze softened at once.
A white dog with ears flattened lay before him, its pink tongue lolling out with a gentle pant.
“Even the Central Plains has such docile dogs.”
He seemed to be quite fond of them.
“Back home in Beihai, a big, adorable dog like you is waiting for me.”
He crouched down and began gently scratching my fluffy chin.
‘A mere Beihai warrior scratching the chin of the Nam Goong Family’s young master.’
My pride was deeply wounded, but I squeezed my eyes shut and wagged my tail.
‘If I’m discovered now, I truly won’t see Seol until the wedding.’
I steeled myself thus.
But when the warrior extended his palm, my mind went completely blank.
“Come on, boy—shake!”
But there was no time to hesitate.
Splash!
Nam Goong Baek squeezed his eyes shut and offered his thick front paw to the man.
‘If I can just see Seol, this humiliation is nothing.’
“What a clever little dog you are!”
The martial artist, satisfied after shaking Nam Goong Baek’s paw for a while, patted his robes and made an awkward expression.
“Oh dear, I don’t have anything on me. Would you wait a moment? I’ll go to my kitchen and bring back some delicious jerky for you!”
At those words, Nam Goong Baek’s blue eyes snapped open.
This was an opportunity.
A chance to shake off the martial artist and dash toward Seol!
Nam Goong Baek deliberately spun in circles toward his tail, pretending to be excited.
The moment the man turned his back, I bolted toward where Hong Seol was.
Patter-patter-patter!
As I ran, Hong Seol’s cheerful voice grew clearer and clearer.
A crystalline sound, like the tinkling of a small bell.
“Elder Brother is still the same as always!”
Who was she greeting so warmly?
Seized by unease, Nam Goong Baek ran faster.
I caught sight of Hong Seol’s robe hem, her ornaments, her lustrous long hair, her slender shoulders.
Twenty paces.
Just twenty more paces and I would reach Hong Seol.
In the instant my excited pace quickened.
Thud!
A finger pressed against my acupoint, and everything went dark.
* * *
“Mmm….”
How much time had passed?
Nam Goong Baek opened his eyes with a low groan.
A lamp flickered, casting familiar shadows on the wall.
“This is… my Quarters!”
Startled, Nam Goong Baek jolted upright on the bed.
“What is the meaning of this, Master?”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, his eyes blazing with fury, spoke sharply. He appeared to have kept vigil at Nam Goong Baek’s side the entire time he slept.
“My head is pounding, Ui Gyeol.”
Nam Goong Baek deliberately pressed his temple with one hand, feigning a headache.
It was to avoid Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s scolding.
Normally, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol would have been concerned for the Master’s wellbeing first. But not now.
“What were you thinking, infiltrating the Tavern at the Northern Sea Ice Palace in defiance of the Family Head’s orders!”
He pressed Nam Goong Baek relentlessly.
“Did you not realize you were bringing disgrace upon the Nam Goong Family’s honor!”
“It is not a blemish—rather, it is gilding. Has it not been the tradition of the Nam Goong Family for generations to pour their hearts entirely into their companions….”
Consider it carefully.
Former Family Head Nam Goong Ho, Family Head Nam Goong On, Elder Nam Goong Mu Young, and even Nam Goong Ui Gyeol himself.
Where could one find a man of the Nam Goong who did not love his wife as dearly as his own life?
“So I, in accordance with tradition….”
“Are you still making such excuses!”
At the indignant voice, Nam Goong Baek fell silent, his lips pressed firmly shut.
“Thanks to you, I transformed into a wolf after all this time and returned with the Young Family Head’s throat between my jaws! I did so with these very hands!”
Nam Goong Baek’s brow furrowed.
Nam Goong Baek and Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had long since reached similar heights in martial prowess.
‘Under normal circumstances, I would never have made the mistake of striking the Changcheon Master’s vital point.’
Yet Nam Goong Baek had every reason to be excited.
Just before striking that vital point.
He had seen it clearly.
That snake in the distinctive green robes of the Sichuan Poison Sect.
Dang Yi Woon, the Young Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family.
That wretch who had been eyeing Seol since the previous life was here at the Tavern of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

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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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