A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 38

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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 38
Nam Goong Ho’s expression darkened at those words.
“Well, according to what the Beggar Sect confirmed, the Demonic Cult members took the poisoned Heavenly Demon back to their headquarters in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”
Since then, the Heavenly Demon had never stepped into the forefront of history.
Each sect had been too preoccupied with recovering from the damages of the Righteous-Demonic War.
“Oh, and some external forces like the Northern Sea Ice Palace also joined our side and fought alongside us.”
“External martial arts forces?”
Hong Seol recalled the knowledge about the Martial Arts World that Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had taught her.
‘The Northern Sea Ice Palace, a place incomparably colder than the peak of Dae Chuk Mountain.’
They said that place was inhabited by people whose exteriors were as cold as blizzards, yet whose hearts were as warm as spring.
And there was one more.
Definitely in the hot south somewhere… what was it again?
As if reading Hong Seol’s mind, Nam Goong Ho spoke.
“The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace also stood with us and fought the Heavenly Demon with all their might. Because of this, the Demonic Cult members even had to face beasts—creatures that were never part of their destiny.”
Hong Seol blinked in surprise.
“Not beast-humans, but actual beasts?”
“Indeed. Some of the people from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace possessed the ability to communicate with beasts.”
At that, Hong Seol tilted her head in confusion again.
Could it be the same ability she had when talking with Seo Han Eol?
‘But I’ve only ever conversed with a rat.’
The beasts commanded by the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace must be far larger and more fearsome predators.
Bears, tigers, venomous serpents….
To Hong Seol, the idea of communicating with such creatures was utterly unimaginable.
“Their contributions were so impressive that the Changcheon Sword Master even became sworn siblings with the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace Master of that time.”
“Really?”
“And the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace Master was a cat beast-human just like you, Seol-ah.”
“Really?!”
“That’s why people also call that place the ‘Cat Barbarian Beast Palace.’ Though it’s hardly meant as a compliment.”
Cat Barbarian Beast Palace?
Was it similar to how people mockingly called the Nam Goong Family the ‘Dog Family’?
‘But more than that….’
Hong Seol mentally compared the bold Southern Barbarian Beast Palace with the noble Nam Goong Family.
‘They’re completely incompatible!’
How on earth did a dog and a cat become sworn siblings?
“Could it be because they share the same Nam Goong surname?”
“What?”
“Nam…Barbarian Beast…Palace…so they share the name.”
“Ahahahahaha!”
Oblivious Hong Seol simply blinked her eyes.
In the meantime, Nam Goong Ho laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.
His laughter didn’t cease until Hong Seol’s lips puffed out like a duck’s bill in a sulk.
“Nam Goong is not a family name in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, Seol!”
Slightly miffed, Hong Seol pressed her lips together and looked away.
“It seems our Seol needs to study the Martial Arts World more thoroughly. You should engrave the meaning of righteousness and honor into your very bones!”
Thump.
Nam Goong Ho tapped the stack of books piled beside him, reaching as high as Hong Seol’s head.
“Now then, return to your reading.”
“Ugh.”
Hong Seol, her eyebrows drooping in dismay, buried her nose back in the books.
Just then, Mae Ran’s voice echoed from outside the Training Ground entrance.
“Grand Patriarch, forgive the intrusion, but I’ve come to escort the young lady.”
“What is the matter?”
“Lady Hong from the Fabric Shop, whom the Patriarch sent for, has arrived.”
“Lady Hong?”
“Yes, the one whom the Medicine Master held in high regard….”
At the mention of his daughter-in-law Bing Yu Hua, Nam Goong Ho’s expression softened.
“I see. We shall end today’s training here. Take Seol with you.”
Hong Seol bowed respectfully to Nam Goong Ho before being led away by Mae Ran toward her quarters.
Fifty new garments.
They were a gift from Nam Goong On, the Patriarch who had won the martial competition, bestowed upon Hong Seol as his reward.
* * *
“I shall summon a skilled seamstress from the city to craft you proper garments.”
“But wouldn’t that be terribly expensive…?”
“You are more than deserving of such a gift. Besides, there will be many occasions in the future where you’ll need to wear fine clothing.”
Hong Seol sat demurely upon the bed, swinging her feet slightly.
Recalling the conversation with Nam Goong On from not long ago, her heart fluttered with warmth.
‘He said I deserve such a gift.’
Those words were like honey candy—the more she savored them, the sweeter and more fragrant they became.
And there was another remark that had set Hong Seol’s heart aflutter.
‘Fine clothing for occasions ahead. Could he be planning to take me to the Market District?’
She had overheard whispers that the Market District held delicious foods and wondrous treasures beyond measure.
‘I truly wish to visit someday.’
As Hong Seol mused, the Seamstress whom Lady Hong had brought from the Fabric Shop set up a privacy screen in the Inner Chamber.
It was to shield this young lady’s measurements from any outside view.
‘She’s thinking of me.’
Hong Seol found herself drawn to Lady Hong’s thoughtfulness.
With her chestnut hair and chestnut eyes, she bore none of the sharp calculation or commanding presence typical of merchants. Rather, she possessed the gentle, graceful bearing of a willow by a riverbank.
That was what endeared her.
Though unfamiliar, she inspired no fear.
“Young lady, I shall first take your measurements, then show you the fabrics available.”
Hong Seol followed her guidance obediently.
With her short limbs, the measurements were taken quickly with just a few passes of the measuring tape.
Shortly after, an array of exquisite fabrics unfurled before Hong Seol like a blooming garden.
“Wow!”
Even Mae Ran, who had worked long at the Nam Goong Family Estate and grown accustomed to luxuries, gasped in astonishment.
Hong Seol’s eyes remained fixed on the display as she gently ran the back of her hand across the fabrics.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Lady Hong smiled warmly.
“I’ve brought only the finest items from our shop. The Family Head mentioned you were a very precious young lady who would be using them.”
At those words, Hong Seol’s heart stirred with endless excitement.
“A very precious young lady…?”
Lady Hong’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.
“Yes, but I must say I didn’t expect such a precious young lady to be so adorable as well. Now, choose whichever fabric catches your fancy! Everything will suit you beautifully.”
“Yes!”
Hong Seol eagerly rummaged through the fabrics alongside Mae Ran.
In the process, a small piece of cloth wedged between the fabrics fluttered down.
Hong Seol picked it up without thinking.
“Hmm?”
The fabric felt incredibly soft to my fingertips. Moreover, its pristine blue hue complemented my fair complexion perfectly.
“What kind of fabric is this?”
It was natural that Hong Seol would show such curiosity.
“Ah, this is what we call iris silk…”
In that instant, Lady Hong’s expression darkened. Though brief, Hong Seol caught it.
‘What could be troubling her?’
Perhaps this was a matter where my ‘sense of justice’ was needed.
‘Grandfather always said that all martial artists must help those in difficult circumstances!’
Forgetting she was in the midst of selecting fabrics, Hong Seol furrowed her brow with determination.
Lady Hong continued, forcing brightness into her voice.
“I apologize, young lady. It seems to have been mixed in by mistake. This is something we cannot obtain right now.”
“Why not?”
“That is…”
The unexpected question seemed to catch Lady Hong off guard, and her words trailed away.
It was the Seamstress who accompanied her that prompted her onward.
“Do tell her, proprietress! Perhaps the young lady of the Nam Goong Family might be able to help!”
At those words, Hong Seol’s shoulders tensed slightly.
‘I’m not a young lady of the Nam Goong Family.’
Lady Hong surely knew that fact as well.
“Well then, perhaps I should tell the young lady about it.”
Whether to preserve Hong Seol’s dignity, Lady Hong slowly opened her mouth.
Her story went like this.
Most of the goods that Lady Hong dealt in through her fabric shop came from the Weaving Workshop.
The Weaving Workshop was a place Lady Hong had established to provide employment for women with nowhere else to turn.
Widows who had lost their husbands in the chaos of war, or young women who had been sold to pleasure houses but fled rather than become courtesans.
As I listened to this account, my body trembled slightly.
‘I might have ended up there myself.’
If the Nam Goong Family had not taken me in, I surely would have.
Perhaps that was why.
I found myself utterly captivated by Lady Hong’s story.
“Thanks to the capable hands of these women, both the fabric shop and the Weaving Workshop have been operating quite well….”
But then, quite suddenly, the supply of materials needed for the Weaving Workshop came to an abrupt halt.
“Especially the iris flowers we used to dye silk threads blue have stopped arriving altogether. And so….”
It meant we could no longer sell iris-dyed silk.
“Why have the iris flowers stopped coming?”
“That is….”
It was the Seamstress who interrupted Lady Hong’s hesitant words.
“It’s because of the Myo Water Trading Company!”
She was so indignant that the Seamstress even trembled with rage, her shoulders shaking.
“The Myo Water Trading Company?”
At the name, which sounded vaguely familiar, I tilted my head in confusion.

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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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