A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 50

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 50
In that moment, Nam Goong Baek’s face fell with disappointment.
“Ah… now that I think about it, there’s no scabbard.”
The second form of the Chuanggong Great Flame Sword Technique required a sword and scabbard as a paired set.
But all Nam Goong Baek held in his hands were a wooden ladle and a round duck egg.
Seizing the moment of Nam Goong Baek’s hesitation, Eun Myeong whispered to Geum Myeong.
“Brother, use that!”
“You mean the Fierce Tiger Divine Claw? But if we’re not careful—!”
Among all claw techniques that attacked by extending the nails, the Fierce Tiger Divine Claw was a killing move capable of taking a life.
Even when training at the Myo Family Estate, they had been warned never to use it carelessly.
Fear-stricken, Geum Myeong gazed toward Myo Jung San in the distant Pavilion.
Focusing his vision intently, he caught sight of his father giving a subtle nod of approval.
‘Permission granted!’
Emboldened, Geum Myeong extended his talons and lunged forward.
“Here I come!”
Whoosh.
Yet Nam Goong Baek evaded the first strike without exerting any effort.
The arc traced by his extended talons tore through the air with a hollow, futile sound.
“What? You dodged my Fierce Tiger Divine Claw so easily?”
As Geum Myeong trembled with frustration, Nam Goong Baek gazed down at his own palm.
He appeared to be contemplating how to execute the second form, which required a scabbard, using only the duck egg and wooden ladle.
“Ah, this should work.”
Nam Goong Baek tucked the duck egg into his sleeve and flashed a grin at Geum Myeong.
“What? Why? What!”
Sensing something ominous, Geum Myeong cried out loudly instead.
Crack.
In Nam Goong Baek’s hand lay the wooden ladle, snapped cleanly in half.
Nam Goong Baek’s finely-shaped lips parted.
“Chuanggong Great Flame Sword Technique, second form. When wind blows in succession, it becomes a tempest.”
Closing the distance in an instant by channeling the Nam Goong Family’s Heavenly Wind Divine Method, Nam Goong Baek swung the broken wooden ladle with tremendous force.
Geum Myeong, tensed and ready, leaped upward to evade the first strike.
“Wahaha! Look at that! You’re not so different either!”
Twisting his body nimbly in mid-air, Geum Myeong extended his talons and attacked once more.
Gleam.
His sharply-honed talons caught the sunlight and glimmered.
“This time, receive the full force of my Fierce Tiger Divine Claw!”
But in the next instant.
The remaining half of the wooden ladle struck Geum Myeong’s jaw with brutal force.
Thud.
Geum Myeong rocketed upward through the air before crashing to the ground, writhing.
Nam Goong Baek landed lightly, his sleeve fluttering in the wind.
“I told you so—didn’t I warn you beforehand?”
That the wind would blow in succession.
Nam Goong Baek’s words came as he gazed down at Geum Myeong sprawled beneath his feet with a look of pity.
Then Geum Myeong, still face-down, muttered something unintelligible.
“I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
Nam Goong Baek flipped Geum Myeong over with the tip of his foot.
Geum Myeong groaned and barely managed to exhale.
“Still… there’s no way that clumsy younger brother of yours, Nam Goong Jeok, will win the championship.”
At that, Nam Goong Baek let out a scoff.
“Why don’t you worry about your own younger brother instead.”
In that instant, something caught Nam Goong Baek’s eye.
Eun Myeong, who had dashed far ahead, was now trying to snatch Hong Seol’s garment.
Geum Myeong, still prone, chuckled darkly.
“That’s the end of Nam Goong Jeok!”
Yet even in this urgent situation, Nam Goong Baek showed no sign of panic.
As if he had anticipated this, Nam Goong Baek gazed steadily toward Hong Seol’s direction, then lowered himself and whispered to Geum Myeong.
“You’ve underestimated my younger brother far too much.”
His tone was light and casual.
* * *
Hong Seol, scurrying toward the Finish Line, suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
Glancing back, she saw Eun Myeong with fierce eyes pursuing her like a malevolent spirit.
“Eek!”
“Stop right there, you little brat!”
In those gleaming eyes lay not only obsession but outright malice.
“Your eldest brother is pinned down by Geum Myeong, so don’t expect him to come rescue you!”
“What?”
At those words, Hong Seol came to a halt.
Eun Myeong’s face brightened.
Not the cunning second son of the Nam Goong Family, but the youngest, known for his foolishness. He seemed to believe he could easily win in a direct confrontation.
“Hand over your duck egg quietly, and I’ll spare you from something unpleasant.”
“That’s not possible.”
Hong Seol shook her head and gripped her wooden ladle firmly.
‘I’m here representing the Nam Goong Family right now.’
Even if she couldn’t win the championship, she couldn’t tarnish the Nam Goong name by backing down so easily.
“Take this!”
In that moment, Eun Myeong swung his fist with great force.
“Ah!”
Hong Seol sprang back and retreated. It was the fruit of her diligent training in external martial arts.
“You—!”
Eun Myeong lunged at Hong Seol’s ankle. Hong Seol leaped away in panic, and this time Eun Myeong extended her claws, attempting to rake across Hong Seol’s face.
“Mother of mercy!”
Hong Seol ducked swiftly enough that Eun Myeong’s claws only grasped at empty air.
“Impressive. But you won’t escape the next move, will you?”
Eun Myeong took another stance, preparing to rush at Hong Seol once more.
Tension crackled between them.
Even as fear gripped her, Hong Seol’s small mind raced with calculations.
‘I can’t just keep dodging forever—this will never end!’
But all Hong Seol had learned were the Spear Palace Grand Flame Sword Technique and the Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm.
Even the Spear Palace Grand Flame Sword Technique—she had only studied the sword forms, never actually performed them herself.
And the Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm was far too risky to attempt.
‘If I use it carelessly, everyone will discover I’m not Jeok.’
Besides, Nam Goong Ho had sternly warned me never to expend my inner energy again until the Yin-Yang Severed Meridian fully healed.
But…
“I cannot let the Nam Goong name fall into disgrace!”
Hong Seol cried out loudly, tucked the rotten duck egg into her sleeve, and pointed a wooden ladle at Eun Myeong.
It was the opening stance of the Spear Palace Grand Flame Sword Technique.
The tip of the wooden ladle trembled faintly in Hong Seol’s white-knuckled grip.
Then came a dismissive snort.
“Bah, what pathetic bluster from a brat!”
Eun Myeong sprang upward and came crashing down toward Hong Seol.
“Taste this, little one!”
‘I won’t lose!’
Hong Seol planted her feet firmly on the ground, bit down hard on her lip, and was about to swing the wooden ladle when—
Crack!
The rotten egg white splattered down from Eun Myeong’s crown.
“A fitting headdress, wouldn’t you say?”
“Ugh…”
Behind the collapsed Eun Myeong, a pair of cold blue eyes gleamed.
Nam Goong Baek.
Having dealt with Jin Myeong, he had rushed here using the Heavenly Wind Divine Method, moving like flight itself.
It was thanks to Hong Seol’s courage in standing against Eun Myeong and buying him time.
“Wh—when did you arrive?”
Nam Goong Baek looked down at Hong Seol, who stood frozen with the wooden ladle still clenched in her hand.
“The little one has considerable courage.”
A large hand swept gently across Hong Seol’s head with a soft sound.
Hong Seol stammered with joy.
“B-brother! Why have you come all this w—?”
“It is only natural for an older brother to protect his younger sibling.”
His demeanor seemed subtly different from how he usually treated Jeok, but Hong Seol decided to let it pass.
‘So that’s why Nam Goong Baek looks after his younger siblings when we’re out like this.’
Both of them turned their gaze simultaneously toward Eun Myeong before them.
He was spewing complaints like a malevolent spirit.
“What is Geum Myeong doing, unable to handle even one brat like this! Growing nothing but brute size without sense!”
From him, pouring forth his grievances, emanated an unbearably foul stench.
It was the putrid reek of rotten duck eggs that Nam Goong Baek had carefully selected before the competition began.
It was incomparable to the fetid water of rotted weeds that Hong Seol had drunk.
“Ugh, ptooey ptooey!”
Because his mouth had opened while grumbling, the thick, rotten duck egg white slid down Eun Myeong’s throat.
“Blech! Gaaaack!”
As Eun Myeong retched in distress, the precious duck egg he had been clutching slipped from his hand and fell.
The egg rolled across the ground and came to rest directly beneath Nam Goong Baek’s foot.
Noticing this, tears began to well up in Eun Myeong’s eyes.
Nam Goong Baek, observing this sight, lightly lifted his foot.
Crunch!
“No… no…”
A gurgling sound came from the throat of the now-eliminated Eun Myeong.
Then Nam Goong Baek gently patted Hong Seol’s back.
“Now, head toward the Finish Line.”
“But Elder Brother! What about you?”
“My duck egg has just been used up, has it not?”
“Then, then I’ll give you mine!”
“No, that would violate the rules.”
Nam Goong Baek’s gaze turned toward the Finish Line set up beneath the Pavilion.
There, Yu Seong Moon Master stood holding a golden mouse, waiting for the victor.
“Now, go quickly.”
“Y-yes, thank you, Elder Brother!”
Hong Seol, feeling bewildered, placed the duck egg atop the wooden ladle and ran.
And as thunderous applause erupted, she crossed the Finish Line.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————