A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 52

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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 52
After his lips had been moving wordlessly for quite some time, he finally managed to speak.
“The, the wine has run out.”
So the best excuse he could conjure was to claim the wine had been depleted.
Bing Yu Hua’s eyes turned glacial as she regarded an opponent so utterly beneath her.
“You there, bring our guest more wine.”
Yu Seong Moon Master issued the command to his attendant with an expression mingling disdain and displeasure.
Presently, several bottles of clear, crystalline liquor emerged from a slender vessel.
Myo Jung San, thoroughly humiliated, drank continuously in solitude at the corner of the room.
Crimson veins spider-webbed across the whites of his eyes, and his hand trembled as it gripped the wine cup.
Then his gaze fell upon Hong Seol, who sat cradling a golden mouse.
“You enjoy it so much?”
“Hehe, yes!”
Hong Seol laughed brightly at Nam Goong Baek’s affectionate question from beside her.
Witnessing this, Myo Jung San ground his teeth.
‘I can’t stand the sight of those two together….’
Thoroughly intoxicated, Myo Jung San lurched to his feet and bellowed.
“That championship should have been Myo Eun Myung’s in the first place!”
“Pardon?”
“You wretched little rat!”
Myo Jung San’s body swayed unsteadily from side to side.
Consumed with rage, he made no effort to dispel the intoxication through inner cultivation.
“Winning with your brother’s help—how cowardly!”
“What did you just say?”
Bing Yu Hua’s voice rang out sharp and clear. Myo Jung San then pressed further.
“I said it was cowardly.”
“What?”
“Um, well….”
Someone seized and shook the sleeve of Bing Yu Hua’s robe just as she was about to speak again.
It was none other than Hong Seol, who had turned the situation to her advantage.
Hong Seol stepped forward courageously and addressed Myo Jung San.
“Well, by that logic, didn’t Myo Geum Myung and Myo Eun Myung also help each other? The only difference between them and us was….”
Hong Seol turned to look at Nam Goong Baek with a radiant smile.
“The gap in martial prowess, I suppose.”
One corner of Nam Goong Baek’s mouth lifted involuntarily, and even Bing Yu Hua, whose momentum had been broken, burst into laughter.
“The third young master of the Nam Goong Family has grown quite dignified in just a year!”
“Listen to that eloquent tongue! She’d surely achieve top honors in the civil service examinations!”
The assembled guests vied with one another to praise Hong Seol.
Myo Jung San’s face flushed and darkened as he realized his reckless outburst had gained him nothing.
Seated, he gripped the wine cup in his massive, pot-lid-like hand until it seemed it might crumple.
A murky aura rose in wisps from the wine glass.
“How dare that pup!”
In a single moment, the heavily intoxicated Myo Jung San hurled his glass into the corner.
Crash!
By cruel chance, a sharp shard of glass flew directly toward Hong Seol’s cheek.
“…!”
Caught completely off guard, I froze with my eyes wide open.
The moment the glass shard drew within inches of my face.
Flutter.
An elegant hand swiftly caught the shard. Its owner was Nam Goong Baek, his face now cold and rigid.
“Myo Dae Hyup! What is the meaning of this!”
Yu Seong Moon Master’s voice cut through the air.
Nam Goong Baek stared at the glass shard in his hand for a moment, then without hesitation, drove it into the floor.
Thunk!
Everyone present watched clearly as the sharp glass fragment pierced through the wooden floor and embedded itself.
Had that shard struck the Nam Goong Family’s youngest son’s cheek instead….
At the horrifying thought, everyone’s skin crawled with dread.
Nam Goong Baek’s eyes blazed like raging flames.
“Does a branch of the Myo Family Estate dare attempt to harm the direct line of the Nam Goong Family?”
Though he issued no explicit threat, the authority radiating from him was extraordinary.
Faced with Nam Goong Baek’s overwhelming presence, Myo Jung San’s drunkenness seemed to evaporate entirely.
“I, I, it was an accident.”
“An accident? No. I shall demand an accounting for that transgression right here.”
“Young Master Nam Goong Baek….”
Yu Seong Moon Master attempted to intervene, but to no avail.
In truth, the Nam Goong Family’s scions were capable of anything they set their minds to, and there was little anyone could do to stop them.
Especially not in a situation where right and wrong were so unmistakably clear.
Just then, Bing Yu Hua’s urgent voice rang out.
“Baek!”
She was shielding my face with her wide sleeve.
Nam Goong Baek’s eyes widened at the sight.
He had caught the shard, but not the wine that had been inside the glass.
As a result, my face—disguised as Jeok—was thoroughly drenched.
* * *
“What? You’re saying you weren’t Jeok, but Hong Seol?”
The moment we boarded the carriage, Nam Goong Heuk’s voice exploded.
Clop, clop!
The carriage had just begun its journey toward the Nam Goong Family Estate’s grounds.
Despite the cheerful rhythm of the horse’s hooves, I sat with my head practically sinking between my shoulders.
“I still can’t believe it….”
Before Hong Seol stood Nam Goong Heuk with his mouth agape, Nam Goong Baek gazing out the window as though nothing had happened, and Bing Yu Hua with her arms crossed.
They must all be furious with me.
Hong Seol managed to squeeze out a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
“I’m… I’m terribly sorry.”
I had deceived my entire family and caused a scene at an outside event. At this point, I deserved whatever punishment awaited me at home.
Bing Yu Hua spoke with a sigh woven through her words.
“At least you weren’t exposed in the end.”
Fortunately, no one at the Myo Family Estate had recognized Hong Seol’s true identity.
It was thanks to Bing Yu Hua wrapping her garment around Hong Seol’s face.
“The child was quite startled. If you’ll excuse us, we shall take our leave now.”
At Bing Yu Hua’s words, the Yu Seong Moon Master appeared utterly lost for composure.
“The fault lies entirely with me. Should the next An Hui Province tournament be hosted by our sect, we shall not extend an invitation to the Myo Family Estate.”
It was not only the Yu Seong Moon Master. The representatives of the other sects all nodded in agreement with the same sentiment.
“Then, we shall be on our way.”
Bing Yu Hua offered a properly courteous smile and turned to leave.
She still cradled Hong Seol in her arms, her garment concealing the girl’s face.
“Consider yourself fortunate. Should we meet again, matters will not conclude so lightly.”
Under Nam Goong Baek’s cold, piercing gaze, Myo Jung San froze like stone, unable to utter a single word in response.
With that warning delivered, Nam Goong Baek disappeared, following Nam Goong Heuk and Bing Yu Hua.
Deng Xiao Xiao, the only daughter of the Deng Family Estate Master, watched Nam Goong Baek’s retreating figure with eyes full of regret until the very end.
Thus, this year’s An Hui Province tournament came to an end.
Hong Seol, slumped in the carriage seat and biting her lip, lifted her head slightly.
“Um, by any chance… did the Medicine Master know that I wasn’t Jeok?”
Bing Yu Hua, her arms still crossed, let out a long sigh.
“…Yes.”
“Really? When did you find out?”
“Who knows.”
Hong Seol, who had been biting her lip in bewilderment, opened her eyes wide.
“So you knew it was me from the beginning and brought me along anyway…”
Bing Yu Hua laughed softly instead of answering, as though caught in an awkward moment.
She knew that I longed to see my mother…
At such thoughtfulness, Hong Seol felt tears welling up.
Though I did not meet my mother today, learning of Bing Yu Hua’s heart brought me no less joy.
Suddenly, Hong Seol rose from her seat and clasped her fists in salute.
“Thank you, benefactor!”
“Be careful!”
Thud!
The carriage lurched violently, as though it had struck a large stone in the road.
In the next moment, Hong Seol found herself cradled in Bing Yu Hua’s embrace.
Baek and Heuk each held one of Hong Seol’s arms steady.
“Be careful, dear.”
As Bing Yu Hua’s hand patted me affectionately, my nose tingled once more.
Her embrace was warm, and she carried a sweet fragrance.
I indulged myself for a moment, breathing in her scent, before suddenly lifting my head.
“But how… how did you figure it out?”
“The Changcheon Estate’s reversal technique isn’t something one can replicate so easily.”
Bing Yu Hua chuckled softly and gently touched the mark on my arm resting beside her.
“Besides, this birthmark on your arm gave you away.”
She playfully poked at my crimson snowflower-shaped mark.
“Really?”
I turned my head to look at Nam Goong Baek.
“Did you know too, older brother?”
Nam Goong Baek, who had been gazing out the carriage window, nodded quietly.
“Was it the birthmark that gave me away to you as well?”
“I just knew at a glance.”
“What?”
My mouth fell open. That was truly remarkable perception.
‘So older brother knew I was me and not Jeok, yet still helped me win the championship?’
So that I could receive the golden mouse as a prize.
And that wasn’t all.
He had flattened the noses of Myo Geum Myung and Myo Eun Myung, who had tormented me.
Of course, since I had never mentioned it, Nam Goong Baek wouldn’t have known they were bullying me.
‘It must be a coincidence, but older brother Baek really did punish those kids severely.’
My nose stung, so I quickly rubbed it.
“Sniff.”
I was getting moved to tears so often lately that my nose felt like it would wear away.
“Did older brother Heuk also know I was a fake Jeok…?”
I looked at Nam Goong Heuk, holding back my tears.
“No, I had no idea.”
His face was scrunched up, clearly annoyed at not knowing.
With tears glistening in my eyes, I spoke brightly.
“Thank goodness!”
“Thank goodness for what!”
“Snort.”
Bing Yu Hua barely suppressed her laughter, while Nam Goong Baek pretended to look out the window, his shoulders trembling quietly.
With my worries eased, I laughed with delight.
Then I quickly covered my mouth with my small hands.
I had realized this wasn’t the time to be laughing.
Nam Goong Ho’s scolding awaited me at the Chang Cheon Pavilion.

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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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