A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 54

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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 54
“Here are your dumplings, sir!”
The Innkeeper, who had brought the food himself in place of Jeom So Yi, announced cheerfully.
He was a man who had once aspired to become an outer hall warrior of the Nam Goong Family Estate, but after three failed attempts, had given up and opened this inn instead.
“Our dumplings are as enormous as the head of Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol over there!”
Thud!
A dumpling the size of a human head sat upon the wooden table—the famous “Nam Goong Dumpling.”
This was the Hong Hwa Inn’s most popular dish.
He had brazenly borrowed the Nam Goong name for his creation; if the family ever found out, there would be hell to pay.
Clearly, this man was running his business on sheer audacity.
“This dumpling has become so renowned that any traveler visiting Hefei simply must taste it.”
Especially on days when the Nam Goong Family held examinations for outer hall warriors, the inn would fill with martial artists who had failed the test, drowning their sorrows here.
On such days, they all soothed their frustration by chewing dumplings the size of Changcheon Master Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s head.
Today happened to be one of those days.
The Pipa Woman, with her instrument strapped across her back, cast a sidelong glance at the men at the adjacent table, who were pouring drinks.
“Bah! What right does that big-headed Changcheon Master have to judge me!”
“How many people in this world could retrieve a peacock feather dangling from the end of a pole?”
They were devouring the enormous dumplings with gusto.
Displeased by their conversation, the Pipa Woman’s brows furrowed.
She took a bite of her dumpling, then rinsed her mouth with the wine cup beside her.
“Hmph, nothing special. Just ruined my palate.”
“Excuse me, why must you find fault with a perfectly delicious dumpling?”
A man who had overheard her muttering rebuked her. His restless body language suggested he was spoiling for a confrontation with anyone.
“Blame my crude taste, not the dumpling! Hehehehe!”
The men at the neighboring table burst into laughter.
The woman’s lips twisted, revealing white fangs in a predatory grin.
“Those bundled up in cowardice might actually enjoy this dumpling.”
“What did you say!”
Crash!
A group of warriors leaped to their feet, overturning their table.
Only a few bites remained of their dumplings, still steaming on their plates.
“Are you mocking us, woman?”
“Oh dear, p-please calm yourselves, sirs.”
The Innkeeper’s face went pale. But the men eating dumplings paid him no mind.
They simply needed someone to vent their frustrations upon.
“Do you know who we are, you wench!”
“Who?”
Five against one—a clearly disadvantageous situation—yet the Pipa Woman showed not a trace of intimidation.
“The Anhui Five Dragons! Haven’t you heard, you country bumpkin!”
He called her a country bumpkin because of her tattered clothing.
“Judging by the lack of weapons, she’s just some woman passing through.”
In that case, they should simply let her go.
But those already flushed with drink saw nothing clearly.
“Come here and pour us some drinks! Then we might overlook your insolence.”
The woman smiled softly.
“It seems ‘Anhui Five Dragons’ suits you lot far better.”
“Five Dragons? Are you calling us earthworms?”
Crack!
One man, his rage reaching a boiling point, drove his fist infused with inner force through the table beside him, shattering it.
He then wrenched free a table leg and swung it at the woman with lightning speed.
“Hyaaah!”
Thwack!
The table leg came crashing down on the chair where the woman had been sitting.
But the Pipa Woman was already gone.
“Huh?”
The bewildered swordsmen looked around frantically.
“How foolish.”
The woman, who had already embedded her fingernails into the ceiling and clung there, muttered softly before launching herself downward—not toward the floor, but directly at the face of the man holding the table leg.
Pow!
Her merciless kick sent teeth scattering like shattered porcelain.
“Brother!”
Before shock could even settle in.
The remaining four rushed at the Pipa Woman simultaneously.
Thud! Pow!
Her fierce palm strikes found their marks—the jaws and solar plexuses of two swordsmen.
Crack!
With the sound of air tearing, the two men who’d taken the full force of her palms crashed backward.
“You… you shameless wench!”
One of the two remaining men stepped back and drew a gleaming broadsword.
Fury burned in his eyes.
“I’ll teach this insolent woman a lesson with the Changcheon technique I’ve honed all these years!”
The woman didn’t even assume a proper stance, merely exhaling a sigh.
“Tsk, and here you are, someone who couldn’t even be selected for the Oe Dang, speaking of Changcheon techniques.”
“Hyaaah!”
Whoosh.
In an instant, as the blade came slicing in from her side, she deflected it effortlessly.
Then she picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table and aimed them.
Whistle!
The chopsticks pierced the man’s knee in a heartbeat.
“Argh!”
The man hurled his sword away and collapsed to the ground, writhing like a fallen leaf, clutching at his knees.
The last remaining man froze.
His hesitation between fleeing and standing his ground was painfully obvious.
The woman smiled with crimson lips.
“Very well. I shall grace you with an especially fine performance.”
It was the moment the man, having resolved to flee, spun around hastily.
In that instant, the tattered cloth wrapped around the pipa on her back came undone.
Ding!
Her delicate fingers gripped the plectrum and drew across the strings.
Her technique was clumsy beyond measure.
Yet something extraordinary occurred.
“Wha…?”
Blood sprayed from the man’s mouth as his body convulsed upward.
Ding!
As the next note rang out, the man collapsed flat onto the ground.
That was not all.
Those already fallen before her began spewing blood in succession with each passing note.
The only unharmed soul present was the Innkeeper standing behind her.
To infuse inner energy into sound and even control its directional flow—
It was a truly astounding sound technique.
“As expected, these Orthodox Sect fools are pathetic. I had hoped to find someone worthwhile in Anhui, but from the start, it’s been a disaster.”
With those words, the woman turned toward where the Innkeeper stood.
A deep crimson malevolent aura flowed from her entire being.
The Innkeeper cried out in terror and prostrated himself on the ground.
“P-p-please spare me! Mercy! I didn’t recognize you, esteemed lady!”
The Pipa Woman, shouldering her instrument once more, furrowed her brow and donned a black bamboo hat.
Then she tossed something into the Innkeeper’s arms.
“Good heavens!”
Thinking it was a human skull, the Innkeeper leaped to his feet in shock.
“I apologize for destroying your inn. Please accept this as compensation.”
“Eh?”
“Ah, those dumplings were rather tasteless and pointless anyway. You’d do well to stop making them.”
Only then did the Innkeeper examine carefully what the woman in black had thrown to him.
“Th-this is! A pouch of silver, isn’t it!”
Inside was more than enough to repair the destroyed inn and have plenty left over.
When the startled Innkeeper lifted his head,
The Pipa Woman had vanished without a trace.
* * *
Baek, Heuk, and Jeok suddenly found themselves attending the Academy.
It was because there were no longer any scholars worthy of inviting to the Inner Hall of the Nam Goong Family Estate.
‘That genius Nam Goong Baek had trampled the pride of countless scholars during his time here.’
And just recently, a great scholar who had retired to his hometown opened a new academy in Hefei.
“Um, could I go to the academy too?”
If the three brothers were going, I wanted to go with them no matter what.
“Dear child, I’m sorry, but going to the academy would be far too dangerous.”
Bing Yu Hua gently dissuaded me.
The family head Nam Goong On was equally concerned about my safety.
“That’s right. We can’t have rumors spreading through the children that you’re at the Nam Goong Family Estate reaching the Myo Family Estate.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I answered obediently, but my drooping shoulders betrayed my disappointment.
Unable to bear it, Nam Goong On bent down to meet my eyes.
“Don’t be so disheartened, Hong Seol. Instead, I’ll take you to the Market District.”
At Nam Goong On’s words, Bing Yu Hua’s brows furrowed. She wasn’t comfortable with letting the child roam outside.
“Really?”
“Yes. You’ve always wanted to go to the Market District, haven’t you?”
At that, her expression softened.
The child had always said she wanted to go—how could I refuse? I should let her have at least that much.
Hesitant, I asked carefully.
“Then, would it be alright if I asked for just one more thing?”
My eyes sparkled like sugar glazed with honey.
At that gaze, Nam Goong On felt he would do anything for my request.
“Of course. Shall I buy you a hairpin? Or perhaps a jade ring?”
Bing Yu Hua gave Nam Goong On a look of utter exasperation.
It was the gaze of someone asking whether he knew nothing but gifts for winning a woman’s heart, now as always.
“The child might wish to eat some delicious thin noodles instead.”
“Thin noodles? You speak of such cheap fare?”
“When one eats only rich dishes constantly, sometimes simple food becomes appealing. But someone raised being indulged within the Nam Goong Family Estate grounds their whole life wouldn’t understand that.”
Here we go again.
The moment either of them let their guard down, they would snarl at each other over trifles.
Before it could escalate into a real argument, I shook my head with a sly smile.
“That’s not what I’m asking for!”
“Then what do you wish for, dear child?”
At Bing Yu Hua’s words, I smiled brightly.
“I want the three of us—you, the family head, and the Medicine Master—to go to the Market District together.”
“Ah….”
“And I want to hold both of your hands while we walk.”
It seemed they hadn’t expected such a request.
Judging by how both of them fell silent at once.
I deliberately widened my eyes even more, making them sparkle with hope.
“You’ll grant my wish, won’t you?”

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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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