A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 73

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

Chapter 73
Mae Ok Ryung walked around the Inn, surveying the dining hall. Every table was lined with empty bowls, wiped clean.
“I truly don’t know how to repay such kindness.”
Hong Seol spoke up suddenly.
“The Innkeeper’s skillful, meticulous cooking deserves credit too! If the food hadn’t been delicious, we wouldn’t have drawn such crowds.”
At her words, So So—who had been busy stealing glances at Nam Goong Baek the entire time—widened her eyes in agreement.
“It really was delicious, that… that fish dish! I’d never eaten anything like it before.”
Moved by the children’s praise, Mae Ok Ryung placed her hand—missing one finger—over her heart and let her eyebrows droop in an expression of deep emotion.
“To hear such kind words…”
“You’ll need to stay sharp, Innkeeper. Thanks to the Beggar Sect spreading word, even more people will come flooding in starting tomorrow!”
Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young added his own comment.
“After all, this fish dish can only be eaten here.”
He nudged Hong Seol’s ribs with his elbow.
“You’ll send fresh fish to the Branch Family Residence on the holidays, as promised, won’t you?”
Hong Seol answered promptly.
“Of course! Right, So So?”
“Ah… yes!”
So So, who had been gazing blankly at Nam Goong Baek, snapped back to attention and nodded.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing I prepared!”
Hong Seol hurried toward the Main Gate and reached for the flagpole hanging above it.
“Hm.”
She pulled a blue silk ribbon from her bosom and tried to tie it to the pole, but it was too high—her efforts kept falling short.
She bounced up and down, trying again and again.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across Hong Seol’s head.
“Let me have it.”
Nam Goong Baek took the blue silk ribbon from Hong Seol’s hands and tied it to the flagpole.
Just then, a breeze swept through, and the ribbon fluttered in the wind.
As it did, Nam Goong Baek’s name, written at the end, became visible—characters he had personally brushed onto the silk not long ago, at Hong Seol’s request.
Mae Ok Ryung looked puzzled.
“What is that, young lady?”
“It’s a sign that Young Master Nam Goong Baek enjoyed eating here!”
Hong Seol explained carefully.
“My brother can’t come here every day, but with this…”
“People will know that Young Master Nam Goong Baek has dined here!”
Yang Do Jin, listening to the explanation, marveled aloud.
“You’re truly a genius, Hong Seol.”
Hong Seol continued, explaining each detail deliberately.
“In case other inns try to copy us, my brother wrote his name on it as proof.”
“Incredible!”
Mae Ok Ryung covered her face with both hands, unable to hide her deep emotion.
“Thank you, thank you so much, miss!”
Hot tears streamed down between Mae Ok Ryung’s clasped hands.
“The truth is, I was planning to close the Inn in three days and follow my parents to the afterlife.”
“What?”
Hong Seol froze in shock.
It wasn’t just her. Everyone present stood speechless.
“Tch.”
Only the experienced Nam Goong Mu Young clicked his tongue with a bitter expression.
Mae Ok Ryung continued through her sobs.
“Since I can no longer play the pipa, I felt so foolish and worthless for not earning a single coin…”
“Don’t cry, sister!”
“How could Innkeeper Mae be worthless! You can cook such delicious food!”
“This place will become the finest Inn under heaven!”
Yang Do Jin, Hong Seol, and So So embraced Mae Ok Ryung with tears and snot streaming down their faces.
After her crying spell, Mae Ok Ryung seemed somewhat embarrassed.
She had quickly disappeared into the Kitchen to tidy up, which said it all.
Elder Judge Nam Goong Mu Young also left, claiming he had merchant business to attend to, and So So departed after being called by her mother.
“Let’s go as well.”
Nam Goong Baek was about to leave with Hong Seol.
“Wait!”
Yang Do Jin called out to Hong Seol as she turned to leave.
After a moment’s hesitation, Yang Do Jin looked directly into Hong Seol’s eyes and spoke.
“I’m truly grateful, Hong Seol!”
As he reached for Hong Seol’s hand, what his hand actually grasped was Nam Goong Baek’s.
With quick thinking, Nam Goong Baek had swapped places with Hong Seol in an instant.
“Ugh! What is this!”
Yang Do Jin recoiled with a grimace, hastily withdrawing.
Nam Goong Baek also shook his hand as if he’d touched something repulsive.
“How dare you lay hands on my sister.”
“W-what are you talking about! Lay hands?”
Mae Ok Ryung poked her head out from the Kitchen and scolded Yang Do Jin.
“Do Jin, you mustn’t speak to the young master that way!”
“Yes…”
Yang Do Jin answered dejectedly, his gaze returning to Hong Seol.
Then, suddenly gathering his resolve, he shouted loudly.
“I’m telling you, I’ll definitely become the leader of the Beggar Sect someday!”
Hong Seol’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh?”
Yang Do Jin’s entire face had turned red. Nam Goong Baek regarded him with an icy stare.
“I’ll become the Beggar Sect leader, and then Hong Seol will help you!”
“Thank you. I’ll be waiting for that day.”
Hong Seol’s eyes met Yang Do Jin’s, and she burst into bright laughter.
* * *
A woman watched Hong Seol’s figure with keen interest from atop the inn’s roof.
“The Nam Goong Family’s little kitten sacrificed herself to save her friends last time.”
It was Dok Bi Jo, a pipa slung across her back and a black hat pulled low over her brow.
Her gaze remained fixed on Hong Seol, whose cheeks flushed crimson as she laughed with delight.
“This time, she’s saving the inn, is she?”
Hmm.
Dok Bi Jo’s eyes gleamed as she leaped down without hesitation.
Then she walked toward Hong Seol and Nam Goong Baek, who were rounding the corner, as if by mere chance.
“So last time, Yang Do Jin used a carrier pigeon to…”
The little kitten was chattering away to the eldest young master of the Nam Goong Family beside her, seemingly finding everything amusing.
Though he pretended to listen attentively, his face was brimming with irritation.
It seemed the mention of Yang Do Jin from the kitten’s lips displeased him greatly.
‘How adorable. Hehehehe.’
Dok Bi Jo casually flicked a moderately sized pebble to the side.
The stone stopped precisely in front of Hong Seol’s hurrying feet—truly the work of a supernatural hand.
“Oh!”
Hong Seol, who had been chattering while looking at Nam Goong Baek, suddenly stumbled over the pebble.
Before Nam Goong Baek could extend his hand, Dok Bi Jo moved with lightning speed to intercede.
Under the guise of steadying her, Dok Bi Jo subtly grasped Hong Seol’s wrist.
“My goodness! Are you alright, dear?”
In that moment.
Hong Seol felt something tingling as it traced her meridians, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Then black shadows poured down from all directions.
They were warriors of the Changcheon Division.
“Who goes there!”
“How dare you lay hands on the young lady!”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, bearlike in his fury, roared. Dok Bi Jo then lifted her black hat slightly.
“Long time no see, blockhead.”
“Gasp!”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, recognizing Dok Bi Jo, leaped backward in shock.
“Lord, do you know this person?”
“…Somewhat.”
“I have places to be. I’ll take my leave.”
Dok Bi Jo spun on her heel and walked away.
The murmurs of the Changcheon Division warriors echoed behind her, but she paid them no mind.
Her thoughts were consumed entirely by Hong Seol—that child alone.
‘That little kitten… she possesses the Yin-Yang Severed Meridian.’
That would deviate significantly from my plan. Should I find a different child?
Dok Bi Jo rubbed her delicate cheek, looking troubled.
* * *
Heuk and Jeok threw open the doors to the Inner Hall Training Ground.
“First Brother! We’ve arrived!”
“Why are you dragging people out here at the crack of dawn?”
Nam Goong Heuk approached, picking at his ear with his pinky finger.
Nam Goong Baek stood in the center of the training ground, emanating a frost-like chill.
“Do you not sense the danger before us?”
“Danger? What danger?”
“The Pal Shin Woo.”
At those words, hostility flickered across Heuk’s face.
“The little one’s been getting awfully close to them lately, hasn’t she?”
Baek nodded quietly.
Jeok spoke with the expression of a puppy desperate to relieve itself.
“Well… now that you mention it, just a moment ago, Sister was playing with them in the Rear Garden Pavilion.”
“What?”
“Really?”
Nam Goong Baek and Nam Goong Heuk’s faces twisted.
“Damn it, I can’t take this anymore. Brother, did you see that?”
“See what?”
“Last time I noticed that beggar bastard looking at the little one with an unsettling gaze.”
“…You felt it too?”
“What do you mean by an unsettling gaze?”
Only the youngest, Jeok, looked confused, glancing back and forth between them.

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