A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 75

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

Chapter 75
In stark contrast, the gathered members of the Nam Goong Family Estate were holding their breath.
Wan Li Yi Xian stroked his long beard once before speaking.
“…The blood vessels have healed well, at least.”
“Phew!”
“Thank heavens!”
Only then did sighs of relief escape from various corners of the room.
“The question is whether this child’s yin-yang severed meridians are at a level that can be repaired….”
Bing Yu Hua stepped closer.
“To speak plainly, there is a method.”
“Incredible!”
“What is it?”
“The Yin-Yang Opening Blood Grand Technique.”
At the unfamiliar name, Nam Goong On’s eyebrows twitched. He turned to look at Bing Yu Hua standing beside him, but she merely shook her head, clearly hearing the name for the first time as well.
“Nothing special about it. It’s merely another name for the Meridian Passage Technique.”
“Ah!”
At those words, everyone’s faces brightened. Hong Seol, understanding nothing, asked quietly.
“What is the Meridian Passage Technique?”
Wan Li Yi Xian answered.
“It’s when someone uses their inner energy to heal another person’s blood vessels.”
“Can anyone do it?”
“Normally, yes, but your case is somewhat different.”
At those words, the atmosphere grew tense. Wan Li Yi Xian lifted his eyes to regard the people in the room.
“To heal yin-yang severed meridians, a master of Hwagyeong is required.”
The Meridian Passage Technique is exhausting. Extraordinarily exhausting.
Because of this, masters who performed the Meridian Passage Technique typically went into seclusion afterward. They had to expend at least twenty years’ worth of their cultivation in a single treatment.
If an enemy with a grudge attacked during that time, there would be no hope.
“That’s no problem.”
Nam Goong Ho’s answer came readily.
“I can do it.”
“At minimum, two.”
Wan Li Yi Xian added.
“To heal yin-yang severed meridians, two masters of Hwagyeong must perform the Meridian Passage Technique simultaneously.”
Silence fell over the room.
Hwagyeong—a realm equal to that of Sword King Nam Goong Ho.
Even searching the entire Martial Arts World, including the Orthodox Sects and the Demonic Cult, one would find fewer than ten masters of such caliber.
Would such masters willingly exhaust their inner energy performing the Meridian Passage Technique?
“Wan Li Yi Xian, sir, what you’re saying is….”
Nam Goong On, who had been about to say ‘that’s the same as saying it’s impossible,’ closed his mouth.
Hong Seol’s innocent blinking eyes had entered his field of vision.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell you that you would never recover.
Nam Goong On called out to Nam Goong Ui Gyeol instead of speaking.
“Ui Gyeol! Please escort Hong Seol to her quarters.”
“Yes! Let’s go, Miss.”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol left without hesitation, taking Hong Seol with him.
The moment Hong Seol disappeared, the atmosphere grew heavier and more oppressive.
Wan Li Yi Xian stroked his beard, which wafted the scent of medicinal herbs, his expression bitter.
Bing Yu Hua was clearly holding back tears with great effort.
Among them, only Nam Goong Ho stared into the void with eyes blazing like fire.
Nam Goong On parted his trembling lips.
“Father….”
“Enough of your noise. Don’t say another word.”
“But we must discuss countermeasures… Surely there must be another way at this moment.”
“Why would there be no way!”
At those words, Nam Goong On sealed his lips shut.
Nam Goong Ho’s eyes burned with an unbreakable will.
“I will summon the old man from the Tang family.”
Poison King Dang Yi Mu—a master of Hwagyeong like himself and the Grand Elder of the Sichuan Tang Family.
He would ask for help from an old friend with whom he had once swept through the Martial Arts World in their youth.
“We won’t know unless we try, will we?”
“…If that is your wish, Father, I shall send a messenger bird at once.”
Nam Goong On replied.
This meant that whatever price the Sichuan Tang Family demanded in exchange for treating Hong Seol’s severed meridians, the Nam Goong Family would pay.
“Hmm, but we still haven’t repaid the debt from last time….”
Nam Goong Ho sighed deeply, recalling the thousand-year-old fleece flower root.
* * *
After sending the messenger bird toward the Sichuan Tang Family, a strange sense of anticipation permeated the Nam Goong Family Estate.
“Haven’t you noticed the elders’ expressions seem brighter these days?”
“They say there’s a possibility that the First Young Master’s condition might improve—is it really true?”
“Shh, what if someone hears! If word spreads outside, we’re all done for. They’ve all trained in martial arts, so their ears are sharp as ever.”
That whisper reached the ears of Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, who stood in the Training Ground with the direct line disciples.
He sighed inwardly.
‘Since I heard it, the First Young Master surely heard it too.’
Nam Goong Baek before him held his sword with his usual expressionless face.
But Nam Goong Ui Gyeol could see that his jaw was clenched slightly tighter than normal.
“Young Master.”
Nam Goong Baek lifted his silver eyebrows. Nam Goong Ui Gyeol asked quietly, yet with firm resolve.
“Shall I tell them to keep their mouths shut?”
Ha.
Nam Goong Baek let out a small sound like a scoff. But his face showed no trace of amusement.
“Ui Gyeol, have you ever witnessed the Piercing Blood Technique being performed?”
“Yes, I have experienced it a couple of times.”
“Does the recipient’s body suffer strain from it?”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol hesitated before answering.
It was obvious who he was thinking of when asking such a question.
“Answer me.”
Only after Nam Goong Baek pressed him did Nam Goong Ui Gyeol finally speak.
“Yes, there is considerable strain.”
“How severe can the symptoms be?”
“…In the worst cases, one can lose their life.”
“…!”
At Ui Gyeol’s words, Nam Goong Baek’s eyes widened. Then he bit his lip and bowed his head deeply.
Tension coiled through his arm.
Crack!
The sword he held pierced the Blue Stone floor with a sharp slash.
It was pure venting of frustration.
Yet Nam Goong Baek’s face remained etched with helplessness and worry.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol had never seen Nam Goong Baek lose his composure like this while holding a sword in recent memory.
Concerned by this display, Nam Goong Ui Gyeol hastened to speak.
“However, that is only in the worst case. Most people complete the Piercing Blood Technique without incident. If the practitioner is skilled, there is nothing to worry about.”
“In the Changcheon Master’s judgment, is Seol skilled?”
“….”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol found himself at a loss for words.
“…I will end today’s training here.”
Nam Goong Baek abruptly left the Training Ground.
“Young Master!”
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol’s urgent voice echoed behind him.
* * *
“That’s right, that’s right!”
“Hah!”
“Our Seol truly possesses remarkable martial talent.”
Nam Goong Baek came to a halt before the Training Ground entrance.
From within came sounds not of martial cultivation, but rather like a grandfather watching his granddaughter’s playful antics.
“Yes, let’s call it a day. It seems we have an uninvited guest as well.”
Nam Goong Baek furrowed his brow. Truly, what a ghostly old man.
“Come in!”
As Nam Goong Baek entered, Hong Seol, wiping sweat from her brow, brightened.
“Older Brother!”
In that instant, Nam Goong Baek’s eyes softened.
Nam Goong Ho, noticing this, spoke a word.
“How about it, Hong Seol? Won’t you show Baek your progress?”
“Of course!”
Hong Seol laughed brightly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Nam Goong Baek caught the gaze Nam Goong Ho directed at me and glanced back at him.
‘He’s trying to provoke me.’
His intentions were so transparent I nearly laughed aloud.
Yet I found myself curious to see Hong Seol demonstrate her martial arts.
‘I wonder how many forms of the Changcheon Sword Technique she’s mastered by now.’
I already knew from previous accounts that Hong Seol had distinguished herself in the martial competition.
‘Even without internal energy, she’d be far superior to fools like Nam Goong Jong Woo or Nam Goong Do.’
“I’ll begin.”
But the moment Hong Seol revealed her small crown and took her stance, I couldn’t help but be startled.
“That’s… fist technique?”
Instead of drawing a blade, Hong Seol clenched her small fists tightly and faced forward.
“The cat beasts of the Myo Family Estate are known for their mastery of fist technique and claw technique.”
Nam Goong Ho’s voice reached my ears in a low murmur.
“And I’ve heard that the cat humanoids of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace—now lost to history—also favored those two disciplines. So I taught her some fist technique.”
Nam Goong Ho fell silent and simply watched Hong Seol.
After steadying her breathing, Hong Seol moved her feet and in an instant scaled the wall of the Training Ground.
Nam Goong Baek’s eyebrows twitched.
‘She executes the Heavenly Wind Divine Method so effortlessly?’
Martial arts are always perfected by first learning form and technique, then infusing them with internal energy.
Though lacking internal energy made it only a half-realized version of the Heavenly Wind Divine Method, Nam Goong Baek could see at a glance.
Just how exceptional Hong Seol truly was.
Having pushed off the wall, Hong Seol somersaulted through the air and landed on the ground, then immediately pivoted her body.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Hong Seol’s small fists, flowing with exquisite footwork, cut through the air with considerable sharpness.
“Hah!”
This time, Hong Seol propelled herself lightly into the air, changed direction, and drove her small fist down into the ground.
Boom!
The impact was weak. But…
‘If even a feather’s worth of internal energy were channeled into that strike…’
Stone might be unaffected, but twenty roof tiles would shatter effortlessly.
‘This child possesses genuine talent.’
Nam Goong Baek’s eyes grew distant and contemplative.
‘But… the Piercing Acupoint technique is far too dangerous.’
The memory surfaced of finding Hong Seol before the collapsed Underground Chamber not long ago.
The small child limp in the beggar’s arms.

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