The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36

 

***

 

Clatter, clatter, inside the returning carriage.

 

Perhaps because the tension had eased, only silence lingered.

 

Jin Saheon was still in a bad mood, glaring only out the window.

 

Moa fidgeted while watching her father’s mood.

 

‘He must be very angry.’

 

And rightfully so, since he had gone to protect his daughter only to return with one more burden instead.

 

Yehui, sitting across from them, felt the same way.

 

Just moments ago, she had been anxiously waiting in the waiting room prepared by the palace servants, hoping only for Moa’s return.

 

Then when she heard the news that Moa had disappeared, she nearly fainted.

 

Yehui barely suppressed the urge to rush out of the waiting room to search for her master.

 

She had made up her mind to scold Moa for about three hours once they found her, asking if she knew how worried everyone was, just like when they first met.

 

When she heard the news that Moa was safe, her legs nearly gave out from relief, but now that they were actually in the carriage, far from scolding her…

 

‘If Miss keeps being so anxious, she’ll make herself sick.’

 

She was worried about Moa’s restlessness and just wanted to comfort her.

 

“Um, Master…”

 

“…”

 

She tried to break the atmosphere by speaking up, but it didn’t help at all.

 

‘Sigh.’

 

Moa shrank even more.

 

Of course, Jin Saheon wasn’t the only one who was angry.

 

‘Somi, are you mad?’

 

[I definitely tried to stop you. What does it matter to you whether it’s Goseol, Kkabuyi, or Danhwi!]

 

Somi was a Guardian Spirit solely for Moa.

 

For Moa’s protection, she could become as ruthless as needed.

 

Somi, who shared senses with Moa from inside the bracelet, had also seen everything Moa had seen.

 

When she had completely reverted to being a cat, she couldn’t communicate and thus couldn’t give any advice, leaving her heart racing with worry.

 

Due to forcibly manifesting last time, she still couldn’t explode her power to manifest again.

 

[Yes, it’s pitiful. It is pitiful, but still, you Moa are more precious to me.]

 

‘Hehe, thank you, Somi.’

 

Even while being furious, why was the sound of Moa’s inner laughter so pleasant to hear?

 

Somi grumbled to Moa while being thoroughly sulky.

 

[That guy is dangerous. He smells dangerous! You’re still a kitten!]

 

To Somi, who was a full-grown cat, Moa’s transformed appearance was once again even more shocking.

 

She knew that at five years old, Moa wasn’t yet an adult even by human standards.

 

But seeing her in the familiar cat form that Somi was used to.

 

[You look like a complete kitten of only 2-3 months old!]

 

So ridiculously small, like dandelion seeds that would fly away with a gentle breath, Somi’s sense of urgency to protect Moa had grown even stronger.

 

‘But still…’

 

Moa inwardly recalled the reason she had decided to visit the Imperial Palace.

 

She thought Somi would eventually be convinced too.

 

True to clever Moa’s nature, she definitely had her own reasons.

 

[…I know, I know! The issue of why you change when you touch Goseol is definitely something we need to confirm.]

 

Being a Guardian Spirit didn’t mean knowing everything about Moa.

 

Somi also had doubts about the transformation issue.

 

[We need to find some way to protect your body. Until then, don’t carelessly go to the Imperial Palace!]

 

Somi seemed to have made some decision, leaving Moa with a warning before cutting off the conversation.

 

“…Moa.”

 

She had only concentrated briefly to talk with Somi, but since the child was being too quiet, Jin Saheon, who was concerned, spoke first.

 

“Daddy, are you angry?”

 

“…I’m not angry.”

 

“That’s a lie. Your brow is furrowed this much.”

 

Moa pressed and smoothed Jin Saheon’s furrowed brow with her small hands.

 

Only then did Jin Saheon sigh deeply and look down at Moa.

 

His eyes held not anger, but deep worry and affection.

 

“Of all things, to catch the attention of that snake-like bastard… I’m worried sick about how to protect you from now on.”

 

“Don’t worry so much it becomes like a mountain. I can do well!”

 

“Moa, if you really don’t want to go in two weeks, just tell me. I’ll overturn the Imperial Palace if I have to, so you won’t have to go.”

 

“No way, that won’t do. Then Daddy would have a hard time.”

 

Moa nuzzled her face against Jin Saheon’s chest, acting cute.

 

“Besides, today is a good day. We got the seal!”

 

“That’s right, when we get home, I’ll take you to the Ancestral Shrine.”

 

“Ancestral Shrine?”

 

Moa tilted her head at the unfamiliar term.

 

“It’s where the ancestral tablets of our clan’s ancestors are enshrined, where we believe the Jin Ryong Spirit slumbers. When we burn the paper we received today there, you’ll officially become my daughter.”

 

Not understanding why burning paper would make her a daughter.

 

Moa tilted her head in confusion before breaking into a bright smile.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, at that moment.

 

So worried about whether the cat had escaped safely, Danhwi had hidden in a path he usually never took.

 

It was a place he had never intended to visit since it was a path frequented by palace servants.

 

“They found that guest!”

 

Danhwi realized that ‘that guest’ was the person the Emperor’s Imperial Guards had been looking for.

 

‘The cat… did the cat escape safely?’

 

It seemed like they would need to thoroughly search all the paths where a cat might hide for a while.

 

Since he didn’t yet know that ‘that guest’ and the cat were the same person, Danhwi’s heart felt like it was burning up.

 

‘It has to be safe.’

 

Danhwi’s red eyes glowed like embers, regaining just a little bit of the will to live.

 

***

 

The massive main gate of Jinryongseoga opened, and the Head of the Manor’s carriage entered.

 

As soon as they entered the estate, a lively and warm energy greeted the carriage.

 

“Welcome back, Master!”

 

Even before the carriage stopped, the household members rushed out and bowed.

 

Their faces were filled with genuine joy and curiosity about the results.

 

“Yes, everyone step back.”

 

Jin Saheon spoke calmly as he got out of the carriage.

 

In his arms, Moa was nestled like a cotton ball, poking her head out.

 

Since Yehui had fixed her appearance again, no one noticed the dangerous adventure Moa had experienced today.

 

Yehui, who got out after them, naturally took her position behind Jin Saheon, guarding Moa’s blind spot.

 

“Master, may we open the doors to the Ancestral Shrine?”

 

The portly chief steward asked with gleaming eyes behind his glass spectacles.

 

He was asking whether Moa had received permission for adoption.

 

“Yes. This is one of the rare adoptions in our clan’s history. Let everyone who wishes to witness it know they may come.”

 

Though it was a procedure that could be done with just family, he had the desire to have Moa adopted amid everyone’s blessings.

 

The household members stirred with joy at the Master’s words.

 

Several ran off to spread the news throughout the clan.

 

“After the child has eaten, we’ll open the doors to the Ancestral Shrine immediately.”

 

Even while being eager to quickly adopt the child, Jin Saheon looked after Moa as he headed straight to Naedan.

 

***

 

Creak—

 

The heavy wooden door opened, revealing the solemn interior of the ancestral shrine.

 

An altar where countless memorial tablets were enshrined.

 

At its center lay a massive orb symbolizing the Jin Ryong Spirit.

 

The ancestral shrine was as important a space within the clan as Naedan, where the Head of the Manor’s family resided.

 

Normally, it would only be opened on special days like New Year ceremonies or ancestral rites.

 

And today it was opened for something even more special—to announce the birth of a new direct descendant of the Jinryong Clan.

 

Those who had come to witness the ceremony with the Head of the Manor’s generous permission filled the interior and exterior of the ancestral shrine densely.

 

“Sehui and Yehui, make sure to stay close behind Moa.”

 

At Jin Saheon’s command, the two maids bowed their heads.

 

It was an order given out of concern that the child might become anxious or startled by the large crowd.

 

Moa was wearing splendid ceremonial robes in blue, representing the Jinryong Clan, for the adoption ceremony.

 

After deciding to take Moa as an adopted daughter, Jaseonghwa had quickly mobilized all the clan’s resources to prepare this.

 

‘You’re so beautiful, my daughter.’

 

She had thought she would have no connection to anyone other than her sons in this life, but she never expected such a dignified and adorable daughter to come to her.

 

Jaseonghwa looked at Moa with slightly moist eyes, overcome with emotion.

 

‘She truly looks like a celestial being.’

 

Moa had her hair rolled up like dumplings on both sides, adorned with dragon-symbolizing ornaments and various blue flowers in front.

 

The layered skirt hem with various shades of blue wrapped around Moa’s small body abundantly.

 

It was exactly as Jaseonghwa intended—to give Moa all the noble blue colors in this world.

 

“Can you walk?”

 

Noticing that the child was extremely nervous, Jin Saheon lowered his head and whispered quietly.

 

The elders, warrior corps, maids, attendants, and people filling the seats—there were so many.

 

The interior of the ancestral shrine was too unfamiliar for a child, and the row of memorial tablets seemed to be gathered there to assess Moa’s qualifications.

 

Moreover, she was about to perform the final ceremony of real adoption with her beloved family.

 

Moa was so nervous that she was biting her lips tightly, rolling them inward.

 

Instead of answering, Moa’s head nodded up and down slightly.

 

“Good.”

 

Jin Saheon took Moa’s hand and walked to the front of the altar.

 

He took out the adoption documents stamped with the Emperor’s seal from his chest and held them over the incense burner.

 

“Jin Saheon, Head of the Manor of the Jinryong Clan, hereby announces. I wish to accept this child, Moa Han, as my blood and as a daughter of the clan. Please grant your permission.”

 

Hiss.

 

Blue flames caught onto the edge of the document.

 

In the moment everyone watched with bated breath.

 

The paper turned into golden ash and scattered smoothly into the air.

 

“The Jin Ryong Spirit has accepted the child!”

 

The paper that had disappeared perfectly without a single black smudge was proof of this.

 

Moa stared wide-eyed in amazement at the sight of the white paper turning into golden ash.

 

“Now you are truly my daughter.”

 

“Hooray! Long live Miss Moa!”

 

“Golden ash! Long live the Jin Ryong Spirit!”

 

Black smoke meant rejection. White ash meant permission.

 

And golden ash was an auspicious sign that only appeared for matters worthy of accompanying the clan’s glory.

 

Everyone watching sincerely accepted Moa and cheered.

 

Only Moa, who knew nothing, tilted her head in confusion.

 

The child’s gaze was directed not at the platform, but toward the upper part of the ancestral shrine.

 

‘Didn’t that orb up there just sparkle?’

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