The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

How dare she call Haejeoryeong ‘Bokbok’s daddy’!

 

At Moa’s innocent question, Haemuson was horrified and slammed his head to the floor.

 

“Gasp! The child doesn’t know any better, so please forgive her impiety!”

 

[Ho ho ho.]

 

However, far from being angry, Haejeoryeong burst into thunderous laughter.

 

Massive breath puffed out, disheveling Moa’s bangs.

 

[All spiritual creatures of the Haejeo Family came from me, so it’s not wrong.]

 

Haejeoryeong’s gaze turned toward Moa.

 

Deep curiosity dwelled in those eyes.

 

[Come closer, little one.]

 

As Moa hesitantly approached, Haejeoryeong lowered his massive head to smell Moa.

 

Sniff, sniff.

 

His rough breathing made Moa’s clothes flutter like they were caught in a typhoon.

 

[You carry a nostalgic scent. From long, long ago, the fragrance of That Person who sent us down to the earthly realm.]

 

“That Person?”

 

[Little one, you helped me when I was weakened.]

 

“Ah! Bokbok was sick, so Haejeoryeong was sick too?”

 

Thanks to her experience meeting Jin Cheonryong once, Moa understood instantly.

 

“But I still haven’t solved that thing yet…”

 

Moa pointed at the mark on Haemuson’s face and pouted.

 

Earlier, she had pointed at Haemuson’s face and tried to peel it off just in case, but it wasn’t actually a sticker and wouldn’t come off.

 

[That can be resolved quickly. I must discuss the main issue.]

 

Haejeoryeong’s atmosphere instantly became heavy.

 

He turned his head to look down at the kneeling Haemuson.

 

[Young people these days have no spirit! Tsk!]

 

Haemuson sweated profusely as he humbly accepted Haejeoryeong’s rebuke.

 

[I clearly said it. Shutting doors and hiding is not the way of the pig!]

 

Haemuson’s shoulders visibly trembled.

 

Jin Saheon’s eyes sharpened.

 

He suspected it wasn’t simply because of his son’s illness that they had sealed their doors.

 

“Head of the Hae Family. Is there something you’re hiding?”

 

“…Head of the Jin Family.”

 

Haemuson raised his head with a pained expression.

 

[If you reveal the truth, there won’t be any more troublesome matters regarding your son’s problem. That little one will solve it.]

 

At Haejeoryeong’s words, Haemuson finally opened his mouth as if resigned.

 

“The truth is… I knew.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Why my son, and why our clan ended up in this state.”

 

Haemuson’s gaze turned toward the direction of the Imperial Palace.

 

“The culprit is… His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Haemuson also suspected the Emperor as the culprit!

 

Jin Saheon clenched his fists tightly.

 

“The problem with our Haesoo happened two years ago.”

 

Two years ago, the Emperor summoned the heads and heirs of the Twelve Families to the Imperial Palace for a grand banquet.

 

It was supposedly a celebration of the Empire’s prosperity, but in reality, it was a setup to target the Haejeo Family.

 

“That day, His Majesty bestowed a ‘bronze incense burner’ upon my son. He praised it as an ancient relic.”

 

Haemuson continued with trembling rage.

 

“It was from the night he brought that incense burner home. Su began showing strange symptoms. He said an unknown foul stench was pervading the entire house.”

 

The Haejeo Family was a clan that used their senses for exploration.

 

Because of this, many of them were temperamentally fastidious.

 

And this time, that sensitive perception became poison instead.

 

The curse flowing from the incense burner destroyed Haesoo and Hongboki’s five senses, nearly driving them mad.

 

“When I realized the culprit was His Majesty the Emperor… I despaired. How could I fight against the Emperor?”

 

“If what you say is true, don’t you have evidence? Didn’t you think to at least confront the Emperor?”

 

At Jin Saheon’s question, veins bulged in Haemuson’s neck.

 

When he learned that Haesoo was cursed, he had already tried every method to break the bronze incense burner or dispel the curse.

 

But the bronze incense burner wouldn’t break by any means, and those who investigated all said it was ‘an object unrelated to any curse.’

 

Even though he was certain his son’s problems were caused by the incense burner, it couldn’t be used as evidence.

 

“Besides, I couldn’t go confront His Majesty. Because I knew… why this happened to Su.”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

Was there a reason the Emperor targeted the young boy?

 

While Jin Saheon was confused, Haesoo interjected with eyes blazing with fury.

 

“I discovered it. The fact that the Imperial Court was involved in the Ohwa Family’s annihilation.”

 

Haesoo’s words struck Jin Saheon with tremendous shock.

 

The Ohwa Family, who served Ohwaryeong, the horse guardian spirit.

 

Two and a half years ago, a deadly epidemic swept through the clan, causing its collapse, leaving only ruins now.

 

‘How could that happen when a guardian spirit protects them?’

 

Back then, people whispered that perhaps the Heavenly Deity and guardian spirits had turned their backs.

 

The Imperial Court actually explained that the Ohwa Family had committed grave wrongs, causing the guardian spirit to leave, thus suppressing public sentiment.

 

But to think it was actually the Emperor’s doing.

 

“The Emperor discovered that Su had noticed his shameful secret. Since he couldn’t assassinate or harm the child within the clan under Haejeoryeong’s protection, he held an imperial banquet to lure him out.”

 

“Such…”

 

Haesoo, whose abilities were too outstanding, wanted to know about the tragedy that befell the Ohwa Family.

 

Because of this, he frequently ran to the Ohwa Family’s territory, which was now just ruins, trying to uncover the truth.

 

“Without clear evidence, our clan alone couldn’t commit treason.”

 

“That… I would have done the same.”

 

“So I ran away. Meaning we would seal our doors, so please don’t kill my son…”

 

A desperate choice as both father and head of the clan, choosing survival in exchange for covering up the truth.

 

At Haemuson’s confession, Haesoo’s eyes reddened.

 

Then, breaking the silence, Moa’s voice was heard.

 

“But even if you hide, you keep hurting.”

 

Moa pointed at Haesoo’s chest area with her finger.

 

“What if you go crazy living while smelling bad smells every day? If he was going to spare you, he would have removed the curse long ago.”

 

Hiding was useless.

 

Moa’s words were cruelly accurate.

 

Though they sealed their doors and lay low, the Emperor had no intention of sparing the Haejeo Family and Haesoo.

 

It was merely a grace period of slowly withering away.

 

“…I see. Hiding was useless.”

 

Haemuson laughed hollowly.

 

Jin Saheon slowly approached and placed his hand on Haemuson’s shoulder. It was a firm, warm touch.

 

“The Emperor is slowly hunting us. Our Jinryong Clan as well.”

 

Ordinary nobles hide their misfortunes for fear they might become shameful secrets.

 

The Emperor was using this tendency to defeat the Twelve Families one by one.

 

“The Emperor… just how far does he intend to fall?”

 

Haemuson’s body trembled upon hearing about what happened to the Jinryong Clan.

 

His choice to hide might have become the worst move that would slowly devour even Haejeoryeong.

 

When that thought occurred to him, the back of Haemuson’s neck bristled with fear.

 

“To protect, there are times when one must draw the sword. Even if the opponent is the Imperial Court blessed by the Heavenly Deity…”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Even if it’s impossible alone, wouldn’t the story be different if we Twelve Families joined forces?”

 

The Imperial Court protects the people, and the Twelve Families protect the Imperial Court.

 

This is the natural order established by divine law.

 

However, the Emperor treated the Twelve Families not as people he should protect, but as prey to be hunted.

 

“…I was too cowardly.”

 

Haemuson’s eyes wavered. His fingertips trembled as he flailed in the air, trying to support his swaying body.

 

The fear and helplessness that had weighed him down for two years. A ray of light to dispel that darkness was right before his eyes.

 

He finally pressed his hands to the floor and stood up.

 

“Good. I will no longer hide. I will make sure the price is paid for what was done to my son.”

 

[You have thought well.]

 

Haejeoryeong, who had been watching, burst into satisfied laughter.

 

The breath of the giant boar spirit poured out, clearing away the mist inside the shrine.

 

[Head of Jinryong. I pay my respects to your courage. As far as my power reaches, the Haejeo Family will become Jinryong Clan’s most reliable ‘eyes’ and ‘nose.’]

 

“Thank you, Lord Haejeoryeong.”

 

Jin Saheon bowed his head deeply.

 

With this, an alliance between the two great families supporting the Empire was formed.

 

It was the first prelude to counterattack against the Emperor’s conspiracy.

 

[And little one.]

 

Haejeoryeong lowered his massive head to meet eyes with Moa.

 

[I cannot send away empty-handed the benefactor who saved my child. I shall give you a gift.]

 

“A gift? Like candy?”

 

Moa smiled brightly and held out both hands.

 

[Hehe, something even better than that.]

 

Red light emanated from Haejeoryeong and seeped into Moa.

 

A warm and heavy energy entered Moa’s body.

 

[From now on, wherever you are, it will help you find the path to where you want to go.]

 

He had shared the power of ‘Search,’ the authority of the Haejeo Family.

 

Moa looked down at her body curiously, then gave a bow.

 

“Thank you, Pig Grandfather!”

 

[…Grandfather, you say.]

 

Haejeoryeong made a strangely shocked expression, but Somi giggled beside them.

 

[I have one last request. That bronze incense burner – you should be able to handle it.]

 

“Huh?”

 

Before the confused Moa’s eyes, a tightly wrapped box in the corner became visible.

 

“Oh, that box looks bright!”

 

[That is the power of Search.]

 

“Wow!”

 

Moa realized there was a bronze incense burner inside the sealed box.

 

“Moa, it might be dangerous…”

 

As the child fearlessly approached the cursed medium, Jin Saheon startled and grabbed Moa.

 

[That child is the strongest of anyone in this place.]

 

However, a gentle breath pushed Jin Saheon away.

 

Moa was stronger than Jin Saheon, who was called the greatest in the world?

 

Jin Saheon couldn’t understand Haejeoryeong’s words and hesitated.

 

‘It would be hard to think that includes Haejeoryeong himself.’

 

Somi had an amazing thought inwardly.

 

A five-year-old Moa was stronger than Haejeoryeong, who had lived for thousands of years?

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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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