Chapter 33
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A well-built boy with a snub nose stood before her.
‘I've never seen that boy before.’
From the sash around his waist to the sword on his back.
Everything the boy wore was valuable, yet there was something vulgar about him.
Perhaps it was because of his sneering tone.
“My, my, it's so difficult to get an audience with the precious eldest grandson of the Namgung Clan.”
“Brother Namgung Do.”
Namgung Baek said his name with a sigh. The feeling was one of utter weariness.
‘Namgung Do?’
She had heard that name somewhere before. Hong-seol recalled the maid's words from the kitchen.
“Oh, young master! Young Master Namgung Do from the branch family was looking for you a little while ago.”
Only then did Hong-seol spot the cloud pattern symbolizing the Namgung Clan at the hem of Namgung Do's clothes. However, unlike Namgung Baek's, the pattern was not a whole cloud but one split in half.
‘So he's the young master of the Namgung branch family.’
She had heard from Maeran that the current clan lord Namgung On's younger brother had established his own household nearby.
‘She said his only son was quite skilled in Martial Arts.’
Hong-seol quietly observed Namgung Do.
His face was as youthful as Brother Namgung Baek's, but he was a good handspan taller. One could say he had a truly imposing physique.
“I suppose the high and mighty Young Master Namgung Baek of the main family isn't happy to see his cousin after so long? To think you wouldn't even show your face for tea.”
“As you can see, I was busy, Brother.”
Namgung Baek replied in a voice devoid of any sincerity. Provoked, Namgung Do started another argument.
“And what's that in your arms? I thought you were wearing a fur scarf even in spring because you're so sickly, but isn't that a kitten?”
Hong-seol began to feel frightened by his glare. In an instant, her tail puffed up thick as a laundry bat. Seeing this, Namgung Do sneered.
“Look at the little beast getting all defensive. Namgung Baek, since when did the great eldest grandson of the Namgung Clan sink to waiting on a cat?”
“...”
Whether he waits on a cat or a colt is his business!
Despite her fear, Hong-seol's anger began to boil.
But Namgung Baek remained silent, as if the words weren't even worth a response.
“Ah, or is it because you're about to die that Heuk and Jeok don't treat you like an older brother? Is that why you're raising that cat as a younger sibling?”
About to die!
At those words, Hong-seol became so angry her nose turned red.
‘H-how could he say such a thing!’
Who on earth speaks of another's pain in such a way? At least, by the code of the Martial World that Hong-seol had learned secondhand, it was an unthinkable act.
‘I knew the story that Brother would die when he turned twenty because he was poisoned...’
But to think there was a scoundrel who would say it so openly.
‘I just heard I couldn't use my Inner Energy and I sulked in my room for days.’
When she thought of the wound her heart suffered then...
Hong-seol couldn't even imagine how Namgung Baek must be feeling right now.
Although she couldn't say they were close, right now, if she could, she wanted to give the much larger Namgung Baek a tight hug.
But unlike Hong-seol, who was trembling with uncontrollable anger, Namgung Baek simply let it pass with a smirk.
“A younger sibling, you say. Well, perhaps.”
“Then that's too pitiful for the cat. What will it do when its brother dies and turns cold and stiff soon?”
At those words, it was not Namgung Baek but Hong-seol who was stunned.
Turns cold and stiff.
Hong-seol had already experienced that once.
On a snowy day, on Mount Daechok.
The memory of that day, when she had collapsed under a blanket of dark despair, slowly resurfaced within her.
‘When he turns twenty, Brother Baek will also...’
...meet a lonely death.
As she recalled that fact, a stifling sadness filled her small chest.
‘Is Brother okay?’
Hong-seol mustered her courage and glanced at Namgung Baek's face.
Was it because he had walked alongside his impending death for so long?
His expression, which seemed unfazed even by Namgung Do's provocations, made Hong-seol even sadder.
‘How pitiful...’
In that moment, Hong-seol sincerely wished that Namgung Baek could escape his fate and find happiness.
Just then, Namgung Do's insolent voice rang out sharply.
“You can't escape your fate of dying anyway. So why not give up and hand over the position of heir to the clan to me?”
‘W-what did he say?’
All the fur on Hong-seol's body stood on end.
Even though he knew the entire family was doing everything in their power to save Namgung Baek.
How could he say such a thing!
She became so angry that her head grew cool instead.
Hong-seol pressed her fluffy lips together tightly.
Namgung Baek had probably been hearing such things constantly, all because they were family.
‘And each time, Brother must have silently endured it, just like now...’
Just because you're used to it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
‘Right now, I'm in my cat form.’
If that's the case, even if I teach that wicked boy a lesson, they might just dismiss it as something an animal couldn't help doing.
‘It's scary. It's scary, but...’
Clenching her teeth, Hong-seol spread her right front paw.
‘Good.’
As it happened, she had sharply honed claws.
Since Namgung Do's appearance, Namgung Baek's arms had also loosened considerably.
‘I'm going to show that wicked young master a thing or two.’
A single canine tooth, peeking out from the corner of her mouth, seemed to represent Hong-seol's firm resolve.
The moment the canine glinted in the sunlight.
“Kyaong!”
Before Namgung Baek had a chance to stop her, Hong-seol bravely lunged at Namgung Do.
It was a move unthinkable for the usually timid Hong-seol.
The fact that she and Namgung Baek were distant was completely unimportant in that moment.
“Hong-seol!”
Namgung Baek's urgent voice rang out. But it was already too late.
In an instant, Hong-seol was right in front of Namgung Do's broad face.
“Ugh!”
A panicked Namgung Do flailed his arms wildly in front of him.
Swoosh.
Namgung Do's crude fist, like a giant steamed bun, grazed perilously past Hong-seol's cheek.
‘I won't let you get away with this!’
Trembling with fear, Hong-seol refused to back down, latching onto Namgung Do's face and extending her claws.
Everything was going as planned.
‘This is the price for tormenting my pitiful Brother, you bastard!’
Shk-shk-shk!
In an instant, several thin red lines appeared on Namgung Do's face.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
Namgung Do was a big baby. He shook his head and let out a great howl. In the process, Hong-seol, who had been clinging to his hair with one paw, was sent flying into the air.
Whoosh—
She was in danger of falling to the ground.
Just then, Namgung Baek swiftly caught Hong-seol and held her tight.
“That's enough!”
“Kyaak!”
Her anger not yet subsided, Hong-seol continued to hiss at Namgung Do from within Namgung Baek's arms.
Meanwhile, Namgung Do, having confirmed that his face was bleeding, had a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“Ah, you crazy little cat! You're dead today!”
Namgung Do drew the gleaming blue sword from his back and aimed it.
“I'll give you a taste of my Sword Art of the Great Azure Expanse, which I recently mastered to the third stage.”
The Sword Art of the Great Azure Expanse to the third stage?
Hearing this, Hong-seol flinched in surprise.
The Master of the Azure Sky Unit, Namgung Uigyeol's, Sword Art of the Great Azure Expanse is at the eighth stage.
The third stage was certainly an eye-opening achievement among his peers. That was the reason for Namgung Do's arrogance.
“To be honest, I was saving this to show you during our duel later, but I suppose I'll have to test it on that little cat first today.”
The tip of his sword was aimed precisely at the scruff of Hong-seol's neck. Seeing this, Namgung Baek's expression instantly froze over.
“How dare you draw your sword so recklessly within the inner quarters of the Namgung Clan. What do you think you're doing, Namgung Do?”
“So you finally show your true colors in your tone. What, are you scared your precious little beast's head will fly off?”
“Don't you lay a single finger on her. I've warned you.”
“What can you do without a sword? This isn't an official duel, Namgung Baek.”
In other words, he had no intention of holding back even if Namgung Baek tried to stop him bare-handed.
Glaring at Namgung Baek with venom, Namgung Do finally spat out a curse.
“You're nothing but a walking corpse waiting for your grave.”
“Kyaong!”
At those words, Hong-seol was about to leap out again but hesitated.
‘Something's strange.’
Brother Namgung Baek, who was holding her, was far too calm.
“Nyaong...?”
At that moment, he suddenly placed Hong-seol on the ground.
“Step back for a moment.”
His tone was so serious that Hong-seol couldn't bring herself to disobey.
Straightening his back, Namgung Baek looked at Namgung Do.
“I'll show you what a walking corpse like me, as you put it, can do without a sword.”
Namgung Baek's lips twisted into a confident smirk.
Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he slowly gathered his Inner Energy and focused it into his right fist.
A shimmering, heat-haze-like energy, barely visible to the eye, continuously gathered in Namgung Baek's hand.
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