Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 35: Cat Truth Sect (7)
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Anhui Province, Little Lake.
We finally arrived at this place, where massive lakes—so vast they could be mistaken for seas—were visible everywhere.
The enormous fortress, comparable to Infinite Fortress, was dazzling enough to make one's eyes spin, and the throngs of people passing through seemed more numerous than ants.
Above all, what caught the eye was the endless row of willow trees along the lake's edge and the flower boats drifting on the lake, sparkling in the sunlight.
"I've heard that Little Lake is beautiful."
This is why they call it Little Lake.
Looking at the islands peeking out modestly on the lake, it truly felt like a paradise on earth.
"I pride myself on being somewhat good at poetry, but if I had to express Little Lake in verse, no lines come to mind."
Instead of a simple "wow," the ink-stained Jegal Tan was trying to come up with something elegant and poetic.
In contrast, Nangong Yun-ho seemed utterly unimpressed.
"Doesn't this sight amaze you?"
When I asked if his heart had dried up,
"Anhui Province is my hometown."
"Ah, right. The Nangong Family."
"Our main house is in Yellow Mountain, but I visited Little Lake frequently."
It was probably like how outsiders marvel at the sea, while coastal villagers take it for granted.
"Meanwhile, the other two..."
Even amid the overwhelming scenery, they were focused elsewhere.
Baek Ri-seol had dropped her prim expression and was fidgeting anxiously.
"So-hye, what if the cats don't like me?"
"It's fine. The cats of the Cat Truth Sect are friendly, so it'll definitely be okay."
"You never know. Cats are fickle creatures that bolt anywhere."
Usually a glamorous beauty, today Baek Ri-seol was exceptionally restless.
When I asked why, she said she had a constitution that made feline creatures wary of her.
I felt a strange sense of kinship.
"I used to be like that."
"You too, Instructor? Oh! They say couples resemble each other."
"Whenever I went to the mountains, tigers tried to bite me."
"...That seems a bit different."
Moyong So-hye immediately pointed it out. Baek Ri-seol latched onto something else.
"Instructooor. Is there a way to make cats love you?"
As if such a convenient method existed.
"There must be! Even wild animals survive somehow! They make fires with trees! There has to be a way to win cats' love!"
That made sense.
'But I don't know any.'
No good ideas came to mind no matter how I racked my brain.
"Sister, it's hopeless. She can't even win love from fellow humans, let alone cats!"
Her words were getting harsher by the minute.
Nangong Yun-ho pondered deeply before offering a clever idea.
"What if we bring things cats like?"
Things cats like, huh.
"Tan. Do you know something?"
"Hmm. Cats. I don't particularly like animals to begin with."
Except cute ones—they're inefficient in many ways.
"I see..."
As Nangong Yun-ho looked glum, Jegal Tan continued.
"First, they say cats love boxes."
"Boxes?"
"They like squeezing into tight spaces, curling up and napping blissfully."
Jegal Tan called this "cats baking bricks."
"Next are feather toys. Dangle a feather on a string, and they pounce excitedly."
"Hmm. I see."
"Then there's wheatgrass or oat sprouts. Give them a pot with fresh shoots, and they chew and savor it..."
"I-is that so?"
"And that's not all. Their favorite is catnip. Grind it into powder, put it in a sachet, and carry it around!"
Losing his usual composure, Jegal Tan explained enthusiastically.
Chu Un-hwi cut in abruptly at this bizarre reaction.
"Hey. Jegal."
Realizing his slip, Jegal Tan quickly schooled his expression.
"Yes, Instructor."
"Hand it over."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"The catnip sachet."
"Instructor, I don't care for inefficient pets like that."
Thwack!
Jegal Tan's head snapped to the side as he pulled a bulging sachet from his bosom and offered it.
"Sister, it even has cat embroidery on the pouch."
"When did you prepare something like this?"
"......"
Jegal Tan invoked his right to silence.
But Chu Un-hwi wasn't satisfied and beckoned again.
"...Here it is."
Next came a feather toy and even cat-exclusive jerky tumbling out.
For someone who claimed not to like inefficient creatures, he was suspiciously well-prepared.
"......"
"......"
"I really don't have any more."
As I clenched my fist, Jegal Tan sighed deeply and unpacked four palm-sized sachets from his bundle.
"Oh my. Looks like he prepared shares for us too."
"At least he has some minimal camaraderie."
He probably planned to keep the biggest, best one for himself.
Monopolizing the cats' affection, no doubt.
A booklet emerged next.
"Compendium of a Hundred Cats?"
"It's a picture book published by the Cat Truth Sect."
He even mentioned it was a limited edition.
After rummaging through his belongings for a while, Jegal Tan dusted off his hands.
"That's everything."
"Yeah. I'll believe you."
Any more pushing, and shame might drive him to jump into Little Lake.
"Shall we go, then?"
After their little scuffle, the group strode confidently toward the city gates.
Weaving through the crowds on Little Lake's main avenue, bumping shoulders.
Asking noisy market vendors for directions for quite some time.
Passing the rows of street shops, we finally reached the Cat Truth Sect, located on the outskirts of the north gate.
But what greeted us at the place we'd sought based on directions was...
A line of people stretching endlessly down the avenue.
And
"Waaaaaaah—!"
A roar that shook the ground.
Something was off with the sect's state.
We couldn't wait in the interminable line that snaked into other alleys, so we pushed through the crowd amid a torrent of stares.
"Sister, everyone's eyes look murderous."
"We're not cutting!"
Our protests fell on deaf ears as the glares sharpened.
Just as we were in an awkward spot, reinforcements arrived.
"Hahaha. Are you from the Divine Martial Academy?"
He was a mild-mannered middle-aged man.
Around late thirties.
With a sturdy build, rugged features, and manly face accentuated by chubby cheeks that rounded when he smiled.
"And you are?"
The man clasped his hands in a proper salute and said,
"I am Myo Gwang, thirteenth sect leader of the Cat Truth Sect."
The private meeting with Myo Gwang didn't happen until two hours later.
"Haha. Sorry about that. By sect rules, we keep the doors open until the hour of the rooster (7 PM)."
When I asked why, the answer was "It's business hours."
'A murim sect with business hours?'
It felt oddly unprofessional.
"Cats need their rest, after all."
"How much must they suffer from people?"
"We live together in this world, don't we?"
Apparently, I was the only one who found it suspicious.
"They gave us this."
I tossed the appointment letter from the academy. Myo Gwang scanned it quickly, fetched a seal, and stamped it vigorously.
Quite a bold display.
"The details of the request."
What was it again?
I'd received something but tossed it aside casually, so I couldn't remember.
- Instructor, that's rude.
Moyong So-hye menacingly opened and closed her mouth, threatening me with her eyes.
'I don't know means I don't know.'
Fortunately, Myo Gwang graciously took it in stride, palm up.
"No problem, young lady. It's not hard to explain."
Exuding endless magnanimity, Myo Gwang continued.
"Truth is, we've recently had one troublesome issue and one thing we desire."
"The troublesome one first."
"Lately, cats have been found dead one after another."
According to his explanation, cats occasionally wandered out of the sect into the streets, but the ones that returned were in odd states.
"It seems someone is systematically abusing them periodically."
"Pardon? Abusing them?"
"For example..."
As he listed various signs of organized harassment, Moyong So-hye clenched her fists in outrage.
"Instructor, isn't this too much?"
"Worse than you crumpling up your human friend?"
Love humans before cats. Humans are pitiful enough.
My joke earned me a pinch in the side.
"Ow ow."
"Ahem. Anyway, we hope you'll catch the culprit."
"We definitely will!"
Unlike Moyong So-hye, whose heart was all aflutter for the cats, Jegal Tan had his doubts.
"Strange. The academy stepping in for something like this?"
"Any issue?"
"The Divine Martial Academy does take sect requests to uphold justice."
But only for matters of significance.
"Sending valuable academy talents for finding cats is a bit hard to understand."
Myo Gwang readily admitted the sharp point.
"Fair enough to question. Actually, the first request exists to enable the second."
"Second request?"
Chu Un-hwi murmured softly.
"In other words, a smokescreen request?"
Hide the important second with the first.
Myo Gwang affirmed immediately.
"Exactly, temporary instructor. The second request is the real one that moved the Divine Martial Academy."
"What's that request?"
After a deep breath and long silence, Myo Gwang spoke.
"Have you heard of the 'Black-and-White Twin Spirits'?"
I shook my head vigorously, and Myo Gwang looked slightly dejected.
Then Jegal Tan interjected.
"Do you mean the spirit beasts, the Black-and-White Twin Cats?"
"You know of them!"
Myo Gwang brightened as if someone had recognized his obscure hobby.
"Explain."
Clearing his throat, Jegal Tan began rapidly.
"A pair of black and white cats that form a spirit beast duo."
"Incredibly clever—the black one finds deadly poisons, the white one miraculous herbs, like ghosts."
"That's why physicians, poison sects, even pill-refining clans dream of them."
"They possess inner pills themselves."
Myo Gwang nodded repeatedly at the solid explanation.
Chu Un-hwi, however, scowled.
"What? These cats are competent, huh."
"Priceless spirit beasts money can't buy."
"Higher value than me. Damn it!"
Grumbling, Chu Un-hwi turned his head petulantly.
"Anyway. Black and white cats—how do you find them?"
There are plenty in the world.
Jegal Tan pulled out the Compendium of a Hundred Cats and sternly countered.
"True, complete, genuine black cats are exceedingly rare."
"Shut up."
A voice came from the opposite side of the silenced Jegal Tan.
"You'll find them easily."
Myo Gwang declared confidently, eyes gleaming.
"The Black-and-White Twin Spirits each have two tails."