Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Hundred Cats Pilgrimage (3)
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The day of the Hundred Cats Pilgrimage had dawned.
The Cat Truth Sect was in a frenzy with last-minute preparations that had started at dawn.
"Hey! That flag's crooked!"
"What are you doing? The water's boiling! You trying to starve the guests?"
"Double pay! Double the daily wages—call in everyone who can work!"
The Cat Truth Sect disciples were yelling as they darted through the crowds.
Not long ago, tending to their cats leisurely had been their entire routine. This sudden explosion of activity probably wasn't entirely welcome.
"Ugh. There's no end to this work."
"Am I going to die like this? It's been four days without sleep already."
"If we're gonna die, let's finish the job first."
"Urk."
Looking down at the exhausted workers,
Chu Un-hwi hid on the rooftop, munching on crispy snacks.
"It's nice to be busy sometimes."
It was proof that the Cat Truth Sect was smoothly infiltrating the martial world.
"Nom. Nom. Good. Gotta earn that pay."
Lazybones were plenty with just the cats.
As he muttered to himself, a group of people entered through the back gate.
"You're finally here? Come on in."
"Right here. Set up stalls on both sides from the main gate to the great hall."
"We've placed flags at each spot."
"Come on! No time to waste!"
Clap clap! At the signal, people pulling small carts moved to their assigned positions.
- Bang bang! Thud thud!
They swiftly assembled the carts into stalls, topped them with roofs, and in an instant, stylish street vendor setups were complete.
Chu Un-hwi, still chewing his snacks, let out an impressed "Whoa."
"Soho's famous eateries, huh?"
Street stalls were perfect for events like this.
They'd clearly scouted top spots—some were places he'd passed by before due to the long lines.
"They say the thin noodles are amazing. Gotta try 'em."
He licked his lips. Then, a sharp yell came from one side.
"Chu Un-hwi! Acting Instructor!"
Glancing back, he saw Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim scanning the area.
Beside him, women were flipping through thick ledgers as they ran about.
A bad feeling hit him. He flipped over, pressing flat against the roof. A voice came from nearby.
"Hohoho. So you're here?"
Wang-u was suddenly sitting beside him, feather-light lightness skill and all. Unfazed, Chu Un-hwi asked,
"They looking for me?"
"Seems they're short-handed and throwing instructors into the mix too."
"Peanuts for pay, and they work you to the bone."
"They blew up the Hundred Cats Pilgrimage at the Divine Martial Academy's request, after all."
Probably lending a hand out of guilt.
"What do you think?"
Play along nicely and maybe get some merit points.
Chu Un-hwi shook his head at Wang-u's words.
"Nah. Overtime's a hard pass."
Whoosh.
He kicked off the roof and vanished.
Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim huffed past below.
"Tch. The guy's nowhere when you need him for work."
Where'd he hide?
His eyes blazed as he searched, but
"Senior Instructor! Where do we put this luggage?"
"Message from the Sect Leader! They want crowd control outside where the line's forming!"
"Senior Instructor! Senior Instructor!"
Instructors chirped like baby birds. Jang Cheol-sim turned glumly and plunged back into the crowd.
The Hundred Cats Pilgrimage was underway.
When the sun reached midday,
Dong dong dong dong!
A massive drum sounded, and the Cat Truth Sect's main gate swung open.
Beyond it, an uncountable throng of people.
Seeing the multilayered wall of humanity, Yeo Mae-hong stuck out her tongue in awe.
"This is insane. They said Hundred Cats Pilgrimage was Soho's big event, but wow."
"Feels like everyone's in Soho showed up."
Even Moyong Seon-ya was daunted by the endless crowd.
"Whoa—it's like a pack of dogs swarming in."
The voice from beside her made Yeo Mae-hong brighten.
"Instructor Chu! When did you get here?"
"Just now."
"Where were you? Senior Instructor Jang was looking for you."
"Juuust now. Had some business."
Dodging chores.
He brushed it off, and Moyong Seon-ya's eyes narrowed.
"You've got sharp instincts, huh?"
"I'm good at reading the room."
Parrying, he pointed to one side.
"But who's that bunch?"
His finger pointed to a group striding boldly through the masses.
"Oh. Heavyweights from nearby sects in Soho."
"What're the pigs doing at an event?"
"Tch! Don't be rude. They're sponsoring merchants for the Hundred Cats Pilgrimage."
Yeo Mae-hong chided softly.
"We scaled up the event so suddenly, things were touch-and-go."
Without help from various sects, it would've been real trouble.
Moyong Seon-ya chimed in.
"Turning a local cat lovers' event into a major martial world spectacle on short notice meant pushing hard."
Local event to nationwide, roping in nearby sects and big Soho merchants.
"What a hassle."
Yeo Mae-hong beamed proudly instead.
"Being part of the start of what'll become a famous martial world event. Cool, right?"
Not at all.
He wished they'd handle the annoying stuff after he left.
"It's a chance to make faces with martial world notables too."
Networking with righteous faction dogs?
Not appealing.
Killing familiar faces later might feel awkward.
Better avoid it.
As he pouted, Yeo Mae-hong tugged his sleeve.
"Come on, don't be like that. Let's enjoy the event together."
"Yeah. Soho's top eateries are out in force."
Now that tempted him.
Shrugging helplessly, Chu Un-hwi stepped forward.
"I spotted a stall earlier."
The Cat Truth Sect's famed Hundred Cats Pilgrimage.
Hundred Cats. Cats everywhere.
Difficult Journey. Roaming wildly.
The name fit perfectly.
Meow. Nyaa.
Nyaao. Nyaa—.
With the event's start, hundreds of adorable cats were released, stirring up the sect grounds.
"Kyaa? Did you see that yawn?"
"Not bad... pretty violent cuteness."
"Whoa. Heart attack."
People chased the lazily prowling cats, squealing in delight.
Cats that would normally flee from bother,
Today seemed to say,
'Humans. On days like this, we'll play along a bit.'
Offering service meows and dances.
Which prompted,
"Whoa? Did you see that just now?"
Exclamations of joy nonstop everywhere.
'Impressive, you cats.'
Enthralling the lord of creation, humans.
It wasn't just admiring cats up close.
"Viewing of the One Hundred Eight Cats Formation starts in half an hour!"
"Hundred Cats Pavilion line over here! Those wanting to hold cats and enjoy tea, this way!"
"Come on! How about some cat-shaped dumplings?"
With the sect's clever sales pitches joining in, the event was rowdier than ever.
Of course, some attendees were half-hearted.
A few showed no interest in cats at all, but
"Honey! Look at that cat!"
"Ah... yeah, cute."
"Eek! I gotta buy that one!"
"Ugh. How much?"
Guilty of coming with lovers, they were squeezed dry alongside their purses.
It wasn't just couples suffering.
"Mom! Buy me the cat doll."
"...Please. One at a time. One."
A muttering middle-aged woman was told by a sect disciple,
"Five to a bundle!"
"Buy in bulk, get a cat stand free."
"All limited-time bonuses!"
"Aaaah! Of course!"
Parents forced to buy wooden cat dolls.
'Hundred Cats Pilgrimage is prime money-raking time, huh.'
Mu Gwang was right.
Passing a scene of ruthless upselling, Yeo Mae-hong said excitedly,
"Business is booming."
"Surprisingly many martial artists too?"
As Moyong Seon-ya noted, plenty of sword-bearing handsome men and beauties.
Some Divine Martial Academy students from the tour, but mostly young nobles from nearby sects.
"Young master. Shall you try feeding it?"
"Sure. If you help me."
Grabbing hands under pretense of feeding.
"Miss Song. Don't be scared—try holding it."
"Oh my. So cute and fluffy."
"Haha. Cuter than you?"
Plenty of young punks making moves using cats as excuse.
"Damn it. Even gods and Buddhas are dead."
"Why so grumpy again?"
"Punks whose blood hasn't even dried on their heads."
Some exhausted from girl-hunting, backs about to give out,
Twisted by the pink aura from frisky youths.
Whoosh whoosh!
Punching the air.
Then,
"Kyaaaak!"
Nearby lounging cats' tails shot up.
"Stop it. You're scaring the cats."
"Come on, good kitty?"
Smack. Smack.
After the two smacked his back and soothed the cats, Chu Un-hwi grumbled sadly.
"Cats over people, huh."
Martial world's morals hit the dirt.
"Maybe Instructor Chu's conscience hit the dirt?"
True that.
"Come on, don't sulk. Try holding one."
Moyong Seon-ya held out a cat in both hands.
Grab.
Shoved into holding it, the cat—which had sparkled wide-eyed in Moyong Seon-ya's arms moments ago—narrowed its eyes.
Glance.
Checking below revealed why.
'Tomcat.'
Slipping a hand free, he hooked thumb to middle finger.
Sensing danger, the cat bared teeth with a "Kyak!"
Scratch!
"Ow. Sharp."
As it fled back to Moyong Seon-ya's arms in a flash, he glared.
"Why bully the cute baby?"
He got scolded instead.
"Can't handle them rough."
Yeo Mae-hong lectured too.
His mood sank endlessly.
After wandering a bit, munching skewers from a stall, Moyong So-hye came running from afar.
"Sis!"
"You. Call me Instructor in public."
Flick.
She booped her nose. Moyong So-hye grinned.
"Big trouble."
"Trouble? An accident?"
Moyong Seon-ya tensed at the series of mishaps, but Moyong So-hye waved it off.
"Nah, not quite an accident."
Or maybe it was.
Yeo Mae-hong stepped in at the vague words.
"Student Moyong. What happened?"
Pressed, Moyong So-hye explained.
"Well, Sister Baek Ri-seol is..."
"?"
Following her, the group soon understood.
"It's an accident alright."
"Yeah, looks like it."
At a stall, staring at small glass bottles, Baek Ri-seol raved like someone on dangerous drugs: "Amazing!" "Incredible!"
- Conquer even the most capricious cat-like lover in one shot!
"Incredible! Cat Perfume!"
- Highly recommended for the pretty and beautiful you!
"Made for me?"
Even reaching for cat elixirs claiming efficacy against "middle-aged men scared of the dark," "achy-jointed elders," and "strapping youths."
"All of them! All made for me?!"
Chu Un-hwi shook his head at the ecstatic Baek Ri-seol.
'Right. She's immune to this stuff.'
Like at the casino—gullible type.
"Tsk tsk."
Clicking his tongue, he headed toward her, shaking his head.
Leave her be, she'd be penniless.