Chapter 151: Hundred Cats Chaos (3)

The day of the Hundred Cats Chaos dawned.

Myojinmun was bustling with last-minute preparations for the event since dawn.

“Hey! The flag is crooked!”

“What are you doing? The water is boiling! Are you planning to starve the guests?”

“Double the pay! I’ll pay double, so call everyone you can!”

Myojinmun disciples were shouting and running around among the people.

Not long ago, their only task was leisurely taking care of cats, so the sudden expansion of the event was not entirely welcome.

“Ugh. The work never ends.”

“Are we going to die from this? I haven’t slept for four days.”

“If we die, let’s finish the work first.”

“Ugh. Ugh.”

Watching the exhausted people below, Cho Un-hwi hid on the roof, munching on snacks.

“Sometimes, being busy is good.”

It was proof that Myojinmun was smoothly integrating into the Jianghu.

“Yum, yum. Good. I should work as much as I get paid.”

Only the cats should be lazy.

As he muttered, a group of people entered through the back gate.

“Finally here? Come on in.”

“Here. Set up the stalls from the main gate to the hall.”

“We’ve placed flags at each spot.”

“Come on! We don’t have time!”

*Clap clap!* Clapping his hands, the people pulling small carts moved to their designated spots.

*Bang bang! Thud thud!*

They quickly assembled the carts into stalls, added roofs, and in no time, beautiful street stalls were completed.

Munching on his snacks, Cho Un-hwi admired.

“Are these the famous eateries of Suzhou?”

Street stalls are perfect for events.

They seemed to have gathered quite a few famous eateries, including some he had seen with long lines before.

“I heard their noodles are delicious. I must try them.”

Licking his lips, he heard a shout from one side.

“Cho Un-hwi! Temporary Instructor!”

Turning slightly, he saw Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim looking around.

Nearby, women were running around with thick ledgers.

Feeling uneasy, he flattened himself against the roof, and a voice came from beside him.

“Haha. There you are.”

Wang Woo, who had appeared with feather-light movement, sat beside him.

Unfazed by his sudden appearance, Cho Un-hwi asked.

“Are they looking for me?”

“They said they’re short-handed and even the instructors are being put to work.”

“They’re working us to the bone for a pittance.”

“The expansion of the Hundred Cats Chaos was at the request of Shinmu Academy.”

They probably want to help out of guilt.

“What do you think?”

They might even give extra points if you do well.

At Wang Woo’s words, Cho Un-hwi shook his head.

“No thanks. I’m not doing extra work.”

*Whoosh.*

Kicking off the roof, Cho Un-hwi disappeared.

Below, Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim was passing by, fuming.

“Tsk. This guy disappears whenever there’s work to be done.”

Where is he hiding?

He searched with a keen eye.

“Senior Instructor! Where should we put this load?”

“A message from the sect leader! He wants you to control the crowd outside!”

“Senior Instructor! Senior Instructor!”

Like baby birds, the instructors called out, and Jang Cheol-sim, dejected, turned back and ran into the crowd.

The Hundred Cats Chaos was beginning.

***

When the sun was high in the sky.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

With the sound of a giant drum, Myojinmun’s main gate opened.

Beyond it was an uncountable crowd.

Seeing the layers of human barriers, Yeo Mae-hong stuck out her tongue.

“It’s really amazing. They say the Hundred Cats Chaos is a big event in Suzhou, and it really is.”

“It feels like everyone in Suzhou has come.”

Even Mo Yong Seon-ya was overwhelmed by the endless crowd.

“Wow. It’s like a swarm of ants.”

Hearing the voice beside her, Yeo Mae-hong brightened.

“Instructor Cho! When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“Where were you? Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim was looking for you.”

“I had a little business.”

I was dodging chores.

As he evaded, Mo Yong Seon-ya narrowed her eyes.

“You really have a knack for avoiding things.”

“I have good instincts.”

Responding, he pointed to one side.

“Who are those people?”

He pointed to a group of people walking proudly through the crowd.

“Oh, those are the executives of the nearby sects.”

“Why are there so many pigs at the event?”

“Hey! That’s not nice. They’re merchants sponsoring the Hundred Cats Chaos.”

Yeo Mae-hong scolded in a low voice.

“Because we expanded the event suddenly, we were in a tight spot.”

We would have struggled without help from various sects.

Mo Yong Seon-ya added.

“We turned a small event for cat lovers into a grand event for the Jianghu.”

Expanding a small local event into a national one required a lot of effort, and many nearby sects and prominent merchants from Suzhou attended.

“How troublesome.”

Yeo Mae-hong looked proud.

“Isn’t it great to be part of the beginning of an event that will become famous in the Jianghu?”

Not at all.

I’d rather they handle the troublesome things after I’m gone.

“Well, it’s also a chance to get acquainted with famous figures of the righteous factions.”

Getting acquainted with the dogs of the righteous factions?

Not interested at all.

If I have to kill someone I know later, it might be a bit uncomfortable.

I’d rather avoid them.

As he pouted, Yeo Mae-hong pulled his sleeve.

“Come on, let’s enjoy the event together.”

“Right. It looks like many of Suzhou’s famous eateries are participating.”

This piqued his interest.

Reluctantly, Cho Un-hwi started walking.

“I saw a food stall earlier.”

***

Myojinmun’s proud Hundred Cats Chaos.

Hundred Cats. Many cats.

Chaos. Roaming around.

It was an event that lived up to its name.

*Meow. Meow.*

*Nyah. Nyah.*

With the start of the event, hundreds of cute cats were released, roaming around Myojinmun.

“Ah! Did you see that? It yawned!”

“So cute. It’s violently adorable.”

“Wow. Iam having a Heart attack.”

People followed the cats, exclaiming and squealing.

Usually, the cats would run away, but today.

‘Human. I’ll play along today.’

They meowed and danced, entertaining the guests.

As they danced.

“Wow! Did you see that?”

People exclaimed, and happy sighs were heard everywhere.

‘Amazing, these cats.’

Enchanting humans, the rulers of all creatures.

Watching the many cats up close wasn’t the only attraction.

“Viewing of the Hundred Cats Pavilion will start in an hour!”

“The line for the Hundred Cats Tea House is this way! Enjoy tea while holding a cat!”

“How about cat-shaped dumplings?”

With Myojinmun’s carefully planned attractions, the event was more lively than ever.

Of course, not everyone was here for the cats.

Some seemed uninterested in cats.

“Look at that cat, my lord!”

“Oh… yes, cute.”

“I must buy that!”

“Sigh. How much?”

Those who came with their lovers were destined to be squeezed dry.

It wasn’t just lovers who suffered.

“Mom! Buy me a cat doll.”

“…Please. Just one.”

A middle-aged woman muttered as a Myojinmun disciple spoke.

“Five cats in one set!”

“Buy them all and get a cat stand.”

“All limited edition!”

“Ah! Of course!”

Parents were being forced to buy cat wooden dolls.

‘Hundred Cats Chaos is indeed a great money-making opportunity.’

As Myo Gwang said.

***

Passing by the scene of forced purchases, Yeo Mae-hong spoke excitedly.

“It’s a huge success.”

“There are quite a few martial artists too.”

As Mo Yong Seon-ya pointed out, many men and women with swords were present.

Some were students from the Shinmu Murim Excursion, but most were young masters from nearby sects.

“Would you like to feed it, sir?”

“Sure, if you help.”

They flirted while feeding the cats.

“Don’t be afraid, try holding it.”

“Oh, it’s cute and soft.”

“Haha. Cuter than you?”

There were many young men using cats as an excuse to flirt.

“Damn it. Even the gods are dead.”

“Why are you so angry?”

“Young kids.”

Some are exhausted from searching for a bride, while young men are spreading pink energy.

Annoyed, he punched the air.

“Meow!”

The cats nearby raised their tails.

“Stop it. You’re scaring the cats.”

“Come on, be good.”

Slapping his back and soothing the cats, Cho Un-hwi muttered gloomily.

“People care more about cats than humans.”

The way of the Jianghu has fallen.

“Isn’t it your conscience that’s fallen?”

True.

“Come on, try holding one.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya handed him a cat with both hands.

Reluctantly.

As he held the cat, its eyes, which had been sparkling in Mo Yong Seon-ya’s arms, narrowed.

Glancing down, he understood why.

‘A male.’

He subtly hooked his thumb and middle finger.

Sensing danger, the cat hissed.

*Slash!*

“Ouch.”

As the cat quickly fled to Mo Yong Seon-ya’s arms, she scolded him.

“Why are you bothering the cute thing?”

He got scolded.

“Don’t handle it roughly.”

Yeo Mae-hong also reprimanded him.

He felt utterly dejected.

***

After wandering around for a while, munching on skewers from a food stall.

Mo Yong So-hye came running up.

“Sister!”

“Hey. You should call me instructor in public.”

Mo Yong So-hye giggled as she flicked her nose.

“Something happened.”

“Something? Did something go wrong?”

Mo Yong Seon-ya tensed, but Mo Yong So-hye shook her head.

“No, it’s not that bad.”

“Or maybe it is.”

Yeo Mae-hong asked.

“Mo Yong So-hye, what happened?”

Mo Yong So-hye stretched her words.

“Well, it’s Baek Ri Seol…”

“?”

Following her, they found out.

“It’s definitely an accident.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Baek Ri Seol was staring at a small glass bottle on a stall, exclaiming, “Amazing!” “Incredible!”

– For taming even the most stubborn like a cat in an instant!

“Amazing! Cat perfume!”

– Highly recommended for the beautiful and lovely you!

“Is this made for me?”

She even reached for the cat elixir, supposedly effective for “middle-aged men afraid of the night” and “elderly with aching joints.”

“Everything! Everything is made for me?”

Seeing the excited Baek Ri Seol, Cho Un-hwi shook his head.

‘Right. She’s gullible about these things.’

In the gambling den too, she was easily fooled.

“Tsk tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Cho Un-hwi shook his head and moved towards Baek Ri Seol.

If left alone, she’d end up broke.