Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off Chapter 583: A Successor and a Spare Successor

Finally, after Su Qinglan was nearly compelled to recount every minute detail of the female’s birth process, the aged physician—no, her suddenly materialized, troublesome grandfather—seemed to have entirely forgotten his years.

The more he listened, the brighter his ancient eyes grew.

When Su Qinglan meticulously described how she had assessed the female’s respiration, adjusted the fetus’s presentation, and carefully facilitated the delivery, the old healer abruptly slapped his thigh with such force that the entire chamber jolted.

CRACK!

Su Qinglan winced sharply.

"Splendid!" the old healer exclaimed with fervent excitement. "Magnificent! Astounding!"

His beard practically quivered with exhilaration as he gazed upon Su Qinglan as if she were the most precious gem in existence.

"My successor has already surpassed her master before even acquiring formal instruction!" he proclaimed triumphantly, erupting into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! This old man’s name shall finally be illuminated brilliantly for countless generations to come!"

Su Qinglan: "..."

Her throat was already parched from her extended explanation.

At that precise moment, Hu Yan approached silently, offering her a bowl of water. A flicker of tenderness softened his eyes as he observed her fatigued expression.

Su Qinglan immediately bestowed upon him a sweet, appreciative smile before draining the water in a single, swift motion.

Concurrently, the old healer continued to emotionally clap his own thigh, murmuring excitedly to himself.

"Too gifted... truly exceedingly gifted..."

Then, he abruptly pivoted towards Wang Mulan, puffing out his chest with pride.

"See?!" he boomed. "This granddaughter is entirely unlike you!"

Wang Mulan helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Uncle Ye..."

"You lack any understanding of medicine!" the old healer continued without mercy. "Back then, when I tasked you with sorting herbs, you nearly mingled the sleeping grass with poisonous roots!"

Su Mingxuan instantly stifled a chuckle by coughing into his fist.

Even Xuan Long lazily lowered his head slightly, the corners of his lips betraying his amusement.

The old healer, completely disregarding the reactions of others, lovingly patted Su Qinglan’s head.

"Truly commendable," he praised with pride. "Master needed not impart any knowledge, yet you have already immortalized my reputation!"

Su Qinglan maintained a strained smile outwardly. Internally, however, her mind raced with serious contemplation. How precisely could she extricate herself from this suddenly-imposed master-disciple bond?

They hadn't even spent a full day in each other's company.

How had she, out of the blue, become his official successor?

But before she could ponder further, a sudden sound...

Growl.

Growl, growl.

The cubs could bear it no longer.

They had been separated from their mother for the entire day. Firstly, she had fallen unconscious; then, everyone had crowded around her incessantly after she awoke.

Even upon their arrival here, they had been overlooked by all... and they still hadn't properly embraced her, as this peculiar old man had monopolized their mother's attention the whole time.

Now, the cubs' patience had reached its limit.

Before the old healer could continue extolling his "genius successor," the three little cubs abruptly and aggressively maneuvered themselves between him and Su Qinglan.

Their diminutive, furry bodies puffed up with indignation, tiny paws crossed defensively like guardians protecting their mother.

The old healer was momentarily taken aback. He then slowly lowered his gaze to the three cubs.

Then, he looked back at Su Qinglan.

And then, back to the cubs once more.

"These belong to you?" he inquired, bewildered.

Su Qinglan nodded with a sense of resignation. Instantly, the old healer’s eyes widened anew.

"So this old man already has great-grandchildren too?!"

His voice conveyed a mixture of incredulity and elation. Before anyone could react, the old healer suddenly stooped and directly lifted the plumpest of the middle cubs from the ground.

As fate would have it...

It was Xiao Er.

The little tiger cub was instantly bewildered. His four fluffy paws flailed wildly in the air as he found himself abruptly hoisted without warning.

"Raaawr!"

He immediately bared his tiny fangs furiously at the old healer.

The old healer remained entirely unfazed. Instead, he lifted Xiao Er higher and peered intently at his face, as if scrutinizing a rare and precious artifact.

Su Qinglan immediately rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

"Xiao Er," she sighed, "stop baring your teeth. He is your great-grandfather. You must show him respect."

The little tiger cub paused abruptly. Yet, even so, his tiny face still conveyed a sense of defiance. So what if this old man was his great-grandfather? He only desired his mother. He had no need for some random old stranger.

Meanwhile, the old healer suddenly narrowed his eyes, gazing deeply into Xiao Er’s round, feline eyes.

Then, his expression slowly shifted to one of solemnity.

"I can perceive it..." he murmured enigmatically.

Everyone: "..."

The old healer suddenly nodded with firm conviction.

"Indeed. Exceptionally wise eyes."

Su Qinglan felt a dreadful premonition surge within her. As expected, the very next second...“This little one shows great promise!” the elderly physician proclaimed loudly. “I can already foresee his future as a formidable healer!” Xiao Shi was stunned. Su Qinglan was stunned. Hu Yan was stunned. Even Wang Mulan averted her gaze, thinking that if Uncle Ye truly possessed a method to discover gifted individuals, he wouldn’t have squandered so many years on her. Then, the old physician announced with pride, “He shall be my second disciple!” A profound silence descended upon the room. Xiao Er: “???” The tiny tiger cub had no inkling of what was transpiring. Meanwhile, Xiao San and Xiao Yi, exhibiting extreme survival instincts, reacted instantly. Upon hearing the word “disciple,” Xiao San immediately burrowed into Xuan Long’s robes so deeply that only a sliver of his pointed tail remained visible. His intent was clear: to be completely overlooked by the old physician. Simultaneously, Xiao Yi scrambled into Hu Yan’s embrace, burying his head beneath his father’s arm. Only his plump, furry posterior remained exposed. Both cubs cast sympathetic glances toward their unfortunate sibling. Their eyes conveyed a silent message: Brother… may fortune be with you. Hanging suspended in the old physician’s grasp, Xiao Er remained utterly bewildered. Healing? Disciple? What were those concepts? Could one consume them? At that moment, Su Qinglan could no longer contain herself and erupted into laughter, her shoulders shaking as she observed her son’s bewildered expression. Her own destiny was already dire enough, and now her son had become the chosen prey of this troublesome elder. What a tragic legacy to inherit! Now, both mother and son would have to navigate this predicament together.