Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off Chapter 895: Mother, Did You Run Away with Father?

However, when they finally reached Lan Yue’s house, the cubs became quiet again.

There were already many people gathered inside and outside the courtyard. After all, Lan Yue wasn’t the only one leaving. The mermen who had come from the East Sea to trade salt were also preparing to return home.

They had exchanged their salt for a large quantity of beast hides, and the hides had already been packed for the journey.

Seeing so many familiar faces gathered together, Su Qinglan immediately hurried inside. The moment she entered, she spotted her mother, Wang Mulan.

Su Qinglan stopped in her tracks. Her mother looked radiant. Her complexion was rosy, her eyes bright, and there was a softness in her expression that Su Qinglan hadn’t noticed before. She looked so happy that Su Qinglan couldn’t help staring at her.

Then she slowly turned toward her mother and narrowed her eyes.

"Mother!"

Wang Mulan looked up. "What is it?"

Su Qinglan walked over and circled her once, examining her from head to toe.

"Mother, why are you glowing so much?"

Wang Mulan was startled. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Su Qinglan grabbed her mother’s arm with an exaggerated expression.

"Mother, are you really my mother? I almost didn’t recognize you! Where have you been all this time? Did you run away with Father and leave all the cubs for me to take care of?"

Wang Mulan’s face instantly turned red. "Qinglan! What kind of nonsense is that?"

Su Qinglan blinked innocently. "Then tell me where you went. You disappeared for so long, and now you’ve returned looking like this. How am I not supposed to be suspicious?"

Wang Mulan’s cheeks grew even redder. "We were busy! Your father and I went to another city to meet someone. That’s all."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Su Qinglan looked at her mother for another moment before sighing dramatically.

"Fine. I suppose I shouldn’t question you too much. After all, now that you have your mates beside you, your daughter is probably no longer important."

"Su Qinglan!"

A voice suddenly came from behind her. Before she could turn around, someone reached out and pinched her cheek.

"What are you questioning your mother for?" Su Mingxuan asked sternly. Although his expression was serious, his voice was full of affection.

Su Qinglan rubbed her cheek and glared at him.

"Father! You’re bullying me!"

"Who told you to tease your mother?"

Su Qinglan looked at Wang Mulan, then at Su Mingxuan.

"Ah, I see. Now that you’re standing beside your mate, I’m nothing to you anymore!"

She shook her head dramatically before turning around and walking inside. "Fine! I’ll go find my sister. At least she won’t pinch my cheeks!"

Su Mingxuan stared after her for a moment before shaking his head helplessly.

"This girl..."

Wang Mulan couldn’t help laughing. "All right, stop complaining. Go inside."

Su Mingxuan immediately followed his mate. Meanwhile, Lan Yue’s father, Lan Shun, was already inside, talking to several of the mermen who were preparing to depart.

Outside the house, Mo Qingli and Yin Feng were still waiting with their cubs.

The moment Yin Feng heard that the mermen were returning to the East Sea, his eyes practically lit up.

"The sea must be beautiful, right?"

Mo Qingli glanced at him. "You’ve never been there. How would you know?"

"That’s exactly why I want to go!" Yin Feng replied. "I’ve never seen the sea before. Think about it! Endless water, countless fish, giant crabs, and all those delicious things..."

Mo Qingli stared at him.

"Are you going to visit the sea or eat your way through it?"

"Can’t I do both?"

Before Mo Qingli could answer, Yin Feng’s three sons immediately gathered around their father.

"Father, we want to go too!"

"That’s right! We want to see the sea with sister Lan Yue!"

"I want to catch fish!"

Yin Feng’s expression instantly changed. "What are you talking about? Who said you could go?" The three boys immediately fell silent.

Yin Feng crossed his arms and looked down at them sternly. "You’re still so small. Do you think the journey is a game? You need to grow stronger first. When you’re old enough and your mother agrees, then you can talk about going to the sea."

The three cubs lowered their heads.

"All right, Father..."

Mo Xiao Li, however, couldn’t care less about their conversation. His attention was firmly fixed on the baskets piled near the entrance.

So much food!

There was dried meat, cooked food, and all kinds of things packed neatly into baskets. Just looking at them made him hungry.

Mo Xiao Li swallowed.

’If I went somewhere far away, would my mother and sister also prepare this much food for me?’

The thought made his eyes shine.

He imagined himself carrying a basket full of delicious food, eating whenever he wanted, and never having to worry about whether his stomach was empty.

What a wonderful life!

Unfortunately, the little fellow had completely forgotten one important detail.

Lan Yue was a female leaving on a long journey with her mates. The food was prepared to make sure she and her family had enough to eat along the way.

Mo Xiao Li was a beastman cub. If he wanted to travel when he grew up, he would have to learn to hunt and take care of himself.

But how could a six-year-old cub understand such a complicated matter?

He only knew that the baskets looked delicious. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Mo Xiao Li quietly approached one of them. His little fox brother was sleeping beside him, looking as though he hadn’t slept in months.

Mo Xiao Li poked his brother’s cheek.

"Wake up."

The little fox didn’t move.

Mo Xiao Li poked him again. "Hey! There’s delicious food here!" The little fox merely shifted in his sleep before continuing to snooze.

Mo Xiao Li clicked his tongue. "What a useless fellow. You can’t even wake up when there’s food!" He turned back toward the baskets and carefully lifted the lid of one.

Inside were neatly packed pieces of dried meat. Mo Xiao Li’s eyes sparkled. ’If I take one piece from this basket, then another from that basket, no one will notice!’

He imagined himself hiding the food and eating it later. ’If I take a little from every basket, I’ll become the richest cub in the world!’

The little fellow reached toward the dried meat.

Unfortunately, before his fingers could touch it, the back of his neck was suddenly caught.

"Mo Xiao Li!"

A familiar voice rang above his head.

Mo Xiao Li froze. He slowly turned his head and met his father’s unfriendly gaze. Mo Qingli was looking down at him with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing?"

Mo Xiao Li immediately laughed.

"Father, don’t worry! I’m only inspecting the food!"

"Inspecting?"

"Yes! I’m checking whether it’s packed properly. After all, Sister Lan Yue will be travelling for a long time. We must make sure the food is safe!"

Mo Qingli stared at him. "Then why were your fingers already inside the basket?"

Mo Xiao Li blinked. "Because... because I needed to check it carefully!"

Mo Qingli’s expression darkened. Before the little fellow could come up with another excuse, his father lifted him by the back of his neck and tossed him away from the baskets.

"Go and play somewhere else!"

"Ahhh!"

Mo Xiao Li landed on his feet, rubbed his bottom, and immediately ran away.

"Father, you’re too cruel! You don’t even let me help!"

"Then help by staying away from the food!"

Mo Xiao Li stuck out his tongue and ran toward his nephews. He had no intention of giving up so easily. Perhaps he could find another way to obtain some delicious food later!