Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off-Chapter 389: Lan Yue Goes Into Labor

The cave was filled with the echoing, jagged sobs of little Duo Duo. An Mo stood there, his once perfect hair slightly disheveled, looking at the crying toddler in Su Qinglan’s arms with panic and regret.

He realized he had played his "tragic uncle" role a little too convincingly. He had wanted Su Qinglan to see him as a noble, nurturing soul, but instead, he had turned the local area into a waterfall of toddler tears.

If her father finds out I made his precious pearl cry like this, I’ll never hear the end of it, An Mo thought, his brow twitching.

It wasn’t that Duo Duo’s father could actually defeat An Mo in a fight, but the man was technically a senior in their social hierarchy.

Being lectured by a grumpy old man for three days straight was a fate worse than death.

"I... I think it’s time I should take her back home," An Mo said, his voice regaining its composed, velvet tone, though his eyes were darting toward the exit.

"Perhaps in a familiar environment, she will calm down and realize her father is always with her."

Su Qinglan, still rocking the sobbing girl, nodded quickly. Her heart ached for the little one. "Yes, that’s a good idea. She needs her familiar things. Poor baby, she’s so heartbroken."

An Mo stepped forward and gingerly took Duo Duo back into his arms. The toddler continued to fuss and kick, her face full of tears and snot, but she was starting to lose energy.

However, as An Mo turned to leave, he felt a sudden, sharp tug on his sleeve.

He looked down to find Xiao San, who had been tucked away in his robes, clinging to his sleeves with a desperate strength.

The little snake cub looked up at An Mo with enormous, shimmering green eyes, his tongue flicking out in a small hiss.

Don’t go! Take me with the Golden Warmth! Xiao San’s entire posture screamed.

An Mo’s eyes widened.

He had never expected Xuan Long’s son to be this clingy.

For a split second, he felt a surge of pride. See, Xuan Long? Your son likes me better. But then reality set in.

Xiao San was still a baby. He wasn’t ready for the Upper Domain where An Mo lived. And most importantly, what if the Teng Clan found out? He would surely be cooked.

Besides, if Xuan Long found out, he would literally try to peel An Mo’s skin off to make a new rug.

"Xiao San, no," An Mo whispered, his voice uncharacteristically firm. "You stay here with your mother. You have to grow big and strong first."

Su Qinglan, seeing her son’s unusual behavior, reached out and gently uncurled the snake cub from An Mo’s sleeve.

Xiao San let out a long, mourning hiss as he was pulled away, his little tail twitching in protest as he was tucked back into Su Qinglan’s warm palms.

An Mo took one last long, lingering look at Su Qinglan. The moonlight from the cave entrance caught her silhouette, making her look like a goddess of the forest.

"We will meet again, Lan Lan," he promised, his voice dropping into a low, intimate hum that made her ears tingle. "And next time, I’ll make sure there are no tears."

With that, and with Duo Duo still letting out the occasional "Waaaah!" against his shoulder, An Mo turned and vanished into the night with a speed that shouldn’t be possible for a human, leaving only the scent of sandalwood and the fading sound of a toddler’s tantrum behind.

Su Qinglan stood at the entrance, clutching a very grumpy Xiao San to her chest, feeling suddenly very cold and very confused.

The cave was silent and cool, the fire having dwindled to glowing red embers.

Su Qinglan had finally drifted into a light sleep after the chaotic departure of An Mo, but her rest was short lived.

In the middle of the night, a faint, rhythmic sound reached her ears. It wasn’t the breathing of the cubs. It was a low, muffled moan of pain.

Su Qinglan sat up instantly, her heart racing. She turned toward the side of the blanket where Lan Yue was lying.

The pregnant girl was curled into a tight ball, her hands clutching her stomach. Her face, usually bright and cheerful, was deathly pale and drenched in a cold sweat.

"Lan Yue? Lan Yue, wake up!" Su Qinglan whispered urgently, crawling over to her.

Xuyu! she called out in her mind. Check her! Is she going to give birth?

[Ding! Scanning... Host, Lan Yue’s body is preparing for labor. The contractions are close. She will likely give birth within one to two hours.]

Su Qinglan’s own face turned pale. She had given birth to three cubs, so she knew the pain, but seeing her sister like this made her hands shake. She gently shook Lan Yue’s shoulder.

"Sister... Sister Qinglan..." Lan Yue finally opened her eyes, which were swimming with tears of agony. "It hurts... it hurts so much."

Su Qinglan didn’t hesitate. She placed her hand on Lan Yue’s belly, channeling a small, warm ball of healing energy into her body. She wasn’t trying to stop the labor, but she wanted to soothe the pain so Lan Yue wouldn’t lose consciousness.

"I’ve got you. Just breathe," Su Qinglan said firmly. "Stay here. I’m going to run out and find the tribe leader or the grandmother who helps with births. I’ll get help."

But Lan Yue suddenly grabbed Su Qinglan’s wrist with surprising strength.

"No... not here," Lan Yue gasped, another wave of pain twisting her features.

"Sister, it’s not like that for us. I have to go... I have to go into the water. That is why it hurts so much. My body needs the sea."

Su Qinglan was stunned. She had forgotten that Lan Yue was a mermaid. Of course, her instincts would pull her toward the ocean.

"Can you walk?" Su Qinglan asked, already helping her stand.

"I have to," Lan Yue groaned.