Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off-Chapter 458: After Ten Days at Sea

The long journey of sea had finally ended.

After ten long, exhausting days of endless waves and salty winds, solid land once again stretched beneath their feet.

The moment they stepped onto the shore, no one spoke...not because they didn’t want to but because they simply didn’t have the strength left.

The journey across the Great Sea had drained them completely.

At first, the cubs had been excited, they were wide eyed, curious, constantly moving and peeking over the edges.

But that excitement had long since faded.

Ten whole days of constant rocking, cold winds, and cramped space without proper rest had worn them down to the bone.

Now, they all looked like wilted vegetables left out in the frost, lifeless and limp, as if even sitting upright required more energy than they possessed.

The two little tiger cubs collapsed the instant their paws touched land, their tiny bodies going completely flat against the ground.

"Grr..." (I... can’t... move...)

"Grrr..." (I can’t feel my butts...)

Their small golden and green eyes were half-closed, their fluffy ears drooping pitifully.

Beside them, the little snake coiled weakly, its tiny body barely able to lift its head before it dropped back down again. "Sss..." (The world... is spinning...or am I spinning.)

Su Qinglan didn’t fare much better.

The moment she spotted a patch of soft grass, she walked toward it without hesitation and collapsed straight onto it. Her arms and legs spread out wide, her entire body pressed flat against the ground like a fallen kite.

At this point, she didn’t even care about her image anymore. "I’m not moving..." she muttered weakly.

The three cubs immediately copied her, and just like that, four bodies lay sprawled across the grass in the exact same position

...arms and legs stretched out, completely lifeless.

From a distance, it genuinely looked like they had all fainted together.

Rong Ye stood nearby, staring at them in silence for a long moment.

Then, without saying a word, he walked over and lowered himself to the ground, lying down beside them in the exact same pose. They were peaceful, still, and completely dead inside.

Hu Yan’s eye twitched slightly at the sight.

Without hesitation, he strode over, grabbed Rong Ye by his clothes, and dragged him back up.

"Get up." Rong Ye didn’t resist at all...he simply let himself be pulled upright, his expression blank, as if his soul had been left somewhere in the middle of the ocean.

"...I can’t cook," he said calmly.

"You don’t need to," Hu Yan replied flatly. "Just help." Rong Ye paused for a brief second before nodding slowly.

"...Okay." At this point, anything was fine...as long as he didn’t have to go back to the sea.

Hu Yan quickly began preparing a simple fire. For ten whole days, they had survived on nothing but dried meat and fruits. It had kept them alive, but it had long since become unbearable.

Today, they would finally have real food. The smell of firewood soon filled the air, faint at first, then slowly growing richer.

Su Qinglan’s nose twitched slightly, and her eyes slowly opened. "...Food?" she whispered.

The tiger cubs’ ears instantly perked up. "Grr!" (Food?!) "Grrr!!" (Meat!!)

Even the little snake managed to lift its head weakly. "Sss..." (Warm... food...)

Suddenly, a bit of life returned to their completely drained bodies...not much, but just enough to chew their food. But it would be better if someone could feed them.

Hu Yan worked efficiently, his movements steady and practiced.

Before long, the soft sound of sizzling meat filled the air, followed by a rich, mouthwatering aroma that drifted across the grass.

That smell... it was like heaven itself. Su Qinglan pushed herself up halfway, staring blankly in the direction of the fire as her expression slowly turned serious. "...I’m alive again."

The cubs began crawling forward weakly, inch by inch, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"Grr..." (Must... reach...)

"Grr..." (Food is life...)

The little snake slithered slowly behind them. "Sss..." (Wait... for me...)

Rong Ye sat beside the fire, silently turning the meat over. His expression brightened, he really wished to devour the food but he has mate and cubs he needs to feed them first. But warm food...it really did make a difference.

Not long after, everyone was eating. No one spoke. There was only one sound...chewing. All if them were eating like they have been starved for months. It didn’t take long before all the food was gone.

Su Qinglan leaned back, gently patting her stomach, her face filled with satisfaction. "...I can finally feel my soul again."

The tiger cubs rolled onto their backs, their tiny bellies round and full. "Mmm..." (Happy...)

"Grr..." (I want more...)

The little snake coiled comfortably beside them. "Hisss..." (Warm... good...)

For a while, no one moved. They simply lay there, resting in silence.

Warm food, full stomachs, and solid ground beneath them... For the first time in days, everyone finally felt alive again.

A quiet sense of happiness spread through the group, subtle but undeniable.

Xuan Long stretched his arms slightly, letting out a slow, relaxed breath as the tension in his body eased.

His sharp features softened as his gaze fell on Su Qinglan, who was still sitting lazily on the grass, looking as though she might collapse again at any moment.

Without hesitation, he walked over and gently pulled her into his arms. "Come," he said in a low, calm, steady voice, "take a nap. You’ll feel more energetic after."

Su Qinglan didn’t resist at all. She simply nodded, her eyes already half-closed from lingering exhaustion. "...Mm."

Letting herself lean against him, she allowed her body to relax completely before lying down once again on the soft grass. Xuan Long adjusted his position slightly, making sure she was comfortable before settling down beside her.

The moment the two of them closed their eyes, the cubs reacted instantly.

The two little tiger cubs lifted their heads at the same time. "A-woo?" (Sleeping?) "Ahh!" (We join!)

Without the slightest hesitation, they rushed forward and squeezed themselves right between Su Qinglan and Xuan Long, their small bodies pressing tightly into the limited space.