Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Anyone Who Wants to Take Me Away From My Female Mother Is a Bad Person

Lan Yin took a deep breath. ’This is my own child, my flesh and blood,’ he told himself, and compromised once again.

Only when the shrimp in the bucket were all uniform in size and perfectly intact did the stern expression on Xiao Yu’s little face finally soften.

"This should be enough. Let’s hurry home. Female Mother needs these right away."

Lan Yin carried the bucket in one hand and picked up Xiao Yu with the other. But before he could continue their earlier reunion, Xiao Yu suddenly sighed.

"Why haven’t I transformed yet? If I grew a pair of legs, I could play with my big brother."

"Is it because my aptitude is too poor? My brother can already catch rabbits, but I can’t even walk."

The little fellow looked quite crestfallen, his small head hung low in utter dejection.

The words Lan Yin was about to blurt out caught in his throat. He consoled him instead. "It’s not your fault. Merfolk need their Beast Father’s spiritual power to help them transform. Xiao Yu, when we get back, how about your Beast Father helps you transform?"

Xiao Yu’s head shot up, his expression a mixture of shock and delight. "Beast Father? You’re my Beast Father?"

Seeing the boy’s attention now fixed on him, Lan Yin felt a swell of relief. "Yes, your Beast Father has come for you."

"Xiao Yu, would you like to come home with your Beast Father? Our home is in the Treasure Pearl Sea. Our people are there, along with many other Merfolk Zaizai just like you."

Xiao Yu shook his head. "No, I want to stay with my Female Mother."

The answer was what Lan Yin expected. He didn’t press the issue, instead returning to the topic of transformation. "Your Beast Father will help you transform when we get back, but you can’t tell anyone who I am, alright?"

"What about my Female Mother? I can’t tell him either?"

"That’s right. You can’t."

Before Xiao Yu could press for a reason, Lan Yin explained, "Because your Beast Father and Female Mother are having some disagreements. If he knew who I was, he’d kick me out."

"Zaizai, once your Female Mother has calmed down, your Beast Father will reveal his identity. But not right now. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Xiao Yu nodded firmly. "I understand, Beast Father."

Lan Yin felt immensely relieved. ’The plan is going smoothly,’ he thought. Now all he had to do was bond with Xiao Yu and then get his hands on some of Yu An’s blood.

Back at the cave, Yu An inspected the shrimp and remarked that there’s a specialist for every trade, and professional work requires a professional’s touch.

"Look at the size of these shrimp! Every single one is a top-notch ingredient. I don’t even have to waste time sorting them..."

Yu An was lavish with his praise. After all, a few compliments didn’t cost anything.

Xiao Yu raised his little hand, his cheeks rosy. "Female Mother, I’m the one who supervised Uncle Lan!"

Yu An praised him as well, then took out some candy he normally didn’t let the Zaizai eat much of. "This is your reward. Remember to rinse your mouth after you’re done."

’He couldn’t be stingy with his own people.’

Lan Yin, unaware of this, flushed from the praise. Seeing that Yu An was about to continue, he quickly cut in, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take Xiao Yu to begin his transformation. A young Merfolk’s transformation requires his Beast Father’s... requires a clansman’s help."

"Oh, so that’s how it works. I was wondering why Da Hu transformed so long ago while Xiao Yu showed no signs of it. You two go ahead. I’ll keep your food warm."

Seeing that Yu An hadn’t caught his slip of the tongue, Lan Yin breathed a sigh of relief. "It won’t take long."

After they left, Yu An took out some of the shrimp to make a fresh shrimp porridge.

He heated some oil in the pot, then stir-fried ginger slices and the shrimp heads until the fragrant shrimp oil was rendered. Next, he added water, brought it to a boil, and removed the shrimp heads. He then added pre-soaked rice to the pot, brought it to a boil again, and let it simmer for fifteen minutes.

By now, the porridge was glossy and rich. A savory aroma, distinct from any other congee, filled the air. Feng Xuan and Mo Yan, who were busy shelling shrimp, caught the scent and their hands began to move even faster.

Deveining shrimp after shrimp until they were sick of it, peeling shell after shell until their fingers were numb—but in the face of such a delicacy, it was all worth it!

He added some lightly marinated, pre-cut beef, followed by the shrimp and chopped greens. With just a dash of salt and pepper, the fresh shrimp porridge was ready.

The homemade shrimp porridge was packed with ingredients; every spoonful was a mouthful. The taste was a perfect blend of fresh sweetness and savory, soft textures. The hot porridge warmed them from the inside out as it went down.

The others all gave him a thumbs-up, since their mouths were too full to speak!

"It smells so good! Female Mother, I want some shrimp porridge too!"

Xiao Yu’s voice drifted in from outside the cave. He came running in on his own, his two chubby little legs churning surprisingly fast, and hugged Yu An’s leg coaxingly.

"Female Mother, look! I can walk now!"

"That’s wonderful," Yu An said with a grin. "Did you thank Uncle Lan? After all, helping you transform is a job for your Beast Father, and Uncle Lan is no relation of yours..."

Xiao Yu nodded. "I did."

Lan Yin frowned. "There’s no need to be so formal. Xiao Yu and I are family."

Yu An looked up, puzzled. "Family?"

"Ahem." He realized his mistake and quickly tried to cover for it. "What I mean is, since we’re both Merfolk, even if we aren’t blood relatives, we’re still members of the same clan."

"Oh, I see. Well, come have some porridge. Try my cooking."

’That was close. I almost exposed myself.’

Seeing that Yu An didn’t press him further, Lan Yin breathed a sigh of relief and accepted the bowl of shrimp porridge Yu An offered.

He was stunned after just one bite.

"You made this?"

’I thought yesterday’s meal was the most delicious food on the continent, but looking at it now... there’s no comparison. Absolutely no comparison at all!’

"Who else?"

Yu An pointed to the pot. "There’s more. Just remember to wash your bowl when you’re done."

Lan Yin nodded. ’Never mind washing the bowl, he’d even be willing to hand over his position as the Merfolk Clan Leader... well, maybe half of it.’

Mo Yan and Feng Xuan, being more worldly, were much calmer. In fact, Feng Xuan had only recognized Lan Yin after a reminder from Yu An.

’Even now, he still found it hard to believe.’

’The Lan Yin he knew was aloof, indifferent, and a man of few words. According to a well-informed Merfolk source, Lan Yin had smiled fewer than ten times in his entire life.’

’What in the world could have turned him into... this?’

’Even if it was for the Zaizai, Lan Yin’s personality suggested he would just show up and snatch the child away. Did he have some other motive?’

For Da Hu’s sake, Feng Xuan decided to give Yu An a friendly warning.

Lan Yin had already accepted his fate as the dishwasher and began cleaning up with resignation. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yu pulled Yu An outside the cave, looking like he wanted to share a secret.

Yu An crouched down to his level. "What is it, Xiao Yu?"

"Female Mother, I’m going to tell you a secret."

Xiao Yu said with a frown, "Uncle Lan is actually my Beast Father. He wants to take me away, and he told me not to tell you."

"And you agreed?"

"Uh-huh."

Yu An chuckled. "Then why are you telling your Female Mother?"

Xiao Yu said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Anyone who wants to take me away from my Female Mother is a bad guy, and promises made to bad guys don’t count."

"And another thing! I only called him Beast Father because I wanted to transform sooner so I could help my Female Mother with chores. But just like my big brother, the only male I’ll accept as my Beast Father is one my Female Mother approves of!"

"You really are your Female Mother’s good boy." Yu An was completely charmed by his earnest little expression. "Xiao Yu, for now, just pretend to go along with him. Then, try to find out what he wants besides taking you away, alright?"

Xiao Yu nodded. "Okay! Don’t worry, Female Mother, you can count on me!"