The four cubs watched intently, mesmerized by the sorry state of Lu Mu and Lu Li, completely oblivious to Long Yao’s sneaky actions behind them.

“Mom, those filthy little brats forced me to drink muddy water and shaved off all my fur! Mom, you’ve got to help me get back at them!” Lu Li wailed, his face swollen as he sobbed and whined.

Mucus and tears streamed down his dirt-covered face, streaking it with lines of snot and grime. A pair of long, dripping snot trails dangled from his nose, making him look like an oversized, slimy slug.

Lu Mu’s eyelids twitched as she fought the urge to pull her hand away from his. She took a deep breath, struggling to accept that this pitiful mess of a child was actually her precious cub.

“Mom, why aren’t you saying anything? Do you think I’m ugly too?” Lu Li whimpered, his cries intensifying. “I look awful! I can’t bear to show my face anymore!”

“No, of course not! You look… Ugh-” Lu Mu began, but as soon as she saw the slimy snot hanging from his nose, she gagged involuntarily.

Lu Li’s eyes grew wide with hurt. “Fine! I’ll just go die then!”

“Don’t say that, sweetheart!” she rushed to say, pulling him close. Anger flared in her eyes as she turned toward the young cubs, a sneer twisting her face. “You filthy little brats, I’ll break your hands and rip your fur out for what you did to my son!”

“Make them as bald as me!” Lu Li hollered from behind, his swollen, hairless face twisted in fury.

“Crazy old hag’s coming! Run!” Long Ling’er yelled, though there was little fear on her face. She grabbed Long Xiu’s hand and dashed for home.

Long Yu and Long Zhong were already running after her. They weren’t about to stand around and let Lu Mu take her anger out on them.

“Wait-where’s Long Yao?” Long Zhong suddenly skidded to a halt, panic crossing his face as he noticed the smallest dragon was missing.

The four cubs immediately froze.

“Heave-ho… heave-ho… gotta get the bucket back home…”

Behind them, Long Yao had stealthily snuck around and was now slowly dragging the bucket along the ground, the heavy load leaving a short, winding trail behind him.

“Ho!” He huffed and puffed, but when he looked back and saw he’d barely moved an inch, he still didn’t give up and kept encouraging himself to try harder.

Just then, Lu Mu spotted him sneaking around. Her eyes flashed with malice as she lunged forward, grabbing him by his tail. “You little pest, how dare you come back here? I’ll skin you alive!”

The stone bucket tumbled from Long Yao’s grip, hitting the ground with a thud.

“Oh no!”

“Xiao Wu!”

Seeing him get caught, the four cubs cried out in alarm.

Long Xiu, though he couldn’t see, knew from Lu Mu’s harsh words that Long Yao was in trouble. Anxiety tightened his usually calm face.

“Let my little brother go, you old witch!” Long Ling’er yelled furiously, stopping her escape to face Lu Mu.

“Touch a hair on him, and I’ll make sure you regret it!” Long Zhong snarled, his young face dark with fury.

“You’ll all pay,” Lu Mu sneered, her lips curling in a wicked smile. “Once I finish with him, you’re next!” She hoisted Long Yao by his tail, dangling him like a ragdoll.

“Help!” Long Yao wriggled and struggled, but Lu Mu shook him around so violently that his little claws couldn’t even reach her.

“Do it, Mom! Rip his fur out and make him look as ugly as me!” Lu Li shouted, his bald head shining in the sunlight as he egged her on.

Picking up a sharp rock, Lu Mu prepared to strike.

That’s when Hu Jiao Jiao arrived on the scene, her heart clenching painfully at the sight. With a sharp, commanding voice, she shouted, “Drop him, now! Lay a finger on my cub and see what happens!”

The fury in her voice rang clear and loud.

Startled, Lu Mu paused and turned to see Hu Jiao Jiao glaring at her with fire in her eyes. Her lips curled into a cold smirk.

“Oh, I’ll do more than touch him,” she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. “It’s just a weak little dragon, useless as a flea.”

As she taunted Hu Jiao Jiao, Lu Mu picked up the rock once again and raised it to strike Long Yao.

But before she could move, sharp claws sliced across her wrist, drawing three deep gashes. The rock clattered to the ground as she cried out in pain.

Long Yao, freed from her grasp, didn’t even have a chance to right himself before Hu Jiao Jiao had scooped him into her arms.

Hu Jiao Jiao then landed a swift kick to Lu Mu’s back, sending her sprawling to the ground with a grunt.

“Are you okay, Yao’er?” she asked her son, cradling him. He blinked dazedly but gave a shaky nod. “Mama, I’m fine… just a little dizzy…”

“Mom!” The other four cubs dashed over, relief washing over them.

To them, Hu Jiao Jiao was their strongest protector, and with her there, they felt safe.

Hu Jiao Jiao quickly looked each of them over, her worry finally easing when she saw they were unharmed.

“Mom, your hands…” Long Ling’er gasped, noticing her mother’s fingers were bleeding slightly where claws had extended.

Hu Jiao Jiao lifted her hands, startled to see that her fingers had sprouted sharp, animalistic claws. It wasn’t a full transformation, but the claws alone were incredibly sharp.

“It’s nothing-just take care of Yao’er.” She carefully placed Long Yao in Long Ling’er’s arms, then turned back to Lu Mu.

“Mom! Are you okay?” Lu Li scrambled over to help his mother, the mucus on his face smearing onto her clothes.

Suppressing a grimace, she assured him, “I’m fine.”

The commotion had already drawn a crowd of onlookers. Feeling humiliated, Lu Mu’s face flushed with anger.

“You little brat! How dare you hit me! I’ll_”

Slap!

She hadn’t even finished speaking when Hu Jiao Jiao slapped her so hard that her head snapped to the side.

“Yes, I hit you,” Hu Jiao Jiao hissed, her voice icy. “You threaten to skin my child, and you expect me to let it slide?”

“You…you…”

Lu Mu’s eyes widened in shock. No one had ever dared to strike her before, let alone Hu Jiao Jiao, whom she’d always considered timid and submissive.

Just as she opened her mouth to protest, Hu Jiao Jiao slapped her again, even harder this time.

“You’re a disgrace,” Hu Jiao Jiao said coldly. “You’re an adult, but you act like a bully, picking on children. I’ve wanted to hit you for a long time.”