“Can you even catch fish, or are you here to feed them?” Lu Li sneered.

The other cubs burst into laughter, slapping their knees.

Long Zhong’s face burned with anger, his fists clenched as he glared at them. The insult “ugly” kept echoing in his head, fueling his desire to pummel Lu Li right then and there. Long Xiu, on the other hand, stayed calm, his pale, composed face betraying no reaction, as if the taunts were nothing more than the barking of a stray dog.

“Lu Li,” Long Zhong spat, locking eyes with him, “don’t cry and call for your parents later.”

This only made Lu Li laugh harder. He strode closer, looking smug.

“Ugly freak, you think you can scare me? You didn’t learn your lesson last time, huh? Well, you’re gonna get soaked today.”

Just as Lu Li rolled up his sleeves, ready for a fight, a sharp whizzing sound cut through the air. A small stone flew out from behind a tree, hitting Lu Li square on the tongue.

His face contorted with pain, hands clasped over his mouth as he let out a garbled, high-pitched squawk, much like a wounded rooster.

“Who did that?!” he screamed.

The cubs darted around in confusion, startled and fumbling to see who’d come to help Long Zhong and Long Xiu.

Behind the tree, Long Ling’er bounced with excitement, her eyes shining. “Big brother, I hit him! I really hit him!”

Long Yu chuckled and took aim at the rest of Lu Li’s gang, and a volley of pebbles followed, hitting the cubs square on the head. Within moments, each of them was sporting a fresh bump and wailing in pain.

Seeing his siblings score hits, Long Yao felt the thrill of joining in. Using his tail to grip the slingshot, he held a few pebbles in his mouth, aiming them with great focus at Lu Li’s eyes.

Recovering from the initial shock, Lu Li spotted Long Ling’er and Long Yu behind the tree. Eyes blazing, he slurred furiously, “You, you little brats, you’re gonna regret that! I’ll teach you not to mess with me!”

“Hoo! I’m gonna hit you! I’m gonna hit you!” Long Yao cheered, releasing the slingshot. The pebble sailed through the air.

“Ahhhh!”

Before Lu Li could finish his threat, a storm of pebbles rained down on him, hitting his head, nose, mouth, and even…lower.

Long Yao was ecstatic. “Hoo! I hit him! I hit him!” His tail wagged in excitement as he swung the slingshot. But just as he let go, the slingshot slipped and smacked Lu Li square on the head, knocking him off balance and sending him tumbling backward into the river.

Long Zhong, who had been bristling with anger moments before, stared in shock, his mouth hanging open. Since when did Little Yao become so strong?

“Help…” Lu Li sputtered, flailing in the water.

His companions glanced at one another, horrified by the scene. None of them dared to move forward.

“Long Yao’s slingshot!”

Long Yao let out a small whimper, rushing to retrieve his prized slingshot from where it lay floating in the water. “Can’t lose this! Mom gave it to me!”

“Don’t hurt us! This wasn’t our idea! It was all Lu Li’s!” The remaining cubs shouted, scattering like startled birds and fleeing without a backward glance.

Long Yao tilted his head in confusion as he watched them run off.

Lu Li, terrified of the water, had always forced the other cubs to push Long Yu and Long Zhong in. Now, finding himself alone, he struggled to climb out of the water, coughing and gasping.

Finally making it to the riverbank, he wiped water from his face, clutching his head and limping toward dry land, only to find Long Zhong blocking his path, his expression dark and vengeful.

“Out of the way, ugly freak, or I’ll beat you to a pulp,” Lu Li snarled, his voice shaking with defiance.

A wicked grin spread across Long Zhong’s face. Grabbing a handful of Lu Li’s hair, he yanked him down, forcing him to his knees and shoving his head toward the water.

“You love to make others drink river water, huh? Well, let’s see how much you can drink.”

Lu Li, weakened from the blows and already soaked, had no strength to fight back. The next moment, he was spluttering, his head shoved under the murky water. Bubbles streamed up as he involuntarily gulped down mouthfuls.

Long Xiu, standing closest to the water’s edge, leaned down to remind his brother, “Be careful, don’t kill him. It’ll just bring trouble for Mom and Dad.”

Long Zhong yanked Lu Li back up, flashing a sinister grin. “Relax, Second Brother. I know my limits. I just want him to have his fill of river water.”

When they’d been bullied, Deer Li never gave them a chance to speak or resist, dunking them until they were nearly choking. The revenge was too sweet for Long Zhong to pass up.
Satisfied with his response, Long Xiu merely nodded, stepping back.

Coughing and gasping for air, Lu Li spat out water, feeling as if he’d narrowly escaped death. Seeing Long Zhong’s face looming over him, he forced out a defiant stutter.

“Ugly freak… you dare…”

But he didn’t get to finish before Long Zhong forced him under again. Lu Li’s lips were pale, his face bloated, and he choked out more murky water between gulps.

Long Ling’er piped up from the riverbank, “Third Brother, are you done yet? We’ll be in trouble if someone comes by! It’s my turn next!”