The surrounding beastmen were speechless, quickly turning their heads away.

If they didn’t witness it, they couldn’t testify against Hu Jiao Jiao. Even if the tribe leader asked, they could swear to the Beast God himself that they hadn’t seen a thing.

Hu Jiao Jiao cast a cold glance at Lu Li, who was trembling with fear, and turned back to her cubs.

“Mom…” Long Ling’er’s small voice wavered as she looked down, nervously wringing her hands together. In a timid whisper, she said, “I’m sorry, Mom. I promise I won’t cause any more trouble for you.”

The other four cubs also hung their heads in silence.

Long Yu clenched his fists and bravely stepped forward, “I told them to do it. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame me. It’s all my fault.”

“Awwooo,” Xiao Wu whimpered softly, “Mom, I’m sorry… Xiaowu knows he was wrong.”

The usually lively and daring Long Yao shrank back in Long Ling’er’s arms, his body coiling up defensively. His big red eyes looked up at Hu Jiao Jiao with a mix of guilt and worry.

The cubs had only intended to teach Lu Li a lesson and leave, but the incident had spiraled into a full-blown conflict, even causing Hu Jiao Jiao to clash with Lu Mu. Now they feared she’d be angry with them—or, worse, that she’d revert to how she used to be, cold and distant.

Though they were terrified, none of the cubs tried to run or hide.

Seeing their careful, remorseful faces, Hu Jiao Jiao’s expression softened immediately. Here they were, apologizing to her for standing up for themselves. How much had they endured to be so afraid of getting help, so used to swallowing their pain?

Other children would have come crying to their parents for revenge by now.

Looking down at their endearing faces, she couldn’t bring herself to scold them.

Her clawed hands reverted to normal at some point. She raised her hand and gently ruffle their heads, her voice soothing. “You didn’t do anything wrong. If someone bullies you, you should fight back. Fight until they’re too scared to bother you again.”

“But next time, you need to be careful. Don’t let anyone catch you like this again…” she added gently, not once scolding them.

All five cubs stared at her in stunned silence.

She wasn’t mad? She wasn’t going to scold them for causing trouble?

“I’m so sorry, Mom…” Long Ling’er’s eyes reddened. The kinder Hu Jiao Jiao was, the guiltier she felt.

“Silly girl, what are you apologizing for?” Hu Jiao Jiao softly pinched her cheek. “If anyone bullies you, come find me first.”

The five little ones felt an odd warmth in their hearts. It was as if they’d been wild plants left to survive the elements alone, only to suddenly find themselves carefully potted and tended.

“Alright, let’s head home.”

With that, Hu Jiao Jiao took the cubs by their hands, preparing to leave.

The watching beastmen began dispersing as well.

“Lu Mu!”

At this moment, a sharp voice cut through the air, and a thin and short male burst through the crowd, rushing towards Lu Mu.

“Lu Mu, what happened to you? Who did this to you?”

Father Lu, his face filled with panic, knelt beside Lu Mu, reaching out to help her up. But Lu Mu, groaning in pain, could only think of getting to a healer as soon as possible. Yet all Father Lu did was stand there, wailing helplessly, not even attempting to free her injured hand from the ground where it was pinned.

Lu Mu’s heart seethed with resentment. Useless creature—stop wailing and pull my hand free already!

But all she could muster was a series of pained groans.

Lu Li piped up from behind her, “Father, it was Hu Jiao Jiao! Hu Jiao Jiao did this to Mother!”

Father Lu’s gaze darted to Hu Jiao Jiao, who was already leaving with her cubs. Looking down at his injured mate, he recalled how often she’d belittled him as “useless.” Now that there is no male around Hu Jiaojiao, isn’t this a good opportunity for him to show himself?

It would be seen as standing up for his mate. Surely, even if the chief found out, he’d side with him.

“Lu Mu, don’t be afraid. I’ll get revenge for you!” he announced, leaping to his feet and turning to Hu Jiao Jiao’s retreating form, shouting:

“Hu Jiao Jiao! Stop right there!”

“You think you can beat my mate and just walk away? I’ll teach you a lesson today…”

As Father Lu puffed out his chest, Lu Mu could only seethe. She almost spat out blood in frustration. That fool! Who told him to provoke that madwoman?

But Father Lu was already barreling forward, shifting into his beast form and charging blindly toward Hu Jiao Jiao without even hearing his mate’s protest.

The onlookers gasped in shock.

“How dare Lu Li’s father use his beast form to attack a female! He could seriously hurt her!”

“This is outrageous! How can he be so shameless?”

The crowd muttered angrily. Some beastmen were even preparing to intervene when a sudden shadow swept over Hu Jiao Jiao and the cubs.

A deafening roar filled the air as a massive black dragon loomed overhead, his massive body blocking out the sky and darkening the ground. With a powerful, bone-crushing strike, Long Mo slammed into the charging deer, sending him hurtling into the air.

Father Lu was flung away, arching through the air before landing with a hard thud, rolling several times until he crashed right into Lu Mu, forcibly yanking her trapped hand free as they both tumbled into the river with a loud splash.