The image was still clear in her mind when she woke up, so she decided to head out again.
After a quick word with Auntie Pang, she slung her small cloth bag over her shoulder and headed out.
"Auntie, I'm going out for a little while. I'm just going to walk around the mountain."
Shanshan stood obediently at the kitchen door.
Auntie Pang was busy cooking congee and didn't even look up.
"Go on, then. Just remember to be back for lunch. Don't go too far."
"Mhm!"
Shanshan nodded emphatically. She went by memory, aided by the Dragon Clan's innate sense for Spirit Grass.
She stumbled toward a remote dirt slope behind the courtyard.
The path underfoot was uneven and overgrown with weeds.
She kept her head down to avoid the thorns, occasionally tilting it to the side.
She had just reached the spot and hadn't even started looking when several people blocked her path.
Shanshan's head snapped up. Three people stood in a line, blocking her way.
She instinctively took half a step back.
Leading them was the ever-arrogant Cao Jiajia.
Two boys, several years older than her, stood behind her.
Cao Jiajia stood with her hands on her hips, chin held high.
She had deliberately worn a new pink dress today, and her hair was combed immaculately.
The two boys, on the other hand, had brutish faces and wore baggy, old tracksuits. They glared menacingly at Shanshan.
"You little brat! What are you doing skulking around here?"
Cao Jiajia demanded shrilly.
"Are you trying to steal something? You're always sneaking around. Who knows what kind of trouble you get into behind everyone's back!"
Cao Jiajia's eyes were filled with defiance.
She narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Shanshan's tiny, frail frame.
Shanshan recognized her.
'That man... less than three months after Mom died, he couldn't wait to marry some woman from the city.'
'The last time her rotten father threw her out, this little girl was standing right there.'
'They're all bad people!'
Shanshan pressed her lips together tightly.
But she didn't cry, and she didn't run.
She knew she couldn't let people bully her anymore.
The blood of the Dragon Clan flowed through her veins.
'Even if I only have a single breath left, I will not bow my head again!'
Shanshan puffed out her cheeks and blinked.
"I'm not stealing. I'm looking for medicinal herbs to treat Uncle Yang's leg."
"Pah! What medicinal herbs? You're just making that up!"
Cao Jiajia let out a sudden, cold laugh.
"Did you think you could get away with some random excuse? Who'd believe a liar like you!"
Cao Jiajia stepped forward and shoved Shanshan hard on the shoulder.
With a dull THUD, Shanshan's body rocked, and her back slammed into a crooked tree behind her.
A few leaves rustled down, brushing against her cheek.
"My dad says you're a jinx!"
Cao Jiajia pointed down at her, looming over her.
"You jinxed your grandma and grandpa to death, you jinxed your own mom to death, and now you're out here mooching off people! You're a walking disaster! Anyone who gets near you is cursed with bad luck!"
"Sooner or later, you'll bring ruin to Auntie Pang's family!"
She grew more animated as she spoke, spittle flying from her mouth and hitting Shanshan in the face.
"The day something bad happens to Auntie Pang's family, everyone will know who brought the misfortune!"
The shove made Shanshan stumble, and she nearly lost her footing.
But she clenched her jaw and managed to stay on her feet.
She frowned and shouted back defiantly, "I'm not a walking disaster!"
"The grass really can heal people!"
"Your dad is the one who's lying! You're the one who brings bad luck!"
Shanshan finally lifted her head and stared right into Cao Jiajia's eyes.
"He's the one who brings misfortune! Your whole family will come to a bad end!"
"How dare you curse my dad?"
Cao Jiajia instantly blew up. Her face turned beet red as she pointed a trembling finger at Shanshan.
"You've really crossed the line! An unwanted little stray like you, daring to curse my dad?!"
She was so furious she was practically hopping. She turned and yelled at the boys behind her, "Get her! Beat her up!"
"Grab that raggedy cloth bag of hers and tear it to shreds!"
"Break her legs! Let's see how she runs around after that!"
The two boys glanced at each other, hesitating.
They often went along with Cao Jiajia's mischief, but this was the first time they'd been in a real fight.
The Shanshan in front of them might be frail, but her eyes were unnervingly bright.
But seeing Cao Jiajia's furious glare, they steeled themselves and closed in.
After all, nobody wanted to offend this "Miss."
If they got on her bad side, life in the neighborhood wouldn't be easy for them.
One of the boys reached out to grab the cloth pouch on Shanshan's back.
"Don't touch my bag!"
Shanshan grew frantic, her little face flushing crimson.
She shot back a step, planting her feet firmly on the ground. Her eyes widened as she stared daggers at the approaching hand.
'Auntie Pang sewed this for me by hand! It's for all the treasures I find!'
She shot out her short, chubby little hands to protect the bulging pouch at her waist.
She might only be three years old and shorter than the kitchen stove, but her movements were exceptionally agile.
"You dare to dodge?"
Cao Jiajia's face turned livid with rage. She stomped her foot and shrieked.
She was used to getting her way; when had she ever been treated with such contempt?
The other boy, egging her on, rolled up his sleeves and reached for Shanshan's slender arm.
"You little beggar! Hand over the bag!"
Shanshan was genuinely angry now.
'She didn't want to fight or cause trouble, but these people had gone too far!'
Dodging left and right, she shouted, "You'll get what's coming to you for bullying me! Heaven's lightning will strike you down!"
"What's coming to me? I'll show you what bad luck is right now!"
Seeing she couldn't catch her, Cao Jiajia, completely exasperated and embarrassed, bent down.
She scooped up a handful of dry dirt and flung it right at Shanshan's face!
Shanshan squeezed her eyes shut and jerked her head to the side, barely avoiding a direct hit.
But fine particles of dust still got into her nose and mouth, making her choke and cough repeatedly.
She was utterly furious!
'These rotten kids!'
With a wave of her small hand, a faint, almost invisible white light flashed across her palm.
She didn't overthink it. Acting on instinct, she simply flung it toward where Cao Jiajia was standing.
"AIIEE!"
A shrill scream suddenly pierced the air.
Cao Jiajia's feet slipped out from under her, as if she had stepped on something slick.
She instantly lost her balance, her arms flailing as she fell backward!
A dull THUD echoed.
Her backside slammed hard onto a sharp rock jutting out of the ground!
A fiery pain shot through her backside, and hot tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Her new pink dress was also torn by the sharp rock.
The fall wasn't just painful; it was utterly humiliating.
The two boys beside her, who had been eager to join in, were completely stunned.
'They hadn't seen anything, so how did Cao Jiajia suddenly fall like that?'
'Could it be... this little girl really knows some kind of black magic?'
Shanshan wiped the dirt from her face and breathed a sigh of relief.
Hmph!
'Dare to mess with a Long Zai?'
'Serves you right!'
'Great-grandmother said the bloodline of the Dragon Clan is not to be trifled with.'
'Anyone who bullies me will be punished by heaven and earth.'
She shot a sideways glance at the hysterically sobbing Cao Jiajia, snorted softly, and didn't deign to give her another look.
She patted the dust from her short skirt, stood on her tiptoes, and took a little sniff...
A very faint, fresh scent drifted through the air.
The Dragon Clan had a subtle, innate sense for good medicinal herbs.
She quickly found several familiar green plants on the other side of the slope.
Their leaves were long and slender like silk, with tips that were faintly golden.
It was the Dragon Beard Grass she had been searching for!
She crouched down and carefully pushed aside the surrounding weeds.