When the ugly little snake was two months old.
"Baby, baby, time for a bath~~" Leng Qingqing hummed a self-composed tune as he set a large wooden tub outside their nest. He poured in warm water and then, with great excitement, lifted the little dragon—who could not yet take human form and could only make "wah-wah" sounds—out of its cradle.
"Baby, we’re having a bath today." Leng Qingqing fussed over the little dragon’s horns and claws before placing it into the tub.
The little dragon was like a fish in water, swimming happily within the basin. Leng Qingqing patted his son’s head. "Have a good soak, son. Daddy’s going to get you something to eat." He wasn't worried about the baby drowning; their snake kin were born knowing how to swim.
"Wu-wah," the little dragon uttered, a simple syllable signifying "I understand."
After Leng Qingqing went inside, a nearby green snake demon happened to be taking his family out for a stroll.
The green snake father, with several newborn hatchlings coiled upon his shoulders, walked over hand-in-hand with the snake mother.
"Look, whose large wooden tub is this?" the mother asked curiously.
The green snake family leaned in close to inspect the tub.
"Wa-ka!" Seeing people approaching, the little dragon flicked its tail, sending a spray of water flying that drenched the entire green snake family.
"Dammit! It’s that freak raised by that idiot white snake, Leng Qingqing—that crippled, ugly little snake!" the father spat angrily.
As the father spoke, the tiny green snakes on his shoulders naughtily slid into the water to play with the little dragon, who was slightly larger than them.
But the little dragon wasn't happy at all. This was his territory, and he had no intention of sharing it. With one swipe of a claw, he flipped one of the small snakes over, sending it tumbling through the water.
This ignited the fury of the green snake couple. They began loudly cheering for their sons, and the bathtub transformed into a "battlefield" between dragon and snakes.
Five small snakes swarmed forward, entangling the little dragon’s body. Being only a baby, the little dragon was momentarily overwhelmed.
Amidst the cheers of the snake couple, the little dragon grew incensed. Suddenly, he let out a low growl.
As the little dragon’s power surged, a vortex began to form in the tub, and his body started sizzling with arcs of electricity.
With several sharp *crack-pows*, the tiny green snakes were struck by the current erupting from the little dragon. They went limp, every one of them foaming at the mouth.
"My babies!" the snake couple shrieked. At that moment, the little dragon rose from the water into the air. Though he could only hover about ten feet off the ground, he was every bit a majestic, miniature dragon, his entire body radiating lightning.
Before the snake couple could react, small, churning dark clouds formed above their heads, crackling with thunder and lightning.
"Wah-wah-wah! A freak! It's a freak!" The green snake family screamed and scrambled away under the barrage of electric shocks from the dark clouds.
Meanwhile, the oblivious Leng Qingqing hadn't noticed a single thing happening outside. He was focused entirely on—drinking. He had originally intended to have just one small cup of his stored liquor to ease his fatigue, but one led to another, and he eventually passed out drunk.
The little dragon’s foul temper had begun to show itself even back then.
