There are too many female protagonists with deceased husbands in the Qin Dynasty's Past Books.

The blazing serpent emerges from its cocoon and transforms into feathers.

One is renowned, the other is completely unknown.

Who should we choose?

Who can bring life back?

Chapter 18 A promise must be kept.

Outside the Hundred Gu Cave, the sun was setting.

Many of the children who participated in the trial have returned, and most of the people who gathered here to wait have also dispersed. Only a few people are looking at the entrance of the Hundred Gu Cave with pale faces and despair in their eyes.

Amidst the gloom and desolation, there was a striking and bright spot.

With her fair and delicate face taut, Yan Lingji tried her best to appear mature and composed as the leader, but the flames that occasionally burst from her fingertips still revealed her inner unease and anxiety.

She stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look towards the Hundred Gu Cave.

Her bare feet, unadorned with shoes and socks, were completely exposed. They were as white as jade, with a subtle, translucent sheen, yet as tender as tofu, so delicate and supple that they seemed ready to burst with moisture at any moment.

On toes that are as distinct as bodhi seeds, the rounded toenails naturally display a light pink hue.

It looks so appealing that you just want to put it in your mouth.

Don't tell me, you really shouldn't tell me.

Even though Yan Lingji's legs weren't fully open yet, her small, exquisite feet were definitely three-inch golden lotuses. She opened her mouth wide and tried to take them all in...

It doesn't seem entirely impossible.

Meanwhile, Yan Lingji, who was eagerly waiting, stood on tiptoe, like a ballerina touching the ground only with her toes. The back of her foot was also tense due to the force, presenting a pleasing arc.

Her petite figure appeared slightly taller because of this posture.

You can already vaguely see her mature, gentle yet ruthless appearance. The only downside is her overly flat figure, which is rather unremarkable.

But think about it, this kind of youthful naiveté is something you can only see at this age.

Definitely a scarce resource!

However, despite her stunning beauty, under the intimidating presence of Yan Lingji's extraordinary status, even the most lustful among those present dared not look up at her with covetous eyes.

As for why a girl in her early teens would need to look up and gaze at something, that's a big question mark.

That's because Yan Lingji was standing barefoot on Wushuang Gui's back, while the latter was kneeling on one knee, looking down with a wronged expression and drawing circles on the ground.

This is certainly not some embarrassing cat-walking play.

It was Yan Ling Ji's punishment for Wu Shuang Gui.

That big idiot! He was supposed to help Amo in there, but after successfully refining the Chiyou Hundred Battles Gu, he came out all by himself.

When asked where Amo was, he couldn't answer at all.

Muttering to herself, Yan Lingji couldn't help but stomp her foot angrily, even though she knew that this probably wouldn't even be a tickle to Wushuang Gui, but she still vented her anger in this way.

The father was watching from the side; it wouldn't be right to just set him on fire.

Yan Lingji was already used to Wushuang Gui's low intelligence and had always treated this tall guy like a younger brother. But now, after waiting and waiting, Jiang Mo still hadn't come out of the Hundred Gu Cave, and Yan Lingji's impatience couldn't help but make her angry at Wushuang Gui.

Let her kneel here as a stepping stone so she can stand taller and see further.

No matter how hard they looked, the person who couldn't get out of the Hundred Gu Cave was nowhere to be seen, and the sun steadily and slowly sank down.

The night, like a tide of despair, gradually swallowed up the last glimmer of hope.

The few remaining survivors had all accepted the cold reality and left with blank expressions. They had accepted the fact that their loved ones had perished in the Hundred Gu Cave and would never return.

The village chief and the shaman stepped forward, preparing to temporarily seal the entrance to the Hundred Poison Cave.

This allows the Gu worms inside to rest and recuperate, and the place will be reopened next year so that children in the village can enter and search for their destined Gu worm.

During this period, only a few people who raised Gu poison were allowed to enter.

"Wait, Amo hasn't come back yet, we can't close the exit now! Wait a little longer, he'll definitely come out soon!!"

Seeing that the entrance was about to be sealed off, Yan Lingji could no longer stay there.

She jumped off the Ghostly Beast and ran towards the entrance of the Hundred Gu Cave, raising her watery eyes and looking pleadingly at the priest holding a wooden staff.

"Nonsense! Such a serious matter is not a child's play!!"

Before the shaman could speak, the village chief stepped forward, his brows furrowed, and sternly rebuked Yan Lingji: "Yan, it's one thing on ordinary days, but you can't act recklessly in the Hundred Poison Trial!"

The shaman beside him slowly shook his head and softly uttered a single call:

"Chirp~"

The spirit witch who was usually in charge of supervising and taking care of Yan Lingji came at the call. She looked a little reluctant, but still carried Yan Lingji in the opposite direction of the Hundred Gu Cave.

"No, no, Amo, he..."

Yan Lingji continued to struggle desperately in Ming's arms, but he merely sighed softly, raised his hand to stroke her head, showing no intention of letting go.

"Lord Yan, things have come to this point, and we have no choice but to accept it."

Ming actually admired Jiang Mo, a child who was serious and responsible in his work; otherwise, he wouldn't have turned a blind eye to the conveniences that Yan Lingji gave Jiang Mo.

Since the person can't come back, making a fuss won't help.

"But he promised me, he promised..."

Having stopped struggling, Yan Lingji's once bright eyes became lifeless, and her pale lips moved, emitting almost inaudible sounds.

"Yes, I have to keep my promise, so I rushed back here."

A voice tinged with obvious weariness suddenly rang out, and a spark seemed to burst forth in Yan Lingji's originally dim eyes, making her light blue pupils suddenly bright.

His head, which had been hanging low, suddenly lifted up.

He twisted his body, trying to look in the direction from which the familiar voice came.

Hearing the sound carried by the night wind, Ming was clearly surprised. She turned around with Yan Lingji in her arms and saw a strong young man walking slowly towards her in the night.

Jiang Mo was shirtless and looked exhausted.

He was soaking wet, with water dripping from his short black hair. Although there were no obvious wounds on his body, he looked extremely disheveled.

As it walked over, it kept sneezing.

He had clearly caught a cold.

"Amo!"

Upon seeing the speaker's face clearly, Yan Lingji immediately jumped out of Ming's arms. This time, Ming did not stop her and took the initiative to release his hands that were tightly holding Yan Lingji.

"Hey, don't come any closer, achoo! I'm soaking wet!"

Jiang Mo, who was in a hurry to get back, didn't have time to tidy himself up. He waved his hand in front of him, trying to stop Yan Lingji from rushing over.

But this willful little wildcat in front of me wouldn't easily obey.

Yan Lingji could clearly see Jiang Mo's soaking wet appearance, but instead of showing any disgust, she rushed towards him without slowing down at all.

She opened her arms wide and hugged Jiang Mo tightly.

The warmth that rushed towards him dispelled the heavy chill that lingered around Jiang Mo.

Liquid slid down Jiang Mo's forehead, but it wasn't the cold water of the underground river; instead, it was scalding hot.

The heat made Jiang Mo feel a pang of pain in his heart.

Chapter 19 Burning at the stake, to be carried out immediately.

"Okay, okay, don't cry, I'm perfectly fine~"

Even when surrounded and attacked, Jiang Mo remained calm. Even when he unfortunately fell into an underground cave, he was still able to stay composed. However, when he realized that Yan Lingji was crying, he showed a rare hint of panic.

Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.

A woman's tears always break one's heart.

"What are you talking about? Who's crying? It was you who got me soaked with water! I really don't know what you did."

Buried in Jiang Mo's arms, Yan Lingji's soft voice became somewhat muffled.

With a hint of arrogance, she immediately refuted Jiang Mo's careful words of comfort, and took the opportunity to wipe her snot and tears on Jiang Mo before raising her head as if nothing had happened.

Yan Lingji would never admit to crying.

After all, she considered herself the leader of Jiang Mo and Wushuang Gui, and she was always the one to comfort her two younger brothers. There was no reason for her to shed tears in her younger brothers' arms.

Not only would she not admit it, Yan Lingji would also deliberately feign disdain.

She looked Jiang Mo up and down, and only after confirming that there were no obvious wounds on his body did she pout and complain:

"What did you do?"

"Not only did he come back so late, but he was also soaking wet, like a water ghost that had just crawled out of the river. My clothes were completely soaked."

Although it was described as a complaint, the gentle tone clearly revealed concern.

Jiang Mo couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing this. Why was he soaking wet? It was because he had just swum out of a river—not just any river, but an underground river he had discovered in the cave. That's why he had reached out to stop Yan Lingji when she lunged at him.

The concern is that the other person's clothes will get wet and they might catch a cold.

Admittedly, given Yan Lingji's constitution, not to mention ordinary colds, even many poisons are ineffective against her.

But the water in that underground river also seemed unusual.

Jiang Mo considered himself strong and healthy, and that swimming shirtless in winter was no problem for him, but when he jumped into the underground river, he was still freezing.

Even now, recalling it makes my body tremble.

"Crack~"

With a crisp snap of her fingers, a cluster of crimson flames bloomed from Yan Lingji's fingertips, illuminating the increasingly dim night and dispelling the biting chill.

"What are you laughing at? You got me soaked, and you're still in the mood to laugh?"

Noticing Jiang Mo's smiling gaze, Yan Lingji felt inexplicably uncomfortable. She subconsciously glared at Jiang Mo and then snapped her fingers fiercely, causing the rising flames to leap right under Jiang Mo's nose.

"Yes, yes, yes, I have committed heinous crimes and deserve to be burned at the stake!"