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

If Jiang Mo hadn't reached out and pulled her back, indicating that Yan Lingji wanted to exchange a few more pleasantries, this little girl would have readily nodded, jumped off the chair, and turned to leave.

It's not that I have a problem with Huoyu, it's just that I'm not used to this kind of situation.

That thing called tea was bitter and didn't taste good. Although Huo Yugong was polite and hospitable, the relationships he mentioned were all with the older generation, such as the shaman priest. Yan Lingji could only nod in agreement and couldn't get a word in edgewise.

This feeling is similar to visiting relatives and friends during the Chinese New Year, where adults sit together with cups of hot tea, chatting about everyday matters.

Yan Lingji, on the other hand, seemed to be a junior who had been swept along by the tide.

In the midst of a restless and vibrant teenage girl, how could she possibly sit still?

If it weren't for the fear of being scolded for being impolite, I would want to run away immediately and do what I like.

"If you need anything, just tell Yu'er!"

As the group left, accompanied by Hu Yu'er, they could still hear Huo Yugong's words of advice from behind. It was clear he held Yan Lingji in high regard, even subtly treating her as someone else's child.

Jiang Mo was not surprised by this. His Yan Lingji was so cute and sensible, how could anyone not like her?

What truly surprised him was the group of people they encountered after leaving the house.

Indeed, a large group of people followed behind them, their congratulatory entourage far exceeding that of the Right Sima who had just left with his soldiers.

Sharp eyes, upright posture...

Their auras were intertwined, subtly revealing a powerful presence that could command a large following; they were likely all from military backgrounds.

Sensing the aura emanating from those people, Jiang Mo made a judgment instantly.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to scan the clothes on the people with his gaze as discreetly as possible, attempting to further determine the identities of the newcomers based on their clothing characteristics.

Compared to the fully armed South Korean soldiers, this group's equipment was rather meager.

There was no bright silver armor covering the whole body at all; what they wore was just tight-fitting leather armor sewn from animal hides, and even the weapons they carried were not standardized.

Only on his dark skin could one see tattoos of snakes and pythons coiled everywhere.

The royal family of Baiyue?

As this thought surfaced in his mind, Jiang Mo's gaze fell upon the center of the group opposite him, looking at the young man who was surrounded by admirers.

Red Eyebrow Lord, Tianze?

Jiang Mo, who was already on high alert, became even more vigilant at this moment, subconsciously clenching his fists hanging at his sides.

At this time, Tianze looked to be in his early twenties, the most spirited age. He had also successfully ascended to the position of Crown Prince of Baiyue, and his whole being exuded a unique and indescribable aura.

Its noble yet aggressive wildness makes ordinary people feel trembling in fear when they stand in front of it.

This is the epitome of a kingly aura.

Unlike ordinary Baiyue men who kept their hair neatly short, he also did not tie his hair up and wear a crown like the people of the Central Plains. Instead, he let his dark blue hair hang loosely.

Like a snake or a python, it runs rampant and arrogant.

What is particularly striking are his crimson eyes, which emit a faint blood-red light, making his cloud-like eyebrows appear slightly scarlet.

This is most likely the origin of the name "Red-browed Dragon Snake".

Compared to Jiang Mo's impression from the original anime, Tian Ze was not only younger at this time, but his clothes were also not as disheveled and shabby as they would have been after the fall of his kingdom.

The mysterious iron chains wrapped around his body simply do not exist.

Some of them wore luxurious clothes befitting a crown prince, while Yan Lingji's attire could be described as simple and plain in comparison.

However, there are also parts that remain completely unchanged.

For example, his cheeks had strange patterns of snake and python scales on his skin. Jiang Mo saw it clearly and was very certain that it was not some kind of totem tattoo, but a real bodily mutation.

In a sense, it can be considered a type of skin disease.

Jiang Mo hadn't paid much attention to the anime before, since, apart from Yan Lingji, Tian Ze's appearance was already quite human-like among the Baiyue people.

However, Jiang Mo is now perfectly clear that the obvious anomaly originated from his natal Gu.

This can be described as an unavoidable side effect of this unorthodox approach from its very inception.

Chapter 40 Passing Through Your World

Based on Gu poison, using Gu poison to change one's fate.

This is the true meaning of the natal Gu. If you think about it carefully, it's really hard to say whether the natal Gu parasitizes the host or the host relies on the natal Gu to sustain their life.

Having diligently studied witchcraft for many years, Jiang Mo had already discovered that the influence of one's natal Gu on a person was far greater than ordinary people imagined.

It not only affects the style and direction of the witchcraft techniques that can be practiced.

It can also affect a person's physiological characteristics, and even their personality and emotions.

If we were to explain it from a relatively scientific perspective, the natal Gu is like a special enhanced organ implanted into the body after birth, and the human body will be modified by it in the process of adapting to it.

Hormones and nerves will all change.

From a macro perspective, this means that the host will gradually gravitate towards the chosen natal Gu, and Tianze, whose face is already covered with fine snake scales, is the best example of this.

However, it is remarkable that such obvious signs of alienation can be observed.

Tianze's natal Gu is probably not simple!

Jiang Mo squinted, vaguely sensing that the "Breaking Cocoon and Transforming Feathers" Gu in his dantian was stirring, looking like it was about to burst out at any moment.

Even Jiang Mo couldn't help but feel a little palpitation.

This was truly the first time he had encountered such a situation.

Yearning, fear, restlessness, and unease—the subtle emotions transmitted from his natal Gu made Jiang Mo even more cautious, and he tried his best to suppress the restlessness within his body as he sought to break free from his cocoon and transform.

I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild.

Could it really be related to the legendary Teng Snake? That's a myth...tsk, the appearance of mythical creatures in the Qin Dynasty world doesn't seem so unbelievable.

As Jiang Mo muttered to himself, Tian Ze's gaze also turned towards him.

However, the two did not make direct eye contact, because Tianze did not look at Jiang Mo much, his attention was completely attracted by Yan Lingji.

It was as if a bright ray of light had suddenly appeared in the darkness.

One's attention would be irresistibly drawn to him; if this were an anime featuring Tianze as the protagonist, a long close-up shot would be inserted at this moment.

Time seemed to slow down and stand still at this moment.

Everyone except Yan Lingji became invisible, easily ignored, and no one could interfere with his vision.

Throughout the world, a charming young girl walks by with light, graceful steps.

It's best to look back at the end and reveal a sweet smile.

Unfortunately, Tianze is clearly not the protagonist, or rather, in his story, Yan Lingji is definitely not the protagonist now.

There was absolutely no chance of a smile or anything like that.

With only a casual glance, Yan Lingji walked past Tianze and his group with almost no eye contact. She even grabbed Jiang Mo's hand, urging him to quicken his pace.

Unfortunately, Jiang Mo was unaware of Tian Ze's thoughts.

Otherwise, at this point, one could jokingly and teasingly set the scene with a song for Tianze: "Passing By Your World."

However, Wei and the accompanying Hidden Witch stopped in front of Tianze.

The King of Baiyue was undoubtedly the supreme ruler of secular power in this land. As the village chief's representative, Wei's reaction was naturally completely different from that of Jiang Mo and Yan Lingji.

Unlike Yan Lingji, who dismissed Tianze, the Crown Prince of Baiyue, as nothing because she didn't recognize him at all, she wasn't surprised or shaken like Jiang Mo when she recognized his identity.

Instead, it was perfectly natural to bow to the other party.

However, Tianze seemed rather absent-minded as he looked away. He only nodded slightly to Wei, who bowed and introduced herself, without exchanging much words with her.

Ultimately, the timing was wrong.

As they followed Hu Yuer toward the guest rooms, they were greeted by the host, Huo Yugong. The two groups exchanged a brief glance and then quickly passed each other.

But many things, even in this fleeting encounter, have already sown the seeds of cause and effect.

Hu Yu'er can indeed be considered Huo Yu Gong's thoughtful little angel. Instead of simply dumping everyone in the guest rooms as a perfunctory attitude, she took on the role of a hostess and led everyone on a tour of Huo Yu Manor.

Like a most dedicated tour guide, she introduced the various scenic spots to everyone in a gentle and soft voice.

Compared to the general public's aimless and superficial observation, they gained more insights.

Not to mention that Hu Yuer at this time had not yet become the Hu Madam who would later lose her family and home. Her face did not have that sad and miserable look. Although she did not wear many luxurious ornaments, her words and actions showed the demeanor of a well-educated and sensible young lady.

Simply standing there with a gentle smile is a pleasing sight to behold.

Having spent so much time in the Baiyue region, this was the first time Jiang Mo had encountered someone who could fully understand the meaning of his words without needing any further explanation.

For a moment, I felt a sense of regret for not having met them sooner.

It was just a pity about his boots; they would be brutally trampled by Yan Lingji after only a few steps, which broke Jiang Mo's heart.

These are new shoes.

That little brat Yan Lingji, why did she have to step on his foot? What if she ruined his shoes? She won't even help him fix them.

While secretly grumbling to themselves, the group finally arrived at the guest room area after wandering around.

Most of the guests who came to celebrate Huoyu Gong's birthday stayed here. People from all over the country gathered in one place, making it quite lively.

"Amo, Amo, look, isn't that the monster you were talking about!"

With her eyes wide open, Yan Lingji suddenly tugged at Jiang Mo's sleeve and excitedly pointed at the group. However, she remembered Jiang Mo's instructions and deliberately lowered her voice, not making a fuss.

Jiang Mo looked in the direction of the sound and saw several blond, blue-eyed bearded men dressed in exotic clothes, muttering something in a corner in a language he couldn't understand.

"What monster? That must be a merchant from the Western Regions. I never expected him to have made it this far."

Jiang Mo leaned close to Yan Lingji's ear and whispered an explanation, his tone revealing undisguised surprise.

If you were to see foreign merchants in a city like Xinzheng, the capital of seven kingdoms, you wouldn't be too surprised.

How could foreign merchants be active in such a fierce and barbaric land as Baiyue? Could it be that they have their eyes on the rare fire rain agate?

That truly is a case of people dying for wealth, and birds dying for food.

It's worth a try; you might be able to buy something rare. Although I don't have much money, I do have some Baiyue specialties.

Bartering was a classic way of trading with merchants from the Central Plains.