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

Of course, if it's used as material for crafting corpse puppets, then this isn't a problem.

It's okay, it's okay, you can eat it after removing the head.

It has six times the protein of beef!

Silently comforting himself, Jiang Mo, who was unbearably hungry, overcame his distracting thoughts with the belief that "I am a barbarian."

The taste wasn't particularly bad.

Especially for someone who is so hungry that their stomach is practically touching their back.

At least these materials, which were supposed to be the auxiliary materials that would refine him into a corpse puppet, were transformed into pure nutrients and quickly absorbed by Jiang Mo's weakened body.

Chapter 9 Get up and come with me

[Six years until the end of the instance]

The system's unhelpful notification popped up, announcing that Jiang Mo had spent two years in the [Baiyue Fire Feather] instance.

It's been two years~

By all accounts, this body is about ten years old.

Jiang Mo couldn't help but feel a little dazed. He paused slightly as he straightened his clothes and subconsciously looked at the mirror on the bedside table.

In the pre-Qin era, in the Baiyue region, theoretically, having even one bronze mirror would have been quite an achievement.

But that's without considering supernatural forces. In the Qin's World, mechanical beasts comparable to Gundams frequently appear, so advanced technology is definitely present.

The Baiyue region, relying on witchcraft and sorcery, was able to create all sorts of things that transcended their time.

The mirror placed on Jiang Mo's bedside table was now as solid as glass, but its surface was not very smooth, with many marks left from the hand-polishing process.

However, it is still much clearer than a bronze mirror.

From Jiang Mo's perspective as a time traveler, this mirror was not much different from glass mirrors of later generations, except that it was much cruder in terms of craftsmanship.

The Baiyue region naturally lacked mature glassmaking techniques.

But here, there are Bright Flame Gu Silkworms. These Gu Silkworms, cultivated using Gu-raising techniques, produce silk threads that are bright in color and warm in temperature. They are one of the main materials for the clothing of witches like Yan Lingji.

Once, when Yan Lingji was feeding the Mingyan Gu Silkworm, she was too impatient and accidentally mixed in some sand.

These Gu silkworms, which required careful care, naturally developed indigestion symptoms after eating sand. Yan Lingji then secretly switched them with Jiang Mo, hiding a few of the withered Gu silkworms there.

As a result, after these silkworms died, small pieces of glass were found when they were dissected.

Yan Lingji was greatly surprised and liked the shiny thing very much. So she secretly hid a few more Bright Flame Gu Silkworms. She only stopped after being discovered and punished by the High Priest.

However, since it wasn't a gemstone, Yan Lingji lost interest after the initial excitement wore off.

Later, Yan Lingji fused the glass together, and then Jiang Mo polished it to make the mirror in front of us.

It was placed on Jiang Mo's bedside table because Yan Lingji felt she didn't need it.

After all, whether she was combing her hair or getting dressed, she had that sorceress spirit attending to her, so why would she need a mirror? Besides, what difference would it make whether she stayed with Jiang Mo or with Yan Ling Ji herself?

If she wanted to use it, wouldn't she just come and use it directly?

Jiang Mo's gaze fell on the mirror, and he saw a face with exotic features. Compared to the rough and wild nature of the Baiyue people, his features were clearly elegant and handsome, like those of people from the Central Plains.

After clinging to Yan Lingji's coattails, Jiang Mo's standard of living naturally improved significantly.

Although his skin is still fair, it is no longer the bloodless, sickly pale white it once was; instead, it is rosy and radiant, as healthy as could be.

Once the body receives adequate nutrition, it will naturally stop becoming emaciated.

Around ten years old, he was already nearly 1.4 meters tall. Although his body had not fully developed, his well-proportioned and strong muscle lines were already faintly visible under the coarse linen clothes made of hemp cloth.

In this respect, they seem more like the Baiyue people.

His facial features are delicate and handsome like his mother's, and his body is well-proportioned and strong like his father's. It has to be said that this body has inherited excellent genes.

"Ah Mo, are you done yet? The Hundred Poisons Trial can't be delayed!"

Jiang Mo was still examining his reflection in the mirror when a melodious and lively voice urged him from outside. Before he could respond, the window was pushed open with a bang.

In the soft light of early morning, Yan Lingji leaped gracefully through the window and entered.

Like bright fireworks rising with the night breeze, they came uninvited and barged into Jiang Mo's field of vision, bringing an undeniable brilliance.

As Yan Lingji's younger brother, Jiang Mo was constantly being led around by Yan Lingji.

Living together day and night, the gradual growth and changes that accumulate together are always hard to notice. It wasn't until he saw Yan Lingji push the door open and enter that Jiang Mo vaguely realized that she seemed to be growing into a young woman.

Admittedly, ten years old is not that old.

However, girls always develop earlier, and Yan Lingji doesn't have any malnutrition problems at all. At this time, she is even taller than Jiang Mo, and has reached a height of nearly 1.5 meters.

The baby fat on the sides of her cheeks has decreased significantly.

No longer so round and cute, but with very elegant lines.

Her figure was tall and slender, and her shapely curves had begun to emerge as an adult. Her smooth black hair had reached her back, and the two cat-ear-like protrusions on the top of her head were still eye-catching. As Yan Lingji climbed through the window and landed, her hair swayed slightly.

She really did seem like a wildcat who followed her own instincts.

Although she has not yet completely shed her childishness, one can clearly sense that Yan Lingji will surely grow up to be a stunning beauty capable of causing utter destruction.

They're no longer those little kids who mix up boys and girls, throwing tantrums and making it impossible to tell the difference.

But Yan Lingji herself seemed completely oblivious to this, and without waiting for Jiang Mo's response, she pushed open the door and entered, grabbing his arm and pulling him out:

"I thought you were still asleep. What are you standing there for? Come on, let's go!"

Caught off guard, she instinctively pulled Jiang Mo's arm into her embrace, her expression remaining unchanged even as the back of his hand brushed against her waist and abdomen.

The Baiyue region is mostly humid and hot, so the people living there naturally wear light and cool clothing.

Yan Lingji, who controls fire and flames all day long, also wears clothing similar to a crop top at a young age, exposing large areas of her fair and tender skin, such as her shoulders, arms, waist, and legs.

The touch of Jiang Mo's hand as it accidentally brushed against her was indeed delicate and silky.

It inevitably reminds one of milk pudding.

Looking up at the not-so-bright sky through the window, Jiang Mo remained calm, but he didn't forcefully pull his hand away from Yan Lingji's embrace. He leisurely said:

"Don't rush, the time hasn't come yet."

Following Yan Lingji's pulling motion, Jiang Mo took two steps forward, raised his hand to touch his flat stomach, and mumbled weakly:

"And I haven't had breakfast yet."

Jiang Mo didn't know how many meals others ate a day in this era, but as long as there was no shortage of food, he was guaranteed to have three meals a day.

But this is the time when they are growing, how can they starve themselves?

He can't stay shorter than Yan Ling Ji forever, can he?

"Haha, I knew you hadn't had breakfast yet, Mo. Here, as the boss, I've already prepared it for you~"

As if she had been prepared, Yan Lingji smiled slyly and took out some food, stuffing it into Jiang Mo's hand.

Whether it was because it had just come out of the oven or because it had absorbed the warmth of the young girl's body, the breakfast was still warm to the touch and carried an irresistible aroma.

"You did it?"

Jiang Mo couldn't help but be a little surprised. He, as the younger brother, was always the one who grilled fish and cooked for Yan Lingji. Putting aside insects and such, when had she ever seriously cooked?

"Otherwise, who else would care about you this much?"

Faced with Jiang Mo's somewhat suspicious gaze, Yan Lingji's eyes darted around for a moment, then she suddenly put on a stern face and adopted a lecturing tone:

"I've noticed that you're getting more and more outrageous, Amo. You don't even call me 'sister' anymore!"

"Okay, okay, my dear sister~"

Jiang Mo gave a perfunctory shout, not bothering to investigate how much Yan Lingji had contributed to the breakfast preparation, and stuffed the food into his mouth while it was still hot.

It's very spicy and oily, so it's not suitable for breakfast.

Jiang Mo still ate with great relish, even licking his fingers, as if it were some rare delicacy from around the world, something that would leave one with an unforgettable aftertaste.

Upon witnessing this scene, Yan Lingji couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and let her eyes sparkle.

Chapter 10 Trial of a Hundred Poisons

Don't think you're the first to set off; there are always those who set off earlier.

Jiang Mo felt that it was still early and there was no need to rush, but when Yan Lingji dragged him to the entrance of the Hundred Gu Cave, he realized that he was probably the last person to arrive to participate in the Hundred Gu Trial.

All the other children in the village who were ten years old or older were present.

No matter how lazy they were on ordinary days, their parents would drag them out of bed early, afraid that they would miss the Hundred Gu Trial and miss this most crucial day for the Baiyue people.

Many parents also looked worried and anxious, pulling their children aside to whisper instructions on precautions.

The so-called Hundred Gu Trial is similar to testing one's aptitude before learning martial arts. However, it tests the degree of compatibility between the user and the Gu worms, and the methods are much more brutal.

The child must personally venture into the Hundred Gu Cave to find a Gu worm that is compatible with them.

If one successfully draws the Gu into their body and refines it into their natal Gu, they will be able to cultivate Gu witchcraft, and it is not impossible for them to become a spirit witch one day.

Of course, the name "Hundred Gu Cave" doesn't sound like a benevolent place at all.

Gu worms are mostly cultivated through the mutual devouring of different poisonous insect species. Even though the Gu worms in the Hundred Gu Cave have undergone special treatment, they are still extremely dangerous to a ten-year-old child.

Every year, some people leave and never return.

The selection process is even more brutal than the college entrance examination, which Jiang Mo described in his previous life as a "thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge." At least those who fail the college entrance examination won't actually perish on the spot.

Since he was the last to arrive, Jiang Mo didn't bother trying to squeeze to the front.

In trials like these, those who rush in first may not necessarily gain the upper hand, and may even trigger lurking dangers, paving the way for those who follow.

Whether it's sooner or later, the key is to maintain a calm mindset and not lose your rationality.

Although Jiang Mo didn't intend to push forward, someone had already saved him a spot. The burly man in the crowd, as tall as an iron tower, immediately started shouting as soon as he saw Jiang Mo and Yan Lingji:

"Boss, Mo, over here!"

The naturally gifted Wushuang Gui has grown taller than Jiang Mo and Yan Lingji in the past two years, and is now heading straight for the two-meter mark, making him taller than most adult men in Baiyue.

In the past, standing among a crowd, one would truly stand out like a crane among chickens, with a wide field of vision.