Distinguished Guests Arrive One After Another

He turned back to glance at the carriage. Several more people stepped down from the cabin—a butler-like man accompanied by four maids, each carrying a gift box.

"I brought you a few helpers," Dugu Bo said. "These are people I'm used to having around. I'm lending them to you today to help receive guests. And—"

He took an embroidered box from the butler and handed it to Xiao Yun. "This is my housewarming gift to you."

Xiao Yun accepted it with both hands. When he opened it, he froze slightly.

Inside the embroidered box was a tiny snake, emerald green all over with nine white bands around its body. It was no thicker than a pair of chopsticks, coiled into a ball and sleeping quietly.

Its body was crystal clear, as though carved from the purest jade, with its internal veins faintly visible. A pair of tiny fleshy horns grew from its head, making it particularly peculiar.

"This is..." Xiao Yun looked up at Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo smiled proudly. "I discovered this snake deep within Sunset Forest many years ago. It is extremely rare. Its venom is incredibly potent—an ordinary soul master bitten once would not survive three breaths. I named it Jade Scale. I originally intended to save it for Yan Yan, but now—"

He glanced at Dugu Yan, his eyes full of affection. "Yan Yan is with you, so I can rest easy. This snake is yours. Consider it a treasure to guard your estate."

Xiao Yun understood at once.

This was probably the Nine-Section Jade from the original story, which Dugu Bo had used to test Tang San's detoxification abilities. Tang San had ultimately taken it for himself, and it had never appeared again. Yet now, the snake had fallen into his hands.

He closed the