After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 16

Hearing the heavily warning-laden words, Cold-Resistant Grass swallowed hard and didn’t dare to make a sound.

The person before her was an immortal. Someone her parents had repeatedly warned her never to offend.

Now that Heather had her ear sliced off, the news would spread immediately.

She was afraid that…

Cold-Resistant Grass forced an awkward smile, stammering, “Wh-what?”

The moment her voice faded; a flash of silver light answered her.

“Ah—”

Cold-Resistant Grass clutched her face and collapsed straight to the ground, blood streaming endlessly from her cheek.

“No need to answer.” With a flick of her finger, Ye Qingge sent another ice blade flying, pinning Cold-Resistant Grass’s hand firmly to the wall.

Her expression dark, Ye Qingge strode slowly toward Jiang Mianhao.

The little grass, who had just been bullied, had messy hair and tear stains still lingering on her cheeks.

Her emerald-green eyes were as clear as water, reflecting Ye Qingge’s image perfectly within them.

“Stop crying,” Ye Qingge said, stopping in front of her and looking down.

Despite the discomfort in her heart, Ye Qingge reached out and wiped the tear tracks from Jiang Mianhao’s eyes. “Does your scalp hurt?”

Jiang Mianhao sniffled, her emotions finally breaking.

Pouting, she buried her face in Ye Qingge’s palm and began to sob quietly.

Nearby, Dandelion, who had been frozen in shock, cautiously inched toward the door.

But the moment she lifted her foot, an ice blade pinned her to the threshold.

One had her ear sliced off, another had her hand bone shattered, and the last was nailed to the doorframe.

The others who had been incited to bully Jiang Mianhao didn’t dare approach, hiding in the distance and watching secretly.

Jiang Mianhao was kind-hearted and gentle, a truly good little grass. Many plants had received her help when they couldn’t sleep.

But under the pressure of the three grasses’ family influence, they had no choice but to follow along.

In the eyes of these three grasses, if you weren’t the perpetrator today, you’d be the victim tomorrow.

Now that all three were pinned in place, the grasses who had been cowering in the bushes mustered the courage to peek out.

“Thank you, Great Immortal!” Ryegrass cautiously called out. “If not for you, Mianhao would’ve been bullied again.”

Ye Qingge turned her head and saw a row of flowers and grasses huddled far away.

Tall Fescue also gathered his courage and said, “That Heather always takes advantage of Mianhao’s gentle nature! She acts out because Mianhao has no one to back her up. Mianhao just doesn’t want to worry Banyan Granny or Lily of the Valley.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Thankfully, you’re here, Great Immortal,” Ice Grass sighed. “At least Mianhao has someone to rely on now.”

Jiang Mianhao, still crying into Ye Qingge’s hand, hiccupped as she struggled to catch her breath.

Though Ye Qingge felt a twinge of impatience, she suppressed the urge to pull her hand away.

She turned her head and asked, “Do these three grasses bully her often?”

“Yes!” Tall Fescue said. “Because Mianhao and Lily of the Valley are orphans, found and raised by Granny. Those three come from powerful families that have been entrenched on Mount Taibai for centuries. They’re notorious troublemakers!”

Ye Qingge nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Ice Grass added, “In any case, Great Immortal, please teach those three a proper lesson this time. Otherwise, once you leave, Mianhao will surely be bullied to death.”

After the various grasses finished speaking, they thanked Ye Qingge in unison before scattering.

Jiang Mianhao’s head buzzed from crying. Her roots were still weak, and her vision blurred slightly.

“Stop crying,” Ye Qingge repeated once more, still standing in the same position.

“I’m not crying anymore,” Jiang Mianhao sniffled, sounding a bit aggrieved.

Ye Qingge gave a noncommittal hum and asked, “Then why aren’t you standing up?”

“Because…” Jiang Mianhao’s voice trailed off into a whisper, “my legs are numb.”

Ye Qingge caught her barely audible words and inexplicably felt the urge to laugh.

Before she could say anything else.

“I think I’m going to faint.” Jiang Mianhao murmured, nuzzling her head against Ye Qingge’s leg before collapsing sideways.

Ye Qingge: “……”

She looked down at the person sprawled at her feet and sighed helplessly.

……

……

When Jiang Mianhao opened her eyes again, everything around her was unfamiliar.

The room was bright, and an unknown incense burned on the desk, its scent oddly comforting.

Jiang Mianhao lifted her head, taking in her surroundings.

The decor was simple but carried a strong personal touch.

After all, not everyone would use a bed of ice as their resting place.

“Lu Jiu?” Jiang Mianhao called softly.

The last thing she remembered before passing out was a fleeting glimpse of Lu Jiu’s face.

So why couldn’t she find her now?

Jiang Mianhao got out of bed, her gaze drawn to something on the desk.

It was a neatly bound stack of rice paper, the elegant and forceful strokes of the owner’s handwriting faintly visible through the pages.

Suppressing her curiosity, Jiang Mianhao merely glanced at it from a distance before pushing the door open and stepping outside.

A clamor of voices greeted her.

The area was packed with onlookers.

Some had successfully taken human form, while others hadn’t.

It seemed like every plant and tree from Mount Taibai had gathered here.

“Oh heavens, this immortal really did rid the world of evil!”

“Truly, the wheel of justice turns. They got what they deserved!”

“Why would the immortal do this, though?”

“Probably because one of those three had the audacity to provoke them. They picked the wrong fight.”

“No! I heard those three bullied the immortal’s beloved, so their entire families were nailed up here as punishment.”

A great immortal? Jiang Mianhao was puzzled as she slowly moved forward.

Aside from Lu Jiu, was there another great immortal here?

Just as she pushed through the crowd, she caught sight of the so-called “great immortal” everyone was praising.

The figure at the center of the crowd stood with hands clasped behind their back in front of a banyan tree, with an indignant Lily of the Valley at their side.

“Lu Jiu?” Jiang Mianhao’s heart skipped a beat as she hurried forward.

The rumors circulating among the crowd were all about Lu Jiu.

Had the families of those three grasses come to cause trouble?

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, quickening her steps to part the crowd.

Hearing her call, Ye Qingge turned calmly and acknowledged her with a hum.

“Are you alr—” Jiang Mianhao’s words died in her throat as Lu Jiu turned, revealing the banyan tree behind her.

It was studded with ice blades, each pinning a plant in its original form, writhing in agony.

Dandelion, Cold-Resistant Grass, and Heather.

And their families…

Is Lu Jiu avenging me?

Jiang Mianhao blinked, staring at the plants nailed to the tree, her heart aching with sympathy.

Cold-Resistant Grass’s parents had cultivated on Mount Taibai for thousands of years, their seniority and prestige second only to Granny Rong Qi.

But now, they had been forcibly revealed in their true forms and nailed to the wall.

“Sleepwell! Did they give you trouble?” Lily of the Valley had sharp eyes and spotted Jiang Mianhao in the crowd.

After being pulled aside and checked over, Jiang Mianhao replied softly, “No, Green Wine saved me.”

“Don’t even try to deny it!” Lily of the Valley gritted her teeth, furious. “If Green Wine hadn’t noticed in time, your little house would’ve been burned down by them!”

Jiang Mianhao froze, not quite processing the words. “What?”

“When I came back, Tall Fescue told me those three wretched things had come looking for trouble with you!” Lily of the Valley was seething. “Green Wine said she’d already dealt with it, but I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Sure enough, while I was chatting with Green Wine, that Cold-Resistant Grass’s father actually threw a torch at your wooden house!”

“Thank goodness Green Wine reacted fast! Otherwise, your little house would’ve been gone.”

Jiang Mianhao was too stunned to speak.

The onlookers were equally shocked.

Usually, everyone only knew Cold-Resistant Grass was domineering, but no one expected they’d go as far as attempting murder.

The plant spirits who had previously thought Ye Qingge’s actions were too ruthless now changed their tune, applauding her behavior.

As Jiang Mianhao lifted her gaze to the person before her, tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry.” Lily of the Valley hugged her tightly, heart aching. “It’s all my fault for going up the mountain first. If I’d known they’d ambush you, I would’ve waited for you.”

Though nestled in Lily of the Valley’s embrace, Jiang Mianhao’s eyes remained fixed on Green Wine.

She couldn’t help but worry for Green Wine.

Despite being a stranger here, Green Wine had gotten involved with this group; all for her sake.

Gratitude filled Jiang Mianhao’s heart, but even more overwhelming were the indescribable emotions surging within her.

A warmth spread through her chest, and as she blinked, tears rolled down once more.

The crowd grew larger, and some from influential families friendly with the three grasses spoke up in their defense.

But anyone who dared open their mouth was promptly nailed to a tree by Ye Qingge.

Lily of the Valley then revealed the truth, turning the three grasses into public enemies.

The crowd’s tone shifted from condemnation to curiosity.

Whispers spread, speculating about Jiang Mianhao’s relationship with this immortal and guessing at the deity’s origins.

Faced with the growing skepticism, Ye Qingge simply spoke coldly, “From today onward, whoever holds a grudge against Jiang Mianhao holds a grudge against me.”

Her tone was indifferent, her head held high as her disdainful gaze swept over the gathered plant spirits.

An aura of supreme authority emanated from her.

Her words were clear, each syllable deliberate: “If you’re not afraid of death, you’re welcome to try.”

The scene erupted in chatter as everyone buzzed with gossip.

But Jiang Mianhao fell silent in that moment, her mind blank with a sudden buzz.

The hollow, sinking feeling in her chest was suddenly cradled, the emptiness filled with soft cotton.

Her ears and cheeks gradually flushed pink, and she lowered her head in shyness.

Lily of the Valley, standing beside her, noticed the faint reddening of her ears.

Pursing her lips, Lily of the Valley said nothing, but her hands clenched tightly at her sides, forcibly suppressing the intense discomfort rising in her heart.

She was only absent for a single day today, yet for some reason, she had a premonition that she would drift further and further away from Jiang Mianhao.

Lily of the valley lowered her lashes, suppressing the surge of jealousy in her heart.