After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 24

An inexplicable wave of irritation surged in Ye Qingge’s heart.

But it lasted only a moment. Her long lashes lowered slightly as she concealed her emotions.

Jiang Mianhao didn’t notice the shift in her mood. Amid the curling tea mist, all she heard was that gentle concern.

For some reason, Jiang Mianhao recalled what had happened that morning. The teardrop that had fallen into her palm.

“Lu Jiu, your injury!” Jiang Mianhao’s voice was soft. “Is it alright?”

Ye Qingge’s hand paused, as if she hadn’t expected Jiang Mianhao’s first words upon seeing her to be concern for her wound.

She set down the teacup in her hand and lightly flicked her sleeve. The spiritual energy sphere enveloping Jiang Mianhao floated into her palm.

The little grass, forced back into its true form, looked utterly disheveled. Most of its exposed roots had broken off, leaving only a few remnants. If not for the protective sphere of spiritual energy, this grass would have long withered away.

With the mist now cleared, Jiang Mianhao lifted her gaze and met the other’s eyes.

The person who had awakened from the nightmare had returned to her usual icy demeanor. Beneath silver lashes, her eyes were as calm and unreadable as a frozen pond, showing no ripple of emotion even after hearing Jiang Mianhao’s concern.

For some reason, under such a gaze, Jiang Mianhao felt an inexplicable timidity.

It was hard for her to connect the aloof, transcendent immortal before her with the person who had slept in her arms and shed tears that morning.

What’s more, as Jiang Mianhao looked at her own battered true form, a strange sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

Normally talkative, she fell silent now.

Ye Qingge had no idea what Jiang Mianhao was thinking.

Staring at the listless little grass inside the energy sphere, she found it difficult to reconcile it with the peaceful sleep she had experienced the night before.

Since gaining spiritual awareness and beginning her cultivation, Ye Qingge had never slept. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was the inescapable alchemy furnace. The raging flames had become an inescapable nightmare.

Yet last night, beside this very grass, she had somehow slept soundly and peacefully.

What was even more inexplicable was that the trial of love she should have overcome last night was now lying in her palm once more.

The person she hadn’t been able to kill last night had instead been injured by some wretched bird and forced back into her original form.

An entire month of effort had now returned to square one.

Ye Qingge rotated the spiritual energy sphere in her palm. What she had initially assumed was an ordinary grass turned out to be far from simple.

The Wuji Mystic Master had said this grass had already awakened to emotions but not toward her.

Ye Qingge lifted her gaze indifferently, looking at the lily-of-the-valley hovering across the table.

The flower inside its own energy sphere was in better condition than the grass. Having not endured a high-altitude plunge, its roots remained intact.

Ye Qingge reached out and lightly tapped the air. The energy sphere encasing the lily-of-the-valley shattered with a soft sound.

The flower, reverted to its true form, transformed back into human shape the moment it touched the ground.

Ling Lan’s energy was severely depleted. After landing, she staggered a few steps before collapsing.

“Lan Lan!” Seeing Ling Lan’s pale lips, Jiang Mianhao grew anxious. “Are you okay?”

Ling Lan coughed, her voice hoarse. “I’m fine, but you…”

Her gaze fell on the floating energy sphere. The broken grass blades and roots and without even asking, she knew Jiang Mianhao was in terrible shape.

A wave of guilt instantly overwhelmed her. Ling Lan lowered her head and muttered, “I’m sorry, Lu Jiu. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you.”

Lily was sincerely apologetic. If not for her stubbornness, Jiang Mianhao wouldn’t have been forced back into her original form, barely surviving on the spiritual energy from the protective barrier.

Watching the person who had always treated her with disdain lower her head and offer a heartfelt apology,

Ye Qingge’s expression remained indifferent as her gaze returned to the grass.

Even without seeing its expression or eyes, one could still sense the tension and worry emanating from this slumber grass.

This grass’s emotions were undoubtedly tied to this flower.

Understanding this, Ye Qingge gave a faint hum and said, “Your cultivation is too weak.”

Her voice was calm, devoid of inflection, making it impossible to discern whether it was mockery or something else.

Though the words weren’t preceded by a name, Lily understood they were directed at her.

The person before her remained as aloof and unapproachable as ever, but Lily restrained her temper and didn’t respond.

“Are you still planning to take this grass away?” Ye Qingge flicked her wrist, and the spiritual energy sphere floated to Lily’s side.

Lily looked at the small grass now beside her, her eyes filled with pity. Her hand, hanging by her side, clenched and then relaxed.

“When my cultivation grows stronger, I will still take Mianhao away,” Lily said firmly, word by word.

Wrapped inside the spiritual barrier, Jiang Mianhao felt a warmth in her heart and whispered, “You’re already amazing, Lanlan.”

Jiang Mianhao’s comfort only made Lily feel worse.

The dangers they had faced last night and just moments ago, the crushing sense of helplessness despite giving her all. It all solidified Lily’s resolve.

The person seated before her, poised like an immortal from a painting in pristine white robes, calmly warmed her teacup.

Ye Qingge hadn’t even needed to reveal her true form to slay that vicious beast.

Yet Lily had reverted to her original form with just a single strike.

As if making a solemn decision,

Lily lifted her head and looked at the celestial being before her, enunciating each word clearly: “Can I ask you to teach me cultivation?”

The already silent pavilion grew even quieter at her words.

The pavilion overlooked the street, where occasional vendor cries could be heard. The water on the stove gradually came to a boil.

Ye Qingge lifted her teacup and took a sip, her tone indifferent: “I only cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness.”

“I don’t care which path,” Lily said, her gaze fixed on the barely breathing grass beside her, resolute. “As long as it lets me protect Mianhao, I’ll cultivate it.”

What happened after they left the pavilion, Jiang Mianhao knew nothing about.

The severed blades of grass ached from the roots. As if sensing her pain, Ye Qingge murmured something under her breath, and a soothing coolness, carried by the swirling energy within the barrier, spread through her.

Not only did it ease the pain from the severed roots, but it also gradually lulled Jiang Mianhao into drowsiness.

Seeing the little grass asleep inside the barrier, Lily reached out to take it, but in the next moment, Ye Qingge shrank the barrier and tucked it into her sleeve.

Lily stared at her outstretched hand, frozen for a moment before finally withdrawing it.

……

When Jiang Mianhao woke again, it was deep into the night.

She was still inside the spiritual barrier. Peering through the transparent shield, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar place. Far larger and more luxurious than the previous inn’s room.

Yet Jiang Mianhao’s world remained confined to the barrier.

“Lanlan?” Jiang Mianhao rolled around inside the barrier and called out softly, “Are you there, Lanlan?”

There was no response, only the candle flame burning quietly on the desk, while Jiang Mianhao, encased in a sphere of spiritual energy, rolled and tumbled in the air.

The nap she had just taken had eased much of the pain in her body, but the unfamiliar room brought a tinge of fear.

Especially since Ling Lan wasn’t by her side.

As Jiang Mianhao rolled around inside the sphere, calling out Ling Lan’s name, she completely failed to notice the movement behind her.

The next moment, a powerful force yanked her backward.

“Ouch—” Jiang Mianhao tumbled head over heels inside the sphere, her head throbbing from the impact.

The world spun dizzyingly before finally settling. Sitting upright inside the sphere, she exclaimed, “How dare you! Who’s trying to murder me? Show yourself if you have the guts!!!”

But her indignant cries quickly faded as she swallowed hard and cautiously eyed the person before her. “Ah! It’s Lu Jiu.”

Only then did Jiang Mianhao notice the small desk by the window in the room, where water boiled in a pot over the stove, tiny bubbles rising to the surface.

“Awake?” Ye Qingge lifted her gaze calmly, observing the spiritual energy sphere floating before her.

The little grass spirit, who had been half-dead with exhaustion that afternoon, was now lively again, having seemingly forgotten her pain in just a short while.

Jiang Mianhao gave a dry laugh. “S-sorry, I didn’t realize it was you who pulled me.”

Ye Qingge ignored her apology, pouring the boiling water into a cup as steam rose into the air.

Instinctively recoiling from the heat, the grass spirit inched away, only to be tugged back again.

Ye Qingge asked coolly, “You said last night you had a nightmare that I nearly killed you?”

Surprised by the question, Jiang Mianhao hesitated before replying softly, “Didn’t Mi Xiu say it was a monster? Maybe I just misremembered the face.”

“You believe whatever she says?” Ye Qingge’s tone was indifferent as she studied the grass inside the energy sphere.

The mist couldn’t penetrate the spiritual barrier, so Ye Qingge still couldn’t see the grass’s eyes or mouth, but she could sense its nervousness.

After a moment of contemplation, the grass spirit shook its leaves earnestly.

Jiang Mianhao said seriously, “If she says so, I believe her.”

Though she couldn’t see its face, Ye Qingge could feel the sincerity in its words.

Hearing such childlike earnestness, Ye Qingge sneered inwardly.

Truly a lowly plant spirit. Lacking the wisdom of immortals and the cunning of demons.

Kindness is met with gratitude, cruelty with forgiveness.

Incapable of harboring malice.

Ye Qingge set the cup down, drawing the energy sphere closer before asking softly, “Then would you believe whatever I say too? What if I asked you to do something?”

“Of course!” Jiang Mianhao replied immediately. “Not only would I believe you, I’d do it.”

Though the answer was expected, Ye Qingge couldn’t help but press further. “What if I were a villain? Would you still believe me?”

Jiang Mianhao answered firmly, “You wouldn’t be a villain. Villains don’t save people over and over like you have. Besides, villains aren’t as beautiful as you.”

The last part was spoken quietly, but Ye Qingge heard it clearly.

It seemed her image in this grass spirit’s mind wasn’t entirely tarnished.

Ye Qingge gave a faint hum. “Ling Lan begged me to teach her the Path of Heartlessness. I have conditions.”

“Path of Heartlessness?” Jiang Mianhao perked up. “That’s wonderful! Lanlan is so talented, she’ll learn well. Lu Jiu, you’re truly kind!”

Ye Qingge said, “Aren’t you curious about the conditions?”

The little grass inside the spiritual barrier was still immersed in excitement, its newly restored leaves rustling as it swayed.

Suddenly, a small white jade button was tossed into the barrier, landing squarely on Jiang Mianhao’s leaves.

“What’s this?” Jiang Mianhao looked at the white jade button lying near her roots, tilting her leaves in confusion.

Ye Qingge didn’t answer her question but instead said solemnly, “My condition is that from now on, you must treat me the same way you treat the lily of the valley.”