After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 25.1

Jiang Mianhao was still basking in the joy of Ling Lan’s good fortune when Ye Qingge’s words jolted her, leaving her momentarily stunned and unable to process what she had just heard.

She asked softly, “Green… Green Wine, what did you say?”

Ye Qingge had no intention of repeating herself. Gathering energy at her fingertips, she lightly tapped the spiritual barrier, and the little grass inside began to recover at an astonishing speed.

In no time at all, the once withered and feeble grass had transformed into a youthful maiden.

Jiang Mianhao stared in disbelief at the changes in her own body, her mouth agape with astonishment.

She knew the immortal before her was incredibly powerful, capable of bringing her back from the brink of death after she had nearly been crushed. But even then, it had been with the aid of celestial dew and warm sunlight.

Now, with just a flick of her finger, all the wounds on Jiang Mianhao’s body had vanished without a trace.

Jiang Mianhao spun around in place, her green silk skirt twirling into a small circle.

“Green Wine, you’re truly amazing,” Jiang Mianhao said, her voice filled with admiration, her gaze now holding a newfound respect. “Are you really just wine? Because I think you’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”

“Even more incredible than Granny Rong Qi.”

Jiang Mianhao’s praise came from the heart. Having grown up on the peak of Mount Taibai, she could count the people she knew on one hand.

Previously, the banyan tree spirit Rong Qi had always held the top spot in her heart. But ever since Ye Qingge appeared, this immortal had repeatedly redefined her understanding of what it meant to be powerful.

If it were anyone else who had been injured, it might have taken thousands or even tens of thousands of years of cultivation to recover. Yet Ye Qingge had not only restored her depleted cultivation in just half a month but had also helped her achieve human form.

And now, she had come to their aid again when she and Ling Lan were in dire straits.

Ling Lan…

Jiang Mianhao suddenly snapped back to reality, anxiously scanning the room but failing to find the figure she was looking for. Her expression grew tense.

“Green Wine, where is Lanlan?” Jiang Mianhao leaned over to peer behind Ye Qingge, trying to catch a glimpse of Ling Lan.

But behind Ye Qingge was only a wall, and the spacious room held no third person.

Jiang Mianhao grew increasingly anxious. “Is Lanlan more injured than I am? Is she alright now?”

Worry tinged her voice with a sob.

She sniffled, her eyes reddening.

Seeing the sudden tears in the other’s eyes, Ye Qingge found it utterly baffling.

Here was a little grass whose very foundation had been shattered, who couldn’t even maintain her human form without the support of someone else’s spiritual power and her first concern wasn’t her own recovery but her companion?

Truly, a grass with no cunning or intellect.

Ye Qingge replied dismissively, “Didn’t I say Ling Lan is cultivating the Dao? She needs to start by accumulating spiritual energy.”

“Accumulating spiritual energy?” Jiang Mianhao sniffled, calming down slightly as she asked, “Then can I also accumulate spiritual energy and cultivate the Dao?”

Watching as the person who had been crying moments ago was now sniffling and asking about something else, Ye Qingge didn’t know whether to praise her for her simplicity or scold her for her naivety.

“No,” Ye Qingge answered flatly.

Rejected, Jiang Mianhao was confused. “Why not? I want to cultivate the Dao with Lanlan.”

Ye Qingge didn’t answer her. Instead, she lightly tapped the table with her slender fingers.

In the next moment, the grass that had just taken human form reverted to its original state. This time, without the protection of the spiritual barrier, the little grass lying on the table soon began to breathe rapidly.

The grass with damaged roots, after losing the spiritual barrier, was like a fish out of water, lying quietly on the table, waiting for death.

Watching the little grass’s breathing weaken, Ye Qingge waved her hand, and the spiritual barrier enveloped the grass once more.

The dying grass, sensing the infusion of spiritual energy, revived again.

Returning to human form, Jiang Mianhao lowered her head and no longer asked why she couldn’t cultivate.

Seeing the person before her obediently bowing her head, Ye Qingge spoke lightly, “Where is the Twin Heart Pendant I gave you?”

Hearing the voice, Jiang Mianhao immediately obediently pulled out the warm, smooth white jade from her pocket and held it out with both hands for Ye Qingge to see.

Ye Qingge hummed in acknowledgment and said, “Wear it around your neck.”

“Ah?” Though puzzled, Jiang Mianhao obediently slipped it over her head. She pinched the small white jade pendant and asked, “Lu Jiu, what is this?”

Ye Qingge watched as Jiang Mianhao held the Twin Heart Pendant. Almost the moment she put it on, the one in her own palm reacted intensely.

Confusion, curiosity, bewilderment.

A flood of emotions surged into her heart.

Ye Qingge coughed lightly and said, “This is a Recovery Pendant. Your foundation is severely damaged this time; even if I infuse you with more spiritual energy, you can only maintain your human form for a few hours. This pendant will speed up your recovery.”

After speaking, Ye Qingge frowned, somewhat startled by how much she had said.

Before she could recover from her surprise, a wave of intense gratitude washed over her heart.

Sure enough, Jiang Mianhao blinked her eyes and said with a grin, “Thank you, Lu Jiu. I really like it.”

After expressing her thanks, Jiang Mianhao lowered her head again to examine the white jade Twin Heart Pendant around her neck. The high-quality white jade was exquisitely carved, and when pressed against her chest, a cool sensation seeped in.

Feeling emotions that weren’t her own surging in her heart, the usually impassive Ye Qingge was now forced to share in another person’s gratitude.

Such intense emotions made Ye Qingge uncomfortable. She frowned and said sternly, “Enough. Stop being grateful.”

Her low tone didn’t frighten Jiang Mianhao; instead, it elicited an even brighter smile from her.

It seemed this foolish grass before her truly liked the Twin Heart Pendant.

Ye Qingge closed her eyes, trying to suppress the joy in her heart, but the corners of her mouth were forced upward by Jiang Mianhao’s smile.

Shared joy…

Seeing Ye Qingge’s smile, the happiness in Jiang Mianhao’s heart grew even stronger. She said with delight, “Lu Jiu, you actually look much prettier when you smile than when you don’t! So, please smile more often.”

Ye Qingge: …

After her burst of joy, Jiang Mianhao reined in her emotions. She carefully tucked the white jade pendant into her collar and asked softly, “But it’s already late. Is Lan Lan still cultivating? Has she eaten?”

Before the smile on Ye Qingge’s lips could fade, concern and anxiety surged in her heart.

Such rapid emotional shifts left the usually impassive Ye Qingge struggling to keep up.

Ye Qingge suddenly regretted giving the Twin Heart Pendant to the person before her. Clenching her teeth, she said, “You know it’s late. Of course, Ling Lan is already asleep.”

“Can I go see her?” Jiang Mianhao blinked her eyes pitifully. “I’m still worried about her health.”

Without a second thought, Ye Qingge refused, “No.”

“Why not?” Jiang Mianhao’s heart sank a little. She pouted and said, “But I’m really worried about Lanlan. Please, Lu Jiu. ”

As she spoke, Jiang Mianhao’s eyes gradually grew moist with tears.

Ye Qingge blinked, forcing back the tears in her own eyes, and gritted her teeth as she said, “Because I need to sleep.”

Jiang Mianhao felt a pang of disappointment and tried pleading again, “Just for a little while, please, please?”

The joy from earlier hadn’t completely faded, but now it was replaced by worry again.

Shared sorrow…

Ye Qingge simply closed her eyes and said sternly, “I said no, and that’s final. If you keep bothering me, I’ll turn you back into your original form, dry you out, and brew you into tea.”

She practically spat out the last sentence through clenched teeth, her closed eyes already brimming with tears.

If she let Jiang Mianhao keep begging, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears any longer.

Realizing that further pleas would be futile, Jiang Mianhao instantly wilted. She plopped back down beside Ye Qingge, hanging her head pitifully.

Before taking human form, she had been with Ling Lan day and night, their companionship lasting a thousand years.

But in the short month since her transformation, she had only slept beside Ling Lan twice.

Not to mention the scarce amount of time they had actually spent together.

The more Jiang Mianhao thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. The pain and fright she had endured during the day seemed to flare up now, merging with her longing for Ling Lan into an overwhelming outburst.

With her eyes closed, Ye Qingge felt the dampness at the corners of her eyes. Before the tears could fall, she quickly wiped them away.

As the most powerful goddess across the three realms, she was now shedding tears over a mere plant.

Ye Qingge wanted to sever the emotional connection with Jiang Mianhao, but the spiritual power she exerted bounced back.

Tears fell more and more fiercely from the corners of her eyes, her heart filled with grievance, fear, and longing.

Unable to bear it any longer, Ye Qingge swept her sleeve, extinguishing the candle on the table.

In the long, dark night, there was no light, and the surroundings were terrifyingly black.

But Jiang Mianhao paid no mind, sobbing with her head bowed.

Ye Qingge tilted her head back, trying to hold back the tears, but no matter how hard she tried, it was futile.

The moment the tears overflowed, Ye Qingge gritted her teeth and said, unable to endure any longer, “Enough.”

Jiang Mianhao remained seated, not moving, just crying bitterly with her head down.

“If you sleep obediently tonight, I’ll let you see Ling Lan tomorrow.”

After Ye Qingge spoke, there was no response, but the weight of grievance in her heart lightened slightly.

The emotions still lingered, and Jiang Mianhao continued to sit at the edge of the bed with her head bowed.

“I’ll help you recover quickly,” Ye Qingge wiped her tear-streaked face and sighed. “I’ll let you cultivate together with Ling Lan.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the gloom in her heart quickly dissipated.

The person who had been crying with her head bowed moments ago sniffled, her voice hoarse from crying as she spoke haltingly, “Lu… Lu Jiu, how… how did you know what I was thinking?”

Ye Qingge, who was also sniffling: …

By the time Jiang Mianhao had calmed down from her crying, drowsiness washed over her again.

She climbed onto the bed on all fours, patted her pillow, and then lay down obediently.

Even as she finally fell asleep, many emotions still clouded her heart.

Gratitude toward Lu Jiu, worry for Ling Lan, concern for Mi Xiu, and anxiety about cultivating the Dao.

Yet, despite all these emotions weighing on her heart, it wasn’t long before the steady breathing of the young girl could be heard in the darkness.

Ye Qingge sat by the window, desperately regulating her breathing to suppress her emotions.

After all, she was just a low-level grass spirit. Knowing that overthinking would keep her awake, she simply decided not to think at all.

She sat through the long night, unsure whether it was the effect of the sleep-inducing grass or the rapid shifts in her emotions that finally made her yawn for the first time.

The white-robed immortal gentleman stood by the bed, lost in thought for a long while, before finally lying down gently beside the young girl.

……

As the horizon began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, the rooster kept in the backyard of the inn crowed for the first time.

The door to the room was quietly pushed open a crack.

The young girl wore a bright yellow cross-collared robe, her long black hair tied into a high ponytail, and a polished peachwood sword hung at her waist.

Ling Lan tiptoed out of the room and softly closed the door behind her.

The day before, she had begged Ye Qingge to teach her the path of cultivation, and Ye Qingge had said they would discuss it in the morning.

Although she intended to cultivate the so-called Path of Emotionlessness with Ye Qingge, Ling Lan couldn’t bring herself to part with her wooden sword.

For some reason, ever since she first held that sword, she had been unable to let it go.

This inn was the one Ye Qingge had found the day before. The high cost and the luxurious rooms and meals meant nothing to Ling Lan.

Only the bamboo grove behind the inn deeply captivated her.

It was still early morning, and a thin mist lingered in the air. As she walked, the hem of her clothes became damp with dew, but Ling Lan paid it no mind.

She stood in the spot she had found the day before, took a deep breath, and gripped the wooden sword at her waist.

In the secluded bamboo grove, Ling Lan slowly drew the sword from her waist.

Once the wooden sword was unsheathed, the young girl moved like a dragon swimming through water. Her slender, delicate shoulders swung the sword, which was as long as her arm, without the slightest strain.

The wooden sword sliced through layers of mist, and the sword wind stirred by her movements rustled the bamboo leaves.

Gripping the hilt, Ling Lan swung the wooden sword as if guided by instinct, tracing elegant arcs in the air.

From the break of dawn, when the rooster first crowed, she practiced until the sun bathed the earth and the sounds of people gradually arose.

After completing her final move, Ling Lan sheathed her sword. Fine beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead, and the hem of her clothes, previously damp with dew, was now soaked with sweat.

Ling Lan let out a long sigh, wiped her sweat, and reattached the wooden sword to her waist.

She smiled contentedly as she looked at the bamboo grove, which remained completely unharmed. The grove was dense and lush, and swinging a sword through it would inevitably have caused leaves to fall.

But what Ling Lan aimed to practice was precisely not harming a single leaf.

Seeing the clean ground, the exhaustion from overexertion was driven away by joy.

Ling Lan reattached the sword to her waist and returned to the inn, walking back in the sunlight just as she had come.

……

The inn had already opened its doors. A young attendant, with a towel slung over his shoulder, swept the floor with a broom.

The main hall downstairs was clean and bright, already welcoming its first guests, but the rooms upstairs remained tightly shut and silent.

On the bed, two young girls slept peacefully. The one who woke first rubbed her eyes and opened her emerald-green eyes.

Jiang Mianhao yawned and tried to stretch, only to find her arm restricted.

She looked down to see the source of the obstruction.

The other girl, still asleep, was frowning tightly, as if sleeping restlessly. Her body, pressed closely against Jiang Mianhao’s, trembled slightly.

The ever-powerful and aloof Immortal Lord actually showed a hint of vulnerability.

Jiang Mianhao looked at the person nestled in her embrace, gently lifted her arm to encircle them, and softly patted Ye Qingge’s back with the back of her hand.

But the moment her palm landed, Jiang Mianhao froze.

It was currently September in the mortal realm, the early autumn wind had just swept by, and the inn still provided ice for cooling.

Logically, it should have been the perfect season for sleeping, yet the person in her arms was drenched in sweat.

Jiang Mianhao gently patted and soothed Ye Qingge’s back, her fingertips lightly lifting the inner garment as she patted, allowing a bit of cool air to seep in.

The person in her arms was drenched and sticky, as if just pulled out of water, yet the arm wrapped around her waist held on tightly.

Jiang Mianhao dared not make any further movements, so she continued patting with one hand while using the other to lift the inner garment, letting a bit of wind flow in.

Lost in her nightmare, Ye Qingge was completely unaware of the outside world.

She was once again dragged into the depths of her nightmare, trapped inside the alchemy furnace.

Once more, she fell into the nightmare while fully conscious.

Just as Ye Qingge prepared to endure it with sheer willpower, a cool breeze suddenly brushed against her face.

Though the breeze was faint, its presence was starkly noticeable in the scorching heat of the alchemy furnace.

Ye Qingge reached out, trying to tightly embrace the wind and it seemed she succeeded.

A soft knocking sound came from the door.

Ling Lan’s voice rang out, “Mianhao, Lu Jiu, are you awake?”

Hearing the voice, Jiang Mianhao wanted to lift her head to respond, but the moment she moved, the arm around her waist tightened again.

Urgently, anxiously, like a drowning person clutching a floating log, she was pulled back into a tight embrace.

Helpless, Jiang Mianhao could only gently brush aside Ye Qingge’s long hair. The sweat-soaked strands clung to her temples, and as they were pushed aside, a faint, elegant fragrance wafted from them.

“Lu Jiu,” Jiang Mianhao softly stroked Ye Qingge’s cheek and coaxed gently, “It’s time to wake up, Lu Jiu. Ling Lan is calling.”

Her soft call seemed to have an effect, as the sleeping person gradually began to stir.

Struggling in the nightmare, Ye Qingge mustered all her strength and slammed against the bronze wall of the alchemy furnace. The raging flames quickly receded.

Ye Qingge’s eyes snapped open.

She was awake.

Jiang Mianhao looked down at the person still lying in her embrace. After a brief moment of dazed confusion, the awakened person let out a long sigh of relief.

“Lu Jiu, take it easy,” Jiang Mianhao tucked the hair from Ye Qingge’s face behind her ear and comforted her softly.

After these two instances, Jiang Mianhao seemed to have discovered some of Ye Qingge’s little secrets.

This usually cold and unfeeling Immortal Lord harbored deep nightmares, and even by her side, these nightmares would still occur.

It was important to note that the effects of the Good Sleep Grass were not limited to inducing sleep. It also had the ability to ward off dreams.

Yet, despite sleeping almost cheek-to-cheek with the Immortal Lord these two times, she still sank into nightmares, unable to free herself.

Lost in her thoughts, Ye Qingge had not yet regained her composure when her heart was filled with worry.

Emotions transmitted continuously through the Heart-Link Knot instantly overwhelmed her once again.

Ye Qingge withdrew from Jiang Mianhao’s embrace and said in a low voice, “It’s nothing.”

Though she claimed it was nothing, having been trapped in the nightmare for so long, Ye Qingge’s voice had already grown hoarse and dry.

Her usually cool and clear voice had turned raspy, like a small hook gently scratching at Jiang Mianhao’s heart.

Ye Qingge cleared her throat and said, “Didn’t you want to find Ling Lan? Go ahead.”

The person who had just woken up still had the imprint of sleeping on her side on her face, a red mark particularly noticeable on her fair cheeks.

The spring snow that had accumulated between her brows seemed to have melted away a little at this moment. Her golden pupils held a trace of the daze of waking, a slight departure from the usual aloofness that kept others at a distance.

Jiang Mianhao, who had initially wanted to express concern for the person before her, instantly brightened up. She stood and quickly dressed.

As she searched for her shoes, Jiang Mianhao lifted her face and beamed brightly. “Thank you, Lu Jiu!”

After thanking her, Jiang Mianhao turned and called out to Ling Lan. After washing up, she opened the door for Ling Lan.

Though they had only been apart for a night, the two missed each other dearly.

Jiang Mianhao opened her arms and hugged Ling Lan, gently patting her back as she asked, “Are you okay, Lanlan?”

“I’m perfectly fine,” Ling Lan replied, holding Jiang Mianhao tightly and resting her head on her shoulder. “I’ll tell you a secret. I found a bamboo grove that’s perfect for practicing swordplay. Want to go see it?”

Jiang Mianhao nodded eagerly, her chin rubbing against Ling Lan’s shoulder. “Yes!”

Sitting on the bed, Ye Qingge watched the two embracing at the door. The emotions that had been weighing on her heart were completely dispelled in that moment.

A powerful sense of reassurance smoothed away all her anxiety.

Just one embrace was enough to make the little grass spirit, who had been troubled all night, cast aside all her worries and leave only joy behind.

Ye Qingge calmly withdrew her gaze and, with a wave of her hand, closed the chamber door.

……

By the time Ye Qingge had bathed, changed, and come downstairs, the two were no longer in the main hall.

Following the guidance of the heart-link charm, Ye Qingge wound through the streets in search of the bamboo grove.

The emotions in her heart were replaced by a sense of admiration, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted slightly.

Clenching her teeth to suppress the smile that wasn’t her own, Ye Qingge quickened her pace toward the bamboo grove.

When she arrived, Ling Lan was just executing a move.

It seemed like a casual strike, but her inner strength was perfectly controlled, stopping just as the sword’s edge reached the last trace of a bamboo leaf.

Such a swift and precise sword technique had not harmed the leaf in the slightest.

Ye Qingge was somewhat surprised. She halted her steps and stood outside the bamboo grove, watching the girl sheathe her sword.

Swordplay is easy. One can swing wildly with eyes closed and still cut leaves.

But to execute a move while precisely controlling both strength and distance is no simple feat.

Apart from millennia of rigorous practice, only absolute natural talent could achieve it.

Ling Lan, who had taken human form barely over a month ago, was clearly the latter.

Ye Qingge had never been interested in mentoring disciples. Even her apprenticeship under the Wuji Mystic Master was merely to fulfill her mother’s dying wish.

Countless disciples had lined up from miles around hoping to study under Ye Qingge, yet none had ever caught her eye.

But now, Ye Qingge felt a flicker of admiration for the person before her.

Even if she was just a lowly, inferior grass spirit.

“Wow! Lanlan, you’re amazing!” Jiang Mianhao couldn’t contain her excitement. She didn’t understand the intricacies of swordplay, but she was still captivated by Ling Lan’s skill. “That whoosh-whoosh move just now was so cool!”

Ling Lan sheathed her peachwood sword at her waist and proudly puffed out her chest. “Of course! This is my own original sword technique, it’s called ‘Seal the Throat with a Touch of Blood.'”

As she spoke of her sword technique, the girl’s expression was radiant, her pride unmistakable.

Jiang Mianhao didn’t understand any of it, but that didn’t stop her from clapping and showering her with praise.

Standing in the bamboo grove, Ye Qingge felt her heart swell with joy as well. She gazed in puzzlement at the lively little grass spirit frolicking before her.

How could someone else’s success bring her such happiness?