After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 27

Sunlight streamed in through the window.

When Jiang Mianhao slowly opened her eyes, she had already returned to human form and was lying on the bed.

Curled up beside her was Ye Qingge, still deep in slumber.

The weather today was so fine that even the paper window couldn’t block out the sunlight.

Jiang Mianhao shifted slightly, gently brushing aside the long hair of the person in her arms to reveal a smooth forehead.

After several nights of sharing a bed, Jiang Mianhao had gradually come to understand the habits of the immortal master before her.

For instance, before sleep, if she hadn’t cleansed herself, no matter how tired she was, she couldn’t get into bed.

The window had to be open, the oil lamp on the desk had to remain lit, and no incense burners were allowed in the room.

More importantly, once asleep, Lu Jiu became exceptionally fragile. Trembling and shedding tears unconsciously, like a wronged child burying her head in Jiang Mianhao’s embrace.

Jiang Mianhao gazed at the sleeping figure in her arms, whose frosty, aloof demeanor had softened into a gentle tranquility.

Lu Jiu had once claimed that Jiang Mianhao was her cultivation partner.

The mere thought of the term “cultivation partner” made Jiang Mianhao’s ears burn and her cheeks flush with an unnatural warmth.

Yet, before this, she had never even met this immortal master, not even in her dreams.

How could they possibly be cultivation partners? Jiang Mianhao was puzzled. Her fingers lingered in the silver-white hair of the person beneath her soft as freshly fallen snow, as if her fingertips were buried in a winter’s first snowfall.

Twirling the strands between her fingers, like kneading the first handful of snow in early winter, Jiang Mianhao found it hard to let go.

What’s more, Lu Jiu smelled incredibly fragrant.

Unable to resist, Jiang Mianhao lifted a lock of hair to her nose and inhaled. A light, elegant scent, like flower nectar hidden in the spring breeze, faintly drifting in the air.

The person in her arms was sleeping soundly, showing no signs of waking.

Jiang Mianhao shifted gently, intending to get up and wash, but as soon as she tried to pull away, the figure nestled deeper into her embrace.

This time, the one who had merely been leaning against her now lay completely cradled in her arms.

Jiang Mianhao blinked in confusion, looking down at the crown of the head resting against her chest.

Perhaps due to a nightmare, the clothes of the person in her arms were damp with sweat.

“Lu Jiu?” Jiang Mianhao patted her back softly, soothing her. “Wake up, it’s morning.”

As if she had stumbled in her dream, the sleeper’s legs kicked weakly before her eyes snapped open.

Ye Qingge let out a long exhale and stared blankly ahead.

She had fallen asleep again.

And once more, beside this grass spirit.

The recurring nightmares left Ye Qingge utterly exhausted; she remained motionless, curled in Jiang Mianhao’s embrace.

Throughout all her years of cultivation, Ye Qingge had never once been able to sleep.

But ever since this grass spirit successfully took human form, its soothing effects had become unmistakable.

At first, Ye Qingge had been skeptical, but the increasing instances of restful sleep solidified her bewilderment.

What surprised Ye Qingge even more was that as long as she was in this grass spirit’s arms, the torment of nightmares would cease.

The moment she left its embrace, agonizing dreams would surge from all directions to engulf her.

Why did this grass spirit have such a profound effect on her?

Ye Qingge couldn’t comprehend it. Her inability to sleep had stumped even the Wuji Mystic Master, yet this grass spirit had resolved it effortlessly.

As her thoughts gradually settled, Ye Qingge stirred and pulled herself out of Jiang Mianhao’s embrace.

“Are you alright, Green Wine?” Jiang Mianhao’s arms felt empty as the person who had been nestled in her embrace moments ago now sat up straight, gathering her clothes.

The close proximity made Ye Qingge somewhat uncomfortable. She cleared her throat lightly and said, “I’m fine.”

Seeing the fine beads of sweat at Ye Qingge’s temples, Jiang Mianhao grew concerned. “Really?”

Her rationality had not yet fully returned, but her heart was already filled with worry, concern, and anxiety.

Ye Qingge was momentarily taken aback by these sudden emotions. When she looked up, she found herself lost in those jade-green eyes.

The clear eyes were full of concern, and the girl’s fair cheeks still bore a lingering blush.

Was she concerned about me?

Ye Qingge couldn’t quite grasp the meaning. She blinked, trying to sense the emotions transmitted through the Heart-Link Knot.

Yesterday, this person had shown the same concern and nervousness towards Lily.

So, did she harbor feelings for me too?

The thought had barely formed when Ye Qingge dismissed it.

This person showed the same caring heart to everyone. Yesterday at the temple, when she saw the peach tree branches laden with prayer ribbons, she had similarly worried whether the tree was tired.

Her method of judgment seemed flawed. Ye Qingge closed her eyes to collect her thoughts.

She treats everyone with the same concern. I am no different from anyone else.

Falling in love seemed even more challenging than cultivating the Dao.

Ye Qingge gathered her clothes and sat up by herself.

Seeing how she had returned to her usual aloof and distant demeanor the moment she woke up, Jiang Mianhao could only suppress her concern.

It felt as if what had just happened was merely a dream, that vulnerable immortal lord only existed in dreams.

Ye Qingge took fresh clothes and disappeared behind the screen.

Left with no choice, Jiang Mianhao fetched water to wash up herself.

For a while, neither spoke in the room, with only the sound of water breaking the silence.

“After I wash up, I’d like to go find Lanlan. Is that alright?” Jiang Mianhao pulled the towel from her face and called out towards the screen.

The response was a faint “Mm.”

Jiang Mianhao didn’t ask further. After quickly finishing her washing, she pulled open the door and hurried out.

As soon as she stepped out, she ran into Lily, who had just finished her own washing.

Lily had already completed her sword practice in the bamboo grove and was about to check if Jiang Mianhao was awake.

When they bumped into each other, they exchanged a knowing smile.

“Mianhao, I was just about to come find you,” Lily said with a light laugh, her eyes sparkling like flowers.

The girl wore her hair in a high ponytail, and her goose-yellow dress made her already fair complexion appear even fairer.

Jiang Mianhao was momentarily dazzled by her smile and softly asked, “Have you finished your sword practice already?”

“Yes,” Lily replied. “What about Green Wine? Didn’t she wake up with you?”

Jiang Mianhao hesitated for a moment before saying, “She’s awake, but she had nightmares last night and was drenched in sweat. She’s washing up now.”

Lily nodded and didn’t press further.

“Are we going to the Blessing Temple today?” Jiang Mianhao asked excitedly. “I saw that demon yesterday. It was hiding on the goddess statue, pinned down by the compass.”

At the mention of yesterday’s events, Lily grew animated. “Let’s go! I need to retrieve the compass and give it to Green Wine.”

Jiang Mianhao clapped her hands. “Great! Let’s set off now!”

After her bath, Ye Qingge emerged slowly, her robe loosely draped around her, her long hair flowing freely.

The room was now empty and silent, but the turbulent emotions from the Heart-Link Knot conveyed the movements of the person on the other end.

She went to the temple again yesterday. Ye Qingge tucked the Heart-Link Pendant into her sleeve, her gaze falling upon the intertwined hands of Jiang Mianhao and Ling Lan.

The two young girls, hand in hand, dashed through the bustling crowd under the morning sunlight.

Ye Qingge paid them no mind, leisurely straightening her robes.

The monster in the Goddess Temple was a newly formed snake demon that had taken shape by feeding on human vitality and stolen offerings.

In terms of ability, Ling Lan and Jiang Mianhao were no match for the snake demon.

But the compass she had given them was imbued with abundant spiritual power; as long as they used it properly, subduing the creature wouldn’t be a problem.

After dressing properly, Ye Qingge sat by the window.

These past few days, she had been trying to contact the Wuji Mystic Master through mental connection, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the soaring bird and the python that were supposed to remain in the Crow Python Sea had been showing unusual signs lately.

The soaring bird in the dead-end alley, the python in the Goddess Temple.

A sense of foreboding crept into Ye Qingge’s heart, yet the responses she sent through her mental connection remained unanswered.

Both the Wuji Mystic Master and the Water Control Mystic Master seemed to have gone missing.

Before she could shake off this worry, a sharp pain pierced Ye Qingge’s chest, and a tumult of emotions surged within her; panic, anxiety, fear, tension.

While receiving these foreign mental signals, Ye Qingge closed her eyes to check the situation through the Heart-Link Pendant.

Jiang Mianhao and Ling Lan had planned to visit the prayer temple together, but before they could even enter, they encountered a flash of red light.

Before Jiang Mianhao could react, a powerful force hurled her away, sending her flying until she crashed hard against a tree.

It all happened too fast, leaving no time to process.

Ling Lan widened her eyes, trying to grab Jiang Mianhao, but a cold sensation wrapped around her ankle, and she was yanked to the ground.

A blackish-red python slithered out from behind a rock, its forked tongue flickering.

Its tail had already coiled tightly around Ling Lan’s waist.

Jiang Mianhao immediately recognized it as the red light that had been pinned down by the compass yesterday. She opened her mouth to shout, but pain overwhelmed her entire body.

In her agony, she reverted to her original form. A grass pot that rolled on the ground before bumping into someone’s foot.

“Green Wine?” Jiang Mianhao stared in disbelief at the person before her. “Am I dreaming?”

Ye Qingge nudged the small grass pot at her feet and said softly, “Pull your head back in.”

Jiang Mianhao was in so much pain she felt as if her body were falling apart. She trembled her leaves nervously and said, “Green Wine, be careful.”

“Mm.” Ye Qingge didn’t engage further. With a flick of her finger, she enveloped Jiang Mianhao in a tightly sealed spiritual barrier.

In the next moment, a swift and sharp ice blade shot straight from her fingertips.

The snake demon, which had been coiling around Ling Lan, writhed in pain, its tail contracting and tightening abruptly.

Ling Lan gasped softly from the suffocating pressure, clutching her peachwood sword hesitantly.

“Stab it,” Ye Qingge said calmly, sending another ice blade to pin the snake’s head. “Aim for the seventh inch.”

Ling Lan’s hand trembled uncontrollably as she held the sword. The snake’s tail around her waist continued to constrict, squeezing the air from her lungs.

Her raised wooden sword remained frozen mid-air, unable to strike. Ling Lan’s hand shook like a sieve.

Whether from pain or the suffocating pressure, sweat dripped incessantly from her.

Standing beside her, Ye Qingge watched her pale lips and the sweat continuously dripping down. The peach wood sword she held high simply could not be brought down.

Impatiently, Ye Qingge clicked her tongue, and a faint glimmer flickered at her fingertips.

The snake that had been tightly coiled in a fierce struggle suddenly lost its strength. Its tongue was halfway out, unable to retract, and its head slumped straight down.

Ling Lan, who had narrowly escaped death, gasped for breath, letting out a long sigh as the suffocating pressure in her chest finally eased.

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Mianhao peeked out from behind the bundle and exclaimed excitedly, “Lanlan! You did it!”

Ling Lan turned back from the praise but felt a bit dazed.

Because her wooden sword had remained held high all along. It had never come down.