After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 29

The girl whose name was called paused, as though the name felt unfamiliar to her. A flash of ferocity flickered in her violet eyes but was quickly suppressed.

 

Jiang Mianhao didn’t catch that fleeting murderous intent; her gaze was fixed instead on the bloodied arm. “Xiu Xiu, your arm is injured!”

 

The girl’s fair, smooth arm was stained with blood, and from the crook of her elbow, where an ice blade had pierced through, crimson drops continued to fall.

 

Ye Qingge’s gaze remained icy cold. She had seen clearly the murderous intent that flashed across the girl’s eyes just moments before.

 

“Xiu Xiu?” Receiving no response, Jiang Mianhao grew more anxious. “Xiu Xiu, are you okay? Where did you go after leaving us? Why are you here now?”

 

Amidst her barrage of confused questions, the girl finally seemed to come back to herself.

 

Under Ye Qingge’s cold, watchful stare, Mi Xiu blinked, squeezed out a few tears, and clutched her elbow in pain. “It hurts.”

 

The slightly delayed cry of pain didn’t raise Jiang Mianhao’s suspicion. She rustled her leaves anxiously. “W-what should we do?”

 

No sooner had she spoken than a spiritual barrier enveloped her, and the entire plant was plunged into darkness; stuffed inside a sleeve.

 

“L-Lu Jiu?” Jiang Mianhao was baffled. She gently tapped the barrier with her leaves. “Why are you locking me up? Lu Jiu?”

 

Suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart, Ye Qingge clicked her tongue impatiently. “Shut up.”

 

Mi Xiu instinctively flinched, trembling with innate fear of the person before her.

 

Forced into darkness, Jiang Mianhao tapped the barrier again, her tone worried. “Lu Jiu, are you okay? Is there danger outside?”

 

The memory of the black gust from earlier flashed in her mind. The same kind that had once brought the massive black eagle that snatched her and the Lily of the Valley, toying with them both. The thought made her heart tighten with worry for Lu Jiu.

 

But her concern went unanswered. Her leaves drooped as she tapped the barrier listlessly.

 

The faint, muffled tapping echoed through the sleeve, only to be swallowed by the wind swirling through the narrow alley.

 

Mi Xiu looked tense. She swallowed hard and instinctively shuffled backward.

The immortal lord standing before her wore an expressionless face, her demeanor calm yet exuding the oppressive aura unique to those of higher status.

 

“L-Lu Jiu,” Mi Xiu stammered, clearing her throat. “W-what a coincidence. H-how did you end up here?”

 

In response to her faltering greeting, Ye Qingge merely snorted, saying nothing.

 

Moments earlier, this demoness had turned into a sinister gust of wind the instant Ye Qingge entered the alley, trailing her closely from behind.

 

And now, she stood there pretending as if nothing had happened, her expression composed and unruffled.

 

Ye Qingge suppressed the surge of unease stirring in her chest, a feeling that shouldn’t have been hers to begin with.

 

Without sparing Mi Xiu a glance, she flicked her sleeve coldly and continued forward.

 

The alley was not particularly long, but it was narrow — so narrow that only one person could pass at a time.

 

When two people met, one had to yield.

 

Ye Qingge had already reached Mi Xiu’s side and showed no sign of stepping aside.

 

As the figure in white approached, Mi Xiu clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on Ye Qingge’s sleeve.

 

The slight bulge within it concealed that plant.

 

Her master’s orders flashed through her mind, and her fingers twitched—clenching, loosening, then tightening again as she forcibly suppressed the instinctive fear Ye Qingge inspired.

 

The hem of the white robes brushed past her shoulder. Mi Xiu swallowed hard.

 

Steal that plant, and she would seize the immortal bone.

 

By the time she snapped out of her thoughts, the figure in white had already taken several steps ahead.

 

Mi Xiu darted forward, reaching for Ye Qingge’s sleeve.

 

But before her fingertips could even graze the fabric, a tremendous spiritual force burst forth sending her flying backward as if struck by an invisible wall.

 

The sudden surge of energy struck Mi Xiu so hard that she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Leaning against the wall to catch her breath, she struggled to suppress the icy chill surging through her body.

 

It felt as though a blade of frost had pierced her very organs. When she blinked the haze from her eyes, she realized that the figure standing before her moments ago had vanished without a trace.

 

So—what she had reached for was merely an illusion. And such a powerful illusion at that.

 

Rubbing her still-numb ears, Mi Xiu silently pondered the true origins of that immortal lord.

 

Just then, the faint jingling of bells drifted from the mouth of the alley. Mi Xiu turned to see a carriage pulling to a stop, and from it stepped a young woman in a pale-yellow dress. Her skin was as fair as snow; her eyes bright, her smile pure as she bowed gratefully toward the carriage in thanks.

 

Recognizing the girl’s face, Mi Xiu’s eyes flickered with calculation. Supporting herself against the wall, she stumbled forward unsteadily.

 

Ling Lan, who had just stepped down from the carriage, looked slightly embarrassed. The spot where she had been bitten by the snake had already been cleaned and bandaged by Huanxi, layers of soft cotton wrapped securely around the wound.

 

“Thank you for your trouble, Miss Fu,” Ling Lan said, bowing deeply, her hair swaying with the motion. “If there is ever anything Ling Lan can do to repay you, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Fu Wanyin smiled gently, her eyes shining brighter than the sun. “You are too kind, Miss Lin. If fate allows us to meet again, then perhaps we are destined acquaintances.”

 

Standing outside the carriage, Huanxi noticed her young mistress’s reddened ears and understood immediately.

 

Clearing her throat, she said, “Miss Lin, if you ever have the time to visit and express your gratitude, you may come to the Chancellor’s residence in the northern city to find our young lady. After all, she rarely has the leisure to venture out.”

 

“Huanxi,” Fu Wanyin chided softly.

 

Ling Lan nodded. “I will surely come to thank you another day.”

 

“What use are mere words?” Huanxi snorted. “What if you don’t come?”

 

Ling Lan froze, flustered, and began rummaging through her sleeves. She had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t brought any valuables with her.

 

Finally, gritting her teeth, she plucked a flower spirit from her true form.

 

When she opened her palm, a pale pink lily-of-the-valley shimmered faintly before transforming into a delicate, crystalline trinket.

 

“If you would not mind, Miss, please accept this,” Ling Lan said, offering the flower spirit.

 

A slender, pale hand extended from the carriage and gently received it.

 

Fu Wanyin gazed at the tiny blossom resting in her palm, unable to hide her delight. Her eyes lingered on Ling Lan, reluctant to look away. “Thank you, Miss Lin.”

 

Sensing her young mistress’s expression, Huanxi swiftly lowered the carriage curtain and waved her hand. “Then we shall take our leave here, Miss Lin.”

 

Ling Lan nodded, watching as the carriage wheels rolled into the distance.

 

The vehicle swayed gently over the cobblestones, the bells on the horse’s harness jingling without pause.

 

Huanxi glanced back at the figure still standing at the temple entrance before turning to her mistress. “Young lady, you were far too reckless today. You don’t even know that person’s background, yet you invited her into the carriage without a second thought. What if she had turned out to be some scoundrel?”

 

But Fu Wanyin merely shook her head and replied softly, “She is different from the others.”

 

Cradling the lily-of-the-valley carefully in her palm, she closed her eyes. The image of that girl;  her upright, resilient posture and the pained expression she wore while enduring the cleaning of her wound  surfaced once more in Fu Wanyin’s mind.

 

Huanxi sighed. “Miss, you’re simply too kind-hearted.”

 

With that, she turned around and caught sight of Ling Lan who had just finished bidding farewell to her young lady still standing at the alley entrance. A moment later, Ling Lan bent down to help someone up from the ground.

 

“It seems she’s just like you,” Huanxi said, shaking her head with a faint smile. “Both of you are far too kind-hearted.”

 

Jiang Mianhao had been trapped inside the spiritual barrier for a long time before she was finally released.

 

No—more accurately, she was thrown out.

 

The spiritual energy sphere, still carrying the grass pot, rolled across the ground with a dull rumble. Inside, the little grass had already been tossed and spun so much that she was utterly dizzy.

 

“Lu Jiu, you—!” Jiang Mianhao coughed several times, just about to speak when a surge of spiritual energy poured in, cutting her off.

 

In the next instant, the grass pot on the ground vanished replaced by a young girl.

Restored to her human form, Jiang Mianhao looked slightly dazed. She glanced down at her hands and feet before lifting her gaze toward Lu Jiu.

 

The person before her stood calm and expressionless, utterly detached from the bustle around them.

 

Only then did Jiang Mianhao realize that Lu Jiu had brought her into a lively street.

 

“Hey, sugar figures!”

 

“Hey, steamed buns!”

 

“Hey, candied-hawthorns!”

 

The noisy chatter of the crowd was incessant, and Ye Qingge felt a flicker of irritation.

 

Even she couldn’t quite explain why she had brought this pot of grass to such a chaotic, disorderly place.

 

Then, in the next instant, a sudden rush of excitement, joy, and exhilaration welled up within her.

 

The previously angry person now cast her troubles to the winds, her gaze captivated by the passing candied hawthorn sticks.

Ye Qingge could only watch as Jiang Mianhao bounced away after someone, feeling both speechless and a little choked up.

 

Meanwhile, Jiang Mianhao, busy buying candied hawthorns, had no idea what the person behind her was thinking. Her mind was preoccupied with Ling Lan and Mi Xiu, and she knew that the one who had clashed with Ye Qingge in the alley earlier was Mi Xiu.

 

Because back in the alley, she had felt a powerful force tugging at her, accompanied by an indescribable sensation. If not for Lu Jiu’s presence, that near-death feeling brought on by the soaring bird would likely have resurfaced.

 

Jiang Mianhao felt grateful to Lu Jiu, yet she couldn’t help but worry about Mi Xiu.

 

As long as things hadn’t reached an irreparable point, Jiang Mianhao was unwilling to hastily suspect others. As long as the truth wasn’t laid bare, they could still remain friends.

 

While her thoughts were swirling, the old man before her finished wrapping up the candied hawthorns.

 

“Little girl, here are your three sticks—take good care of them!” The old man handed them over and added kindly, “Don’t drop them, all right?”

 

Jiang Mianhao accepted the candied hawthorns and nodded obediently. “Thank you,” she said.

 

Standing behind her, Ye Qingge had already seen through her thoughts. For the first time, she found herself viewing this little grass from a different perspective.

 

At least she wasn’t foolish enough to mistake Mi Xiu for a good person.

 

Still, her emotions shifted far too quickly. By the time she bounced back to Ye Qingge, clutching the candied hawthorns, the only emotion left in her heart was pure joy.

 

Ye Qingge’s gaze fell on the bright red treats before her, and she instinctively took a step back.

 

“Lu Jiu!” Jiang Mianhao eagerly offered the candied hawthorn. “Try it!”

 

Ye Qingge frowned and stepped back, refusing without hesitation. “No.”

 

“It’s really sweet!” Jiang Mianhao blinked her eyes earnestly. “The first time I tried it, I thought it was strange too. How could something be both sweet and sour? But it’s so delicious! Both Lanlan and I love it. You should really give it a try!”

 

Ye Qingge still frowned. “If you like it, then eat it yourself.”

 

Jiang Mianhao shook her head. “I bought this for you. One’s for Xiu Xiu, and another’s for Lanlan.”

 

In her hand, including the one meant for herself, there were only three—all intended for others.

 

“I won’t eat it. You have it yourself.” Ye Qingge flicked her sleeve and turned to leave, but her sleeve was tugged.

 

Jiang Mianhao pleaded pitifully, “It’s really delicious. Just one bite, okay?”

 

Anticipation surged within her, mingled with a suppressed craving for the candied hawthorn.

 

This silly little grass clearly wanted it desperately, yet insisted on giving it to her.

 

Ye Qingge gritted her teeth, suppressing the emotions swelling in her chest. A stirring in her throat brought a faint trickle of saliva from the depths of her tongue.

 

She noticed the little figure crouched before her, swallowing hard.

 

Ye Qingge’s brows tightened, even as the craving in her heart grew stronger and stronger.

 

And the culprit was none other than the candied hawthorn held right before her eyes.