After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 4

Lily of the Valley stared in disbelief at the cold-faced immortal before her, her hands still cradling the withered leaves without withdrawing them.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingge carried the grass pot to the back, washed her hands, and completely ignored Lily of the Valley, who stood frozen in place.

The grass in her arms had already withdrawn into itself from the pain of having its leaves plucked earlier. Now, its newly sprouted leaves drooped silently, expressing its displeasure.

Ye Qingge had never cared for plants before and had no idea about the taboos of raising this particular Slumbergrass.

With her spiritual power gone and unable to use healing techniques, she could only try her best.

“What does this grass usually like?” Ye Qingge suddenly turned and asked, as if struck by a thought.

Lily of the Valley, still rooted in place, didn’t react immediately and let out a confused “Huh?”

Ye Qingge held the grass pot and silently waited for an answer.

“She likes me,” Lily of the Valley coughed lightly and said, “So please let me take care of her.”

“Likes you?” Ye Qingge narrowed her eyes at the delicate young girl standing before her.

For some reason, the girl’s cheeks were faintly flushed.

Lily of the Valley nodded. “Yeah, Mianhao likes me the most.” Then she added in a whisper, “And I like Mianhao the most too.”

The girl’s shyness and crimson cheeks went unnoticed by Ye Qingge, who simply responded with a faint “Hmm” and said, “So it likes you.”

“Then, does that mean I can skin you alive and use you to nourish it?”

“Huh… huh?” Lily of the Valley belatedly processed the words. “What did you say? S-s-skin me alive?”

In the small room, medicine simmered over the stove, boiling and bubbling as steam rose, filling the space with mist.

Ye Qingge’s expression remained indifferent. “Her injuries are severe. If incompatible remedies are used, it might backfire. That’s why I’m asking about her preferences.”

Only then did Lily of the Valley realize that Ye Qingge’s interpretation of “like” was entirely different from her own.

Belatedly blushing, she lowered her head. A cluster of lily-of-the-valley flowers sprouted atop her head, their pale pink buds swaying amidst her pink hair as her hands nervously twisted together.

Her reaction puzzled Ye Qingge, but she didn’t press further.

After all, skinning someone alive was rather cruel. If Lily of the Valley hadn’t offered herself, Ye Qingge wouldn’t have considered it.

With no useful answers, she would have to search for solutions herself.

It seemed the grass in her arms would be harder to care for than expected.

By the time Lily of the Valley retracted the flowers on her head and looked up again, the room was empty.

……

……

Mount Taibai, with its high altitude, was perpetually snow-covered. A land of extreme cold.

Ye Qingge stepped out of the banyan tree hollow and gazed ahead.

A thin layer of snow still lingered on the ground, while plant spirits lined up outside the hollow, hawking leaves and branches in exchange for spiritual power.

It was a bustling little marketplace.

The grass pot was about the size of two palms, too big to tuck into her sleeves or wrap with spiritual power. So Ye Qingge could only cradle it in her hands, holding Jiang Mianhao in a posture that looked both reverent and foolish.

The plant spirits selling branches and leaves had all successfully taken human form, so they advertised with slogans like “Guaranteed Transformation!”

Ye Qingge had always loathed overly noisy environments, but the grass in her arms seemed to love it.

“Is it market day again, Lanlan?” The clamor roused Jiang Mianhao, who waved her leaves and pointed to the side. “What are they selling over there?”

Ye Qingge heard the voice from the person in her arms but didn’t respond, only slowing her pace slightly.

The peach wood vendor, Taohua, seeing the person stop in front of her stall, immediately raised her voice even louder to hawk her wares.

“So, it’s a stall selling evil-warding peach wood branches,” Jiang Mianhao said after straining to hear clearly. “I should’ve bought one before I took human form.”

Ye Qingge didn’t know how to respond and quietly continued walking, cradling the grass pot in her arms.

The market street was simply too long. After covering only a fifth of the distance, Ye Qingge’s patience ran out, and she turned back with the flower pot in her arms.

The clamor of the crowd was incessant, grating on Ye Qingge’s nerves as she quickened her steps to leave.

The little grass in her arms rustled its leaves in dissatisfaction. “What’s over there, Lanlan? You’re walking too fast. I can’t hear anything.”

Ignoring her protests, Ye Qingge sped up and returned to the banyan tree hollow.

The moment they entered and the tree hollow closed behind them, a mimosa plant collapsed right outside the door.

……

……

“Lanlan?” Jiang Mianhao, receiving no response, grew a little afraid. “You’re not Lanlan. Who are you?”

Ye Qingge set the grass pot down on the desk, then turned to wash her hands.

The little grass left on the table continued to chatter away.

The brief outing had clearly lifted the plant’s spirits.

After washing her hands, Ye Qingge returned to the desk and noted down her latest observations.

[Primary form: Somniferous Grass.

Grows atop snowy peaks thus prefers shade and thrives in lively environments.]

The elegant, refined strokes on the rice paper mirrored the aloof and striking demeanor of their writer. After finishing, Ye Qingge examined Jiang Mianhao’s roots again, confirming that her blood had not caused any adverse effects, then continued writing.

[Adapted to cold; avoid heat when watering. Sunbathing should not be done at noon.]

With her notes complete, Ye Qingge set down the brush.

Hearing the movement, Jiang Mianhao spoke again, her tone tentative. “You’re not Lanlan, and you’re not Grandma Banyan either.”

“Are you the bad person who hit me?”

Her voice trembled slightly with unease. For some reason, Jiang Mianhao felt an inexplicable fear toward whatever had struck her.

Finally, Ye Qingge responded with a calm, indifferent hum. “Yes.”

“Are you going to kill me?” Jiang Mianhao asked timidly. “Can you not kill me?”

Hearing the cautious plea, Ye Qingge answered plainly, “Fine.”

Though just a single word, it was enough to ease Jiang Mianhao’s wary heart.

“Hitting you wasn’t my intention, so I’ll heal you and help you take human form,” Ye Qingge suddenly added. “So, you can tell me your likes and dislikes.”

This was a response Jiang Mianhao hadn’t expected at all.

She had assumed the attack was an ambush, that her fate was sealed.

But now, the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

The person before her wasn’t here to harm her instead she had promised to heal and help her.

The speaker’s tone was earnest and serious, leaving no room for jest.

So, Jiang Mianhao relaxed and answered obediently, “I like everything. There’s nothing I dislike.”

Ye Qingge’s hand, holding the brush, paused briefly before she acknowledged with a quiet hum.

Hearing the cold response, Jiang Mianhao felt a little puzzled. She opened her mouth to ask something else but was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Mianhao, Mianhao!” Ling Lan banged on the door loudly, shouting from outside. “I bought something for you!”

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Mianhao swayed her leaves, wanting to respond but unable to muster her voice.

Her body was still in a damaged state. Though an intense, frigid energy within her was sustaining her, her strength was nearly depleted.

Ye Qingge’s gaze fell upon the door, which was being pounded loudly, then shifted to the swaying grass.

She spoke lightly, “You’re already tired.”

The swaying leaves paused, as if surprised that her thoughts had been seen through.

But the sound of Lily of the Valley’s voice persisted outside the door. Jiang Mianhao muttered gloomily, “But I want to know…”

This plea was soft, yet Ye Qingge still heard it.

Bang—

The wooden door was flung open with force, and the frantic Lily of the Valley stumbled in, falling to the ground.

Such rude behavior darkened Ye Qingge’s eyes.

Lily of the Valley, sprawled on the floor, patted her sleeves and placed the gift she had bought beside Jiang Mianhao.

“Today’s the big market day. I traded my spiritual energy for your favorite roasted candied fruit,” Lily of the Valley said, taking out the treat. “Want to have some?”

The previously despondent little grass visibly brightened at the mention of candied fruit.

Her leaves rustled excitedly as she chirped, “Yes, yes!”

Lily of the Valley was pleased with her reaction and gently agreed. She raised her hand, preparing to use her spiritual energy to crush the candied fruit and feed it to Jiang Mianhao.

But the moment her fingertips touched the edge of the pot, someone seized her wrist.

The hand belonged to Ye Qingge, whom Lily of the Valley had deliberately ignored.

“What are you doing?” Lily of the Valley tried to pull her wrist free but couldn’t.

Ye Qingge tightened her grip and moved Lily of the Valley’s hand away. “Don’t feed her this.”

“Why?!”

“Why?!”

The two questions were nearly simultaneous, Jiang Mianhao and Lily of the Valley’s voices overlapping like an echoing chorus.

Ye Qingge had ruled the celestial realm for millennia, calmly commanding tens of thousands of immortals. Yet only these two grasses dared to boldly question her.

Lily of the Valley’s arm was yanked aside, and the candied fruit tumbled to the ground.

Ye Qingge didn’t answer their inquiries.

“You—!!” Lily of the Valley fumed, hurriedly picking up the fallen treat. “Don’t think I’m letting you off because I’m afraid of you! Once I find someone stronger than you to save Mianhao, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”

Faced with her provocation, Ye Qingge remained indifferent, showing no reaction.

Seeing her threats fall flat, Lily of the Valley felt a deep sense of defeat. But she stubbornly continued, “Just you wait! One day, I’ll flatten you and make you kneel and beg for Mianhao’s forgiveness!”

“Lanlan, don’t be angry,” Jiang Mianhao soothed. “Are you alright after taking human form? Any discomfort?”

Hearing Jiang Mianhao’s voice, Lily of the Valley calmed down. Cradling the candied fruit, she crouched beside her to chat.

Ye Qingge had no interest in their private conversation.

The door, still ajar, remained pressed against the wall. Just then, a green vine flashed across the threshold, moving swiftly.

The fleeting movement caught Ye Qingge’s attention. Her eyes turned cold as she demanded, “Who’s there?”

The chatting pair froze, their gazes snapping to the doorway.

A green leaf had been pinned to the threshold by an ice blade, writhing in pain.

Sensing the disturbance, Lily of the Valley stood up, quietly gathering her energy as she approached the strange leaf.

A pink glow flickered before halting abruptly. Lily of the Valley gasped, “Why is it you?”

A withered and yellowed mimosa curled up in on itself, its leaves pinned to the doorstep oozing a thick, dark liquid.

Lily of the Valley had no fondness for this mimosa and wasn’t inclined to pick it up. She asked coldly, “How did you get in here?”

The bashful mimosa, Mi Xiu, stammered, unsure how to respond.

Its leaves had already shriveled inward from shyness.

Lily of the Valley crossed her arms and glared icily. “Speak quickly, or I’ll throw you out!”