After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 5

Mi Xiu seemed frightened by Ling Lan’s ferocity and began to sob quietly.

The intermittent weeping drifted inside, unsettling Jiang Mianhao. Just as she was about to raise her head and say something, her stem was gently poked.

A cool, soothing sensation spread through her, greatly alleviating the dryness at her roots.

Her exhaustion magnified into drowsiness, and her leaves drooped limply.

Ye Qingge withdrew her fingertip, the faint silver glow dissipating with the motion.

She had little interest in the dispute at the door. With a flick of her wrist, Ling Lan who had been leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed was shoved out by an unseen force. Stumbling a few steps back, Ling Lan glared at the now firmly shut door.

Shut out, Ling Lan gritted her teeth and swung her fist at the air in frustration.

The next second, the door cracked open slightly, and a bag of candied fruit was tossed out, rolling to a stop at Ling Lan’s feet.

“Rude jerk!” Ling Lan fumed, throwing punches at the empty air. “Just wait till Mianhao gets better. I’ll beat you to a pulp!!!”

Meanwhile, Mi Xiu, pinned to the doorstep, couldn’t move a muscle. The closed door had completely severed her connection to that single leaf.

Finally freed, Mi Xiu exhaled shakily, casting a wary glance toward the room.

That woman’s power was immense. Just a single glance from her had sent deadly ice blades shooting forth.

Having lived for three thousand years, this was the first time Mi Xiu had ever been immobilized like this.

“Hey, hey!” Ling Lan frowned at the dazed Mi Xiu. “Answer my question. What are you doing here?”

The day of transformation came only once every thousand years. Those who succeeded would cross Mount Taibai to continue their cultivation, while those who failed would return to their origins to train further.

But this mimosa before her was clearly not a native of Mount Taibai. The roots had turned black from the unsuitable climate, and the sap oozing out was dark clearly damaged by the cold.

Snapping out of her daze, Mi Xiu whispered, “I… I just wanted to see Mianhao.”

At the mention of Mianhao, Ling Lan’s brows furrowed tightly. “How dare you even say her name!”

Mi Xiu stammered out an explanation, “I-I’m sorry but I was so cold… so I…”

Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely audible.

The sun had already passed its zenith, and night was approaching.

Ling Lan glanced at the closed door, then at the mimosa on the ground. With a frown, she stepped forward and picked it up.

……

……

Inside the room, silence settled after the door closed. Ye Qingge purified herself with a wave of her hand.

Her long silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the flickering candlelight cast shadows that seemed to greedily caress her flawless collarbone. Her slender waist, half-hidden by the silvery strands, was delicate enough to be encircled by a single hand.

Whether it was from carrying Jiang Mianhao earlier or because the banyan tree hollow was too deep, Ye Qingge couldn’t shake the feeling that everything around her was covered in grime.

Accustomed to cleanliness and solitude, Ye Qingge found the living conditions unbearable. Born as a goddess second only to the highest deity, she had always enjoyed the finest luxuries in every aspect of life. The dim oil lamp cast swaying shadows on the wooden walls, forming dark blotches that made Ye Qingge itch to carve them out with ice blades.

Pulling her robe tighter, Ye Qingge strode over to the grass pot.

Gazing at the still-slumbering little plant, she rolled up her sleeve and let a drop of blood fall into the soil. The withered leaves that had been plucked earlier sprouted anew, and the roots thickened noticeably.

After tending to the grass, Ye Qingge sat cross-legged on the bed and began meditating to circulate her energy.

The spiritual power she had expended in recent days was gradually replenishing through her quiet recuperation.

The only way to end all this detestable chaos around me is to swiftly slay the love tribulation and break through the final barrier.

……

……

Dawn was about to break, and all living beings on Mount Taibai were still deep in slumber.

Ling Lan impatiently pushed open the door, only to find the room empty.

As the first rays of sunlight fell, the well-rested Sleepwell Grass swayed its leaves contentedly.

Ye Qingge ignored the happily dancing grass beside her and fixed her gaze ahead.

Mount Taibai wasn’t the highest peak just beyond it stood an even taller and more expansive mountain range.

Layer upon layer of peaks were hidden in a misty haze, indistinguishable from clouds, with the occasional cheerful chirping of passing birds.

Jiang Mianhao had slept incredibly well the night before and was now breathing in the morning light in big, deep gulps.

The surroundings were quiet, and Jiang Mianhao couldn’t help but speak up: “Are you really sleepy?”

Lost in thought, Ye Qingge didn’t hear the question. Only the chirping of birds answered Jiang Mianhao.

“I feel much better now. I can hear more clearly than yesterday,” Jiang Mianhao mustered her courage and asked, “Can you tell me your name?”

Ye Qingge snapped out of her daze. “Hmm?”

Jiang Mianhao cleared her throat and boldly said, “My name is Jiang Mianhao. I’m a Sleepwell Grass.”

Ye Qingge gave a faint “Mm” and said, “I know.”

Jiang Mianhao continued, “Even though you crushed me like this, I should really hate you. But you said it wasn’t your intention and promised to heal me. I thought you were lying, but then you really took me out to bask in the sunlight. So, will you really heal me?”

Ye Qingge listened quietly until she finished, then softly replied, “Yes.”

“You don’t talk much,” Jiang Mianhao went on. “Why did you fall from the sky? Are you a plant spirit too?”

Ye Qingge didn’t answer.

“When I was little, I heard Grandma Banyan say that this is the place closest to the Heavenly Palace. If we take human form, we might have a chance to go there. Do you know about the Heavenly Palace? It’s said to be where the gods live.”

Jiang Mianhao rambled on before asking, “Have you heard of the Heavenly Palace? But since you fell from the sky, does that mean you’re a heavenly god?”

Her words came fast and furious, and Ye Qingge was getting a headache from the noise.

Why couldn’t the love tribulation just be killed outright? Ye Qingge silently asked the Infinite Mystic Master.

But no one answered her.

Receiving no response, Jiang Mianhao pressed on, “If you live in the Heavenly Palace, do you know what’s happening on the mountaintop? Does this kind of thing happen every thousand years on the night of transformation? Or am I just really unlucky?”

Suppressing the urge to uproot the little grass in the pot and plant it upside down, Ye Qingge replied coolly, “I don’t know.”

“Oh…” Jiang Mianhao sounded disappointed but then asked again, “So, what’s your name?”

The question circled back to her name, and Ye Qingge, growing impatient, answered offhandedly, “My name is Ye…”

Should she give her real name?

Ye Qingge hesitated. Since this love tribulation would be dead in a few days anyway, and with the frost gone, it was better not to reveal her true identity.

“My name is Ye Lujiu,” Ye Qingge said flatly.

“Ye Lujiu?” Jiang Mianhao repeated the name softly a few times before waving her leaves proudly. “I’ve figured out your true form!”

Ye Qingge replied with a simple, “Mm.”

Jiang Mianhao said confidently, “You must be wine brewed from green leaves!”

Ye Qingge hadn’t expected her to interpret the name this way. But then again, considering Jiang Mianhao’s own name was just her true form reversed, it made sense why she’d think that.

Ye Qingge didn’t argue and simply hummed in agreement.

“So, you’re a cup of wine!” Jiang Mianhao clicked her tongue. “No wonder you fell from the sky. Some careless immortal must have spilled you!”

Unable to resist, Ye Qingge glanced sideways at the little grass still muttering in the pot. It was just a fake name, yet she actually believed it. Not only that, she’d even filled in the backstory herself.

This grass’s mind was unexpectedly simple.

Ye Qingge couldn’t be bothered to keep fabricating an identity and just said, “Mm, you guessed it all right.”

This response delighted Jiang Mianhao, and her swaying leaves fluttered even more cheerfully.

Watching the dancing leaves, Ye Qingge silently moved up her timeline for completing the mission.

Low-level plant spirits lacked cunning. If she remained this gullible, the so-called trial of love should be easily overcome.

But should deception be the way? Ye Qingge narrowed her eyes, gazing ahead with a hint of uncertainty.

The sun had fully risen, its golden light bathing the earth.

Warm rays cascaded down, enveloping every green leaf in the pot.

Jiang Mianhao cheered, “The sun!”

Hearing her voice, Ye Qingge also looked up. Her golden eyes brightened momentarily as they met the sunlight, just as the little grass beside her spoke again.

“Green Wine,” Jiang Mianhao said gently, “if you restore me to how I was before, I’ll forgive you for falling on me, okay?”

The sunlight had noticeably soothed the turbulent spiritual energy within Ye Qingge, and her depleted power was gradually recovering.

Feeling better, she replied indifferently, “Fine.”

……

……

On her way back from sunbathing, Ye Qingge collided head-on with Lily of the Valley, who was just heading out.

Staggering back a few steps, Lily of the Valley steadied herself, ready to scold until her expression instantly brightened.

“Mianhao!” She crouched down to eye level with the grass pot in Ye Qingge’s hands. “You look bigger than yesterday! How do you feel today?”

Jiang Mianhao rustled her leaves. “I feel amazing!”

Relieved by the answer, Lily of the Valley relaxed until she turned to Ye Qingge, her face darkening. She stretched out her hand. “I’m taking Mianhao to drink morning dew!”

Ye Qingge gave her a cold glance but didn’t respond.

The look was icy enough to make Lily of the Valley shiver. Clearing her throat, she forced out, “Thank you for taking her to sunbathe. Now, please hand her over. She needs to drink dew.”

Though her words were reluctant, her tone and expression were pleading.

The warm sun had stabilized Ye Qingge’s spiritual energy, and she did need to meditate now. So, she passed Jiang Mianhao over.

“One hour,” Ye Qingge said flatly.

The possessiveness in her tone irked Lily of the Valley, but she gritted her teeth and agreed.

The moment she got the pot, Lily of the Valley beamed and dashed off in a flash.

The Dew Terrace was halfway up the mountain. Balancing the pot on her head, Lily of the Valley sprinted up the path.

The mountain breeze brushed against Jiang Mianhao’s leaves, making her dance joyfully in the wind.

It was midday, and the overlapping mountain ridges blocked much of the sunlight. The path was rugged, but the mountain wind was refreshing.

“Tell me honestly!” Ling Lan asked, “Did that annoying person bully you today? I’ll go flatten her for you!”

Jiang Mianhao replied softly, “No! I even found out her name!”

When they reached the Immortal Dew Terrace, Ling Lan took a deep breath, set down the grass pot, and transformed back into her original form.

Along the way, Jiang Mianhao had already shared all the stories she had imagined.

As the sweet dew showered down, the branches and leaves of both plants stretched out comfortably.

“So she’s the Wine Immortal,” Ling Lan swayed her flower stem and grumbled, “No wonder she’s so annoying.”

The annoying Ye Qingge was sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed, meditating, when she suddenly sneezed.