After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 55

Gazing at the heavy snowfall and Ling Lan standing amid the white expanse, Jiang Mianhao felt a fleeting sense of returning to Mount Taibai.

 

Having not seen snow for so long, she couldn’t contain her excitement. Bending down, she scooped up a snowball and threw it playfully.

 

“Come on! Let the battle begin!” she challenged.

 

Ling Lan, crouched and forming her own snowball, snorted defiantly. “Bring it on!”

 

The cheerful laughter of the young women echoed across the courtyard.

 

Snowballs zipped back and forth through the air, while scattered flakes stirred by their movements drifted down again, giving the illusion of a fresh snowfall.

 

Sitting on the steps, Jiang Yuanjuan watched the frolicking pair with a gentle smile, her eyes tinged with envy.

 

“Come here, my lady, and warm yourself with this hand warmer,” Feng Mingyi said softly, lifting the edge of the fur blanket briefly before tucking it securely around Jiang Yuanjuan. “Is this fur blanket warm enough?”

 

Draped over Jiang Yuanjuan’s lap was a blanket made from the pelt of a snow fox—a rare creature that Feng Mingyi had hunted, lying in wait on the mountain for half a month, even suffering frostbite on her hands in the process.

 

Jiang Yuanjuan looked at her still-reddened hands, her heart softening with tenderness. She gently pulled Feng Mingyi’s hands under the blanket and covered them. “It’s wonderfully warm, especially since it was my lady who hunted it for me with her own hands!”

 

As she spoke, a hint of playful charm and willfulness. Rare for her usually gentle demeanor appeared between her brows.

 

Feng Mingyi gazed at the woman before her, and for a moment, it felt as though she had traveled back ten years to that night when she nervously asked if Jiang Yuanjuan would elope with her.

 

Back then, Feng Mingyi was already renowned throughout the martial world. A dashing young woman with swordsmanship talent envied by many. Her fame had drawn countless followers and admirers, and the glory of her early success had elevated her to great heights.

 

Then came an imperial decree, bringing the emperor’s favor, the admiration of the princess, and the honor of marriage whether as groom or bride.

 

Under the cover of night, Feng Mingyi quietly stepped down from her lofty position and climbed over the wall into the backyard of the woman she had long admired.

 

It was a peaceful, gentle night with a soft evening breeze.

The glory of her youthful fame faded away, leaving only the innocence shining in her young eyes.

 

“Sister Yuanjuan,” Feng Mingyi whispered, her gaze sincere and bright in the darkness as she leaned against the windowsill. “I’ve admired you for so long. Will you travel the great rivers and mountains with me?”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan, who had just finished her evening preparations and removed her hairpins, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, was startled by the sudden appearance.

 

“I’ll protect you!” Feng Mingyi continued, her voice soft yet resolute. “Let’s leave this place and go somewhere we can love freely, where we can build a home of our own.”

 

The young woman’s heart, open, passionate, and courageous, reflected the starlight in her eyes, illuminating the long night.

 

Jiang Yuanjuan nodded almost without hesitation, accepting the invitation she had secretly longed for countless times.

 

The Jiang and Feng families had been close for generations. Jiang Yuanjuan was three years older than Feng Mingyi, and the two had grown up as inseparable companions.

 

Yet beneath the surface of their friendship lay Jiang Yuanjuan’s hidden feelings, a secret she had never revealed to anyone.

 

As Feng Mingyi rose to fame in the martial world and was eventually betrothed by imperial decree, Jiang Yuanjuan had always watched silently, acutely aware of the gap between them that made an equal relationship seem impossible.

 

Rather than face an unspoken end, she had convinced herself it was better never to voice her feelings.

 

Yet Jiang Yuanjuan had underestimated Feng Mingyi’s courage and the depth of her love.

 

Now, hand in hand, they had journeyed together for ten years.

 

The hardships they had endured upon first arriving at Mount Hua had long since drifted away, like a distant boat carried off by the current.

 

“The last time we had such heavy snow was our first year on Mount Hua,” Feng Mingyi murmured, watching the two frolicking in the snow. Through the veil of time, she saw her younger self and Jiang Yuanjuan, just as carefree, tossing snowballs and laughing.

 

A decade of love and companionship felt like a fleeting instant in the vast expanse of time.

 

“Sister,” Feng Mingyi leaned gently against Jiang Yuanjuan’s shoulder and whispered, “It’s been ten years already.”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan lowered her head and pressed a soft kiss to Feng Mingyi’s hair. “Time flies so fast. The little girl has grown into a great sect leader.”

“The girl next door ended up becoming my very own sister,” Feng Mingyi murmured, lifting her arms to embrace Jiang Yuanjuan. “In another ten years, let’s leave the sect to our daughter and go down the mountain to Penglai Island. They say Penglai is a paradise—eternal spring, beautiful scenery. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

 

“Alright,” Jiang Yuanjuan replied gently. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy anywhere.”

 

Whoosh—

 

A snowball landed squarely at Feng Mingyi’s feet.

 

Jiang Mianhao waved from a nearby snowdrift. “Sister Jiang! Want to come play with us?”

 

“Sect Leader, catch!” A snowball smacked Feng Mingyi’s foot, and Ling Lan provocatively shrugged.

 

Feng Mingyi pretended to scowl. “You little rascal! I’m punishing you with morning training tomorrow, crawling in the snow for three hours!”

 

“Your disciple obeys!” Ling Lan laughed, packing another snowball. “But today’s a day off, Master. Why not come play with us?”

 

Just as Feng Mingyi was about to refuse, a gentle hand patted her shoulder.

“Go play with them,” Jiang Yuanjuan said with a soft laugh. “Your eyes are practically shouting how much you want to join.”

 

But Feng Mingyi shook her head. “What’s so fun about snowball fights? I’d rather stay here and talk with you.”

 

“Then Sister Jiang should come play too!” Jiang Mianhao carefully helped Jiang Yuanjuan up and flicked her fingers.

 

A soft green glow enveloped the soles of Jiang Yuanjuan’s shoes before fading away.

 

“No!” Feng Mingyi, usually all smiles, frowned and refused. “Your Sister Jiang is delicate. She can’t play like this.”

 

Though longing filled her eyes, Jiang Yuanjuan shook her head. “I’m afraid of hurting the baby in my belly.”

 

“It’ll be fine!” Jiang Mianhao patted her chest confidently. “With me and Lanlan protecting her, plus Sect Leader Feng!”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan had always loved snow. The last time she played in it was ten years ago, and if she missed this chance, she might have to wait another decade.

 

Seeing her hesitation and signs of relenting, Ling Lan quickly chimed in, “The snow is deep but it just fell, so the ground isn’t slippery. It should be fine if we play just for a little while.”

Feng Mingyi looked at the person beside her and saw nothing but anticipation in Jiang Yuanjuan’s eyes.

 

“Fine,” Feng Mingyi sighed. “You, and you! Make sure you protect her well, understood?”

 

Two voices answered in unison, “Understood!”

 

Just as Jiang Mianhao was helping Jiang Yuanjuan along, Feng Mingyi suddenly stopped them and brought Jiang Yunjuan back inside.

 

Jiang Mianhao, left empty-handed, didn’t mind and stood obediently on the steps waiting.

 

While she was plotting how to ambush Ling Lan, a flash caught her eye.

 

A figure in white swiftly vanished from sight.

 

Jiang Mianhao wondered if she had imagined it and called out softly, “Lu Jiu?”

 

The person she called didn’t even turn back, disappearing straight into the vast whiteness.

 

But hadn’t Lu Jiu just fallen asleep?

 

Jiang Mianhao stood on her tiptoes, peering anxiously in the direction where Lu Jiu had disappeared, but she saw nothing.

 

Last night, Jiang Mianhao had been so exhausted that she fell asleep directly on Lu Jiu. It wasn’t until this morning when she woke that Lu Jiu had finished washing up and finally lay down to rest.

 

Seeing the neatly handled scrolls on the desk, Jiang Mianhao felt a pang of heartache. She urged Lu Jiu to get into bed and coaxed her to sleep before quietly slipping out. The moment she stepped outside, she was met with Linlan’s provocation.

 

Lately, Lu Jiu had been unusually busy, always leaving whenever Jiang Mianhao was playing with Sister Jiang. By the time she returned to the room, Lu Jiu would already be back. But today, Lu Jiu had only just fallen asleep at dawn—why would she suddenly leave again?

 

“What are you staring at, Mianhao?” Linlan followed her gaze. “Is there something over there?”

 

“No,” Jiang Mianhao withdrew her gaze, looking out at the vast expanse of white snow, hoping she had just imagined things. “It’s nothing.”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan, finally persuaded to come out, was bundled up so thickly by Feng Mingyi that her originally slender figure now looked round and plump.

 

“I look like a ball, don’t I?” Jiang Yuanjuan grumbled softly. “I already said I’m not cold, but she insisted on dressing me like this.”

 

“The snow is heavy and the wind is cold. Your constitution has always been weak,” Feng Mingyi chided gently as she fastened knee pads on her. “Remember when you were five and fell into the river while catching loaches? If I hadn’t cried loudly enough to draw attention, who knows what might have happened? If it weren’t for how rare snow is and how much you love playing in it, I wouldn’t let you take such a risk. The child is a small matter. I’m more worried about your health. If you slip or get hurt in this freezing cold, what would I do?”

 

Listening to her endless fussing, Jiang Yuanjuan sighed and let her continue. Sometimes, she couldn’t tell who was really three years older—herself or Feng Mingyi.

 

Only after layers of protective measures did Feng Mingyi finally feel reassured.

 

As Jiang Mianhao carefully helped Jiang Yuanjuan down the steps, Linlan subtly flicked her fingers. An invisible barrier of spiritual energy enveloped Jiang Yuanjuan, shielding her from the biting wind and snow and preventing her from slipping on the icy ground.

 

“Take this!” Once on the snowy ground, Jiang Yuanjuan shed her earlier caution, forming a snowball and hurling it straight at Feng Mingyi. “Your turn!”

 

Feng Mingyi, struck squarely in the chest, chuckled and shook her head before bending down to make her own snowball. “Alright then, here I come!”

 

But the snowball she threw landed squarely on the person standing beside Jiang Yuanjuan.

 

Jiang Mianhao: ?

The next moment, a snowball flew directly toward Feng Mingyi’s head.

 

“Master, enlighten me!” Linlan raised another snowball high and launched it straight at Feng Mingyi’s head again.

 

“You little rascal! Today, I’m cleansing the sect!” Feng Mingyi bent down to gather more snow.

 

In an instant, the courtyard filled with the joyful laughter of the young women. Snowballs flew through the air, and the swirling snowflakes they stirred up fell like a localized snowstorm. Gradually, the wind picked up, and the sky began to release thick, heavy snowflakes once more. The footprints they had just made were soon covered by fresh snow.

 

The snow fell densely and urgently, like a silken ribbon cascading from the heavens. The young women, who hadn’t seen snow in so long, laughed freely as they chased and ran through the winter wonderland. Meanwhile, the lovers, hand in hand, walked side by side at a steady pace.

 

Turning back, Jiang Mianhao exclaimed delightedly, “Sister Jiang and Sect Leader Feng’s hair has turned white!”

 

Gazing at her beloved, whose hair was now dusted with snow.

 

Feng Mingyi held Jiang Yunjuan’s hand tightly, and they exchanged a smile.

 

Ling Lan, standing beside them, also looked up at Jiang Mianhao’s head. The lively girl kept shaking off the snowflakes as soon as they landed.

But the snow fell so heavily that even the girl’s hair was soon dusted with white.

 

Ling Lan couldn’t bear to move, allowing the snow to cover her head as she watched the girl running joyfully in the snow from afar.

 

The wind and snow blurred the passage of time, and laughter washed away the cold.

 

It wasn’t until dusk that the four of them reluctantly left the snowy ground.

 

Feng Mingyi had already ordered several braziers to be set up in the hall for the younger sisters who had been playing in the snow.

 

Those who had had their fill of snow gathered around the warmth.

 

“Eh? Why are your shoes and socks still dry?” Feng Mingyi bent down to help Jiang Yunjuan remove her shoes and socks, warming them by the fire.

 

Jiang Mianhao and Ling Lan exchanged a smile, but neither spoke.

 

“The Winter Solstice Festival is at the end of this month,” Jiang Yuanjuan said softly. “Mian Mian, what filling would you like for the dumplings?”

 

“Dumplings?” Jiang Mianhao looked utterly bewildered, tilting her face up to ask, “What are dumplings, Sister Jiang?”

Jiang Yuanjuan patiently explained, “Dumplings are a must-eat during the Winter Solstice Festival. The elders often say that eating dumplings on this day keeps your ears from freezing. If a child is picky and refuses to eat them, their ears might freeze off.”

 

Jiang Mianhao’s face lit up with curiosity. She nodded and said, “Then I want to eat them! Can I have candied hawthorn filling?”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan laughed softly and tapped the tip of her nose. “Of course not, but you can have candied hawthorn separately.”

 

“Yay!” Jiang Mianhao cheered, standing up. “I’ll go ask Lu Jiu what filling she wants!”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan nodded and waved her hand. “Go on, go on.”

 

The sound of the girl’s footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing fainter as she moved away.

 

A red snake tail coiled outside the doorway retracted slightly.

 

It quickly followed the girl’s fading footsteps.

 

Jiang Mianhao pushed open the door to the room. The usually lit room was now empty.

 

A shadowy mass dissipated into the air with the movement of the door.

 

“Lu Jiu?” Jiang Mianhao stepped inside, completely unaware of the red snake following behind her.

 

She took a few steps forward and called into the darkness, “Lu Jiu, are you here?”

 

Bang—

 

The door behind her suddenly slammed shut, extinguishing the last glimmer of light.