After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 57

The person in her arms had been frightened, and upon seeing her, their grievances reached a peak.

 

Ye Qingge sighed softly, feeling the turbulence of emotions within.

 

“I’m here now, aren’t I?” Ye Qingge wasn’t good at comforting others, so she could only gently pat Jiang Mianhao’s back, helping her calm down.

 

This soothing gesture only made Jiang Mianhao’s tears fall even more fiercely, her emotional turmoil growing increasingly intense.

 

Ye Qingge sighed helplessly and, with a light touch of her arm, pressed on Jiang Mianhao’s acupoint.

 

With a gentle tap, the previously weeping girl gradually quieted down.

 

Ye Qingge carefully laid her on the bed, then waved her hand to light the candle on the table.

 

In the hazy candlelight, Jiang Mianhao’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, and a trail of fresh blood trickled down from her temple.

 

As Ye Qingge lowered her head, she realized that the dampness on her chest wasn’t just from tears.

Crimson blood spread across her white robe like a flower in full, decadent bloom.

 

Only then did Ye Qingge realize how severe the impact from Jiang Mianhao’s collision had been.

 

She reached out and gently brushed aside the hair soaked with blood and sweat, revealing a wound the size of a thumb.

 

Blood continued to seep out.

 

Ye Qingge frowned. How could she endure such a severe injury without making a sound?

 

Her heart inexplicably ached, as if pricked lightly by a fine, tiny needle.

 

“What a fool.” Ye Qingge raised her hand gently, channeling a steady stream of spiritual energy toward the small wound.

 

The bleeding stopped, and the wound healed.

 

But the pale face before her was still streaked with tears and blood, leaving Ye Qingge with an uneasy feeling. She fetched a damp cloth and gently wiped Jiang Mianhao’s face.

 

If Jiang Mianhao had risked her life to climb Mount Hua for her before because it was the only way, then what about today?

Even with her temple bleeding, she had gritted her teeth and stubbornly searched for her.

 

Why? Despite having no cultivation or abilities, she repeatedly used her own body to withstand harm.

 

Ye Qingge’s movements slowed, becoming so gentle that even she didn’t notice it.

 

Ling Lan, standing at the door, was taken aback and quickly stepped inside. “What happened to Mianhao?”

 

Jiang Yuanjuan, who had been waiting in the hall for a long time without seeing Jiang Mianhao return, grew uneasy and urged Ling Lan to check on her.

 

It was one thing not to look, but from a distance, Ling Lan could see that the door to Jiang Mianhao’s room was tightly shut, not even a lamp lit inside.

 

The girl who had been lively and energetic just moments ago was now lying on the bed, her small face as pale as paper.

 

Ye Qingge turned and looked at the intruder, her expression slightly annoyed.

 

“Lu Jiu, what happened to your chest?” Ling Lan panicked at the sight of the large bloodstain. “Was Mianhao injured?”

 

Ye Qingge didn’t respond. Instead, she raised her hand and summoned a ball of spiritual energy, instantly illuminating the dim room.

 

The floor was littered with dead red snakes, and a stiffened soaring bird lay steadily on the table.

 

“It’s the person who attacked that night!” Ling Lan grew even more anxious and hurried over. “Was Mianhao hurt? When did you get here?”

 

The barrage of questions annoyed Ye Qingge.

 

She had been pondering the depth of Jiang Mianhao’s feelings for her, and seeing Ling Lan suddenly appear, she couldn’t help but wonder: if it had been Ling Lan in the room today, to what extent would Jiang Mianhao have gone for her?

 

Would you still crawl forward even if it meant breaking your head?

 

Receiving no response, Ling Lan stopped asking and walked directly to Jiang Mianhao’s side, gently examining her.

 

Fortunately, the sleeping girl was only pale-faced, with no injuries found.

 

“She was just frightened,” Ye Qingge said calmly. “These birds and beasts will continue to circle the mountain these next few days, as if searching for something.”

 

“Has Jiang Mianhao always been just a blade of grass?” Ye Qingge lifted her eyes and asked.

 

The question caught Ling Lan off guard. “Huh? What do you mean, just a blade of grass?”

 

Realizing she had asked the wrong person, Ye Qingge shook her head and fell silent.

 

What on Huashan Mountain could be so attractive to the snake and the birds?

 

And why were they specifically targeting Jiang Mianhao?

 

Were they trying to snatch Jiang Mianhao before she could, ensuring her love tribulation would never be resolved?

 

A series of questions surged in Ye Qingge’s heart. She frowned and tucked away her handkerchief.

 

Ling Lan sat by the bedside, carefully tidying Jiang Mianhao’s sweat-dampened bangs.

 

Her eyes were filled with tenderness and affection.

 

Noticing her emotions, Ye Qingge let out a cold, soft laugh.

“Do you like Jiang Mianhao very much?” Ye Qingge asked in a low voice.

 

Ling Lan’s hand paused. She lifted her gaze to meet the other’s eyes and replied earnestly, “Yes.”

 

“If today you were asked to abandon your cultivation and true form, never to touch a sword again, just to be with her,” Ye Qingge pressed, “would you still like her?”

 

Without hesitation, Ling Lan nodded. “What I love most is Mianhao. Cultivation and the way of the sword come second.”

 

Ye Qingge snorted disdainfully and asked again, “Become a useless mortal for her?”

 

“I am willing.”

 

Outside the window, the snow began to drift down once more.

 

A few snowflakes slipped in through the crack of the unlatched door.

 

The cold wind thudded dully against the window frame.

 

“Bet everything for her?”

 

“I am willing.”

 

“Then die for her?” Ye Qingge’s tone sharpened. “Your fates are bound together. Only one of you can live!”

 

With a bang, the unlatched door was blown open by the wind.

 

A biting chill flooded into the room in an instant.

 

The candle on the table went out, plunging the room into momentary darkness.

 

Yet Ling Lan’s eyes still shone brightly. Without hesitation, she declared, “Then I am willing to exchange my life for hers.”

 

“Without a second thought.”

 

Though she didn’t understand why Lu Jiu was questioning her like this, Ling Lan answered truthfully.

 

As the cold wind swept in, Ling Lan used her spiritual power to shield Jiang Mianhao securely.

 

Having heard the answer, Ye Qingge asked no more. With a wave of her hand, the door closed, and the cold wind was expelled from the room.

 

The candle on the table flickered back to life.

 

Having obtained her answer, Ye Qingge sneered inwardly.

 

Ling Lan’s heartfelt declarations sounded absurd and ridiculous.

 

How could anyone abandon their life for such cheap, shallow affection?

 

Truly, she was nothing but a low-level plant spirit. No matter how diligently she practiced the sword path,

 

she would cast it all aside without hesitation for the sake of petty love.

 

It seemed love was nothing more than a reckless, foolish, and hasty emotion.

 

Through Ling Lan’s words, Ye Qingge also understood Jiang Mianhao’s thoughts.

 

As long as this love tribulation remained unresolved, the three realms would know no peace.

 

As for a mere blade of grass with such cheap affection—if she died, so be it.

 

News of Jiang Mianhao being attacked by the snake and birds the previous night quickly spread.

 

Feng Mingyi immediately strengthened the guards both on and around the mountain. All sword cultivators, in addition to their training, took turns patrolling the mountain daily.

 

“Mian Mian, are you really not hurt?” Jiang Yuanjuan looked at the person before her, the concern in her eyes impossible to conceal. “Why do I feel like you’ve lost weight?”

 

Jiang Mianhao swallowed the sweet bun in her mouth and said coquettishly, “I’m really not hurt, Sister Jiang. Lu Jiu showed up in time. She killed all the bad guys.”

 

“And, Sister Jiang, I only skipped one meal the night before last,” Jiang Mianhao pouted. “How could I possibly have lost weight that quickly?”

 

But Jiang Yunjuan shook her head. “You clearly don’t have as much energy as you did yesterday. I’ve instructed the small kitchen to prepare a nourishing soup for you at noon.”

 

“Yay!” Jiang Mianhao beamed, her eyes sparkling. “I love you the most, Sister Jiang. You’re going to make me chubby.”

 

“You’re not chubby. You’re at the age where you’re still growing. Of course you should eat more,” Jiang Yuanjuan said softly. “By the way, the Winter Solstice Festival is in a few days. Have you asked what kind of dumpling fillings everyone wants?”

 

Jiang Mianhao gasped lightly, embarrassed. “I forgot to ask! Sister Jiang, wait for me. I’ll go ask right now!”

 

“No need,” Jiang Yuanjuan stopped her. “Your Lu Jiu has been invited by Sect Leader Feng to discuss something. Finish the food in your bowl first, then go find her.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Mianhao obediently sat back down and resumed eating.

 

Regarding the attack the previous night, not only did Ye Qingge have doubts, but Feng Mingyi was equally puzzled.

 

The stove fire burned brightly, and the water in the kettle bubbled vigorously.

 

A gentle stream of water poured into the cup, filling the room with the fragrance of tea.

 

Feng Mingyi handed the teacup over and asked politely, “Do you have any leads on what happened last night, Immortal?”

 

“What do you think, Sect Leader?” Ye Qingge did not take the offered cup but instead looked up at her. “What is hidden atop Mount Hua?”

 

Feng Mingyi was taken aback by the question and frowned. “Are you suggesting, Immortal, that this group wasn’t here for revenge but for some kind of treasure?”

Ye Qingge remained silent, simply watching her.

 

“But there’s nothing on Mount Hua,” Feng Mingyi said, perplexed. “If we’re talking about rare treasures, other mountains have no fewer than Mount Hua. If it’s about grudges or enmity, I’ve been in charge of Mount Hua for ten years and have never made an enemy. What treasure could there possibly be on this mountain?”

 

Ye Qingge said calmly, “They were demons.”

 

“Demons?” Feng Mingyi was slightly stunned. “But everyone in our sect is mortal. What spiritual power or cultivation could demons be after? Mount Hua has none of that.”

 

Seeing how earnest she was, Ye Qingge did not press further.

 

The ones sent last night were all red snakes, clearly the work of Siji.

 

What was it that Wuli failed to find last time? Something that required cutting people open to search for, with neither cultivation nor immortal roots.

 

Immortal roots?

 

As if struck by a thought, Ye Qingge asked quietly, “In the past ten years, has no one ascended to immortality?”

 

“No,” Feng Mingyi replied without hesitation. “They’re all mortals. And if we’re talking about the most talented, none compare to the newly arrived Miss Linlan.”

 

A pile of useless information.

 

Ye Qingge frowned, abruptly stood up, and strode out without another word.

 

Watching the retreating figure, Feng Mingyi’s hand, still holding the cup, paused mid-air, lost in thought for a long time.

 

The conversation had begun abruptly and ended just as abruptly.

 

But from that day on, for several days in a row, nothing happened on Mount Hua. Not a single red snake appeared, nor even an ordinary little snake.

 

Feng Mingyi still did not dare to let her guard down and continued to send people to patrol the mountain.

 

Meanwhile, the snow and wind accumulated day by day, showing no signs of letting up.

 

Finally, three days before the Winter Solstice arrived, the sword cultivator in charge of searching the mountains discovered a red snake.