The Ghost Grass’s Romantic Quandary

Deep within a secluded cavern.

Guided by Liu Ruyan’s directions, Qin Yan and Xiao Miao arrived, their gaze falling upon an unusual spirit plant with three leaves, around which black and white qi swirled.

The moment her eyes landed on the spirit plant, Xiao Miao knew with certainty that this was the very spirit plant she had been searching for—the Ghost Grass. The particular specimen before them, possessing three leaves, was clearly a Three-Turn Ghost Grass.

The Ghost Grass’s growth conditions were exceptionally stringent; it was virtually impossible to find in ordinary territories. True to its name, it could only mature by devouring divine souls.

What this Ghost Grass was currently doing, however, came as a profound surprise to both of them. Within the deep cavern, books were piled everywhere, and the Ghost Grass was meticulously turning the pages of a book it held.

A spirit plant, reading a book?!

Qin Yan wondered if he was dreaming, stumbling upon such a bizarre sight. Xiao Miao, too, appeared utterly astonished; she had never heard of Ghost Grass having a penchant for reading. While spirit plants typically thrived in environments conducive to their growth, a Ghost Grass seemed utterly incongruous with books.

Sensing their arrival, the Ghost Grass released its vines, gently setting down the book it held.

With his keen eyesight, Qin Yan spotted the book’s title: ‘The Overbearing Scion Falls for Me’.

Er…

‘Could this Ghost Grass be an otaku plant?’ Qin Yan mused inwardly. ‘And a highly imaginative one at that? Otherwise, why would it be reading such romantic fantasy novels?’

Xiao Miao, too, had noticed the book’s title. She inexplicably cast a discreet glance at Qin Yan beside her, then prepared to speak.

Unexpectedly, the Ghost Grass was the first to speak. Naturally, as a spirit plant, it possessed no mouth, communicating instead through divine sense. A faint, ethereal voice, genderless yet clear and captivating, resonated through the air.

“Humans?”

Its tone was laced with bewilderment, as if surprised to encounter humans in this place. A moment later, a hint of excitement stirred within it, and it began to move towards them, its vines swaying as it meticulously observed the two.

“To think I’d find living humans in this Ancient Willow Secret Realm! Did that black mushroom not kill you and turn you into blood fertilizer? And since you know my location, another spirit plant must have told you. Yet, no spirit plant would dare discover human traces and not report them to Willow God. Therefore, you must have come here with Willow God’s explicit permission.”

The Ghost Grass’s analysis was remarkably astute and coherent. Was this truly the intellect of a plant that loved to read? Its thoughts were astonishingly intricate.

Xiao Miao’s words had been caught in her throat, unable to escape. Seeing the Ghost Grass finally fall silent, she seized the opportunity and spoke:

“I have but one request for my visit here.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, the Ghost Grass nodded and continued, “Since Willow God has permitted your presence, speak your mind. Whatever I am capable of, I shall surely accomplish.”

Xiao Miao pondered for a moment, then began to speak.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll be direct. I desire one of your leaves.”

Upon hearing this, the Ghost Grass fell into a profound silence. Its leaves were, after all, the very essence of its dao; no one could simply demand them and expect to receive them. Yet, Willow God had bestowed great kindness upon all spirit plants, and the time for repayment was drawing near. The minds of spirit plants were far simpler than those of demons or humans, unburdened by such complexities.

If Willow God truly needed it, the Ghost Grass would unhesitatingly offer its very life. Moreover, this situation was far from one that demanded such a sacrifice.

“Very well.”

The Ghost Grass responded.

A flicker of joy lit up Xiao Miao’s eyes, but then the Ghost Grass spoke again: “However, I have one condition!”

The Ghost Grass’s manner of speaking was as unpredictable as a human’s, sending Xiao Miao’s emotions soaring to the heavens only to plummet back to earth. Tentatively, she inquired:

“What is your condition?”

“Tell me, what is love?”

The Ghost Grass did not prolong the suspense, stating its demand directly.

This was merely a question, hardly a difficult task in itself. For Xiao Miao, however, it felt more daunting than engaging in a fierce battle. As a young maiden, how could she possibly comprehend the intricacies of love?

Hearing this, Qin Yan couldn’t help but feel a surge of interest and curiosity. “I just saw you reading that book, and then glancing at your other collection, I noticed many volumes on romance and affection. It’s truly peculiar.”

“Are you a male?”

The Ghost Grass did not answer directly, but rather turned its leaves towards Qin Yan with an inquisitive tilt.

“I am.”

Qin Yan nodded, removing the bamboo hat from his head to reveal his countenance.

“By human standards, even among the demon race, you are an exceptionally handsome man,” the Ghost Grass remarked. “To have both a woman and a man before me now truly brings me great delight.”

“You must be wondering why I, a mere spirit plant, have developed an interest in something like love. After all, we plants are not like you humans or demons; we do not require the union of two different sexes to produce offspring.”

The Ghost Grass spoke, then turned its attention to the stack of books behind it.

“When I first came into being as a spirit plant, there were two skeletons beside me. Through the information left in the storage rings on their hands, I learned they were once a pair of cultivators—one born into a prominent family, the other a rogue cultivator who stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter. By a twist of fate, they eventually united and prepared to wander the world as a pair of desperate lovers. Alas, alas, they became two skeletons, their hands clasped together even in death.”

These words finally illuminated for Qin Yan and Xiao Miao why the Ghost Grass before them was so eager to understand love; its very genesis was intertwined with those two skeletons.

“What is love…”

Xiao Miao felt her mind reel, utterly perplexed. Such a concept was truly beyond her grasp, for she was, after all, merely a sixteen-year-old maiden. Involuntarily, her thoughts turned to her Shizun.

‘Shizun is so worldly and knowledgeable; she must have an answer,’ she thought.

[Don’t ask me. How would this master know what love is? All I know is that it’s rare for young sweethearts to become lifelong partners. When I was your age, I certainly wasn’t entangled with a male cultivator like this. To be honest, it’s quite enviable. Only in youth can one experience such reckless love; once a little older, you realize ‘love’ is merely a calculation of pros and cons.]

Listening to her Shizun’s somewhat wistful and teasing words, Xiao Miao recalled how her master had once boasted of being a seasoned veteran of romance. Now, at this crucial juncture, she was faltering.

After much deliberation, she looked at Qin Yan before her, then turned to the Ghost Grass and spoke:

“I believe love is about mutual support, and finding joy in each other’s company.”